tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85039272024-03-16T17:18:50.805+08:00The AgoraThe Agora Ministry seeks to inspire & train laypeople in the marketplace to live out and proclaim the lordship of Christ over every domain of their life.
The Greek agora, or marketplace, was where citizens could meet to discuss issues of the day - ethics, life, faith and philosophy. A Ministry for the Malaysian church by <a href="http://cdpc.org.my">CDPC</a>. <a href="http://theagora.blogspot.com/atom.xml">Subscribe To Agora</a> Today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger950125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-55041963115218489162020-01-23T03:32:00.001+08:002020-01-23T08:06:42.460+08:00The Human Genesis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With advances in mapping human genome and continuous findings on ancient human fossils (even extract DNA sequences out of them!), the question on human origins has never been more complex or urgent. New theological lines are being drawn: Must there be historical Adam and Eve? How do we understand "image of God"? What about "original sin" if we are not descended from a historical pair? How do we read Genesis along with God's book in nature?<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-90544843550331467772017-01-04T20:24:00.000+08:002017-01-04T20:44:51.344+08:00Kingdom Outposts In a Broken World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We spend most of our waking hours in the marketplace (schools, factories, offices, hospitals, homes, farms etc). How could we encourage fellow followers of Jesus to connect our faith with our work?<br />
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How can we help our faith communities see that marketplace living for the kingdom is key to people seeing and hearing whole life discipleship being lived out in front of them?<br />
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Well, the church service is the gathering of God's people around the gospel for worship, nourishment, instruction and then... they are sent out out as ambassadors of the Kingdom in the marketplace. If these values are not integrated into what happens during the worship service, it would not be perceived as a priority. </div>
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Here is a practice that we have found helpful: </div>
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We conduct a <span style="color: red;">Faith and Work</span> conversation with various members of the congregation on a regular basis with these simple questions:</div>
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- What is Monday (or a work day) like for you? What is your role /responsibility in the office/family/factory/school?<br />
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- What are some opportunities/challenge that you face?<br />
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- How does your faith in Christ help you address these issues? <br />
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- How can we pray for you?<br />
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<i>(Usually it is done at the same time as the announcement/church news/events segment of the worship service but it doesn't really matter if a different slot works better for you )</i><br />
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Over the years, I had the privilege to hear powerful stories of God's kingdom outposts in the world. How discipleship works out in the world when people are transformed by the gospel.<br />
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For example, a neurologist who chooses to work in a public hospital rather than the more lucrative private practice because here, he can serve a multi-racial community especially those who cannot afford going to a private hospital. Or a psychologist graduate who went on to Teach for Malaysia because of her hope in a better Malaysia by educating the next generation. <br />
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It's costly, of course but they don't complain because love is an even greater motivation. They are purposeful because of their calling. And their call drives their mission(s).<br />
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From a small congregation of about 70 people, it's encouraging to know and to pray for a sister who, as part of her work, is researching for ways to treat cancer or a brother driven by creation care convictions chose to work for World Wildlife Fund. If only we could see that their "job" is part of God's creation mandate for humanity - to be faithful stewards and compassionate rulers of the created order. <br />
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Sometimes, you hear raw and honest stories of struggles and doubt... And that's perfectly beautiful as they are occasions to show pastoral care and a safe space to bring these questions before God. For example, it is a privilege to pray for a pediatrician struggling over the death of her patients or a teacher facing ethical issues in his school. <br />
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These are opportunities for the whole congregation to stand in solidarity and pray for God's help in dealing with these challenges (which we probably see reflected in our own lives as well), seek Scripture for guidance on ethical issues that confront us and commission these followers of Jesus as signs of God's presence in our community.<br />
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Songs that we sing during worship also shape our thinking and feeling profoundly. Here are my favorite examples of songs that have a deep theology of creation mandate and work as spiritual formation i.e. <a href="https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/a-workers-prayer/" target="_blank">The Worker's Prayer</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaMPE53uP38" target="_blank">God of the Poor</a><br />
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Would love to hear from you if there are other songs and practices that integrate faith and work! <br />
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<b>The Worker's Prayer</b></div>
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Before You I kneel, my Master and Maker<br />
To offer the work of my hands,<br />
For this is the day You've given Your servant;<br />
I will rejoice and be glad:<br />
For the strength I have to live and breathe,<br />
For each skill Your grace has given me,<br />
For the needs and opportunities<br />
That will glorify Your great name.<br />
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Before You I kneel and ask for Your goodness<br />
To cover the work of my hands,<br />
For patience and peace to shape all my labour,<br />
Your grace for thorns in my path.<br />
Flow within me like a living stream,<br />
Wear away the stones of pride and greed,<br />
'Til Your ways are dwelling deep in me<br />
And a harvest of life is grown.<br />
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Before You we kneel, our Master and Maker;<br />
Establish the work of our hands,<br />
And order our steps to seek first Your kingdom<br />
In every small and great task.<br />
May we live the gospel of Your grace,<br />
Serve Your purpose in our fleeting days,<br />
Then our lives will bring eternal praise<br />
And all glory to Your great name,<br />
And all glory to Your great name.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-46915786928621302062016-01-22T22:11:00.000+08:002016-01-22T22:11:29.248+08:00A Decade of Blogging<div style="line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I have been blogging for ten years! The unsettling events of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 had so distracted me that that I almost let such an important anniversary slipped my mind! I started this blog on 21 January 2006. I posted my <a href="http://draltang01.blogspot.my/2008/07/one-thousand-post.html">1000th post</a> on 20 July 2008, 2001st post on 1 Jan 2010, and <a href="file:///C:/Users/Alex/Dropbox/myweb/%E2%80%9Dhttp://draltang01.blogspot.my/2015/02/my-3000th-blog-post.html%E2%80%9D">3000th post</a> on 11 Feb 2015. One of the features I like about blog is that I can easily retrieve previous posts, unlike Facebook or twitters. Blogging is part of my <a href="http://draltang01.blogspot.my/2010/06/digital-great-commission.html">digital Great Commission</a> activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">My very first post <i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Alex/Dropbox/myweb/%E2%80%9Dhttp://draltang01.blogspot.my/2006/01/why-i-begin-blogging.html%E2%80%9D">Why I begin blogging</a> </i>in 2006 states the reasons why I started the blog.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• With the numerous viewpoints available, I want to add a distinctive Christian one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• I support the open access of knowledge that the Internet offers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• Use Web 2.0 as a platform to sharing our learning experiences</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• Be part of an online community</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">In time, my blogging activities expanded and so did my number of blogs. Aside from this blog, I also administer the following blogs, reflecting my diverse interests.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• <a href="http://draltang.blogspot.my/">Random Writing from a Doctor’s Chair</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• <a href="http://draltang02.blogspot.my/">Random Sermon from a Doctor’s Chair</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• <a href="http://draltang03.blogspot.my/">Random Spirituality from a Doctor’s Chair</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">• <a href="http://www.alextang.photography/#sthash.MN6B6IxF.dpbs">Random Photos from a Doctor’s Chair</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">My postings in the blogs have lessen in the last few years because of my increased involvement in </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/draltang">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexthtang">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.my.linkedin.com/in/draltang">Linkedin</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/draltang">Pinterest</a>, <a href="http://www.plus.google.com/+draltang">Google Plus</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/draltang">Youtube</a>. This does not mean that I think that the importance of blogs has decreased. In fact, I believe that blogging has settled into the distinctive niche it was meant to be. Where Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest and Google Plus deal with the daily, social online interactions, blogs offers a place for longer, more reflective and reasoned articles to be posted.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I will continue to blog </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b> Spiritual discipline</b>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Blogging is a spiritual discipline as I try to write at least 1,000 words daily. Not all of what I have written will be posted. Some will be published elsewhere. I find writing helps me to think and understand myself. It also helps me to experience God and engage with his creation.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Teaching.</b> The Internet has grown tremendously in the last two decades. It has become the largest depository of knowledge mankind has ever created. It is also the largest collection of hubris. I will continue to present a Christian viewpoint from as far as I understand it. I do not pretend to know it all but I see the need for Christian counterpoint especially from an Asian perspective.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Recommending.</b> I will continue to recommend good books, blog postings and websites. I find open sharing is very useful as others may also come across articles or post I am not aware of.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Interaction.</b> I value interactions on my blogs and other social media. I value open minds and fellow seekers. However, I will not waste my time with biased, opinionated, rude bigots. We learn more in our interactions.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Community.</b> My readers and friends are my online tribe and community. I value every one of them. Their comments and likes are much appreciated. I love the friendships we have formed online and in some cases in the physical world. It is always a pleasure to meet someone in the flesh whom we have met online. I am slowly going down the list and praying for each of my Facebook friends.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Dear friends, thank you for reading this far and being part of my life. God bless you all. </span><br />
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Alex Tanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-40706330322054019782015-05-10T14:41:00.001+08:002015-05-11T15:38:43.129+08:00Overcoming Discouragement: The Best Is Yet To Come<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are into the 2<sup>nd</sup>
chapter of Haggai. In the previous episode, we saw how God brought the nation
of <st1:country-region>Israel</st1:country-region> out of exile in <st1:city>Babylon</st1:city> after 70 long years. Those who survived the exile (the
remnant) uprooted themselves and returned to their homeland around 538 BC. </div>
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Everything
was in ruins. They tried their best to pick up the pieces and rebuild up their nation
once again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, how does this story connect
with the bigger unfolding story of God’s kingdom? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, we can trace through the
Bible how God longs for His people to live in God’s place under His presence
and rule. God’s presence was with Adam and Eve (his people) in the Garden of
Eden (God’s place) and they live under God’s rule (to commune with Him, to be
fruitful and multiply and to care and rule over the earth). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then God made His dwelling in the
temple at the heart of <st1:city>Jerusalem</st1:city> where His people, the nation of <st1:country-region>Israel</st1:country-region>, lived under His law given to Moses. The temple was where
heaven and earth met. It’s the place where people make sacrifices and have their
sins forgiven. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, a remnant of God’s people
returned from exile. So they are back in God’s land. But where is God’s reign
and presence? His temple still lies in ruin. That’s the missing piece that the
message of Haggai seeks to fix. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As Tom and Steven said earlier sermons,
it’s not that they didn’t want to rebuild the temple. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWUh00m2UstXJAg_2J7OeTq34jnc5i-DpCVlZkR1MdH5lTcrErbMc66Swi1B-qKNw3QgDtxaGUHFRsReGXhGvOEXKL-MD0sK1bty1ETeSSXikto8SsN3qaM6MkHHVHOzC7wZekg/s1600/soichi1-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWUh00m2UstXJAg_2J7OeTq34jnc5i-DpCVlZkR1MdH5lTcrErbMc66Swi1B-qKNw3QgDtxaGUHFRsReGXhGvOEXKL-MD0sK1bty1ETeSSXikto8SsN3qaM6MkHHVHOzC7wZekg/s320/soichi1-l.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
They are saying, “The
time is not yet.” Imagine them sitting around a table in the local coffee shop:
“You know, it’s a shame that the temple lies in ruins. But the economy is not
doing so well. The Jerusalem Composite Index is on a bearish run. We are just
so busy building our own houses that we can’t find the time to do it. Give it
some time and we can build a bigger, better temple when we are ready”. It
sounds very reasonable. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But one year passed… then another
year… then another… This went on for 16 years. The project was postponed for 16
long years before Haggai came with a wake up call. This is not just an innocent
timing issue. Behind that procrastinating ‘not yet’ is sinful disobedience. It’s
a heart problem because God’s presence is simply not their priority. As a
result, they are never satisfied. It’s like keeping money in a purse with
holes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The message of Haggai is one that we desperately need to
hear here in CDPC Puchong. 1 Corinthians <st1:time hour="15" minute="16">3:16</st1:time>
says: “<b><sup><span style="background: white;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white;">Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” Today, the body of Christ, the church
is the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="background: white;">temple</span></st1:placetype><span style="background: white;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="background: white;">God</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="background: white;">
where the Holy Spirit dwells. Are you investing your life in building the
people of God, the church? </span>Will you seek first the <st1:place><st1:placetype>kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place> and trust that all these
things shall be added unto you? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">We can understand that there
may be certain seasons in life where you can’t invest as much time or energy
into ministry as you would like i.e. maybe a baby just arrived, or you are
tired and need a rest or you need to be equipped… Whatever it is, but be
careful that your ‘not yet’ is not just another excuse that goes on forever, that
the right time never comes. Be careful that procrastination doesn’t hide
distorted priorities in our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">John Piper says this: </span>If
you devote yourself to sowing and eating and drinking and clothing yourselves
and earning wages, but neglect building and growing the body of Christ (the
temple of God), you will live in constant frustration. If you spend your time
and energy seeking comfort and security from the world, and do not spend
yourself for the glory of God, every pleasure will leave its sour aftertaste of
depression and guilt and frustration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the amazing thing happened, the people actually
responded to God’s word. They started working on the temple. They got excited
about God’s presence. Their spirits were stirred and roused to action. That’s
where we left off two weeks ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Which brings us to today’s episode in Chapter 2 and this is
what Scripture says: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Haggai 2</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span class="texthag-2-1"><b><sup>1 </sup></b>On the twenty-first day of the seventh month,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-1">the word of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-1">came through the prophet Haggai:</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-2"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>“Speak to Zerubbabel</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-2">son of Shealtiel, governor of </span><st1:country-region>Judah</st1:country-region><span class="texthag-2-2">, to Joshua son of Jozadak,<sup> </sup>the
high priest, and to the <span style="color: red;">remnant</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-2">of the people. Ask them,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-3"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>‘Who of you is left who saw this house</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-3">in its former glory? How does it
look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? </span><span class="texthag-2-4"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="texthag-2-4">. ‘Be strong,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">Joshua son of Jozadak,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">the high priest. Be strong, all you
people of the land,’ declares the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="texthag-2-4">, ‘and work. For I am with</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">you,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">Almighty.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>‘This is what I covenanted</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5">with you when you came out of </span><st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region><span class="texthag-2-5">.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5">And my Spirit</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5">remains among you. Do not fear.’</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="texthag-2-6"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>“This is what the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-6">Almighty says: ‘In a little while</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-6">I will once more shake the heavens
and the earth,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-6">the sea and the dry land.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-7"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>I will shake all nations, and what is desired</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-7">by all nations will come, and I
will fill this house with glory,’ says the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-7">Almighty.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>‘The silver is mine and the gold</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8">is mine,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8">Almighty.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>‘The glory</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">of this present house</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">will be greater than the glory of
the former house,’ says the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">Almighty. ‘And in this place I will
grant peace,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">Almighty.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, about a month has passed since the people of God
started rebuilding the temple. Things had been going well until now. They would
have removed plenty of rubbles and have some idea of the scope and size of the
new temple. <br />
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s also the seventh month (<st1:date day="17" month="10" year="520">17 October 520 BC</st1:date>). Around this time 400 + years ago,
King Solomon had dedicated his magnificent temple to the Lord with a great
celebration. It’s near the anniversary of that great day when the glory of the
Lord filled the temple (2 Chronicles 7). On this very spot had stood the temple
where heaven and earth met. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you remember the splendor of that original temple? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In case you forgot let me remind you that it took 70,000
laborers, 80,000 stone cutters and 3,300 supervisors to build that amazing piece
of architecture. It was made of costly stones. From the floor to the walls of
the ceiling, expensive intricately carved cedar wood covered everything so that
no stone was seen. Then the entire house was overlaid with gold. Can you
imagine how glorious it was? (1 Kings
6-7) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some old-timers who survived the exile may still vividly recall
how it once looked like. You can imagine a young Jewish builder proudly saying to
his grandfather: “Look, I want to show you our work in progress. What do you
think of the new temple?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the old man tactfully said, “Oh… hmmm… that’s very smart
of you. It’s very compact this new temple design, isn’t it? You can walk from
end to end without getting tired. And the yellow paint you used on the walls
looks like gold… Ahh, very clever.. You know what, back in the good old days it’s
so different.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing they are building now compares with that. There’s no
hope of beating the original. The difference between the glorious past and the
insignificant present is so sad. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Haggai said out loud what they are already feeling inside
(look at verse 3):<span class="texthag-2-3"><b><sup> <o:p></o:p></sup></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">‘Who of
you is left who saw this house</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-3">in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it
not seem to you like nothing?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of being inspired remembering the temple dedication anniversary,
they looked at the relatively pathetic and tiny structure in front of them… And
they felt paralyzing despair. They are crippled by discouragement. They have
lost heart and their hands turned weak. The work has slowed down or come to a
complete stop. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, as Christians, our focus is not on a temple made of
bricks and mortar. We don’t look at this passage and say: Let’s build a new
temple for Jesus! Because we now understand that our body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit. God is now present in our lives:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="highl">Paul wrote: “Or do you not know that your
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and
that you are not your own?</span> For you have been bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">The church
(the people of God) is now the temple in which the Spirit dwells today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">And if you
have invested your time, energy, sometimes blood and sweat into building a
church (I don’t mean the building, but investing your life in people, to make
disciples and help them grow as followers of Jesus), you are building the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span class="texthag-2-3">temple</span></st1:placetype><span class="texthag-2-3"> of </span><st1:placename><span class="texthag-2-3">God</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="texthag-2-3"> today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">If you’ve ever
done that, you know how easy it is to feel discouraged and frustrated. You can
identify exactly with what these remnants of </span><st1:country-region>Israel</st1:country-region><span class="texthag-2-3"> were feeling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Sometimes,
our efforts seem so pathetic and our ministries seem so insignificant that you
just wonder: “What’s the point? Am I wasting my time? It’s like throwing
pebbles into the ocean. It’s not changing anything.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Have you
ever felt that before? I can honestly share with you that there are days when I
wonder if all of this is worth it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Yes, there
are wonderful times when you see signs of spiritual growth. Recently a brother
shared with me how after years of asking questions and exploring the Christian
faith that he’s now ready to stake his life on Christ and give back to society.
And how different people in church have walked with him in this spiritual
journey… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Such
stories can encourage and motivate me for months, but they don’t happen
overnight. They are few and far in between. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Sometimes,
our words and efforts seem to bounce off without making a dent in people’s
lives or in the wider culture that you just feel like giving up. People may be
so responsive to God’s word in this area of their lives, but in some other
areas, they are so stubborn and slow to change. (LRT will so many people in KL?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Gospel
ministry is not for the faint hearted. It is hard work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">And such
frustration with the fruit of our ministry is made worse if we compare our
present, feeble efforts with a golden age in the past. Back in the good old
days (“seong tong nin”)… “Wow! Look at the church during the Great Awakening
revival. Thousands of people were converted. The gospel was preached so
powerfully. What we do now seems like nothing in comparison.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Some of
you may still recall the golden era of CDPC where we had three full time
pastors on top of experienced preachers like Soo Inn and Peter Rowan. Later, we
also had Pastor Kay Hoe on board. Back in the good old days… things were really
happening! And we may be tempted to look at the present and feel discouraged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">When we
feel like that, we may not to drop out from church altogether. But we may be
tempted to scale back on the time and energy we pour into serving others and
making disciples. Just do the bare minimum, warm the seats and focus our energy
elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">As a
result, the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span class="texthag-2-3">church</span></st1:placetype><span class="texthag-2-3"> of </span><st1:placename><span class="texthag-2-3">God</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="texthag-2-3"> is not being built up and the work
is abandoned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
That can be true in other areas of our lives too:
in our parenting, in our marriages, in our work lives, we can often find
ourselves comparing ourselves to others and feeling discouraged as a result…<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">That’s why
we desperately need to hear the message of Haggai today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">If we are
to press on and to persevere in building God’s temple today, to make disciples
and invest our lives in the lives of others, we need to know two things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="texthag-2-3">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="texthag-2-3">Can it be done? Can we do it? If
it’s a wonderful project but we can’t do it, then what’s the use? Is it
feasible or is it an exercise in futility? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Look at
verse 4 onwards: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-4"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="texthag-2-4">. ‘Be strong,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">Joshua son of Jozadak,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">the high priest. Be strong, all you
people of the land,’ declares the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="texthag-2-4">, ‘and work. For I am with</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">you,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-4">Almighty.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>‘This is what I covenanted</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5">with you when you came out of </span><st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region><span class="texthag-2-5">.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5">And my Spirit</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-5">remains among you. Do not fear.’</span><span class="texthag-2-3"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Lord is saying to His people: Be strong
and work! Why? “For I am with you”…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
When you came out of <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>, I promised that I would always be with you. I am still
with you, so do not be afraid. I will not break my covenant. I will be faithful
even when you were unfaithful. That’s why I have brought you back out of exile
into the land again.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
Is there anything that gives you more
courage and strength than the presence of God? Would you rather hear God
promise that He will send resources, expertise and angels to help us do the job?
Or that He himself will be with us and walk with us all the way? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve ever taken your child to the doctor’s office, or
to the dentist, then you understand how encouraging this promise is. Your child is sitting there in the doctor’s
room and what does your child say to you?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Don’t leave me, daddy!
Stay right here with me, mommy!” Now
why is that encouraging to the small child?
You see, there’s just something about knowing the parent is there that
calms the child. If things get bad, the child knows the parent will step-in
there and take charge of the situation.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s what is so encouraging about the presence of God
in our lives. God says, “Be strong and
work, for I am with you.” I am in
control. I’m right here by your side. You will never walk alone. I will never
leave you nor forsake you. I will keep my covenant with you. My Spirit remains
with you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Look back to how God’s presence has been with you
through history. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The history of the people of <st1:country-region>Israel</st1:country-region> (how He brought them out of <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> and then again out of <st1:city>Babylon</st1:city>) proves His constant love. In the seventh month, around this
time, the nation celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles where everyone stays
outside of their homes, as if they camp out in booths or tents out in the open.
It reminds them of how God has brought them out of <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region> and their forefathers stayed in tents like that. It’s a
testimony of how God has been faithful in their history. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
When we look back through
our own lives, perhaps we can trace that God is with us all along even we
didn’t sense it at that time. Even when times have been difficult, God’s
presence is in our lives.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br />
And that’s exactly the promise of our Lord
Jesus when He gives us the Great Commission. As we obey His call to<span class="woj"> go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</span> <span class="woj">and
teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us, Jesus says: “And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can do this. Because I am with you and I have poured out
my Spirit to empower you, fill you and guide you. “Not by might, nor by power,
but by My Spirit,” says the Lord. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So be strong and work at making disciples and building God’s
temple. Because you know Jesus will be with you as you obey his call. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span class="texthag-2-3">Is it worth doing? If we can do it
but it’s not worth the effort, then why bother? Is it something significant
worth the trouble?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">Look at
verse 6: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span class="texthag-2-6"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>“This is what the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-6">Almighty says: ‘In a little while</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-6">I will once more shake the heavens
and the earth,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-6">the sea and the dry land.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-7"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>I will shake all nations, and what is desired</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-7">by all nations will come, and I
will fill this house with glory,’ says the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-7">Almighty.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>‘The silver is mine and the gold</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8">is mine,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8">Almighty.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>‘The glory</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">of this present house</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">will be greater than the glory of
the former house,’ says the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">Almighty. ‘And in this place I will
grant peace,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-9">Almighty.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">What
Haggai is saying here is: “Don’t look down on this humble temple that you are
building. The best is yet to come! The glory of this present house which seems
mundane now will be greater than the glory of the former house. You build more
than your eyes can see!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">In a
little while, sometime in the future, the Lord will once more shake the heavens
and the earth… there’s apocalyptic language here that move from the immediate
present to the future. It means that God will do something earth-shattering, something
planet-shaking, paradigm-shifting so to speak… He will shake the nations and
what is desired by all nations will come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">There have
been discussions among students of the Bible about: “What is “the desire of all
nations’ about? Is it referring to the coming of Christ?” Some beautiful hymns
were written referring to Christ as the desire of the nations (which is true). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="texthag-2-3">But it
seems unlikely that’s what Haggai is referring to because the “desired” of all
nations is in the plural… so it probably refers to the precious treasures that
the nations desire will one day come to the temple… That makes more sense of
the following verse: </span><span class="texthag-2-8">‘The silver is mine and the gold</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8">is mine,’ declares the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texthag-2-8">Almighty. </span><br />
<span class="texthag-2-8"><br /></span>
<span class="texthag-2-8">Although the builders
lack resources now, </span><span class="texthag-2-3">Haggai prophesies of a glorious day when the nations’
treasures will be brought into the temple as tribute in honor of Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
But how was this prophecy fulfilled? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
Like most prophecies, it was fulfilled in
stages, and the final fulfillment is yet to come. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
There are multiple shakings, multiple
interventions of God in history in its fulfillment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
At one level, we can see this happening
when the Persian King Darius ordered those who opposed the temple building to pay
the costs of this project from the revenue of their own money. The treasures of
the nations were used for the temple project. You can read this in Ezra <st1:metricconverter productid="6. A">6. A</st1:metricconverter> few centuries later, King Herod would extend and heavily
renovate this temple so that it became a truly glorious piece of architecture
during the time of Jesus. That’s another possible level of fulfillment of
Haggai’s prophecy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
The glory of the Lord came upon Solomon’s
temple in a spectacular fashion – fire came down from heaven and consumed the
sacrifices. But an even greater glory entered the second temple when Jesus the
Messiah, God incarnate himself, walked in it and said in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%202.19" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">John 2:19</span></a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%202.20" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">20</span></a>, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up . . . By that he was speaking of the temple of his body." In
effect, Jesus is making a direct continuity between the temple and himself:
once God met his people in the temple, now God meets us in the person of Jesus
Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some students of the Bible believe a
glorious temple will once again be built in Jerusalem and stand through 1000
years as Christ rules on earth (Ezekiel 41ff.;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Thessalonians%202.4" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">2 Thessalonians 2:4</span></a>). And the nations will indeed bring
their tribute to Christ. If you are premillennial in your eschatology, that might
be another level of fulfillment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That may be the case, but the ultimate
fulfillment of the temple is described in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%2021.22" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Revelation 21:22</span></a>. In the new Jerusalem (when the city
of <st1:city>God</st1:city> descends on earth as it is in heaven), John says,
"And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the
Almighty and the Lamb."<o:p></o:p></div>
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There won’t be a temple anymore because God and Christ will
be our temple. We won’t need a temple because we will dwell directly in God’s
presence, in the holy of holies. God’s people will finally be in God’s place
(new heaven and new earth) under God’s rule forever. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 16.8pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
The
point is this: God had a purpose for this humble temple. The Israelite builders
in Haggai’s time could not see all of this, and what they could see seemed so small.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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So God’s
promise came to them loud and clear: Be strong. You build more than you see. I
will take the fruit of your little labor and make it glorious beyond measure,
no matter how trivial it may seem to you now. <br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">The
covenant group, the youth group or Sunday school class or English program
students you are working with may seem small and ordinary today… you may feel
discouraged comparing with others or with the past. </span></div>
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But God takes small, imperfect things and turns them into public displays for his
glory. Nothing you do is insignificant if you do it in the name of Christ, for His glory and conscious of His presence with you. He will shake heaven and earth to fill your labor with glory. </div>
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So take courage, church, you build more than your eyes can see.</div>
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If we stay focused on God and trust in his presence with us,
he will shake things up in our lives. And the glory of the future
temple will be greater than the past. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So in
conclusion, God knows that we all face discouragements in life and in gospel
ministry.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
But He says to us through Haggai:<br />
<br />
If you are feeling
discouraged, reflect back on the past and see that God is faithful. He’s a
covenant keeping God. If you are feeling frustrated, reflect on the presence
of God with you now, in the present by his Holy Spirit. If you are feeling
disappointed, trust in the fact that God has a beautiful future for you filled
with his glory and peace.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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Let us pray.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-89509526896878489322015-03-29T22:25:00.002+08:002015-04-02T18:53:48.133+08:00Romans 16: The Goal Of The Gospel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Romans 16: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-17"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-17"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause
divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you
have learned.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-17"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Keep away from them.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-18"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-18"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-18"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">but their own
appetites.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-18"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">By smooth talk and flattery they deceive</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-18"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">the minds of naive
people.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-19"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-19"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Everyone has heard</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-19"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">about your obedience,
so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and
innocent about what is evil.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-20"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-20"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The God of peace</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-20"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">will soon crush</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-20"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Satan</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-20"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">under your feet.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-20"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The grace of our Lord
Jesus be with you.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-21"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-21"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Timothy,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-21"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-21"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Jason</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-21"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">and Sosipater, my
fellow Jews.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-22"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-22"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-23"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-23"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Gaius,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-23"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his
greetings.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-23"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Erastus,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-23"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">who is the city’s
director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-24"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">[24] </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-24"><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+16&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28361e" title="See footnote e"><span style="color: #b34b2c; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">e</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-16-25"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-25"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Now to him who is able</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-25"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">to establish you in
accordance with my gospel,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-25"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the
revelation of the mystery</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-25"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">hidden for long ages past,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-26"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">26 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-26"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-26"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">by the command of the
eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes
from<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+16&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28363f" title="See footnote f"><span style="color: #b34b2c; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">f</span></a>]</sup></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-26"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">faith—</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-27"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-27"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Earlier this month, the local social media was abuzz with news
that Putrajaya has purchased a new private jet for our Prime Minister’s use. It
costs tax payers RM 109 million. Many people wonder if the money could be put
to better use at a time when people are tightening their belt with rising costs
of living. But even Putrajaya was outdone by a pastor who caused an even bigger
uproar by asking 200,000 supporters to donate $300 each to his ministry. You
may ask why would a mega church pastor need to raise 60 million dollars? (>
two times more expensive) Is it for a noble cause like providing education and medicine
to poor children? Or feed starving people around the world? Well, sadly no. <o:p></o:p></div>
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All that money will go to buy Pastor
Dollar a brand new luxury private jet so he could <span style="background: white;">"continue
reaching a lost and dying world for the Lord Jesus Christ." A</span> few
people dug deep into their wallets to send him the cash. The rest of us started
feeling sick in our stomachs at so many levels. Why can’t he just fly
commercial planes? Which Jesus is he preaching anyway? The real Son of God
arrived on the back of a humble donkey. He didn’t require a first class, luxury
chariot. A prosperity preacher who gets rich off the offerings of poor people
is not only exploiting/oppressing the church, he is denying everything that the
gospel stands for. There is a word for it: He is fleecing the sheep for his own
selfish profit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s why the apostle Paul warns
us to watch out for false teachers in the passage we read just now. He says: Be
alert of what they are up to. Be on the lookout for their scams. He tells us to
keep away from them. There is no getting close to them with a holy kiss. Instead,
turn away. Separate yourself from their lifestyles and teachings. Because if we
remain silent and pretend that everything is hunky dory, we are in effect
giving them legitimacy and opportunity to cause further damage and harm. At the
very least, we are showing consent by our silence and close association with
them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Look at verse 17-19: “<span class="textrom-16-17">I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those
who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the
teaching you have learned.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span>Keep away from them. <span class="textrom-16-18">For such
people are not serving our Lord Christ,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-18">but their
own appetites.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-18">By smooth talk and flattery they deceive</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-18">the minds of
naive people.”</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a sharp transition
from greetings to warnings here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why? Because unity
of the church (expressed by the holy kiss) has its foundation on Christ. We
share the same faith in the gospel of His kingdom. That is the basis for our
fellowship and partnership. In Christ, we transcend all cultural, social,
ethnic barriers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That is the reason
Paul now warns them to be on guard against false teachers who threaten
to divide their community. His anger was aroused by their attempts to cause
disunity in the church by contradicting apostolic teachings. Contrary to the
claims of books like Da Vinci Code that everything is up for grabs until the
church tradition defines what orthodoxy is hundreds of years later, Paul is
referring to an already established body of apostolic tradition that is
normative and binding even at this very early stage of the Christian faith. Truth unites God’s people. Heresy separates and
divides us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now look at verse 19: *Everyone
has heard about your obedience*, Paul says, *so I am full of joy over you*. But
there are two kinds of obedience – blind obedience or discerning,
eyes-wide-open obedience. Yes, I’m happy to hear of your obedience *but I want
you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil*. To be wise
and discerning is to recognize what is good, to love it and follow it. But when
it comes to evil, be innocent like a child. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, how do we discern truth from
error? Paul gives us three litmus tests that we could apply in the form of
questions to any kind of teaching we come across.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Does it agree
with Scripture? (The biblical test – is it contrary to the apostles’ teaching?)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Does it glorify
our Lord Jesus? (The Christological test – does it serve Jesus or someone
else?) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Does it promote
goodness? (The moral test – be experts in good, and not even beginners in evil)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Recently, I had the chance to
speak to some of our guests here and find a recurring theme: one family drove
here from quite a distance because they are looking for a church that teaches
the Bible consistently and faithfully. They said it’s hard to find one. One sister
was greatly helped by solid Bible teachings she found online that made her to question
and seek for a similar church. Yet another family shared with me that they were
frustrated when teachers do not faithfully interpret what Scripture says, but
go off tangent on their own favorite topics that had no connection whatsoever with
the text. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Although I don’t know if they will
eventually find CDPC Puchong a suitable home church or not, I want to commend
them for their commitment to take the trouble to discern the truth from error.
I want to encourage you to continue your hunger for faithful preaching of God’s
word. Because for some people, it is simply not a priority…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once I heard a guest preacher from
the <st1:country-region>UK</st1:country-region> came to a local church and he taught from the pulpit:
“There are many ways of salvation apart from Jesus. As long as they are
sincere, it doesn’t matter what they believe”. Only a few people picked it up
(maybe about ten), and we had a conversation with him after the service. What
surprised me was that most people didn’t even realize that what the preacher
taught was far from biblical. They just continued with their normal Sunday
activities without a hint. Either they didn’t understand his British accent or
it simply didn’t matter to them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But it does matter. It matters
whether we are divided by error. It matters for the glory of Christ. It matters
for the well being and unity of God’s people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That is why as part of our Church
membership requirement we go through a few sessions on our Basic Beliefs on: What
is the gospel? What are some of our core values we hold in unity? Because if we
are divided, fragmented and we do not even agree on core doctrines like who
Jesus is and what the gospel means, then it would be an obstacle for the church
to grow and serve together. In the essentials, let there be unity. On the
non-essentials, let there be diversity. We can agree to disagree on lots of
other things (which are important to us, and we may have strong views about
speaking in tongues or end time scenarios) because the unity we share in Christ
and in the gospel transcends all these differences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In all things, let there be charity,
gentleness and respect.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s also why I need you to help
our team of preachers who serve you by teaching God’s word. Pray for us.
Discern with us. Check out our pulpit calendar and study the Scripture text in
advance. Help each other to grow in discernment. I always welcome your feedback
to help me to be more faithful to the text and more effective in teaching it.
If I ever teach things that seem contrary to what the Bible says, you’d do me a
great favor by gently pointing it out and correcting me from the authority of
Scripture. Maybe that would help me improve. Maybe that would give me a chance
to clarify. Whatever it is, our teachings matter so that we give Christ the
glory He deserves and to maintain unity in His body. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Behind these false teachers and
divisions and factions, Paul sees the work of Satan, the enemy. So look at the
promise in verse <span class="textrom-16-20"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>The God of
peace</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-20">will soon crush</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-20">Satan</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-20">under your feet.</span> God’s peace is not compromise with
evil. It is not through appeasing Satan but the defeat of evil that true peace
is attained. For that, we need the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With these warnings, Paul
continued with a shorter list of names and greetings. Here we go again in verse
21-23 other fellow workers and friends of Paul who were with him in <st1:city>Corinth</st1:city> show up to send their greetings to the church in <st1:city>Rome</st1:city>. Timothy is his famous son, protégé in the Lord. <span class="textrom-16-22">Do you notice something interesting here v</span>erse 22? “<span class="textrom-16-22">I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the
Lord.” The ideas and words in this letter were all from Paul but he was
technically not the person who wrote it down. He collaborates with a scribe
named Tertius. And if I could meet him personally, I want to thank Tertius for
writing one of the most influential and important letters ever written. It was
a momentous task, a difficult mission to keep up with Paul’s complex thoughts
especially when he gets excited</span>, but he has done a wonderful job so we
can read it today. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With that we come to the
appropriate conclusion, the grand finale of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Here
he breaks forth into praise: “To the only wise God be glory forever“! There is
a reason for this and it’s simply this: Theology is for doxology. After
reflecting and explaining who God is and what Christ has done to effect our
salvation at such length and depth, it is time to bow down and worship Him for
all that He is, for all that he has done. Because the goal of all Bible
studies, of all Christian education, of all Sunday school catechism, of all
youth group Systematic theology, of all Alpha course, of all doctrinal
reflection is ultimately for the glory and love of God. They are like fuel that
feeds the fire of our worship. That’s why in our worship songs we put a high
premium on solid, truthful and biblical lyrics and express that in song, with
emotion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because the purpose of studying
about God is not to just stop at satisfying our curiosity or some sort of
intellectual exercise. God is not to be merely analyzed and discussed, He is to
be adored, marveled at, obeyed, exulted in, to be reveled in and magnified for all
that He is. If theology stops short of worship/doxology, it is stunted and incomplete.
<span style="background: white;">Do you see and do you love it? You were made for
this. Something deep in your soul is saying to you: I was made for this—to
behold the glory of God and to reflect that glory.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #3a3c3f; font-family: Rockwell;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What does Paul praise God for?
Interestingly, God is glorified for 3 things… Three major themes in the entire
letter of Romans captured in a nutshell. These are the same themes found at the
very beginning of this letter’s introduction (Romans 1). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Earlier, he speaks of the power
of God to save sinners. Now, he speaks of God’s power to establish saints. He
not only brings us to faith, He also strengthens and nurtures us to grow in
faith. When we see that spiritual progress is getting hard and seems hopeless,
that’s not a reason to give up… All the more you should press on because God is
able to establish us against errors, He is able to make us stand firm against
temptation. He is able to grant us courage against dangers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No power of hell, no scheme of man<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can ever pluck me from His hand<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Till he returns or calls me home<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is the power of God I stand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Paul speaks of the gospel of
Christ as something promised and revealed progressively “through the prophetic
writings by the command of the eternal God” (verse 26). It is a mystery that
beyond the powers of the human mind to discover on its own, a secret that is
hidden for long ages past in symbols, hints and clues in the Old Testament. But
now it is revealed fully in the person of Jesus Christ, through His death and
resurrection as recorded in the NT. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FyjIkJqth5p09HyQIyumVfSIgfatVCMfiYtezRB2B1HxbV2IqRnKHtHHaehzFEDv53H1A5jx5ZMnSNX97mj3B3O1GE_8UAbGc6MBX0pcBO9C4iav8xHdaJKmzOONj79YyDIjJw/s1600/painting6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FyjIkJqth5p09HyQIyumVfSIgfatVCMfiYtezRB2B1HxbV2IqRnKHtHHaehzFEDv53H1A5jx5ZMnSNX97mj3B3O1GE_8UAbGc6MBX0pcBO9C4iav8xHdaJKmzOONj79YyDIjJw/s1600/painting6.jpg" height="400" width="381" /></a><span style="background: white;">Spurgeon has this
to say about how we read all of Scripture, especially the OT: “Don’t you
know, young man, that from every town and every village and every hamlet
in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background: white;">England</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white;">, wherever it may be, there is a road to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">London</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;">? So from every text of Scripture there is
a road to Christ. And my dear brother, your business is, when you get to a
text, to say, now, what is the road to Christ? I have never found a text that
had not got a road to Christ in it, and if ever I do find one, I will go over
hedge and ditch but I would get at my Master, for the sermon cannot do any good
unless there is a savor of Christ in it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christ is in the OT concealed, and
in the NT revealed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">3) Thirdly, God
is praised for </span>*the evangelization of the nations*. Not only is the
gospel revealed, it must also be made known *all nations might believe and obey
him* (verse 26). Again, this is a major theme at the beginning of Romans 1:5 –
Paul received his calling as an apostle to *bring about the obedience of faith
for the sake of Christ’s name among all nations*. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this is not a divine suggestion. This universal, all
inclusive commission to bring the gospel to all nations is by *by the command
of the eternal God* to unite Jews and Gentiles, bumiputra and non bumiputra as
one people in Christ. And the only proper response to the gospel is faith
alone, but it is not just merely lip service (I believe, and then live just
like everybody else). That faith is itself an act of obedience to what God has
revealed and demanded… and that genuine faith will result in a life of obeying
Christ as Lord and King. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, God is praised and worshiped for His wisdom and power in
making known the gospel through Scripture, by God’s command, so that all
nations may believe and obey. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let us worship him for his power and wisdom displayed in the
gospel.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-43536095242035805382015-03-15T22:23:00.002+08:002015-04-07T08:43:47.297+08:00The Marks Of Healthy Ministry Team<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Romans 16:1-16</span></span><span class="passage-display-version"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="chapter-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="textrom-16-1">I commend</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-1">to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-1">of the church in Cenchreae (</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;">SEHN-kree-ay<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="textrom-16-1">).</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-2"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>I ask you
to receive her in the Lord</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-2">in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she
may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including
me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-3"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>Greet Priscilla<sup> </sup>and </span><st1:place>Aquila</st1:place><span class="textrom-16-3">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-3">my co-workers</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-3">in Christ Jesus.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-4"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the
churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-5"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>Greet also the church that meets at their house.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-5">Greet my dear friend Epenetus (a-pen-nee-tus),
who was the first convert</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-5">to Christ in the province of </span><st1:place>Asia</st1:place><span class="textrom-16-5">.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-6"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-7"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>Greet Andronicus and Junia (</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">dzhou-nih-uhs<span class="apple-converted-space">)</span></span><span class="textrom-16-7">, my fellow Jews</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-7">who have been in prison with me.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-7">They are outstanding among<sup> </sup>the
apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-8"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>Greet Ampliatus (</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">am-plee-AY-tuhs)</span><span class="textrom-16-8">, my dear friend in the Lord.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-9"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-9">and my dear friend Stachys (</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">STAY-kihs)</span><span class="textrom-16-9">.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-10"><b><sup>10 </sup></b>Greet Apelles (</span><b><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247);">uh - P el - les</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247);">)</span></span><span class="textrom-16-10">, whose fidelity to Christ has
stood the test.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-10">Greet those who belong to the
household</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-10">of Aristobulus.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-11"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-11">Greet those in the household</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-11">of Narcissus who are in the Lord.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-12"><b><sup>12 </sup></b>Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in
the Lord.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-12">Greet my dear friend Persis,
another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-13"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>Greet Rufus,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-13">chosen</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-13">in the Lord, and his mother, who
has been a mother to me, too.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-14"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the
other brothers and sisters with them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-15"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>Greet Philologus (</span><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247);">phil O' log us)</span><span class="textrom-16-15">, Julia, Nereus (</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">NEE-roos</span><span class="textrom-16-15">) and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-16-15">who are with them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-16"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>Greet one another with a holy kiss.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="hang-2" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span class="textrom-16-16">All the churches of Christ send
greetings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="textrom-16-21"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textrom-16-16">------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is one of the most difficult Bible passages that I’ve
ever had to read. There are just so many unfamiliar names that I had to spend
an hour just trying to Google for the right pronunciations. And it makes you
wonder (doesn’t it?): What is a list of names and greetings like this doing in
the Holy Scriptures? And how in the world are we gonna do a sermon, much less a
Church Anniversary sermon based on this text? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Truth be told, many of us reading this would be tempted to
just skip all that and focus on something more interesting, isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unless of course, you are going to have a baby and would
like to choose a biblical name for him or her… if that’s you, today’s passage
is very relevant. It’s a treasure chest full of very original and exotic names
you can choose from! Tryphosa Tan? Philologus a/l Victor? Sosipater bin Indra?
How about that for a name? <span class="textrom-16-14"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I guess this is not the main reason why this passage is
included in the Bible. Nor is its purpose in the canon just to fill up space.
If other name lists in the Bible such as the genealogies of Jesus contain
important precious nuggets of truth, I think this list of greetings at the end
of Romans deserves our careful attention too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But how are we going to do this? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZVrvWRFk6gEkgyiXjxJn1xYXCLyUv1r-zW6Nc3kfudZnJUDdL5wIlv2nWjNFautrEGPtaoMx04Ru6QeJyCaU1kwtzBgdyoB8vZtAJyB3P8mdS9kv7M1Jf7yjsfQZmi3aWm1KvA/s1600/Rhythm_of_the_forest____-2006____mix_media____40_x_59cm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZVrvWRFk6gEkgyiXjxJn1xYXCLyUv1r-zW6Nc3kfudZnJUDdL5wIlv2nWjNFautrEGPtaoMx04Ru6QeJyCaU1kwtzBgdyoB8vZtAJyB3P8mdS9kv7M1Jf7yjsfQZmi3aWm1KvA/s1600/Rhythm_of_the_forest____-2006____mix_media____40_x_59cm.JPG" /></a>Firstly we need to realize that when the Holy Spirit inspired
the apostle Paul to write this portion of Scripture, He inspired Paul to write
an epistle. By the way, an epistle is not the wife of an apostle. An epistle is
basically a letter. It is not just a private letter, so it is not as if we are
not intruding into somebody else’ private email. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is an open letter to be read out in public (perhaps in a
congregation as people gather to worship like what we do this morning). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it is usually at the end of his letters that Paul does
something special, something very unique that he doesn’t usually do elsewhere
and it’s simply this: <u>Paul talks about himself.</u> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>He gets into some personal details. <o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, he did mention about himself elsewhere but it is
usually at the end of his letters that Paul takes time to really ponder and
reflect openly about the relationships that matter to him, about his own personal
feelings, his friendships, his aspirations and plans for ministry… of what God
can do and might do through him… It’s usually here that we get an insider’s look
(almost from the back door) into what drives Paul or makes him tick… What
frames and shapes his ministry? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here at the end of Romans, we have a personal insight into the
relationships that mean a great deal in his life and ministry. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s what we desperately need to hear here at CDPC Puchong
on our 5th anniversary. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there’s a reason for this: All of us gathered here as God’s
people this morning are gifted to serve and minister in some capacity as Christ
calls us to. It’s hard to get rid of the old idea that pastors/elders are the
ones actively doing ministry and the members are the ones receiving the
ministry. But that’s not the model that the Bible expresses. The biblical model
is for leaders to equip all of God’s people for the works of ministry. The
various gifts and abilities Christ has blessed us with are not without purpose:
they are meant for something, to make disciples and grow the Body of Christ. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If all of us are doing ministry, then do you know what we
need? We need someone like Paul to sit down with us and help shape our ministry
and grow our spiritual friendships. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we are invited this morning to catch a glimpse of Paul’s
life, relationships and ministry aspirations and see what we can learn for our
own lives, to apply to our own relationships as a church and our ministry
aspirations. We are invited this morning to hear him saying to us: “Follow me
as I follow Christ”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That means we need to read Romans not only for its theology.
We need to read it for the autobiography as well. We have already read it for
the profound truths of the gospel. Now
we need to read it for the life examples, for the personal stories, for the meaningful
friendships that grow out of the gospel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what are the relationships that mark and shape a fruitful
and healthy ministry team? What kind of friendships grow on fields nourished by
the gospel of grace? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In chapter 15, we know that Paul has big plans to preach the
gospel in places where Christ is not named. He has a macro-strategy to launch
out from <st1:city>Rome</st1:city> and plant churches in
cities where no one has gone before. He is like a general who can’t sit still,
always restless with the world map laid out before him. He has a huge vision of
gospel ministry. Next stop: <st1:country-region>Spain</st1:country-region>.
</div>
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But here in Chapter 16, we see Paul sending warm greetings
to his <u>dear friends</u> in the Lord. He affectionately calls them his <u>fellow
workers</u> in Christ. They are his <u>family</u> - notice <span lang="EN">how he calls these people: sister, brother, household,
kinsmen, fellow prisoners, beloved, mother to me.</span><span lang="EN"> </span>And
this is even more remarkable considering the fact that Paul has never been to <st1:city>Rome</st1:city>.
Somebody else planted this church. But from these greetings, we get an
insider’s look that actually he knew quite a lot of people here. And he knew
them personally by name. </div>
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There’s a paradox here: Paul is not just a big picture kind
of guy, he’s also a “people person” kind of guy. He has a global vision for
mission yet he knows that you need to get involved in the personal lives of
people in order for ministry to really work. He thinks global, but he acts
local. He can see the forest and the trees at the same time. </div>
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And that is so rare but that is the mark of a healthy ministry.
You need to commit yourself, invest time and energy in people. You dive into
the messy details of each other’s lives. Gospel ministry is always enacted in
the personal stories of people. </div>
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It is not like signing up for a pyramid scheme. It is not about
just downloading accurate information from a podcast. Gospel ministry is profoundly
relational. Although it can be very inconvenient, our Lord Jesus did make a
personal appearance and dwelt among us. He didn’t just Skype us from heaven. <span style="background: #FDFDFD; color: #026568; font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So relationships are not just the tools, not just the
platform by which you get the real work of ministry done. Spiritual friendships
are at the very heart of what ministry is all about. </div>
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You think fondly of your “dear friend in the Lord” (verse 7).
You write long letters (or emails) to them when you are apart. You miss them. You
remember what they have done for you. Look at verse 4: “Priscilla and <st1:place>Aquila</st1:place>:
They risked their necks for me.” </div>
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And you show your affection to them. In those days and even
today in the <st1:place>Middle East</st1:place>, you do that with a kiss (look
at verse 16). In our Malaysian context, you might do that with a holy handshake.
Never underestimate the significance of greeting each other with a smile and
handshake. </div>
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Think for a moment about
the relationships you have formed in this church. For some of us, we are just
getting to know people. Maybe for the first time, in fact... For others, we
have probably known each other for many years. Maybe we have been coming to the
same place for worship every Sunday for the past 5 years or perhaps even longer
if you came from CDPC Subang. Maybe some of us have known each other for 10
years +. </div>
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Whether it is one month or one year or five years or more,
when you look back on all the relationships you have built in and through this
church, what do you find? What is significant? What is memorable? What is
precious and meaningful? </div>
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I hope that when I look back, I don’t recall nothing but the
quality of donuts, nasi lemak and coffee we shared (though that’s important). I
hope it’s not the case that I don’t even know the names of my brothers and
sisters whom I have met week in week out for 10 years. And it can easily happen
if we don’t think about these things. I certainly hope that our relationships
go deeper than “Hi and bye!” </div>
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Looking back on these years, I can be grateful for when
Grace was hospitalized for high blood pressure, members of the church came and
prayed for her. I hope I can recall having meaningful conversations and prayers
over meals at each others’ homes. I can think back and remember all the ups and
downs we share (especially the ministry leaders) as we stand shoulder to
shoulder in laboring for God and His people. Yes, I wanna look back and
remember the delicious food that many have prepared for Kopitiam too… but I see
beyond the great food to the meticulous love that it represents. </div>
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Who can say what will happen to CDPC Puchong in another 5
years or 10 years? </div>
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But what I do hope is when we do look back at our
relationships, we can say this together: </div>
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We are fellow workers in the gospel. We are not just
friends, but friends in Christ. </div>
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You have been a sister to me. You are an elder brother to
me. A mother to me. </div>
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That’s the first thing we see: Ministry is relational
because God is interested in people. </div>
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He is working through his word and by his spirit to adopt sons
and daughters into His family. </div>
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2) The second thing we need to realize from Paul’s greetings
is this: Ministry is about doing things as a community, as a team. </div>
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If you remember, Paul is a trained and certified scholar
from the Ivy League of his day. He studied law and theology from the best
teachers. He can go toe to toe with the best philosophers out there. On top of
that, he is authorized as an apostle of Christ. He heals the sick, casts out
demons, performs signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. If anyone can pull off
ministry all by himself, it’s got to be Paul. </div>
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But you can see here that Paul is not a one-man show. He’s
not a lone ranger. He serves alongside a great company of friends and “fellow
workers” in the Lord. </div>
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Who are these people? We begin with a sister Phoebe who was
a deaconess of the church. Paul commended her to the church in <st1:city>Rome</st1:city>,
asking them to receive her “in the Lord” in a way worthy of His people. Why? For
she has been a benefactor, a patron to many people including Paul himself. She
may have been a wealthy lady who supported the ministry. </div>
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Then we find a husband and wife teaching team in Priscilla
and <st1:place>Aquila</st1:place>. They worked as tent makers and servants of
the gospel together with Paul in <st1:city>Ephesus</st1:city>.
<span style="background: rgb(253, 253, 253);">They even instructed Apollos a
well known teacher in the early church (Acts 18). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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There is possibility of another man and woman team in
Andronicus and Junia, who had suffered alongside Paul in prison. We can’t be
100% sure whether the name Junia was male or female though. And the text could
either be understood as “they were esteemed outstanding by the apostles” or
“they were outstanding amongst the apostles”. In any case, if the second
meaning is correct, that probably means that they were outstanding frontier
missionaries or church planters in the early church.</div>
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We also see a number of women that
Paul singled out for praise. He thinks highly of these hard workers in service
of the Lord: Mary (v6), Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis (in verse 12). Far from
being a male chauvinist, Paul’s ministry team is actually very gender inclusive.
That’s quite counter cultural in a male-dominated society. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Apart from gender, we can see that
the Roman church is also racially inclusive. <span style="background: white;">Paul
mentioned some of the names as fellow Jewish Christians (see verse 7 and 11). And
many others on his list were Gentile Christians. That’s why the church in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Rome</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;"> had to deal with the issue of eating
‘halal’ food, observing festivals and things like that. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Last but not least, you notice in
verse 5, 14 and 15 that there are groups of people that meet in different
homes. Greet so-and-so and the saints who were with them. Greet so and so and
the church that meets at their house. So the church in <st1:city>Rome</st1:city> was really several churches that meet in various homes. See verse 23:
Paul himself was enjoying the hospitality of <span class="textrom-16-23">Gaius
who opened up his home not</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> only for him,
but the whole church. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you see a beautiful picture of saints working in
networks, in partnerships, in collaboration? This list of seemingly mundane
greetings actually give us a clue into what makes Paul’s ministry tick: He
works in diverse, inclusive teams. He journeys with the fellowship of the King.
</div>
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What can we learn from that? </div>
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From Day 1 (<st1:date day="21" month="3" year="2010">March
21, 2010</st1:date>), CDPC Puchong is a collaboration of males and females of
different ethnicities centered on Christ. </div>
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Like the Roman church, we can be thankful for all the women here
who work very hard in the Lord – you know who you are, behind the scenes,
teaching the children, decorating the church premises, running the library,
English program or cleaning up after kopitiam. I can easily identify a dozen
ladies who invested the lion’s share of creativity, energy, time and passion in
these areas. But I’ve also learnt the ladies here prefer to remain low key: in
fact I’d get scolded if I single them out for praise. Because they would say:
Why didn’t you also mention so-and-so? If you mention me, you should mention
everybody-lar. Anyway, ladies… we know who you are and thank you for your labor
of love. </div>
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Like the Roman church, CDPC Puchong has a great opportunity
to be welcoming so that Malaysians of <u>all</u> ethnic groups can worship and
work together with brothers and sisters from <st1:country-region>Egypt</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region>Korea</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region>Indonesia</st1:country-region>,
the <st1:country-region>United States</st1:country-region>
and beyond. We work at being racially inclusive and gender inclusive because of
the gospel. There are practical reasons for that but fundamentally, the reason
is theological. </div>
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In Christ there is neither male nor female, Jew nor
Gentiles. In Christ, there is neither bumiputra or non-bumiputra. By our love, by
serving and suffering together, we show what it means to be the only community in the world in which Christ has broken down
all dividing walls.</div>
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We can also be thankful for
risk-taking patrons, benefactors and partners who contributed generously to the
founding of this church and the children’s library. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s consider how doing ministry as a community looks like.
Our priorities in CDPC are: Reach out, making disciples, growing leaders who in
turn make disciples. I was like Frodo: I know I must be on this mission, to go
to Mordor, but I don’t know the way. And this husband and wife team was among
the first to say to me: We will help you! We believe in this vision. </div>
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They have been such an
encouragement to many young disciples, reaching out to students. We would put a
high level idea on the board, and every one just jumps on it, adds to it or
subtracts from it. And the final result ends up so beautiful that none of us
working alone would have done it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sure, we don’t always see eye to
eye on all issues but we share a common vision to see gospel growth in people.
We have come to trust in their wisdom, commitment and love for the church. So
we are free to speak openly and frankly to sharpen each other or give push backs
or fine tune our decisions. It’s so
beautiful. If you are available, come and sit in and observe one of these
meetings. I often leave afterwards feeling so energized and hopeful because we
reflect and act in community. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So a special thank you, Tom and
Janet. You are our very own version of “Priscilla and <st1:place>Aquila</st1:place>”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On behalf of all the ministry leaders, I want to say to
this: We can’t do this alone. We need help to build this community. We need you
in the game. Come talk to me. Talk to any of the leaders – “David, I may not be
the best player, but I want to be in the game. Where can I plug in?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you think greetings and name lists at the end of Paul’s
letters are boring, think twice. They actually reveal lots about what matters
most in his ministry, about the character of the church that speaks powerfully to
our own ministry, and the ethos of our church today. We need to follow him as
he follows Christ as we celebrate the 5<sup>th</sup> anniversary of CDPC
Puchong. </div>
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Let us pray. </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-7408344794388310552015-02-01T15:39:00.000+08:002015-02-01T16:27:59.523+08:00Asleep In The Light: Living Between The Now And The Not Yet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Romans 13 </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-13-11"><sup>11 </sup>And
do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to
wake up from your slumber,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-11">because our salvation is nearer now than when we first
believed.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-12"><sup>12 </sup>The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-12">So let us put aside the deeds of
darkness</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-12">and
put on the armor</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-12">of light.</span><span class="textrom-13-13"><sup>13 </sup>Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing
and drunkenness,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-13">not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension
and jealousy.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-14"><sup>14 </sup>Rather, clothe your selves with the Lord Jesus Christ,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-14">and do not think about how to
gratify the desires of the flesh.<sup> </sup></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-13-14"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Every morning
when I get up, I look at the iPhone and wonder: “What time is it?” and I know the drill, the routine: </span><st1:time hour="7" minute="0"><st1:metricconverter productid="7 a"><span style="background: white;">7 a</span></st1:metricconverter><span style="background: white;">.m.</span></st1:time><span style="background: white;"> Wake up, 7.15 Clean up (take a bath),
7.30 Dress up and get ready for work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the features of modern life
is that we are slaves of time. We wear watches, set alarms on our phones,
schedule meeting through Microsoft Outlook calendars. We keep careful track of
the passing time. It tells us when we need to do something and how to
prioritize our activities. But it is far more important to know God’s timing, the <i>kairos</i> moment, the moment of opportunity
or moment of decision presented to us today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Let’s see what we
have covered so far in Romans. The apostle Paul shows us how the gospel changes
our relationships for the last two chapters: You should owe no one anything but
the debt of love. Chapter 12:9, Let love be genuine. Love one another with
brotherly affection. Verse 14, Bless those who persecute you. Repay no one evil
for evil. Verse 20, If your enemy is hungry, feed him. Chapter 13 Give to the
government what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>if revenue, then revenue; if respect,
then respect; if honor, then honor. Owe no one anything, except to love each
other.” And now today in verse 11, he says,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">And this</span></em>—do all<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">this</span></em>, love like<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">this</span></em>—because you know the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Because you
understand the present time in which you are living in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Friends, do you
know what time is it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
The Bible
divides human history into ‘this age’ (represented by darkness, violence, sin,
pain and death) and ‘the age to come’ (represented by light, righteousness,
peace, love and life). But there’s more that: The age to come or the <st1:place><st1:placetype>kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place> has already broken into our world through the life, death,
resurrection and ascension of King Jesus. The Holy Spirit is poured out on
God’s people from every nation and tribe called out by the proclamation of His
good news. So at present these two ages overlap. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Even as
we celebrated Christmas last December, our joy is not complete because we
remember that our world is still broken by terrorism, natural disasters and
poverty. We are looking forward with hope for the return of our King Jesus,
when the old age will finally disappear, and the new age of God’s reign will be
fully realized. That’s why there is always a tension living in this interim
period between night and breaking dawn, in the already and not yet <st1:place><st1:placetype>kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-13-12">The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s the time in which we live. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And Paul
says: It is now time to get up, sleepy heads. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why? <span class="textrom-13-12">B</span>ecause Verse 11: our salvation is nearer now than
when we first believed. Wait a minute. I thought we are already saved when we
first believed the gospel. Why did he say our salvation is nearer now than
before? That seems to imply that we are not yet saved. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Actually,
‘salvation’ is a broad, comprehensive word that covers God’s act of rescuing us
in the past, present and future. Salvation means that we have been rescued from
the guilt of sin (justification) and we are being rescued from the power of sin
(sanctification) and we will be rescued from the presence of sin in our future
(glorification). What this means is that our future and final salvation when
Christ will return to resurrect our bodies and bring us home is much nearer now.
Every passing day brings it closer and closer. <span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
In some
Christian circles, a lot of energy and attention is spent on figuring out when
Jesus will come back. They may not be able to tell you the exact hour and day.
But based on charts of earth quake frequency, natural disasters, eroding moral
values in society, the rise of microchips/nanotechnology and escalating
violence in the <st1:place>Middle East</st1:place>, we are told: “See all these signs? Jesus will come back
very soon (give or take 10 – 50 years). We are living in the last days.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
We are
living in the last days, alright. But so did the early Christians. When God’s
kingdom came, the new age had already come. This whole period since Jesus’
death, resurrection, exaltation and gift of the Spirit until the present time
is called “the last days”, God had nothing else on his calendar before Christ’s
return. It would be the next big thing in redemptive history. And it is in this
sense that Christ is coming ‘soon’. So be watchful and alert, because we do not
know the time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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How then
shall we live? It is not enough to understand the time; we have to live and act
accordingly. Three things: Wake up, clean up and dress up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Verse 11:
The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
There is
a provocative, no-nonsense song sung by Keith Green a Jewish Christian called “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em5gL0Rw4Aw">Asleep in the Light</a>”. The lyrics are especially relevant for us who live in an urban
culture of affluence and comfort where it is so easy to just sit back and be
spiritually passive towards people in need. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Apathy is
our constant danger. Here the song goes like this: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Do you see? Do
you see?</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">All the people sinking down?</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Don't you care? Don't you care?</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Are you gonna let them drown? </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">How can you be so numb?!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Not to care if they come</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">You close your eyes,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">And pretend the job is done</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">"Oh, bless me, lord!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Bless me, lord!"</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">You know, it's all I ever hear!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">No one aches,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">No one hurts,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">No one even sheds one tear, </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">But, he cries,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">He weeps,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">He bleeds,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">And he cares for your needs</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">But you just lay back,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">And keep soaking it in</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Oh, can't you see such sin? </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">The world is sleeping in the dark,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white;">That the church just can't fight,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">'cause it's asleep in the light!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">How can you be so dead?!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">When you've been so well fed</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Oh, Jesus rose from the dead!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Come on, get out of your bed!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Come away! come away!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Come away with me, my love!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Come away from this mess,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Come away with me, my love!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Don’t sleep
walk in the dream world of more comfort, more entertainment, more fluff and more
glitz of this age. Don’t spend your life busy chasing shadows. There are
exciting, new purposeful activities that await us with a brand new day. Jesus
is calling us to live in a way that points forward to the age to come. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
2: Clean
up. You know the day is almost here… verse 12: “<span class="textrom-13-12">So
let us put aside the deeds of darkness”. </span>Turn away from the kind of
things people do under cover of darkness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
And what
are these deeds of darkness? Let’s be specific here. Let’s not hide behind
abstractions and generalities. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Verse <span class="textrom-13-12">13:</span><span class="textrom-13-13"> Let us behave
decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-13">not in
sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> He’s not talking about people outside the
church. Paul is talking about ‘us’. </span>Contrary to decent Christian
behavior is lack of self-control in the areas of drink, sex and social
relationships. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
In the
Bible, wine is often associated with abundance, celebration and joy. When Jesus
joined a wedding party, he turned water into wine. Drinking in itself is not
the problem. But excessive drinking leads to drunkenness and addiction and
substance abuse. You are no longer in control. You are now a slave to alcohol. Money
that should be used to support a family or children education gets wasted to
buy beer. Husbands get drunk, go home and physically abuse their wives. So wives
get up and leave for their own safety. And a family is broken and children
suffer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
If that’s
you this morning, God is calling you to put aside this sin and come back to Him.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
And
Christians don’t think of sex as something dirty and shameful. No, sex is God’s
idea! He made us male and female, and gave us the good gift of sexuality. It’s
a sacred gift to be shared within a marriage covenant, a relationship of
exclusive commitment and faithful trust.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
That’s
why we don’t treat it casually. Not because we see it as dirty, but because it
is so precious and sacred. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Right now
as we speak, sexual immorality is an epidemic sweeping across and destroying God’s
people. It has come to the stage that even in some churches, it’s an open
secret that young people (even leaders) are sleeping around with their girl
friends and no one says a word. People just politely close one eye and pretend
it’s alright. Is it any surprise that in one church, out of a group of 30 youths,
only about 2 of them remain as Christians a couple of years after graduation? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
That tragedy can happen anywhere if we do not have a culture of repentance, a culture of confessing our sins to each other, speaking the truth in love, a culture of accountability and church discipline. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Guys, porn
is not harmless fun. It is a deadly addiction that changes the way you look at
women – it dehumanizes women and makes them into an object to be used and
exploited. It changes you – it harms you, it robs you of joy, fills you with
guilt and leaves you jaded and lifeless when it comes to pursuing God and his
kingdom. But you are not alone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Check out
this <a href="http://www.viddler.com/embed/6376dffc?autoplay=1">xxxchurch.com video</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Sin
thrives in secrecy, and it spreads in silence. But it dries up and dies when exposed
to light. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7huujnmfO502_x2qUQRsvxLY7_FrQAp6Mkvbv-dnhznmJx1XgfJ-8SXq-M_r4hnRqHZjpKoV18xj6ovyHUloAHXmyKrYzEC2692s6SRsSB539cxeYb90Ia0hQoh_GnttD7gRQHA/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7huujnmfO502_x2qUQRsvxLY7_FrQAp6Mkvbv-dnhznmJx1XgfJ-8SXq-M_r4hnRqHZjpKoV18xj6ovyHUloAHXmyKrYzEC2692s6SRsSB539cxeYb90Ia0hQoh_GnttD7gRQHA/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
If that’s
you this morning, don’t be naïve to think that you can overcome it on your own.
You need help and you are not alone. You may need to get an accountability
software like XXXChurch or Covenant Eyes to filter content and protect your children,
and get a brother, small group or your wife to be an accountability partner to walk
alongside you to recovery and freedom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
And let
us also put aside infighting, dissension, division and jealousy. How can we
apply this? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
I am
struck by two things as I look at the members list of CDPC Puchong – for its
diversity (ethnically, culturally) and for the fact many of them are what I’d
call “solid Christians”. They are not the ones who say “Aiya, never mind…
whatever you say, pastor! Cincai lah”! They are mature and discerning in their
faith, serious about God’s word and actively serving others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
You can
see that in our worship style, one week it would be Bahasa songs, another week
it’s liturgical, and the next week it’s vibrant contemporary, and the next
week, you have lots of Getty’s songs. And the range of in-house preachers –
some are manuscript preachers, others are strong in exegesis, and yet others
are into experiential learning and practical application. Naturally, some
styles work for you and others don’t. Even if you don’t like my style, the good
news is you only need to endure it once in 2 months! And I’m very thankful to God for that mix. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
It is a
real blessing but it can also be a stumbling block if we are not careful. Because when
you have gifted and diverse people with different agendas, personalities, hot
buttons and interests that are not aligned, that can
be an explosive formula in the test tube if we do not keep the main thing as the main thing… if we major in
the minor things and minor in the major things… if we lose sight of Christ’s
call to make disciples of all nations for the sake of fighting over grey areas,
disputable matters. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
In fact,
that’s exactly what Paul is going to talk about in the next chapter. How will
God’s people love each other when they disagree on disputable matters? Phil
will preach on that next week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
In the
crucial, essential things, unity. In the non-essential things, diversity. In
all things, charity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Because the night
is almost over, the day is near. If we are not proactively killing sin, sin
will be killing us. We need to clean up our act. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Not so that we can
earn God’s favor to be loved by Him, and adopted as children of light. Live
like this, do all this because you are already loved by Christ, and adopted into
God’s family. Be holy like this, because you already belong to the light. He
already loves you and died for you to forgive you, pour His Spirit in you and
transform you. Now, live in light of that reality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">1 Thessalonians
5: “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you
like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not
belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who
are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep
at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to
the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,
and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer
wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so
that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
3rd point:
Because of the hour, we must not only get up and clean up, we must dress up as
well. Look at verse 12: We must take off our night clothes, the deeds of
darkness, and put on instead, the armor of light. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Church,
when we come together as a community and a family centered on Jesus, when we
covenant to help each other follow Jesus, we are not signing up for a Star
Cruise package in Port Klang. I haven’t been on a cruise but it sure sounds
like a lot of programs and fun activities, lots of good food and entertainment.
And sometimes church can feel like that, doesn’t it? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
But the
Christian life is not a cruise ship, it is a battle ship. When we follow Jesus,
we have signed up for spiritual warfare. If you don’t get that expectation
right from the start, you’d be surprised and disappointed when you get on the
boat and think: “Why am I sleeping in the bunker instead of a luxury suite?
Hello Captain, how come the rations you provide do not include wagyu steak and
abalone soup?” What’s more… you’d get very angry when you look outside for some
nice fireworks, all you find are bombs exploding, bullets flying by and
everyone busy fighting. “What’s going on here? I want to complain to customer
service!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
When we
follow Jesus, we signed up for spiritual battle against systemic evil in the
world, against personal sin in our own heart and against demonic powers in the
spiritual realms. As soldiers of the kingdom, put on the armor of light. The
faster we realize this, the better because we need a war time mentality… It doesn’t
mean you go looking for ways to get killed. But you won’t shy away from
situations where you might get shot either. Gospel ministry is not a walk in
the park, it is hard work. Even dangerous work… Our Commander has given a task
and we obey it even if it’s inconvenient.<br />
<br />
When we pray, do not we often say
“God, please help this or that to go smoothly!” Instead of smoothness, perhaps
we need to pray more for boldness: “Lord, I
know that as I make disciples and fight sin in my life and my family, it’s not
gonna be smooth sailing but please give me boldness and courage to press on when
things get rough and when the gospel is not well received.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Pray like
this, because we can do it only by the sheer grace and protection of Jesus
himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Look at
verse 14: “<span class="textrom-13-14">clothe your selves with the Lord Jesus
Christ,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-13-14">and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the
flesh.” Put </span>Christ himself <span class="textrom-13-14">on </span>as your
armor, lay hold of him, cling to him like the shirt or dress that you
wear. How do you clothe yourselves with Christ?
You put your faith and trust in Him, love Him and hope in Him. Faith, love and
hope… You get connected to Him. Immerse yourself in Him. Cling on to Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
When we
stumble and fall, when we succumb to sin, THAT sin again, there is a small
window of opportunity for us to respond. Response One: Do we run away and hide?
Like children who have angered their parents, we stay away from God for some
time. We avoid Him for a few days and wait for His anger to simmer down a bit. Response
Two: Or do we try to buy Him off? We bargain with Him: “Oh please forgive me
God. I promise, I promise I’d do quiet time five times a day for the whole of
next week.”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
No matter
what your theology is, both responses show that you don’t really experience the
gospel. When you fall down, don’t avoid Him, run to His embrace. Cry out to Him
to pick you up and heal you. Don’t run away, run to Him. Christ loves you and
gives Himself up for you so that you can be forgiven. Have you ever talked
honestly to God about your sin? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
“Lord,
I’m sorry my temper has exploded again just now! This hectic schedule in office
and house moving is really getting on my nerves. Help me by your Spirit to be
self controlled, help me to rest in you in the middle of this crazy week. Help
me detect early signs of this volcano eruption. I don’t want to blow up in
front of the kids.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
And don’t
try to bribe God or buy him off. That’s so insulting because nothing we can
offer is more valuable, more precious than Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. And
it has already been paid. He loves and died for us even while we were enemies. How
much more will He embrace you and save you now that you are His child! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
This is
not easy message today. If you are heavily convicted this morning, if you are
so sick of yourself for failing again and again; and you are just waiting,
waiting for the day when God will get so fed up, when He will just give up on
you, well, then the good news is that day will never come. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Nothing you can do can make Him love you any less. Nothing
you can do will make Him love you more. Come and find grace again and again at
the cross of Christ. For nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic,
today or tomorrow, — absolutely<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>nothing</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>can get between us and God’s love
because of the way that Jesus has embraced us.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Run
to Him this morning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
In the movie
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, there is a great battle called the siege of
Helm’s Deep. It was a dark and rainy night. The good guys were surrounded
inside a fortress, fighting off wave after wave of horrible Orcs. They suffered
heavy casualties and the enemies were about to break through the last line of
defense. All seemed lost but instead of going gently into the night, Aragorn
and his riders geared up for one final blaze of glory. And just then, just as they
charged out against impossible odds, a new dawn has broken. Gandalf and the
calvary arrived with the glorious sun behind their back, blinding the enemies
and sweeping the forces of darkness away. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AZnymkpsCH0" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Today it
seems like we are losing the war on sin, we feel drowsy and our strength almost
spent… But the night is nearly gone, and the day is almost here. Don’t go
gently into the night. Don’t waste your life sleep walking. Put on the armor of
light. Clothe yourself with the beauty and righteousness of Christ. What will motivate
you to press on and obey? It comes from knowing and experiencing the grace of
Christ day in day out. It comes from being fascinated by and captured by a
living relationship with Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
When that
happens, you will attempt great things for God and expect great things from
God. When that happens, you will help others see and savor Christ.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> It’s not going to be smooth and easy, but a new dawn
will soon break forth and it will all be worth it. For we shall then meet
Christ face to face. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 10pt;">PS: Let
me close with an old Irish prayer called Saint Patrick’s Breastplate: it is a
prayer for spiritual warfare, a prayer for protection, to put on the armor that
is Christ… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christ be with me,<br />
Christ before me,<br />
Christ behind me,<br />
Christ within me,<br />
Christ beneath me,<br />
Christ above me,<br />
Christ on my right,<br />
Christ on my left,<br />
Christ when I lie down,<br />
Christ when I sit down,<br />
Christ when I arise,<br />
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,<br />
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,<br />
Christ in every eye that sees me,<br />
Christ in every ear that hears me.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">I arise today<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.65pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,<br />
Through belief in the Threeness,<br />
Through confession of the Oneness<br />
of the Creator of creation. </span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-73708644113538925692014-12-21T15:50:00.000+08:002014-12-21T16:03:17.410+08:00What Gift Shall We Bring That’s Fit for A King? (Matthew 2:1-12)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 align="center" style="background: white; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: center;">
</h3>
<div class="chapter-1" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">After Jesus was
born in </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bethlehem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> in </span></span><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Judea</span></span></st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">during the time
of King Herod,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Magi<sup> </sup>from
the east came to </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jerusalem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and asked, “Where
is the one who has been born king of the Jews?</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We saw his star</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">when it rose and
have come to worship him.”</span></span><span class="textmatt-2-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When King Herod
heard this he was disturbed, and all </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jerusalem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="textmatt-2-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> with him.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-4"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When he had
called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he
asked them where the Messiah was to be born.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-5"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“In </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-5"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bethlehem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-5"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">in </span></span><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-5"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Judea</span></span></st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-5"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">,” they replied,
“for this is what the prophet has written:</span></span><span class="textmatt-2-6"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> “‘But you, Bethlehem, in
the land of Judah,</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textmatt-2-6">are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="textmatt-2-6">for out of you will come a ruler</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textmatt-2-6">who will shepherd my people Israel.’”</span></span><span class="textmatt-2-7"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span><span class="textmatt-2-7"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Then Herod called
the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-8"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">He sent them to </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-8"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bethlehem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="textmatt-2-8"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> and said, “Go
and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so
that I too may go and worship him.”</span></span><span class="textmatt-2-9"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span><span class="textmatt-2-9"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">After they had
heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose
went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.</span></span><span class="textmatt-2-10"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> When they saw
the star, they were overjoyed.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-11"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">On coming to the
house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and
worshiped him.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-11"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Then they opened
their treasures and presented him with gifts</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-11"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">of gold,
frankincense and myrrh. </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-12"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And having been warned</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-12"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">in a dream</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-12"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">not to go back
to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="textmatt-2-12"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 12pt;">Disclaimer: Credit goes to </span><a href="http://graceworks.com.sg/christmas-as-anaesthetic/" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 12pt;">Soo Inn's Ecommentary</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 12pt;"> for much of the materials in this message. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="textmatt-2-12"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 11.8pt;">Christmas is feel good time.</span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And it’s starting to look a lot like Christmas
when shopping malls and radio stations start to play all time favorites like
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light…” or you hear kids
singing: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas”… Nostalgic music that brings back
sweet memories … You know Christmas is near when TV stations begin to show
Christmassy scenes of gently falling snowflakes, romantic kisses underneath the
mistletoe, children opening presents in front of a Christmas tree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Christmas is feel good time. It is time
out from our busy work schedule as we holiday for awhile in the world of
carols, family dinner, gift exchanges and of course, a shopping spree. For a
little while we turn our eyes away from the pains of the world and the pains in
our own hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Indeed we feel we deserve a little break,
don’t we? There is so much wrong that is in the world. There is so much grief
in our lives. 2014 has not been an easy year at all for most of us. Some of us have
lost a mother, a father or a dear friend this year. Our
national airline has tragically lost two planes with passengers and crew on
board. The Sedition act is not going to be repealed after all, but instead it
will be strengthened according to our Prime Minister. And we have seen how this
piece of legislation can be used to suppress academic freedom and dissenting
voices in the opposition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Yup, 2014 has not been easy. And we really
need a break. Because the New Year will be upon us soon enough with its rude
call to get on with life. By the way, welcome to the world of GST in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So Christmas is a much needed emotional break.
Christmas is feel good time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But not for this guy King Herod. When he
heard that Jesus had been born, he didn’t feel good at all. Indeed the
Scripture records for us that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“<span class="textmatt-2-1">After Jesus was
born in </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bethlehem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> in </span></span><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Judea</span></span></st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">during the time
of King Herod,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Magi<sup> </sup>from
the east came to </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jerusalem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">and asked, “Where
is the one who has been born king of the Jews?</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We saw his star</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">when it rose and
have come to worship him.”</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textmatt-2-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When King Herod
heard this he was disturbed..</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.” (Matthew 2: 1-3) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But hold on for a second: Why should he be
frightened? He was so paranoid and insecure that he tried to kill Jesus by
slaughtering all boys aged two and below in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bethlehem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. Similar violence against children
happened again last Wednesday when the Taliban murdered more than 130 children
in a school in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pakistan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So on one side of
the ring, you have king Herod armed to the teeth with soldiers, weapons and unimaginable
wealth. On the other side, you have a small, vulnerable baby. It was a no-brainer
who would win this showdown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Except that this is no ordinary baby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Herod was afraid because he was just a
puppet king. He was appointed by the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Roman empire</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. He didn’t have the support of his people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Christmas meant that the rightful King of
Israel has come. The </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 11pt;">kingdom</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 11pt;">God</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> is at hand. So Herod’s cruel reign was under serious threat.
No wonder he was fearful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Because the coming of the Messiah means
that liberation has begun. The return of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11pt;">’s king is at near. He is not far away,
looking down from the outside. The Son of God is fully involved. He has entered
our world. He has moved in to our neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And because of that, every oppressive
tyrant is in grave danger. Herod, the Taliban, Satan, sin, death, racism,
disease, greed, bigotry - every oppressive value system is at risk. The King has
returned. The rule of God had once again broken into our story, bringing its
promise of healing and hope, of light and life, of holiness and love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Why do Christians celebrate Christmas? Is
it just a feel good time? It feels good but not that “escape from reality” kind
of good. We celebrate the birth of Jesus because we remember the beginning of
God’s campaign to reclaim the world for Himself. It is worth celebrating because
Christ’s cosmic invasion to overthrow evil has started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">And every Christmas is a reminder that
there is a war going on in our broken world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It began with the birth of Christ. The
decisive victory was won at the Cross when Jesus died to take away the sins of
the world and rose to life again three days later. But the final victory over
evil will be achieved one day when Christ returns. Far from feel-good escapism,
every Christmas then is a renewed call to battle for us as followers of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There is so much wrong in the world. There
is so much that is broken in our own lives. The battle rages on! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And sometimes, following
Jesus means not doing what feels good, but what is right even if it costs us
something. You probably know that our brother Hwok Aun works as an economics
lecturer in UM. Interesting things have happened in the university recently
with Azmi Sharom a law lecturer being charged for sedition for giving his legal
opinion in the media. And I’m very encouraged to see
Hwok Aun doing what he can to stand in solidarity with Azmi for academic
freedom and support student activism even though it might be seen as a
career-limiting move. And I saw his Facebook status the other day: “Folks, you
can stop asking whether I am in trouble.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Of
course I am. If we do not stand up against injustice, we are all in trouble. I've
stopped wondering if I'm doing anything to jeopardise an academic career.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">His story is another
real life example that reminds us of the fact following Jesus in a broken world
is not always happy and clappy. It could be costly to do what is right. But it
is even costlier if we do not stand up against injustice. What happens in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pakistan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> this week could one day happen in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Malaysia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> if we allow religious extremism to shape
our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So Christmas is a
wake up call that God is with us. He is among us. Stand firm through prayer,
through love, through the gospel. Be salt and light in every sphere of life
through the power of the Spirit and the Word. As we enter the year 2015, there
are new opportunities to serve in the Name of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Now contrast
Herod’s response with the Magi or wise men that came from afar to pay respect
to the newborn King. Who are these people? They are most likely Gentiles, eastern
astrologers who look for signs in the alignment of stars, planets and comets
not unlike the ones we have today. For them, the birth of important kings is
often associated with heavenly omens. That’s cutting-edge science and
technology in those days. These star gazers are non-Jews wise and knowledgeable
in astrology. And you might expect them to be opponents of the newborn King of
the Jews like magicians and sorcerers who once opposed Moses and Daniel in the
Old Testament scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But the most unexpected thing happens:
They came from afar, risking their lives and possessions. They didn’t know much
about Jesus, but they sought Him out anyway. Jesus was probably one year old
when they finally presented him with expensive gifts befitting a king. They
searched for him at great cost and worshipped Him. There’s a very ironic thing
going on here: In Matthew’s Gospel, the Gentiles are now “his people” whom
Jesus will “save from their sins”. He will be king not only of the Jews, but of
all nations. This is the hope of Isaiah 60: “<span class="textisa-60-1"><span style="background: white;">Arise,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-1"><span style="background: white;">shine, for your light</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-1"><span style="background: white;">has come, and the glory</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-1"><span style="background: white;">of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-1"><span style="background: white;">rises upon you…</span></span><span class="textisa-60-2"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-3"><span style="background: white;">Nations</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-3"><span style="background: white;">will come to your light, and
kings</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-3"><span style="background: white;">to the brightness of your dawn.”</span></span> This is a partial
fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that the nations will come <span class="textisa-60-6"><span style="background: white;">bearing gold and incense</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-6"><span style="background: white;">and proclaiming the praise</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-60-6"><span style="background: white;">of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textisa-60-6"><span style="background: white;">.</span></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is not an endorsement of astrology,
of course. The bible clearly forbids that. But the point is: God met these Gentile
Magi precisely where they were, using whatever access to knowledge that they
had – in the form of a star. Should we be surprised that God leaves us a
witness in the starry sky above and the moral law within our hearts? Witnesses
that point us back to the wisdom and power of the Creator? </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 11.2pt;">God has left us traces
of general revelation in every culture, sign posts that point us back to
Himself.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 11.2pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 11.2pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">At the end of the day though, that Christmas
star could not lead the Magi all the way to their final destination. They
needed to stop and ask for directions: “<span class="textmatt-2-2">Where is the
one who has been born king of the Jews?” And it is only in Scripture, God’s
written word, His final and ultimate revelation, that they found the way to Jesus. Hundreds of years earlier, the
prophet </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Micah (5:2) has left them with the
most important clue that the Christ will come from the town of </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt;">Bethlehem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt;">, from among the clans of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt;">Judah</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt;">. And this ruler is no
ordinary king because his origins are from ancient times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.2pt;">
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Friends, we can’t
find Jesus on our own terms. We need God’s own self-revelation to find the way to salvation.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Some years back,
we did our first Alpha course in CDPC Subang. It’s just an opportunity for
people (skeptics, seekers, new believers, even long time believers) who want to
explore the Christian faith to come together and have a safe space to ask
questions. It’s a friendly place to have a conversation about the big questions
– is there more to life than this? What is our final destination? Where do we
come from? Who am I – really? The meetings start with a simple meal, then we
watch a video presentation where these topics are discussed, and the highlight
is small group discussions where people feel free to ask and talk about
anything and everything. If that interests you, I would like to invite you to
come for the next Alpha course on </span></span><st1:date day="17" month="1" year="2015"><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">17
Jan 2015</span></span></st1:date><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. Sign up with me or google CDPC Puchong
online. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Anyway, I was
leading a small group with some very eager seekers who ask tough, challenging
questions. Three of them left behind a high paying, prestigious consultancy
career to go on a spiritual journey, backpacking in </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> for months. A
mountain climbing friend invited them to come for Alpha. We had a really
engaging time sharing our views of life and the question of God from various
angles. We didn’t pretend we have all the answers. We could laugh at ourselves.
We don’t take ourselves too seriously. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Eventually, we
realized that our discoveries in science and technology, our knowledge and
rationality could only take us so far. It’s the same with our personal
relationships. You can only guess what’s on my mind until I truthfully reveal
it through spoken words. In the same way, we can only get so far following the
star of human wisdom. To understand God’s mind, we need Him to reveal Himself
to us through His inspired word. And that sparked a hunger in us to dig deeper
into the Bible, ask God to speak to us through it and see what He has to tell
us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Friends, it is
only in God’s revealed word that we come to a real encounter with Christ this
morning. So may I invite you to explore together what God’s word has to say
about the big questions in life? Talk to us about the Alpha course. We’d be
delighted to hear from you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A little boy was
sitting quietly, deep in thought one Christmas morning. His family was busy
unwrapping presents that they have given each other. Then, he said: “Everybody
gets a present on Christmas day, but what about Jesus? Why didn’t He get a
gift? I thought it was <u>His</u> birthday!” </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Funny isn’t it?
Every one gets a gift on Christmas day except the birthday boy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Magi came
and presented Jesus a tribute fit for a king. Say, what gift will you bring to the
King of kings? Perhaps, the best tribute we can bring Him today are not gold,
incense or myrrh. There is a nice Christmas song that goes like this (I’ll Give
My Heart): <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Whose is that star <br />
We've seen in the </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">East <br />
Bethlehem</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> town <br />
You're not the least <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Who is this Child <br />
This Baby Boy <br />
Who but the Son of God <br />
Could bring so much joy <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What can I give <br />
What can I bring <br />
What is a gift <br />
That is fit for a King <br />
I'll give my life <br />
Not just a part <br />
I'll give my all to Him <br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">I'll give my heart</span><br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWrVJHGJ1ikXNXc2A8LvOOM0-ILxLoWGzfF3gTuMRtz7PqLEPlSCgikv-EkVihsJcOO18loVw7uxvaU7gwMI-tKWwK9QZsUS-ugIWAdSqhf84D2aFttuwiVsy5SsSIkHQmDDZiA/s1600/b8bcbe45c5ff6e7a73f220e7b859b49f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWrVJHGJ1ikXNXc2A8LvOOM0-ILxLoWGzfF3gTuMRtz7PqLEPlSCgikv-EkVihsJcOO18loVw7uxvaU7gwMI-tKWwK9QZsUS-ugIWAdSqhf84D2aFttuwiVsy5SsSIkHQmDDZiA/s1600/b8bcbe45c5ff6e7a73f220e7b859b49f.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The best gift we can give to King Jesus is not gold
but our lives! Not just a part, but our whole hearted devotion to Him and His
kingdom. He is not a tyrant like Herod who lies and kills in order to keep
power. Jesus is the kind of King who gives up power and becomes vulnerable in
order to serve. He’s the kind of King who would sacrifice His own life on the
cross to save us from our sin, guilt and condemnation. And He rose again in
victory three days later so that He can make all things new. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt;">Which
King is ruling your life right now? Is your heart controlled by pride, self-promotion,
lust and greed this Christmas? Do you think more about yourself than others? Do
you crave for wealth and control over the people around you? If so, then sin is
in the driving seat of your heart.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">If you have never followed Jesus or recognized Him as
King and Saviour, would you hear the call of His kingdom this morning? He’s
calling each and every one of us here to follow Him, to join this kingdom of
peace and justice that will one day overthrow all evil and wipe away all
sorrows. Give your life to Him so He can cleanse it, renew it and purify
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As we gather this
morning, we also come as a community of diverse people from various cultural,
socio-economic, ethnic backgrounds gathered around the King and His kingdom. And
there’s nothing that Jesus loves more than His bride, the church that He gave
up his life for. </span></span></div>
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<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.2pt;">
<span class="textmatt-2-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So I think the best birthday gift we can give Him is to
present ourselves as His people purchased by His own blood, as the bride whom
He loves. Some of us have made a commitment to follow Christ and express that
decision publicly through baptism. Some of us have been baptized as infants and
today publicly confirm their faith before God and His people. Some of us have
experienced what it means to live and grow together in a community, to serve
God together with our unique abilities and to be spiritually accountable to one
another. There’s a beautiful depth in relationship and growth in discipleship
that is only possible when we commit and covenant with one another to serve the
King as a body. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: #FDFDFD; line-height: 11.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What can we give, What can we bring <br />
What is a gift, That is fit for a King <br />
We'll give our life, Not just a part <br />
We'll give our all to Him, <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">We'll give
our heart</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><a href="http://dpetkovic.global2.vic.edu.au/files/2012/12/3-TheMagi-25ycmxx.jpg">Picture of the Magis bringing tribute to Christ by HeQi </a></span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-21168305263445135442014-11-25T22:24:00.000+08:002014-11-25T22:24:14.656+08:00Exploring Life's Big Questions! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">All are welcome. A safe space for exploring Life's Big Questions. Fantastic food. Engaging conversations. Happening on 17 January 2015 (Saturday) 6.30 pm at City Discipleship Presbyterian Church (</span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=642627355856047" href="https://www.facebook.com/CDPCpuchong" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-decoration: none;">CDPC Puchong</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">)</span><br />
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Sign up here <a href="http://goo.gl/forms/pSZIsPeqvL" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/forms/pSZIsPeqvL</a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfSYNnPICh6jrtfaLHhciN2g8EchoxD8qJlwSnKFZ3bXUxFUCjJ-C6Sx8s4wVjWxfQsnqd6gPhgUv06clK4wGcUMH8Q2vXInhcDYvMsPPYVwT-JbNUhZP3l-YO0xz626U3E4ZUA/s1600/alpha_woman_stairs_350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfSYNnPICh6jrtfaLHhciN2g8EchoxD8qJlwSnKFZ3bXUxFUCjJ-C6Sx8s4wVjWxfQsnqd6gPhgUv06clK4wGcUMH8Q2vXInhcDYvMsPPYVwT-JbNUhZP3l-YO0xz626U3E4ZUA/s1600/alpha_woman_stairs_350.jpg" height="640" width="392" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-37522440024536175632014-11-02T17:57:00.001+08:002014-11-02T17:57:58.485+08:00What Is Church Membership? <p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View Why Church Membership? on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/244498602/Why-Church-Membership" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Why Church Membership?</a> by <a title="View Dave's profile on Scribd" href="https://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" style="text-decoration: underline;" >Dave</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/244498602/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-tuhhudIrfsvHiYQ4ju6T&show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="1.3323485967503692" scrolling="no" id="doc_68812" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-62646063533909911662014-10-19T14:45:00.002+08:002014-12-23T15:39:51.621+08:00A Community Of Truth & Love: Growing Together In The Gospel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Ephesians 4: 11 – 16 <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span class="texteph-4-11"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>So Christ himself gave</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-11">the apostles,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-11">the prophets,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-11">the evangelists,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-11">the pastors and teachers,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-12"><b><sup>12 </sup></b>to equip his people for works of service, so that the body
of Christ</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-12">may be built up</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-13"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>until we all reach unity</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-13">in the faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-13">and become mature,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-13">attaining to the whole measure of
the fullness of Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="texteph-4-14"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>Then we
will no longer be infants,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-14">tossed back and forth by the waves,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-14">and blown here and there by every
wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful
scheming.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-15"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>Instead,
speaking the truth in love,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-15">we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of
him who is the head,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-15">that is, Christ.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-16"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>From him the whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-16">and builds itself up</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-16">in love,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-16">as each part does its work.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://puchong.cdpc.org.my/2014/10/19/church-membership-growing-together-in-community/">Sermon Audio can be downloaded here</a><br />
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Today,
there are lots of discussions on how we can grow the church. Some say you gotta
know your market segment and meet their felt needs. Others say the key is to
have a network of cell groups where real community happens. Some say forget
about church, just meet at Starbucks and have spiritual conversations. Others
say lets bring back ancient religious symbols to give people a sacred
experience. Still others say: If it brings people to church, does it matter how
you do it as long as it’s ethical? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztvxNkY5ESbwCzk4DweuzVThyphenhyphenTFH7aRe2U9ZaMr-1OfhuT2VFbfslXeXc5_jGlPoeaZOmvpirdcAfX2p25Hsn1ip_bXp2crcEBai3f1Z7YoIDeVwbadVQdK50-uwW9wjWtSxUSQ/s1600/6004403_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztvxNkY5ESbwCzk4DweuzVThyphenhyphenTFH7aRe2U9ZaMr-1OfhuT2VFbfslXeXc5_jGlPoeaZOmvpirdcAfX2p25Hsn1ip_bXp2crcEBai3f1Z7YoIDeVwbadVQdK50-uwW9wjWtSxUSQ/s1600/6004403_orig.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>I’m not
saying all of them are wrong. In fact, we can learn lots from them. For
example, we have a children’s library because we discern that people in Puchong
have young families and there is a need we can meet. And we do have covenant
groups where close bonding and relationships are formed, sometimes over
Starbucks or Coffee Bean. During Good Friday/Easter, we do appreciate
time-honored tradition of The Stations of the Cross filled with sacred
symbolism. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But having
said that, it would be silly to start construction on a building without first
knowing what kind of structure we plan to build. An apartment is different from
a bungalow. They all have different blueprints, different materials, uses and
shapes. The process of building will depend on what you want to build. (Picture courtesy of <a href="http://www.heqiart.com/">He Qi Art</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The same
goes for building a church. Because a church is not a profit making entity.
It’s not a multi-level marketing company. It is not a social club. It’s not a Rotary
Club where people come together to provide social services. In fact, a healthy
church is unlike any other human organization because it’s not devised by
men. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The
church is God’s idea. It is a central theme in the biblical salvation story –
the church is a new humanity created by God the Father, she is the Bride loved
and redeemed by God the Son and she is the new temple in whom God the Holy
Spirit dwells. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So it
only makes sense to see what God’s word has to say about how He wants to grow
His church. We should look to God’s instruction manual to build His church
since it’s His design. Otherwise, looking back in 10 years’ time, we may end up
building in vain. So that’s what we will look at together as we consider church
membership today. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"> <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/243512846/Growing-Together-in-the-Gospel" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Growing Together in the Gospel on Scribd">Growing Together in the Gospel</a> by <a href="https://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 24px;">
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.3323485967503692" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_83291" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/243512846/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-PpCvkNcyIfveksjc8L0L&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
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<b>1) How does the church grow? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Greek
word for church is <i>ekklesia</i>, a
gathering or a congregation of people for displaying God’s glory and sharing
His gospel in the world. And the Scriptures use various metaphors to describe her:
We are branches of the same vine, sheep of the same flock, brothers and sisters
in the same family, stones built in the same building and, from the passage we
read just now, we are members together of the same body. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It means
all of us are connected to the Body of Christ though we have different
functions, abilities and roles. And the entire body grows and builds itself up
in <i><u>love</u></i>, as each part does its
work (v16). If any member is cut off from the body, it will shrivel and die. Every
member is <span class="texteph-4-16">joined and held together by every supporting
ligament. We are all needy people. And we are needed. Our lives are
inter-dependent. We rely on each other to grow. </span>The hand cannot say to
the foot, “I don’t need you”. And we receive instruction and nutrition from
Christ himself, who is the head. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now<i>, how does</i> the body grow? <span class="apple-converted-space">How do we grow into Christ-likeness? </span>Paul
tells us in verse 11: <span class="texteph-4-11">Christ himself gave us leaders (apostles,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> p</span><span class="texteph-4-11">rophets,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-11">evangelists,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-11">pastors and
teachers)</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-12">to <u>equip his people for works of service</u>, so that the
body</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-12">may be built up</span><span class="apple-converted-space">. Verse
15 says: “</span><span class="texteph-4-15"><u>speaking the truth in love</u>,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="texteph-4-15">we will grow
to become in every respect the mature body of Christ”</span><span class="apple-converted-space">. </span>Speaking the truth in love is HOW we build
the body up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But what
does “speak the truth in love” mean? Is it like when your wife asked: “Do I
look fat?” you will tell it as it is, but gently: “Well, dear, let’s just say
you are horizontally endowed. Don’t worry, there’s more of you to love.” You
tell the hard facts, but do it in love. That’s partly true, yes. But crucial to
spiritual growth of the church is we need to speak <b><u>biblical truth </u></b>to each other. We need to feed each other
with truth about God. Spiritual truth of His promises. Encouragements from what
Christ has done on the cross. Confront sinful patterns with the truth in love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can tell by looking at the context: In verse 11 all the
leaders that Christ has given to equip us are all truth agents: apostles and
prophets are the authoritative, foundational witnesses to the truth (their
teachings are now preserved for us in the Bible), the evangelists (who do the
work of evangelism with the truth of the gospel), the pastors and teachers (who
take the truth and use it to feed and protect the flock of God). Every one of
them equips us with God’s truth. They are truth agents who equip us for
ministry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We can also see in verse 14: “speaking the truth in love”
is put in contrast with<span class="texteph-4-14"> childish thinking, being easily
deceived and swayed by </span>every wind of false teaching. As we speaking God’s
truth in love, it transforms us, strengthens us, comforts us and gives us a
stable anchor and unity in sound doctrine. That’s how we grow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Another
way to put it: The <b>core business</b> of
the church is to grow people into mature, disciple-making disciples of Christ
by teaching them to obey everything that He commanded. We are talking about
people growth and gospel growth. God’s word is like seeds that we sow. It’s
like rain that nourishes us and makes us bear fruit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If this
is not happening, it doesn’t matter how much programs, how many members, how
big is the budget and how grand a building we have – there is no spiritual
growth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How do we help each other grow into the measure of the
fullness of Christ? Answer: by speaking truth about God and about Christ in
love. Both are crucial: Truth and love. Truth without love is judgmental and puffs
up in pride. But love without truth is confused and compromising. We need to
learn the art of listening well in order to understand, not judge and feel what
others feel. We also need to learn the courage to speak a word of truth in love
even when it may get uncomfortable. God’s truth comforts and assures us. It can
also challenge and call us to change. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This can
happen in many wonderful ways in CDPC Puchong: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It can happen in small
groups when we gather for covenant groups, youth groups, Sunday school, ministry meetings and one-to-one
Bible study. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It can happen when we
read prayers and the Bible with our children and spouse. Or in daily
conversations as we eat and drive to school. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It can happen during
water cooler conversations at the work place with colleagues. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->When people
prayerfully speak God’s truth in love from the pulpit, in class rooms and
training workshops. When worship leaders lead us in worship grounded in
Scripture. When pastors, teachers and evangelists model how to faithfully read
and apply the Scriptures, we are equipped to serve others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->5)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Or when we follow up with
new comers at the children’s library over lunch or invite guests on Sundays to
our homes. Perhaps just over Kopitiam, when we discuss what we learnt during
sermon and invite God into our conversations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are
endless possibilities but what happens is the same: God’s people prayerfully
speaking God’s word in love to someone else… That’s what the Holy Spirit would
use to cause people to grow and bear fruit. That’s our core business.
Everything else supports it. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<b>Who will do the works of ministry? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If a
guest walks in here and asks you: “Who is the minister around here?” How would
you reply? What’s the correct answer: Rev Wong? Pastor David? But the biblical
answer to “Who is the minister around here?” is: “All of us are. All of us do
the works of ministry. All of us speak the truth in love”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, God
has given some members of the church with the gift and responsibility to lead
and equip God’s people. But look at verse 11: Equip them to do what? For works
of ministry… For works of service… So who are the ministers? Only the pastor or
teachers who do the equipping? Nope, a minister is a servant so all of us serve
by doing ministry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is
a die-hard belief that only full time, paid people have a ministry or only what
happens on the pulpit on Sundays count as ministry or only “specially-called,
specially-trained” people have a ministry. The main function for the rest of
God’s people is to assist a few who can do “real ministry”. We support with our
time, energy, prayer and finances so that full time, ordained pastors-teachers
can do the really important thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But
that’s not the model given in God’s word. Leaders equip God’s people to
minister. God’s people do the ‘real ministry’ of speaking the truth in love to
each other. Of encouraging and comforting each other. Of challenging and
correcting each other. As members of the Body of Christ, we all have various
spiritual gifts and roles that would enrich and are needed by others. The hand
cannot say to the foot, “You don’t need me anyway so I can sit back, relax and
enjoy the show”. <span style="background: white;">The apostle Peter says: You are
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people so
you could show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into
his marvelous light. </span>We all are called and have ministry as prophets,
kings and priests in the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For
example, let’s imagine a discussion about the Children’s Library. Some people
would look at it and say: “I’ve been around for four years. It’s wonderful to see
so many families come to read and borrow books. But how do we reach them with
the gospel? It’s just not happening yet.” Others look at it and say: “You know
what we need first of all. We need to encourage and mobilize more people to
support the work. Strategically, we need more librarians, story tellers and
befrienders.” Still other say: “But you
know what’s even more important: Have we thought about children who cannot read
or come from poorer families or with special needs? How can we serve them too?”
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If we are
not careful, we may misunderstand each other: “That fella is always thinking
about evangelism, what about serving the poor?” or “That fella is always
thinking about social justice, but who’s going to do the work?” But in truth,
each one has a unique perspective because the first person has a prophetic
ministry (how can we evangelize?), the second person has a kingly ministry (how
can we get organized strategically?) and the third person has a priestly
ministry (how can we sacrificially serve others?) And we need all of three
contributing to the same Children Library so it can be more effective in
serving others and evangelize. And we need each other to make the best decision
(blind spots). That’s why as part of the church membership class next month, Tom
will discuss about how we can serve and use our spiritual gifts to build up
each other. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If
prayerfully speaking God’s word in love is what brings spiritual life and all
of us are ministers called and gifted by God, how would that change the way we
think about church growth? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are
important mind shifts: It means our priority is in <span style="background: white;">equipping people for evangelism and to make disciples, rather than
running events, attending committee meetings, managing property or organizing
programs. Yes, we do need to be responsible stewards of our resources and
finances. But we cannot be so caught up in running programs and committees that
we lose sight of our core business in making disciples. Rather than to start
with gaps in our ministries and programs and see how people can fit into them,
our priority is to start with people and where they are at; and then consider
how we can help them grow in spiritual maturity and what gifts and ministries
look like for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white;">A newcomer (let's say, Wendy): She is a solid Christian, a teacher and
has a passion for evangelism in her network of colleagues and students: “David
- how can I serve?” Do we look around and see a gap in the worship/music
ministry: “OK, you can plug the gap here?” Or do we see her gifts and encourage
her to pursue evangelism? That’s the test. <b>(</b></span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/243512846">Ministry Mind shift ppt</a>) </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Lastly what is the goal of our ministry in
CDPC Puchong? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Every
process has an end product. So what is the result from our process of speaking
the truth in love with each other? What is the goal of our ministry? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The first
goal of our ministry is the building up of the body of Christ. Verse 12: Christ
gives leaders to the church "for the equipping of the saints for the work
of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." It means we are in the business of raising up
mature Christians - equipping disciples who do interpersonal ministry wherever
they are. The fruitfulness we are after is that people are trained and sent out
to make disciples, plant new churches and make an impact in the work place. In
this hectic and mobile world, people don’t remain in the same place for very
long… There will always be people who come and go for work, for studies, for
relocation. And that’s ok… The priority is not that this church will grow in
size and budget. That’s secondary. The priority is that we want to produce and
export mature disciples who speak the truth in love wherever they are – to <st1:country-region>Australia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region>Vietnam</st1:country-region>, <st1:city>Norwich</st1:city> and beyond. The church should function like a body where
every member serves in the power of the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The second
goal of our ministry is the unity of faith and the unity of the knowledge of
the Son of God. Verse 13: "until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God." That’s why in November (as part
of church membership) we will have conversations on “Basic Beliefs”. There are
lots of things that Christians can agree to disagree about (small or big
government, GST or no GST, different opinions about rap music, organic food, football
teams etc). But at the same time, there are historic doctrines of the Christian
faith shared by believers across the ages – we need to have unity of faith,
unity in knowledge of Christ and what he has done for us in the gospel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Why is
such a unity and foundation important? Look at v14: So that we will no longer
be infants. We should be humble and be child-like in faith. But we should never
be childish in our thinking. We should not be tossed back and forth by winds of
popular opinion or cultural fads: “It’s not cool to preach about sin and
judgment in this day and age. Relax and forget about it”. The opposite of
having unity in faith and knowledge is to be naïve and easily conned by craftiness
of people in deceitful scheming. I do consider myself a ‘charismatic’ Christian
– I believe God works miracles, heals and delivers people from bondage today. But
I don’t think it’s spiritually healthy for us to chase after signs and wonders,
to be obsessed with the latest phenomenon that comes to town like holy
laughter, holy bark, holy roar, gold teeth/gold dust. Some of these movement
leaders were exposed with marital and financial scandals. Don’t be naïve. Be
centered on the gospel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The final
goal of our ministry is that the church becomes mature like Christ. Verse 13: Build
up the body "until we all attain… to the measure of the stature which
belongs to the fullness of Christ." A common feeling among Christians is
that they only get prayed for and visited by when they’re sick or in trouble.
Of course, we are all people in need of help, friendship and prayer. It takes
courage to be open to share needs and find help. But we shouldn’t have a
culture where people pray only when reacting to crisis. The goal of ministry is
also about pro-actively encouraging people to move forward in holy living and
spiritual maturity whether they have problems or not. We want to be comfortable
teaching and praying for one another even when things are going well that we
may present everyone mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:28) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">We aim
for the body of Christ to grow into the full grown stature of Christ, the
mature man. We are not yet there. It’s work in progress. We want unity in
faith, we want to equip the saints for ministry so that the church reflects in
our character, our spiritual life, our service, our relationship the fullness
of our Lord Himself. We want to the world to see Christ magnified and lifted up
through us. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"> <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/243512995/Growing-Together-in-the-Gospel" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Growing Together in the Gospel on Scribd">Growing Together in the Gospel</a> by <a href="https://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 24px;">
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.7729220222793488" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_98510" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/243512995/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-JUEAwMSGPuChVf6dHl9K&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe></span>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-65318507333064386262014-09-28T21:07:00.000+08:002020-01-23T03:38:00.794+08:00Jesus Christ In The Quran<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/241168302/Will-the-Real-Jesus-Please-Stand-Up" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up on Scribd">Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.3323485967503692" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_29984" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/241168302/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-NzEqssIA7TxsayZHRevj&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<br />
A comparison of the portraits of Jesus as described in the Koran and in the New Testament. The audio download file may be found <a href="http://puchong.cdpc.org.my/2014/09/28/will-the-real-jesus-please-stand-up/">here</a><br />
<br />
What does the Koran say about Jesus (Isa)?<br />
What does the Qu'ran say about Jesus (Isa)?<br />
What do Muslims say about Jesus (Isa)?<br />
What is the similarity or difference between Islam and Christianity with regards to Jesus (Isa)?<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-76627607501160722532014-08-25T00:26:00.000+08:002014-08-25T00:26:32.299+08:00The Scripture Forum 1: Its Dependability<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Today we had a lively and engaging forum on Scripture's infallibility and trustworthiness. It reflects our church's values of learning together as a community, being open to hard questions and faith seeking understanding. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Lots of interesting questions were raised. Understandably it is impossible to do justice to all of them in less than 15-20 minutes. Feel free to approach any of the leaders if you like to continue these conversations. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Here are some blog posts that I have dug up from the Agora blog which may hopefully help us step back and get some background into the discussions:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">1) We talk about an infallible, inerrant original manuscript which is no longer with us. So how do we know what was in that original manuscript (autograph) written by the biblical authors? And what about various translations of the Bible? (KJV, NIV, ESV etc) </span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Check out this article published in Kairos magazine: (also available on the book table)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://theagora.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-christians-successfully-recover.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">http://theagora.blogspot.com/<wbr></wbr>2010/10/how-christians-<wbr></wbr>successfully-recover.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">With that background, we can appreciate why some ancient texts/manuscripts i.e. Alexandrian, Byzantine, are considered technically more reliable or not. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">2) Belief that “the Bible contains no error” (inerrant) is not an inductive conclusion arrived at after examining all the passages of the bible or years of studying textual criticism. It springs deductively (top-down reasoning) from the “first principle” that Scripture has been inspired by God who does not make mistakes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">And that theological belief needs to be informed by what we actually read and find in Scripture itself. And that’s where questions arise where Christians continually try to match this top down conviction with their discoveries from an inductive, bottoms-up close reading of the Bible itself. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Without that top-down conviction, we may fall into the trap of not seeing the Bible as a coherent, trustworthy whole with a single purpose of revealing Christ. Without a bottoms-up approach, we may fall into the trap of ignoring evidences of how God chooses to actually inspire very human authors with very human languages to deliver that message. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">We need both systematic theology AND biblical theology. Not either-or. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">3) Here is a great question from </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Alvin</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">: How do you even define 'error'? What about ‘discrepancies’ we find in the Bible?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><br />Being clear on what “inerrancy” means and does not mean would help. Here is a definition (<i>italics mine</i>):</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">“The Bible, when <em>correctly interpreted in light of the level to which culture and the means of communication</em> had developed at the time of writing, in view of the <em>purposes for which it was given</em>, is fully truthful in <em>all that it affirms.”</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">For example, if the Bible never affirms that the “Good Samaritan” is historical, then it is not a problem if we realize that it is a not a historical story. A story does not have to be historical to give us a true, radically life-changing message. Or if the Bible never affirms that Moses wrote every single word in the Torah, why should we be troubled if we found out that scribes in later generations faithfully updated these books?</span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">When approaching ‘discrepancies’ ask these questions: What is the intention of the author? As Phil pointed out, we need to interpret the text not with our own standards of scientific accuracy but with the purpose of the author. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Is the list of numbers of chariots and horsemen supposed to have exact, scientific precision? 83,712 horses?</span><br /><br /><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Or did the author mean to give us an idea of how big is the army i.e. in approximations? 80,000 horses?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Giving approximations is a common practice even in our own culture. If I earn $2712.33 a month (after deducting tax), it would be correct to round it up to $2700 if my purpose is just to give someone an idea of how much it is. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">But if the purpose is to report it Jabatan Hasil Dalam Negeri, I'd have to be more exact!</span><br /><br />Another question to consider: <span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"></span>Is this to be interpreted metaphorically or literally?<br /><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Some numbers are symbolic like the number </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">14 in</span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> </span>Matthew's genealogy. </span><br />
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Sometimes we speak of things as we see it. Like the sun will rise at </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">8 am</span></span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">. Now we know that actually the earth moves. But even scientists talk about sunrise regularly, they do not take it literally but as how they see it. It is not a scientific “error”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">These references are phenomenal, as they appear to human eye, approximations yet they are correct. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Lastly, sometimes, the bible reports statements made by ungodly persons. For example, the fool who says there is no God. It doesn’t mean these statements are true, inerrancy only guarantees that they are correctly reported.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">4) I also made a similar observation as that of Suren’s question on Messianic prophecy <a href="http://theagora.blogspot.com/2014/04/isaiah-53-prophecy-on-suffering-messiah.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">here</span></a> (Isaiah’s prophecy on the cross/resurrection) and <a href="http://theagora.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-prophets-foretold-and-angels-long.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">here</span></a> (other OT prophecies). But often times, biblical prophecies that are ‘fulfilled’ in the Gospels are not always predictive in nature.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">For example, Matthew records that Jesus escaped from Herod and sojourned in </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Egypt</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">before He returned to </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Israel</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">. That is in fulfillment of prophet Hosea said: “Out of </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Egypt</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">I call my son”. When you flip back to Hosea, the ‘son’ was the nation </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Israel</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">delivered out of </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Egypt</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">rather than a Messianic prediction. Matthew sees a pattern: God brings </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Israel</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">out of </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Egypt</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">is a type of Him bringing His Son (Christ) out of </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Egypt</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">. The new exodus has begun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">That means when the biblical authors use the word ‘fulfillment’, it is much broader than what we normally associate as future predictions. They operate an understanding that God works in history (i.e. raise up a king, deliver his people in Exodus, return from exile, setup a priesthood), and that historical person/institution/event serves as a pattern or typology for how He works in the future. When that pattern gets repeated in future events/persons, it is considered as ‘fulfilled’.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Some plausible treatment of Judas Iscariot’s death and its’ fulfillment here:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/Zechariah-11-12-13-Messianic.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">http://www.gotquestions.org/<wbr></wbr>Zechariah-11-12-13-Messianic.<wbr></wbr>html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Please note that we have two more Q&A sessions </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">- 21 Sept (The Canon of Scripture)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">- 28 Sept (Jesus in the Bible and Koran) </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Bring your friends (skeptics, seekers, curious) and your questions! </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-61648974536283391752014-08-24T02:04:00.001+08:002014-08-24T02:04:18.608+08:00Announcing upcoming ACT Online course on spiritual theology - act ministry.org<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Academy for Christian Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Belief with Integrity<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Eight Deadly Thoughts - Spiritual Discipleship of the Mind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learning objective:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> To practice the medieval spiritual discipline of meditating upon the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scope:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We begin with a brief history of spiritual theology, followed by a discussion of Evagrius’ eight deadly thoughts, and conclude with the practical application of assessing the kind of person you are and think about the kind of person you ought to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Key terms</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Spiritual discipline, habit-formation, nolition (the intentional opposition to our wills), compassion, generosity and God’s habitual presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spiritual discipline refers to the proactive decision to exercise metaphysical self-control over physical emotions, passions and temptations of the mind. In each instance, we will consider how science, technology and medicine has transformed the way we think and live. Our goal is to understand the power of nolition by spiritual habit-formation, to override the default volitions of out in-built competitive survival instincts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obstacles:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Today, much of academic thinking suffers from a theological amnesia about the purpose of theology – to nourish our spirit beyond just wishing it so. Worship without theological integrity can result in ritualistic slavery and theology without the goal of worship can result in dry religious philosophy. Responsible spiritual theology combines a desire for devotional experience alongside rigorous assessment of every truth claim about God. The works of major spiritual theologians: Evagrius of Pontus, Gregory of Nyssa and Maximus the Confessor of Constantinople (all from modern Turkey) have been sidelined, not by secular voices but by Church teachings themselves. Those of us of the Reformed Tradition inherit a strong censorship of writings and thoughts that became victims of the 16<sup>th</sup> century European religious wars, which were more economic and political than theological.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conflict:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The battleground was the role of nature in learning about God. Ancient prescientific theologians had always understood nature as God’s creation and an important source of God’s revelation, i.e., natural revelation, one that modern science can explore and celebrate even more. But the sola scriptura movement claimed that only the supernatural revelation as presented in the Bible is trustworthy. Nature, and by association, modern science, was a temptation to be resisted. Past theologians taught that the created order we call the universe reflected God’s wisdom and majesty, but by the 20<sup>th</sup> century, nature and the scientific investigations came to be seen as threats to the closely-guarded magical status accorded to the gate-keepers of spiritual knowledge. As it turned out, science did become a threat. Along with technological innovations and medical advances, science became a serious threat not to faith or belief in God but to the perception that God can only be known and cherished through the words of the Bible. This gagging of God and limiting God to human words of testimonies betrays both the wonder of nature and the beauty of the Bible as written testaments of divine encounters by ancient God-fearers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Practical actions:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Live every moment of your life with an awareness of God, even if God seems remote in you daily life. As we grow in wisdom and experience of life, we tend to desire something more than what seems to be our lot in life. Desire <i>God’s habitual presence</i>. How? By shifting our <i>attention</i> from merely being vaguely aware of God’s presence, we can intentionally seek to be in the presence of God. At any moment in our lives, we pay attention to things that we care about – priority determines ranking. But we are free to make the desire for God’s habitual presence our center of attention even as we do the mundane things in our daily lives. The key to success is habit-formation, the formation spiritual habits that is. In this seminar, we will consider how we might form communities among trusted fellow pilgrims of faith, to celebrate the gift of life to the fullest while delighting in God’s grace by practicing the discipline of compassionate generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this seminar:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We shall consider the eight deadly thoughts as starting points to help us navigate the theological cobwebs that plague the Church with increasingly longer lists of do’s and don’ts. We shall examine medieval insights into the nature of the human mind alongside modern neuroscientific understanding of how the brain works. Then we will be better equipped to assess the competing truth-claims of religious and scientific voices, some of which are helpful but many of which distract us from knowing God and learning to harness the most powerful gift of being the <i>imago Dei</i> – the capacity and persistence of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 8 Deadly Thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="color: blue;"> Gluttony</span>: Attempts to get satisfaction from things rather than from God. Examples include over-indulgences in the three basic wants of the human mind; food, shelter, and love (significance).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. <span style="color: blue;">Lust</span>: Attempts to get satisfaction from the sexual use of bodies rather than love of people. This is not a critique of sexual instinct, which is part of God’s creation. Rather, it is a warning that desires for the bodies rather than the persons themselves depersonalize and objectify the persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. <span style="color: blue;">Avarice</span>: A defensive greed for self-provision that kills generosity by filling us with anxiety and insecurity, e.g., "I can’t be generous because I have to think of my own future”. The quest for security keeps us from generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. <span style="color: blue;">Sadness</span>: A form of self-pity and disappointment that rejects what God has made in you. It arises from comparison with the material achievements or inheritances of others. Thoughts of “if only I were a different gender or race, then...; If only God had made me different...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. <span style="color: blue;">Anger</span>: The unrestrained, cumulative anger that ultimately destroys. An example is the anger that God might bless your enemy – think of Jonah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. <span style="color: blue;">Sloth</span>: It does not refer to laziness but rather, indifference to the presence of God in our lives that leads to despair. I call it spiritual paralysis. The Greek word <i>Accidia</i> is to "not care." It may arise from discouragement over the apparent lack of spiritual progress in our lives. We blame church politics, fallen leaders, unfriendly, unloving or hypocritical Christians, gossip, etc,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. <span style="color: blue;">Vainglory</span>: A desire for attention that you want everybody to know of your success in life. It is the vain desire to fill the minds of others with yourself, as Doctor Johnson said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. <span style="color: blue;">Pride</span>: The decision to take full credit for our achievements and progress in life. "God is not my helper." This results in a deep sense of superiority that hinders any spirit of generosity and compassion for others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The outcome of each deadly thought is a reduced capacity to love your neighbor with compassion and generosity. They are called thoughts rather than sins because in themselves, they do no harm. It is only when these thoughts are nurtured and executed upon that they can created situations that stop you from fulfilling your potential as a person created by and loved by God.</span></div>
Ron Choonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09686599929666485384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-68873604576283059652014-07-20T17:22:00.001+08:002014-07-20T17:24:43.810+08:00What Prophets Foretold and Angels Long To See...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white;">Get into groups of two or
three. Assignment: Say hi to your friends. Guess what picture this is and have
some fun discussing your answer in your group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Before we go to the answer,
let us turn our attention to God’s word. </span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="background: white;">“Concerning this salvation,
the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently
and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to
which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the
sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them
that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things
that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the
Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things” (I
Peter </span><st1:time hour="13" minute="10"><span style="background: white;">1:10</span></st1:time><span style="background: white;">-12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This picture is one of the oldest depictions of the cross
(200-300 AD), and it is not a flattering one. It is actually an ancient drawing
on a wall found in a Roman guardhouse. Yes, graffiti existed ever since walls
were invented. In fact, it is an anti-Christian mockery depicting someone worshiping
with his hands raised before a cross. Beneath are the words, “Alexamenos
worships his God.” On that cross is crucified a man with the head of a
donkey (a symbol of stupidity at that time). Even today, the preaching of the
cross is described by some of the world’s intellectual elite as vicious, offensive
and “barking mad” (Dawkins). So this picture offers us historical insight into
how the crucifixion of Christ was seen as something shameful, weak and plain
silly by Roman guards who may have imprisoned this unknown Christian named
Alexamenos. To them, the preaching of the cross seemed utterly foolish. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And that is the historical background that Peter addresses
in the letter that we read a moment ago…a church going through trials,
persecution and ridicule from the broader culture. We are in the third
installment in our sermon series on 1 Peter (website). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Persecution doesn’t usually happen overnight. It starts with
disinformation: lies, ridicules, rumors, conspiracy theories against minority
groups. (“Christians conspire to set up a Christian Prime Minister”) And the
state just keeps quiet or worse, actively uses its powerful news agencies to
spread them. Then it leads to discrimination where the rights and freedom of
the minority to practice their faith i.e. seizing of Bibles by state agencies
or restrictions by government policies, laws and regulations. Then the ground
is made ready for passive persecution. That happens when individuals/mobs harm
people or destroy properties while the state turns a blind eye to it. When it
hits rock bottom, the state uses its power to actively destroy property, arrest
or execute people because of their faith. I will leave you to discern how far
down the spiral <st1:country-region>Malaysia</st1:country-region>
has come as a nation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But whether it is violent persecution or passive
discrimination, the Christian community in Peter’s time faces increasing
pressure to give up their commitment to Jesus. The question they are asking
every day: “Is this worth it? What am I giving up for? Is the faith I hold on
to worth all these troubles and sacrifices? Isn’t it easier to just give in?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s why the apostle Peter reminds us how precious this
faith that we have embraced is. He wants to encourage us: Realize how valuable
this good news of grace that we now have with Christ. It’s far more precious than
anything the world has to offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How does he do that? Firstly, Peter tells us that t<span style="background: white;">his is the <b>salvation
that prophets have predicted all along</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Look at verse 10-11: “<span class="text1pet-1-10">Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-1-10">of the grace
that was to come to you,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-1-10">searched intently and with the greatest care,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-1-11">trying to
find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-1-11">in them was
pointing when he predicted</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-1-11">the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would
follow.</span><span class="apple-converted-space">” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">We learn something here about the inspiration of biblical writings. These
prophecies were written by men who searched carefully and enquired diligently
about the promised salvation. On rare occasions, God dictated to the prophet
Jeremiah (26:2): “</span></span><span style="background: white;">Tell them
everything I command you; do not omit<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a
word.<span class="apple-converted-space">” But they were not just passive, almost
unconscious type writers in God’s hands. The prophets were actively seeking,
trying to find out how and when this promised King will come. And at the same
time, in and through this whole process, in the midst of their searching, the
Spirit of Christ within them is speaking to them and through them… the Holy
Spirit is revealing things to them, the Holy Spirit is pointing them to Christ,
to say and write things that they could never have come up with on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Why is this important? If you misunderstand this, you will get into
problems. Well, I have spoken to friends who started to take their Bible
studies seriously. Maybe they took up some seminary classes or read journal
articles to analyze the texts and its forms. And a few of them are really
troubled when they suddenly realized that the Gospels or the letters of Paul
were written by human beings. “David! Oh no! Do you know what I found out
today? These books were written by people, in a particular context, for a
specific purpose, with introductions and conclusions and everything in between.
That makes me doubt everything. How can they be actual revelations from God?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">And I want to say: “Hello? Of course they were written by human
beings-lar. Do you expect it to drop down from heaven?” It’s only a problem if
you think that if it is divine, it cannot be human. And if it’s human, it
cannot be divine. But the Bible never made such claims. When we say that all
Scripture is inspired, what we mean is that the Holy Spirit guides the human
writers and reveals in such a way that the original written words of Scripture
were also the very words of God. The Holy Spirit is superintending that entire
process that the result is the Word of God in the words of men. </span></span>2
Peter 1:21: “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets,
though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit.” They are both human and divine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Now the goal of the Spirit’s revelation is to show Christ. To point to
His suffering and the glories that would follow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Just a few months ago, we looked at how the death and resurrection of Christ
had been clearly foretold centuries earlier by the prophet Isaiah (53). And we
can see how detailed, lengthy and specific these biblical prophecies were
compared to vague and generic so-called predictions of John F Kennedy’s
assassination, for example. The amazing thing is: Isaiah is not the only
prophet to do so. </span></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">There’s prophet Micah (5:2) who
predicted that the Christ will come from the town of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Bethlehem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;">, from among the clans of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Judah</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white;">: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">“But
you, Bethlehem</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">Ephrathah,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">though you are small among the
clans</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">of </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">Judah</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">,</span></span><br />
<span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">out of you will come for
me</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">one who will be ruler</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">over </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">Israel</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">,</span></span><br />
<span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">whose origins are from
of old,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textmic-5-2"><span style="background: white;">from ancient times.”</span></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The prophet Zechariah even
predicted that this chosen King would enter </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Jerusalem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;"> “<span class="textzech-9-9">righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey” (9:9). It’s like bits and pieces of this jigsaw
puzzle were disclosed over hundreds of years to give us hints and clues about
this Messiah. And all of them fit nicely in the person of Jesus. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">In Psalm 22, King David
foretold the sufferings of Christ as he hung on the cross - to be abandoned by
God the Father, to be mocked and insulted by people, to have his hands and feet
pierced, and to have his garments divided by the casting of lots. Jesus quoted part
of this Psalm and applied it directly to Himself just before He died. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textps-22-1"><span style="background: white;">“My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-1"><span style="background: white;">Why are you so far</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-1"><span style="background: white;">from saving me,</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-1"><span style="background: white;">so far from my cries of
anguish?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-22-6"><span style="background: white;">I am
a worm</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-6"><span style="background: white;">and not a man,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-6"><span style="background: white;">scorned by everyone,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-6"><span style="background: white;">despised</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-6"><span style="background: white;">by the people.</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-7"><span style="background: white;">All who see me mock me;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-7"><span style="background: white;">they hurl insults,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-7"><span style="background: white;">shaking their heads.</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">“He trusts in the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">,” they say,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">“let the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">rescue him.</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">Let him deliver him,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">since he delights</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-8"><span style="background: white;">in him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-22-16"><span style="background: white;">Dogs</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-16"><span style="background: white;">surround me,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-16"><span style="background: white;">a pack of villains encircles
me;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-16"><span style="background: white;">they pierce<sup> </sup>my
hands and my feet.</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-17"><span style="background: white;">All my bones are on
display;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-17"><span style="background: white;">people stare</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-17"><span style="background: white;">and gloat over me.</span></span><br />
<span class="textps-22-18"><span style="background: white;">They divide my clothes
among them</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-18"><span style="background: white;">and cast lots</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textps-22-18"><span style="background: white;">for my garment.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-110-1">Not only the sufferings of Christ, Psalm 110 also predicted the glorious
exaltation of the Messiah when He shall reign and be seated at God’s right hand
to be a priest forever: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textps-110-1"><b><sup>1 </sup></b>The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-1">says</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-1">to my lord (<i>that is, Jesus</i>):<sup> </sup></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textps-110-1">“Sit at my right hand</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-1">until I make your enemies</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-1">a footstool for your feet.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textps-110-2"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-2">will extend
your mighty scepter</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-2">from </span><st1:city>Zion</st1:city><span class="textps-110-2">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-2">saying,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-2">“Rule</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-2">in the midst of your enemies!”</span><br />
<span class="textps-110-3"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>Your troops will be willing</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-3">on your day of battle.</span><br />
<span class="textps-110-3">Arrayed in holy splendor,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-3">your young men will come to you</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-3">like dew from the morning’s womb</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textps-110-4"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-4">has sworn</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-4">and will not change his mind:</span><br />
<span class="textps-110-4">“You are a priest forever,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-4">in the order of Melchizedek.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textps-110-5"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>The Lord
is at your right hand;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-110-5">he will crush kings</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-110-5">on the day of his wrath.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The crucified Messiah is also
the triumphant King who will put everything to right. He has ascended to His
throne at the right hand of the Father and reigns in the midst of His enemies. In
light of all these prophecies, our resurrected Lord said to his disciples on
the road to Emmaus: “<span class="woj">How foolish you are, and how slow to
believe all that the prophets have spoken!</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">Did not the Messiah <i>have to</i> suffer these things and then
enter his glory?”</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> The cross must come
before the crown. Why? Because that’s what has been prophesied. </span><span class="textluke-24-27">And beginning with Moses</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textluke-24-27">and all the
Prophets,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textluke-24-27">he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures
concerning himself.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">2) This is the salvation that
the church now proclaims. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Look at verse 12: It was
revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke
of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel
to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The goal of all Scripture is to point us to Christ. This is
why the Bible is divided into two parts: Old Testament is written before the
coming of Jesus and New Testament written after His life, death and
resurrection. He is the main theme of all Scriptures. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Old Testament prepares and promises the coming of this
perfect King. It gives people clues, hints and symbols about who He is, where
and how He will come, what He will do and so on. The New Testament records
eyewitness accounts of those who have seen and heard him. It unpacks the good
news of grace and explains to us the meaning of what Jesus taught and did 2000
years ago. So Christ is prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New
Testament. He is the main character in the story. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Christians, this unity in such diverse writings over
thousands of years and fulfilled prophecies are not by random accident. It is
evidence that the Bible is inspired.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">We can see this more clearly
after Christ has appeared, after His suffering and glory, and then when we go
back to the Old Testament, we can begin to make sense of how Christ fulfilled
everything in it. (Sixth Sense) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">But how would a prophet like
Isaiah or Micah understand fully all that they had written? If you were to ask
Isaiah: Who is this child born of a virgin? Or who is this suffering servant
pierced for our transgressions? If you were to ask Micah: “Who is this future
king from </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Bethlehem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;"> whose origins are from ancient times?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">They would probably answer:
“I’ve been trying to figure out myself how that will come to pass. But I don’t
fully understand what that means. Part of that prophecy must be for someone
else. It must be fulfilled not for me, but for some future generations”. It was
revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you… The prophetic
ministry they exercised was for our benefit not theirs, because they were
fulfilled not in their days, but ours. They could only point to the future but
unable to enter in themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Friends, think about this – What
the prophets predicted but could not understand for centuries, we can
experience and proclaim today. This is the grace that has come to us. This is
the good news that we received. This is the amazing grace that we are now
privileged to share with others. What a privilege! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">If we don’t find this grace
amazing this morning, maybe for some of us, it’s ordinary grace… same, old,
predictable “I’ve-heard-it-a-thousand-times” grace. What have I missed? What keeps
grace from being amazing? Maybe it’s because we do not understand who we are at
all. We have a self perception problem. We like to think of ourselves as
basically good and nice people. If we’re not that bad, then God’s grace is not
that great. If we have committed only a little crime, then God’s mercy is
little. But maybe you don’t have to be a criminal to be a sinner. Our hearts
long for things that we shouldn’t desire. Our affections are full of idols.
Maybe it’s our careers, financial security, even families, or just a life of pleasure,
ease and comfort. These idols mini-gods that we bow down to and worship control
and destroy us. We do not long for and pursue God as we should. We are a lot
more sinful than we realize. We need to correct our self perception
problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">If we don’t find this news good
this morning, it’s because we have a distorted understanding of who God is: “Of
course, if God exists, He is quite relaxed about sin. It’s not a big deal. He’d
not bothered by holiness or concerned about His moral laws. God loves me, wants
me to be happy and forgives me. It’s his job to forgive anyway. It’s unfair of
Him to be angry at good people like me.” Make no mistake about it: God is more
holy that we realize. He has zero tolerance for sin. The wages of sin is death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">When you come to think about
it, real forgiveness, any forgiveness is costly suffering. Recently my tenants
damaged my apartment door and owed me one month’s rent and RM 800 electricity
bills, I can either ask them to pay all or we can share the costs (50%) or I
have to absorb the full cost of this myself. Someone has to bear the payment.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Forgiveness is a form of suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Since forgiveness means absorbing the payment of
sin yourself instead of making the guilty pay for it, should it surprise us
that when God forgives us, He went to the Cross and die there? He is the Judge
Himself receiving the punishment. </span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is nothing like primitive gods that demand human blood
for their wrath to be appeased but God became human to offer his own blood so
that he can destroy all evil without destroying us.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">The essence of sin is we
human beings substitute ourselves for God while the essence of salvation is God
substituting himself for us.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Church: Our message is not
“good advice” on how to improve moral behaviors or build healthy self esteem.
It is not “good laws” a set of dos and don’ts that govern everything you wear
and eat. Our message is “good news” of salvation from sin and death… That
Christ must suffer and die to take upon Himself the guilt and punishment that
is ours. He absorbed our sin, our curse, our brokenness so that we could be
free. That He is raised to life again and reigns in glory so that we may have
new life, a transformed life to glorify and enjoy Him forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
True preaching is Christ-centered and gospel-saturated.
Church: That is the message that the people in Puchong needs to hear. That is
what every sermon on this pulpit aspire to proclaim every Sunday. That’s why I
am excited to know that Rev Wong is keen to bring in the Alpha Course, an
opportunity to share the good news with our friends in context of meals and
community. Would you pray with the leaders of this church that we become more
effective in our evangelism, in our outreach, in our gospel growth?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">3) This is the salvation that
angels long to watch and comprehend. Last sentence in v12: “Even angels long to
look into these things”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Books have always been a friend
in my spiritual journey. That’s why I set up a book table at the back so that
people can freely borrow one home to be their spiritual companion too. You’d
find books on spiritual disciplines, engaging culture, movie review, evangelism,
faith and work, biography and creation care. But my library has not always been
like that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">In my younger days, I was
obsessed with books about angels and demons. Not the Dan Brown novel, mind you.
How I long to have eyes opened to see the invisible spiritual realms! Christians
can be very fascinated with dreams, visions and Hollywood shows like
Supernatural or Constantine that give us juicy insider information into how
angels look like, how they operate and even how to command angels to do our
bidding. Wouldn’t it be nice to gaze into the ‘other side’ to find out more
about warrior angels, messenger angels, arch angels, fallen angels, guardian
angels and how to be touched by an angel? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the Bible never tells us to peek into the other side,
much less to order angels around. In fact, verse 12 tells us that the angels
long to look at and understand our salvation. Here’s the funny thing: we are so
fascinated by them but the angels themselves are more fascinated to see the amazing
grace that is ours. They are standing on tiptoe, as it were, like someone at
the back of a crowd trying to watch a parade. They are so eager to understand
God’s grace that they stoop down from heaven to gaze at what’s happening on
earth. <span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ray Pritchard says this: “During the Renaissance, a painter
named Tintoretto painted a version of the Last Supper. We see Jesus and his
disciples gathered around the table. Perhaps Jesus has just said, “This is my
body” and “This is my blood.” There is a sense of drama and tension as the
disciples struggle to understand. Above the table, an oil lamp gives off clouds
of smoke and angels were painted in the smoke, watching from above, their faces
strangely curious, as they too wonder at what the Son of God is about to do.
That’s exactly the idea Peter is driving at…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">W</span>hy would the angels
marvel at our salvation? The answer is simple. There are no “saved” angels
because salvation is not for them, but for us. Jesus died to redeem fallen men
and women, not the angels. There are good angels and bad angels; there are
obedient and disobedient angels, but there are no “saved” angels. Only humans
can be saved. Only we can be redeemed. We alone of all the creatures in the
universe can experience the wonders of God’s saving grace. This fascinates the
angels, and causes them to study and ponder the mysteries of a salvation they
do not share.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is the gist of Peter’s message: God loves you so much,
the angels are amazed. They are curious about grace and mercy and forgiveness.
They’ve never experienced new life, the second birth, the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit, or the wonder of deliverance from sin. That which we have
experienced in Jesus Christ, the angels never knew and will never know. We are
far more privileged than they. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do we realize this privilege that is ours? What the angels
wonder at but never experience …We understand and experience every single day.
We have privileges even the angels don’t have. Do we realize that we are
privileged beyond our dreams? What the prophets have long predicted but never
understood, we now enjoy and share in Christ. We live in the reality of their
prophetic fulfillment."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So don’t take it for granted. Don’t give it up so easily.
Don’t be distracted from it. Treasure and guard it well. Go deeper into it.
Share it. It’s far more precious than anything the world has to offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s a famous 19th century Scottish missionary, doctor
and explorer of <st1:place>Africa</st1:place> named David Livingstone. He was
disappointed to see Christians concentrated in one city because he believes
that after a local church has been founded, the native leaders should be
trained and move on to new un-reached areas. And so he went and gave his life
to the people in the interiors of <st1:place>Africa</st1:place>. When people
asked about him leaving the benefits of <st1:country-region>England</st1:country-region>,
he replied: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has
appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in
spending so much of my life in <st1:place>Africa</st1:place>. Is that a
sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the
consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious
destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought!
It is emphatically <i>no sacrifice</i>. <b><u>Say rather it is a privilege.</u></b>
Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the
common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause
the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment.
All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
and for us.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><u>I never made a
sacrifice</u>.</em><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Yes, there are sacrifices to
be made if you want to attempt great things for God. It could mean worries,
exhaustion, suffering even danger. Yes there is such a thing as sacrifice. If
we could only see the privilege that is ours in Christ, if we realize the
privilege that is ours in the gospel, in the cross, in the grace of Christ, all
these are counted as nothing. I never made a sacrifice. If we only knew the
privilege that is ours, we’d be unstoppable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">And do you remember our
friend Alexamenos (the guy who was ridiculed because of his faith in the cross
of Christ)? There’s something else that you need to know. In the next chamber, not
far away, there is another scribbling on the wall written in a different hand
writing. It is probably a response by an unknown person in his defense. And it
just says this: </span>“Alexamenos is faithful” or “Alexamenos the faithful”. Despite
the ridicule and imprisonment and perhaps even martyrdom, he has remained
faithful till the end. He knew that His Savior is worth it. <span style="background: white;">Because here’s the thing: We now know the good news
the prophets never knew, and we now experience the grace that the angels wish
they knew. </span>It’s worth everything that we may be called to give. It’s
worth it.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-52319359587972131752014-06-22T14:44:00.004+08:002014-06-22T14:44:56.095+08:00Be Shepherds of God's Flock: Nurturing Servant-Leaders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>To the Elders and the
Flock: Growing Leaders (1 Peter 5:1-4)</b></span><br />
<span class="chapternum" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="chapternum" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text1pet-5-1" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">To
the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-1" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">and a witness</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-1" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">of Christ’s sufferings
who also will share in the glory to be revealed:</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-2" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Be
shepherds of God’s flock</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-2" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">that
is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you
are willing, as God wants you to be;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-2" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">not pursuing dishonest
gain,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-2" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">but
eager to serve;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-3" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">not lording it over</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-3" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">those entrusted to you,
but being examples</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-3" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">to
the flock.</span></span><span class="text1pet-5-4" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">And when the Chief
Shepherd</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-4" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">appears,
you will receive the crown of glory</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-4" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">that will never fade
away.</span></span><br />
<span class="text1pet-5-4" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you remember at the Beijing Olympics, the
</span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> had high hopes of
winning the gold medal in the men’s and women’s 4x100-meter relay teams? They
were talented, driven, ambitious and fast individuals. They had trained hard
for many years. They came with blazing feet but the problem is not with their
feet. The problem is with their hands.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Both
teams failed to win any medal. In fact, they were disqualified because they
dropped their batons<span class="apple-converted-space">. </span>On the surface, passing a baton does not seem very hard but
it is heart breaking to hear it drop on the floor and to look back and find
years of hope and hard work tumbling down the track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Christian life is like running a race… It is also a <u>relay
race</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>– there’s no use being
the fastest individual runner if we fail to pass the baton safely to the next
runner. The apostle Paul told his young disciple Timothy: <span class="apple-converted-space">“</span><span style="background: white;">What you
have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust it, pass it on to
faithful men<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>who will be able to
teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2) Here are at least four generations of
faithful hands passing the gospel baton entrusted to them: Paul, Timothy,
faithful men, others. This is the standard operating procedure, their church
planting strategy. They would <span class="textacts-14-21">preach the gospel in a city, made disciples, gather them in
community and</span><span class="textacts-14-23">
they would appoint</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textacts-14-23"><i>elders for them in
every church</i>. They knew that without trained
leaders, trustworthy shepherds to care for these new believers, they would have
no chance… they would be left to the mercy of predators and false teachers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That’s why one of our CDPC Puchong priorities this year is to
encourage, to grow, and to develop servant-leaders in the church. Without a
team of godly leaders grounded in the word, the health and ministry of the
church suffers. The spiritual maturity of a church rarely goes higher that the
quality of its leadership. If we don’t intentionally ensure that the gospel is
entrusted into a new generation of faithful leaders who will in turn pass it
on, the church is always just one generation away from extinction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The passage of Scripture today is taken from a letter written
by another apostle, Peter. And it has for us some important lessons about
Christian leadership. What sort of people should be leading our churches in
these challenging times? How should Christian leadership be exercised in our
community? It is applicable for all sorts of Christian service. If you are a
worship leader and musician, you are shepherding God’s people to adore and
praise God. The songs you choose and play can have the effect of feeding and
comforting people with truth. If you are a covenant group leader or Sunday
school teacher, you are pastor-ing the hearts of those under your care. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Here we see that Peter is specifically talking to the elders/leaders
in the church as a fellow elder. He’s saying: “I’m not appealing to you as
someone outside from you or on top of you. I am a fellow elder like you. We are
in this together. Not only have I witnessed the suffering of Christ on the
cross, I also bear witness to His sufferings in the midst of our present trials
and difficulties. With you, I will also share in the glory to be revealed when
He returns.” Peter speaks as someone who shares in their responsibilities,
challenges and future hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And he is calling them to watch over God’s sheep… He is
giving to them the same task that our Lord Jesus had given him. Do you remember
how Jesus commissioned Peter to be a pastor in <i>John 21:15-17</i>? Peter must have felt so undeserving and unworthy for
denying Jesus not once but 3 times. He deserted Jesus at his greatest moment of
need. So he went back fishing and caught nothing. But the resurrected Christ
restored him by asking him 3 times: “Simon Peter, do you love me?” You know
Lord that I love you. Jesus answers: “Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep.
Feed my sheep”. The fruit of love, the outcome of loving Christ is the
privilege to be a shepherd to care for God’s flock. In the same way, Peter now
passes the baton to others: “Elders, <span class="text1pet-5-2">be shepherds of God’s flock</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-5-2">that is under your care, watching
over them”… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So who are our elders/shepherds today? Pastor Wong, surely.
Pastor Chia Wen. Pastor Meng. Elder Phil Dehart. Elder Kee Huat. Today’s
message is especially relevant for us. But that does not mean that today’s text
is only limited to 3-5 people. Whether you realize it or not, you are already exercising
spiritual leadership as a parent, as a Sunday school teacher, as a ministry
leader, as a covenant group leader or simply as a more experienced believer who
has influence on a younger believer. So today’s message is loud and clear not
only all of us because it shows us what Christian maturity looks like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A shepherd’s heart grows out of love for Jesus. When you love
Jesus, you will care for what the Chief Shepherd cares about. You will yearn to
seek and save lost sheep. You will look out for people who have yet to commit
to Christ and hope to guide them a step nearer to faith. Or you wonder: Who are
the newcomers in church that need follow-up? You carry a burden: How is the
spiritual growth of our people? Are they being grounded and growing in the
Word? You care for them and look out for them. In some ways, all of us need to
be pastoral caregivers. Our Lord asks us this morning: Do you love me? If you
do, feed my sheep. Do you love me? Take care of my people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And as a church (as God’s flock), we need to seriously look
out for and identify servant-leaders. They don’t pop up out of nowhere. We need
to affirm/recognize them, pray for them, support them, challenge and equip them.
Surely we can elect them to be an elder at the next AGM meeting. Do you know to
be an elder; a candidate needs to secure 2/3 of the members’ votes? So every
vote counts. Conversations about finding a pastor in Puchong… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As you may know, the letter P is CDPC means that we are a
Presbyterian church. <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our
church is structured in a way that we are not a one-man show. And we don’t
decide everything by a congregational vote. </span>It means that e<span style="background: white;">ach local congregation is governed by a team of elders
elected by its members. This team of elders is usually called the <b>Session.</b> Groups of local churches are governed
by a higher assembly of elders known as the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>presbytery</b>
(ESP) and presbyteries can be grouped into a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>synod
</b>(the highest decision making body).
</span>Unfortunately, to be very frank, not many people want to be an elder in
the local church. We are too busy with career and family priorities. Or we
think that an elder must be elderly so we don’t qualify. Or we may believe that
we are not good enough to meet the biblical requirements for an elder. The
expectations we set may be too high. Whatever the reason, we do not have a
Session of (at least <u>two</u>) elders. So this is a timely message for us to
look into God’s word and consider what biblical leadership looks like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So who are these elders? We can look at it in terms of their
roles and their characters. In the NT, the words translated as elders are presbuterious/presbyterians
or overseers/bishops (episkopous) are interchangeable. They refer to people who
do the work of pastoring (shepherding God’s flock). To be an elder is to be someone
who provides spiritual care and manages the church’s affairs. What do they do?
They f<span class="text1pet-5-2">eed God’s people on
the green pastures of God’s Word. They make sure there are both milk for the
newborn believers (1 Peter 2:2) and solid meat for the mature (Hebrew </span></span><st1:time hour="17" minute="11"><span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">5:11</span></span></st1:time><span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">-14).
Week in week out, they clarify the gospel for both believers and unbelievers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Sheep need to be led, not
just fed. That means the shepherds must be out in front so that the sheep can see
and follow them. They need to model what discipleship looks like and guide and
equip believers for spiritual growth and service to others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">A faithful shepherd is
always on guard, always on the watch against wolves and put himself on the line
for the sake of the flock. These wolves can come in the form of false teachers
who twist the truth for selfish gains. That’s why one of the criteria for being
an elder is someone who “can encourage others in sound doctrine and refute
those who oppose it”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ok to feed, to lead and to protect are the roles of an elder…
but his relational character is also crucial. The Bible sets the bar high so
that the witness of the church in holiness and in doctrine is preserved. Texts:
1Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9: “<span class="texttitus-1-6"><span style="background: white;">An elder must be blameless,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-6"><span style="background: white;">faithful to his
wife, a man whose children are faithful and are not open to the charge of being
wild and disobedient.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-7"><span style="background: white;">Since an
overseer</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-7"><span style="background: white;">manages God’s household,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-7"><span style="background: white;">he must be
blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not
violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-8"><span style="background: white;">Rather, he must
be hospitable, one who loves what is good,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-8"><span style="background: white;">who is
self-controlled,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-8"><span style="background: white;">upright, holy
and disciplined.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-9"><span style="background: white;">He must hold
firmly</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-9"><span style="background: white;">to the trustworthy message as it has been
taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="texttitus-1-9"><span style="background: white;">and refute those
who oppose it.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="texttitus-1-9"><span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">We don’t
have time to go in detail here, but you get the sense that the primary
characteristic of the elder/bishop/pastor/overseer is that his life constantly
reflects biblical values and integrity. Most of these virtues - to be faithful
to your wife, not violent or lose temper easily, to be self controlled and holy
– are expected of <i>all</i> Christians.
It’s nothing special, in one sense. You have to walk the talk, basically. You
may listen to these requirements and despair. If we take them to extreme, none
of us would qualify except Jesus. Who among us is blameless and above reproach?
But that’s not what it means. None of us is perfect so we should not expect our
leaders to walk on water. There will always be room for growth and times when
he may fall short. It just means that we can observe these qualities in the
elder to such a degree that they stand out as prominent and consistent patterns
of his life. It means that the elder’s lifestyle is such that, generally
speaking, no one can rightfully accuse him of conduct that is unbefitting a
mature believer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="texttitus-1-9"><span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">So in a
nutshell, an elder is walking the talk, self-controlled and gentle in character
yet firm and rooted in doctrine and lifestyle to feed, lead and protect God’s
flock. Whoa, no joke man being an elder/pastor. Let’s be frank here. By now, some
of us may start to wonder, “OK. Who in their right mind will want this job? Why
would I want to take this responsibility upon my shoulders when I have the
option to just sit back, relax and mind my own business? No amount of pay or
pleading can force me to take on this role.” No wonder it’s hard to find a few
good men to be an elder. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Which
brings us back to our Scripture passage today… Look at verse 2: Be shepherds of
God’s flock</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">that
is under your care, watching over them— not because you must, not because you
are forced to or grudgingly but voluntarily, gladly, out of your own choice,
because you are willing. Why? Because that is what God wants you to be. </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That’s point no 1. Shepherd God’s
flock not grudgingly but joyfully. <span class="text1pet-5-2">It is not God’s will that we should be sluggish, feet
dragging or unconcerned about the well being of His people. This is not to say
we cannot take a break from ministry or prioritize our schedule. We can feel
comfortable to say no, when there is good reason to do so. But there is also a
kind of reluctant “Aiya… please don’t ask me. Ask someone else to do it!”
attitude towards ministry that reflects badly on the One we are serving. If we
do it out of coercion, as if being forced or pestered to do it, it is really a
denial that serving God and His people is a joy. That the Lord we love should
now invite us to be part of what He is doing in people’s lives. It is a
privilege that we don’t deserve. That’s why it’s not God’s will that we drag
our feet as if serving Him is the worst possible job in the world. Peter is
warning us against tidak-apathy… he is challenging our obsession with comfort,
ease and leisure when it comes to the Kingdom. Not everyone is called to be an
elder but all of us can be a spiritual care giver. And honestly, some of us
here are gifted and qualified to be an elder. This word is for you too this
morning: </span>Take the initiative, come off the bench, step up and be
in the game not because you have to, but because you want to. Be willing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Point No.2: Look at verse 2b “<b>Be shepherds of God’s flock <span class="text1pet-5-2">not pursuing dishonest gain,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text1pet-5-2">but eager to serve</span></b><span class="text1pet-5-2">.” Peter warns the elders/the servant-leaders/all
of us: Don’t do ministry out of greed. Don’t serve the King motivated by lust
for money. There was a movie called Leap of Faith in which Steve Martin played
the role of a fake faith healer who claimed to receive divine revelation about
who is having what kind of diseases during a healing rally. But it’s actually
all a trick. His colleagues would talk to the audience in advance, gather personal
details, ask about their health and then feed him the information through a
radio transmitter. The tragedy though is
this: The movie is actually based on a real case of fraud exposed with the help
of a radio scanner. They were caught communicating over the radio: “Way over to
the other side of the other balcony is Josephine Parino.” Then the so-called
healer asks the worshippers: “Who’s Josephine?” “Parino”. Then the lady
identifies herself. “She’s got cancer of the stomach”. It’s like a game show. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Sad but true, ‘godliness’
can often be turned into a means of shameful profit. When Christians are fooled
into supporting self-proclaimed TV prophets anointed and appointed to make us
healthy and wealthy, the only people getting millions of dollars to buy
mansions and drive private jets are the conmen themselves. There’s a word for
this: It’s called fleecing the sheep. Instead of caring for the sheep, they are
taking advantage of God’s flock for selfish gains. Peter says: Don’t do ministry
motivated by money, rather do it with enthusiasm. Love what you do in ministry.
Be eager to see God’s name lifted up. Do you find joy in your work/ministry in
seeing lives transformed by the gospel? Can you honestly say it is more blessed
to give than to receive? I thank God for all the leaders we have in CDPC. They
may not be the slick and flashy ones or the smooth talking ones. But in their sincere,
unassuming and quiet ways, they are eager to serve God’s flock. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text1pet-5-2"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Don Carson once said: “</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The worst situation in
the local church occurs when the church adopts the attitude, "Lord, you
keep (the pastor) humble and we’ll keep him poor," and the minister adopts
the attitude, "I’m going to get every cent I can out of this selfish
congregation; they have no idea how much I do for them." The best
situation occurs where the congregation sees itself in the privileged position
of supporting someone in the ministry generously so that he is free to get on
with the work of the ministry, and the minister for his part doesn’t give a rip
– in a sense, he is above all that.” Point 2: Don’t do ministry out of greed,
but out of eagerness to serve”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Third point is this: Don’t lead
out of pride, lead by example. </span></strong><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Look at verse 3:</span></strong><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> “</span></strong><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Shepherd God’s flock</span></strong><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">… </span></strong><span class="text1pet-5-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">not lording it over</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">those entrusted to you,
but being examples</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-5-3"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">to
the flock.” </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Peter
warns the elders against the love for power and prestige. Don’t be a petty
tyrant, craving for command and control. Don’t boss around: “Do as I say not as
I do. Don’t ask questions. Listen, listen, listen. When I talk, you listen. How
dare you touch the Lord’s anointed?” For some of us, leadership gives us a high
when we call the shots and show our authority. We like to feel needed. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">We crave the praise, admiration and the dependence of others.
This craving for power may be expressed with domineering “My way of the
highway”. Or more subtly, we may manipulate others with disguised pain of a
wounded hero. Pride means we rely on our strength and feel the world stops
spinning when we are not around. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">What’s the antidote
for pride? First and foremost, you lead by example. Whether you are an elder or
not modeling godliness for others is central to your discipleship as a
Christian. Like it or not, we will set a good example or a bad example. People
will look at their leaders’ example and that shapes their idea of what
spiritual maturity looks like. What will CDPC be known for in our community ten
years from now? Do we model holiness in lifestyle, gentleness in speech,
selflessness in relationship, soundness in doctrine? Will our young people and our
children be encouraged to imitate and think of godliness in this way? Or do we
model greed, quarrelsome speech or selfishness? If so, should we be surprised
when they turn out exactly like that one day? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t exalt
yourself: “Do as I say, not as I do”. Rather, lead by example: Follow me as I
follow Christ. How we live will make a much bigger, more lasting impact than
anything we might say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">That’s a lot to
handle, I know. It’s a challenge for all of us. Where do we find help to serve
God’s people willingly, joyfully and humbly? We need hope. We need motivation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is what Peter gives us in verse 4: "And when the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory." <span style="background: white;">Ministry is not an end in itself. We do ministry to prepare
the whole people of God for Christ’s return. We are not in this church business
to get praise for ourselves, but to bring praise, glory and pleasure to God. One
day, Jesus the chief shepherd shall return to reward all who serve Him and His
people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The choices we make today depend on what we believe about the
future. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Who invests more
money: the person who believes that share prices will go up or the person who doesn’t
care if it does? Who changes the world: the person who believes what he/she
does in life will echo through eternity or the person who thinks “you only go
around once, so why not enjoy it”? C. S. Lewis wrote: “If you read history you
will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just
those who thought most of the next… It is since Christians have largely ceased
to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim
at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get
neither.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Mere Christianity</span></em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
you think leadership is too burdensome, think of the day when our Chief
Shepherd will crown us with His love. If you think giving pastoral care to
others is hard, think of the day when our Great Pastor will return and lead us
home. The wealth we gather in this world will fade but not the glory that we
will receive from our Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have
loved me and cared for those whom I love.” Only one life that soon will pass,
only what’s done for Christ will last. Therefore we long for His return. The
proper reward for faithfulness and fruitfulness in service is that He grants us
ability and authority to serve him in greater ways, in unimaginable ways in His
kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Being
a spiritual care giver is a high calling. It’s not easy. The only reason we do
it is because the Lord is our shepherd, we shall not be in want. We lay down
our pride because Jesus is our Chief Shepherd. We are just under shepherds. We
do it willingly because out of love, He risked his own life to seek us, His
lost sheep (Matthew </span><st1:time hour="18" minute="12"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">18:12</span></st1:time><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-14, Luke 15:4-7). We care for others
because our Lord is moved with compassion for the people for they were like
sheep without a shepherd (Matt </span><st1:time hour="9" minute="36"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">9:36</span></st1:time><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">). We lay down our greed in the
things that will perish because His reward will never fade away. Jesus says: <span class="woj">“I am</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">the good shepherd.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">The good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj"> The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when
he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">Then the wolf attacks the flock and
scatters it. I am the good shepherd;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">I know my sheep</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">and my sheep know me and I lay down my life
for the sheep.” (John 10). Because we have such a great Shepherd, we could
shepherd others. And He is calling us this morning: Do you love me? Feed my
sheep. Do you love me? Take care of my lambs. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-52463822341630575782014-06-13T19:49:00.000+08:002014-06-13T19:50:01.067+08:00Bioethics: Integrating Faith and Medical Science<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span class="text Mark-8-34" id="en-NIV-24535"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark 8:34-38 </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Mark-8-34">Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: <span class="woj">“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24535AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)"></span></span></span> <span class="text Mark-8-35" id="en-NIV-24536">For whoever wants to save their life<b> </b>will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24536AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text Mark-8-36" id="en-NIV-24537">What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?</span> <span class="text Mark-8-37" id="en-NIV-24538">Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?</span> <span class="text Mark-8-38" id="en-NIV-24539">If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24539AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></span> will be ashamed of them<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24539AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)"></span> when he comes<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24539AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)"></span> in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/229509463/Cost-of-Discipleship" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Cost of Discipleship on Scribd">Cost of Discipleship</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Have you heard that BFM 89.9
(The Business station) advertisement on the Property show? You are born, you
grow up, you learn to walk, you scrape your knees, you go to school, you fall
in love with a girl or a boy, you graduate, you find a job, you break up, you
cry, you travel to the Eiffel Tower, you make lots of money, you fall in love
with a girl (or a boy), you get married, you have kids, you buy a house. Buy a
house? You buy a house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Is that all there is to life?
And you can go on a bit further. After you buy a house, your kids grow up, you
travel the world, you play golf, you fall sick and you die. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> Is that all that you live for? That’s the script
for most people as they drift along life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, you may say, there’s
nothing wrong or sinful with all that, right? That sounds like a perfectly normal
kind of life. What else do you expect? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Well,
there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. They are good in and of themselves.
But if all that you live for is personal comfort or a great career or great
vacation or wealth or success or pleasure or even for marriage and family, if
on these things hang your ultimate significance, your purpose in life, your
ultimate hope and security, if these things are your mini gods, then you are
too easily satisfied. The problem is not that your desire is too strong. The
problem is it’s too weak. You settle for far too little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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We are sometimes like the little child who plays with dirty mud by the drain
(longkang), and Mommy comes along and says, “Come, Ah Boy, don’t play in the
mud. Come, Mommy bring you play at the sea or at Sunway Lagoon instead.” And
the boy refuses (I don’t want, I want to play by the longkang) because he
cannot imagine how wonderful playing by the sea or at Sunway Lagoon is like.
The problem is not that his desire is too strong, but it is too weak. He
settled for far too little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
irony is you think you saved your life, but you have wasted it. You think you
have gained the world but you have lost your own soul in the process. We are
made for so much more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There is a God shaped hole in
our hearts that only He can fill. Like a splinter in our mind. It drives us to
thirst and hunger for more than this world has to offer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">According
to C.S. Lewis, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this
world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another
world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it… Probably, earthly pleasures
were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real
thing." These longings, aching for something more are clues that point us
to the God who truly satisfies. Don’t settle for less. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But the solution is not just to
add some religious activities into life and everything will turn out nice. God
is not the means to get us our best life now. Jesus says: “<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny
himself, and</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">take up his cross and follow Me.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">” You want to be my
disciple, you need to die to self. There’s an exchange: You give all that you
are for all that He is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFDFD; font-size: 11.0pt;">For the
longest time, we function as if there were two categories of Christians. If you
accepted Christ as your Saviour and say the sinner’s prayer, you were saved.
You had Christ in your life. You would go to heaven when you died. You attend
church, listen to sermon, sing songs, don’t smoke or drink. You are a
respectable Christian. But if you were really serious about your faith, you
would then commit yourself to spiritual disciplines, radically serve others.
You would sacrifice comforts and do serious stuffs like reading the Bible regularly
and actively lead others to Christ. If you were really serious about the
Christian faith you would become a follower of Jesus. Evangelism and mentoring
others is a pastor’s job. Or a cell group leader’s job. But making disciples is
an optional upgrade for ordinary Christians. It’s only for those who are a bit
over the top… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">But that is
cheap grace… it’s the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, it’s cheap grace without discipleship,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>grace without the cross,</b> it’s
just a mental assent or signing a card that does not transform anything. </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">If you are a Christian, you are not your own. Christ
has bought you at the price of his own life. That means your life is not your
own. It is God’s. God made you to be truly satisfied, truly filled in Him. He
bought you so that you belong to Him. This is the meaning of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There is a warning. The path of following
Jesus will cost you your life. Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake
and the gospel’s will save it.” In other words, it is better to lose your life
than to waste it. <b><i><span style="color: #6a1a02;">Costly grace</span></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #6a1a02;"> </span></span><span style="color: #6a1a02;">i</span>s the treasure hidden
in the field; for the sake of it a man’ will gladly go and self all that he
has. It is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>the pearl of great
price</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to buy which the
merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose
sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call
of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">It changes
everything. It is costly and painful. But in the final analysis, there is no
ultimate sacrifice. We don’t sacrifice for sacrifice’s sake… we give up things
for something much more glorious, more beautiful, more joyful, more worthwhile
than life itself. You will lose your life, but you will find true life,
abundant life, purposeful life, eternal life with the God who loves you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In order to experience that,
our Christian faith cannot just be just 2 hours of singing songs and listening
to sermons just on Sundays… It’s got to be more radical than that. We have to leave
our comfort zone, die to our selfish agenda and really follow Jesus. It is not
an optional add-on. We have to follow Him, stay close to Him and be passionate
about what He is passionate for. Don’t waste your young life. Be sold out for
Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFDFD; font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, what
does it mean to follow Jesus in IMU? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFDFD; font-size: 11.0pt;">Let me ask
you a question: If you really love Jesus, if you really follow Jesus, what would
your life look like? What would you do with your life? You’d be a missionary
and preach the gospel in </span><st1:place><span style="background: #FDFDFD; font-size: 11.0pt;">Africa</span></st1:place><span style="background: #FDFDFD; font-size: 11.0pt;">. You’d give up your studies and become a pastor, right? Maybe.
Or a full time worker at World Vision or at the church or a ministry? Driver
into the church? Doctor or nurse or teacher? Lawyer? Politician? Musician? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FDFDFD; font-size: 11.0pt;">Hierarchy
of spiritual work… Dualism: Heart for
God/Mind for Science… Pastor do ministry, the rest are just recipients of
ministry. Or they are doing the background, support work so that pastors can do
the real ministry. Don’t get me wrong. We need more pastors in our churches.
And I pray some of you will serve the Lord in that capacity. But the biblical
model is that pastors, teachers are not the only ones doing ministry, all of us
a prophets and priests and kings who are to be salt and light, to be witnesses
of the gospel wherever we are, we are the ones (every single member of God’s
people) doing the ministry… and God gave us pastors and teachers to equip the
saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">The good
news is you can serve God as you study biomedical science, medicine, dentistry,
nutrition, psychology, pharmacy and nursing. It can be your act of worship
(heart and mind) to God and as service for the kingdom. How can that be? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">In every
area of study and work, there are signs of God’s good creation and the
corrupting influence of sin. As follower of Jesus, you are to enter into that
discipline and affirm/celebrate what is good and critique/correct what is
wrong. How can I do that? How can I integrate my faith with my work/my
research/my studies? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">•<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Science
– What’s Its Method and Limits? Should I assume only what can be tested in
experiment is real knowledge? Every day you are confronted with the amazing
design of God’s creation (video DNA) – it ought to inspire worship in us <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">•<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ethics
– End of Life Issues? (Janet) When does human life begin? Abortion? Stem cell
research? Peter Singer defines a person as a self conscious rational being who
can make decisions. Newborn baby does not qualify as a person and can be killed
In the first 28 days of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">•<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Reality
–How do you view Evolution? Is there such a thing as adultery gene or gay gene?
Is our behavior determined by genes? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">•<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Virtues
– Dealing with suffering and pain? Caregiver even when you can’t fix the
problem? Or is there a life not worth living that justifies a doctor killing
patients? (Pediatrician who can't get over her patients/children who die – I don't know what the answer to the problem of evil is, but the cross proves that the answer cannot be that God
does not care)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m not here
to give answers (each of these questions deserve a full seminar on its own) but
I’m here to raise these are the issues that will confront your life as a
Christian. Following Jesus means grappling with these tough issues, because you
are the front line soldiers in this battle that is raging all over the world.
If you do not form your convictions based on God’s word, you will conform to
the patterns of this world and its assumptions… rather than be transformed by
the renewal of your mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">To be a
follower of Jesus means you need to bring a Christian perspective that informs
how you make decisions on all these crucial issues. I’d like to give you tool
box. The bible storyline of creation-fall-redemption-restoration is also
toolbox, a worldview that helps you navigate through some of these complex
questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I truly believe that this Christian Fellowship is a
unique, strategic mission field in the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">kingdom</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">God</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.
Because I came to know Christ and learn about ministry through CF. If not for a
CF I would not have come to hear the gospel at an Easter gospel meeting. If not
for a CF, I would probably have abandoned the Christian faith in college.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">You are not here by accident. Firstly, campus ministry
is strategic because you only have a couple of years studying in this place.
Maybe you will leave to continue studies overseas. You and your friends are at
a stage in your lives where you are searching for something to live for, where
you are open to new ideas, where you make new friends easily. Opportunities for
evangelism abound here that may not be there when they are too busy chasing the
Malaysian dream after graduation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Secondly, in this student fellowship, you get a very
precious and rare chance to worship together, pray together and serve together
with fellow Christians from a different church tradition. You will mature as
you learn to discover your spiritual gifts and passions with each other. You
learn from your mistakes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You can talk to committee members and explore how you
could serve. You may think you are not talented, but you are gifted. You think
you are not needed, but you are. Lead a Bible study, invite your friends to
converse about the areas of your research and give them a Christian
perspective, be a friend and show them Jesus. (Campus Outreach) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Stories: Even when we don't have a quick fix (brain transplant?) we are caregivers. Story: At 2 years old, his muscles ability weakened and so, he couldn't walk properly. At 11 years old, he had breathing difficulties and constantly had to rely on a medical device. One day, this boy told his mom to remove the device because it was a painful ordeal for him. He has lost his will to live. </span><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.15pt;">The Pediatrician Neurologist who is treating him asked what are his dreams. The boy wants to be a pilot, to visit </span><st1:place style="line-height: 15.15pt;"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 11pt;">Disneyland</span></st1:place><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.15pt;"> in </span><st1:place style="line-height: 15.15pt;"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 11pt;">Hong Kong</span></st1:place><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.15pt;"> and he likes fast cars. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.15pt;">So the pediatrician neurologist proceeded to make arrangements with a local plane company that takes passengers on flight simulations. The boy took flight that day as the co-pilot. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.15pt;">Something changed after that, the boy wanted to live. The neurologist pediatrician works in UH, he shared today in church on his day-to-day job and the challenges of having to face circumstances treating young lives with tough medical conditions every day. I'm deeply moved, he saved a life by letting the boy fly. I believe he gave the boy a reason to live, Hope.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-88952740685588140602014-05-31T14:59:00.000+08:002014-06-10T22:25:49.487+08:00What is Worship?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">Colossians 3:11-17:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span class="textcol-3-11"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">11 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-11"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">Here there is no Gentile or Jew,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-11"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">circumcised or uncircumcised,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-11"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-11"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">but Christ is all,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-11"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">and is in all. </span></span><span class="textcol-3-12"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-12"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-12"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-13"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-13"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">Bear with each other</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-13"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-14"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-14"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">And over all these virtues put on love,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-14"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">which binds them all together in perfect unity.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-15"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">15 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-15"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">Let the peace of Christ</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-15"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">rule in your hearts, since as members of one body</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-15"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">you were called to peace.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-15"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">And be thankful.</span></span><span class="textcol-3-16"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-16"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">Let the message of Christ</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-16"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-16"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">through psalms,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-16"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-17"><b><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textcol-3-17"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textcol-3-17"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">to God the Father through him.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">Worship is more than a song. It is what we were made for. The ultimate purpose of our lives.</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">The gathered church is God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved – here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free, Malaysian or African or American, male or female, young or old. These distinctions no longer separate us because Christ is all and is in all. So worship is not about me. Or my individual or cultural preference? It is not what I feel when I am by myself. Worship is all about Jesus. Therefore, we are all united in Him. The walls that divide us are broken down as we stand equal before God. It is</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;"> </span><u style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">our</u><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">response to what God has done in loving and choosing and rescuing us. It’s about</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;"> </span><u style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">us</u><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">coming together as a</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;"> </span><u style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">family<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 10.4pt;">to encounter Christ and be transformed by the Spirit.</span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Worship is God-centered.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #333333;">We give to God the adoration, honor, praise and glory that He deserves. Because He is worth it. The first letter in our SIMPLE DNA is “S: Seek and celebrate God”. Worship is the quickening of the conscience by the holiness of God, the feeding of the mind by the truth of God, the purging of the imagination by the beauty of God, the opening of the heart to the love of God, and the devotion of the will to the purpose of God. In worship we encounter God and all that He is – His truth, love, beauty and holiness. And we are changed by Him – all that we are, mind, will, heart and imagination (theology and doxology, mind and heart, in spirit and in truth). It is powerful means of teaching, modeling worship and spiritual formation. Happy songs and lamentations…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> <b>Worship is corporate or communal. </b>It is not a solo performance.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> It’s personal but it’s not private. We worship as a family. When we worship, we assemble as a people belonging to Him. We are not just individuals who just happen to be in the same place at the same time. It is more important that we are in harmony than for our music instruments to be playing in the same key. It’s far more acceptable to have an instrument playing off beat than our hearts spiritually out of tune with one another. That’s why Paul stresses “f<span class="textcol-3-14">orgiveness”, “love”, “peace” and “unity”: words that can have meaning only when we relate with other people. </span>He also calls us to a life of “singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in our hearts to God.” For God deserves the best music we can offer Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Our SIMPLE DNA: “By glorifying Him in creative, contemplative, heartfelt and celebratory worship, joining the global church through the ages”. That means when we worship, we do so in unity, in solidarity with true worshippers from different cultures, denominations, nations, languages across space and time. The global church is much bigger than we think. And we want to honor that inclusive diversity. Singing is an act of unity. Creeds, hymns connect us to the past. Bahasa songs connect us with our context in space and culture. A church without history is like a person without memory. Not only that, we need to be shaped by the story of God’s people in redemptive history when we celebrate the Holy Communion and enact the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Worship is gospel-driven</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Worship is often understood narrowly as just the “singing before the sermon.” But again, the Scripture says worship is much broader: whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to the Father. All of life is to be an act of worship and thanksgiving. Worship also includes our prayers, our responsive Scripture readings, our silent reflections, our confession of sin/guilt, our tithing, our listening to the Word preached, the Holy Communion. Every element of a worship gathering is a tool in the hand of God to shape and mold us in His own image. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">How can it be meaningful so that even a guest will get to understand and experience the good news week in, week out? Our worship tells a story.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We want to tell the gospel by the way we worship.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s the simple yet profound story of creation/fall/redemption and restoration. When we practice this pattern of adoration, repentance, assurance of forgiveness and dedicating ourselves to God’s purpose, the gospel becomes a habit and guides us so that we do not just drift along with the leaders’ preference, or denominational tradition or what’s appealing to the surrounding culture. And we can see an inside-out movement in worship where having been gathered inside to encounter God and renewed, we are again sent outside to be salt and light in the world. The goal of evangelism is not just to save souls from sin (that’s true, of course). But the ultimate goal is so that people can enjoy and glorify God in fellowship with Him forever.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-19602919797216125202014-04-06T18:40:00.002+08:002014-04-06T18:40:54.054+08:00Isaiah 53: Prophecy on the Suffering Messiah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="textluke-18-31"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Luke
</span></span><st1:time hour="18" minute="31"><span class="textluke-18-31"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">18: 31</span></span></st1:time><span class="textluke-18-31"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">- 34 </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textluke-18-31"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">31 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-18-31"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“We are going up to </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Jerusalem</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">and everything that is written by the
prophets</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">about
the Son of Man</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">will be fulfilled.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">32 </span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He will be delivered over to the
Gentiles.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">They will mock him, insult him and spit on him;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">33 </span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">they will flog him</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">and kill him.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">On the third day</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">he will rise again.”</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textluke-18-34"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">34 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-18-34"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The disciples did not understand any of this. Its
meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">-------------------------------------------------------------- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">This painting is called The
Shadow of Death. It is not portraying any event recorded in the Gospels.
Rather, it depicts an imagined scene. Here Jesus is portrayed as a young man in
the carpenter’s workshop before his public ministry had begun. Tired from work,
he stretches his arms. His face carries a mix of rapture and agony. His shadow
is silhouetted against the wall across his tool board, creating the impression
of his body on the cross. In the corner, his mother Mary looks up, aghast to
see the shadow of the cross looming over her. If you look carefully, you see
that she is opening a chest that contains gifts from the wise men – gold,
frankinscense and myrrh which represent his kingship, his divine glory and his
death. Although this painting is not historical, it does truly depict a
biblical insight that the shadow of the cross hangs over the entire life of
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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In the ancient world, there were three “supreme penalties”
that people fear the most. What are the worst methods to punish criminals to
death? Beheading was a horrible way to go, being burnt alive was worse (more
painful but sometimes, people died from inhaling the smoke before the fire
reached them). But the most extreme death penalty one can have was by crucifixion.
You catch a glimpse of how violent and agonizing a crucifixion looks like in
the movie The Passion of the Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">And that is Jesus’ destiny
prophesied in Scripture. It is his mission on earth. It is the reason He came. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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That’s not something you would expect. Our Muslim neighbors
would stress that the prophet of God cannot be allowed to be mocked and crucified.
Or suffer defeat. <span style="background: white;">Surely God will protect his
servant by rescuing him and replace someone else to be crucified instead. We
don’t want that kind of hero. According to a 16<sup>th</sup> century document
called the “gospel of Barnabas”, Judas Iscariot was supposed to have substituted
Jesus on the cross. You may like to know that manuscript written in Italian is
more than 1500 years removed from the actual event. So it’s not a reliable
historical source. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">But the Gospel of Luke,
written within only a few decades from the death of Christ, shows us that our
Lord was not surprised by what’s going to happen in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Jerusalem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;">. He knew it was coming. He anticipated it. He was
going to travel to the holy city one last time to celebrate the Passover. </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white;">Jerusalem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white;"> is the city where the temple is located, the sacred place
where heaven and earth meets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="woj">So Jesus rounds up His disciples and tells
them that He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">They will mock him,
insult him and spit on him. They will flog him</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">and kill him.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space">You may think: “Oh well,
it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. John the Baptist his
predecessor was also executed earlier. There was no freedom of speech in those
days, right? So what’s so special about Jesus’ death?” </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space">Well, in the case of
Jesus, look at verse 31 here, his death and resurrection happened so that “</span><span class="woj">everything that is written by the prophets</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">about the Son of Man</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">will be fulfilled”. It
has been foretold in Scripture. It has been predicted beforehand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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In other words, it may look to bystanders as though Jesus is
the victim of betrayal and political conspiracy and mob violence and mock
trials and corrupt religious leaders. Yes, we see that a lot in this cruel
world. But what Jesus says is breath taking: I am in charge here. It’s all
taking place just as Scripture has foretold. Nobody takes my life from me. I
lay it down. I take it up. Jesus already predicted when he died, how he died,
and when he rose from the dead. Yet he still made that journey to <st1:city>Jerusalem</st1:city>.
Why? <o:p></o:p></div>
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1) Because all that prophets have predicted hundreds of
years ago must be fulfilled. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You see, Jesus is not just another human prophet. Rather he
is the ultimate goal of all prophecy. He is their purpose. He is the
fulfillment of what the prophets have foretold. What was predicted hundreds of
years before had come true in his life. If you are considering the claims of
Christ and wonder if there is any good reason to suppose that His life and
death are unique, here is a powerful clue: Fulfilled prophecies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me read to you a prediction written in the 16<sup>th</sup>
century and you tell me what event is being fulfilled here: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The great man will be struck down in the day by a
thunderbolt,</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>An evil deed foretold by the bearer of a petition.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>According to the prediction, another falls at night time.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Conflict at </i><st1:place><i>Reims</i></st1:place><i>, </i><st1:city><st1:place><i>London</i></st1:place></st1:city><i>
and a pestilence in </i><st1:state><st1:place><i>Tuscany</i></st1:place></st1:state><i>.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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(re-kan-s, tas-kanee) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Whose death do you think is being predicted here? You would
never have guessed by just reading it. The answer is: The assassination of John
F Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy. Who do you think wrote these four lines of
prediction? Nostradamus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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OK, thunderbolts and gunshots: not terribly dissimilar. And
the great man was struck down in the day, as John F. Kennedy was. The other
falling at nighttime would be Bobby Kennedy (five years later). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Science Channel: Now, it can work if you want it to, but do
you really think a Secret Service agent reading this passage in 1963 would have
cause to be concerned? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Probably not. It is so vague, vague enough to mean any other
great leader killed during day or night. And it doesn’t even say there were
related as brothers. And what of <st1:place>Reims</st1:place>, <st1:city>London</st1:city>
and <st1:state>Tuscany</st1:state>? Their deaths were
not related to any conflict or pestilence in those places. Not a terribly
impressive prediction. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now let us return to the death of Christ. Where was it
prophesied that the Promised One, the Messiah will die a violent death and rise
again from the grave? It would be amazing if such prophecies were true. But
were they really talking about Jesus? Or were they just too vague like this
one? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Around 700 years before
Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah made one of the clearest predictions of the
Messiah’s death and resurrection. It shed so much light to what He was doing
that the book of Isaiah came to be known as the ‘fifth gospel’ apart from
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I would like to read with you
a portion of this prophecy about the suffering and vindication of the Messiah in
Isaiah 53: The God of Israel says: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text">See, my servant will act wisely;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">he
will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. (<u>resurrection, ascension,
exaltation?)</u> </span><br />
<span class="text"><sup>14 </sup>Just as there were many who were appalled
at him<sup> </sup>—</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">his
appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
his form marred beyond human likeness—</span><br />
<span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>so he will sprinkle many nations,<sup> </sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
kings will shut their mouths because of him.</span><br />
<span class="text">For what they were not told, they will see,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
what they have not heard, they will understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textisa-52-13"> </span><span class="text">Who has believed our
message</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
to whom has the arm of the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> been
revealed?</span><br />
<span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>He grew up before him like a tender shoot,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
like a root out of dry ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textisa-53-2">He had no beauty or majesty to
attract us to him,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-2">nothing in his appearance</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-2">that we
should desire him.</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-3"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>He was despised and rejected
by mankind,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-3">a man of suffering,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-3">and familiar with pain.</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-3">Like one from whom people hide</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-3">their faces</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-3">he was despised,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-3">and we held him in low esteem. (<u>rejection by people in
life</u>)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textisa-53-4"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>Surely he
took up our pain</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-4">and bore our suffering,</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-4">yet we considered him punished by God,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-4">stricken by him, and afflicted.</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-5"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>But he was pierced</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">for our
transgressions, (<u>the Roman spear pierced Jesus’ side</u>) </span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">he was crushed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">for our iniquities;</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-5">the punishment</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">that brought
us peace</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">was on him,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">and by his wounds</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-5">we are healed.</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-6"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>We all, like sheep, have gone
astray,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-6">each of us has turned to our own way;</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-6">and the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-6">has laid on
him</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-6">the iniquity</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-6">of us all. <u>(substitutionary atonement language)</u> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textisa-53-7"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>He was
oppressed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-7">and afflicted,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-7">yet he did not open his mouth;</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-7">he was led like a lamb</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-7">to the
slaughter,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-7">and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-7">so he did not open his mouth. <u>(Did not fight his arrest,
accepted suffering)</u> </span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-8"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>By oppression<b><sup> </sup></b>and
judgment</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-8">he was taken away.</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-8">Yet who of his generation protested? (<u>False accusations, corrupt
trial</u>)</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-8">For he was cut off from the land of the living; <u>(means:
</u></span><u>His suffering led to death<span class="textisa-53-8">) </span><br />
</u><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-8">for the transgression</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-8">of my people
he was punished.<b><sup> </sup></b></span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-9"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>He was assigned a grave with
the wicked,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-9">and with the rich</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-9">in his death, <u>(Even though Jesus was poor and crucified
people are left to the dogs, Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of
Arimathea)</u> </span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-9">though he had done no violence,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-9">nor was any deceit in his mouth. <u>(He has committed no
crime or sin deserving death)</u></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textisa-53-10"><b><sup>10 </sup></b>Yet it
was the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textisa-53-10">’s will</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">to crush</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">him and cause him to suffer,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">and though the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">makes</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">his life an
offering for sin,</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-10">he will see his seed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">and prolong
his days,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">and the will of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">will prosper</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-10">in his hand.
</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-11"><b><sup>11 </sup></b><b>After he has suffered,</b></span><b><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-11">he will see the light</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-11">of life<sup> </sup>and be satisfied;</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-11">by his knowledge</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-11">my righteous
servant</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-11">will justify</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-11">many,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-11">and he will bear their iniquities.</span> </b><u>(This is
all about the resurrection. Jesus would suffer, die, and buried in a rich man’s
tomb. And then, after the suffering, he’d get out of his grave, he’d see the
light of day, he’d enjoy life again, he would accomplish his mission to justify
many and take away sin, that he’d reconcile us to God. “It is finished.” He
will be satisfied to see His people, his seed prosper) </u><br />
<span class="textisa-53-12"><b><sup>12 </sup></b>Therefore I will give him a
portion among the great,<b><sup> </sup></b></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-12">and he will divide the spoils</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-12">with the
strong,<b><sup> </sup></b></span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-12">because he poured out his life unto death,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-12">and was numbered with the transgressors.</span><br />
<span class="textisa-53-12">For he bore</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-12">the sin of many,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textisa-53-12">and made intercession</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-53-12">for the
transgressors. <u>(Sin bearer)</u></span><u><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, who is This Servant of
the Lord? Who is Isaiah talking about in its original context? Some interpreters
would say, in its original context, the servant of the Lord refers to the
nation </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> has always been persecuted by the sinful Gentile
nations and suffered greatly because of the transgressions of others. Think of
Nazi Holocaust and similar tragic episodes throughout their long history. Yes,
sometimes in the book of Isaiah the servant of the Lord is clearly the people
of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> (Isaiah 41: “<span class="text">But you, </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">, my servant,</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Jacob, whom I have chosen, you
descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth,</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">from its farthest corners I called
you.<sup>”)</sup></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. And sometimes
the servant refers to the prophet Isaiah himself (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isaiah%2049.5"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Isaiah 49:5</span></a>)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>"And now says the Lord, who
formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring back Jacob to him."
Here the prophet Isaiah is the servant who brings the people of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> back to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But in Isaiah 53<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the servant cannot be the prophet or
the people. Because the Servant is portrayed as substituting himself for both
the prophet and the people of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. Verse 4: "Surely he [the Servant]<span class="textisa-53-4"> took up our pain and bore our suffering</span>." Verse
5: "He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our
iniquities." "Our" means "me, Isaiah" and the people
of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. So this mysterious Servant is not the people of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> and not Isaiah, because he is the substitute for both
of them. His job is to restore </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> and bring light to the Gentile nations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Who then is this Servant of
the Lord? Ancient Jewish <a href="http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/v02-n05/isaiah53">rabbis</a>
understood it to refer to the Messiah. So it is not surprising to find that Jesus
clearly understood this prophecy as being fulfilled in his own life and
ministry. He is the suffering servant who is crushed for the sins of the
people. What will soon happen to Him in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Jerusalem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> is fulfillment of this prophecy. He himself said,
"The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve (to be a Servant) and
to give his life a ransom [a substitute!] for many" (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%2010.45"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Mark 10:45</span></a>). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In all the history of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">, no one comes close to fulfilling this prophecy apart
from Jesus. <i>In Acts 8<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>there is an Ethiopian eunuch (a diplomat)
who was reading Isaiah 53<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>when
Philip joined him in his chariot. The eunuch asked, "Of whom does the
prophet Isaiah speak, of himself, or of someone else?" Philip opened his
mouth and beginning from this scripture he proclaimed Jesus to him (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%208.35"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Acts 8:35</span></a>).<s> <o:p></o:p></s></i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Let me remind all of us that this was written 700
years before Jesus was born and there was no way Isaiah could have known it
unless it was revealed to him. This passage is packed with details about the
suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">2) Why did Jesus die? Why did
He press on to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Jerusalem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> knowing certain death awaits him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What is the meaning of His
death? Actually it would be more accurate to say there are multiple layers of
meanings in the Cross of Christ. Like a diamond, it has many sides. The cross
is God’s victory over the powers of Satan because sin and death have no
dominion over those who are in Christ. It is Jesus’ non violence unmasking the
corruption behind oppressive powers. The cross is Christ satisfying God’s holy
requirements in the law. The cross is a demonstration of how much God’s love is
for us. <span style="background: white;">While we were still sinners, Christ died
for us so our indifference melts away. <span class="apple-converted-space">The cross inspires us to follow Him in self-sacrifice and
self-giving. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 11pt;">All these are precious ways of
understanding the cross of Christ that should we should recover. And I would
also point out that all this is true because sacrifice is at the heart of the
cross. Jesus took up our pain and bore our sins. He was pierced for our
transgressions. </span></span><span class="textisa-53-5"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He was crushed</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-53-5"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">for our iniquities; the punishment</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-53-5"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">that brought us peace</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-53-5"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">was on him, and by his wounds</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="textisa-53-5"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">we are healed. </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 11pt;">It was the Lord’s will to crush him as a sin offering. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What the movies like Passion
of the Christ or the historical books cannot show us is what goes on spiritually
on the cross. They cannot show us the reality that we are separated from God by
our sin. That God is alienated from us by His holy anger. God doesn’t lose his
temper for no reason at all. His anger is provoked always by sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> Some people say this is not fair. This is like
me saying “You offended me. So in order that I can forgive you, I must go and
beat up Yoong Zhen first”. Some even call it ‘cosmic child abuse’ – an angry Father
punishes his own innocent son for the wrongs of others. But that’s a serious
misunderstanding of what the cross is about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Firstly, Jesus is not an
unwilling third party here. He is not forced to do it. He willingly embraced
the Cross for the joy set before him. He and the Father are one in this plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Secondly, God the Father so
loved the world that He gave his only Son. It is not as though he is reluctant
and needs to be pacified by Jesus. Precisely because God is love that He has
made a way for sinful men to be forgiven without ignoring sin… without
downplaying sin. It is not just another man that the Father is punishing for
our sins, but Jesus the embodiment of God took upon Himself the sins of us all.
The One who passes judgment now steps down and receives the penalty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It is in the death of Christ
as a substitute and sacrifice that sin is removed and God’s wrath is absorbed,
so that God can look on us without displeasure and man can look on God without
fear. Sin is cleansed (expiated) and God is satisfied (propitiated). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It is not justice. But it is
grace. God is showing us the love and mercy that we do not deserve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">3) When
Jesus predicted His death, the disciples were clueless. They did not get it.
Does it surprise you? How can that happen? Is it because they couldn’t hear
properly or what? Or are they confused because what Jesus predicted was not
what they wanted to hear? Could it be that their misunderstanding is caused by
their refusal to understand? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">They are
ever hearing but never understanding because they wanted a kingdom that brings
judgment down on the bad guys. The Messiah should not suffer. He should cause
our enemies to suffer. We want a Messiah who brings power, prestige and
deliverance to us. A crucified Messiah is not what we would expect. He is
supposed to be the one crucifying others. Lest we become too harsh on the
disciples, let’s ask ourselves: Do we really understand any of this? What kind
of Savior are we looking for? What kingdom are we expecting? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Do we seek a
kingdom where God blesses us with a lovely spouse who is always loving; always
understanding and agrees with us all the time? A kingdom where we are blessed
with above average children, always fun to play with, always healthy and obeys
us all the time? A kingdom where our nasty colleagues get fired and evil people
get zapped right now? A kingdom where our bank account grows steadily and keeps
us safe and secure? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">But the
focal point of Jesus’ mission is not our comfort. It is sacrifice. And that’s
hard to understand and if understood, it’s even hard to accept. Take up your
cross and follow me. Die to sin, be alive to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Here is
Jesus saying: I must go to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jerusalem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">. I must go to the cross. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">U<span style="background: white;">nless a seed falls to
the ground and dies, it remains alone and lonely. But if it dies, it breaks
forth into new life and produces much fruit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Christian life begins when we are forgiven of our sins and the Holy Spirit
breathes new life into us. So our discipleship is shaped by the cross and the resurrection
from first to last. As we die to our selfish pride, die to our greed and sinful
ambitions, die to the mindset of the world, we become alive to God, alive to
His purpose and design for our lives, alive to what it means to be in
community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Only through
death can we experience newness of life and joy in Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And I wonder: How would we die to
sin today? Is there a legitimate pleasure that is controlling us, entangling us
from walking closer to God? Is there something that our Lord is asking you to
let go? Is He calling you to obedience in some area in your life? Perhaps He is
calling you to sacrifice comfort to pursue something much greater? </span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Are we shaped by the self giving
pattern of Christ?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">Friends, the
cross and resurrection of Jesus is a once-off event that changed history. But
death and resurrection is also an ongoing process in our spiritual life… dying
to self and being raised to new life is the shape of Christian discipleship. We
have a cruciform spirituality. </span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-75471986174710951522014-03-16T14:58:00.000+08:002014-03-16T15:27:45.942+08:00Ecclesiology: Humble Service In The Body of Christ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Let’s do a brief exercise today. Find a person next to you
preferably someone whom you seldom talk to. Spend two minutes each answering
these questions: <o:p></o:p></div>
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What is one thing you can be thankful for in CDPC Puchong
this morning? “I am very grateful to God this morning that though we are many,
we are one body in Christ. It’s always enriching to worship together with
brothers and sisters from diverse culture, language, nationality, age group and
ethnicity.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe today is your first time here. If you are our guest
this morning, just share what is your first impression stepping into this
place? <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s great to see the church and especially children in
Sunday School writing thank you notes to their teachers and to God for the
blessings of being part of this community. <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3 style="background: white;">
<span class="textrom-12-3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Humble Service in the Body of Christ</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="textrom-12-3"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>For
by the grace given me</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-3">I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more
highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-4"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>For
just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all
have the same function,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-5"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>so in Christ we, though many, form
one body,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-5">and each member belongs to all the others.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-6"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>We
have different gifts,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-6">according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is
prophesying,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-6">then prophesy in accordance with your faith;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-7"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>if
it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-8"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>if
it is to encourage, then give encouragement;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-8">if it is
giving, then give generously;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-8">if it is to lead,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-8">do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <o:p></o:p></div>
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CDPC Puchong was born on <st1:date day="21" month="3" year="2010">21<sup>st</sup> March, 2010</st1:date>. It’s easy to remember her
birthday: 321. <o:p></o:p></div>
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She will turn 4 years old this coming Friday. Look at how
fast our children have grown: Rosie, River, Andrew, Lee Yi, Yoong Zhen… They
are about same age as this church. <o:p></o:p></div>
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4 years of worshipping and living together as a community in
Christ…<o:p></o:p></div>
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4 years of sharing of our joys and sorrows, the ups and
downs of life together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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4 years of serving Christ and building His church together.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today I would like to look back on our journey so far and
remember with you what God has done in our midst. We want to celebrate and give
thanks for what His sovereign grace has wrought in this church. There is much
to be grateful for. And it’s also a good time for us to look ahead to where we
want to go in the year ahead. And there is much to look forward to… (We look forward to rejoicing with Yih Khai and Jessica as they tied the knots this coming Saturday) <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Scripture passage we read a moment ago, Paul is
laying out what it means to live in light of the gospel. What are the practical
implications of the good news? In earlier chapters, Paul wrote that we know of God
as Creator, we perceive His power and moral law yet we exchanged His glory to
worship lesser things. But instead of punishing us, God gives us a
righteousness that comes not by observing the law, but through faith in Christ.
Christ became an atoning sacrifice for our forgiveness. When we turn away from sin,
we look outside of ourselves and we look to Christ who justifies us (He
declares us as righteous). We look to Christ who sanctifies us, making us
righteous through His Spirit and one day, He will return to bring us to glory.
It’s all about Christ, not about how good we are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In light of that good news, Paul says: By the grace God has
given me as an apostle I say to every one of you: “<span class="textrom-12-3">Don’t
have too high estimate of yourselves but rather think of yourself with sober
judgment. Have an accurate, balanced and humble evaluation of who you are. But
how? How do we have a sober judgment? Well, you do it by reference to the faith
which God has distributed to each of you. It could mean that God gives
different measure of faith to different people, and since it is God’s gift and
not of our selves; there is no room for boasting or envy. But the phrase “in
accordance with the faith God has given you”… may also mean that you have sober
estimate of who you are only when measured by the faith… the gospel is the real
yardstick of who we are… only by the cross, we can measure how deeply broken
and sinful we are because God himself has to die to redeem us… and only by the
cross, we can measure how deeply loved and treasured we are because God himself
would die for such as us. Only through the cross, we see ourselves as we truly
are… both saints and sinners at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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CDPC Puchong… what does that mean for us as a church? Coming
to our fourth year as a church plant, it’s good to do a sober evaluation of how
far we have come. We are who we are because of God’s gracious gift. So we can
look back and give thanks. We can also accept our shortcomings with hope for
change. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When you step into CDPC Puchong, you’d probably observe the
sofa arrangements, a wonderful children’s library, storybooks and toys lying
around and a feeding room. There’s a monthly kid’s talk. There’s a Sunday
school and English language tuition ministry. There’s also a Rosie fan club. You’d
hear children running around, making lots of noise. You get the feeling that
this is a family-friendly place, don’t you? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Last year, we focused on building
strong families (and healthy marriages). Every month, we watched a video together
on “Sacred Parenting”. We learnt from Gary Thomas that God uses our children to
shape and mold us to be more Christ-like. Parenting is not a distraction from
following Jesus. It is the means of our spiritual formation and the instrument
by which God shaped us to be a disciple. We had the chance to share what we
learnt in small groups and pray for each other as a family. Huey Fern and Sook
Yee also started a covenant group for couples to build strong Christ-centered
marriages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">That’s how we lived out the
letter ‘L’ in our SIMPLE DNA. These are not just words on our website. They are
guiding values that are important to us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The other DNA that we focused
on last year was I – “Integrating faith and work”. If you hang around for some
time, you’d notice that almost every week we have a unique conversation with
various people on how their faith makes a difference in the marketplace. We
pray for our sister or brother as they follow Jesus in a fallen world with very
real challenges and temptations. We lay hands and send them out as a truth-telling
journalist, as a student-witness in the campus, as a lecturer who doesn’t only
lecture but be available his students and so on. Through sermons on how the
gospel transforms culture, movies, politics and spirituality at work, we remind
each other that Christ is Lord of every area of our human life - be it in the
factory, classroom, home or office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Each church has her unique character, strengths and
weaknesses. And we are no different. So
over the years, you begin to sense these SIMPLE values begin to shape how we do
things here in worship, at home or at work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For “S” (Seek and Celebrate God), we are grateful for the
unassuming, faithful excellence of our worship team. Their creative
arrangements breathe new rhythm into old hymns and our PA team that ensures the
sound system works and the sermon podcasts are available on the website. The
ethos of our worship is a blend of old hymns and new choruses. Even though
worship leaders have their own styles and personality, we seek to have one
thing in common: <span style="background: white;">Our worship tells a story.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We want to tell the gospel by the way
we worship.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So as we worship week
in week out, this liturgy… a pattern of adoration, repentance, assurance of
forgiveness and dedicating ourselves to God’s purpose reshape our hearts and
minds to pursue Him with all our hearts.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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For “M” (Making disciples), we are grateful for the
opportunity to share Jesus and do a Bible study on the gospel of Mark with
students from various parts of the world. We are grateful that Mandy could
share the Christmas story with children from the library. We can also see how
people are transformed and their discipleship deepen when they commit to one
another and feel safe to share their lives with each other in a covenant group.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last Monday, Uncle Lawrence (our sister Janet Tan’s father)
went home to be with the Lord after a brave fight with cancer. Pastor Wong and
other members of the church went to <st1:place>Penang</st1:place> to attend the
funeral and mourn with her family. Even when he could not speak, Uncle Lawrence
encouraged so many people including the doctors with his inspiring trust in
Christ that overcomes fear of death. I could only wish that I could stare death
in the face with similar confidence. Janet has shared with me how the
community, especially her covenant group has been a source of courage and
support during this time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-4">And that’s what church ought to be
like. It’s not a social club. It’s not a multi level marketing company. Though
we are many, we are one body in Christ. If our hand is hurt, the whole body
shares the pain. Our eyes tear up, our mouth cries out, our face becomes
contorted. We belong to one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-4">Unfortunately I can’t tell you what
a covenant group is like. You have to experience it for yourself. We are
encouraged to see signs of growth, community life and leaders emerging from
these small groups. But it’s not something that has permeated the entire church
yet. Some of us still go through tough times in silence and alone. Others
remain as an observer, rushing off right after the service. You may wonder if
there’s more to church than this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-4">So let’s talk about other areas
where we can improve. Last Sunday, Steven shared from his heart about how we
could neglect prayer and relying on God’s strength in the midst of our busyness
and activities. We could certainly be more intentional and effective in
reaching out to others with the gospel. For ‘P’ (DNA for “Plant churches”), who
is aware that there is a church plant being planned in KL? Various individuals
like Ian, Micah and Pastor Wong are part of that conversation. But it doesn’t
feel like something that we as a church have actively owned it through our
prayers, financial support and growing/sending out leaders. Many of us are
probably not even aware of it. So for that reason, I think we have yet to
cultivate a missional church planting culture in our midst. </span>It’s
probably something that we should work towards over the next few years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When it comes to “E” (Embrace Reformed theology), we
have been committed to no-frills expository preaching from Scripture, aiming to
be Christ-centered and letting the gospel shape every corner of life. That’s
something we desire. But we could probably help each other improve in our
preaching through mutual feedback and sharing best practices. Personally, I
take it as a good sign if members are comfortable to invite non-Christian friends
or eager to share sermon podcasts online because they know that church is
always a scene of evangelism. People are confident to bring friends because no
matter what Bible text we preach on, every message is ultimately pointing us to
the gospel of Jesus and applied to people’s heart. We’re not there yet but
that’s the goal we aim for. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That in a nutshell is where we have come so far. As we
reflect and pray and look forward to the year ahead, we see the need to major
in the major and minor in the minor. If we focus our time and energy on a few
priorities like evangelism, discipleship/spiritual care and raising leaders, it
would make a big impact on the church as a whole. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You may ask: How do we measure signs of growth in the
church? How do we know if we are going in the right direction? What is our Key
Performance Indicators (KPI)? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Sometimes you hear it said
that “God requires faithfulness, not fruitfulness.” But the reality is that God
requires<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>both</em>
faithfulness and fruitfulness. When the seed of God’s word fell on good soil,
it grew and produced fruit – some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold and some a
hundred times. There is no category for unfruitful good soil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The question is not whether
you will bear fruit. The only question is: How much? What kind of fruit are we
expecting? </span>If we make disciples,
if we become disciples ourselves: What kind of growth are we seeking for? How
do we measure spiritual growth? <o:p></o:p></div>
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When you look into the life of this church, our spiritual
growth can and should show up in all sorts of ways. I think Romans 12 paints a beautiful
picture of how that is going to look like. <span class="textrom-12-6">Scripture
says: We have different gifts… </span><span class="apple-converted-space">We have
different functions </span><span class="textrom-12-6">according to the grace God
has given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-8">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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You see, the church is like a body with different
gifted members. <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The big idea is not to have
ministry of a few, but to empower ministry of every member sitting on the pew.
Speaking the gospel in people’s life and making disciples is not only the job
of full time ministers. All of us play different roles as God’s people in
loving, serving and building each other up, Sunday by Sunday. We all have a
one-to-one ministry of the people, by the people and for the people of God.</span>
Each of us can be a disciple-maker in our own way. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If that’s your understanding of what the church is…if
that’s your ecclesiology… As you step into church, your thinking will not be:
“Where should I go for lunch after service? Bak kut teh in Klang or Kungfu
steam fish in Puchong? Or will Wee Lern play my favorite worship songs this
morning?” You won’t think like a consumer or a customer. Instead, we will pray
as we come: “Lord, where should I sit this morning? Lord, please guide me this
morning to someone who needs encouragement, whom I could show friendship and
hospitality. Would you lead me to someone whom I could pray for and serve this
morning?” I know of a sister who visited our church and on her very first
visit, she sat next to our Indonesian sisters and translated the sermon to them
in Bahasa… Nobody asked her to do it. She just intentionally sat next to them
and humbly served. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If CDPC Puchong makes progress in this area, we would
go a long way towards obeying Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. If
we make progress in this area, we would see signs of different members
exercising their gifts in this way. So think of your own role in this journey
together as we look at the spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-6">If your gift is prophesying,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-6">then prophesy
in accordance with your faith. None of us is divinely inspired like the prophet
Elijah or the apostle Paul. None of us can tell the future infallibly. We
cannot prophesy in that sense, but there is also a sense that prophecy in the
early church refers to “telling forth something that God has spontaneously brought
to mind that we would not otherwise have known”. And this must always be
measured by what the Scriptures say. It cannot contradict God’s written word.
For example, a friend recently had a mental picture of </span><span style="background: white;">a house perching precariously on a rock, about to fall
and then the word, "family" came. He </span><span class="textrom-12-6">sensed
the Lord urging him to ask the person sitting next to him: “How is your wife
today?” The person replied: Why you wanna know? So he shared that it seems that
the Lord put that impression on his mind. And his friend goes: “Wah! So you can
see one ah?” (bomoh with bamboo binoculars) and so he shares that his wife has left
him recently. That opens up a chance for him to counsel this person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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There is also another sense in Revelations 19 that “the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Testifying about Jesus is also a
kind of prophecy, forth-telling His truth. We see spiritual growth in CDPC when
more people rise up and say: “David, I’ve enjoyed sharing the gospel with the
students from overseas. I wonder if God is calling me… Or I love to invite my
Omani friends to church, could the sermon address some of her apologetic questions
and existential concerns? Instead of top-down programs and events, people
spontaneously come up and say: “Pastor, I want to start an evangelistic Bible
study with young people but I’m a little nervous. Would the church please
pray?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-7">If it is serving, then serve</span>.
Steven and Han Meng serve as deacons in managing the church’s finances and
well-being of our church premises on top of spiritual care for the
congregation. Constance and the Kopitiam team serve us today in preparing food
and even the dish-washing because there is no water supply today. Sophea served
us by baking a nice cake for the anniversary. They would need your help to
serve in setting up the tables for Kopitiam after the service. I think we see
signs of growth when members make personal and even career sacrifices so that
they can serve others. For example, we hope to hear stories like: “Hey, did you
know Tom turned down a promotion three times at <st1:place><st1:placename>Sunway</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>College</st1:placetype></st1:place> so that he could continue
devoting himself in the college ministry?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-7">If it is teaching, then teach</span>:
We see signs of growth when parents intentionally disciple their children in
the faith. That’s what Mandi and <st1:city>Sandy</st1:city>
will help us do in the “Family Worship” covenant group. It’s encouraging to see
people step up to be Sunday school teachers to teach and equip our kids in
catechism, Bible study through songs, activities and crafts. It becomes ever
more important to clearly teach and equip our young people, not just to entertain
them. If our children who have grown up in church know more about how to sing “Kumbaya”
or they get more excited about Justin Bieber or Katy Perry, than they do about
Christ, the Scriptures or how to wrestle honestly with doubt, then we have a huge
discipleship problem. </div>
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<span class="textrom-12-8"><br /></span>
<span class="textrom-12-8">If it is to encourage, then give
encouragement</span>: We can measure growth when regular members sense a fresh
sense of their responsibility in encouraging newer members. When after service,
we gather for conversations and prayers that build up and encourage each other
in our life struggles and problems. We begin to think: “Hmmm…Who is new to CDPC
in the last 6 months? Do they hang around after church service? Maybe I should
invite them to come over for lunch?” Like Steven said last week, the hour after
service is a key window of opportunity when personal, one-to-one spiritual care
and discipleship happens. If everybody rushes for the door after the
benediction, we’re in trouble. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-8">If it is giving, then give
generously</span>: We cannot measure growth by the size of our budget but
sacrificial cheerful giving is a sign of discipleship. We hope to hear husbands
and wives having this conversation even in times of rising costs: “Darling, the
Lord has provided for our needs. We have enough to live by. Maybe we should
plan how can we cut fifty ringgit from our monthly budget in order to support
World vision?” In every revival, there are generous givers behind the scene who
provide resource so others can proclaim the gospel. Behind the Great Awakening
revival was a wealthy Lady Huntingdon… behind the first translation of the
English Bible was funding from a businessman named <span style="background: white;">Humphrey Monmouth</span>… behind the ministry of Jesus were supporters
like Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Suzanna… They were unsung heroes, visionary,
risk-taking, and generous men and women who were active partners in great
spiritual movements. They often chose to remain anonymous. CDPC Puchong has
also been blessed financially by such gospel patrons… I could name some of them
but I want to honor their decision to remain unknown. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-8">If it is to lead,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textrom-12-8">do it
diligently: For a church to be healthy, we need godly and able leaders, elders,
pastors and deacons. We need gospel-centered fathers and mothers to lead a
family. Last year, we are so encouraged to see Doris and Victor leading our
young people in the Christmas play and Sandy/Mandi leading the children library
Christmas program. When we see more covenant group leaders being trained and stepping
up to serve others, that’s a great sign of healthy spiritual growth. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-8"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="textrom-12-8"> If it is to show
mercy, do it cheerfully</span>: There are brothers and sisters in our midst who
are in need. Some are being persecuted for their faith. Others are in need of
support raising children with special needs or dealing with marriage issues. There
are less privileged children who need education to escape the poverty cycle. We
can see that the gift of joyful mercy happening in the English tuition ministry
for the Enggang Flats kids. I think we can measure growth when we see more members
share their time, energy and resources to show practical help cheerfully to
each other. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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So as we celebrate our fourth anniversary, we are reminded
that because of Christ’s broken body and shed blood, we are now one in Him and
we belong to each other. We have seen some signs of spiritual growth and unity
in CDPC Puchong. So we give God all the glory. And we look forward to more
growth and adventures ahead as we continue to humbly serve each other in the
body of Christ. We need everyone to be on board. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white;">It’s easy to see if we
ourselves are following Jesus. The spiritual life we have will multiply,
reproduce and bear fruit in making other disciples. We will see that passion rub off on others.
Others will catch the fire if we are on fire.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Let us pray. </span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-20076825768400602522014-02-25T00:07:00.003+08:002014-02-25T00:09:13.768+08:00Presbyterian Training Institute: Understand Other Faiths<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/45378353/worldview-introduction-dna-2010" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Worldview-Introduction DNA 2010 on Scribd">Worldview-Introduction DNA 2010</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40741657/What-Is-Worldview-Why-is-it-important" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View What Is Worldview? Why is it important? on Scribd">What Is Worldview? Why is it important?</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/45378196/worldview-why-are-we-here-dna-2010" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Worldview-Why Are We Here DNA 2010 on Scribd">Worldview-Why Are We Here DNA 2010</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/45378400/worldview-who-are-we" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Worldview-Who Are We on Scribd">Worldview-Who Are We</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-12161017267910315282014-02-23T23:28:00.004+08:002014-02-25T21:11:43.333+08:00The Call To Discipleship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Do you remember these characters from the movies? Here’s
Yoda training his padawan Luke Skywalker in the way of the Jedi… “Fear is the
path to the dark side… Fear leads to anger… anger leads to hate… Hate leads to
suffering. May the Force be with you”. On top right, Mr. Miyagi is father
figure to the karate kid. He protects this young boy from a group of bullies
and teaches him self defense through daily mundane activities like waxing a car
and painting a fence. Wax on. Wax off. And the last one is Master Shifu
teaching <st1:place>Po</st1:place> the panda kungfu using food. A mentor/disciple
relationship is a favorite theme in movies… It reflects our own longing to have
someone guide and teach us as well as our desire to bring out the best in
others.<br />
I’d like to invite you to stand and find a partner. Someone you don’t usually
speak to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Question 1: In what ways, are you a disciple or student learning from someone
else? If you are not yet a Christian, you can share: Is there a mentor figure
in your life? What have you learnt from that person? If you are a Christian,
maybe you can share how has someone discipled you and what you have learnt from
this person?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Question 2: In what ways are
you a discipler? How have you discipled someone else? How can you help someone
grow as a follower of Jesus? Or how have you been a role model or teacher in
some ways to someone else?<o:p></o:p></div>
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You can start like this: In what ways am I a disciple? In
high school, there were two Sunday School teachers Sister Lai Kum and Sister
Poh Yoke who loved Jesus and taught me to pray and to love the Bible. They gave
me the first opportunity to stand behind a pulpit and preach to a group of
teens in Cantonese. That was around Form 5 or Form 6. It was a horrible
experience. I bored everyone to tears. But that was how I learn. Now it’s my
turn to try and help young people in our church to read and understand the
Bible and encourage them to serve too. Sometimes I still bore them to tears.
That’s how I try to disciple someone else now.<br />
OK please spend two minutes each person: Share with your partner in what ways
are you a disciple and in what ways are you a discipler?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<br />
<sup>“16 </sup>Then the
eleven disciples went to <st1:place>Galilee</st1:place>, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. <sup>17 </sup>When they saw him, they
worshiped him; but some doubted. <sup>18 </sup>Then Jesus came to them and said, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. <sup>19 </sup>Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, <sup>20 </sup>and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Debrief: How many of us have someone who has helped you
grow as a Christian? How many people have actually made disciples? Which
question is easier to answer? It seems that many of us find it easier to be a
disciple than a discipler. As you share, I hope you realize how indebted we are
to someone who took the time to disciple and how important it is that we do the
same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let us turn to Matthew 28: 16-20 at the end of Matthew’s
Gospel. The context is after Jesus has completed his ministry on earth, He was
betrayed and crucified but raised to life again. He gathered His scattered
disciples, encouraged them and sent them out on a mission: The Great
Commission…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Imagine
the disciples making the journey up the mountain to meet Jesus. It seems like
only yesterday when all was despair. Their leader was arrested and killed. But
here they were surprised by hope. Jesus has just risen from the grave. He has
shown himself to be who he claimed to be – the Son of God. Like what we are doing
this morning. A mixed group of followers… some see and worship Him. But some
wrestle with doubt. But He didn’t reject any of them. He is big enough for our
questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
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And He
has defeated the powers of sin and the enemy. All authority in heaven and earth
are now with Him. And how we the Malaysian church needs to see that? With all
the provocations, Molotov cocktails and false accusations that we hear these
few years, when we look at all the possible yet depressing scenarios of how the
Allah issue will pan out, we need the confidence and assurance that above all
authorities, Jesus is still on his throne. He is king of kings and lord of
lords. He is in charge. Therefore… go and make disciples of all nations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/208713535/Gospel-Community-Mission-Discipleship" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Gospel Community Mission (Discipleship) on Scribd">Gospel Community Mission (Discipleship)</a></div>
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The first command in the Great Commission: <b>Go make disciples.</b> Every Christian
knows it by heart. It’s in our SIMPLE DNA. But how many of us are actually,
really making disciples in our churches today? I saw a funny <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KIA-DGx_3Y">Youtube message by Francis Chan</a> this week called “How not to make disciples”. He says something
like this: Have you played this game called “Simon says”? Simon says: Pat your
head and you pat your head. You do it. Simon says. But it’s so weird that in
church today, “Jesus says” is such a different game. When Jesus says something,
you don’t have to do it. You just memorize it. You study it and discuss it.
Jesus says: Go make disciples. But who are the people that we are discipling
today? When I look behind me, is there anyone following? But of course, I
memorized the Great Commission. I may even read it in Greek but do I do it? When
was the last time I help someone be a disciple? <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s not just a challenge for Puchong. It’s a challenge
that churches around the world are wrestling with. As I talk to friends from
various churches, I hear the same refrain: How can we follow Jesus and make
disciples? It’s just not happening very much. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why? There are many reasons but let’s talk about
one. For the longest time, we function as if there were two categories of
Christians. If you accepted Christ as your Saviour and say the sinner’s prayer,
you were saved. You had Christ in your life. You would go to heaven when you
died. You attend church, listen to sermon, sing songs, don’t smoke or drink.
You are a respectable Christian. But if you were really serious about your
faith, you would then commit yourself to spiritual disciplines, radically serve
others. You would sacrifice comforts and do serious stuffs like reading the
Bible regularly and actively lead others to Christ. If you were really serious
about the Christian faith you would become a disciple. Mentoring others is a
pastor’s job. Or a covenant group leader’s job. But disciples-making is an
optional add-on for ordinary Christians. It’s only for those who are a bit over
the top… You have an option. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But there’s something seriously wrong and unbiblical
about this understanding. Jesus says: Go make disciples. It’s not optional. He
didn’t say: “Go make converts. Or go make consumers. If they are interested, maybe
they can move on to be my follower.” As a result of this, we have a kind of flabby,
nominal, bare minimum, maintenance mode kind of Christianity where converts
never graduate to be a disciple. (<u>Rwanda</u>) But you can’t have Jesus as
Savior if he is not also your Lord. Your Master. Yes, we are saved by grace
alone, and therefore we do not earn God’s favor through works. But that doesn’t
mean that grace is cheap. It doesn’t mean that holiness is optional. It doesn’t
mean that discipleship come easy. It takes effort, discipline, sacrifice,
counting the cost. It takes dead-serious effort empowered by the Holy Spirit. At
the heart of the Christian faith is our relationship with a Christ who says: Whoever
wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow
me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their
life for me and for the Gospel will save it. (Mark 8:34-35 NIV) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For some of us here, Jesus is calling you to give up
all that you are in exchange for all that He is. You’ve been searching and
seeking… but He has already come to seek for you and gave his life for you. And
Jesus says: “Let go of what’s holding you and follow me. Learn from me. You
can’t find life if you don’t lose it. If you lose a self-absorbed life, you
find true life”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For some of us here, whether you like it or not, you
are already a disciple and discipler in some ways. If you really trust in
Jesus, you would listen, obey and follow Him. The command to make disciples is
not an optional upgrade.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But be careful… If we are a leader, we need to keep
in mind that these are not OUR disciples. “Gabriel is my disciple, you cannot
talk to him”. We become controlling and possessive. There is only one ultimate
Master… one Teacher and that’s Jesus… But He chooses to involve us. So our role
is to help people to follow Him by being a follower ourselves. Imitate me as I
imitate Christ, Paul says. It takes humility to be a discipler and it takes
humility to be a disciple. Your spiritual growth will be forever stunted if
your attitude is like I don’t need to learn from anyone. I’m self-sufficient.
It’s God and me – I don’t need anyone else. I have my sermon podcasts and
books. But that’s not how discipleship works. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So what does the word “disciple” really mean? It basically
means a learner, a student. Perhaps a better word is: an apprentice. An
apprentice learns a skill, a trade from the master by practicing with him and
observing him at work for years. There is close personal relationship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And you can see this in how Jesus made disciples. He called
His disciples so that they might be with Him, to be in a relationship with Him.
He instructs them in the way of His kingdom (Sermon on the mount), He corrects
and rebukes them when they messed up, He delegates responsibilities to them and
sends them out two by two to preach the gospel, He trains them on what to do
when they were rejected or when they were well received… then when they
returned from their assignment, He debriefed them and rejoiced with them. When a
disciple sinned and denied him 3 times, He restored him. He lived with them as
they travel and serve people together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Think about what it means if we are to follow Jesus’ way of
making disciples. I’d rather not confront people when they sin. People will not
like me very much and I want to be liked. But from Jesus, I realize that I need to create an atmosphere of open, honest feedback giving permission for others to speak the truth in love so that we could help each other grow in Christ.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white;">Community: Baptizing them in the name of the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The second command in The
Great Commision is to “baptize” – this act of being immersed in water signifies
us dying to the old way of life and rising again in newness of life. There’s a
new priority. It signifies that we give up sin and live in relationship with
the Triune God (Father, Son and Spirit). At the heart of God is interpersonal
relationship, mutual self giving in the Trinity. Through baptism, we are now
incorporated, adopted and grafted into the family of Christ... into the body of Christ… into the people of
God… into the community of disciples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jesus didn’t leave behind an empire or a monument or a book.
He chose 12 disciples, invested His time in them and trained and equipped them.
It’s no coincidence that he chose twelve persons. The King is reconstituting
the people of God (the 12 tribes of Israel) around Himself… They learn the
truth and live out the truth together in community. Stanley Hauerwas: God’s
truth is credible to the world only when it sees a community shaped by the
truth. If the gospel is to be heard, it must also be seen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But the reverse is also true: You cannot have a community
unless you go and reach out to people so that they also know Christ and be
baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. <span style="background: white;">We are a community that exists by mission, on mission
and for mission. We exist for mission for the glory of God and good of the
wider world. Not just a holy huddle for its own sake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">So which is more important?
Evangelism or discipleship? But that’s like asking whether the brain is more
important than my heart to stay alive. </span>Both tasks are actually one:
“Making disciples”. If we grow better Christians they will be concerned about
evangelism and disciple others. If we want to be effective in evangelism, we
must also help people to grow in character to be more like Christ, fight sin
and to serve others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">But there are a million
distractions that draw me away from the mission to make disciples. My personal
ambition. My desire to be liked and admired. I need a community (fellow
travelers in this journey) to keep me focused on the mission. Stay on course.
Stay on the mission, David. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">You need a community where
you can practice giving and receiving love, practice serving and being served by
others. You need a community who can correct your blind spots and yet love you
in the process. There can be no discipleship apart from relationship with the
Trinity and this gathering, this community called the local church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">That’s why we have covenant
groups. That’s why it’s key component to our discipleship in CDPC Puchong.
There’s learning, Bible study and at the same time, you experience this
personal modeling of the Christian faith… you have opportunities to serve and
pray others… In principle, we would want everyone to participate and experience
what a covenant group life is like. Some of us may feel not ready for that yet
and that’s ok. But if you want to go deeper in your walk with God, this is
where more meaningful relationship and discipleship happens. In a community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white;">Third command: Teaching them to obey all I have
commanded you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white;">You can’t make disciples by
just sitting through a few class room teachings, homilies, lectures, sermon
podcasts, take some exams and get a certificate of attendance. Don’t get me
wrong. A new believer needs to know how to read the Bible, know basic beliefs
of the faith and why they believe what they believe. We desperately need
something like adult Sunday school, definitely (The Academy and PTI). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">But if that’s all that we do,
we miss out on Jesus’ way of teaching. That’s just not how Jesus made
disciples. It lacks His focus on relational, hands-on, life-sharing, everyday
ministry. </span>Most of the lessons Jesus taught were over the course of
ordinary life… at Lazarus’ funeral… at a wedding at Cana… while resting by a
well… visiting a tax collector’s home… while traveling on a boat… Lives are
changed through relationships. Through modeling a transformed life in everyday
circumstances… <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tyler Dirks… “Map of the world”… Spending time alone with
wife… fetching son to school and pray… “Your car” (stewardship) naturally
intentional… he would invite neighbors to Halloween gathering at home… planting
a church… conversations with students… Teaching what it means to be a disciple.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are a parent, you cannot escape from being a mentor
and a discipler. Clearly you are called to disciple your child. And Yoong Zhen
is my first responsibility. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Through parenting or a covenant group, we learn to be a
spiritual friend… we learn to mentor a disciple. We learn to care, share and
dare. It takes intentional effort. It’s time consuming. It’s not very
efficient. You can’t mass produce disciples. You invest your life and love in
people but you don’t know how they will turn out to be. There is no guarantee
you won’t get a disciple like Judas. Making disciples requires transparency.
People will come to know your strengths and weaknesses. You can’t maintain a
mask of being someone who has it all together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why go through all these troubles? Because our goal is not
just an informed person but a transformed person who can in turn make
disciples. Because if we settle for anything less, we are just playing church
and not making disciples. And the cost of non-discipleship is much greater than
the cost of discipleship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">It’s not going to be easy,
But Jesus promised: Surely I am with you always till the very end of the age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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As we make “Evangelism. Pastoral care. Growing
leaders” our priorities this year, you may think: Oh, the church is on a
recruitment drive. We wanna get bigger by setting numerical targets, more
programs, events and meetings. That’s not it. Actually, what we want to do is
to go deeper… you can only make disciples if you are first a disciple. If we
are disciples and care for others to also follow Jesus, then the question of
growing bigger takes care of itself. We are more interested in sending
disciples into the marketplace as salt and light to make disciples than having
more sales targets and marketing gimmicks.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The church exists by mission just as fire exists by burning.
Where there is no mission, there is no Church.
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It is easy to determine when
something is aflame. It will ignite other material. Any fire that does not
spread will eventually go out. A fire that does not burn is an oxymoron. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It’s easy to see
if we ourselves are following Jesus. The life we have will multiply, reproduce
and bear fruit in making other disciples.
We will see that passion rub off on others. Others will catch the fire
if we are on fire. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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If we make disciples, if we become disciples ourselves, how
do we know if we are growing and progressing? What kind of growth are we seeking
for? How do we measure growth? When you look into the life of this church, our
spiritual growth can show up in all sorts of ways.<br />
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Last week, Jacob wrote a beautiful tribute to his mother who has passed away. Members of the church have come to show support at the funeral. The tribute included an email from Valerie: "Aunty you will be missed. You were my role model in life. You had given me the encouragement to face all the obstacles in my life. You had made me understand what the real meaning of suffering in life is (Romans 8:18). You have made me understand how important it is to have faith in God no matter what happens. Today because of your testimony I Know who I am in Christ and I know no matter how tough, God will always hold our hands and walk through with us. Thank you for being such a blessing to people around you"<br />
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When we look back at the end of a lifetime of discipleship, may we see many testimonies like this of how people come to know Christ more deeply because we step up to serve them. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-21664108533421679362014-02-02T22:39:00.003+08:002014-02-02T22:39:37.196+08:00Joseph: Overcoming Sexual Temptations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sexual temptations come easy these days. I’m sure they have always been around but with virtual dirty chats, porn downloads and livestreaming video feeds, they are much more accessible to more people, more discreet and so much more deadly, isn’t it? And it’s big business too.
I came across an online dating website on Facebook recently. It has 21 million members and growing fast. Its niche market is for married people looking to hook up for sexual encounters. The tagline: “Life is short, Have an affair”.<br />
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In the Scripture passage we read a moment ago, we read of a story about sexual temptation, a story of Joseph’s encounter with a desperate housewife.
If we back up a little in the story, we read that Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver. He ended up in a faraway land, in Egypt, where he worked for Potiphar the captain of Pharaoh’s guards. But God was with him and blessed all that he did. Whatever projects were assigned to him, they were on time, within budget and of such quality that his master was very impressed and put him in charge of everything except his food. We are told that God’s favour was on Joseph and that he was also a good looking young man. “Handsome in form and appearance,” we are told.<br />
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Unfortunately that worked to his disadvantage. Because Potiphar’s wife took a liking to him and she tried to seduce him. “Sleep with me,” she offered. She wanted a bit of fun and passion on the side. How bad can that be? But Joseph refused her flat. “Thanks but no thanks. Your husband put me in charge of everything but he didn’t ask me to take care of you. Because you are his wife. Not mine”. And he would be right because sleeping with Potiphar’s wife was never part of his job scope. It would be a breach of trust to his boss.<br />
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But Joseph went beyond that: “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” You see, Joseph could have said, “I’ve been dealt a cruel hand by Fate. I didn’t deserve to be a slave here in Egypt so I deserve this little bit of pleasure.” Or he could have rationalized: “I’m so successful in my career now. My boss will never find out anyway. I’m in charge of everything now. I deserve this pleasure”. Both self-pity and pride would have added fuel to the fire of his temptation.
But he saw this choice in a God-centered way. Before adultery is a sin against his boss or his desperate housewife, it’s first and foremost a sin against God himself.<br />
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An affair is a betrayal of trust, absolutely. But you cannot commit any sine without first committing the sin of betraying God’s trust, of violating his will, of deriving pleasure apart from Him who is the source of all happiness. And Joseph knew that – How can I sin against heaven? Favour with God and right communion with Him is much better than any sex he was offered. So he refused her not once, not twice… but day after day, as she doesn’t take no for an answer.
But one day when nobody’s at home, she caught him by his garment and tried to seduce him again. So he quickly ran away and left his garment in her hand. As the saying goes, “Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned”. With the garment as evidence, she accused Joseph of trying to molest her and her husband got so angry that he kicked Joseph into prison for sexual misconduct. Poor Joseph, he was punished for a shameful crime he did not commit. He suffered for something he did not deserve.<br />
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But the Lord was again with him and showed him steadfast love so that he prospered in all that he did even in prison.
In the bigger scheme of God’s plan, we can see why He is taking Joseph through this painful route. We can see a huge contrast between Joseph’s life of purity in Egypt and Judah’s sordid family affairs in Canaan (Genesis 38). There are major moral problems in Jacob’s family – his grandsons were marrying pagan Canaanites, they did such wickedness that God had to put them to death. Even Judah the firstborn solicited cult prostitutes. They were becoming like the corrupt culture around them instead of being a blessing to the nations. They are losing their covenant identity.
But here in Egypt God is now moving and preserving Joseph’s life in purity, preparing him to be the instrument that will save his family not only from famine but from the spiritual corruption in Canaan that would have wiped out God’s covenant family. Because unlike Judah, Joseph kept his heart pure and God’s favour was with him every step of the way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ5UcDejP4mmcvyCuym72mjB-keIH4RfNQPjP2gGi2gazWK2r8BfwjNmUZVpqHMPUov9GSMOVbRgcFzR23IbNeJst4u7C_hj8XOmnvc4q7eCyNgMlhDetXNSP42cgr52efdVLAg/s1600/506px-Joseph_and_Potiphar's_Wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ5UcDejP4mmcvyCuym72mjB-keIH4RfNQPjP2gGi2gazWK2r8BfwjNmUZVpqHMPUov9GSMOVbRgcFzR23IbNeJst4u7C_hj8XOmnvc4q7eCyNgMlhDetXNSP42cgr52efdVLAg/s320/506px-Joseph_and_Potiphar's_Wife.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a>So that in the fullness of time, the family line would be preserved from which the Messiah Himself would come.
For He too would be sold by his brothers for a few pieces of silver. He too would refuse the lust of the eyes, the flesh and the pride of life for the sake of His Father’s will. He would also be slandered and made to suffer for something He did not deserve. He too was punished for a sin he did not commit. Jesus says: If you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. And all of us have fallen short on this score. He died a death on the cross that we deserve so that sexually corrupt and adulterers like you and I could be forgive<br />
n. So that God’s favour and steadfast love could now rest on all who would trust and obey Him as Lord.<br />
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When that happens, everything changes. There’s no room for self-pity because you are unconditionally and dearly loved by God. So much so that He died for you. It costs him everything. There’s no room for pride because all our success is a gift from God who prospered what our hands are working on. It’s His favour. That takes away the fuel that feeds the flame of lust. The problem is not that our desire is too strong. It’s too weak. We settle for far too little. When you embrace this costly love of God, when you see and savour Christ for all He is, you begin to experience the expulsive power of a greater affection, a greater desire that overcomes the lure of sexual temptations. <br />
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Picture source is from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_and_Potiphar%27s_Wife.jpg">here</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-38623090538190104822014-01-26T22:09:00.004+08:002014-01-29T00:57:08.377+08:00A Manifesto For Evangelism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Once upon a time, there was a village of fishermen who loved
to fish. They gathered to form a fishing society with the vision to promote
fishing all over the country. They published books on the benefits of fishing as
a hobby and as a career. They organized seminars on the latest technology for
boats, baits and fishing equipment. At these forums, they sang songs about the
joys of fishing. They also hired experts to research on the migration patterns
and breeding habits of various fishes. They were so busy with all these
activities that there was no time left… to fish. </div>
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Until one fine day, a young girl actually decided to sail
out to the ocean and cast a net into the waters. Lo and behold, she caught a huge
load of fish. Instantly she became famous. She was invited to write a book about
her adventures. She was asked to share her amazing experience at fishing
conferences and travel the world to lobby for cross-cultural fishing. Of
course, she too became so busy that she forgot… to fish… </div>
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This is a parable... Spend 2 minutes to discuss what this
parable is about. When Jesus called his disciples, He said: Follow me and I
will make you fishers of men. This is a
call for them be with Him, to give their lives to Him and bring people into His
kingdom. It’s a call to evangelism… to make disciples of all peoples. And you
can’t make disciples unless you are first a disciple. We find those fishermen
funny but more often than not, we Christians can be a lot like them. We can
attend trainings, read books and sing songs about evangelism so much so that
the only thing we forgot to do is to evangelize. Really… how much of our
personal life or even our church activities can really be intentionally
evangelistic? </div>
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Ouch… this is going to be a tough sermon this morning.
Whenever the topic of evangelism crops up, I think a lot of us squirm with a
sense of guilt… a sense of inadequacy… believe me, I know that feeling all too
well. But there is hope because Jesus says come to me, follow me, learn from
me, trust in me and I will make you fishers of men. There’s a promise. He will
do it. He will make us fishers of men. But will we follow? </div>
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Romans 10:13-15<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>For, “Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”<b> <o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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<i>How, then, can they
call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one
of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can
anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the
feet of those who bring good news!” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<div nbsp="" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;">
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/202324362/A-Manifesto-of-Evangelism" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View A Manifesto of Evangelism on Scribd">A Manifesto of Evangelism</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.33234859675037" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_94346" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/202324362/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-lcz6d2o84c9b07eo08s&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe></div>
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CDPC Puchong: We are a SIMPLE church. We are committed to
preaching through chunks of Scripture week in, week out to see how all of them
point to our Savior the Lord Jesus. Our desire is for all of our lives (in the
workplace, family and in the city) to be shaped by His truth, His grace and His
justice. One of our key values is to make disciples of all people groups… ergo,
City “Discipleship”. This year, we really want to focus on Making Disciples (through
evangelism, pastoral care and growing leaders). That’s our top priority. Why? Because
we want to be a gospel-centered church. Because if we don’t do that, then we
are not living up to our name. And because “gospel”, “community” and “mission” are
at the heart of the book of Romans. </div>
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As you may know, this month, we are continuing our
exposition on Romans 9-11. We have journeyed through 8 chapters last year and
it’s good to just back up a little bit and see where we are. What is the
purpose of this letter? Well, Paul is writing because he plans to go and bring
the gospel to <st1:country-region>Spain</st1:country-region>.
And he plans to stop over at the church in <st1:city>Rome</st1:city>
first for evangelism, for ministry and for mutual encouragement. So it’s like a
mission newsletter – Paul needs some assistance to preach the gospel somewhere
which no one has gone before. He needs the church’s support in prayer, help and
perhaps finance. Mission is always a community project, a church project. Even
an apostle doesn’t want to go it alone. But the church in <st1:city>Rome</st1:city>
doesn’t know him personally so he wrote this epistle to introduce himself as an
apostle to the Gentiles and what his gospel message is all about. He ended up
writing up one of the most important and influential books of all time but it’s
good to remember that he didn’t set out to write a theological textbook. Its
core concern is missional. It’s a manifesto, a public declaration for
evangelism. </div>
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And the other main purpose of writing the epistle relates to
a problem faced by the church itself. It was culturally mixed with a Gentile
majority and a Jewish minority. The controversy of whether obeying the law and
circumcision as boundary markers that segregate you as a member of God’s people
was unsettling the church. There were those who wanted to obey food laws and
ceremonial regulations, and others who didn’t. Paul wanted to step in and say:
The people of God are defined by faith in Christ alone. Your cultural, ethnic
differences are transcended by Christ so you now stand united in the gospel of
grace. </div>
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Guess what? That means gospel, mission and community are at
the forefront of the epistle. David Chong didn’t come up with these brilliant ideas
by himself, in case you are wondering. It’s not just a CDPC idea. It is a
biblical priority. They are all central concerns in the book of Romans, and if
you miss those things, you haven’t grasped it yet.</div>
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From the passage we read just now and the rest of Romans
9-11, we can see at least 3 things about </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
urgency of evangelism</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
hope of evangelism</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
purpose of evangelism </div>
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If you recall, the broad outline of Roman goes something
like this imaginary chat. Paul says: “I am eager to preach the gospel. I am not
ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of salvation for everyone who
believes (first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles).” Why, Paul, who do they need to be saved? “Because God’s holy anger is
revealed against all who suppress the truth in wickedness.” </div>
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Well, how have they done that? “The Gentiles have suppressed
the knowledge of God available to them in creation and the moral law written in
their hearts. They are without excuse. The Jews have the revelation of God’s
written law but they break the law. They cannot keep the law. So all of
humanity have sinned and come short of God’s standards.” </div>
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What then is the solution? <b>That’s why the gospel is so
urgent. </b>Why it’s so necessary. </div>
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We need the righteousness of God that is given though faith
in Jesus Christ to all who believe. All who believe are declared righteous (not
guilty) on the basis of what Christ has done on the cross. He redeemed us from
sin. He turned away God’s holy anger through His sacrifice for us, on our
behalf. Not by obeying the law, but by what Christ has done for us – His life,
death and resurrection. </div>
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<i>That’s why there is no
difference between Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, bumiputra or non-bumiputra:
<u>Everyone </u>who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.</i></div>
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Saved from what? Our universal need is to be freed from the
guilt of sin. From the controlling power of sin. From the condemnation of sin. Saved
from God’s holy judgment. There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles,
Indonesians, Malaysians, Egyptians and Americans. We are all sinners and we all
need Christ for salvation. All nations (the entire human race) must hear the
gospel. That’s the scope of evangelism: It’s world-embracing. Among us are
young people who have traveled hundreds of miles, away from home and family, to
be here in <st1:country-region>Malaysia</st1:country-region>
precisely because of this urgency, this longing to see Christ lifted up, adored
and treasured in hearts of peoples from every nation. A sister here told me of
a Bible study she’s part of with a Mongolian, Mainland Chinese, Omani, American
and Egyptian. Like United Nations. Wow, wouldn’t you like to be part of a Bible
study like that? Isn’t that beautiful? </div>
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My heart’s desire for CDPC is that we become partners in the
gospel with these young people and support them in any way we can. My heart’s
desire is that we all catch a glimpse of Paul’s heart, his longing, his agony,
his yearning for the salvation of people… “<span class="textrom-9-2"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish
in my heart.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-9-3"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">For I could wish
that I myself</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-9-3"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">were cursed</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-9-3"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">and cut off from
Christ for the sake of my people,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-9-3"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">those of my own
race,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span class="textrom-9-4"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">the people of </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="textrom-9-4"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Israel</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="textrom-9-4"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">” (Romans 9) Of course, it is not possible for
him to trade places with anyone… but he so loved his people so much, that if it
were at all possible, he could wish that he was condemned in hell for the sake
of his people, that they may know and enjoy Christ. Can we say the same thing
for anyone who is spiritually lost? Paul can’t die for anyone’s sins, but
Christ was cursed so we could be blessed. Christ was cut off from the Father so
we may enter into His fellowship. There is only one Savior. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">But Paul is reflecting His Master’s heart… he yearns for
their salvation so much that he was ready to cursed for their sake. That’s the
heart of carrying the cross. The only people for whom I have that kind of
anguish and sorrow are for my own father and mother who are not yet believers.
For them, yes, I could gladly and willingly wish if it were at all possible to
trade places with them. But that’s nowhere near the kind of sorrow and love
that Jesus and Paul had for the salvation of even their enemies. Those who
rejected and opposed them… So our prayer this morning is that the Holy Spirit
would melt our hearts and give us the same intensity, the same love and
longing. That’s the heart of mission, the urgency of evangelism. </span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b>The hope of
evangelism: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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To call on Jesus’ name is to ask Him to save us according to
who He is and what he has done. See, you are the one who must call on the name
of the Lord. Nobody can do it for you. And everyone who calls on His name <i>will be saved</i>. There is no such thing as
a person trusts and obeys the gospel but gets turned down by God. “Sorry, I
know you decided to put your trust in Christ alone but so sorry, you are not one
of the chosen ones.” It doesn’t work that way. Everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But the problem is: there are a million and one reasons why
people would not want to call on His name. They are too busy. They are too
obsessed with what the world has to offer. They are too self-satisfied with
their own achievements. They thought it would cost them too much freedom. You
know, if you have ever tried to share the gospel, there are just so many, many obstacles/excuses
that people give for not coming to faith. What hope is there for us to bring
our friends into our homes, into this church to listen to the gospel? It seems
like a distant fantasy… Maybe in our hearts we have given up hope long ago so
we have stopped even trying. What’s the use? What’s the point? I know that
feeling… </div>
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<br /></div>
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But then again, that’s exactly how we once were, right? We
too were once hardened in rebellion against God, we too were once too proud to
acknowledge Him, we too were once substituting other gods instead of worshiping
Him. We were too worldly. We were just like that. What hope did we have? </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textrom-9-16"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">That’s why Paul says in Romans 9: “It does not, therefore, depend
on your human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> He
has mercy on whom he has mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” There
is no hope unless and until God overcomes our rebellion by His love. There is
no hope unless and until He opens up our blind eyes by the light of His word,
and until the Holy Spirit melts our heart of stone and replace it with a heart
beating with new life. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The only thing that prevents evangelism from being pointless
is the sovereign grace of God… The only thing that gives you and I hope in
pressing on with the gospel is the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. The only
thing that keeps us going when all hope is lost is the assurance that God so
sovereign that he can bring the most hardened sinner to faith… That’s the hope
of evangelism that drove missionaries and evangelists to the ends of the world.
That’s the hope that drives us (CDPC) to be salt and light in Puchong. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Back in those days, people do not have the Internet or
television so important news from the king travel by means of a herald. The
herald would run for many miles to the marketplace and announce the good news:
Our king has returned to <st1:city>Jerusalem</st1:city>.
He will restore the nation. You will all return from exile. So Paul quoted
Isaiah: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim
peace and salvation. The logic is simple there can be no salvation without
calling on Christ, and no calling on him without faith, there is no believing
in Him without hearing him, no hearing without the preaching of the gospel and
no preaching without preachers sent. And so Christ sends you and I to be
heralds of the gospel. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Now, what is the purpose or goal of evangelism</b>? Evangelism
is not an end in itself. <st1:city>Mission</st1:city>
exists because worship does not. Evangelism gathers and unites us with the
people of God, an inclusive community that transcends racial barriers… a family
united in Christ of both Jews and Gentiles. In Romans 11 the picture is that of
an olive tree where believing Gentiles like wild olives are grafted in and
believing Jews are grafted back. We share the same history of faith that
extends back to the promise to Abraham. We stand in solidarity with the persecuted
people of God all over the world. The way we worship together, the way we serve
each other and treat one another especially when we disagree and have theological
differences should model the gospel of grace. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But the ultimate goal of evangelism is the glory of God! That’s
why Paul ends chapter 11 with worship – “For from him and through him and to
him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen”. All that exists came
from Him… He is the creator… all that we are and all that we have are sustained
through Him… and why everything came into being and what is the reason for
their being? The answer is: For Him and to him are all things. He is the
source, the means and the goal of all things. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we have seen the urgency of evangelism, the hope of
evangelism and the goal of evangelism… You may wonder: How can we evangelize?
What should we practically do? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let
me share this <a href="http://www.bethinking.org/who-am-i/intermediate/conversational-apologetics.htm">true story from Michael Ramsden</a>, whom I met at a youth conference
in <st1:place>Bali</st1:place>. He is an evangelist in <st1:place>Europe</st1:place>: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Conversations
over the course of normal, ordinary life that points the way to Christ … Sometimes
we just plan a seed, other times we soften the soil. Sometimes we water the
plant, other times we reap the harvest. It is God who makes it grow and bear
fruit. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I
really have nothing more profound to say today than that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Talk
to the people you meet in church this morning… especially those whom you have
never met before. Our guests who are here for the first time… The last thing
you want to see when you bring a friend or student from <st1:country-region>Oman</st1:country-region>
to church is to see her checking her Facebook alone at one corner while the
rest of us were chatting among ourselves… Be welcoming, get to know people and
where appropriate, pray for them… invite them over for lunch… Show them the
hospitality of Christ… Serve them… Fetch them home, if necessary… Befriend the
families who come to the library… Play and read story books to their children… It
is holiday season with the Lunar New Year coming this Friday. A lot of us will
balik kampong, visit relatives, friends, colleagues and open houses… Those are
the contexts in which conversational evangelism can happen. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s
not become fishermen who were so busy singing and talking about fishing that
they have no time left to fish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503927.post-73810911934086069872014-01-05T18:03:00.001+08:002014-01-14T14:17:23.247+08:00Gospel. Community. Mission. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div nbsp="" style="display: block; margin: 12px auto 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">New year, new beginnings. It's timely to start afresh in 2014 reflecting on our journey so far in 2013 as well our 2014 priorities. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Last year, we have focused on Integration of Faith/Work (regular conversations/prayers/sermons on movies, culture, politics) and Loving Families (Sacred Parenting talks and open sharing on the challenges/opportunities for Christ-like growth in families, marriages). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This year, we are ready to tackle another aspect of our SIMPLE DNA. M stands for "Make Disciples of all peoples". Nothing fancy. Back to basics. We are called to make disciples who follow and obey Jesus, not mere converts who signed a decision card. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Every church needs to gather together around the gospel (community), grow together in the gospel (discipleship) and go together with the gospel (mission). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">How do we get there? We need a road map and some action plans. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">1) Pastoral Care: Church is so much more than just a few hours on Sunday. We want to be an authentic community that speaks the truth in love, comforts and cares for members who suffer, help each other to grow in Christ and fight sin in our own lives. For that, we encourage every member to be part of a small Covenant group where transparency, honest feedback and mutual help is possible. We need to train every believer to apply the Gospel in our personal life, families, parenting, work and church relationships. Especially when dealing with conflicts, suffering, depression and sin. All of us are broken people in need of the gospel. It's a dangerous illusion to think that we are in control of life. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">2) Outreach: Reaching our community with the gospel. How? We discern two areas where God is at work in CDPC Puchong to connect the gospel with the wider community i.e. The Children’s Library (families, play groups, books, story telling) and the Student Ministry (fun, friendships, evangelism, Bible study). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">3) Grow Leaders: To do the above, we need to intentionally equip, mentor and provide freedom for members to grow as servant leaders who will reach out and provide spiritual care to others. </span></span><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/195832175/Gospel-Community-Mission" nbsp="" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Gospel. Community. Mission. on Scribd">Gospel. Community. Mission.</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> by </span></span><a href="http://www.scribd.com/Hedonese" nbsp="" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Dave's profile on Scribd">Dave</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0