Tuesday 30 July 2013

Hope Kuching by Pastor Ng Meng How dated 28.7.13

Hope Kuching by Pastor Ng Meng How dated 28.7.13
This morning Pastor Meng How shared about the Mandarin congregation’s involvement in helping the needy around Kuching.  The Mandarin congregation is working with Hope Kuching to distribute foods to the poor and needy in Kuching.  Pastor Meng How said the congregation submitted 12 family names to Hope Kuching and 9 of them were approved.
1 John 4:9
“We love because he first loved us”.
We serve not to please God but we are making our joy complete.
Matthew 12:7
“If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a] you would not have condemned the innocent.”
God does not want our sacrifices, but He wants us to serve the poor, weak, widows, and needy.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisonersand recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
God loves the poor and the weak.
Leviticus 23:22
“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.”
Dueteronomy 24:20-21
20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
Proverb 14:21
“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
In the process of helping and giving provisions to the families, Pastor Meng How also shared Gospel with these families, and many have accepted the Lord.
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
James 1:27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Matthew 25:36
“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”.

Sunday 21 July 2013

John Chapter 8 by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 21st July 2013



With John 6 describing many of Jesus’ disciples leaving Him and never coming back because of his “hard’ sayings, John 8 now highlights the Divinity of Jesus which elicited a violent response from the Jewish leaders that progressively culminated in murder. 

2 Sections to this Chapter: 


1.       Vs 1- 11 – Incredible Incident: Jesus’ encounter with woman caught in adultery ( some Bibles do not include this section as the text was included later );
2.       Vs 12- 59 – Glimpse of nature of Jesus’ relationship with his Father marked by intimacy which has practical implications. 

Jesus the “I Am” – 7 times

Meaning of “I Am”: God himself (Exodus 3:14)

1.       I Am the Bread of Life: Jesus as our spiritual food & sustenance for growth and intimacy in our relationship with God. Application: Are we growing, trusting, talking to God in prayer?
2.       I Am the Light of the World (Jn 8:12): Jesus giving sight, insight, revelation c.f. Luke 24: Four openings – Scripture, Mind, Heart & Recognition of Jesus.
3.       I Am the Door/Gate for the sheep (Jn 10:7): Jesus as the spiritual entrance to salvation, the Kingdom & Presence of God.  
4.       I Am the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:14): Jesus giving spiritual provision, guidance, protection.
5.       I Am the Way, the Truth & the Life (Jn 14:6).

7 Aspects of Jesus’ Divinity in his relationship with the Father

1.       “I Am God” (Jn 17:22; 8:14, 23; 3; 13) Application: Preach Jesus as sinless Son of God.
2.       Divine affirmation (Jn 8:18) Father affirmed & sent Jesus. Application: As a church, all we do must be Christ-centred.
3.       Divine Revelation (Jn 8:19, 28) Application: As you read God’s Word, pray that the Holy Spirit will give you revelation & spiritual understanding.
4.       Forgiveness of sin (Jn 8:36, 46; Luke 24:47; 5:21) Application: Essence of the Gospel: Repentance & forgiveness of sin; set free.
5.       Love of God (Jn 8:42; 14:15; 1 Jn 4:19) Application: Obedience to God is evidence of love.
6.       Glory of God (Jn 8:54; Isa 42:8; 48:11) Application: Knowing, seeing & feeling the Glory of God’s Presence.
7.       Eternity (Jn8:58; 14:2; 17:3) Sums up relationship with God. We are an eternal people of God. Application: We have the Gospel of Eternity to proclaim.

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Jesus Incarnational Ministry - A Paradigm For Missions Today by Dr.Kelvin Chen dated 14.7.2013



Dr. Chen background

Dr.Kevin Chen is the Deputy of SIM (Serving in Missions) East Asia based in Singapore.  Dr.Chen is a medical doctor having practiced for 12 years in the public and private in Singapore before joining SIM in his first mission to Egbe, Nigeria for three years.  He served there with his wife and children.
SIM seeks to glorify God, evangelize, discipling, minister to human needs and partner local churches to serve the people.  You may read their website : sim.org
   
The sermon
Dr. Chen’s sermon is based on Matthew 9:35-38.
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

V.35 Jesus walked through the town and villages may seem casual in the above reading, but it was not as Jesus mingled with the people in each town and village.  He interacted with the people there.

Incarnational
-          Jesus assuming human form and He was fully human.  Like described above He went about the towns and villages interacting with the people. The word “harassed” and “helpless” in Greek interpretation “harassed and helpless” in Greek means Jesus mingled with the crowds.
-           
-          Application
-           
-          We are to build relationships based on equality because human are created in the image of God.  Dr. Chen said when church support missionaries in another location, the representatives of the church must visit these missionaries so that they understand what happened in the mission fields. Missionaries must also know the culture and languages of the people they are serving.  Prayers for these missionaries can be more meaningful and appropriate.

Compassionate

         Jesus saw the “helpless and harassed” and He responded.  Compassion is the sense from deep within us and it is not just a feeling but also actions.  No point feeling compassionate for the needy and yet we do nothing.
Application
Pray to God for compassion for the needy and also to help others.  Sometime you cannot even trust the agency that sent the missionaries but you can trust God.  Dr. Chen shared a story of an African Bishop whose house was broken into and yet he served the robbers drinks and foods, and yet they robbed him.  But this Bishop was not anxious at all because he said God has always provided for him in the past, present and he trust God for the future.

Action

Jesus than called His disciples to action:
a)       Pray
b)       To minister, preach, heal, cleanse, cast out demons ( Matthew 10:7-8)

Jesus' advice:  freely you have received freely give. ( V.10 )

Challenge 1

Dr. Chen shared the story of Robert Moffet.  When he was very young he already knew he wanted to offer his whole life to God.  One Sunday in church, he asked the usher to put the offering plate on the ground.  The usher was kind and gentlemanly and he just did that.  Once the plate was on the floor, young Moffet stepped onto the plate.  The usher asked what he was doing.  He replied that he was offering his whole life to God from that moment.

 Challenge 2

He shared another story of the Fachhai’s family from Northern India.  Mrs. Fachhai was a very poor single mother.  She could not give any offering to her church, but she said she was ready to offer his children to God.  She had two sons.  Knowing that clergy earns very little yet she was willing to offer both his sons to God.  You must realize that men are valued in their culture as they can earn a living for their families.  But both her children were dedicated to God.  Mrs. Fachhai trusted God to provide for her family without any reservation.

The Challenge to our church

Are we willing to serve God in the mission fields?

Dr. Chen quoted a statement which is food for thought for us.
Truth of Life
“God does not want your money, neither is He interested in your time.  But what God wants, and deserves – is your LIFE!”.  Are you (and I) willing to give Him, who gave His only beloved, begotten Son for you, your (and my) LIFE?
Consider Roman 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Thursday 11 July 2013

Gospel of John Chapter 7 – Mission to the Core by Pastor Richard Sim dated 7.7.13



Pastor Richard sermon is based on John chapter 7 and he interwoven his message with the message of mission.  According to him the whole New Testament is about mission.


          John 3:16 God loves the whole world

          John 14:6 I am the way the truth

          John 20:21, as the Father had sent me so I send you

  
John 7 – feast of the Tabernacle – Israel’s thanks giving feast remembering Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, and the 40 years wondering in the wilderness where they lived in tents and worship at the Tabernacle which was a tent.  All male Jews were required to travel to Jerusalem for this feast. Jesus’ unbelieving brothers urged him to go public to gain popularity.


         V.37 the living water

         V.33 I shall be with you a little longer and I go to Him who sent me

         V.39 He spoke concerning the Holy Spirit


In relation to mission, Pastor Richard referred to Acts.


       Act 1:3 appeared to them for 40 days teaching about the kingdom of God.

       Act 1:4 commanded them not to leave Jerusalem

       Act 1:5 disciples will be baptized with the Holy Spirit

       Act 1:6 disciples asked whether Jesus will restore the kingdom of Israel

       Act 1:7 it was not for them to know the time

       Act 1:8 the disciples will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes, and they will witness from Jerusalem,  Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth


In Act 1:3 Jesus resurrected and he was with the disciples 40 days teaching them about the kingdom of God.  Before that the disciples had been with Jesus for more than 3 years.

At that time Israel was under Roman rule, they did not have the power or authority.


The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah will come to liberate the Jews.  During this time it was their dream to be independent from Roman rule and establish their own nation.  Just before Jesus was taken to heaven the disciples asked when he will establish the kingdom of Israel.


The Mission for the Disciples


The most important commission in their whole life and cannot be done with their natural abilities.  The commission requires the Holy Spirit.  Luke 24:29. 

In John 7:39 the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus had not been glorified yet.  Act 1:4 Jesus ordered the disciples not to leave Jerusalem yet.  Act 1:6 disciples asked Jesus whether he was establishing the kingdom of Israel.  Act 1:7 he told them it was not time yet.  Act 1:8 they will receive the power and witness from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth.


Examples of Missionaries in various countries


Adoniram Judson (1850) pioneering mission in Burma.

Hudson Taylor mission to China

Dr. Stanley Livingston mission to Africa

Hudson Southwell mission to Sarawak founder of SIB church.
 

       Matthew 28:19 – go make disciples of all nations baptizing them…

       Act 1:8 witness to the end of the earth.

       Act 2:4 disciples filled with the Holy Spirit.  Disciples preached and the church grew.

       Matthew 28:20 teaching people to obey God’s commands.


It is our time to go and full fill the Great Commission.


Are we ready and willing?