Every Knee Shall Bow by Bro. Yap Don Kiang dated 1.5.16

Bro. Yap is from Scripture Union.  His sermon is based on Philippians 2:5-11.  To illustrate a point about humility Bro. Yap shared a story about Ronald Regan, the former President of United State who gave a speech in English in Mexico.  The audience could not understand English so they were quiet.  The next speaker came to the stage, and as he spoke the audience began to clap.  Mr.Regan clapped even louder each time the speaker paused.  He did not realise that the speaker was translating his speech.

We are all prideful and we tend to “blow our own trumpet”.  This is prideful and it is an idolatry.  How we solve this problem?  According to Bro. Yap we must fix our eyes on Jesus.

Indeed there is a doctrine of Christianity as taught by Apostle Paul.  He taught and spoke to the ordinary people and not to Theologians. 

Philippians 2:5-11 is considered a hymn.  Why is this so?  Because the theme of Philippians is found in chapter 1:27-30 : Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

    2:2 They should have the same spirit, same mind and same love.

2:3 They should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others     

       Better than yourselves.

2:4 They should look not only to their own interests but also the interest of others. 

The problem is that we have selfish pride.  It is always about ourselves.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and learn from Him.

1.       Imitate Christ model of humility 2:5-8

2:6 - Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

2:7 - rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Jesus is God, yet He came in human form and made Himself nothing by being a servant.  This is very profound and we may not understand.

He prepared Himself to be cursed by God Deut 21:23 - you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.

1 Corinthians 1:23 - but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

The Cross is central to Christianity, yet it is a stumbling block to the Jews and Gentiles, as it was not comprehensible to them.  It was not logical how God can be crucified on a Cross.

“To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others…to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom—I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. We think giving my life to the Lord is like putting a RM 100 bill on the table—here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all. But the reality for most of us is that He sends us to change the RM 100 bill into RM 1 bills.  We go through life putting out RM 1 here and RM 2 there. ” Fred Craddock

This quote typical of most of us, giving out a couple of Ringgit here and there throughout our lives.

2.       Acknowledge Christ Lordship – Philippians 2:9-11

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,   
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”              

Ephesians 1:21 (NCV)  

     “God has put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings, not only in this world but also in the next.”

Isaiah 45:23b (ESV)

“To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.”

No matter who we are this applies :  In heaven, on earth and under the earth.

The Exaltation of JESUS  is An Encouragement

To Humility

      “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”.  Luke 14:11 (NIV)

      “Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes .” 1 Pet. 5:6 (CEV)

The Exaltation of JESUS  is An Encouragement – A Summary

 1.  To Humility

 2.  In Trials

 3.  To Salvation

Isaiah 45:22-25 (CEV)

  “I invite the whole world
    to turn to me and be saved.
I alone am God!
    No others are real.
 I have made a solemn promise,
    one that won’t be broken:
Everyone will bow down
    and worship me. They will admit that I alone
    can bring about justice.
Everyone who is angry with me
will be terribly ashamed
    and will turn to me.
I, the Lord, will give
victory and great honor
    to the people of Israel.”

Some Thoughts About True Conversion by Pastor Peter Mountain dated 10.4.16

He started his teaching using Exodus 19:1-6.  These verses were about the Israelites being delivered from Egypt and what God wants them to do.  There are lessons for us today as follows:

-          These are written for our instructions, so that we can understand the plan and purpose of God. The story of the Exodus was a pattern of what God wants to do with us.

-          The Lord had delivered the people from Egypt.  It was by grace alone not by power of works.

-          God led them to Mt. Sinai.  Here He would make a Covenant with them.

-          Notice how the Lord makes an offer to them: if you will obey and keep my Covenant..

-          Then you will be a special treasure to me above all people

-          You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

These offers still remain  : 1 Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:5-6

-          Notice God’s purpose has to do with a Kingdom: Matthew 9:35

-          The blessings of the kingdom of God are for those who submit to the King.

-          There is a false Gospel (or at least a half-Gospel) that is popular today. That is “Gospel-lite” rather than “Full-Gospel”.

-          “Gospel-lite” emphasis forgiveness of sins and God love’s but leave out discipleship.

-          God makes a new Covenant with us, a better one, because He give a new heart and give us , the Holy Spirit, but there is still calls to make Jesus Lord and King.

-          There is still, “If you obey and keep the Covenant Then…

-          This offer was made with powerful demonstration of God’s power and presence of God.

-          In order to receive this promise, Israel had to enter into a covenant and obey what He told them to do. ( keeping the law was not a way to earn salvation, they had been delivered from Egypt)

-          The law is the wisdom of God how to live and how to be successful in life.

-          Keeping the law is how they express their love for God and other people.

-          Matthew 22:37-40

-          It was a particle out working of faith ( Jas 2:18 )

Acts 9:3-6 Jesus spoke to blind Saul.

-          Saul was opposing the Lord. Every one of us has been in similar place, even if not so extreme.

-          Sin is rebellion, disobedience, self-will, putting ourselves above God.

-          To be delivered we must turn around.

-          Repentance and faith are really the same, we turn from sin to the Lord.

-          Saul surrendered totally, “Lord what do you want me to do? “

-          At Sinai God called the nation of Israelite to come out from the kingdom of darkness to into His kingdom.

-          It was full surrender like Paul.

-          True conversion is a full surrender to Jesus as Lord.

-          True conversion is when we ask “Lord, what will you have me to do? “

The question is: “Where do we stand this morning?”

Fulfilling the Great Commission by Pastor Tony Wong dated 3.4.16

Introduction

Pastor Wong started with a testimony of his life.  He came from a traditional Chinese family who practised ancestor worship and worshipping idols.  As a boy he was a bad character who stole from his neighbours.  He said he had stolen all types of fruits except the durian.  While in class a missionary taught about Jesus and in particular John 3:16, the Holy Spirit touched him and tears came to his eyes.  Eventually he became a Christian.  Later he had the chance to study in the US, he graduated as a computer engineer.  He migrated to the US.  Some years ago he and his family made with a serious accident and his one year old daughter died.  He was seriously injured and doctors said he had only 10 percent chance of survival.  His body has many metal parts keeping his inside together.  By God’s grace he lives. Some years later he gave up his job and entered seminary.  He is now a missionary serving in Taiwan.

The Great Commission

Pastor Wong’s message is based on Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God wants us to live for Him through the Great Commission.  Jesus gave us the Great Commission.  To obey Jesus is the highest authority.  Verse 18.  We got it wrong if we think Jesus gave us His suggestion.  It is not a suggestion but the Great Commission.

Obeying the Lord, Jesus Authority, fear of God and not man

If we do not obey Jesus, we are fooling ourselves.  Because we fear man and not God.  Unless we fear God, we are not obeying Him.  He gave an example of preaching to some farmers in China and asked them to share with others.  The next time they met, not even one had share the Gospel.  When the farmers were asked why, they said they were afraid to offend people.  This is an example of fearing man.

How to make Jesus disciples?

“Making disciple” is the key in verse 19.

         a)  “Go” in verse 19, is a command to go and not bring people to the Church.  Bring the Church to the people.  Go and share the Gospel with people and after that maybe we can bring them to Church.  The Church building it cannot move but the Church can move.  He said that non-believers will not accept us wanting to bring them to Church, since we ourselves will not worship in their temples. 

        b)  Baptize : denying ourselves in order to live for Christ.  To be baptized means to be raise from the dead.  Our old self died and we became new in Christ.  We must also forgive. If we do not forgive we are fooling ourselves.  Pastor Wong shared of the story of a woman in Macau whom he ministered to.  She had many illnesses and even after she “accepted” Jesus she was still suffering.  Later Pastor found that she was not born-again as well as she did not forgive her parents who gave her away as a baby and her ex-husband.  Pastor Wong led her to real repentance and she was healed of all her illnesses.

        c)  Teach them to obey everything: Teaching and Coaching.  Pastor Wong shared that 95% obedient is still disobedient.  We need to obey everything and not just the majority of things commanded by Jesus.  Total obedience and not partial.

       d)  Trusting in God’s presence “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” ( Vs 20).  Trust His presence, His power, and obey God.  We will experience power in Him.

Action: Do not live a good life, live the best life because the good is the enemy of the best.

Matthew Chapter 26 by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 20.3.16

One of the important passage in Matthew Chapter 26 was the event at the garden of Gethsemane.  That passage was important because Jesus was given a choice whether He should go to the Cross.  In a sense God gave Him a choice.  After He “gave in” all events after that were human activities.  Because He already submitted to God’s will.

Jesus instituted the Holy Communion after He ate the Passover meal with His disciples.  The Passover meal parallels the Holy Communion.  Jesus brought in the Spiritual significant of a meal and turned it into the Holy Communion.

Under the old covenant, the Jews were preoccupied with the Mosiac Covenant :

         a)      Abrahamic Covenants representing perpetuities, and circumcision.

         b)      Noah Covenant – covenant of mercy

         c)       Covenant of Moses has three streams –

                    i) Abraham’s descendants to be circumcised.

             ii) the Jews were descended from Isaac and Jacob, they have the Torah and kept the Sabbath to                      distinguish them from the Arabs.

            iii) Through Jacob Jesus came to institute the New Covenant.

There are 7 parts to Dr. Thomas Chung’s sermon :

1.       Jesus predicted His death.  Politic prevailed to get Him.

2.       A woman anointed Jesus.  Jesus said the anointment was beautiful “to Him”, meaning as a worship and it was meant “for Him” as an act of service.

3.       He was sold as a slave.

4.       The New Covenant He instituted.

5.       At the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus could chose whether to go to the Cross.

6.       The Trial of Jesus.  False testimonies of blasphemy and false politics.

7.       Peter denied Jesus three times.

Matthew Chapter 26:

Vs. 1 & 2 – Jesus predicted His death and He warned His disciples.

Vs. 3 – 5 – The politics behind the trial.

Vs  6- 13 – A woman anointed Jesus. It was the most beautiful act ever performed by a human to the   

                   Son of God.

Vs 14-16- Jesus was sold by Judas for 30 silver coins a price of a slave.

Vs 17-29- The Passover meal parallel the Holy Communion.  The difference between the Passover meal and Holy Communion is that the Passover meal was part take with meat whereas the Holy Communion did not.  Jesus instituted the Holy Communion because this was to indicate that Christians need not part take of the Passover meal.

Vs 30 -45 – Peter denied he knew Jesus.  In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed that the Cup may be taken away from Him.

Vs 47-68- Judas betrayed Jesus.  Jesus’ trial was a religious trial but it was turned into a political trial.  The religious part accused Him to had blasphemed by claiming to be God and the political part accused Him of calling Himself King.

Vs 69-75 – Peter denied Jesus.  Dr. Chung explained that he was recognised by his accent as he spoke.  People from different region spoke with different accent.

Holy Communion

In explaining the Holy Communion, Dr. Chung referred to 1 Corinthians 10:14 and 1 Corinthians 11:23

Jesus instituted a new Covenant.  He also instituted the Holy Communion after the Passover meal.  The Holy Communion was a parallel to the Passover meal.  The Holy Communion was to be taken after the Passover meal.  It was not a whole meal.  It was a symbolic meal with Spiritual significance.

1 Corinthians 11:25 – Jesus instituted the Holy Communion after the Passover has ended.  The Holy Communion was for the Christians and the Passover was for the Jews.  The blood symbolised the cleansing of our sins.  Exodus 12:13 indicated the significance of the blood.  The blood of the lamb brought deliverance.  Holy Communion is also a deliverance, exorcise people.

Covenant can also means testament or agreement.

1 Corinthians 10:16 – Holy Communion is to participate in the life of God and life of the church.  In participating in the Holy Communion is also a fellowship of God’s people.  It is a fellowship in the body of Christ.

The Significance of Holy Communion

          1.       Speaks of the centrality of the Cross

          2.       An act of continuity.

          3.       Constant regular reminder of th centrality of the Cross.

          4.       Proclamation of Jesus’ death until He comes again.

          5.       A sacred act – partake with sincerity and reverence.  It is also a blessing because it cement our                     relationship with God and one another.

Parable of the sower by Ho King Swee dated 6.3.16

This sermon is based on Matthew 13:1-23 and similar passages in Mark 4:1-2o and Luke 8:4-15.

Bro. Ho paraphrased Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest preach from Britain, “if you know that God is speaking, you better listen attentively.  If you know God has written the Bible, you better read this book”.

Parables are about our hearts and the words put into our hearts.

1. The Parable give Matt 13:1-9

         a)       some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

         b)       Other seeds fell on rocky ground,  -not much soil, immediately they sprang up -when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.

         c)       Other seeds fell upon thorns,  the thorns grew up and choked them.

         d)       Other seeds fell on good soil - brought forth grain (fruit), some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty

2. The Purpose of parables  Matt 13:10-17

10: Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"

11: And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Also vs. 13,14,15.

Parable Explained:

       1.       First kind of soil –wayside/path (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12)

       2.    Second kind of soil - rocky ground (Matthew 13:20,21; Mark 4:16,17; Luke 8:13)

       3.    Third kind of soil - thorny ground (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12)

       4.    Fourth kind of soil - good ground (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12)

All the 4 kinds of people are subject to the same conditions:

        (1)     Satan is working on them (2) They face tribulation & persecution (3) They face temptations of the world

The 4th kind of people are different from the 1st three in that

They bear fruit

We can conclude that :

1. They receive and hold fast to the word

2. They do not fall away in tribulation and persecution

3. They do not love the world

What fruits? Gal 5:22-23, John 15:1-8

Lessons

Sufferings are inevitable John 15:18, 20, John 16:33

Sufferings produce characters Rom 5:3-5

Blessed are those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake Matt 5:10-12

Never trade our eternal life for anything here Matt 16:25-26

E,g Paul live for Christ Phil 1:12, Rom 8:18

All who died in faith Heb 11:13

Are you fearful of suffering? Have you died for Christ?

What and where is your treasure?

The 4th kind of people are different from the 1st three in that

They bear fruit

We can conclude that :

1. They receive and hold fast to the word

2. They do not fall away in tribulation and persecution

3. They do not love the world

Application

4. Live daily for eternity – as sojourners on earth Heb 3:12-14