God's Will for You in Christ Jesus

Sis Melinda Song

INTRODUCTION

Walter Knight told of an old Scottish woman who went from home to home across the countryside selling thread, buttons, and shoestrings. When she came to an unmarked crossroad, she would toss a stick into the air and go in the direction the stick pointed when it landed. 

One day, however, she was seen tossing the stick up several times. "Why do you toss the stick more than once?" someone asked. "Because," replied the woman, "it keeps pointing to the left, and I want to take the road on the right." She then dutifully kept throwing the stick into the air until it pointed the way she wanted to go! 

The will of God is a topic close to every believer’s heart. People often wonder what God's will is but very often we often try to disguise our will as God’s will. But God's will is revealed in Bible through His commands, prohibitions and principles to live by.

Today let us see what is “God’s Will For You In Christ Jesus.”

Here are some instances in the New Testament that clearly spell out the will of God for us.

1 Thessalonians 4:3  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 2:15  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Today we will be looking at God’s will for us as found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.This verse is very special to me because it is one of the earliest memory verses that I learnt. It was easy to learn because we sang it as one of the scripture in songs.

These three brief commands in scripture are easy to understand, but they are incredibly difficult to put into practice in our lives. No wonder Mark Twain said, "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

Today we shall attempt to work out how we are to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks ..."

In verse, 16, we are commanded to “be joyful always” which is…

Constant Joy

We can surely rejoice when there’s something good to rejoice about but to be always rejoice makes no sense.  Why would you rejoice when something terrible has happened? And yet…

Joy is a command, not an option.

Phil. 3:1  Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord

Phil. 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice!

Paul knew what it was like to suffer. It was in the midst of suffering, grief and heartache that he wrote “rejoice always.” That is not the natural reaction to the suffering and adversity.

a.         For Paul, rejoicing is not some form of sugar-coated happiness.  It is not passive acceptance, a sentimental emotion or some form of denial or avoidance. It definitely does not mean wearing a silly grin on our face.

b.         Also, Paul’s words “rejoice always” do not mean never cry. There is a legitimate place for grief in the life of the Christian. The shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus wept.”  Jesus wept and so should we.  We will never be able to rejoice in God unless we are able to weep with God.

Psalm 30:5b  …weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

For Paul, “rejoicing” is being able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, even though your eyes are filed with tears, because you know that God is with you. One of the most uplifting verses in the Bible is found in…

Hab. 3:17-18  Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I WILL rejoice IN THE LORD, I WILL be joyful IN GOD MY SAVIOUR.

If joy is a command and obedience a choice. 


I choose joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. (Max Lucado)

But why does God give this seemingly ridiculous command?

Joy is essential for our well-being.

Neh. 8:10b  …for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Prov. 17:22  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Is it possible to obey this command? Yes, it is possible because…

Joy is found in Jesus, our Saviour and Joy Giver.

Ps. 51:12  Restore to me the joy of your salvation…

When was the last time you laughed for the sheer joy of your salvation? To be filled with God is to be filled with joy. 

Ps. 16: 11  You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE, with ETERNAL pleasures at your right hand.

Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God. (Robert Schuller)

Jn. 17:13b …that they may have the FULL MEASURE OF MY JOY in them.

Happiness depends on happenings; joy depends on Christ. It is God’s will for you IN Christ Jesus. 

There is also a second reason why joy is possible. It is because…

Joy is the fruit of the Spirit.

Matt. 7:20  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Gal. 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Joy is the hallmark of a Christian because it is the fruit of our abiding in Christ. It is a deep settled confidence that God is in control of every area of your life.

I believe God, through His Spirit, grants us love, joy, and peace no matter what is happening in our lives. As Christians, we shouldn't expect our joy to always feel like happiness, but instead recognize joy as inner security – a safeness in our life with Christ. (Jill Briscoe)

Illustration:  Consider the story of one young man. He was often sick as a baby. He was always small, puny some would say. As a youth he was always frail and delicate. He was not able to play sports with the other boys his age. Eventually he entered the ministry. But his health was so fragile, he was unable to serve his growing congregation.

Amazingly, he did not dwell on his troubles. In fact, his spirit soared. His only real complaint was the poor quality of the hymns of his day. He felt they did not convey hope and joy. Someone challenged him to write better ones. He did. He wrote over 600 hymns, most of them hymns of praise.

When his health collapsed completely in 1748, he left one of the most remarkable collection of hymns the world has ever known. His name was Isaac Watts. In a few weeks we will be singing one of his most famous hymns, "Joy to the World!" Isaac Watts discovered joy in his life because he knew that God would never desert him. He was able to live his life with all sorts of health problems feeling close to God and Jesus. He had joy deep in his heart.

The Christian can rejoice always because their joy isn’t based in circumstances, but in God. Circumstances change, but God doesn’t.

And the key to Constant Joy is…

Ceaseless Prayer.

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Pray Continually

Paul’s exhortation here is confusing.  Is he asking us to always be reciting prayers and spending our time in prayer at the expense of our families, employment, and other responsibilities?  Don’t we have to sleep?

There are 3 possible meanings of “praying continually.”

1.  Prayer is an attitude born out of a relationship. The very spirit and essence of prayer is a deep, abiding communion and dependence on God, and awareness of being in His presence throughout each day that should permeate all we do.

Henri Nouwen, renowned author and priest, wrote this about prayer; “To pray, I think, does not primarily mean to think about God in contrast to thinking about other things, or to spend time with God instead of spending time with other people.” Nouwen writes that our prayer should not be a compartmentalization of our life. Constant prayer means to think and live in the presence of God. To think and live in the presence of God. This is not only something that the Christian should desire, but is something we need to make it through each day. If we divide our lives into our time and God’s time, then we remove God from our daily life and put God in a pious niche where we can think pious thoughts and feel pious feelings. (Nouwen, Henri J.M. “Unceasing Prayer”)

Ceaseless prayer is possible because its foundation is the relationship we have with a loving, caring, powerful and good God.

Jesus is our constant companion, albeit an invisible one, always at our side. We should respond to him as we would to a visible friend who was your constant companion.

2.  It means being consistent and persistent in prayer. The same Greek word for “continually” is used in Romans 1:9-10a, where Paul says, “God whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times.” Paul certainly did not keep mentioning the Romans in his prayers to the exclusion of all other prayer needs. So “continually” doesn’t mean that we have to be mentally or verbally praying all the time. It means we should pray over and over, and often. Our default mental state should be: “O God, help…”

Having "set times" to pray can help create the habit of praying, e.g., Daniel. Praying "spontaneously" as needs arise develops the disposition to pray in every circumstance. Together they make up ceaseless prayer.

Illustration: A story is told about a priest, a minister and a guru who sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby.

"Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the priest said.

"No," said the minister. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven."

"You're both wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying face down on the floor."

The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted. "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

It doesn’t matter how, or when, you do it, just do it! Don’t wait until you are hanging upside down!

3.  It means not giving up on prayer. It was in the midst of grief, pain and heartache that Paul said “pray continually.” In other words, don’t let circumstances keep you from seeing God.  Don’t let circumstances cause you to turn away from God.  Keep on praying.  Keep on trusting.  Keep on seeking God.  God is most near in the most difficult times.  In these times when God may seem silent, our prayers keep us focused on the reality of Christ.

In Lu. 18:1-8, Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow. In v. 1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Don’t stop praying. Never reach a point where you lose hope. Bro. Hooi prayed for 35 years and he saw his parents saved. Your miracle could be just round the corner. God is not slow in keeping His promise (2 Pet. 3:9). His timing is always perfect.  Meanwhile His grace is sufficient to carry us through.

Someone once asked me “If God is in control, why pray?” There are plenty of theological reasons for prayer but in simple terms…

In prayer we find the peace of God.

Phil. 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace comes because prayer brings the presence of God into our circumstances. Prayer invites God into our and others lives, and into the situations, burdens, and challenges of them. 

Peace comes because prayer turns our focus from our circumstances to God who is in control. Prayer tells God that we need Him, we want Him, that we're not in control, and that we trust in Him for our lives and the lives of those near and dear to our hearts. 

Prayer changes things, but more importantly, prayer changes us. Prayer is for our benefit, not God’s! That is why we should pray continually.

Joseph M. Scriven wasn’t exaggerating when he wrote of the benefits of prayer in the hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus!”

Prayer is to your soul, what breathing is to your body.  If you do not breathe, you cannot live.  If you do not pray, your soul will cease to thrive. Prayer is an integral part of abiding in the Lord. We need to live in a constant state of continual communication with God. 

Praying should come as naturally to a Christian and breathing.  Scripture doesn't ask us to do anything impossible.  In fact, Jesus told us that "with God - all things are possible” and Rom. 8:26-28 assures us that the Spirit intercedes for us and helps us to pray.

“When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude.” (Spurgeon)

Giving thanks in all circumstances.

Continual Thanksgiving  is meant to be a way of life for a child of God!

There are 4 types of people.

1. Those who constantly complain.

Illustration: In some parts of Mexico hot springs and cold springs are found side by side--and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry and boil their clothes in the hot springs and then rinse them in the cold ones. A tourist who was watching this procedure commented to his Mexican friend and guide: "I imagine that they think old Mother Nature is pretty generous to supply such ample, clean hot and cold water here side by side for their free use." The guide replied, "No señor, there is much grumbling because she supplies no soap. " - James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 261-262.

2. Those who never give thanks. They take things for granted.

Illustration: Two friends met in the street. One man looked rather forlorn and down in the mouth.  The other man asked, "Hey, how come you look like the whole world caved in?"

The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me ten thousand dollars."

"I'm sorry to hear about the death, but a bit of good luck for you, eh?"

"Hold on, I'm just getting started.  Two weeks ago, a cousin I never knew kicked the bucket and left me twenty thousand, free and clear."

"Well, you can't be disappointed with that!"

"Yep. But, last week my grandfather passed away. I inherited almost one hundred thousand dollars."

"Incredible!  So how come you look so glum?"

"Well, this week ... nothing!"

3. Those who only give thanks for obvious blessings. That is most of us.

4. Those who give thanks in all circumstances. That is what God wants of us.

When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. (Gilbert K. Chesterton)

But first let us establish 2 important facts:

1. Ingratitude displeases God

Rom. 1:18-21b  The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him…

2. Gratitude is not natural to the human race

We have to teach children to say “please” and “thank you’.

Lu. 17:17-18  Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Illustration: Why did only one man cleansed from leprosy return to thank Jesus? Someone has made a list of nine suggested reasons why the nine did not return:

One waited to see if the cure was real.

One waited to see if it would last.

One said he would see Jesus later.

One decided that he had never had leprosy in the first place.

One said he would have gotten well anyway.

One gave the glory to the priests.

One said, "O, well, Jesus didn't really do anything."

One said, "Any rabbi could have done it."

One said, "I was already much improved."

That's not surprising, is it? I doubt that more than ten percent of us are ever truly grateful to God. In fact, it often seems that the more we have, the less gratitude we feel.

2 Tim. 3:1-5  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Gratitude is a spiritual exercise

Eph. 5:18b-20  …be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It all begins with being filled with the Spirit who refocuses our attention away from ourselves and from our circumstances to God and reinforces our faith.

Rom. 8:9  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

An attitude of gratitude is important because:  

1.Thankfulness acknowledges that God is our provider.

2. Thankfulness prevents a complaining spirit.

3. Thankfulness creates a positive outlook on life.

4. Thankfulness invites joy to dwell in our hearts.  (Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, pp. 161)

Thanksgiving is the best way to dig ourselves out of the doldrums of discouragement. When we're discouraged or overwhelmed, we don’t feel like thanking God. But thanking the Lord for all He's done, is doing, and will do in due time, is the fastest way to change one's attitude and reenergize.

We don’t give thanks for everything, but in everything. We recognize God’s sovereign hand is in charge, and not blind fate or chance.

We give thanks about everything knowing that God is working all things together for good for His people who love Him (Rom.8:28)

3 reasons why we must learn to be thankful [Slide 20]

1. We must learn to be thankful or we become bitter.

2. We must learn to be thankful or we will become discouraged.

3. We must learn to be thankful or we will grow arrogant and self-satisfied.

So what is God’s will for you? [Slide 21]

Be joyful always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances in Christ Jesus

We are told to do all these because it is the will of God. The thought isn’t “this is God’s will, so you must do it.” The thought is rather “this is God’s will, so you can do it.” It isn’t easy to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, but we can do it because it is God’s will.

The key words here are “in Christ Jesus.” We can do it because we are in Christ.

Pastor Gideon praying for the missions team going to Sarawak.

Sis Melinda praying for newly weds Sam and Cat who will be starting their married life in Adelaide, Australia.

The Last Days

Rev Jeremiah Abel

It's good to be home. Amen?

Sis Abel is recovering very well from a knee replacement surgery and she and my daughters send their greetings. 

I want to say some things before I preach. Now, I am not a writer. But I have this habit. I promote books. And it is for your benefit. I am going to put your pastor on the spot today. Okay pastor?

I am going to bless you. There was so much emphasis on prayer. So this book, praying effectively for the lost is appropriate. This is an excellent book to read. There are three other books I brought. This book "The Harbinger" is fantastic. It's a tremendous book on nine warnings. The warnings for the States after 911. "The Israel Omen". Someone passed me this book and asked me to read it. It is amazing. This book mentions some coincidence that has happened but there have been tremendous calamity that hit the states every time they tried to go against God's word. One more book, "The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent." What is the cross? Jesus. The crescent? Islam or Muhammad. I don't know if you can get this book now. I got it from Amazon. It's an excellent book which I recommend to all pastors and church elders to read. 

Have you heard of the blood moon? It seems NASA has mapped out the next four blood moons. They don't make mistakes. They consider everything before sending things up including the weather. It seems the eclipse of the moon showed impending judgements on the Gentiles. But when it's a blood moon, it was calamity on the Jews. The first happened in 1493. When the Spanish Inquisition took place, they landed in America. Then during the holocaust, many Jews were killed. And because of this they managed to form the nation of Israel in 1948. But they were attacked by the Arab nations including Samaria and Jordan. In 1967, Israel was threatened to be wiped off the map. That was also a blood moon date. But God protected them and they won the war in 6 days. That's why it's called the Six-Day War. 

The four blood moons coming over the next two years – on the Jewish Passovers on April 15, 2014, and April 4, 2015, and the Feasts of Tabernacles on Oct. 8, 2014, and Sept. 28, 2015. 

All within two years. There have been all kinds of prophecy about this but be careful about this. These dates all fall during a Jewish festival. The Passover Festival and the Feast of Tabernacle. Remember, every blood moon brings calamity to the nation of Israel. I want to encourage you to get on your knees and pray as we are living at the very end of the church age. God has set its time and the church has a time period. 

You need to understand this. Now we are going into the word of God. Why do I say we are living at the end days. 

Joel 2:30-32

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:

Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

32 And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the Lord

Shall be saved.

For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,

As the Lord has said,

Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Do you believe God's word is true and eternal? Who is saying it? God. Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. This is referring to the second coming of Jesus. 

Acts 2:17-20

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above

And signs in the earth beneath:

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

They are saying the same thing. And I am saying we are at the last days of the church age. 

Remember Wednesday when pastor Tony Saxon was here? I didn't know that he was the speaker and I liked that he laid down his ground rules. That he did not agree with some of the prophets around. But when he called me, everything he said about me was right. God had dealt with me. 

I have been invited to many places the latest being India. And I want you to pray for me as I will be travelling quite a bit. And I pray for good health. I believe the coming of the Lord is imminent. 

Luke 21:25-28

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “ And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Who is speaking this? The Lord Jesus is speaking this. He is saying the same things. There will be signs. These are signs that God has ordained. Not man. Not NASA. NASA only has the dates. It is God who is in control of the sun and the moon. 

Genesis 1:14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;

They will be for signs. It's the same. The whole world is talking about what has happened at the Philippines. "The sea and the waves roaring". Look at how close we are. There will be signs and distresses in nations. The tidal waves that hit them was like a tsunami and hit them a mile long inland. As believers we should not be fearful because the bible says these are signs. Jesus' coming is imminent so you and I needs to be prepared. 

27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

How long has it been since the time of Joel till now. It was 2,800 years ago that Joel spoke about Jesus coming in glory. We are living in a time that is so close. As much as we are living in a time like this what are we doing about it?

How many of you like to be the apostle Paul? How many of you know he wrote most of the NT. He was one who has such revelations from God. 

1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Imitate, pattern after me, copy me. Let's see how he conducted himself. If we follow after Jesus then lets also follow after Paul. Let's look at the Roman epistle. 

Romans 1:14-16 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Let's look at v16 first. He is not ashamed of the gospel because it is salvation for everyone. He was the persecutor of the church. Are we ashamed of the gospel? We cannot afford to be ashamed anymore. We cannot be tight lip about Jesus. You have relatives that are not saved. Your neighbours. Your work place. We need to take hold of the gospel. We need to be so thankful to God because he has saved us. He is our role model. We cannot be ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation. We are responsible for those around us. 

He was persecuted. He was stoned yet he did not give up. Even as a prisoner he was not ashamed.  Even in the prison he was not ashamed of the gospel. 

v14 I am obligated. Debtor. He owes the sharing of the gospel to others. Do you feel that you feel you owe the gospel to those around you? I pray that all if you will feel obligated to share with others. 

v15 so eager, so ready to preach. Sometimes we like to put off. Later la. Procrastinate. Come on. He went round and round in various cities and churches to encourage them and he is coming back to Rome, and is eager, no obligated to share the gospel. 

My prayer this morning is that you take hold of these text really seriously. To be ready. So what are you doing? Folks be ready. I see your poster, called out ones. I see the orange poster, Harvest Mission, RM200,000.00. Reach already? RM40,000.00 more. Hello? We don't have much time. One more month only. 

This is the best time to invest in God's work. It is for eternity. We don't have much time left. It is not going to rust or rot. There will be people coming to thank you for your investment. 

I really feel the time is so wicked that we need to spend time in prayer and to give to God's work. We are obligated to share the gospel so we cannot be quiet any more. 

Faith that Brings you Life

Rev Gideon Lee

Luke 20:27-40

The Resurrection and Marriage

20:27- 40pp – Mt 22:23- 33; Mk 12:18- 27

27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

No matter how tough a question they gave to Jesus, he always had an answer. These were loaded questions that were given to Jesus. No matter what questions you may have, Jesus has the answer. 

This morning I am not talking about marriage. I am talking about a faith that brings life or a faith that is alive. 

How many of you are married? You who are married knows that it is not always smooth. Right? Things don't always work out the way you want, right? Sometimes wives may ask you "Do I look fat in this dress?" That's a loaded question. Whatever you answer also wrong. If you say you look fat, you're going to be served burnt offerings. If you say no you may not be true to yourself. 

The Sadducees wanted to trap Jesus. They were a people who did not believe in the resurrection. They did not believe in heaven or hell. They only believe in the first five books of the bible. So they only believe the first five books of the Old Testament. The rest is not important to their faith. There is no life after death for them. 

This question they asked is a trick question trying to trap Jesus. Just like a little earlier they ask about taxes. Jesus answered them to render unto Caesar what is Caesars and not only that but unto God that which is God's. 

Jesus answered them with three very important things. First was the theological answer regarding the resurrection. He quotes from a bible story, Moses which was found in the book of Exodus. This was in the first five book of the bible so Jesus quoted from there. At the burning bush, God told Moses I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not in the past tense. That's why he says I Am that I Am. There is life after death. The present tense. 

The second thing was that he answered a question that some of us have asked. Is there marriage in heaven? No? Look at our marriage vows. Till death do us part. In the context of our marriage there is no divorce but in death we part. It is more on the physical level here on earth. 

We will still recognize our husband or wife but the relationship is no more. There is no longer a need for marriage in heaven. 

The third and the last thing was this. The most pressing question is whether there is life beyond the grave. Even unbelievers ask this. I hope you are not like the Sadducees. There is life after death. Jesus on the third day rose from the grave. We are people with hope. Absent here, present with the Lord. There is life after death. I am the God of the living not the God of the dead. That is why we are here. That is our hope. 

Just look at where you are sitting here and look at your phone. 20 years ago what was your phone like? Remember your first phone? They were like a brick. If you throw at someone the person will probably die. Look at the phone in your hands. In colour and can do so many things. You can even take a picture. But if I told you that 20 years ago you may think I have been in the sun too long. 

But the resurrection is so far reaching we all have not seen but Jesus has done it. One day the resurrection will happen. 

How many of you know Winston Churchill? He can stir the people to courage with his speech. He planned his funeral and this was how it went. At the end when the casket was being wheeled to the cemetery out of the church, Winston Churchill arrange a bugler hidden to play taps. It is very solemn. It's what the army will play when things come to an end. But as his casket reach the door they are to play revere. The beginning of the morning. They play what the army would play to get the soldiers out of their barracks. 

He wanted them to play the upbeat time because on leaving the church in the casket it was going to be a brand new day. 

One day when I am at my funeral, of course I will be at my funeral (laughs). If you ask me I want to die peacefully. I would like to preach my last sermon go back to my seat and die there. My congregation say "pastor you'll scare us to death. What will we do with you after that?"

I would like to be like Paul. That I have finished the race, fought the good fight and kept the faith. 

Faith that Transforms

Rev Gideon Lee

What was my message last week? "Faith that leaves a Legacy." About Paul who poured out his life as a drink offering. And he said three important things. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." And the week before that was "Faith that Heals." About the ten lepers that were healed and only one came back with gratitude. All the ten received physical healing but the one that came back was saved. Salvation came to him. 

This morning I will talk about a "Faith that Transforms." 

Luke 19:2-10

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore- fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner. ’”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

It is not often we see a grown man up a tree. How many of you have climbed a tree when you were young. To climb a tree to steal fruits. I used to climb to pluck rambutans. Didn't know there were bees. We came down so quickly. 

He was not just a grown man but Zacchaeus was vertically challenged. He was a short man. What would drive a grown man to climb a tree? Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. The desire was so great that he went through great lengths to see Jesus. He climbed the tree to see Jesus. 

The bible said he was a chief tax collector. The first and last time it was mentioned in the bible. Luke was a doctor and very precise in his description of this person. As chief collector he was wealthy. In spite of his wealth, there was an emptiness in his heart until Jesus came his way. 

Would you climb a tree to see someone? Zacchaeus was apparently empty and lonely within. He was a short man so it was challenging. When we describe a good looking man we say he is tall, dark and handsome. Being short, even in school, short students are teased. Nothing wrong with being short but it was a setback. 

There must be a stirring in his heart to do that. He wanted to see Jesus and knew that only Jesus can fill his heart. 

You can fill it with money but it doesn't work. It only lasts a while. As he proceeded to climb a tree, Jesus looked up and called him by his name. Zacchaeus, I want to come to your home. 

As hard as Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, Jesus notices him. Likewise with you. Jesus noticed and knows what you are going through. And He knows you by name. Jesus said now, today. Today is the day that Jesus wants to be involved in your life. 

Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. He wants you as you are and is the only one who can set your mess into a masterpiece. 

When the people heard that Jesus was going to his house, they muttered why Jesus goes to the house of a dinner. They were what I call the self righteous. 

CS Lewis wrote that religious people are most scandalized by the sins of the flesh. Jesus was most scandalized by sins of the spirit. C.S. Lewis put it this way, The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing the pleasures of power and hatred. That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. You see, what is so insidious about sins of the spirit is that we barely can see them in ourselves. 

So you know what Jesus said at the end of the verse? The son of man came to save all that was the lost. 

Look at how Zacchaeus was transformed. 

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

He had power from the Romans to collect taxes. Not just a tax collector but the chief tax collector. The people don't like them because they were Jews but worked for the Romans. Remember during the Japanese occupation? It's the same. There were people who decided to work for the Japanese and they were called the Japanese dogs. 

He said he will pay back four times. How many of you are accountants. He said he will pay half his wealth to the poor and four times to those he cheated. By the end of the day he would be a bankrupt. 

What drives him to do that? He must have found something of better worth. What did he find? He found Jesus. That was all that matters. Jesus said "today salvation has come to your house." 

Can you remember a time when you did not know Jesus and the time now that you know Jesus. Was there a transformation? There must be a change in your life. 

I want to end with this story. 

There was a Los Angeles gangster who became a Christian through Billy Graham's ministry. He did not change his business and life. One day they asked him why he called himself a Christian but did not change his life. He said when I became a Christian I didn't know I had to change my business and connections. He said he saw a singer that became a Christian and so he thought he can be a Christian gangster. He was still a gangster. 

Do you have a faith that transforms? Otherwise you need to consider who this Jesus is. 

Students taking their SPM being prayed for by Bro Jason Teh