What is Truth?

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

We are entering into Passion week and today is Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly. It is a big day for some Christians as it has a lot of tradition associate with it.

I want to start with John.

John 18:38

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

Some may say he asked because he is confused. Some said he was being cynical. But there is something we can gather in Pontius Pilates answer. He does not care. He probably only care what Caesar says. Truth to him is Caesar.

The question is not whether Pontius Pilate care or not but whether you care about truth or not. If you care, then when you listen to sermons on the Internet or YouTube, do you think is it truth?

Today we will see what Jesus meant when he said the truth.

Matthew 4:17

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus started his public ministry using the kingdom of heaven. What does the Bible says about the Kingdom of Heaven? Some passages use the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is synonymous with the Kingdom of God. Jesus is asking the people to repent because the Kingdom of God is near.

Is the Kingdom of Heaven synonymous with the church of God? Some of you may think it's the same. The Kingdom of Heaven is not exactly the church. When the Kingdom of Heaven is mentioned it encompasses the heavens. It includes all of creation including he angels and the church itself. The angels are not the church. The church is us.

The Kingdom of Heaven is now manifested in the church primarily because Jesus is the head of the church.

Is there a difference? Actually the words we use do make a difference.

I went to Teluk Kumbar outreach and I saw a church and I thought the name has changed. Later I saw our Teluk Kumbar and I told the people there that there's another church there. When we mentioned church, we see it in a smaller frame. We don't try to be technically correct. We use the term - our church.

Generally, when we use the word church we are talking about our church and less of the other churches. But when we use the word Kingdom there's no way we can say my kingdom.

We are Kingdom people with a Kingdom purpose and a Kingdom vision. Then we can see beyond our own church. Jesus is the King of his Kingdom.

I want to use goldfishes as an example. When you put it in a bowl it will grow to a certain size but it won't grow to its maximum size. The space will limit its growth. But if you give it a bigger space, it will grow to its potential.

We see ourselves as a church but we also need to see ourselves as part of the Kingdom of God. It will open up a new perspective. It will broaden our vision and perspective and what we do is not about the Jerusalem per se but has a much bigger purpose in the Kingdom of God.

We often use word church and hardly talk about the Kingdom of God. This concept or reality about the Kingdom of God help us understand what happened on Palm Sunday.

Matthew 21:6-9

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

This is drawn from Psalm 118. The word Hosanna is translated save us. It was a word of thanksgiving and cry that gave praise to God for delivering Israel from the enemies. Hosanna became not just a prayer but became a praise. Son of David symbolises the Messiah. They were singing praise be to God who saves and the person Jesus came as a Messiah.

That praise is not just on earth but also in heaven that the Messiah is praised.

I want to connect this with a same incident in John.

John 12:13

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

The laying of palm leaves were to welcome royalty. The numbers estimated were 2 million. It's a lot of people. Jerusalem was pack as pilgrims came. There are Jews who were in Jerusalem and also Jews who followed Jesus. There were Jews who saw Jesus raising the dead, healing the lepers and healing the blind. What other signs do they need? That's why they say Hosanna to the Son of David.

These people were proclaiming Jesus as the king. The name of Jesus was being lifted up. But something was wrong. When they sang Hosanna, they were already 90 years under Roman rule.

The Romans to be fair compared to other communities allowed a lot of leeway for them to practice their faith. Under that Roman oppression they were waiting for the Messiah king to throw the Romans out of Israel. They were thinking of a military king. They had in mind the Romans would be overthrown and he will reestablish the Davidic Kingdom. They saw Jesus as a political king.

In the 12th and 13th century was 200 years of the crusade. It was known as the Holy War. They saw Christianity as a political Kingdom. Today they say we have learned from the crusades. That Jesus will not set up an earthly kingdom. It's true that if you go to any church, they will say we will not take up arms to create a political Kingdom.

But many Christians still have in their mind an earthly kingdom. They think that the Kingdom of God is riches and cannot get sick. That there will be success and prosperity. That we will enjoy all that the kingdom promises here and now.

When it comes to money, I am very happy at the end of the month because I'm a teacher. Sometimes we get a pay rise so I'm very happy. I also want to be healthy. That's why I go jogging and stop badminton temporarily because when I saw some of my friends I don't want to collapse in court.

But these are not the focus of the Kingdom of God. These promises comes with the Kingdom of God but it is not the focus of the kingdom. It will come along the way but it is not our focus.

John 18:33-37

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate asked Jesus  the question and Jesus answered Pilate with a question. Pilate answered quite smartly and said am I a Jew? Pilate is saying it's your people that brought him.

Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world. He did not deny that he is a king. If this kingdom did not come on earth then it must be from heaven. It is a Kingdom where God rule and reign.

As much as God wants to provide and bless our health, he does bless us but you must understand those are temporal. Temporal means what my mother tells me, you cannot bring it over. None can bring over. When you move over, you don't need this body already, however much you go to the gym. However much money you have. It's temporal. Your successes. You are the leader of a big company. You don't even need to wait till you move over, the day you retire you lose the recognition.

Jesus  is operating a spiritual and eternal kingdom. A Kingdom that will last forever. And he is our Messiah King. That is our focus. We must get our focus right. We are people who is part of a spiritual kingdom.

After this passage, Pilate asked what is truth? Here is where the word truth comes.

Truth has two meaning. One is, it refers to the Word of God. But it also refers to the person of Christ. In this case, it would primarily be the Word of God. It is what the Word of God says. The Word of God that is the sword of the spirit.

The political Kingdom is mainly reigned by the sword. But in the spiritual kingdom it is the truth that bears the power. The expansion of the Kingdom of God or the church it must primarily be truth in the Word of God as it is empowered by the Spirit of God.

We can plan and strategise but at the end of the day, it is the Spirit of God that empowers. That is why when Rev Allan Chan comes it is the Spirit of God that will heal and miracles happens. All glory to God.

I read that goldfish you cannot buy any fish food. They have less protein and more carbohydrates. They can grow until one foot. But you need to give it a big tank and feed the right food. For us to grow spiritually mature, if I tell you that you will pray and you will prosper and will succeed and you will be free from sickness. If I just teach you this, then it's not the whole counsel of God. Paul says he will teach the full counsel of God. 

The other example is this. I asked my wife whether infants need to drink milk for how long. My wife said maybe after 6 months can take some porridge and after some time can eat rice. I'm not syre ya so if not correct go and see my wife. Christians, when you first accepted Christ you will have your issues and burdens. If you just accepted Jesus and the person who disciples me tell me I have to die for Christ I will run away. I am just a young Christian.

20 years down the line the prayer I prayed 20 years ago I'm still praying how to grow? It's a process. The disciple will slowly see and appreciate a Kingdom purpose. You will know Jesus is coming again and that God is more than just the earthly.

Just now I prayed that the message will come with the grace and gentleness and the patience of a teacher. I have grown in the word. I'm a teacher and so I'm a reader. If I don't read the Bible I'll read something else.

We have to be patient because all of us grow at different rate. We cannot  impose on people our standards. In our kingdom context, we cannot take the proficiency approach. Growth is based on the individual's progress. 

I pray that in the church we encourage and edify each other.

What should our pursue and focus be in God's spiritual kingdom? The character and focus on the Kingdom of God. The best passage would be the beatitudes.

In the kingdom of the world it is the rich and famous that gets the applause. Also the powerful and the beautiful. But in the kingdom of God it's the meek and the merciful. The values are different.

Someone's says this. We are in the world but we're not of the world. If the ship is in  the water it is fine. But if the water is in the ship it is disastrous. We are in the world, and instead of the church influencing the values of the world, the world values have influenced the church.

Matthew 5:3-10

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

You will see these are the characters of the kingdom of God. Very different from the values of the world. What makes the kingdom bears kingdom power? It's because of the king.

Revelation 19:11

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.

Revelation 19:16

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

The spiritual kingdom of God is where Jesus is the centre of it all.

There are 107 questions of the  WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM. What is the first question?

What is the chief end of man? What is the chief purpose of you?

Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy it forever.

Glorifying God is an enjoyable experience. It is no accident that almost in all the epistles it ends with - To Him be the glory. Amen.

In the Fulness of Time

Rev Gideon Lee

Yesterday we had our Christmas at the TOP. It was full house, more than 300 came and we had four salvation yesterday! Let's give God the glory. 

I appreciate all those that did the performances and dance, they practised hard and I know because my children was involved and I was here too during their practise and I want to give them our appreciation and thanks. It is all worth it not just because of the four salvation because we all came together as a church. 

How many of your are here today? Or do you just park your body here but you're away shopping. 

Let's look at the book of Luke. 

Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Galatians 4:4-7

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

As we come to the end of the year, I don't know about you but I think the year passed too fast. It seems like time just flew by us. I want to talk about time. Albert Einstein says time is relative. For some of us we think we have plenty of time when we are young and time passed by slowly. When I was 17, I can't wait to have the license to drive. And at 20

I can't wait to be 21 to be able to vote. The opposite is true for the elderly, where we wished we have more time. 

But God says here in the fulness of time. Means at the right time. At the right time of history. Jesus was sent at a time when God has prepared history for his coming. Greek was being used at that time and as you look into our bible you'll see that it's Greek. Paul's time. History helped in his coming. Alexander the Great was a great time during the Roman Empire. What was their greatest achievement? They build roads to connect their empire. It was these roads that allow Jesus to move town to town to preach. 

God also sent Jesus into our lives at the right time. Look back at your lives and you'll know there were times which leads to our salvation and in the fullness of time God came into our lives. 

God did not make a mistake when he sent his son into this world. 

We read that Mary was a virgin engaged to Joseph. Their engagement then was different from now. A pledge or contract has been made and sign of acceptance from both family. It was very difficult to call off once it's done as it'll bring shame to the family. That's why there are such things as honour killings. We've seen these in Pakistan and the Middle East. 

Mary at no more than 13 to 14 had the angel of the Lord appeared to her. 

Luke 1:28-30

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

Mary had the right to be troubled. If you put yourself in Mary's shoes you'll see why. She's a virgin and at that time there's no sex before marriage. 

I don't know about you if I hear that I'd be worried. We may not see it as something that is good or the right time. It can be dangerous for her. This would bring great shame to her and her family. See Mary's response. 

Luke 1:34

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Mary's response was practical. How can it happen? It's not a right or wrong situation. And we see that God is also concerned about her situation. 

Luke 1:35-38

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

God answered her in a practical way and assured her with God nothing is impossible. He sent his son at the fulness of time. Not according to our convenience or schedule. 

See the last verse and the response. May it be to me as you have said. 

As we come to the close of the year. Many things have happened to us. Take a few minutes just to look back at this year and many things may have happened and we question the timing. We may ask if God could have postponed it. God allowed it to happened and in the beginning it may looked as if it's not good for you. But look at Mary's response. 

We don't invite things to happen in our life but our response should be this as we trust in him. Look at Galatians. Why did God send his son? To redeem us so that we receive the full rights of sons. 

To reconcile or redeem those under the law to give them a position to be sons and daughters of God. We can be the sons and daughters of Jesus. There is no problems to say we are the children of God. But to say we are sons and daughters is as if we are like Jesus. He made us co-heirs to the kingdom of God. That is what Jesus came to do in the fulness of time. 

I tell you a true story. 

In the year 2006, ABC news told a story about Sarah. After her first birthday she was adopted and she grew up in a close knit family. In a good environment of love. But as she grew up she wanted to look for her biological mother. She found the mother but the news was that her mother has passed away due to cancer. She was sad but what she did was she wanted to look for her biological father. And she found out that her father was still living and a ruling member of a tribe in Sierra Leone. A country torn with civil war. This actually made her a princess. 

So Sarah was royalty in that country so she flew to Sierra Leone to meet her father. When she arrived the whole tribe came to welcome her. Over 200-300 danced for her and she felt so welcomed. It was heartbreaking as much as she was happy. She saw the suffering so she started a foundation for Sierra Leone. When she was interviewed she said she did this is because the title princess meant responsibility and that was why she took it on. 

So was the title of son of God. It's not just a title we have. It tells us of our relationship with him. But more importantly that title came with responsibility. Jesus is our kinsman redeemer. He was not just someone outside. He came so that we can call him Abba father. God can redeem us from death because of Jesus. Just as the princess said, princess meant responsibility. We have responsibility toward God, the church and one another. Let's not just exercise our privilege but we will also exercise our responsibility. 

How wonderful it was for the 4 persons that came and found Jesus. Someone invited and brought them and when the altar call was made someone nudged them and in the fulness of time God came into their lives. And they are now sons and daughters of God. 

How many of you have bought your Christmas tree. Or how many of your has bought me my Christmas gift? (Laughs) The greatest gift we can give to someone is Jesus. We have that responsibility as sons and daughters of God. Many of us may have things happened to us in 2014, but let us respond like Mary. 

Transactional or Relational Faith

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I want to start my message with a short story. 

One day God decided to do a site visit to one of the churches. He'd send an angel to visit one of the church as a messenger. Somehow the church heard of it and the church board was told that there will be a visit from an angel. So when the day came there was two angel that came instead and the church board asked who is from the Lord. And both said they were from the Lord. Obviously, one was not and the church board needed to find out which was which. 

So the church board asked what message do you have so that we can tell who is from the Lord? 

The first angel came and said I came in a Lamborghini and came dressed smartly in a tie. I came to tell you that the Lord will prosper you in all you do and you will have good success.

The first angel also told the church, God is going to bless them with long life. All your children will be professionals. And you will be promoted. And when you go to heaven the Lord will welcome you as the good and faithful servant. So the board thought this is good, the real stuff. Promises of God.  

The second angel came in a Proton Saga. Like Bro Hooi's. The second angel said be ready. The time of persecution is coming soon. Jesus is coming back so be prepared. But worry not for I will be with you. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. 

During the first century, this will not have been a problem. The wave of persecution took most of their possessions or even their life away. So they had no problem because they look forward to the coming of the Lord. 

But today there may be a board that would call an EGM to see who is the real messenger. 

The question is this, what is your most treasured possession? The first is about temporal wealth. The second holds fast on the confession of your faith. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. 

If you look into your heart, what is your most treasured possession. Your money? Your health? Your children? Or your faith in Christ?

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

There are two words that come out strongly. 

One is trials. 

This was a time when the church was undergoing persecution. There are two types of trials. One is due to you standing up for Christ. The second type of trial are those that we all go through. The trials of circumstances. Like your health failing you. You finances fail you. Or relational issue. Or your children go through a difficult time. 

Peter said these trials are for a little while. They don't last forever. They will end. Peter writes that these have come that their faith may prove genuine. When God allows it, he is in it and he is in control. It is the time of the testing of our faith. It is easy when all are well in our life. But testing comes when things go the other way. Will we still say praise the Lord and still come to church? That is the test. 

Someone once said: "A faith that is not tested cannot be trusted." Most of us see short term. When we go through a problem all we want is a solution to the problem. When the doctor say we are not well we look to immediate healing. We want a solution, nothing more, nothing less. 

When we go through a trial he is interested in you and want to mould you to be more like Christ. People who have not gone through a specific problem cannot see the issue of those problems. It is in the furnace of suffering that spiritual maturity happens. 

I am currently on a high. Last day of school was on Friday so I decided to ask my colleagues about death. And they said "why go and talk about death?" Usually they stay about 45 minutes but that day they all cabut in 20 minutes. People fear suffering. We know we live in a fallen world. For us, God doesn't want us to fear anything or anyone except him. That is holy fear. When we look at suffering we are realistic. In suffering, in Christ we are overcomers and if God allows it, he has a purpose. 

This is one of the purposes of God where he can work out things for good. That is theological. 

I read this about 2 years ago from a famous philosopher and I think he got it right. 

The mark of humanism is suffering. But he said there is one antidote for suffering. Diluted suffering. It is not suffering that matters but whether you find meaning in suffering. If you find meaning, the suffering is diluted. I thought a lot about this. 

Like working. Most of us work 8 hours a day. Now imagine you work 2 jobs a day. 16 hour work day. Will you suffer? You will suffer. You won't say, wah, I enjoy working and no sleep. You will look to the day when you can just work one job or better still retire and not have to work. 

But if the man says he's doing it for his children, every time he goes to work and he sees his two children, and that he goes to work for them, his suffering is diluted because he found meaning for it. It is difficult for him but it is well worth it because it's for his children. 

Looking back on it biblically, we know God will not waste our suffering but has his purpose that is good for us, then we go through it with God's perspective and meaning and the intensity of the suffering will lose its sting. 

Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

As Christians we will go through trials but we are different because God is in our suffering and he has a purpose to work it out for good. 

The second word is faith. 

1 Peter 1:7
These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Peter used gold to compare and he says it's far more precious. Here I want to linger a little more. 

The word faith in verb form is belief. But when the word stands alone, we must look at it carefully. I see two types of faith. 

Transactional Faith. 

When things are good they praise God. When things don't go well they ask why. Then their language change. I do so much for the Lord why is this happening? When a person ask these questions, often it will move into a transactional faith. When I belief I expect something good to appear in a concrete manner. 

Transactional faith is well exemplified by my father. When my brother accepted the Lord, my father somehow found out about it when food that was offered to idols, my brother didn't eat. My mother asked why didn't eat? Stomach ache? In the end my brother said he's baptised and became a Christian. My parents practiced self control. And asked me to go buy Indian Mee for him. 

When in the room alone with my parents, my parents complained about my brother. The Cantonese have a proverb. You must tell the emperor before you chop off the head. What's the point you chop off then only tell the emperor. If the emperor wants to spare the person also too late already. I told my parents that he's irresponsible. I said I will never be like that. My father said I have you I "pang sim". (Laughs)

Then my second brother became a Christian. I told my mother, don't worry. Trust me. I won't be like that. 

Then the day came, I became a Christian, I told my father I want to baptise and I want my father's blessings. So I am one step better. My brothers baptised then told my parents but I asked my parents before I got baptised. (Laughs) My father said you have my blessings and told me it is fated for me to be a Christian. 

My father said you can belief but do not be a fanatic. My father's faith is totally transactional. He prays and expects things or blessings. 

Relational Faith. 

But when it comes to Christ, it is not transactional. It is faith in Christ. In transactional it is faith in what God can offer. This is proper biblical faith. This is genuine faith that is worth more than gold. Faith in the God of circumstances. Not the circumstances. 

If you have been praying for blessings, like when is the money coming, then that's a transactional faith. But when you pray and trust in the God that provides the riches, the focus is on him, then it's relational faith. When you have faith in him even if the prayer is not answered. 

It's like if you have not prayed it's your problem. But if you have prayed, then it is Jesus' problem. That is relational faith. 

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

The background is that God required Abraham to sacrifice his son. But before that God told Abraham he will provide Abraham a son and will through him give him descendants that is numbered like the stars. Here is where if you are Abraham, you will wonder since God promised that he will be father of many nations, why sacrifice Isaac? And that God has given him only one son and that he is in his old age. His conclusion is that God will raise him from the dead. 

What is your greatest possession? It would have been his son but in this case faith in God is his primary possession. If your faith is in your possession, in your substance then you need to fine tune your faith. Our faith needs to be on Jesus. 

Sometimes misfortunes fall on Christians. And we cannot explain so it's sometimes better to stay silent. 

I just watched the movie Interstellar. Some of us found it boring but I found it very interesting because I am a science teacher. Interstellar is an interesting story but I can tell you it won't happen. The man moved into a black hole and time became irrelevant. From a physics teacher, it cannot happen. The gravity is so great that I and my handsome face will become a dot. It's just a movie. 

Our faith goes beyond reason. It goes into the supernatural and goes beyond the natural. 

One of the great philosopher, a Christian contributed to human reason by saying that we cannot reason our way to God. God is above our reason. When we come to God, every intellectual or non intellectual have to take that leap to faith. And he used Abraham's position as an example. 

Faith is no longer faith if you can see it. It is something you cannot see. I have faith I'll be going to heaven. And I am often asked if you've not seen it how would you know? I say, if I've seen it I will not need faith. They have only reason. They have stagnant feet and cannot make that leap to faith. 

We know there are spiritual warfare all the time. The devil work day and night. I don't like to credit the devil but I must say he is more hardworking than us. When the devil looks at us, what is on his malicious evil mind?

Will he destroy our wealth and health? Like Job? The devil is not on that level. That is child's play. He may be evil but he is smart. He comes against you to turn you away from Christ. To attack us at the point of faith. He succeeds when one day he hears this, I was a Christian. The most treasured possession, guard it. If you lose everything you still have your faith in Christ. In Christ you have everything. 

And when the day comes, you can say it is well with my soul. I learnt the background of this hymn from Bro Hooi. 

Today I tell you the modus operandi of our enemy. Not everything is due to him. He will seduce and tempt you until you get into trouble and shake your faith. 

You work hard in ministry. Everything you do fails. He whispers and say its useless. He discourages you. 

Then the third way is he gives you wrong doctrine. Faith in the wrong Christ. 

But the devil is most dangerous when he encourages you. You may ask how?

I take Bro Jacob as an example. He has been worship leading for the last 30 years. And one day the devil whisper to him and said he is the best worship leader. And one day he comes up to worship lead and say he is the best and don't need God. 

After Bro Jacob gets angry with me so I also put myself in his shoes. I preach a sermon and I hear praises that I'm very good. And one day I think I no longer need God's anointing. Devil's praises and men's praises are very different. If your cell leader is doing a good job, praise and thank him. It is okay to encourage.

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

They were at that time heavily persecuted. There will be times when our faith level will be low. This verse is for us. There are two reasons given in Hebrew. 

Hebrews 12:16
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

This is the negative and a warning. Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup. The Hebrew is telling us that our faith is so precious that we sell off our spiritual birthright in exchange for the things of the world. Life is more than just a bowl of soup. 

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. And this statement by Paul shows his statement of life. 

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

His faith in Christ was intact and a crown awaits him and not just him but all who waits for the appearing of Christ. 

So in our life whatever we go through, hold onto the faith of Christ. 

Doctrines of the Bible Module 2B - God’s Special Agents: Angels Lesson 4

Lesson 4 God’s Special Agents: Angels

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”   (Rev 12:11)

A. What are angels?

Angels are created spiritual beings with moral judgment and high intelligence, but without physical bodies.

1. Created spiritual beings

(Neh 9:6) The host of heaven refers to angels. They were created by God.
(2 Pet 2:4) Angels have moral judgment because some of them sinned and fell from their positions.
(Mat 28:5) They are intelligent as can be seen from their speech.
(Heb 1:14) Angels are spiritual creatures and do not ordinarily have physical bodies.

2. Rank and order among angels

(Jude 9) One angel, Michael, is called an archangel, a title that indicates rule and authority over other angels.
(Rev 12:7-8) The archangel Michael is mentioned and appears to be a leader in the angelic army.

3. The power of angels

Angels apparently have very great power.
(Ps 103:20) Angels are known as mighty ones.
(Col 1:16) Angels are known as “powers” and “authorities”.

B. The place of angels in God’s purpose

1. Angels show the greatness of God’s love and plan for us.
God created two groups of intelligent, moral creatures. Among the angels, many sinned but God decided to redeem none of them. This was perfectly just for God to do, and no angel can ever complain that he has been unfairly treated by God.

Now, among the other group of moral creatures, human beings, we also find that all have sinned and turned away from God. As with the angels that sinned, God could have let all of us go on our chosen path toward eternal condemnation. Had God decide to save no one out of the entire human race, he would be perfectly just to do so, and no one could complain of unfairness on his part. But God decided to do more than merely meet the demands of justice. He decided to redeem out of sinful mankind a great multitude whom no one can number, “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9). This demonstrates his incomprehensible mercy and love and grace. The striking contrast with the fate of angels brings this truth home to us

2. Angels remind us that the unseen world is real

(2 Kings 6:17) When the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, he saw a great angelic army.

3. Angels carry out some of God’s plans
(Like 1:11-19) An angel brings God’s message to Zechariah.
(2 Sam 24:16-17) An angel carries out God’s judgment , bringing a plague upon Israel.
(Dan 10:13) The archangel Michael wars against demonic forces.

4. Angels directly glorify God.
(Ps 103:20) Angels glorify God for who he is, for his excellence.

C. The origin of demons

Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.
(2 Pet 2:4) Demons are these angels who sinned and rebelled against God.
(Is 14:12-15) Possibly referring to the fall of Satan, the prince of demons. The sin of Satan is described as one of pride and attempting to be equal to God in status and authority.

D. Satan as head of the demons

(Job 1:6) Satan (meaning adversary) is the personal name of the head of the demons.
Other names for Satan are : devil(Mat 4:1) “the serpent”(Gen 3:1) Beelzebub(Mat 10:25) “the prince of this world”(John 12:31) “the ruler of the kingdom of the air”(Eph 2:2) “the evil one”(Matt 13:19)

E. The activity of Satan and demons

1. Satan was the originator of sin
Satan sinned before any human beings did. The devil’s characteristic has been to originate sin and tempt others to sin.

2. Demons oppose and try to destroy every work of God
Just as Satan tempted Eve to sin against God(Gen 3:1-6), so he tried to get Jesus to sin as thus fail in his mission as the Messiah(Matt 4:1-11). The tactics of Satan and his demons are to use lies(John 8:44), deception(Rev 12:9), murder(John 8:44)) and every other kind of destructive activity to cause people to turn away from God and to destroy themselves. They will try to blind people to the gospel(2 Cor 4:4) and keep them in bondage to things that hinder them from coming to God(Gal 4:8).

3. Yet demons are limited by God’s control and have limited power
The story of Job makes it clear that Satan could only do what God gave him permission to do and nothing more.(Job 1:12; 2:6). Demons are kept in “eternal chains”(Jude 6) and can be successfully resisted by Christians through the authority that Christ gives them(James 4:7). Moreover the power of demons is limited and weakened because of their sin. Their power is probably less than the power of angels.

F. Jesus gives believers authority to rebuke demons and command them to leave

The work of Christ on the cross is the ultimate basis for our authority over demons (Heb 2:14; Col 2:15; Rev 12:11).
Our position as children of God is the firm spiritual position from which we engage in spiritual warfare(Gal 3:26).
1 John 4:4 affirms that “…..he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

G. The destiny of Satan and the demons

(Rev 20:10) Satan will finally be thrown into the lake of burning sulphur to be tormented forever.
(Mat 25:41) Satan and his angels will burn in eternal fire which God has prepared for them.

Review questions

1. How many angels are there?
2. Are we higher or lower than angels in terms of our standing before God?
3. It does seem that when people go to see fortune- tellers there are instances when the fortune-teller can tell people accurate details of their lives. How is this possible?
4. Can a Christian be demon possessed?
5. What conclusion can we draw from the following verses? Luke 9:1; Luke 10:17-20