A Story of Three Gardens

Ps Koay Kheng Hin

Today I'm quite excited because I've not been up here for quite a while. It's like when I make announcements I don't want to give away the Mic. I have an old fashioned sermon to share. I was telling Bro Andrew that I sometimes think that now that I'm officially part of the pastoral team, what comes to mind is the movie the Last Samurai. Tom Cruise and Ken Wanatabe in the last scene, shows the Samurai charging at guns and canons with their blade and that's why it's called the Last Samurai. All die.

I have an old fashion sermon and I only have the Word of God to offer you. I've had the opportunity to hear sermons and I realised that my messages are very old fashion.

There are a lot of fresh messages that is available online but I also believe that the insights into the Word of God is eternal and there are always fresh insights into the word. I noticed that most of my books are old old books. About 90% of my books.

The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan is one of those old classics. How a young Christian when he searches for God and he uses a lot of analogy. It talks about the word itself drawn from Peter 1 that we are all pilgrims of this earth as we journey through life, God will keep us progressing.

What I can impart to you is my journey with the Lord. My task is to draw men and women into an intimacy with the Lord. What about missions you say? My task is to draw you into communion with God and it is God's task to call you to the commission.

When we talk about TOP as a church, it's you and me. If you are doing well spiritually, TOP will do well spiritually. When I say spiritually, I'm talking about the temperature of your spiritual life. Are you excited when we talk about the things of God? That is the spiritual gauge of your spiritual temperature.

The first garden is the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:8-9 (NIV)

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

It tells us two things. One, God did not create Adam in the garden. He was created outside the garden. God put him in the garden. The second is that the word Eden appeared. We sometimes use the word paradise. A garden of paradise. Delight and pleasure. It's a good garden.

A lot of trees there but there are two important trees. The tree of life and the tree of knowledge.

Genesis 2:15-16 (NIV)

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

There are two trees. The tree that comes.to the foreground is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In the background was the tree of life. They took the fruit of the tree and that disobedience caused death to come to the human race.

Adam and Eve were created with the capacity for immortality. To live forever. There was a tree of life where they would not have seen death. But towards the tree of life was the tree of knowledge and at that tree they stumbled.

Adam and Eve were offered two trees. To get to the tree of life they had to get through the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They failed miserably.

The book of the Bible begins here but it became the lost paradise. It represented disobedience.

Genesis 2:17 (NIV)

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Death became the norm for the human race. It is this death that came over the human race that marks every man and every woman. Now when you talk about paradise and heaven to people they will say I am on earth and still young, why talk about heaven. They do not have any hope beyond what they have now.

But many of these people, when they reach the end of their life, they search. People who have near death experience, they'll say they see clouds and if you read some books like "Heaven is so Real", you think it sounds a little far fetched to believe.

I only believe what the Bible writes. I really don't know about any other experiences written in other books. I only believe what is written in the Word of God.

As children of God, there are two things that we should not be doing.

We should not be putting paradise and heaven aside. Why? Because your awareness and experience of it now will affect your spiritual life on earth. What is the relevance of your heavenly hope in relation to your life on earth? Or should we right from the beginning in our Christian life be excited about heaven.

When you look into the Bible there is a strong connection and it no accident that the Bible begins and ends with paradise. At Revelations it describes the glorified garden.

The second garden is the Glorified Garden.

Revelation 22:1-5

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Before I interpret these few verses, let's look at the apostle Paul. He was thinking about the glory after death. He said to live is Christ and to die is gain. He had the consciousness that he was on a journey and his final destination is the glorified paradise.

Peter, he wrote that we are pilgrims and strangers on this earth and one day he will meet the Lord in glory.

And John wrote that he who testifies to these things he said come Lord Jesus. He was looking unto the glory of being with him in the glorified paradise.

There are a few things in this glorified paradise that would come true. There would be no more night. Where is this light from? You cannot trust Tenaga but you can trust God. The city of the New Jerusalem gets light from the glory of God. The glory of God lights up the glorified paradise.

Adam and Eve lost that covering of the glory of God when they took the fruit from the tree of knowledge. In the glorified paradise you have the second garden where salvation finally found its perfection. Fully manifested and the glory of God is everywhere.

In verse 4, it is written they will see his face. You will see Jesus face to face. In the lost paradise Adam and Eve lost the presence of God. Here you will see the Lamb of God on the throne.

Verse 3 says no more curse. No longer. The righteousness and truth and the perfection and full rest of the soul is found in paradise. Would we one day want to find a place where we can lay down all our burdens and all our anxieties are put away. Where the presence of God is seen and experienced forever. A place marked not by death but by life.

There was a movie called Shangri-La where a place of beauty, pleasure and life exists. Science uses the word Eutopia. Nobody wants to die. Even a man up to the very end will always have the hope of another day longer. Very few I've met who say why today cannot die, must wait until tomorrow?

Where is this second garden? The garden of the glorified paradise. Is it in heaven now or existing now, the answer is no. Revelations 21 tells us that it awaits a new heaven and a new earth.

There will come a time when there is a new heaven and a new earth. It will come down onto earth. The glorified paradise will still be on earth, a new earth. This is the hope of every sons and daughters of God. That one day we will be with our Lord Jesus experiencing the fullness of God.

The world is in the lost paradise trying to find the glorified paradise and they'll fail.

In Jonathan Edward's Christian Pilgrim, he wrote that we should not rest in the world and its desires but we should be desiring heaven. We should want to be with God and to be with Jesus Christ. We want to be in heaven not because it has more beautiful beaches than Batu Ferringhi or that it has more beautiful gardens than Hawaii but because Jesus is there.

He tells us to enjoy whatever God has given you. So don't go and sell your house because I say you look to heaven.

What is our heavenly hope in God? Now we look at the third garden.

The third garden is the Garden of Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:36-39

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

This third garden answers this question. The verse that stands out is this. My father if it's possible let this cup pass by me. But finally he says not as I will but as you will.

The first garden was a struggle between God's will and Adam and Eve's will. The devil pushed them - your will be done or God's will be done. Finally Eve decided my will be done. But Jesus said as God's will. The lost paradise represented the permissive will of God. Here it showed Jesus bowing to the will of the Father. It's the prescriptive will of God. God's will be done, the full providential will of God. We are all here on earth.

Every day we face this question. Is it my will or God's will be done. We are daily as a Christian in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The day we become a Christian we enter our Garden of Gethsemane. Everyday you will face this challenge, my will be done or his will be done.

Men and women who have captured the essence of that heavenly hope that whatever decision they make now will have eternal value. They will be able to say thy will be done. They have this hope of glory of Christ in them.

Many years ago even after becoming a Christian, I didn't really find rest in God. Until one fine day, I found two words. Strife and surrender. In these two words, I got the breakthrough as God illuminated it. God's will is about surrender. Eve did not do so, she had to use her hand to take it. It's strife. Everyday, are you going to strife to lay hold of things or will you surrender?

For us to surrender our finances, our career, our children, those things that are dear to us is easier said than done. It's a journey.

Many years ago, I'm a science teacher so I went through a period if I've surrendered my finances to God? My career to God? I ticked a list. Some things I stopped like chess because it's held on Sundays. So I ticked no. To surrender my wife to God. Don't want to say much. Tick la. That time Esther was two years old and Rebecca was seven. When it came to my children, I couldn't tick.

The tick means if God calls me back can I release them. Sometimes your life changes with just a little tick. Finally I ticked. You have to release. It does not mean your children is no longer with  you. It means surrender. Your will be done.

If we know there is a better life ahead of us, a heavenly hope, it gives you strength and the rest of the soul and it will be a barometer of your spiritual health.

Every single day of our life is the Garden of Gethsemane. Looking at the glorified paradise will give us strength and hope.

You have eternal life as children of God. But the more important is to have a victorious Christian life. The question is are you experiencing eternity in your life. If you are saying yes, then I want to encourage all of you that tomorrow as you wake up you will have that glorified paradise coming down to earth I to your life.

I end with this. The Bible has a poetic coherence to it. When God ordained that when you enter the tree of life, God maintains that principle that to enter the tree of glorified paradise is the tree in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a prelude to Golgotha or Calvary. It's a tree of curse, shame and suffering and Jesus bored that. We now enter it through the tree of shame, it's our shame our suffering and our curse borne by Jesus.

The Crowd and the Cross

Ps Joel Tan, Youth Pastor of Victory Family Centre.

It's awesome to worship Jesus and lift up his name on high and let his presence come. We love Jesus.

I've been on staff in the church for about 3½ years.  And we just finished our youth service and we flew up this morning so if I'm not speaking sense it's because of my lack of sleep.

I heard that you guys just came back from camp. I heard you guys had a great time. I enjoy camps and usually in camp we try to stop the young people from doing stupid things. When a group of young people come together, it's possible stupid things happen.

They say the week after the camp is the best and worst time to preach. Maybe that's why I'm invited to speak today. I believe God is going to bring you to the next level. So how do you make sure that what God does to you at the camp move you to make a difference.

God has called the church to make a difference in our generation. Not just to come back to a building but to make a difference in our work and our school.

Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Luke 18:18-26 (NIV)

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

18:18-30pp — Mt 19:16-29; Mk 10:17-30

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus made this statement that any who wants to follow him has to take up their cross daily. A few chapters later was the story of a man who was probably in the crowd. He wants to inherit eternal life. He was someone that represented someone that needed to take up his cross.

God wants to use you in your generation and make an impact in your city. But many are called but few are chosen. Are we going to respond like the crowd or the cross?

The crowd and the cross are polar opposites. Everywhere Jesus went the crowd would gather to listen to Jesus teach and watch his miracles. Some of these people in the crowd are the ones who even experienced the healing themselves. The crowd wanted to get in on the experience. To say that they were there to be a part of the experience.

The Crowd is an experience but the Cross is an encounter.

The people that followed Jesus always calls him master. But this man called Jesus good teacher. So he was not someone close to Jesus. The apostles had an encounter with Jesus that made them do miracles. Jesus wanted this man to have an encounter with Jesus. Come and follow me. Jesus was inviting this man out of the crowd to have an encounter with Jesus.

It's interesting how this man responded. We can guess that he saw Jesus had this reputation and he was wondering how he may also have that same reputation. He was just interested in a quick answer from Jesus. And he said I've done that and done that and done that. All is good. But when it comes to the point when Jesus said follow me, give your life to me, he said wait wait wait. He wanted answers to his questions without wanting to be tied down to him. He wants the experience minus the encounter that comes with it.

Encounters that would change the person, the way he talks and acts. Jesus said sell all your possessions and the Bible says he walked away dejected and sad because he was not willing to do that because he was rich. He was willing to do whatever Jesus said until a point where it would cause him something, a sacrifice.

All of us has a line we are not willing to cross. What is the line for you? Where you are willing to do everything until it reaches that line. Sometimes, you are willing to do everything except an area of your life that cannot be touched. Some of us that line is your job. Or a relationship that you have. Or some of us it's our children.

This young man was not able to cross that line. This generation's line is comfort and convenience. I'm talking about the generation that is alive today and not just the young. If it's something that does not make you comfortable you say it's not from God.

The Crowd is convenience but the Cross is commitment.

Selling everything to follow Jesus is something else. To follow the crowd is convenient. You can just be there and then go back your own way. Things you sell is not easy to get back. Jesus was asking him to do something where there's no turning back. A decision he cannot walk away from. Jesus is calling you out of your convenience. You cannot pick up and put down your cross. It's to pick up the cross daily.

Do you serve only when you are free? Or to give only when you have extra. We would inconvenience ourselves to pick up the cross. We have to be all in.

And here's the last thought.

The Crowd can be ambiguous but the Cross demands response.

The man went away sad. This young man's response was to walk away. He said no and walked away. Crowd feels safe in numbers.

I'm in a boys school and when you put all the boys together you have problems. It's a crowd mentality or herd mentality. When one claps in the hall, all clap. That's the way a crowd response because it waves off responsibility. You just go with the crowd which is a crowd mentality.

This man hung onto his stuff and money and walked away. You have to make a decision where you have to walk out from the crowd and respond to the cross. Will you listen to the crowd or the cross? The crowd says do what you want to do, but the cross says do what he wants you to do. The crowd says follow your heart, the cross says follow him.

In a few moments, I'm going to let you response to your cross. We are to pick it up daily whether you are a new Christian or a 50 year old Christian.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

These disciples managed to do what that young man couldn't. Each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were saved. It shows us the many miraculous signs and wonders. The cross invaded every aspect and area of your life. Whatever that line is, you have to release that line. That we will go all the way in and you will see how God moves in your life. Make what happens at the camp becomes a reality when you have to pick up your cross. Respond to the cross.

Ps Joel leading the people to worship backed by TOP's youth team.

Topians responding to Ps Joel's call at the end of the sermon.

The Messenger

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

The title for today is the Messenger and I think it's a timely message and it's not targeted at anyone in particular but that all of us are messengers. As I talk to some in church, there is this sense of a new season and that God is doing something new and it is something that God has planted in not one or two but many in the church. When God calls us out we need to know how God uses us.

This messenger is one "M" of three "Ms".

The first "M" is about the Master. The second "M" is the Message and the third "M" is the Messenger.

I want to begin with a story. It's real life but how accurate I'm not sure. It happened 2500 years back before Christ. It's a story that our marathon runners will probably be able to identify with. It's about the battle of marathon. The Persian army came against the Athenians. The Athenians ran 42 km out of Athens to this place Marathon where the battle was fought. And this man Pheidippides, he's the messenger.

On the day of the battle the Athenians were outnumbered 3 to 1. Seems like an impossible task but they won. Pheidippides was given the honour to run and he ran 42 km to Athens and when he reached Athens he shouted "rejoice we conquer, we have won" the city celebrated and he collapsed and died. He was the messenger for that particular battle.

But when I saw my friends ran, they never collapsed so I was wondering if Pheidippides was fit. But the more I dug into it, before the day of the battle he was also the runner that ran to Sparta in order to get help. And that was the killer. He ran 225 km across mountaineous terrain. Ran to Sparta and then ran back. So over that 2 to 3 days he ran over 500 km. He also fought that day with full armour and he had to run that last 42 km.

There are three things in the story that applies to us.

When he ran to Athens, he had the good news. Rejoice and we conquer. And we too as a messenger has the good news to proclaim.

The second is despite his exhaustion and obstacles, he did his job. We as the messenger of Christ is also in the position. But sharing the good news is not a bed of roses. Even as a 60 year old like me we are still at it.

And third he became a martyr for what he was doing. Paul too became a martyr.

Hold on to these three things.

And here is the beginning of my sermon. 

The Master

John 12:31-32 (KJV Strong's)

31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Jesus spoke these verses on the week of passion. The Greeks were there too and they wanted to know about him. And here he turned from the Jews to the Greeks and to all men. And here Jesus was talking about the cross of Calvary. And he was talking to all men, drawing all men unto himself.

In verse 31, he said Satan will be driven out on the day Jesus is lifted up. On the day Jesus is crucified. The prince of the world and the prince of the air will be driven out. The insight here is that the cross of Calvary is not just about Jesus being crucified because the Jew leaders instigated it or that the Romans had the power to crucify him.

The cross of Calvary is the time when Satan will be defeated. Jesus is the last Adam. The first Adam missed it. That was the first spiritual battle. They were meant to have dominion over the earth and they missed it.

Immediately after they missed it in Genesis 3, Satan will be cursed and Jesus  will crush his head and he will bruise the heel of Jesus. It was prophetic proclamation of Jesus  defeating the devil. It is a spiritual battle. When we share the gospel we are taking the spoils of the spiritual battle at Calvary. Men are spiritually dead and nothing we can do can make them see truth. There's a spiritual blindness that covers their eyes.

We cannot draw men to Jesus per se but Jesus is the one that draws all men to himself. He is spiritually blind and spiritually dead. But when the kairos time is right, Jesus will draw that man to himself.

When we share the gospel where does the power lies? We who are smart may think it's our brain. Or to some it's the method. That has a place because we need some order or programme so that we can mobilise all of you and that our movement can bear a certain focus or weight. It's like an army. There must be a strategy or method. The Athenians had a strategy. He lured them because they was outnumbered. He had a plan and the church must have that.

But having said that you can have the best programme but at the end of the day it is the people who goes to share the gospel that will determine the success of the programme and the Intercessors that covers the programme because it's a spiritual battle.

I want to work on this question. Where lies the power of Jesus that draws all men to himself. What is that power?

The Message

Romans 1:16 (KJV Strong's)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The gospel. How does Jesus draw all men to himself? It's the gospel or evangelion or the good news. It's the payment for the men who brought the good news and later became the good news itself. The gospel is on the basis of the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The message must always be true and consistent as it's precisely about Calvary, Jesus' burial and the empty tomb. This are immovable facts. The gospel encompasses a lot about what happened at Calvary. The understanding of what happened at Calvary are things we can appreciate. If I talk about this then we can skip lunch.

I can summarise this. My students like me for this. Yesterday was teacher's day celebrations and they wrote about me. I was thinking they said I'm the best Physics teacher but they wrote I'm the best story teller. Especially they like how I summarise things to 123.

When we look at the cross, where does the power of the gospel lie? It lies in Jesus as the lamb of God. 

John 1:29 (NIV)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The power of the gospel lies in Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I want to put it in perspective. We live in a world where money is powerful. In the world today apart from Apple and Microsoft, it is the money game. They can go above a billion in 2 years. If you look at Apple and Microsoft it took more than two years. No matter how much money you have, money cannot wipe you clean and take away your sins before God.

Some businessmen  think they can earn their billions and then give back as compensation. It's the lie of the devil.

Take away money and a lot of people think the more good I do the more sin I wipe out. They think all their good works will compensate and take away their sins. Today I want to affirm and confirm that there is no other way sins can be taken away but by the blood of the lamb. This is the only way we can come back to God.

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Jesus as the lamb of God was the climax of the Old Testament sacrifices. The sacrifices then had to be perfect and without blemish but they were perfect only to human eyes. But Jesus was perfect and without blemish. He was sinless throughout his 30 odd years when he walked the earth. He was the perfect Lamb of God referring to the life he led. This itself draws all men to himself.

We may share and think we are not effective. Most people are stubborn with their mouth but what's in their heart is another matter. They may say I don't need God. I will live my own life. But within, he may be troubled. In every men and women, there is an emptiness and vacuum that only God can fill. No matter how much money they have, there is an emptiness within.

I testify of this. My two brothers came at me before I was a believer. My brother came back home and my mom was worshipping with food and my brother did not eat. My mom asked why he had no appetite and my brother finally said I've become a Christian so I cannot eat food offered to idols. The first thing my mom and dad asked was have you been baptised. Those days that was the important factor. He said yes so mom said she'll cook separately for him.

But my mom said after that he don't use his head. How can he baptised then only tell us. I must say I added fire. I said yes, he didn't think. I repented already. I told my parents I won't be like that. You all can depend on me.

I had a younger brother who stayed with my elder Christian brother. He also keep sharing with him. I asked him how was it staying with elder brother? He said okay but he said everyday ask me to go to his church. So I gave him sound advice. I said you are staying in his house. If he ask you to go to church go lo. After all it's just one Sunday morning what do you think he can do? Two hours only. He talk you ma listen lo. Why you want to argue with him? After all you are staying at his place and if he gets angry you have to go out and find a room. Sound advice. So he said, ya, maybe you are right.

Three months later, we met and I remembered so I asked how did it go with brother? He said very well. All is okay. He still talks to me about Jesus. The he said, now I want to talk to you about Jesus. I nearly fell off my chair. I said I asked you to listen left ear in right ear out. He said I followed your advice, left ear in but it didn’t come out the right ear.

They kept talking to me about Jesus but I asked a lot of questions those days. I looked smart in front of them and that I'm okay but they are not. But when I'm alone I struggle. Everybody needs Christ. The good news is for everyone. The lamb of God that takes away the sin of God.

That cross gives us the doorway to eternal life. The word eternal life has a duration to it. Beyond eternal life is the quality of life. It's a life of God. I find people fall into three categories. One is you cannot mention death in the house. It's denial. The other group says they are not afraid of death. But those who come face to face with death will panic. And there is the third group where I want us to reflect a little bit. They have grown comfortable with death. This is our Christian heritage. Like Paul who says where is your victory O death. We of all people should be comfortable with death. We will be liberated to live if we embrace death in a biblical manner. I said embrace, not covet.

I look at death as the door that transits us to the eternal glory of God. We should feel comfortable as we are on a journey and death is the door that transits us. I have reflected on it when I read Martin Luther's last speech where he said he can see the glory of God.

The moment we can embrace Christ in death, then the journey of life allows us to be more than conquerors. And this draws all men. Who don't want to live? Everyone. Death is darkness and to be avoided but at Calvary, death brings life eternal.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love is most used but least understood. It is used often. I do not want to go into a technical exposition of love because love cannot be explained. The love of God where Jesus draws all people is a sacrificial love with kindness. In that kindness is grace. In the love of God expressed on the cross is the drawing power of Jesus Christ. This is a brief summary.

Here I can end the message but I talked about the messenger so I have to continue.

The Messenger

Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

You all are the messenger.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NIV)

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Notice the word everywhere. To me it's every tribe and nation. The triumphal is tied to the keyword uses us. It's through us. God has given us that privilege. Only we can transmit the power of the gospel. It's a privilege and a responsibility. God has given you that privilege when you were saved. Without the master all is meaningless. You and me are the messenger.

In the gospel we hold the means to life and death. Christ holds the power to life and death. Many of us have been taught that our focus is on the message. I want to put to you that we cannot separate the message from messenger. The message is different from the messenger but they cannot be separated.

Paul uses the word fragrance. It's a nice scent and the knowledge of Christ brings salvation and life and it is the fragrance of Christ.

I give you a scenario. You share with a friend. I tell you a story from my mother. My mother said a group of Christians came to share with my mother. My mother said she was busy. There were three of them. In the midst of the conversation, the person said all of you are worshipping worthless idols. My mother got angry. In the end the young men said free one you also don't want. My mother got upset. Years later my mother became a Christian. And where was the power of the gospel.

Your life is being observed. We cannot separate the message from the messenger. Even as we speak about the love of God people will be able to sense a certain concern and care. I talked to someone who became a Christian and asked why she accepted the Lord when at first she was not very open. I thought she'd say it's because I shared well and clearly. She said in the end it's because she felt the care and concern. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

You may ask how do I grow in the love of God so that you can impart it in your life. I can let you know love is a funny thing. It grows on you. How does it grow? You have to take the small step to look out of your family and yourself and see and walk with another person.

I want to thank the Lord that my mom was the one who said I've changed. Much of my life revolves around my family. My excuse is I have no time. The first step I took to walk along with someone who had a time of difficulty, I grew in the love of God. When you take care of your parents and buy gifts for your wife or care for your children, it's a very different dynamic when you choose to walk with someone whom you don't know that well.

I make it a point that in my life I have someone I walk along with. Recently I walked with someone who had a health issue and has not been to church a while and I asked if he has been baptised and he said no. I shared and he accepted the Lord and I told him I'll be visiting him. If you don't walk with a person you may not realised that how much you have to be thankful for. You'll change.

You want to grow in the agape love of God, walk with somebody. There are a lot of hurting people. Sometimes they just need a listening ear. You will grow and you will be transformed.

I like to give an analogy. You do not have to attract bees. If you have the flower and the fragrance the bees will come. Your walk will affirm your faith. The world needs a bit more kindness. It is the church that holds the key to eternal life so treasure the gospel that you hold. Know that Jesus is drawing all men to himself and you can have the fragrance of God in your life.

Beyond the Resurrection

Rev Ronald Ooi

We had a wonderful week last week and it's not the end because Jasmine got a call and someone asked that she wants to know Jesus more and the next day she had a call and led the person to the Lord. Hallelujah.

And yesterday at the youth, four or five of them were baptised in the Holy Spirit. And it's just the beginning. We believe that there's more to come because we believe this is just the beginning.

God is working in our midst. He's present. It's the meeting of God.

Beyond the cross is the resurrection. We see that today Easter is the term we use. And in Sunday School, we give out Easter eggs that symbolises new life. But it has changed to celebration of the holidays and the meaning of the resurrection is lost.

But it didn't end with the resurrection. The story continued.

Acts 1:5 (NKJV)

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus appeared to more than 500 during the 40 days after the resurrection. He said in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit. And he goes on.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This was a promise he gave to the disciples. And we know in Acts, Peter stood up to explain the phenomena of those who spoke in a language they did not know. Jesus  already promised that these people would be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:11 (NKJV)

who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

And the angels said Jesus will come back. That is also a promise. So there are two promises. He will baptise them with the Holy Spirit and that he will come back again. So they waited and waited and waited for the promise.

The Holy Spirit is the one that empowers his church to do the work of God. He is the one that brings the results and the final result is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one that comes alongside us. He was there in the creation of the world and in the Old Testament and in the New Testament Jesus said the Holy Spirit came upon him to do mighty works.

And we are now in the church age, the dispensation where we see the works of the Holy Spirit. He empowers and governs our life. We will receive power. Not only power to be witnesses but also his rule over us. A higher way of living. And Jesus  knew the higher way of living is to allow the Holy Spirit to come and rule our life.

When God rule our life, we come into his kingdom and he's a living and righteous ruler. Let him come and rule your life.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit changed my life. I was an impossible teenager. It was impossible for my parents to change me but the Holy Spirit did. God pulled me into his presence. When we enter into the presence of God, he will draw us. He will bring people into his presence.

It's not just me. My friends who was difficult people came and changed their lives too. So I know God works in lives.

The Holy Spirit came upon them and changed them and at a drugged rehabilitation centre where I was involved in, even a medical doctor came to interview us on how we did it. And I just said we pray with them and had Bible study with them. He said huh? That’s the amazing power of God.

There is no short cuts. The disciples came and waited and waited and waited. We have to celebrate before God and wait and wait and wait.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is also to prepare us for the last days. As we see the world come into a time of war and uncertainty, we know that all these will happen but God is with us because he has given us the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, beyond the resurrection is also the birth of the church.

Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

I call this the modal church. It's meant to be a movement and not a monument. People are changed by the spirit of God and move on and not remain where they are. The church is meant to be a hospital.

I thought on Friday, Saturday and Sunday we got a glimpse of it. And I must commend the church because you prayed and you brought people up. There was a miscommunication with the speaker because he thought the Good Friday service was just a service and that the Healing and Miracle Rally was Saturday. It was wonderful when the church work together with God. We got a glimpse of it and I pray it's not just an event but it’s a lifestyle. Events are good corporately but as individuals it’s a lifestyle. And if you look at Acts 2, it’s a daily thing. We live our life according to Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 is where the church is meant to be a hospital. A hospital for sinners not a museum for saints. I like this.

1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

That’s why when we have new people we need to reach out. Sometimes a person needs to accept Jesus a few times. Sometimes we need to give them the opportunity. We should be focused on winning the lost for Jesus.

It is a God thing and not a good thing. It is more than just the good, it is the God movement. And that’s what the church is all about. A church where God's presence resides. Its not a club or association but the church is more than that. It is a God movement. An organised organism. The Holy Spirit is the one that guides us.

I was so excited when my wife got pregnant. We walked into the clinic and the doctor said your wife is pregnant and I was so excited. And the baby grew and like the church it’s a growing organism. The baby bump, I was wondering why it was out of shape. That’s because the baby was probing and you can see his elbow pushing and it’s a beautiful process when you see the baby moving. That’s good news because its alive. And if it stops moving that’s not good. So the church is always moving because God is alive. It’s a movement and not a monument. It’s the formation of a new community. Ecclesia or an assembly of God's people. Maybe that's why we are called the Assembly of God church. It’s a new community with a new purpose and a new way of living.

Not just a new community but a spirit filled community that reflects God's love to this world. One heart and one mind.

Acts 4:32-33 (NKJV)

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

One of the best things in life is to belong to a church. It's a journey. There was a time when I thought I would leave church. We are all imperfect but we are on the way to perfection. But what kept me in church is because Jesus loves the church. He died for the church. It is a journey and we grow to love the church.

That was why when I was WhatsApp-ed by Kenny to come here, I said I don't have to be here but I want to be here. Because I love the church of Jesus Christ. As much as we asked the people to give their money to the church, its not about the money. I ask you for your heart. The last thing I want is your heart. Its more important than your money. You will walk and plough with one another. The church is a beautiful organism. I will not exchange it for anything in the world.

Beyond the resurrection, the church grew but they had problems. One of the things is good governance. It is important that it does not stifle the work of God. The revival in the church can be sustained by good governance.

Acts 6:1-7 (NIV)

The Choosing of the Seven

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The problem was resolved by the appointment of deacons. I like that they chose the seven men who was among them. They are known to them. Men and women. And in Acts 6:6 they were commissioned. We need not just be leaders but be spiritual leaders. Nehemiah may be a leader in the secular position but he was a spiritual man.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (NIV)

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

It's a noble task. If you were a leader at that time you can expect to be persecuted or to be killed. It's a noble task, don't say no. If everybody says no, there'll be no one to lead the church. Somebody has to say yes. Someone that God has been working on will say yes. When we know the church who stand with us, we can say yes.

Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Empty Promises of Resurrection Sunday

Rev Allan Chan

The Crucifix – cruel death; torture; broken,

bruised; punishment; shame.

What is the DIFFERENCE?

I celebrate the empty cross.

It is FINISHED

John 19:17-30 (NIV)

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

19:29, 30pp — Mt 27:48, 50; Mk 15:36, 37; Lk 23:36

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

What was Finished?

Salvation plan of God which began in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:14 & 15):

The LORD God said to the serpent, “ I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

God’s Final Sacrifice for Sin

Isaiah 59:16 – And He saw there was no man …then His own arm brought salvation..” 

Jn.1:29 – "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Heb. 9:22 – without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Heb.10:18-19 – Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer (need for) any offering for sin…we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.

The Empty Cross Speaks of Fullness of God’s Promises

•  Forgiveness & Victory over sin
•  Reconciliation to right relationship with God
•  Restoration of position, status and authority
•  Abundant life now and…
•  Ruling with Christ forever.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

 - 2 Cor.8:9(NKJV)

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed

– 2 Peter 2:24

 For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).

– 2 Cor.5:21 (NKJV)

Jesus EMPTIED Himself that we might be full.  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

- John 10:10

We Celebrate an EMPTY  TOMB

Without an EMPTY TOMB

1 Corinthians 15:14-19

• Our faith is in vain;
• Our preaching is meaningless;
• We are still in our sins

•  There is NO SAVIOUR
•  There is NO SALVATION
•  There is NO HOPE for eternity.

He is not here:  for HE IS RISEN!

Matthew 28:1-6

•  Jesus was seen ALIVE for 40 days before He ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:3).
•  Mary Magdalene met Jesus (Mk.16:9).
•  The Disciples met and fellowshipped with Jesus (Lu.24:36; Jn.20:26; Jn.21:1-4).
•  500 people saw or met Jesus (1 Cor.15:3-8).

The EMPTY TOMB

•  EVIDENCE of the Resurrection of  Jesus Christ
•  PROMISE that we too will be raised to ETERNAL LIFE.
•  DEATH is defeated – no more fear.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

A Celebration Of  EMPTINESS

•  World gives us promises full of emptiness.
•  But God gives us emptiness full of promises.

Notes taken from the PowerPoint presentation.