Success for 2018

Rev Lawrence Seow

Joshua 1:1-9 

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant gave you. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

MOSES IS DEAD       

Leave the past behind

Israel knew Moses was dead (Deut 34:8)

The Israelites grieved, mourned for Moses 30 days

Many people are still trapped in their past, they cannot lay hold of the future

They have no future because they cannot let go of what happened in the past

Past hurts…relationships…failures…disappointments (we all have them)

Past success…glories and achievements…laurels and reputation…seniority…education and experience

Life can get very complicated and sometimes we become confused and conflicted

Here are a few real-life scenarios:

A woman is in a loveless marriage...it’s a toxic relationship...but she has 2 young children...wants to walk out on the marriage but has to consider the kids

A man suffers a stroke...he was very active before...now immobile...considers ending his life (conflicted)

A husband whose wife is more successful...she is busy...has no time for him...he feels neglected...meets another woman...a young divorcee...begins a relationship

A man with elderly parents...he has failed in life...wants to migrate and start a new life elsewhere...but his duty to his parents holds him back

We are conflicted souls...a bundle of contradictions...a paradox of inconsistencies, even among the very best of us

Conflicting thoughts...emotions...beliefs and passions (full of contradictions)

Psalm 90:10    our years are 70 or 80...the best of them are but trouble and sorrow

Moses is dead!

Break that fixation…paralysis that results from always looking back

This applies also at the church-level…forget the past – people who have come and gone, great times, bad times…highs and lows…what you’ve accomplished OR failed to do

CROSS THIS JORDAN       

Cross Over – A New Start

The River Jordan is below sea level – deep and turbulent during rainy season, but slow and sluggish during the summer

Where Jesus was baptised…

Israel had to cross this river to enter the Promised Land…it was in their way

There will always be obstacles and hurdles in the way of The Promised Land

Giants were waiting for them across the Jordan

There will be daunting challenges ahead, intimidating situations and uphill tasks

The devil will even send roadblocks and distractions your way

God never promised it would be easy or smooth sailing…if you don’t cross this Jordon you’ll never enter the land of Promise

Diamonds are formed after undergoing tremendous heat and pressure...deep under the earth’s crust...carbon material

BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS

Go the distance – boxing parlance for finishing the fight

Do not quit or stop half-way – no matter how tough or bad it gets

Heard it before, and you need to hear it again – the Christian race is not a 100 meter dash; it is a marathon

It’s not how well you start but how you finish that matters

A pastor was preaching one Sunday when he spotted an old friend in the service. He asked a deacon to invite this man (obviously very wealthy and successful) to lunch after the service. During lunch, the man broke down and sobbed. He told the pastor how they had both grown up as teenagers in church, and while the pastor answered God’s call, he had pursued his career and achieved success. But after so many years, he knew deep inside he was not where God wanted him to be. And all his secular success and accomplishments could not make up for it.

Sad truth is many Christians start out well but they relax along the way…get complacent and stop pressing on

Story of the man who found an eagle’s egg

This is why we need God’s Word – meditate on it day and night, keep us focussed and strong (read text again)

Your mind is the control tower

When we think God’s thoughts we think the most powerful thoughts

Sermon notes courtesy of Rev Lawrence Seow

9-to-5 Reality Check!

Bro Kenny Song

Pastor Koay took you all to heaven with his Three Gardens, then back down to earth with his Two Crosses, so I was thinking maybe I should preach on One Fire and take you all down to hell. On second thought, I'll let him do that when he next preach.

I am instead going to talk about something most of us struggle with on a daily basis. I titled my message "Your 9-to-5 Reality Check". 9 to 5 does not mean a fix time but rather your working hours.

How many of you work for a living? How many of you have experienced failure in your work or you labour and labour and don't see results? Not all the time but at least some of the time?

What do you do when you experience fruitlessness or even failure in your work? How do you respond when your hard work yields poor results? 

Whether you’re a businessman who's struggling to make ends meet, a diligent college student with poor grades, or a parent with a prodigal child — all of us experience the frustration of fruitless work.

At times it doesn’t seem fair, but the reality remains: hard work doesn’t always guarantee successful outcomes. I used to tell my team not just to work hard (that's mandatory) but also to work smart. But sometimes projects still fail and deadlines are missed despite our very best efforts.

We live in a performance-driven world, where poor results are usually difficult to accept. We expect immediate results and we can quickly become discouraged when we fall short of our own expectations. 

In times of fruitlessness, we may fall into self pity or blame others for our failures. But what is worst is that in our darkest moments, we can doubt God’s goodness — wondering why he isn’t blessing our work (while conveniently forgetting all the ways in which he already has).

Four Reminders for Seasons of Setback

In these seasons of fruitless despair, I’m often helped by a story from John 21.

John 21:3-6

3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

The disciples went on an all-night fishing expedition, only “they caught nothing” (John 21:3). As dawn breaks, Jesus asks them if they caught any fish. They hadn’t. Jesus then instructs them to “cast the net on the right side of the boat” (John 21:5–6). The result is miraculous. After utterly failing all night, the nets fill with so many fish, they begin to rip. 

This story offers four helpful insights to encourage us during seasons of setbacks. 

1. Fruitless work is a common experience.
 

We would presume that their labour would have been rewarded. After all, they devoted their lives to Jesus, leaving family, homes, and occupations to follow him. Some of them were also experienced fishermen. They seem to have the right credentials: committed Christians and competent professionals. And yet their efforts failed. 

We might not understand why our diligent efforts fail, and be tempted toward exasperation. But we must remember that as Christians we aren’t guaranteed success in our work. In his wisdom, God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Seasons of fruitlessness are simply part and parcel of living in a world cursed by the effects of the fall. Our work in this present world is subject to “thorns and thistles” that impede progress and hinder fruitful outcomes (Genesis 3:18).

There were times when in our business, we seemed to do everything right. We pitched for campaigns and initial outcomes were positive. Then when it reached the table where money is discussed, we hit a snag. They want kickbacks. And we walk away. I've never felt dejected in times like these because we just knew it's not meant for us. I have the peace of God, but it does not negate the fact that many man hours have been invested into the project and we got nothing in return.

My non Christian staff knows our stand and even though some questioned my decision, in the long run, I think they all see why integrity is always more valuable than money. But the fact remains, hard work didn't always pay off. Even when it's honest hard work!

When success seems elusive, it’s important to remember that fruitlessness is a common experience for everyone. Our struggle isn’t evidence of God’s displeasure toward us, but a reminder that the world we live in is still awaiting full redemption (Romans 8:20–21).

Romans 8:20-21

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

2. Jesus will meet us in our failures.

When our labours are met with significant setbacks or failure, God can seem distant to us. We can be tempted to think Jesus cares little for our situation or for the outcomes that seem so important to us — that critical project gone wrong or the struggling business venture. Especially when we see unbelievers doing well under the same circumstances.

In these moments, we must not relegate Jesus to a detached, unfeeling Saviour who neither understands nor cares for our present needs. Rather, as Hebrews 4:15 states, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Remember, Jesus experienced all the limitations of working in a fallen world and he understands our struggle for fruitful outcomes. Most of all, remember he cares.

In this account, Jesus’s care for his disciples was evident in his tender address to them: “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” (John 21:5) After a long night of fruitless labour, Jesus met the disciples at the very point of their need and weakness. 

This is a Savior who draws near to us in times of perplexing trouble. He concerns himself with the ordinary — with fish and nets — to perform the miraculous for the good of his children. When we’re discouraged about our lack of success or progress, we can turn to Christ with confidence that he cares about our struggles.

3. God gives help in times of need.

Too often, I do not seek God’s help when facing obstacles and setbacks. Instead I “lean in” with my own abilities and forget to look to God. In fact, I’ve realized that much of my despair in fruitless seasons stems from my inability to succeed on my own. 

There were times in my business where we see no light at the end of the tunnel. Debts were piling and our OD fully utilised and we even had to sell our Invoices for cash advance (factoring) at a hefty interest. I will of course as usual be my stubborn self and try to juggle our finances out of the woods.

Then a time would come when I'd finally humble myself and asked our cell to pray for us. I've done that more than once and without fail, God would bail us out. Moral of the story, should have asked my cell to pray earlier la. But as usual, always stubborn. Never learn.

The disciples’ empty nets are reminders that we need God to work in ways that are beyond our capacities and resources. The disciples’ experiences and competencies alone weren’t enough to produce a fruitful outcome.

Like the feeding of the 5,000, this situation was designed to reveal the limitations of human power and reveal Jesus’s unlimited power to more than meet human need.

When we encounter obstacles beyond our strength or skill, let us not discount God’s ability to help through providential — sometimes even miraculous — means. God is in the business of displaying his glory in the face of our need. Let us learn to lean into him for help.

4. Jesus is the true prize of our work.

“When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment . . . and threw himself into the sea” (John 21:7). 

This was after Jesus' resurrection and this account was the third time that Jesus appeared. I love Peter’s response. Upon discovering it was Jesus on the shore, he plunged in and swam to him. Weariness from fruitlessly working all night didn’t matter, neither did the huge haul of fish. For Peter, nothing mattered more than the fact that Jesus was present. Fellowship with his risen Savior was incomparably more rewarding than a net bursting with fish. 

To have Peter’s perspective whether our work succeeds or fails! May our (very legitimate) pursuit for good results never obscure the true prize of our labours: to know and treasure Jesus Christ. In fact, it’s often in our struggles, not successes, where we experience the life-giving presence of our Saviour. 

Only when we realize worldly success alone is bankrupt do we rise with hope in our “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for [us]” (1 Peter 1:4). 

Only when we come to the end of our strength do we discover that God’s “grace is sufficient for [us]” and that his “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Only after the discouragement of empty harvests are we able to receive this infusion of divine joy in our souls: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7).

This is the reason why I do not subscribe to what is called the Prosperity Theology. Where they believe you have not because you asked not. Where even tithing is not about obedience but purely the pursuit of material blessings. And being poor means a lack of faith.

But I also do not subscribe to Poverty Theology. Where materialism is seen as a curse and equated to worldliness. This is the other extreme of the spectrum.

Then what theology do we subscribe to when it comes to money? I believe in Stewardship Theology. Where possessions is a privilege and not a right. And we are given the responsibility by God to wisely manage what has been entrusted to us.

Actually, this is another sermon for another time.

I want to relate back to instances where we failed to win an account because of kickbacks. I want to encourage you that at the end of the day, God will never short-change his children. Those worldly loss are not in vain.

I realised this at each of the economic downturn we encountered by refusing kickbacks, we ended up with very good clients who were good paymasters. These are the same ones that will ride through the economic downturn because of their sound principles.

And they become good friends, not just clients. And wherever they go, they will always come back to you and if they ever refer you to another client, you'll know they are birds of the same feathers.

The ones that receives kickbacks will be the first ones to run when trouble brew. Somebody once said this phrase and I never forgot it. Forgive the language - "Don't shit where you eat". The ones that take kickbacks are cheating the very company that feed them and their families. And if we give the kickbacks, we are encouraging them to do so.

But ultimately, as a child of God, it's not about that great quote I mentioned, but rather because we know it's the right thing to do and what honours God and bring glory to God. If we give money under the table, I don't think the other party will ever see Jesus in us and we can never be a good testimony for God. Lets do what is right and trust God for our situation.

Often, our struggles clarify our vision and strengthen our resolve to value eternal good over temporal success. Struggles often succeed in anchoring our hope and identity to Christ, rather than our achievements. 

The ultimate prize of our work isn’t the successful outcomes themselves, but seeing Jesus in our diligent labours. This is true in success or failure, in seasons of fruitfulness or fruitlessness. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I want to end on a positive note. Just like how Peter and the other disciples toiled through the night, you may be in a situation where you think you are getting nowhere. It's like you are running on the treadmill, burning a lot of energy but seemingly going nowhere. No progress. No results. It is frustrating, but let us take comfort in this passage of scripture that we have just examined.

Remember, Jesus is watching, even if he's at the distant shore. And he cares. And he will help you in his time. In Peter's case, it was not at midnight. Not 2 a.m. Not 4 a.m. The bible says it was in the morning. Your morning will come. But more important than the blessing is the blesser. Like Peter, we can only find rest in our soul when we seek Jesus.

So whether your current nets are empty or bursting, if you hope in him, your labour will never be in vain.

The Running Man

Rev Gideon Lee

Mark 14:43-52

Jesus Arrested

14:43-50pp — Mt 26:47-56; Lk 22:47-50; Jn 18:3-11

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

I'm not going to be talking about Jesus betrayal and capture. But I want to talk about this young man and what happened.

I want to share with you about a poem by Edgar Guest.

When Things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and debts are high,

And you want to Smile but have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won if he'd stuck it out,

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You might succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might captured the victor's cup.

And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown,

Success is failure turned inside out,

The silver tint of clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

This morning I want to talk to you about the Running Man. It's not about the Korean game show but about this running man in the scripture.

At the time when Jesus needed them the most this young man ran. Sometimes difficulty have a way of affecting us. And the instinct is to run. I mean we sometimes run from danger and that is fine. Like how Joseph ran from Potiphar's wife. It was not the first time. It seems for 11 years she was pursuing Joseph. But the final straw was when no one was in the house and Potiphar's wife caught hold of him to lie with her and he ran. When faced with temptation sometimes we have to run.

But here you find there's a bit of negativity in his running. This young man fled but I don't blame him. If it's me I too may run. They have come to arrest Jesus and a man's ears were cut. If I put myself in his situation I would run.

This young man is unnamed. But scholars said he is probably none other than Mark. The author of this book. And he was a rich man because the Bible said he was wearing linen. He is well to do and not one of the 12 disciples.

This is the only time in the gospel where this incident was mentioned. He was the author of the book of Mark. Why do you think he left the last two lines in the book that spoke about his weakness or failure unless there is something to be learned from it?

He did not delete it because we can learn something from it.

It was also repeated another time.

Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Don't be confused. Because two names John and Mark was mentioned. Mark is his Jewish name.

Acts 15:38-40

38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

This time Mark fled again in the middle of a mission trip. It was enough to get Paul angry. So angry that he was in disagreement with Barnabas his partner because of Mark. If you are in Paul's shoes you'd probably be like Paul. This is not the first time Mark fled.

Looking at this person Mark we would have formed an opinion on Mark. What would your opinion be of Mark after these two verses? Irresponsible and undependable. But he is still the person that wrote the book of Mark. How can such a person be the author of a gospel.

What changed? What cause Mark to change? Someone who ran away became an author of the book of Mark. Sometimes our thinking can be formed by opinions. We can't control that. What we can control is the opinion about ourselves.

Mark could have said he is an undependable person but he changed and became an author of the book of Mark.

We call this in CSI as profiling. But our opinion of ourself is what really matters.

One day there was this minister who went to Hong Kong and he passed a tattoo shop. And he saw this design with the words called "Born to Lose". So the missionary thought who would want a tattoo like that? Curious, he went in and asked the shop owner why anyone would want a tattoo like that. And the shop keeper said in broken English, tattoo first happened in the mind then the body.

And you'd think Mark had the right thinking. And I have only 2 points in my message.

1. God has a plan for us.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You are his handiwork and created in Christ. So your identity is in Christ. Not what people think about you. You have a purpose. That's why our tagline is blessed to be a blessing. We are created for good works. Which God has prepared in advance for us to do. We have something God has planned for us to do.

You are God's workmanship. When God looked at Mark in his helplessness, undependable person but God didn't leave him that way. He was work in progress. God didn't see what Mark is but what he can be. All of us here are work in progress. All of us are not perfect. We make mistakes. Can we all look as our brothers and sisters as not what they are now but what they can be. See their potential.

We can bring out the best in others. Most of the time we bring out the worst in one another.

God look at Mark and saw what he could be.  How do I know that?

2 Timothy 4:9-11

9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

Is this the same Mark that we are talking about? Yes. A change happened. Now he is useful to the ministry. Paul is at his end already and he knew when he wrote this letter. Now Mark was useful. From someone who is undependable to someone useful. Paul could have chosen anyone but he chose Mark.

God can change you from a running Mark to the author of the book of Mark. How was you before you came to the Lord? We were wretched. But God saw the potential in you. He loved you so much he didn't want you to stay in the state you were in.

Parents, you want the best for your children right? Look at them with potential. I have to remind myself too. I have 4 of them. They are like a tag team. They can drive you up the wall. It is at this time that I ask God to show me the potential in my children. Work in their lives to change them. God has a plan for everyone of you. And his plan is to bless you.

Often times we are our worst enemy. We often discourage ourselves. My first point is that God has a plan for you and your identity is in Christ. I thank God he is not finish with me yet. That he did not see me in my worthless state and left me like that.

2. You and I are made in the image of God.

We are his handiwork made in his image. It is not just a literal image because God is spirit so we have the capabilities to have the character of God. As mentioned in Genesis. God's product is always good. Every creation God made he said it is good.

Psalms 8:4-6

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet:

This tells us who we are. We are crowned with honour and glory. We are made to rule. Evolution tells us that we are somehow one step slightly above apes. But the Bible tells me we are just one step below heavenly beings.

Whatever you are in, don't run. Don't give up.

There was a story of a pastor at an evangelistic meeting. At the end he was tired after preaching his heart out. He gave the altar call but because he was so tired he sat at the stage to catch his breath.

As he was doing that, he saw someone walked from the back to the front. He said before he could see him he could smell him. He has been living in the streets and he hasn't bathed. You know what I'm talking about. The pastor got up and went to the man. The smell was so bad he had to turn to his side to get his breath. And he asked him what is he doing? But in his mind the pastor was trying to get rid of him.

He put his hand on his pocket and gave to this man some money so he could get a meal. It's like how when you are eating and a beggar came and you give money so they'd go away.

The man pushed the hand away and said he don't want the money. He said I want the Jesus that you are preaching about. And the pastor broke down and cried. He almost sold this soul for a couple of dollars. We look at someone and we make an opinion. I hope we see people as people and not trees.

The pastor felt so bad he took him in, showered him and sent him to a rehab centre and gave him a church job. He ask the man one day to give a testimony. And the pastor heard him and said this man is a Preacher. So sent him to Bible school and today he is an ordained minister in a church.

When I told my school friends that I am a pastor they couldn't believe it because I was a….

God can take and change you but we need to put ourselves in the hands of God. Like Moses. Don't sell yourself short and give up. God can do it before, he can do it now, and he can do it again.

If you are suffering low self esteem or not feeling well I want to pray with you. That God has not given up on us. God has a plan for you even if you cannot see it now. His plan is never to destroy you but to mould you and if you allow it, you will see his handiwork.

Disappointments

Rev Gideon Lee

Last week we had 4 candidates for water baptism. So we'd like to recognise them by giving them their certificates and a voucher to a Christian book store.

Last week we did on Resurrection Sunday and many things happened after that. Jesus did many things to show that he is alive.

Luke 24:13-33

The Road to Emmaus

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

19 And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples' Eyes Opened

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

This it is the same day, Resurrection Sunday and these disciples which was not part of the main group made their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Jesus appeared to these two disciples while they were on their way. It was as they talked and discussed these things. They were debating about the things that has happened. They were trying to make sense of what had just happened on Resurrection Sunday and Good Friday. Not just casual conversations.

Somehow Jesus decided to keep his identity from them at the beginning. He thought it was beneficial if he kept his identity from these two.

Jesus was leading them in his conversation with them. He was aware of what happened but he purposely kept his identity from them. There is a reason for this as we'll see later on.

The disciples told him what happened and the grammar was all in the past. He was a prophet. He was crucified. We had hope. They did not place any of their hope on what had happened Sunday morning. It has not become a reality for them yet. They were not sure if Jesus was alive.

They heard what the women testified but they were not convinced. I said last week if we wanted more credibility he would have used more reputable men to be witnesses. Women and children at that time were not given prominence.

This morning I want to talk about what discouragement can do to us. What it can to us as Christians. I think all of us have experienced disappointments before. We need to see the picture that is unfolding before us.

For these two disciples you can imagine what is going through in their hearts. They say their Saviour was crucified on Friday. He was tortured. I explained how cruel the crucifixion was. He also experienced betrayal from one of his own disciples. He was betrayed with a kiss by Judas. The disciples saw all this happened.

And now on a Sunday morning they heard that Jesus' body has disappeared. They were not sure. After all these that had happened, they decided to go home. Some of his disciples went back to their old profession. Like fishing. Of these two disciples, only one was named.

Of the four gospels it was only recorded in the book for Luke. These two were not mentioned anywhere else. They were going to Emmaus. It means obscure. They were leaving from Jerusalem, a place of promise. They were walking from a place of promise to obscurity. That's what happens when you are discouraged. You walk away from God's promise. And walk into our own pity party.

We rather walk away from God's promise to obscurity. I can understand why but that's what discouragement does to us. For some reason Jesus decided not to reveal himself to them. Their eyes were restrained.

They have forgotten the truth of God's words. They forgot that Jesus said he will rise again. They have lost all hope and thought someone has taken his body. They forgot that he will rise again.

We have to decide once and for all. That when we walk through the waters, he will be with you.

Isaiah 43:2-3

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

We have to decide once and for all if he had risen. If Jesus has risen there is no reason for us to walk away from his promise. No matter what we feel and our circumstances are. His promise is yea and yes. Let's decide once and for all if he has risen or not.

You have to know that he is the God that when you pass through the waters he will be with you.

Why, because I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel.

I don't know what you are going through. What disappointment or struggles that you are going through. Don't walk away from his promises. We have started a new series in our cell group. Please find a cell to attend. We are studying on the life of Joseph. He went from one disappointment to another. But in the end he was an overcomer.

Last week we studied how he overcome betrayal.

Discouragement and frustration can make us live in the past. I am not saying we cannot remember the past. What I mean is that sometimes we relive all the disappointments we went through. So we tend to relive what has happened.

Luke 24:17-21

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

They were all talking about the past. That's what happens when we become disappointed. Our hope should be on the future. The past should be a springboard for us to spring into the future. It must not hold you. Don't put your hope in the past. These two were talking all in the past tense. I like what Jesus did by asking them what happened. Don't Jesus know what happened? He knows because it happened to him.

I want you to know Jesus knows what happened to you. Yet Jesus ask what happened? That's what I do in counselling. I let them tell me what happened. By talking they begin to understanding what has happened to them. Sometimes the best counselling is to lend them your ear.

Jesus has a plan. He wasn't asking just for fun. As he asked them he brought them to a place of understanding  and finally he revealed himself to them.

And also I want you to know whatever you went through, Jesus is walking with you. These two were not prominent disciples. One of them were not even named. Think about it. I think at the moment of their disappointment and discouragement, the king of Kings and Lord of Lords saw it fit to walk with them. Jesus decided to walk with them. Jesus saw their hurt and their  pain.

Whatever you are going through, God is concerned and is willing to walk with you. That is the message of the resurrection. Death and grave could not hold him back. His desire is for you to know him.

Don't walk away from God's promise. Don't hold to the past. And remember whatever you are going through God is walking with us.

Sometimes discouragement and frustration can cause us to feel that God is not with us. We feel that he is so far away from us. We have all experienced this on our walk with God. We feel that God is not around. And we ask God where are you?

I sometimes say if you cannot feel God's hand trust his heart. Trust that God knows best. Trust that he loves you. That he will not leave you or forsake you. He works everything for good. We sometimes think God is not there.

Luke 24:25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

He was not rebuking them but he was challenging them. He was now focused on the present.

Jesus then shared from the beginning from Genesis. Then to Isaiah as the suffering servant. Then to Zechariah as the pierced man.

Imagine you are walking seven miles. How long will that take? Can someone tell me? I would say maybe about 3 or 4 hours. The time they arrived it was already evening. They started out in the afternoon. As they were walking Jesus walked alongside them. They did not recognise Jesus then they tell Jesus their problems. And Jesus shared the greatest sermon ever.

As they arrived, Jesus pretended that he was going further. But they told Jesus to stay with them as it was late. Only at breaking bread did they recognise him. Sometimes we got short of the miracle because we didn't go the second mile. The disciples said his sharing burned within their heart. They wanted to hear more and they wanted more of Jesus. That was one reason they asked Jesus to stay with them.

When they finally knew it was Jesus, the Bible said they rose up and went back to Jerusalem. Another 7 miles. There must be something great for me to walk 7 miles! In the dark. They went back with the sole purpose of telling the disciples what has happened.

Jesus is alive and these disciples did not keep the good news to themselves. Sometimes discouragement causes us to walk away from his promises and causes us to live in the past. And that we forget he is with us. Get back to him. Get an encounter with the living God.

I pray as TOP we will continue to move forward. In cell on the life of Joseph the one word that keeps coming back is that God was with him.

Tabernacle of Praise, hello. Are you all still awake? Sometimes I wish I was like Jesus where you say pastor don't go yet. We want to hear more. Tabernacle of Praise, God is with us. Amen.

Restoration

Rev Gideon Lee

I like those shows that restores old things. Like junks that are ready to be thrown away but was restored to look brand new. In Penang someone defaced the wall paintings and they had to get the original artist to come and restore the painting. This morning I want to talk about how God is still on the mission of restoration.

Remember the day you got saved you were brand new, a new creation. There was a bounce in your steps. But along the way we lost it. What the enemy has stolen from you God wants to restore to you. This is the heritage of the children of God. The problem is whether we want to cooperate with God in the process. Restoration will mean a painful process like putting us through the fire.

There are three things I want to look at this morning.

Isaiah 54

The Future Glory of Zion

1 “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;

because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back;

lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.

4 “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

5 For your Maker is your husband–the Lord Almighty is his name–the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

6 The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit– a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God.

7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.

8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,”

says the Lord your Redeemer.

9 “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.

So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.

10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

11 “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.

13 All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.

14 In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.

15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work.

And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;

17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. God is in the business of restoration. These scriptures shows that God wants to restore our life.

1. He wants to restore the Joy of the Lord.

This is what the Lord first wants to restore. We remember how joyful we were when we first came to the Lord. If the church does not have the joy who else then have the joy? We have as children of God so much to be joyful about.

Joy is important and God wants to restore our joy.

Isaiah 54:1 “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.

Having children is very important those days. Yet the Lord says to burst into songs and shout for joy. Sarah had no children yet when God fulfilled his promise and Sarah bore a son and his name means "laughter". God can fill us with joy once again. This morning the worship team did an excellent job even though there were so many issues. We are called Tabernacle of Praise so if you have lost your joy, seek the Lord as he is in the business of restoration. Sing and shout for joy. Has something caused you to loose your joy? God can restore it.

How many of you have heard of Frances Crosby? She lost her sight at a young age due to a medical issue. One of the songs she wrote is Blessed Assurance. She could have been bitter. In the lyrics is vision of rapture…This is my story…

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
   Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
   Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   Angels, descending, bring from above
   Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
   I in my Savior am happy and blest,
   Watching and waiting, looking above,
   Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

She was blind but she did not to let it rob her of her joy. Her songs have ministered to thousands if not millions of people.

2. He wants to restore our dignity

Isaiah 54:4 “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

There are some things I did in my past I am shameful about. I'm not talking about being embarrassed but it's some things I did I am not proud of. Some of you may have this too.

Remember the woman with the issue of blood? It was not just a physical problem but also a spiritual problem. When she is menstruating, she's considered unclean and is ostracised.  The Jews have this understanding that if you are unclean they cannot touch you. But Jesus was not bothered about this. Jesus was the other way around. He has the power to make her clean.

One day she heard Jesus was coming around. She said if she could just touch the hem of his garment then she will be healed. And the Bible said as soon as she touched his garment Jesus felt a power left him and he said who touched me? The woman said it is I that touched you. And Jesus said you are healed. Everyone knew she had an issue of blood but now she's healed. Jesus restored her dignity.

This morning he wants to restore your dignity. Come back to him because he can do it.

Jesus restores your joy and he is also able to restore you dignity. He took your greatest shame when he went to the cross for you.

3. God wants to restore his favour back upon your life.

Isaiah 54:17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

There's also a verse in Joel.

Joel 2:25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten–the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm–my great army that I sent among you.

I like this. God says he will repay the great and young locusts, the big and the small and the others. He didn't leave any out.

Some of you may feel that you are so cornered you don't know where to turn to. Some of you may feel you have been pressed from every side. Sometimes locusts do come but God says he is going to restore it all. Nothing is too impossible with God.

When I was working in the Edge newspaper, I was headhunted to go to Reader's Digest. One of the things I said to God was that I want to leave with my testimony intact. So when I put in my resignation letter there was a change in my boss. I was his favourite employee probably because of the favour of the Lord. He was the best boss I had. He would sit with me to craft my proposal. He will teach me the art of writing. At that time I was not able to draft a good letter. He would help me.

But when I put in my resignation letter he became very angry with me. He would check through all my work. I was already assistant GM and for one month he was on my back. It was a totally different person from what I know. Two weeks before I left he began to treat me like how he treated me before.

Before I left, he asked his secretary to collect money from the Marketing Department to make me a full suit. Including shoes and socks and belt. Only thing didn't buy is an underwear. He has never done this for any staff.

He told me that I'll leave with his blessing and gave me a farewell dinner. I was there 5 years and he told me he promised me I'll leave better. He just WhatsApp me that after 20 years he is retiring. He took the trouble to inform me. God wants to restore your relationship. God got's your back.

He is a God of restoration. He loves to do the Impossible. All things means all. Whatever you are going through I encourage you he is able. Today I'm going to open the altar because I want to minister to you. I don't want to talk about the theme but to minister to you.

One reason why I want to shift the time to 10.30 am is so that you can come earlier to pray for the service. We have the floor to our own so you can come earlier and we finish earlier so you have time to fellowship and have lunch. Come to the sanctuary to pray. 31st January we will be up there. Let's give God a hand.