Who Killed Jesus

Good Friday Healing & Miracle Rally

Rev Allan Chan

And why it matters that we know?

Introduction

John 18:1-8 (NIV)
Jesus Arrested
18:3-11pp — Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-50; Lk 22:47-53
1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

• Who was really responsible for the arrest, unlawful trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
• Did Jesus have to die in such a cruel manner?
• Is anti-Semitism a justifiable movement?

JEWS as a People/Nation?

• Jesus upset Jewish leaders who plotted to kill Him (Jn.8:59; 10:31; 11:8; 11:53)
• Jesus was arrested by Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:3,4 & 47); brought Him to Romans to be killed (Mt. 27: 1 & 2)
• It was the Jewish religious leaders who were jealous, felt threatened, and instigated the people (Mt.27:20)
• Peter (Acts 2:22 & 23); & Paul blamed Jewish people (1 Thes.2:14-15)

Gentile ROMANS?

• Only Roman authority had power to sentence death (Jn.18:31)
• Roman soldiers scourged and mocked Jesus (Mt. 27: 1 & 2); nailed Him to the cross (Jn. 19:16 – 23)
• But, we can’t blame the whole Roman Empire for acts of Pilate & soldiers in Judea, much less all gentiles.

Annas & Caiaphas?

• High Priest was Caiaphas, but Annas was father-in-law (former corrupt High Priest) illegally questioned Jesus (Jn.18:12 - 24)
• They feared Jesus for reasons of political power, prestige and popularity (Jn.18:19)
• Their focus was on Jesus’ following, His disciples before His teachings.

Pontius PILATE?

• He was Roman Governor of Judea and allowed self-government by Jews, so long as imperial authority maintained and taxes collected (Jn.18:31; 19:4)
• He believed Jesus was innocent (Jn.19:4; Mt.2723) and could have set Him free, but wanted nothing to do with Jesus’ fate (Mt.27:19 & 24)
•  Pilate tried to absolve himself of the responsibility but yielded to mob demand and gave the order for crucifixion.

Answering Anti-Semitism

• Anti-Semitism based on Mt.27:25 “His blood be upon us and on our children”
• Interpreted as a multi-generational indictment on all Jews throughout time
•  In Acts 2:38 & 39, Peter used same words to offer salvation and Holy Spirit to all who would repent – he was referring to the  1st century generation then Peter added Vs. 39.
• Jews just as eligible for salvation thru Jesus as anyone else.

YOU  and  ME?!

• Rom.5:8 & 9 – “…while we were sinners, Christ died for us… justified by His blood”
• I Cor 15:3 – “Christ died for our sins”
• 2 Cor 5:15 – “He died for all…that we should live unto Him who died for us”
• Heb 2:9 – “…that Jesus should taste  death as a man for every man”
• 2 Cor 5:20 – He…became sin that we might be the righteousness of God.”

ABOVE ALL

GOD’S Sovereign Will

• Rev.13:8 – It was God’s plan from the start (Gen.3:15; Acts2:23: 2Tim.1:9; Tit.1:2)
• Mt.26:42; Jn.18:11, 37 – Jesus chose to submit to God’s will (Lu.22:42)
• Phil. 2:8 – Jesus was obedient unto death of the cross
• Jn.10:17 & 18; Mt.26:53 & 54 – Jesus had power to save Himself, but…
• “IT IS FINISHED”.

OUR  RESPONSE

• How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (Heb. 2:3)
• You are bought with a price, you are not your own; so glorify God in body and spirit (1 Cor 6:20)
• We are God’s “workmanship”, created and called unto works He has ordained (Eph 2:10)
• Continue what Jesus began until completion (2 Cor 5:18 & 19)

These are notes compiled from the Powerpoint presentation by Rev Allan Chan.

Rev Allan Chan praying for those that needs healing or a miracle.

It's Okay to Cry

Rev Gideon Lee

Sometimes we can come to a place where we must be dignified because men don't cry. Psalms 6 must be read with Psalms 51 because they are Psalms of repentance. At this point of writing he was a very broken man. In his brokenness we will see how he placed his hope in God.

Psalms 6

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;

heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

3 My soul is in deep anguish.

How long, Lord, how long?

4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.

5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

Who praises you from the grave?

6 I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,

for the Lord has heard my weeping.

9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;

the Lord accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;

they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Note that David is not saying to God not to discipline him but not to discipline him in his anger.

David was in such anguish that even his bones were in agony. This was how intense it was for him.

Verse 7 onwards show the turning point of David's repentance. Earlier he was just pouring out his heart. He turned from the negative to the positive.

Your prayers are not in vain this morning. God accepts your prayer.

Our heavenly Father loves you. The Christian life is most of the time filled with abundant life. Sad that sometimes we walk along with a papaya face. Sad face. The Bible says rejoice in the Lord and I say to you again rejoice.

But our Christian life is also sometimes a life a tears. Solomon says there are times for tears. Tears are neutral. It can be tears of joy or sorrow.

A good cry before the Lord helps us to release that tension. Tears are also beneficial for our health, it lubricates your eyes and also remove irritants. When things get in your eyes you start to tear up. Tears are beneficial for our spiritual wellbeing. Some songs as we worship and connects with God we cry because God touch us.

At Bible school there is the altar and it's a place where we soak it with our tears. There are cushions at the altar where the students go up front to cry before the Lord. It was a sacred time. I remember seeing people cry at the altar.

Part of what I do is weddings and funerals. At weddings we shed tears of joy but at funerals we can sometimes be so numb that we fail to empathise with the family. It becomes routine to you. Like doctors who are so used to treating people that we can become very rough with our words. That's why doctors are now taught bedside manners. We can become so numb to sin.

That is why I felt I should share this message not just for you but also for me. That is to not take God for granted.

David wrote this Psalms because he purposely sent Uriah to the battle front to be killed because he wanted to marry Bathsheba. The prophet told Nathan that because of what he did the child will not survive. I can imagine David was at the bed grieving for his son who is dying because of what he did.

On our day we can become numb to the call of God in our life. We can hear God speaking clearly to us and we ignore him. Or his commandments, we become numb and take it lightly. Don't get me wrong. I believe in his grace and mercy but let's not forget that he chastises those he loves. He considers you his own. Like how we chastises our children. Let's not harden our heart and take him for granted.

We become numb to the call of God, sin and his conviction. We become so cold and so hard. David was different. He wrote Psalms 6 and 51. It was not a victory shout. He was in pain and was in anguish.

David at this point was on his way back to a right relationship with God. He is not there yet but was on his way to restoring his relationship with God. But there will be tears along the way.

The type of tears are the tears of sorrow as in verse 1. Sorrow is a feeling of deep distress. God confronts our sin just as in David's life and there will be tears of sorrow. Not just on what he did but who he did it to.

Not just the act but it is God whom he sinned against. That he sinned against God and fell short. The first step is not knowing you sinned but that you sinned against God.

Psalms 51:4

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

David understood that he was sorry for what he did to God. When will we realise that we have sinned against our heavenly father. Are you ready to return to God? Remember the story of the prodigal son? He asked for his inheritance, squandered his life but came to his senses when he had to fight with pigs for food. He wanted to go back to his father's house to be a servant. He was willing to trade his position as the son to be a servant. Just as he was coming and from still afar, the father did something a Jewish man is not supposed to do.

His father ran towards his son, a Jewish man will not do that. The story of the prodigal son is about the love of the father. He hugged him and gave him a kiss. He told the servants to bring clothing and put a ring on his finger. He couldn't care less what the people were thinking. He was in full view of the people. This was what God did for us.

David also cried tears of anguish in verse 2 to 7. He was in such deep pain that his bone hurt. It was through a period. Not just immediately but it was for a period.

How many of you have been in such a desperate situation that you just cried before the Lord and you wet your bed with tears. Sin affects us emotionally, spiritually and physically.  That was what David went through.

Don't you think sin affects you physically? When we are in stress we are affected physically. Our blood pressure go up, you can't sleep, your immunity goes down and you lose your appetite. If you sleep around, it will also have consequences to your sin. Physically.

Spiritually also it will make a divide between us and God. Our relationship with God won't be as good or sweet as it used to be. 

Psalms 51:17

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise.

Contrite heart means crushed by the weight of sin. God's chastisement will come if we continue to sin. We can play church. I have to say this. If you continue to hurt God and sin, we will face his chastisement.

There were tears of repentance in David's heart. David came before the Lord offering a contrite heart and tears of repentance before the Lord. God will still restore David, that's why he's known as a man after God's heart.

There was this traveling evangelist and after his meeting he took a train to his next destination in the morning.

In the train sitting with him was a young man who was downcast. He looked worried and stressed.  He struck a conversation with this young man hoping to help him.

The young man opened up to him and told him his life story. He said he used to be a wild child and was a handful for his parents. He said it was so bad he punched his father. And on that day his father said as much as I love you, you can no longer stay in this house if you continue like that.

So he left the house but he said three weeks ago he got saved. So he wants to get right with his parents to see them and say sorry. He was not sure he would be accepted. So he called his father that he wants to come back. He said if you still want me back tie a white ribbon on the apple tree outside the house. If he sees it he will come down and if he do not see the ribbon, he would move on.

So he told the preacher if he could see on his behalf the white ribbon because he could not bear to see it. As the train approached he looked out and he said you don't have to worry. Not only was there a ribbon on the apple tree but ribbons were all over, every branch and fence and a big cloth with the words "Welcome home my son".

There is always a place for you to come back. God will not turn you away. If you come back to God like David there will always be reconciliation. My prayer for you is to never harden your hearts.

A Walk with God

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I know when we talk about a walk it can be sensitive. Like walking Petaling Street during the street rally. But this is a blessed walk when you walk with God. I believe it's a message for the season.

I just want to ask a few questions for a start. I feel they are relevant.

1. Are you going through a spiritual desert experience? You just feel God is far away. And things overwhelm your life. And anxiety has come back. And worries and there's a spiritual vacuum.
2. Are you tired of serving in a ministry? You wake up Monday and you think about resigning. Friday you prepare for cell and Saturday you feel better because no longer have to prepare.
3. Are you tired of being a Christian? Perhaps the worst scenario. In other words, are you spiritually weary?

If you are then this message is to lift you up. Some of us here have grown and is on fire. And is fresh and vibrant but this message is also for you to guard you against spiritual weariness. In our spiritual journey there will be ups and downs. So this message is for both. To lift you or to guard you.

Spiritual journey weariness is about those who are putting their hands on the plough. Not those who for one reason or another is sitting idly. Our church is a serving church.  No problems getting people to serve.

The question is are you walking with God or working for God? This is a message I speak from experience.

After I accepted the Lord I went to cell at Bro Wilbur’s house under Bro Jason as cell leader.  Those days I was really working for God. From 1994, I would do anything that is to do with serving the church. I was found in church and put my hands on the plough. I served as usher, Sunday school, cell leadership, youth. Almost anything.

Then one night I had a chat of Pastor Geoffrey. I told him I'm burned out. I used that word. My mom was very angry with me back in 1995. My wife had Rebecca and those days I always had something in church. My mom was excited because it's her first grand daughter. My mom will ask me to run errands. And I remember telling her I'm not free. Have to go to church.

My mom was not happy. She is saying I'm now a new father but I told her I've to go to church. I just work and work. It's not about right or wrong but that was my experience.

I told pastor I want to stop and I want to take a year off. I took a year off. People asked me why I'm no longer a cell leader? I went for some studies at Baptist Seminary but I told pastor I will be back. Not the Terminator kind ya.

One Friday afternoon I told pastor, I am back! I went to see him and he wondered where to fit me in because it's been a while. I believe there may be people here who can relate to me.

I was trying to work for God in which I am not called for because I'm called to walk with God. That's just the introduction.

Genesis 5:24

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Enoch did not see death. He was translated to heaven. But I want to focus on Enoch walked with God. What did Moses see when he said Enoch walked with God?

The commentary by Matthew Henry looked at it this way.

When you want to walk with someone, you have to be in agreement with the person. Moses must have in mind that Enoch had agreed with God in all things.

One problem we have is we do two things we're not supposed to. We do what we want and then we turn to God and say God now you do something. The second is that everything is God's business but we leave God out of the picture. The thing is if things are bad, we blame God. If things are good we take all the credit.

Enoch is constantly someone who wants to please God and not offend him and look into the interest and glory of God. He is always aware that God is always there for him, a refuge for him. That there is no fear in him because the Lord that is beside will always be his fortress.

That he will always be spiritually vibrant because God is working through him. Our hands are called to the plough, we are not meant to be idle. A godly walk will always express itself in godly works.

One day my daughter Esther in my car saw a monk and she asked me about monks. So I tried my best to explain to her. She then said, oh, then you can be a monk.

There were Christian monks in the early church history. Some would be spiritually close to God and would go out to do good works. There are also those who just want to have a spiritual experience with God without going into the world to work.

John 17:14-15

14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

When we walk with God, we will work for him and him working through us. It's a joy to allow God to work through us.

To cell leaders, who is going to be having a cell at 8.00pm and you're quarrelling with your wife at 7.30pm  that the food is not ready and the place is not ready, then it seems like you are working for God, like a job.

The Lord will set in order all things and in his timing all things will work for good. Let God work through you rather than you work for God.

Every time you commune with God, it is a deep personal experience. It's an experience that will give you that spiritual strength. Walking with God is something no one has except the children of God. It has to be cultivated. I like watching TV and movies, I play badminton and do other stuff but to spend time with God needs to be cultivated. Today if you go back and you've not spent time with God, spend some time with him. Some use the word communion, or prayer, or devotion, or worship. Whatever it is, spend some time with the Lord.

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The Hebrew writer said Enoch pleased God. God is a relational God, so Enoch had a relationship with God that pleases God.

The same was with Jesus.

Matthew 3:16-17

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Notice that this was before Jesus began his ministry. He was commended for his walk with the Father. Not because of his work. If we are to please the Almighty, it's about our walk with him and not our work.

Somehow or another we just cannot put this into practice. If we were to do a survey, whether we will spend 3 hours to pray or 3 hours to move the furniture, I would think most would tick move furniture. 3 hours may seem like an eternity praying for some, like after 10 minutes, you don't know what else to say. Where else, when you put your hands to moving the furniture, 3 hours seem to pass by quickly. The more we spend time with the person we love, the more we can relate to the person. Every time we spend time with him, we open up the communication channel.

Many of us believe that as long as we are working for God, God is pleased. If we do not have a corresponding walk with God, then it is self commission.

If you are not serving, you will be on self omission. You will also be cold. Your walk with God would also be cold. Sin separates us from God. We are all not perfect. Pastor is not perfect. I am not perfect. Vive is not perfect. The board is not perfect. My father, just before he died, he told me I'm not perfect but he said I look forward, forgetting my pass failures and that I need Jesus. I know he is saved.

What God wants of us is a desire not to sin. It is not the perfect state of not sinning. But that desire not to sin. People justify by saying they cannot relate to God because they have sin. What is our path for coming back to God? Here we have to look at the one person, the source of all this problem. We have to look at Adam.

Adam when he sinned what did he do? He made a cardinal error.

Genesis 3:8-10

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

From these verses you know it was not the first time God was walking into the garden. But this time Adam was not to be found. He hid himself and he saw himself unworthy to be in God's presence. And God asked where are you? Different people have interpreted this differently.

The question did not give you the tone of his voice. If God said "WHERE ARE YOU!!!" No wonder Adam hid. If me I'd run.

But careful exegete tells us this.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel.”

God is already saying that  Jesus will crush the serpents head.

Genesis 3:21

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

If God is angry he would not have clothed Adam. Let him run naked better. This tells us that God cared for Adam. God was grieved like a father, but God was also gracious.

God probably said "where are you?" Like a father looking for his son. A father who would want to restore the situation. Adam got it wrong. And this is where I tell you this, when you sin, you moved away. Not God. And when he comes to you, he does not want you to do it again. Look at David.

He is called a man after God's heart but he sinned terribly. The sin of Bathsheba and the murder he committed. It was a public sin because Bathsheba got pregnant. The people knew what the King David did when he sent her husband to the death, but just didn’t dare say it in public or confront him. It took one whole year until the Lord spoke to Nathan and Nathan confronted him. Nathan approach David in a round about way and David was convicted. I have sinned against the Lord. And look at his confession in Psalms 51.

Psalms 51:1-4

A Prayer of Repentance

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

​1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

He repented. If you sinned against God, just get on your knees and repent and you'll be completely restored. When you have a cold heart, God is waiting and asking "where are you?".

My mom said being a pastor is not easy. Her pastor called her and asked why she's not in church? So she responded and said "just don't go to church three weeks only and Pastor called"! So she went back to church. Another time after three weeks she didn't go to church, she complained "three weeks didn't go to church pastor also didn't call". Call also wrong didn't call also wrong. Difficult to be a pastor.

We have much to learn from David the psalmist. Moses is known as the man of the mountain.  But David is called a man after God's heart. David spent a lot of time reflecting on God. Read the Psalms and you find it's theology in poetry form. It's not something he did in one week. It was a continuous thing. Throughout his whole life he wrote many many songs.

Walking with God is simple. Think of him all the time. During your work, driving, praying or studying the bible. Think of him.

I want to end with this.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Come to him to follow him. To follow him is to walk with him. A man who walks with God is a man who will always have the rest of the soul.

The Spiritual Man

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I actually prepared this some time back wondering what the Lord had for us. And as usual you do one and then decide on another along the way. And I have changed my sermon several times and this is my third message which I think is the message for this season.

I title the message "The Spiritual Man" and this includes the ladies.

When I work on the spiritual man I want to say that in times like ours religion is getting a bad name. Some say it is the religious people that commit the worst atrocities. A friend of mine say I have a Christian in my office and he is a hypocritic. Sometimes we just brush it off but if you think of it, there is some truth.

In the Middle East now we have the ISIS and the atrocities committed by them is in the name of religion. You may say that's not us. But the church at one time has a special department called the Inquisition. It has evolved and today it is known as the Department of Doctrinal Truth. Referring to the Roman Catholic Church. At that time in the name of God they are arrested and charged and subjected all sorts of torture. Just to get a confession. If you see their instruments of torture, you'll see how terrible they were.

And the worst part is that it is committed in the name of God.

The other end of the extreme are people who confess to be the children of God but the life they lead are worst than the atheist. Sometimes those who confess a certain faith live a life worst than an atheist. What had this got to do with today's message?

I'm looking at the stumbling blocks of spiritual maturity. You may see spiritual extremes. Those who may say you break the Ten Commandments for most things you do in life. Or the other extreme where a Christian does what he does because he believes once saved always saved. Already going to heaven so why worry and they do terrible things as a Christian.

Today I'm going to address this issue. Let's see who the apostle Paul is like.

Acts 7:57-58

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Saul is the Roman name of Paul.

Acts 7:59-60

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen died a terrible death being stoned. It's horrible, as each stone hits you until you finally die. But look at Stephen. He sort of couldn't care less. He looked to heaven and asked the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit and do not charge them with this sin. What a spiritual man.

Who was looking on? Saul!

Acts 8:1

Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout othe regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:2-3

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Compare what these godly men did compared to Saul. Saul was terrible.

Acts 9:1-2

​1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Then came verse 3, the most important for us Christians.

Acts 9:3-4

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Here I am going to do some forensic studies, like CSI. You know that TV Series? They will be at a crime scene and they'll look for clues and evidence. They'll look at the tyre tracks and determine the make of the car. I remember there was also a local version of CSI. The police examine tyre tracks and told the inspector this is the track for the murderer. "Itu tair saya la bodoh!". (laughs)

If you look at Saul, most commentators believe as they run through the narrative that he was the Pharisee of Pharisees. He was trained and is someone following the mosaic law to the letter. Then he see Stephen and it's something that confused him. Stephen had the face like that of an angel and finally when he says do not hold this sin against them, it probably struck a chord in him. Saul is not a coconut. There must have been a spiritual struggle. His Pharisitic walk compared to that of Stephen, he could probably see something he does not have. That was most likely his spiritual struggle. This is of course my view and many other commentators.

He was primed for Jesus to reveal to himself to him and Jesus did. Sometimes when you share to someone and he didn't seem to be open and one day you just felt it's right to talk to him and he is ready to accept the Lord. That person have probably gone though a struggle that prepared him. God does a work where he is ready to open up to you at that point of time.

This man who puts people in prison and subjected them to torture wrote this.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

What a change. A changed man after his conversion. A man full or love and grace. A man who believes love never fails. No wonder after many years when the Judais tried to bring the Christians back to the old ways. Paul said this to the galatians.

Galatians 5:1

​Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

They were saying they have to circumcise in order to be saved. They must be a Jew before becoming a Christian. It would mean you cannot be saved by faith alone but that a certain work is needed.

Paul is saying don't feel guilt. Don't feel the penalty of sin. And that you are free from the power of sin. And that was the freedom that Paul was talking about. Don't go back to the law because he experienced it, the bondage of the law. Going back to legalism. To do the works of the law in order to be saved. Paul says don't go back.

Galatians 5:2-4

2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

This legalistic spirit relating in works manifest in a different way in the church. We all do ministry. Some of the signs of works coming in is this.

You run a ministry with 5 persons under you. You run it well and the church compliment them for a job well done. But the 5 says in future they don't want to work under you. This is work. You are relating to duty rather than to God.

The other would be you are in a specific ministry. You may have critics that say you didn't do the ministry well. It doesn't feel good. I can say this because I have been in ministry. And you get upset and you say you think you can do better? That is a hint of works in the ministry.

If Sis Grace cannot worship and Jacob is also not around and so I am called to do worship. Majesty! Worship his majesty…I think half the congregation will faint. After that you tell me my worship leading is terrible. I will not feel offended. I'm not in my element.

But I'm a teacher by nature and preaching is probably on the side and when I do Bible Study and you come and tell me that my Bible study is boring and I feel offended then it's a better test of my spirituality. It's my Achilles heel. This I may say "if you think you can do better you teach lo!". It's a test of me in relation to my ministry and it'll show it is works rather than as unto the Lord. That is religiosity.

Jesus does not accept you based on your works. Jesus accepts you by basis of grace. The law of Moses has its bedrock on the Ten Commandments. So you may say if you are saved by grace you are free from the Ten Commandments? Free from the law. These are asked by the church. You are free but is it a licensed to sin?

When Paul writes that you are free it's not a 007 licence. That is a licence to kill. I am saying you are not free to sin.

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Paul is saying don't take this freedom to sin and become a worldly man.

Galatians 5:19-21

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul warned them. And the like…because there are just too many to list. You are not free to sin. The warning is you will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I always say this; An act of sin does not disqualify us from heaven but a life of sin qualify us for hell.

Life of sin can be described as how people look at you. They see you a "puak keow kui" (gambling devil), "chiu kui" (alcohol devil), or "584" (pervert) then gone already.

These are extremes that hinder us from our walk with God. You will not grow as a Christian. At best you'd be a baby in Christ and at worst you may not even be a Christian. If you practice religiosity.

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

The first part is legalism and the second part is a faith that expresses in love. This love is not found in any other faith because it's agape love. Unconditional love. A love that does not look at the person. 

There is this difference of like and love. I like you but I may not love you. If I were to go on a tour, I'd like to go with people I like. Or in a boy girl relationship. You need to like the person first. But a time may come when that like turn to love. If the person says I like you got chance. If the girl say I don't like you, habis! We start with like and then love. That is not agape.

Agape work like that. I don't like you but I love you. I don't like you but I agapao you. I love you with the love of the Lord. You may not like the person but you still love the person.

That's why the Bible says love your enemies. Not like them. If you love them you do wish well for them and pray for them.

We have three "L"

1. Legalism
2. Licentiousness
3. Loving Spirit

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

That's why it says serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:14

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

These were where the Pharisees argued concerning which is the greatest law in Matthew.

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Agape love cannot be forced. It only comes when first and foremost you love the Lord.

I was a young Christian. I have changed much as a person. Maybe I'm older too. I am not a very expressive person. I don't even often hug my children. Even my parents know I love them but I don't often express it. One day my mom was cooking and I was praying in another room and I was so drenched with the love of God that I came out and gave her a hug. My mom nearly fainted. My mom must be wondering what's wrong. You cannot churn out agape love. The agape love comes from God.

It is a love that is not found in man. It is a love of God. The word love is the most relational word for man. And this is what Paul is telling us. Walk the way of love and be a spiritual man. The way of having Christ close to you. Jesus is crying in his heart "come to me". That is when his love is poured out in us and that is when a person who is unlikeable or unlovable can be loved.

It took a miracle for Stephen to say what he said because the agape love of God came upon him and he could say forgive them.

Sometimes when we cannot love someone to heaven we can scare someone to heaven. Of course better if we can love someone to heaven.

Some tell me that with grace the Ten Commandments is no longer valid. Where stand then the Ten Commandments if we have this freedom. It is actually all compressed into this.

Galatians 5:14

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Without going into doctrinal arguments you can answer it this way. Start all the Ten Commandments with "If you love God…".

If you love God, will you worship other gods? If you love God will you take his name in vain? If you love God will you commit murder or steal? etc.

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:21

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

Grace does not change the moral law of God. They are unchanged. God is holy then he is holy now. What grace does is remove legalism where salvation is by works.

That is the spiritual man. The religious man is defined by his judgemental spirit, the spiritual man is defined by his grace. 

An example is the woman caught in adultery. They wanted to catch Jesus. If he lets her go then he is licentious but if he stone her then where is love? No one can trap Jesus because he is the perfect man and God. He ask the person who has not sin stone the woman.  Slowly one by one they moved away. Here is spirituality vs religiosity. When Jesus didn't condemn her he also addressed licentiousness by asking her to go and sin no more. A spiritual man is not a worldly man.

Here is when we look at what we said about religious people making the worst atrocities. I want to restate that it is religious fanatics that make the worst atrocities. It is the religiosity that plant the seed for fanaticity.

I want to encourage all of us as we walk with Christ, let us not detour to religiosity or licentiousness. Let us walk in his love.