Justice and Mercy

Melinda Song at Calvary Assembly

Compared with Pastor Roland, I am very bad at networking. I have lost contact with all of my school friends but once, after many years, I attended a school reunion. As usual people have changed. Where I was concern most of my ex-school mates were amazed at my weight gain.

Believe it or not, I used to weigh only 45kg in school. If a wife is worth her weight in gold my husband’s investment in me has really appreciated over the years!

The other thing that surprised my old friends was my conversion because I used to be “anti-Christian” in school. I actually had an issue with God then. I looked around with my idealistic teenage eyes and was very upset to see all the bad things happening to good people. I became even more indignant when I looked at Christians because God was allowing those hypocrites into heaven.

One day I attended an evangelistic meeting prepared to resist Christ but God dealt with my wrong perception of His injustice when the evangelist mentioned Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” I realized that God was fair after all.

Looking back I am shocked at my audacity in accusing God of injustice. In my foolishness I didn’t realize that I needed mercy from God, not His justice.

Today I would like to share on with you my journey of faith and understanding of God’s justice and mercy.

As any parent would know, “Not fair!” is a common complaint from children, especially when they feel that someone else has gotten a better deal than they did. It is almost as if a sense of justice as fairness is woven right into our DNA.

As we look at what is happening around us, it would seem as if God is not "fair," as we measure fairness. But what we fail to realize is that God is just as He defines justice.

Justice is receiving exactly what you deserve, no more and no less. If a traffic police flags you down justice demands that you pay a fine for exceeding the speed limit, unless you ask for mercy, which the traffic police may or may not extend to you.

How often have we rejoiced when justice is served, such as when a bully gets bullied, or when a cheater gets cheated, because it is pay back time!

We believe in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” which is a popular theme for all the sword-fighting and mafia movies. We fail to realize that this is actually God being merciful in setting limits to our vengeance because the tendency is for the avenger to end up slaughtering the whole family instead of just the perpetrator.

Similarly, we expect to receive the consequence for our actions when we do right. We want to enjoy remuneration that commensurate with our responsibilities and work done.

Justice compares our performance only against God's absolute standards of perfection, without any regard to what other people say, do, or receive. Fairness, on the other hand, measures what we receive as compared to what other people receive.

Fairness is having every person treated equally under the law, regardless of the differences in age, character, race, economic status, attitude, accomplishments, prior behavior or personal charm.

Communism is the theoretical epitome of fairness; everybody gets the same income regardless of what he or she actually contributes to the community. Fairness allows no favorites and rewards no excellence. It breeds mediocrity.

The reality is that the real world that we live in is a very unfair place. Things happen everyday to people that don't deserve it and other people get away with stuff that they shouldn't have.

So how do we reconcile the injustice we see around us with a just God?

I. ​GOD IS GOD

Isaiah 45:18 (NKJV) For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other. 19. ... I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 21. ... there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.

Today we have lost the transcendence of God. This is a fact many of us overlook in our “I am a friend of God” culture. God as Creator of the heavens and the earth have a claim of ownership over the earth. He is sovereign and He exercises supreme power and authority over it.

The earth was created with a particular purpose. He “formed it to be inhabited”. We were part of a creation that is meant to fulfill the purpose of God.

In verse 19, God claims to speak righteousness, and to declare things that are right. As God He determines what is right and wrong. In the original polytheistic context, this passage was claiming that the true God was the only God and that…

II. ​GOD IS JUST

Justice flows from the very being of God.

Deu 32:4 (NKJV) He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.

Psalm 89:14 (NKJV) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face.

Abraham in Gen. 18:25 successfully appeals to God’s own character of righteousness when he says, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Abraham was bold enough to make this appeal because he knows that …

1. God loves justice

Justice is God’s passion.

Isaiah 61:8 (NKJV) “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery for burnt offering;
I will direct their work in truth,
And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

Justice is also God’s yardstick.

Isaiah 28:16-17 (NKJV) Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
17 Also I will make justice the measuring line,
And righteousness the plummet;
The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the hiding place.

God hates injustice and throughout Scripture God’s heart is bent toward those who are weak, oppressed, and in danger.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

We cannot comprehend God’s justice because…

2. God's justice is not like man’s justice​

There are two problems with man’s justice.

a. We apply the principle of justice to everyone but ourselves.

We desire justice for others who do evil, but we never apply that same principle to ourselves. Rarely do we say to others, “If I hurt you, hurt me back the same way.” When people hurt us we cry out, "How could they - I want justice!" When we wound we plead, "Have mercy on me - I am only human!"

I have yet to hear a Christian pray, “Lord, when I sin against you, give me what I deserve for that sin.” No, we naturally ask for mercy.

b. Two people, regardless of how sincere, may not always agree on justice due to selfishness and the deceitfulness of the human heart.

For example, during the American Civil War the Southern states did not see anything wrong with slavery whereas the Northern states felt strongly that slavery was an injustice that must be rectified.

Unlike man, God dispenses perfect justice. God’s justice is really magnanimity, being more than fair to everybody because he is being true to himself. God makes the sun to shine on the evil and the good and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).

This shows that besides being just…

III. ​GOD IS MERCIFUL

Mercy was and is key in his redemptive acts

Isaiah 63:9 (NKJV) In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

The wages of sin is death. Mercy is deliverance from the justice we deserve. We deserve His justice and His wrath against us in the eternal lake of fire because we have sinned against an infinitely holy God but the Bible says that God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) and saves us not because of anything we have done, but because of His mercy alone (Titus 3:5).

In Hebrews the throne of God is the place where mercy can be received.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

From our perspective, it appears that God's justice and God's mercy are conflicting attributes, and that He must choose which He will ignore and which He will follow. In actual fact God does not show mercy at the expense of His justice. God has made a way that satisfies both His justice and His mercy.

Romans 3:21-26 (NKJV) But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Justice is either served through the shed blood of Christ, or justice is served through the punishment of unrepentant sinners in hell for eternity. Christ paid a debt He did not owe because we had a debt we could not pay. Because God’s wrath was satisfied and justice served, His mercy abounds for those He saves. That is justice and mercy working together.

As I look back, I realize how naïve I was when I accused God of injustice. It was so foolish of me to insist on justice when what I needed was God’s mercy.

SO WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?

First of all, God want us to act justly and show mercy.

Micah 6:8 (NKJV) He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Isaiah 56:1 ((NIV) This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

Justice does not happen naturally. Without attention, “injustice” fills the void and God has called his people to be agents of justice and grace as we serve those in need.

God wants us to seek justice but it is something that we should seek for others more than for ourselves. We are to deny ourselves, treat each other fairly and help out everybody that you can, while we let our heavenly father be the just judge that he is and let him deal with the wrongs that are made against us.

Yes, we live in a world of injustice and oppression. Maybe you have been a victim of some form of abuse or injustice but some of greatest movements have come from those who were victims of injustice.

I have a friend who was unjustly dismissed by his boss who was a fellow Christian. He released his anger and the resentment to God and eventually forgave the brother. In hindsight he saw the as part of God’s plan to push him out of his comfort zone so that he could answer the call of God to full-time ministry.

Likewise, Joni Tada Eareckson, who became a paraplegic at 17 after a diving accident, was able to rise above the injustice of her being robbed of the active lifestyle she had and spearhead a ministry ministering to many others who are in the same circumstances.

You can make a difference in at least one personʼs life. You can have a testimony, a ministry, an influence, and an impact. Will you allow the injustices of this world to move you to action?

Recently we have a modern day depiction of the Good Samaritan. On 10 July 2012, at least five people walked past an elderly snatch theft victim who fell unconsciousness in the attack, without lifting a finger to help There was plenty of outrage over the internet. There was also lot of talk in my office but the question we ought to ask ourselves is “WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE?”

I have known such mercy and I am personally indebted to an unknown Indian man who came to my aid more than 40 years when I fainted by the roadside on the way to my friend’s house.

Secondly, God want us to receive his mercy and the free gift of salvation.

In the movie The Last Emperor, the young child anointed as the last emperor of China lives a life of luxury with 1,000 servants at his command. “What happens when you do wrong?” his brother asks. “When I do wrong, someone else is punished,” the boy emperor replies.

To demonstrate, he breaks a jar, and one of the servants is beaten. In Christianity, Jesus reversed that ancient pattern: when the servants erred, the King was punished.

The most oppressed and unjustly persecuted person that has ever lived is Jesus Christ. Yet, through His death, He has provided for us eternal life. It is a free gift and it is yours for the taking.

Believe in Christ today as your only way to heaven. He was oppressed for you; He suffered unjustly for you. Do not let His death be in vain for you.

Worship

Pastor Gideon

When I mention the word worship, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? What do you think worship is all about? Is it the one hour or 45 minutes that we take time to sing before we hear the word. Or is worship something that when I am in church that I am able to worship God or I come to church to worship God? Well, if those are your answers, I am not saying that the answers are wrong, but I would like this morning to realign some of our thinking with regards to worship. When I talk to Christians, some mature Christians, they have a different idea what worship is all about. This morning I want to make sure that we in Tabernacle of Praise have the right footing or is on the right track when we talk about worship. How many of you know the song “The Heart of Worship”?

You know the guy who wrote this song is Matt Redman. And you know this song came out of the time when the pastor of his church is trying to teach his congregation what it means to worship God. And the pastor was so radical that he wanted to make sure that the people had a right idea of worship. That you know on Sunday they would come and they would sing to God without the instruments, without songs even at a point. And that is what the pastor was doing. He wanted to teach the people the real meaning of worship. And in that course of teaching the people, Matt Redman wrote this song as he finally understood that at the end of the day after everything is said and done, everything is all about Jesus. 

It is not about the music, it is not about the songs that we sing, yes it is important. It is not about the worship leader, it is not about the selection of the songs on that morning, it is not how nice the place looks, the auditorium looks, again I want to remind you that all these are important. I want you to know that when you come to Tabernacle of Praise, I want you to experience a wonder atmosphere of worship and all these things, good instruments, good sound system, good ambience contributes to worship but that is not worship. 

Our worship to God cannot be dependent on these things. That is what Matt Redman at the end of the whole exercise that his pastor was trying to do, understood it is not about the songs, and they learn to worship God even without singing. I mean you can sing but you worship God without instruments.

This morning I want to talk to you about worship because I feel this is important for our church and the next few weeks I hope that you will never miss Sunday service because I’m going to talk to you about the very basic but fundamental truth for our church. We are going to talk about prayer and fasting coming up very soon, we going to talk about giving, talk about tithing, where does it stand with God. We are going to talk about evangelism, that God had put in my heart. I hope that you won’t miss church because I want you to hear this.

John 4:1-26
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
1 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

Revelation 22:9
But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”


Now it’s kind of ironic in a sense that in the last chapter of the Bible it is to worship God, the last positive command that was given to us is to worship God. Worship is important, it is an integral part of a church, of the Christian life. You can’t be a Christian without understanding worship; you can’t be a Christian without worshiping one true God.

Background
Jesus is going from Judea to Galilee and He has to pass by this town called Samaria. And so it is a place where He takes a break, so He stop at this place, sit at the well, and the disciples had gone into town to buy food. And so, Jesus is alone. 

While He is seating by the well, came a Samaritan women. The Bible said she came at about the sixth hour, which is about 12 noon. If you are the person who wants to come to draw water, you will normally do it in the morning, not do it in the middle of the day, or probably you can do it at the end of the day but most of the people will come when it is cool, in the morning. They will come to the well to draw water because of the use for the whole day. 

But this lady, she came at about 12 noon, there is a reason that she is coming at 12 noon. She came at 12 noon because she wanted to avoid the crowd, and later on we understood why she wanted to avoid the crowd. She was not a person with a good reputation. She doesn’t want people to look at her, she was probably an outcast in the society. When she came at about 12 noon, she saw Jesus and Jesus saw her, and Jesus ask her this, "can you give me some water to drink". She replied, I am a Samaritan and you are a Jew, according to our custom and normal practice we don’t mix, we don’t talk to one another. And it is not common for a man to talk to another lady in those days directly, especially as Jesus was alone. In fact Jesus is breaking every custom or tradition in that sense back in those days.

Jesus replied, don’t worry about that and the lady said the well is deep and you have nothing to draw from the well. It is true, Jesus have nothing to draw from the well. Whenever Jesus do something, He has a purpose, therefore there is no such thing as a coincidence with Jesus. Jesus planned an appointment with this lady at the well.

Jesus began to tell her in regards to living water, telling her the water that she see in this well will only satisfy you physically for a short time. And Jesus revealing Himself to her that "if you know who you are talking to, you would ask of me, the living water that gives eternal life".

She asked Jesus a very important question, “You Jews say we must worship in Jerusalem, but Jews did not allow them. Jews said we cannot worship in their temple, and the Samaritans built their own temple in Mount Gerizim. There is a debate going on, where should you worship. Should you worship in Jerusalem, or should you worship on this mountain?

 So she asked Jesus, where should we worship? Then Jesus gave her a very radical idea, Jesus replied in verse 21, there would come a time no matter where you worship, worship is not about the place, it is not about coming to church (church is a place for corporate worship). Your worship to God cannot be limited to a place. Jesus is actually in fact telling her, worship must be a lifestyle. It must not be only just an one hour or 45 minutes when we come to church to worship God. Everything that we do, everything that we say in our workplace, at home and at college, God considers that as worship. In your giving you are also worshipping God. When you do a good deed, or kindly to someone, you stop by to help someone, it is worship to God. 

Worship must be who you are as a person. It is not limited to a place, when you are out of the church, when you driving on the road are you worshipping God? It is not putting a CD or tape, it is every conduct, every work that I receive in my workplace, in my business dealing, am I worshipping God. Back in the old days, God has the temple for the people to worship, but now God has His people for a temple. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is not important where we worship now; God has His people as His temple. Worship must be a lifestyle, in everything we do and in everything we say. As people see us and we are worshipping God in everything that we do and God is pleased with everything that we do. Worship is a lifestyle that continues in a person. Worship is not localized in a place. Worship must happen as a lifestyle. If we understand that worship is a lifestyle, and we come to church it won’t be a problem for us to worship.

Verse 23
Worship is when we really connect with God. Jesus is looking for a people who worship in spirit and in truth. He is looking for true worshippers. Worshipping in a way He want to be worshipped. When we come to church, Jesus should be the focus. It is all about Jesus. Whether we came in a good or bad mood, doesn’t matter who the song leader is, what songs we are singing, whether the band is playing well, the focus is on Jesus. The focus is not about what we can get out of the service, the focus is what we can bring to Him. If we worship God based on what we feel, it won’t go far. Because the focus on worship is never on us, it is about what we can bring to Him. If we know the right worship, all blessings will come and will flow, it is how it works. We come to worship for who He is. He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He deserves to be worship. So the focus is not on what we can receive, the focus is on God.

We are here to be a blessing. Blessed to be a Blessing, we are bringing our worship to Him.

The Bible said, He is looking for true worshippers. Only people that can truly worship God are Christians. Because the Father is looking for true worshippers that will worship Him in spirit and in truth, in order for you to have true worship, we want to know who the Father is. Because of the relationship with Him, we are able to call Him Abba Father and because of this, we His sons and daughters are able to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

As we worship Him, blessings will follow, because this is how God works. God is looking for true worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in truth, it is beyond how we feel, what we think, it is to connect with God at spiritual level with the help of the Holy Spirit. We must worship a God of Revelation. That means, as the Bible say who He is, worshipping Him in truth. We are not worshipping a God of speculation, we are worshipping a God that reveals in the Bible. In spite of what we are going through this morning, what happens in our life, He is still sitting on the throne. We have the capability or the ability to worship Him because we are the sons and daughters of God, we can worship the Father in spirit and in truth. It must not be dependent on how we feel or how our surroundings look, it must be dependent on the fact that He is God and He deserves our praise and worship this morning.

In summary, worship is about Jesus and the focus is on Jesus. The worship team helps us to facilitate in our worship but it is not worship. Worship happens when we come before the Lord and we connect with Him at a Spiritual level and when we worship Him in spirit and in truth. One day we will try to worship God without any instruments, let’s worship God when we walk out from this church. Let's see Jesus in you.

Many thanks to Sis Esther for transcribing today's message in my absence 

and to Darren for taking the photo. They did an excellent job.

Partnership in Evangelism

Rev Jeremiah Abel

Excellent turnout for the combine service before the EGM.

We had a wonderful combined worship service led by Bro Jeffrey and Sis Melissa.

I just enjoyed the time of worship with you. When you were singing in both languages I can imagine how wonderful it will be when we sing in heaven in all languages.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Many mission organizations look at this verse and say there is a long time to go before the end will come. They did not realize we are living at the end of the church age. We do not have much time for evangelism. In fact all over the world the gospel has already been proclaimed. Through radio, the web, TV and other media. And the church needs to realize the time that we have we need to not laze around but preach the word of God.

Remember three words.
1. Task
2. Tools
3. Teams

This is important for us today. If I were to name this message it would be "Partnership in Evangelism".

1. Task - simply means the great commission. In all four gospels it is mentioned.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It did not say end of the world. It's the end of this church age. And the Lord has commissioned us to teach the word of God and baptizing them. We are to be obedient to His word. Again He emphasized on the great commission before He ascended.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


To the ends of the earth. Jesus when on earth He specifically made this statement. Luke 19:1 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Jesus came to save the world.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He loves us that's why He came and the great commission is a task given for us to preach the gospel.

You are going to have an EGM and you are expanding. Praise the Lord! Amen? The funds and energy we have is for the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

We are going to have a 40 days fast in August. What for? So that all people in Malaysia can hear about Jesus. And God has given us the tools.

2. Tools - are the gifts He has given us.

Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

In order to do the task, He equips us with gifts. In all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, there are 22.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

In chapter 12 there are 9 gifts in 3 categories.

Gifts of Utterance of Speech
1. Gift of Prophesy
2. Gift of Tongues
3. Interpretation of Tongues

Gifts of Demonstration of Power
1. Faith
2. Healing
3. Miracles

Gifts of Revelation
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Discernment of spirits


These are tools given by God. As much as you are given these tools we also need to recognize Ephesians 4, the gifts of Christ or often called the 5-Fold Ministries.

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

The purpose? They may have the other gifts operating in their lives but there specific roles for these people. As seen in the verses below.

Ephesians 4:12-13 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The purpose of these gifts?

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

There are many who may come and is deceptive. Claiming to be apostles when they are not. Your pastor is here to train and equip you all.

These gifts are tools. Tools that God has given. To preach the word and teach the people that they may not be swayed.

1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

The Lord has been getting me to churches to stir up the people. We need to recognize the task and to know that God has given us the tools. I believe that everyone of you here have gifts.

1 Peter 4:10-11 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

It is not we that receive praise but God be praised through Jesus Christ.

3. Team - fellow workers, co-labourers, workers together with Him

2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

I don't like independent churches. I don't like independent pastors also. We need to recognize that we need one another. We need to understand that in the work of God we need to partner in evangelism.

My prayer this morning is that we are a people that recognize these truth. And that we will partner together and depend and use these gifts God has given us.

We have to use these gifts in faith, serving. My prayer is that you will use these gifts God has given you. Each one of you have received gifts.

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

I'm done. Say it again. Task, Tools, Team.

Rev Jeremiah Abel's daughters performing a special.
It's been a long time since we heard hymns sung in parts. So blessed.

The EGM underway and it was well conducted, orderly and with unity in spirit.

The Demonstration of Faith

Pastor Gideon

Gen 23
1 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty- seven years old. 2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.
3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4 “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”
7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8 He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.”
10 Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11 “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”
12 Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13 and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.”
14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.”
16 Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants.
17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre –both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field–was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.

Hebrews 11:8-13
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren –was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Throughout the whole bible, Sarah is the only female whose age is revealed. That tells us the importance of Sarah. After Eve, Sarah is the second most important female character. We were also told about her beauty and even at the age of 90 she still captured the eyes of kings.

Abraham was not there during her death. The husband was probably tending to his business or at the fields when news of Sarah's departing came to him.

Abraham loved his wife and he came to mourn for Sarah. In verse 3, he rose up from where his wife was and made a decision where to bury his wife.

He was an alien to the land so he had to find a place to bury his wife. Logically speaking, if you were to pass away where would you want to be buried? The point is, when someone pass away, you'd want to be buried in a place significant to you. Where your home or heart is. Where your family is.

Abraham is an alien and a stranger in the land so, he would have wanted to take Sarah back to his home land. Even when looking for a wife, he searched his home town.

But no, he went to the Hittites.

Genesis 23:3-4 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4 “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”

He is not a citizen and have no full rights. He asked the Hittites to sell him a burial ground. A holding for a grave. A possession. This same phrase is used in Genesis 17:8 “The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

He want it to be owned, to be his.

The Hittites replied by offering him the choicest land for the burial. But Abraham was acting out his faith for an eternal possession. They wanted to just let him use it. Not own it.

Genesis 23:9 so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.”

He wanted to buy it for the full price to own that land. He told the people to ask Ephron to sell him the land even though he was in the crowd. He strategically told the people to convince Ephron.

Ephron was seated in the crowd and he wanted to give the field to Abraham. This was an ancient negotiation technique. He was offering it but still wanted to own the land.

In 23:15 he revealed the worth of the land at 400 shekels but it was done strategically so that the negotiation was to reveal the price yet looking generous.

Abraham understood and he gave him full value without hesitation. Abraham initially only wanted the cave but in the end he sold Abraham the cave including the fields and all that's on it.

This was the first piece of land in Canaan that was owned by Israel, a deposit of the promise land that God in the future was giving him. He was acting out his faith. He demonstrated that by making that place his home. A deposit for things to come.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

He followed God by faith without knowing the end. Abraham obeyed God and went.

Abraham understood another factor. He knew that ultimately he will enter heaven. Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

God has planted TOP for a purpose with a promise. We look forward to a place where God is the architect and builder. But while we are on this earth, TOP is being led to bigger things. When we bought the fourth floor, it was a deposit of things to come.

We are stationed here to be a lighthouse. We shouldn't move away as we are to work out God's promise to the church.

When we bought this place in 1999, the people offered interest free money to help buy the property. Today we have the fourth floor, and I pray we will own the third floor. We may take up the whole building (claps) but only if it is God's plan.

My heart is to plant churches and it must be a step of faith. At this place we are planting our flag and claiming it. Abraham gave a lot of money for the burial ground, but he knew he had to legally own it.

This morning, I challenge each one of us. When the church presents the news to us, let us rise up and meet the challenge.

Last but not least, we have a future that we need to stake a claim for our children and children's children like what Abraham did. Let's do it in faith and not in fear.

I have a dream. Can I share my dream with you? That we have a bigger foyer for us to fellowship between services. With a nice reception area as we mingle. A boardroom for meetings and that the fourth floor can be solely for the sanctuary. And the third floor for the children's church. I see the children's church and I cry. So pitiful. It's not like we cannot afford it. We will still leave a place for the Big Party. We have crossed the 400 mark. We can have collapsible doors which can also be used for lunch and wedding receptions. We will move our office there and if no place move the office out. Let's use this place for ministry.

But guys, it's not the pastor doing this alone right? To see this happen, I need you. We need to put our hands to it and do it.

We may come to a place where we have multiple service. We may move the Hokkien service to the third floor. But we need space to make it all happen.

Revisiting Ecclesia - The Called Out Ones

Bro Vive Subramanaim

In 2006, the Lord led us to Penang and it was my first time stepping into TOP. I never understood why God sent us here. Penang is a nice place for a holiday but living in Penang is something different altogether. The only thing God told us specifically was to see Pr. Geoffrey.

It's a privilege to be here, to be in the midst of what God is doing in TOP. During Bro Freddie's wake service; I realized that TOP has a great history. TOP has a great heritage. Sometimes it's good to look back to see what the Lord has done and reflect upon the goodness of the Lord.

This morning I would like to share on the topic, Revisiting Ecclesia.

The challenge of the 21st century church is that the church moved from being a first century movement, to a powerful organization in the middle ages, to a consumer mindset in this present world. The church moved from being concerned with the lost to being concerned with the insiders of the church.

The New Testament Greek word for the church is "Ecclesia", meaning "an assembly of called-out ones". ECCLESSIA has two purposes with regards to Ministry. One is Inward Ministry and the other Outward Ministry. The Inward Ministry refers to the ministry that goes on within the church. The Outward Ministry refers to the ministry that reaching out – based on the Great Commission and the great love of God for mankind. My focus of sharing today is on the External Ministry of the Church.

The church is given the mandate called the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20.


Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The church is given the mandate to propagate the Good News. We are familiar with the mandate but unfortunately the mandate has slowly lost it meaning among the 21st century Christian. We are living in our comfort zone that leads us to forget our ultimate purpose in this world. Time and time again, we are pounded with messages of the Great Commission. But what is our response?

Joseph Stowell identified the problem of the modern church well when he said, “We have become quite happy to call ourselves Christians with little or no thought of following”

The church knows the mandate but decides to stay in their comfort zone. Instead of being fishers of men, the 21st century church has become keepers of the aquarium.

I am glad that TOP is a balanced church with our various Outward ministries, our Big Party outreach for one.

This morning I want to share 3 perspectives with all of us how we as a church can reflect back our calling in answering the great commission that Christ has given us.

1. Ecclesia - The Purpose: Evangelism


I believe that evangelism is one of the elements that is embedded in the Great Commission. You don't evangelize to Christians, but to non-Christians. We are called to evangelism. In the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit came down in power in the Upper Room, the church went out to become witnesses.

Someone once said the church is meant to be the hospital for sinners and not museum for the saints.

We are a healing community; the church is a hospital for sinners, for the social outcast, for the brokenhearted. We are a community gathered that engages in a ministry of healing that reflects Jesus’ ministry. Hospital ultimate aim is to help the patient. As the church of Christ, our purpose is to bring the Good News, for people to come and experience the life of Christ.

One of my favorite shows in the late 1990’s was the medical drama “ER.” Each week the show usually began with a patient arriving at the hospital in an ambulance, and the doctors and nurses would rush them to a trauma room and with such passion and drama, they began working frantically to save yet another life.

The church is in the business of bringing the grace of God to the world filled with Sinners

Matthew 9:10-13 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. ’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The “Church is a hospital for sinners”, for it is here that we encounter Jesus’ healing power, both for physical and spiritual healing.

I believe in this context TOP is doing an excellent work in reaching out the community. We need all of us to join our hand together in reaching out Penang for Jesus.

2. Ecclesia - The Mission: Operation Save A Life


I recall two weeks ago Bro. Koay shared on his favorite show – Mission Impossible. In MI, every operation has a code name and it will self-destruct after few minutes.

The church is called to a mission and the code name for that operation is Operation Save a Life.

Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector 1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore- fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner. ’”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

I want to emphasize on this, "for the son of man came to seek and save the lost".

We are drawn into this mission because God is on a search and rescue mission. Luke 19, Verse 10 says this: "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost."

There are so many of us who are busy with the world that we forget the mandate for Christ. We are called to the Great Commission to save and rescue the lost.

In the movie The Guardian, the coast guards respond whenever there's a distress call - rescue and help will be sent on their way no matter the sea condition.

In a search and rescue mission, we are not held up by risks but to press on because of lives.

If you watch the movie Titanic, there was a lady named Molly Brown. She was crying out to the crew to help and save those who are still in the water, but she was ignored. Perhaps the greatest tragedy surrounding the Titanic is that many of those people in the water didn’t have to die. Many of the lifeboats were only half full. Hundreds of people were in the cold water with life preservers. Most of them did not die from drowning; they froze to death.

God has given us the capacity to serve Him to the fullest and done our very best for His kingdom's sake.

Looking back at the history of TOP, I am amazed at some of the things that some of us sitting here in the congregation have done. We have done a lot of great things and we are still doing great things. We need to put our effort together to save a life.

In a search and rescue, you don't know who you save. I am reminded of the person who took me to church and led me to Christ. Couple of years ago, I managed to make contact with the person. He was my school teacher and he gave me free tuition. I thanked Uncle Khoo for all that he has done especially the path to Jesus.

Curtis Hudson says that most churches are like ailing lungs, with only few cells doing the breathing.

There is no retirement when serving God. The only retirement in our mission is when God calls us home. Till then, let us serve Him faithfully.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost and today that mandate is extended to us to bring His message of salvation to others.

3. Ecclesia - The Warfare: Know Our Enemy

In a Search & Rescue Mission, we ought to know that we are in a spiritual warfare. It is not easy.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It is too bad that sometimes the church fail to realize who is the real enemy. Church, we need to know who is our real enemy in our battle. And we, as followers of Christ, are called to fight a good fight! But our fight is not against human flesh and blood. It is against the powers and principalities and rulers of the air.

In operation Desert Storm, the Americans went in to rescue Kuwait from Iraq. The highest casualties came from friendly fire. It is sad to hear that sometimes - "The church is the only army that shoots it’s own wounded."

The church in the 21st century failed to realize the real enemy. We need to know who we are fighting against; we need to know friends from foes.

Psalms 133 says, “How good and pleasant it is, when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore”.

Unity is an important nature of a church. A God led Church is always a united Church. Unity is an important nature of the church. The church that is led by God is always a united church.

The tragedy of disputes in the church is that it destroys the unity of the church and what Christ represents.

Friends, we need to know our real enemy and who we are fighting against.

Summary

The church is given the mandate which is the Great Commission, and that mandate translates to first our purpose, for evangelism. In fulfilling the mandate, we need to know the battle that we are facing.

My challenge to you this morning is “Are we geared up for the Great Commission?”

I would like to end with what Bro. Koay shared two weeks ago: The church has one mission; to bring a person who doesn't know Christ to know Him. And the church's mission is to complete that mission.

My heartfelt thanks to Melissa Cheah for standing in the gap and transcribing today's sermon. She has done an excellent job.

Paradoxes of God

Rev Mark Barnard

A hilarious moment when Rev Mark brought out a sword that belonged to Pastor Gideon joking that his counselling may not work but if you go to your Pastor, it will surely work if he draws this sword. He'd like to have this "tool" to bring home.

Many years ago we were here, some ten years ago and we found this church to be a beautiful church. We are now based in Tasmania at the bottom of Australia. It is very cold.

We bring greetings from our church, Kingborough Life Church, its a beautiful place. If you're there you can come and look us up.

Isaiah 55:1-8
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

It's interesting that there is something that God has for you that money cannot buy. In the economy of God money is not everything.

When you have been with God for a while you'll see that the world has little to offer you. We have found the prize of great pearl!

God wants to say something to us so that it will bring life to our soul. So that it will empower us to do what He desires.

v6-8 and here he says why. God's thinking is not the same as the way the world thinks. His ways and thoughts are not like man.

God's ways are very different from the world's ways. If people's thinking is at a level, God's ways and thinking are at a different level, higher than ours.

We are in a place of opportunity as there are seasons in our life. God sometimes change things because His ways are higher. Your pastor is new and God has led him to new things here.

God did the same with us when we were told by God to go and that's how we ended up at Tasmania. Tasmania was the last place on earth we were thinking of going. This was a church that had a lot of issues but there were nice people there. In fact we were thinking of Malaysia as we have been here so often, more than twenty times. But God wants to shift the church to a different level and that's why things happens for that season for a reason.

This bible is unique and very different from all other religious book. This is God's word and not just a book that contain God's word. Societies have been built based on foundations found in this book.

This book has a number of paradoxes where we struggle as it seemingly shows two contradictory issues. These seems rediculous but they are the word of God.

James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.


1. Exaltation comes from humility

The world says you have to climb over the top of people to get where you want.

I have had people prayed, God humble me. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. There was this lady that prayed to be like Job, as she said that he ended with so much. But do you know what Job went through? He lost everything. (Laughs)

Humble yourself. Don't ask God to humble you. Don't pray that prayer.

Lucifer was filled with himself and he wanted to be like God. Pride, and self exaltation destroyed the lives of Adam and Eve when they eat of the "durian" in the garden of Eden. I meant "fruit". (more laughs).*

* This was in context of Pastor Gideon jokingly asked TOP members to take Rev Mark out for durians knowing he hates them. He said it must have been durians in the garden of Eden since God says the day you eat it you shall surely die. And that there are thorns on the skin for a reason: not to be eaten.

Philippians 2:5-10
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death –
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Jesus left the glory of heaven and is the perfect example of how he humbled himself by coming to earth.

Selfish ambition is a killer of church life. Ministry is not about position. The bible says promotion comes from God. Exaltation come from humility.

2. Strength comes from weakness


2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Another paradox. When we can't do it, God can. If you want to do things that have eternal value, we need to operate in the faith realm and these are things we cannot do by ourself.

We can have good programmes to build Gods church but we need to recognise that to do the Lord's work we can't do it without the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It's not about the good music, the facilities if the church or the talent of the people. Paul, came to this place where he says without the Lord I can do nothing. Have we come to this place?

I have been doing ministry for half of my life. The further into it the less I know. I need to come to a place where I depended on him and yield to him. There was a time when I tried so hard and came to a point when I told God I cannot do it. And God said that's when He can take over and I get out of the way. That's when great things happen in the church.

And there may be a thorn in your flesh where you are struggling. God says my grace is sufficient for you. That's the sort of church God wants you to be where his strength is there in our weakness.

Let's go a little further.

3. We receive through giving


Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. ’”

This is again contradicting in terms. Sometimes we just see people that just want to take take take. The bible says that giving is the secret to receiving.

The Israelites are like that. They just ask and ask and ask. Like children who knows how to just ask to get their way.

This is scriptural secret.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Just like in Malachi regarding tithing. You can't out-give God. This is God's ways. If you don't give to God the devil takes.

Matthew 5:38-42
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. ’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

These are wisdom principles from God and you watch God works. We have so many testimonies regarding this.

The ultimate test is in giving something most dear. God did that when he gave us Jesus.

Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
God's ways are totally different from man's ways.

Maybe we do one more before I round up.

4. Finding comes through losing


Philippians 3:7-8
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

The bible says the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Sometimes we need to let go of some things in order to gain new things from God. Remember the rich man asking Jesus how he can enter the kingdom of God? Jesus told him to sell everything and follow him. Jesus didn't mind that he had possessions, it's just that his possessions had him and he can't let it go.

Same as Zacchaeus, where he gave back what he took and Jesus said salvation has come to your house. Two very different result. Interesting.

Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

If you want everything that God has for you, you may have to let go everything that is in the way. There are some things I know that is near to my heart. I have to learn to let go. Abraham had to give up his son, which was a gift of God. By being obedient, he became the father of many nations and God spared his son.

This is a good church and God wants to take us to a new place. You are a church I believe wants to be set up for significance in the future. It is not about the things we have but about a Church that captures the heart of God and wants to do God's will like how Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsamane. He went to the cross and died so that life can grow. A paradox. His ways and His thoughts are higher.

Pastor Gideon praying for Bro Kuan Thai and family who will be relocating to New Zealand in two week's time.

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