The Day after Christmas

Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. ’ ’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet:“Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets:“He will be called a Nazarene.”

Here we read what happened after Christmas. It is not really a good thing. King Herod wanted to kill him. This king is trying to take the life of the child. And not only that, Mary is forced to travel after delivery. Mind you they had to travel and flee for their life to Egypt. It is not easy for Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. They never had Singapore Airlines back then. They has to travel on a donkey.

Tomorrow we will countdown to the new year. But this morning as we prepare ourself for the new year, here are lessons we can learn.

There was this story where a slave fell in love with a girl name Ellen and wanted to get married. But at that time it was forbidden for a slave to marry another. So both of them lived in fear that they will be separated. So they decided to flee to Philadelphia where it is possible for them because the laws were different. Ellen was light skinned and could pass off as a white. So he pretended to be the slave to Ellen and they went in to Philadelphia.

It reminds me of their situation. Joseph and Mary had to flee for their lives. It's like our forefathers who came here in search of a new life.

So Joseph and Mary made a tough trip. With a king looking to take the life of their son. They must have been terrified. They went through the prompting of an angel.

Here we can learn a few things.

First, we need to acknowledge that not everything will go well just because we believe in Jesus.

Many people already know that Jesus will come as a King and set up his nation. But did that happen? No. Mary had to see her son grow up and be crucified on the cross and prophesy was not yet fully fulfilled.

I will share what the scripture did say about the promise of God. Sometimes it will not be easy for us to follow Christ. I remembered my father was the first in his family to become a Christian. He came home and when he told his parents he was kicked out of his house. And I think some of us can identify with that. But God promised that He will be with us all the time.

Sometimes we say that when you become a Christian all your problems will go away. This is a very simplistic way of looking at it. Yes, it is true that God is sovereign and will deliver you but it is on His time. Let's look at the book of Job.

Job 1
Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
Job’s First Test
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Can you imagine a man who has followed God with all his heart went through all these. He did not lay the blame on God.

And now in Chapter 2, God again asked Satan if he had considered Job. This is the second time.

Job 2:1-10
Job’s Second Test
1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

I don't know if you have had sores before but it is terrible. And really painful especially if it's at a sensitive spot. Sometimes it's so bad that a doctor have to dig in and removed the "nana". Imagine for Job it is from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. He must have been miserable.

Sometimes when we receive a promise of God, we may have to wait for it to be fulfilled and sometimes it needs to get worst before it gets better. But here is the good news, just as Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus to Egypt, He promises to be with them every step of the way. And from Egypt they came back again. And Joseph and Mary had to cling on to the promise of God. Just as how God is interested in your life. God is going to be with you all the way. He says "I will never leave you not forsake you."

As they followed the instructions of the angel, they were fulfilling a prophecy. In spite of what they were going through. As we enter 2013, I am not going to say that it will be wonderful. But what I want to say is that He will be there with you throughout 2013.

Two years ago I answered the call of God. I had to shift my family and my extended family, my fishes and pets. Some people ask me "Pastor, no church in Klang meh?" It was not that but it was about being obedient to God.

God provided for everything including my children's school. Two of my children went in. And they give it only to children staying in the vicinity. But we were not near there yet God did it. I went to the ministry and it so happened Bro KB had a cell member that was chairman in the school. You may say that he is the influence but if God had not made the two spaces available, it would not have happened. What are the chances that two of the students were transferred out.

Was it easy? No. We had to go through the stress. Looking for the house. Cannot stay at condo because of my fishes. And we had to shift again when the landlord wanted it back. And we found one a few doors away. That was another miracle. That is a long story. But God worked things out for us. Including all the kitchen cabinets, extended the house for my fishes, water heater and more.

Maybe there are some uncertainty in your life. Know this, God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is a good God. A faithful God.

Two years I have been in Penang and I am enjoying every moment of it. And I have a new child here. That shows the land in Penang is fruitful.

As you enter 2013, remember this, God is with you. It is going to be an awesome year. Not that there will be no problems but that He will be there with us. I am excited for TOP. Because I sense He is going to do something lasting in TOP. Built the people as you build the church. Are you ready for 2013? Come for watch night.

Bro Koay praying for Sunday School students who are graduating to Youth this year.

A Child Must Be Born

Rev Gideon Lee

Isaiah 9:1-9
To Us a Child Is Born
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan–
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Do you know what is it you have just read? It is a prophecy by the prophet Isaiah more than 700 years before Jesus Christ. He spoke about the first Christmas that is about to come. In fact in the book of Isaiah there are two prophecy on Christmas. This is the first one.

In the period of darkness and distress, he says "unto us a child is born". And if you look at the whole passage, the beginning is quite sad and distressing. But he reminds the people of Israel unto us a child is born.

As we celebrate Christmas we know that more than 2,000 years ago a child is born. That is the beginning part of Christmas.

I want to ask you a question before we go further. Who is this child to you? What does He mean to you? You see, when the world sees this child he is just a good man. Yes they believe that He is born of a virgin, they say He is just a good man or at most a prophet. Is Jesus just a good man to you, or just a prophet? To the Hindus He is just another god or to the Buddhist, He received enlightenment for being a good man.

But I hope He is not just a good man, a prophet or a good teacher to you.

When Isaiah penned this he gave four wonderful description of who Jesus is. I think it's sad that today we don't express ourselves when we write. Our words and conversation is so shortened. When we write an SMS or chat we use all short forms. But I am glad Isaiah didn't use short form.

He says he will be called Wonderful Counselor. Not only a counselor but a Wonderful Counselor. Imagine Isaiah use short form and call Jesus WC. You know what WC means right? Instead of Mighty God, MG, Everlasting Father, EF and Prince of Peace, POP. We will end up with many versions.

What does WC means? Toilet right? Or Water Closet. (laughs)

Wonderful Counselor

The word of God don't bring advice but it brings truth. The bible says the truth will set you free. If you have Jesus as your counselor, you will find Him wonderful. Jesus is definitely the Wonderful Counselor. Everything we need to know about life is already written in the book of life. He does not give you His opinion but He give you the truth.

Isaiah 28:29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

The counselor you can find is the Son of God and the greatest counsel you can find is God's words. God's word never fails. If Jesus is your counselor, I can say it's wonderful.

Mighty God

For the hopeless, he is the Mighty God. As the Wonderful Counselor He can tell you what is right and points you to the truth. But as the Mighty God He is more than able to empower you. He is not just a God, but Isaiah says He is a Mighty God.

He is coming as a warrior, coming triumphantly. He is more than able to see you through. He is mighty in His presence because He is omnipresent. He is mighty in His wisdom because He is omniscient. And He is mighty in His power because He is omnipotent.

As long as there is God in your life there is hope. Not only He come as a Mighty Counselor to point you to the truth He is a Mighty God to empower you too. There is nothing impossible with God. The bible makes it very clear, Jesus is the alpha and the omega. The beginning and the end. With Jesus he is the eternal hope. 

Prince of Peace

For the heartbroken, he is the Prince of Peace. Prince is not enough but the Prince of Peace. Today, many people are taking pills and drinking alcohol because they are looking for peace in their life.

I want you to know only Jesus can give you the peace that will last. That is why He is the Prince of Peace. Not the prince of gold or whatever.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

He says not as the world gives to you. The peace that the world give is only temporary.

I had a youth in church going through some boyfriend girlfriend problem. That night he went to the bar and got himself drunk. I asked him why you go to the bar to get drunk. Who told you, you just go to the bar to get drunk? Who told you to drown your sorrows in drinking? He says television. We often see that on TV. I asked him did it work? Is the hurt still there? Is it gone? He said it was for a while but when I woke up the pain is still there.

I want to tell you the world's solution is temporary. But the Prince of Peace can give you real peace. A peace that surpasses all understanding. Where in the middle of a storm you can still smile.

Everlasting Father

I forgot to tell you He is also the Everlasting Father. To the Jews the idea of a father is origin. If you say you are the father of invention, you are the origin. When Isaiah called him Everlasting Father, He is the father of all things that pertains to eternity. When we look at our world we don't like the condition. I don't know about you but sometimes I am in a situation that is so helpless. I have to be reminded He is the Everlasting Father.

I told you I have received news of our newborn. I want to tell you it has been a challenging year for me. At the end of this year I fell sick. I was asking God how can I get sick as December is the most busy period of my life. But I was so sick I had to stay at a "hotel" for three nights and four days. I have never had problem with my sinus. But my immunity must be so low and I had an infection and had a fever. And I was wheezing.

They had to pump antibiotic directly into my blood. I was told the condition was very bad as the antibiotic was very potent and I had to take two combination of antibiotic. I felt really hopeless and helpless. God had to remind me He is the Mighty God and more than able to heal me.

When I left the hospital I was still blur. I was not very well but well enough to be discharged. If falling sick was not enough, my father-in-law passed away. It was a difficult time for us, more so my wife as she is pregnant and shouldn't be traveling. She wished that she could help instead of being kept updated of his condition through WhatsApp. We never expected him to pass so quickly. But when he passed away, it was hard for us to travel. We had to travel about 41/2 hours and she had to process so many emotions. She was already so busy preparing for the child and now she has to deal with her father's death.

And friends we don't understand why it had to happened. But we commit everything to the Lord and travelled down. We asked the doctor what happens if she goes into labour and the doctor just said go to the nearest hospital.

But my wife was able to go through the funeral for four days and she had closure. Can you imagine if it's after the birth it would have been impossible for her to go down. I saw God's hand in every situation because He is the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.

We came back and the week after on Thursday, we had our son. On that morning she had some bleeding and at about 7.00am she woke me up and said get ready to go to hospital because there's some bleeding. I asked if she got pain and she said a little bit. She took her shower and I had my shower. Them we had our milo and breakfast.

My mum was there and prayed for us and after 8.00am we left the house. The hospital was near, Pantai Hospital so I drove slowly and I even asked her if I can "tar pau" breakfast. The contraction came at about 10.00am-10.30am and by 11.30am, my son was born. I tell you men, you better love your wife. You can see and feel a little bit but you'll never know the pain of childbirth.

When I see the child came out, the first thing you do is check whether the child's got all 5 fingers, then you check his feet and check that what needs to be there is there. I can tell you the feeling is great. At that point, I will do anything I can in my power to protect the child.

When I held the child in my hands I thought no "rasa" already after three child but I stood there and cried. I thought after 5-6 years, God bless me with another child when I thought I don't have to go through the changing nappy and sleepless nights again. I was asking God what it's like I (bo kang cho) got no work to do is it?

I came to a point I had to tell God everything else don't matter to me. My ministry right now is my family and children. Not that the church is not important but if your family is okay, your church ministry will be okay.

Another thing we had to wrestle with is that my wife is already 39 years old. And the doctor says there will be some risks like Down's syndrome. I am very aware that in our church or families, we have special children. It's not that I want to boast or anything but I want to boast in God. He asked if I want to do a blood test to see if it's high or low risk. The other method is to put a needle into the embryo to be 100% sure. But that will risk miscarriage. When the blood test came out it showed she was in the category of high risk. The doctor asked if we want to do the next test.

That time we really went through a really hard time. Abortion is not an option for us. The doctor said for medical reasons it's alright but I told the doctor that we will trust God. If He is a special baby we will need more of God's grace. During that time God was my Wonderful Counselor, the Might God, the Everlasting Father and my Prince of Peace.

You know why I cried? I remember how good God has been to me. How faithful He has been to me. And I want to tell you He can be your Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and your Prince of Peace. And this is what Christmas is all about.

A son is born and He went to the cross for us. I hope you will know this Jesus.

TOP's energetic and talented youth dancing for our combined Christmas Service

Baby dedication for Ky-Shen and Pam's one month old baby boy Caden Kan JiaZhi

A Living Hope

Sis Melinda Song

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of Christmas with the community is to bring hope to the hopeless and helpless. It is a terrible thing to have no hope or to have a false hope but Christmas brings us hope. Let us look at 1 Peter, a letter which says much about hope.

1 Peter 3-7 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

On Thursday, Kenny was unable to play badminton and so he requested his friend William to captain for him and to also purchase a carton of shuttlecocks. When Kenny said he would reimburse William on Saturday, William immediately reminded Kenny the world would have ended on Friday (21 December 2012). “Then,” Kenny replied, “You won’t need the money.” William then said, “I want to spend the money first before the end comes.”

Most of us do not take the end-of-the-world prediction seriously but there are some who do.

The Star
Friday December 21, 2012

Preppers all prepared for the worst

PETALING JAYA: There are various predictions of an apocalypse today, with talk of tsunamis and earthquakes destroying buildings around the world and some claiming that a planet called Nibiru will emerge from behind the Sun and put itself on a collision course with Earth.

While most Malaysians seem to be taking these “doomsday” predictions lightly, many have stocked up on food and other essentials fearing a massive natural disaster.

“We have all read about the prediction. Whether it is true or not, we will only know for sure over the next few days. It is best to be prepared,” said a general manager of a logistics company known only as Ranjit, 55.

He believes there could be a drastic weather change and has got winter clothing ready for himself and his family. 

“It could snow in Malaysia tomorrow,” he said, adding that he would fight to survive and keep his family safe.

A Malaysian blogger, known only as Bala Joe, believes a major solar storm will bring down power grids and leave millions without electricity for months.

His storeroom is stocked with canned food, baby diapers and milk powder, a large stove as well as boxes of charcoal.

“Our water supply can last for three days and I plan to buy larger water containers,” he said, adding that his preparations went beyond Dec 21, as anything could happen any time soon.

He also carries a survival kit which he keeps in the boot of his car, in case he is not at home when disaster strikes. 

“The roads may be flooded or severely damaged, the weather may be too severe to venture out, public transportation may break down and in a worst case scenario, violent riots may break out,” he wrote in his blog. 

He suggested “preppers” keep enough food and water to last for 72 hours, a first aid kit, fire starting tool, maps and travel information and camping equipment in the bag.

On Facebook, a group called “Malaysian Doomsday Preppers” has been sharing information on surviving the day. 

Among the posts by the page administrators were “I believe in doomsday, I believe in zombie apocalypse, I believe that tsunami can happen in Malaysia, I believe a mysterious incurable epidemic can happen too. I believe, therefore I became a prepper.”

Doomsday prophecies are not uncommon and the latest was the Mayan Calendar Prophecy. Many people fail to realise is that the Mayan calendar marks the end of an age, not the end of the world. Every year we discard our old calendars and start a new one on 1 January. Like all calendars the Mayan calendar also comes to an end and then starts all over again from zero, like the odometer on your car. There is no mention or indication that it is the end-of-the-world.

Foolish people today are willing to believe such fabricated lies while they dismiss the Bible with a proven track record of fulfilled prophecies. This just goes to prove that if you do not stand for the truth, you will fall for a lie.

In our world, there are wars, terrorism, earthquakes, tsunami, nuclear contamination, hurricanes, typhoons, floods, snowstorms, famines, sicknesses, diseases, unemployment, financial crisis and future uncertainties. How can we prevent ourselves from feeling hopeless and helpless? The answer is hope.

Hope is central to our lives because we live in a fallen, imperfect world. If everything is perfect what is there to hope for? Hope is also the driving force of the things we do. Farmers plant in hope of a harvest. Children are our hope for the future so we invest in giving them the best possible education. Most of our ancestors migrated to Malaysia from China and India fueled by the hope for a better life here. Refugees risk their lives in hopes of finding a better life in safer places. Without hope, life is empty and meaningless.

An Illustration:

Dr. Victor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist who was hired by the Nazis to study behavior in concentration and prisoner of war camps, testified after the war that "prisoners did not live very long after hope was lost, but that even the slightest ray of hope—the rumor of better food, a whisper in the camp that one of the guards might be somewhat kind and humane, the faintest hint of a reversal of the war in favor of the allies—was often enough to enable inmates to live for added weeks under conditions of unthinkable horror."

Hope as the world uses it refers to something that may or may not happen. There is an element of doubt in the way we use it. We hope to find a parking space. We hope to pass our exams, even when we have not studied for it.

But this is not the way the Bible uses hope. Biblical hope is an anticipation of the future but it is certain of what will take place. More than that, hope is the confident expectation of good in the future. Hope only exists in an imperfect world, where something good is lacking, or where there is uncertainty that the good one currently enjoys will be lasting. Verses like Romans 8:28 and Ecclesiastes 3:11 give us hope.

An Illustration:

Several years ago a teacher assigned to visit children in a large city hospital received a routine call requesting that she visit a particular child. She took the boy's name and room number and was given instructions by the teacher. "We're studying nouns and adverbs in his class now. I'd be grateful if you could help him with his homework so he doesn't fall behind the others." It wasn't until the visiting teacher got outside the boy's room that she realized it was located in the hospital's burn unit. No one had prepared her to find a young boy horribly burned and in great pain. She felt that she couldn't just turn and walk out, so she awkwardly stammered, "I'm the hospital teacher, and your teacher sent me to help you with nouns and adverbs." 

The next morning a nurse on the burn unit asked her, "What did you do to that boy?" Before she could finish the profusion of apologies that immediately came out of her mouth, the nurse interrupted her: "You don't understand. We've been very worried about him, but ever since you were here yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He's fighting back, responding to treatment. It's as though suddenly he's decided to live." The boy later explained that he had completely given up hope until he saw that teacher. It all changed when he came to a simple realization. With joyful tears he expressed it this way: "They wouldn't send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?"

What explains the difference between the uncertain hope the world believes in and Biblical hope? It lies in the object of hope. My hope for good attendance at Christmas with the community depends on our efforts to invite people and people’s willingness to come. But my hope of eternal salvation and heaven does not rest on the feeble efforts of man but on the promises and character of God who is faithful. Our hope is not mere speculation on what God might do. God has given His word regarding things that He will do. The object of hope in the Bible is God, not man. That’s the difference maker.

I. OUR LIVING HOPE IS A GIFT FROM GOD (1 PETER 1:3a)

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Peter praises our God and Father as the source of our spiritual life. Our new life in Christ is a gift of God. We are naturally born “children of wrath” according to Eph 2:3 but the “great mercy” of God has made enemies and objects of His righteous wrath into His precious children.

In the foolishness of my youth, before I knew Christ, I often accused God of injustice. How can he send good people to hell and allow those hypocrites in the church to enter heaven? Now I have become one of the hypocrites in the church and I realize that it’s not God’s justice I need but His great mercy.

Our hope is secure and living because our salvation is a gift from God.

II. OUR LIVING HOPE IS BASED ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST (1 PETER 1:3)

1 Peter 3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

A living hope is a hope that is alive. It is an “ever living expectation”, a confidence in God for the future, a hope that doesn't give up, a hope for life. And the basis for such a bold hope is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The historian Arnold Toynbee in his monumental work "The Study of History" notes that there are four kinds of saviors that have appeared on history's stage.

- the savior with a scepter who is a politician,

- the savior with a book who is a philosopher,

- the savior with the sword who is a military leader, and

- the savior who has presented himself as a demigod.

They all have succumbed to the last enemy - death. The only savior who is qualified to deliver us, bring us hope, and to save us is Jesus Christ, because He is the only one to conquer death. Jesus is alive! The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our confidence for life beyond the grave and which makes the living of this life meaningful now.

There is one song that I will always like to sing at wake services – “Because He lives.” This is a song that is brimming with hope. “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, All fear is gone, Because I know, I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He live.” I have personally experienced faith rising as hope is re-kindled through the lyrics of this song.

Peter, the author of this book, experienced the reality of living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After Jesus' death and prior to His resurrection, the disciples saw their hopes dashed. But after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were "born again" in regards to their hope.          

1 Corinthians 15 makes it very clear that the reality of the resurrection is the solid basis for our own resurrection and eternal life in heaven.

- If Christ is not risen, then the apostles were liars, and our faith is vain! (1 Cor. 15:14-15)

- If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred! (1 Cor. 15:17)

- If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost! (1 Cor. 15:18)

- If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a "living" hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! (1 Cor. 15:19)

An Illustration:

Dr Gary Habermas is a Professor of Theology, and expert on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has debated atheists and overturned their arguments against this great truth. But in 1995 his wife Debbie was dying of stomach cancer, what good was his faith then?

He relates the story to Lee Stroble saying; “This was the worst thing that could possibly happen.” He turned and looked straight at me. “But you know what was amazing? My students would call me – not just one but several of them – and say, 'At a time like this, aren't you glad about the Resurrection?' As sober as those circumstances were, I had to smile for two reasons. First, my students were trying to cheer me up with my own teaching. And second, it worked.”

“It was a horrible emotional time for me, but I couldn't get around the fact that the resurrection is the answer for her suffering. I still worried; I still wondered what I'd do raising four kids alone. But there wasn't a time when that truth didn't comfort me.”

“Losing my wife was the most painful experience I've ever had to face, but if the Resurrection could get me through that, it can get me through anything. It was good for 30 A.D., it's good for 1995, it's good for now, and it's good beyond that.”

Habermas locked eyes with mine. “That's not some sermon,” he said quietly. “I believe that with all my heart. If there's a resurrection, there's a heaven. If Jesus was raised, Debbie was raised. And I will be someday, too. Then I'll see them both.” [Source: Lee Stroble. The Case for Christ, Chapter 13]

What gets us through when we are faced with life's difficulties? It's holding on to a living hope. As Gary Habermas learned; “if Jesus was raised, I am raised.” Jesus said in John 14:19, “Because I live, you also will live.”

We have a living hope placed in our hearts by our living saviour, Jesus Christ.

III. OUR LIVING HOPE IS ACTIVATED WHEN WE REALIZE THE RICHES OF OUR INHERITANCE (1 PETER 1:4)

1 Peter 1:4 (NIV)  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

Our new life does not just bring us a negative benefit (being forgiven of our sin), it is also brings us a positive benefit: we are given an inheritance from God.

When we think of an inheritance we think about a gift from a family member or friend that may be property, money, or various items of value.  In each case it is a treasure that we did not earn. 

Our salvation and the hope of heaven are often called “an inheritance” in the New Testament and the Holy Spirit is given to us as the “guarantee of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14).

A physical inheritance is never certain. Fortunes can easily be dissipated, diluted or lost, Peter uses four terms to describe our heavenly inheritance that demonstrate its certainty.

1. IT DOES NOT PERISH meaning "not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable.” There is no expiry date to it.  It is not like our cars that break down or houses that require repair.

2. IT DOES NOT SPOIL meaning "undefiled, unsoiled. “ Undefiled means it has no dark side.  It is pure. To soil means to stain with colour or smear with mud.

Unlike my daughter who is a QC specialist, I often end up being disappointed with the things I buy because there is some defect that I have failed to notice. In contrast, our heaven inheritance can never be spoiled. It will never disappoint us.

3. IT DOES NOT FADE meaning "unfading, perennial, perpetual.” The word is a variation of "amaranth" which was the name of a mythical flower whose bloom was perpetual and whose loveliness never faded.

We bought some orchids because the blooms were so lovely but the flowers faded away and the plant never bloomed again. Then we saw Priscilla posting some photos of beautiful orchids in her garden. So we asked her the secret of having such lovely blooms. Then we found out that she has just bought the plants! We’ll wait a few months to see whether she has found the secret of flowering orchids or not.

    

Our heavenly inheritance is beautiful, and will never ever diminish in its beauty. It will not rust, fade, or wither like so many things do here on earth. In verse 23 & 24 of this chapter, the apostle contrasts the “imperishable seed” of our spiritual life with our physical bodies which are like the “the grass (that) withers, and the flowers (that) fall”.

4. IT IS KEPT IN HEAVEN "Kept" means "to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside.” Our inheritance is kept, guarded, shielded, protected from danger in the heavens by God Himself. Jesus said; “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:28,29).

Furthermore, our inheritance is reserved in heaven - Out of our own hands, so we cannot loose it; out of the reach of men, so they cannot corrupt it; and away from the grasp of Satan, so he cannot destroy it. And this inheritance is reserved in heaven, for you, for all those who put their faith in the Resurrected Christ.

This inheritance from God (which involves what is given us in this life and in the life to come) is not like the treasures of the world that lose their value, rust, break, or go bad. Many people sell their souls to get these kinds of treasures but Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

IV. OUR LIVING HOPE IS ACTIVATED WHEN WE REALIZE THE SECURITY OF OUR SALVATION

1 Peter 1:5 (NIV)  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Not only does God keep heaven for us; He keeps us for heaven. If we know the sinfulness of our own hearts; we know, that it is only the power of God that could keep us.

The word "shielded” is a military term. It means "to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight"      

Peter tells us that we are kept “through faith”. We receive salvation by faith (Eph. 2:8). And here we are kept for salvation through faith. Ours is a life of faith. “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Furthermore, this salvation is “ready to be revealed." It's already prepared. Our place in heaven is ready, but for the moment it is hidden. It will eventually be revealed, uncovered, disclosed.

This disclosure will be “in the last time.” Peter uses some other terms in this letter to describe the same thing. He calls it “the revelation of Jesus Christ” and “when His glory is revealed” and the “appearance of the Chief Shepherd”. This consummation of our salvation is directly linked to the personal return of Jesus Christ when “every eye shall see him” (Rev 1:7). “When he appears” says 1 John 3:2, “ we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

There are 3 stages of salvation.

1. Justification–when a Holy God declares a believing sinner to be righteous, and He accepts him because Christ has paid for his sins on the cross. God then sets that believing sinner free from the penalty of sin.

2. Sanctification–when God sets the believer aside for His purposes to be used to express the life of the resurrected Christ. This sets us free from the power of sin. This does not mean we are sinless. Whenever I sin, I have an instant realization that I didn't have to sin; that the Living God had provided the power to enable me to walk out of that situation, but I choose not to. I made the wrong choice, but I know I could have gotten out of it.

3. Glorification (what Peter is writing about in these verses)–the divine act of a holy God, whereby a believer at his physical death is removed from time and space to a spiritual heavenly kingdom to live in his new body before the Lord and for the glory of the Lord forever. That is when the believer is set free from the presence of sin.

CONCLUSION

Someone said, “You can live for a month without food. You can live for almost a week without water. You can live for five minutes without air. But you can’t live a second without hope.” The wonder of following Christ is that our hope can never be taken from us. It’s as constant as Jesus. “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:21).

How can we maintain a living hope ?

First, by realizing that our living hope is a gift of God. God is the source of our hope. It is a gift of God. We don’t have to churn up hope.

Second, by realizing our living hope is based on the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in our lives. The power is Christ Himself. He will provide all the power necessary to cope with reality and to cope with outward circumstances.

Third, our living hope is activated when we realize the riches of our inheritance. We have the Living God residing in us and we can come to Him at any time and draw from His rich resources.

Fourth, our living hope is activated when we realize that our salvation is secure. "No one is able to snatch you out of My Father's hand," Jesus promised.

An Illustration:

On April 5th, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo for his political activities against the German Nazi regime. He had been speaking out against the Nazis, but eventually his words caught up with him. He saw that the church of Jesus Christ was being persecuted and that his country was heading toward the abyss, and he decided to do something about it. Looking back, he felt he had become involved in some situations that he perhaps should have avoided.

Two years later, he found himself facing the death sentence. On the day when the sentence was to be carried out, a Sunday, he led a service in the prison which housed men of various nationalities. One prisoner, an English army officer who was also facing the death sentence but was later set free, wrote these words describing the last day of Bonhoeffer's life:

Bonhoeffer always seemed to me to spread an atmosphere of happiness and joy over the least incident, and profound gratitude for the mere fact that he was alive... He was one of the very few persons I have ever met for whom God was real and always near... On Sunday, April 8, 1945, Pastor Bonhoeffer conducted a little service of worship and spoke to us in a way that went to the heart of all of us. He found just the right words to express the spirit of our imprisonment, and the thoughts and resolutions it had brought us. He had hardly ended his last prayer when the door opened and two civilians entered. They said, "Prisoner Bonhoeffer, come with us." That had only one meaning for all prisoners--the gallows. We said good-bye to him. He took me aside: "This is the end; but for me it is the beginning of life." The next day he was hanged in Flossenburg.

Bonhoeffer was referring to his living hope when he said on the day of his execution, "This is the end, but for me it is the beginning." He knows God is waiting for him on the other side. One of my friends just lost her dad, another her mom and our Sis. Serena’s father also passed away recently. Our comfort and great hope in times of bereavement is that one day we will see our loved ones again.

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV)  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.

I have two questions.  First, Do you have this living hope?

And the second question is, “Are you living in light of this hope?” 

In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. . . . Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Let us evaluate our focus.  Is your focus on this world or is it on the next?  Are you swamped by life’s problems or do you have a living hope in the one who holds the future? Are you working for the earthly inheritance which will perish and fade or are you seeking the eternal inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade?  Are you living your life trusting in your power, or His?  

Let us pray. 

Christ IN You

Rev Mark Drake

Even as the people celebrate Christmas in a secular manner, this is perhaps the only time of the year to share the reality of Christmas.

We are going to look at the last chapter of the book of Romans. All the other letters by Paul were to the churches but the letters in Romans was different. He has never been to Rome. He was writing to Christians he has not met and to the churches he has not fathered. Paul is laying out his understanding of salvation by faith in Jesus. He was explaining what justification by faith is, and the difference between the New and Old Covenant.

Pastor Drake himself did not fully understand the difference even after 44 years of ministry. The Old Covenant has served its purpose for the day and has been laud aside but that the New Covenant has come and something dramatic has taken place. Both covenant dealt with forgiveness. The New Covenant is not just about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. For many, the New Covenant means Jesus came, died on the cross and paid the penalty of sin. While that is true, it is not the whole truth. And it is summed up in the last book of Romans.

Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him– 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

This is the very end of a long letter. It was a conclusion to all that he has written. He says that he is going to sum up what he has written to them. He says this "mystery". Notice this word. He says this mystery has been revealed and made known. Then he close the letter and says amen. But he never said what this mystery is. Notice that.

He never explained what this mystery is. It isn't fair right? How would you like to read a mystery novel only for the writer to end without saying who did it. I have to ask myself the question why Paul did that. I can only conclude that they already knew what he was talking about.

The various writers of the New Testament uses this word quite frequently. Peter, James and John talked about this mystery. So the people already know what this means. Like if we use the word communion, all Christians know what we are talking about but the people of the world will not.

In Colossians chapter one, Paul talked about this mystery.

Colossians 1:26-27
the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The mystery is the "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

The God who knows everything, a God that is the beginning and end, the God that made the universe live inside people like you and me? How could a holy God live inside an unholy man? The mystery is that He rose so that He may live inside of you.

Non of the religion Paul was surrounded with says that God would live inside of human beings. The gospel is not just that Jesus died and gave forgiveness to men but also that the full gospel meant God did that to live inside of men.

The prophets in the past has always prophesied that God offers forgiveness, from the Garden of Eden to the Israelites in the wilderness. God has always offered forgiveness to anyone who seeks or asks for it. But the mystery of Christ is not just about forgiveness. It starts there but it is not just forgiveness. But it was that somehow God comes to live inside human beings.

Jesus tried to prepare them many times. He told his disciples that the kingdom of God is in you. They could not understand that. Jesus told them He is going away during the last supper. And they could not comprehend that. He said it is good that He goes away so that the Spirit would come. Jesus said that you know the Spirit because He has been WITH you but Jesus said He will go away so that the Spirit can be IN them.

The new covenant is not just forgiveness but there is a whole life that can be experienced with God in you. But many stays at forgiveness.

He rose that He may live His life in you and that changes everything. This word IN is very important in the vocabulary of the gospel.

Listen to these word that Paul writes.

Ephesians 1:7-9
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

Ephesians 3:3-5
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

Ephesians 3:9
and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Colossians 2:2
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Paul constantly writes about this life of God living in and through us. It is a mystery. And at this Christmas season, we share of how God came as a baby to be human and to die for us but it is not finish. He died and rose so that He may live inside of us. That changes everything. It's a mystery. How to explain it? We can't. But we can experience it. We can proclaim it. But we cannot explain it that God would live inside this mortal body.

The message of the NT apostles was not just the work of the cross but that God has come to live inside of us. So the sanctification process is not just in trying to fulfill the requirements of the word but that we have fellowship with Him who lives inside of us.

We can define or describe the difference between the old and New Covenant is in the words IN and ON. The Old Covenant says the laws are written ON stone where in the New Covenant God is living IN people. What transformed the people of the 1st century was this, that God has come to live inside of them.

When Paul went and shared with them about the new covenant he had nothing to leave with them except God that now live inside of them. They had no New Testament at that time so Paul had nothing to leave them with. They changed the world around them when they didn't have the bible including many that never had the Old Testament. They only had God living in them. Old Covenant, instructions were written on stones. New Covenant the instructor living inside of them.

Strange that Jesus never mentioned the new covenant. Not in His parables or His teaching. He never uses this word until the night before He was crucified. He knew that his disciples did not understand this, they could not wrap their minds around this.

So during supper He took the bread and He turned to them and told them to do this. He held up the bread and said "this is my body that is broken for you and this is my blood that is shed for you" and He told them to open their mouth and take it in. Jesus was using a metaphor for them to understand. Jesus said He is the bread of life, and that this bread would sustain their life. It was to explain to them naturally what was happening spiritually. This was the first time Jesus said this is the New Covenant. Take me into you, this is the New Covenant.

John later said that greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. It is all about Christ living in you. Jesus said each time you eat the bread and drink the cup, remember this.

It can be lived, it can be experienced but it can never be truly explained. God has appointed for us to go out and tell a story that can be experienced but cannot be understood.

This mystery that God not just came to give His life for the penalty of sin but that He now live in us so that He might live through us.

When Jesus came, the Jews were racists. Everyone that is not a Jew were considered dogs. This was even though God promises Abraham that he would be the father of all nations. But by Jesus's time they have lost this. They had a racist Jewish mentality. They looked at the world as unworthy. They wanted no part of it.

Barnabas was comfortable being amongst the Gentiles. He was not from Jerusalem so they decided to send Barnabas to Antioch. He saw the grace of God when he saw these Gentiles. How can you see the grace of God? He saw people who were acting like Jesus. They were so transformed that their behavior was like Christ. So much so that believers were first called Christians in Antioch, not Jerusalem. These people who were never raised a Jew they were being made like Christ from the inside out. They had nothing written down that they can read but they were change from the inside out by the mystery of Christ.

We need to be careful and not just read what is given to us but that our faith must be in the mystery of God living in us. The bible is for us but it is more than that as there is the reality that He rose from the dead and live inside of any who would put their faith in Him.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Rev Gideon Lee

A special group of TOPians are in Sarawak today, this morning, right now, they probably already at the service. Service starts at 9 o’clock and probably almost end of the service like in our church. Remember to pray for them. Church, I want to encourage you to join them in prayer. Because Monday, today is Sunday, they will be going to the long houses and they will spend about five days in the long houses coming out only on Friday. So continue to cover them in prayer.

Luke 3:1-6
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
 make straight paths for him.
 5 Every valley shall be filled in,
 every mountain and hill made low.
 The crooked roads shall become straight,
 the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”


Now church, I know we are an Assembly of God church. But, I just want to share a little bit about something, some of the traditional churches do observe that I think, which I feel that as an AOG church, we at least know about what are those things that are happening.

For one, do you know we are in this period call the advent? Do you know what is advent all about? In the Christian calendar, there are certain events that I think are significant for us and while we don’t really observe them, but as Assembly of God church I want us to know so that you understand the significance and we understand how meaningful it can be for us. That’s the reason why I am mentioning it, not I’m doing this so that we can observe a tradition. I am not doing this so that we can do something or follow some tradition but I want to do this this morning is because I want to share this so you understand that we can know what season we are in and how meaningful it can be for our life.

Let me start by saying this, our Christian season of Christmas actually begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for actually twelve days ending on 6th January. Some people say that is where we get the song the 12 Days of Christmas, but actually it is not true. This one came first before the song ever came.

Basically when we talk about celebrating Christmas, Christmas is basically twelve days, starting from Christmas Eve all the way until 6th of January. This is what we do when we talk about celebrating Christmas. But however, the time before Christmas is what we call advent. And basically what advent means is a season of preparation for Christmas. Advent is a season in the Christian year that lasts about four weeks before Christmas. So four weeks counting down before Christmas is this time call advent. And it is very significant, I need you to understand these four things, why I am talking about all this is because it going to tie-in to the message that I am going to share this morning.

It begins four Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. So it means four weeks before Christmas is this period which we are actually observing call advent, today is actually the second Sunday of advent, and is a season of preparation for Christmas. When we talk about preparation, we are reminded of how much that we ourselves also need our Saviour. When we look at advent in respect and prepare towards Christmas, we are preparing towards His coming. You understand what I am talking about? We are not just preparing towards an occasion, we are not just preparing towards a public holiday, we are not just preparing just for a time of celebration, but we are preparing to remember His coming and not only His coming more than two thousand years ago, but His future coming which is going to be anytime soon as the Bible says. 

So, advent is basically a time when we remind ourselves how much we need our Saviour. How much we need a Savior? And as we look forward to our Saviour's second coming, even as we prepare to celebrate His first coming at Christmas. What we are actually doing is we are looking forward during Christmas the second coming of Christ, as He did come more than two thousand years ago. The word advent come from a word in Latin call "adventus" which mean coming or visit. And the season with this thing, we keep in mind both advent of Christ, first in Bethlehem, and the second yet to come. So, the question I want to ask you this morning is this “How prepared are you for Christmas?” I am not talking about your physical preparation. I know many of us already done our decoration in our houses, but we have been preparing toward Christmas, I hope we have. But more than just physical preparation, this morning, I want to share with you that we should prepare ourselves spiritually as we look forward to Christmas because advent is a time next 2 weeks or 3 weeks, we prepare ourselves for not only that Christ came more than two thousand years ago but we are also looking forward to His coming in the near future.

Luke tells us the coming of John the Baptist is a fulfillment to the prophesy of Isaiah. And, what Isaiah says is a voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight the path for Him, every hill shall be filled in and every mountain will be made low, the crooked road shall become straight. And the rough ways smooth and all people will see God’s salvation. Here as we just read, Luke tells us of John the Baptist and the coming of John the Baptist or the birth of John the Baptist was in fulfillment to the prophesy of Isaiah. And friends, we need to understand this. Back in those days in Bible times, whenever a king was going to enter a city, the people who live there would build a special entrance that was always straight and smooth. They will not allow the king to come into their city on a crooked road or a small lane or a lane or a road which fill with potholes but what they will do in preparation for the king coming to their city, coming to visit them was to build a very wide and straight road, smooth road. 

That is why Isaiah said prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him because we are preparing for the coming of the King, our King, our Lord. And so as we prepare for the coming of our King, we need to make sure that our paths are wide, our paths are straight. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low, and the crooked road shall become straight, because we are welcoming the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. That was what John the Baptist was supposed to do, he was to prepare the way for Christ. He later on in these few verses he says that, I baptized you with water but there is someone who will come to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. Someone greater than me whose shoelace, I am not worthy to tie. John understood his calling. Let us look at how he came in fulfillment of prophesy of Isaiah that his main task was to prepare the way for Christ.

This morning, as we go on, you know John the Baptist is a quiet character. In the Bible, we know he live in the desert, he eats locust and honey, and then he goes around with cloth made out of camel hair. And he is preparing the way for the Lord, that is his calling. So, we need to understand that back in those days as the king visit a city, that was what the citizens had to do. 

Now, I am sure as we look at our country Malaysia, we are quite good in building road systems. We design quite good road systems but what I want to say this morning is this, John the Baptist wanted to build in the people at those time a road into their hearts. Not the road we are driving now but he was preparing the way for Christ. And just as how a city would prepare for the visit of the King by making straight the road, making wide the road, smoothing the road, that was what John the Baptist came to build a road into the hearts of man and women back in those days. And he is still doing that today with the Word of God. What John the Baptist wanted to do, he did not come to make a road of tar, or bricks, or concrete but he came to build a road of righteousness, repentance, and justice. That was what John the Baptist is famous for in his message? His message was repent and be baptize. So he came with a message of repentant, he came with a message of righteousness, he came with a message of justice, his goal was to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah, and he went into the country, into all of Jordan preaching the baptism of repentant, of forgiveness, of sin.

Today, on the second Sunday of advent, friends, as the celebration of Christ's birth comes near, John the Baptist confront us with this critical question, what I asked you just now, have we build a straight highway into our heart for Christ's coming? Are we prepared for the coming of our Messiah? Are we prepared for Christ because that is what Christmas is suppose to be for us, not only just a time of celebration, not only just a time of gathering your friends, but remembering that He came more than two thousand years ago and He is going to come back soon. This is what Christmas means to you and me. So friends, it is important that today that we ask ourselves this question. Why? 

Because friends we are all very busy, tell me how many of us here is not busy during this time. Companies probably have your closing, you probably have a lot of things you need to settle in your company, in your account, and so on. Many of us here, we have a very busy time because in our company, probably budget time already almost over but we are preparing for next year. As families, you are busy buying Christmas presents, preparing for the events, as church, we are busy preparing for our Christmas with the Community, we are busy with this, we are busy with that, we are busy with our cell Christmas celebration, we are very busy people. If you don’t already notice it, you are quite busy during this time instead of being quite relax. 

But during this period, in our busyness, we forget the reason for Christmas. In our busyness, we can forget why we celebrate Christmas and it is very simple also because you know friends, as you go to the mall to shop, you would see commercially, Christmas has been taken over. It is not Christmas about the message of Jesus is coming or is it about the present that you are going to get for your friends. Commercially speaking, you go to any of the shopping malls, you will see what they are asking you to do is to buy and spend. So, it is very easy to forget about the reason for Christmas. You walk into a shopping mall and you see all these things happening. So it is easy to forget. Not only that friends, remember in my bulletin, I mention that many times, I don’t why they are doing this, instead of saying Merry Christmas, they crossed out the Christ and they put an “X”, Merry X’mas. What does Merry X’mas mean? You know it is so easy to forget the message of Christmas. That is why friends, we are here today to do CWC, our Christmas with the Community, it is to bring the real message of Christmas, that Jesus came more than two thousand years ago, he died for our sins and He is coming back again.

And friends, as we look at this, it is easy for us to understand, how many of you know that in the US that there is this time called Black Friday? Traditionally, it means the Christmas season in the US starts immediately after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving happens on the Thursday, and normally what will happen, the companies will give their employees time off on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a long weekend. Traditionally this is when the time after Thanksgiving, they will begin to shop for all their Christmas presents, and they actually call this phrase Black Friday, where they have tremendous sales in the US. Just to share with you, during this Black Friday, items can be discounted so low and they will extend their opening hours and some of them will open all the way 24-hours on this day to make the sales. And so, traditionally after Thanksgiving, this day of Black Friday in that sense, it become known as the shopping festive activity. You don’t see it much here, but if you read the newspaper, what is happening, you can see people going shopping at midnight and queuing up just to do this. 

And the message of Christmas can be so easily lost. Again, some people asked why they use the phrase Black Friday. They use the word Black Friday because again traditionally it is the time when actually the retailers go into the black. You know what is going into the black? It actually starts making profits. That is why they call it Black Friday because the period before that, they are all in the red, but they somehow have commercialized this day, that so much so that on that day itself, they can actually make their sales and return them back in the black. They call it Black Friday for that. The Black Friday also have the darker side, I don’t know whether you have read paper or not but on Black Friday, there are people who died in the sales. 

Let me read to you, what I have found out, it says this. There were fatality, the first fatality occurred in Walmart in New Jersey, where a woman repeatedly stabbed a man with a kitchen knife taken from the housewares department to prevent him from buying the last Xbox. Another sad incident happen in Toy R Us, one woman took a baseball bat and beat another women to death, to prevent her from buying the last American doll. Cars are overturned, set on fire in Chicago, a security was beaten to death by an angry mob because the product that was being offered ran out. The DVD was being offered at $17.95 ran out of stock, because of that the people was so angry, they overturned cars and beat up the security guard, that's the bad side of Black Friday. Why am telling you all these? I am telling you all these because we can get so caught up with the buying, spending, with the gifts, with everything else except understanding what is the real meaning of Christmas.

Friends this morning, I challenge you with this, so that we prepare for Christ, a road into our heart. Prepared for Him a highway into our heart, things about righteousness, justice and repentance. Have we done that this morning? Friends, the secular world has almost taken over the celebration of Christmas. It is difficult for us to stay focused, but what I want to say is this, thank you that you are here in church. How many of you go to school and in your school, they have this big signboard “Terima kasih kerana anda hadir ke sekolah hari ini”. I think we should have one outside our church, “Terima kasih kerana anda hadir ke gereja hari ini”. I want to say thank you, I am not making fun of this, but I want to say thank you because you understand what is important and that is why you are here on a Sunday morning. Let me start by also say this, you see friends, the question I asked is are you prepared internally to properly celebrate the birth of our Messiah into this world? Are you prepared internally to celebrate Christmas?

Number one, preparation is a key success in almost everything. You won’t invite your friends to come to your home for Christmas celebration if you’re not prepared. Same goes for Christmas, you don’t want to ask Jesus to come into your heart until you’re prepared. John the Baptist is asking us this, is the people back during those days, have you prepared a pathway for our King? This morning, are you prepared to receive Jesus as you see Him, as you celebrate His birthday on the 25th of December? 

Friends, preparedness is very important, we must be prepared. I tell you a story. How many of you know in a relay run, 4x100m, this four person take turns to run and they will pass the baton to the next person? And each person is supposed to run a 100m. One day, a coach noticed that during the selection period, there is one guy who actually run quite fast, quite talented. So, he got him on the team as one of the standby. And, when the actual day of the race came, one of the 4x100m runners sprained his ankle while coming to the race and he could not run. At the very last minute, they have no choice but to replace him so the coach motion to this young man. This time I want you to get ready, I want you to fill in this slot. And so the young man you know of course got himself prepared and he fills up the spot and he ran for the 4x100m relay race. But when the turn for him to run and the baton was passed to him, at first he started off pretty well, he ran actually quite fast but as he was at the midway, we could see that he is like losing his grip, it's like he couldn’t run properly or like slowing down, and because of that this caused the whole team the race. At the end of everything, the coach pulled this young man aside and asked what happened out there? I know you can run, I've seen you running but how come today I saw that while you were running, you are like almost going to sleep, you cannot run fast? What happened to you? The young man was very ashamed of what had happened and confessed to his coach. He told the coach this. I have been sitting on the sideline for so long. I know that every time there is a race, I am not called upon, so I just sit at the sideline, just anticipate. I thought today will be just another day like that, and so what happen was when I was sitting there at the bench, the shoe that I wear without putting on my spike because I thought I will just be going to sit there like the rest of the time. And because, he did not put on spike on his shoe, he didn’t bring it, he couldn’t run well, he does not have grip and you know that caused the team to race. 

What I am trying to say this morning is this, the key to receiving Jesus this coming Christmas is to be prepared. Are you prepared to see Him? Is your mind focused on Him or not this morning? Or your mind is focus on all the good food for our Cell Christmas celebration. Is our mind focused on all the presents you are going to receive from mummy and daddy? Or is our mind focused on Christ? Are you prepared? The key this morning, the first key to receiving Jesus is to be ready and to be prepared.

I share with you with one more story. How many of you know about the Amish? They are some sort like the Quakers. They are a group of Christians and they practice their faith slightly a little bit different. I would not so much call them as Cult or anything like that. What they do is, they like to live separately, and they also dress differently and so on. One of the things that I perculiar to that of the Amish faith is this, they don’t believe in Sunday morning service. Their services are held, yes on the Sunday morning but you won’t know the venue, until the day before. You won’t know who is going to preach until the day before. You won’t know who is going to worship until the day before. Come Sunday, all of them will just gather at the house they announced a day before. So, someone asked this Amish guy, how do you prepare with this kind of situation, you don’t even know where the service going to be, who is going to give the message on that day and who is going to song lead. That guy answered, we live our life in a state of readiness, that at anytime, that we are call to give a sermon, we are ready to give. Anytime we are call to worship, we are ready to worship lead. Anytime we are called to host where the church is, we are ready. So friends, this morning, as a Christian, are you living a life of preparedness? Are you ready, this morning, are you in the state of readiness?

Do you know the royal rangers photos, the ministry that I am serving in, our motto is ready, ready to worship, ready to serve, ready for anything. So, friends, ask yourselves this morning, are you ready to receive Jesus?

Second, is your relationship with God intact? As we look on Christmas, remember Christmas is a time for family to gather, our family all come back, maybe this is not so significant for us, but like Chinese New Year when families come back. Is our relationship with God and with one another intact? Because as much as Christmas can remind us about our family, remind us about all the good times, Christmas also does to a certain extend remind us of some of the relationship that is not intact. 

A son or a daughter that have gone abroad, Christmas time won’t be coming back, or someone who have passed away, a loved one, Christmas time remind us of them as well. This morning, the question that we also ask ourselves is our relationship with God intact? Is our relationship with Jesus our Lord and Savior on the right track? As we prepare to receive Him, John the Baptist spoke about building a straight road, the opposite of a straight road is crooked road or I will call a maze. 

There is this author, a very famous author, his name is called Max Lucado shared a story. This is what his story says, he took a family trip to the United Kingdom, they visited a castle, in the centre of the castle garden set a maze made out of trees, plants and is quite high leading to one dead end after the other. But the right way to successfully navigate this maze, you will discover a door to a tall tower. And through that door you can actually go out to the tower and you can stand out there and see the countryside and see everything around you. And tried as he might try, Max Lucado could not find his way out, but low and behold he heard a voice and the voice came from above in that sense, but not God. He look up at the voice, he could see from the tower his entitle family except him. His children and all are able to make it out of the maze, and they went to this tower. The daughter was calling him, dad look up, because the moment you look up at this kind of length or level, you will not be able to find your way out of the maze. But what happen is here, his daughter from high up guided her dad, and guess what, Max Lucado listen to his daughter and from there he was able to come out from the maze. 

Friends, this morning it is good that we have our relationship with God intact, because God has many things that He want to say to us. Is our relationship with each other what it ought to be? We cannot build a straight road into our heart if we have to build through a lot of obstacles. One of the things like I said early on, I like of Christmas is, I love about Chinese New Year is that you know the fact that all family members whether far or near come back. But that again, during this festive period is also a time also to remember some of our stray relationships that you may have.

There is a story goes something like this which I have read. One day there was this air force pilot, he was growing up, had a very good relationship with his dad. In fact they were like buddy, they could just do everything together. But one day, in a heated argument, the son slapped the father. This kind of thing that can’t be forgiven kind of thing. It is something you should not do to your father, the son in the midst of anger slapped the father. From that day onwards, the father and the son relationship was astray. In fact the father was so angry he wanted to kill the son, they needed the mother to step in to break up the fight, but from that day onwards, the relationship between the father and the son was never ever the same again because of what had happened. The father said, I left him alive today because of you, the wife, but I will never forgive him, he no longer is my son. 

Friends, this morning do we have a stray relationship that we need to get right. I don’t know what it is in your life, as Christmas approaches, don’t you think it is good time for us to value the relationship? I don’t know, maybe he has done something, like this person, maybe unforgiveable but what I want to say is with God, it is not impossible, it can be restored. This Christmas, is your relationship with God, with one another is what it ought to be.

Last but not least, friends are you focused this year on the true meaning of Christmas? There is once a cartoon, Charlie Brown cartoon. Charlie Brown in fact is a Christian cartoonist and most of the time we look at his cartoon, that he produces you will see a Christian message in it. There is one cartoon that he produced, the character, you know Peanuts, there is this guy call Linus, he was talking to his sister Sally, look aren’t you amaze about Christmas, isn’t it the time to pause for a moment and listen to God’s voice, this Linus was talking to his sister. Christmas will be something meaningful to all of us and then he went on to listen to Sally that Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem and at that point there was no place in the Roman Empire for them, and all they could find was an inn. Linus continue to say this, the intention of course is to tell Sally what is the meaning of Christmas? And he went on and elaborate Christmas so nicely to the sister Sally. And all Sally could do is, she replied to him, she said, look at Linus and said this, Linus, I don’t know what you talking about, but as far as I am concerned, if this Christmas, I don’t get all the presents I wished for, I am really going to be angry. What I am trying to say this morning is, have we missed the real meaning of Christmas? Is this because of the presents?

I hope that we don’t come to a point that if this Christmas I don’t get to celebrate the day I want to and get all the things I want to, you know what? It won’t be a good Christmas. I pray that Christmas will be Christmas for us because Jesus came and He is going to come back again. Amen.

I conclude with this friends, how is your relationship with God this morning? How about your relationship with those closer to you? Family members, your relatives? A voice of one is calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight path for Him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked road shall become straight, the rough ways smooth and all the people will see God’s salvation. This morning as the road be made straight for the coming of the King into your heart this Christmas. I pray first and foremost that you will be ready, always prepared. I pray that your relationship with God will always be intact. I pray that all our relationships with one another, those closer to us should be as it should be good. I pray friends that we always remember the true meaning of Christmas. And what we do is because Jesus came more than two thousand years ago and He is coming back again. I pray that it will not just be about the gifts but also give as it is a time that you appreciate one another, but let not Christmas be just about the gifts. I pray dear friends that this Christmas will be meaningful to you and you will have a wonderful time with your family, that you will have a wonderful time with one another and you will have wonderful time serving God.

Many thanks to Esther Tham for transcribing this message in my absence. She did a great job on it. Blessed to be a blessing indeed.