In the Fulness of Time

Rev Gideon Lee

Yesterday we had our Christmas at the TOP. It was full house, more than 300 came and we had four salvation yesterday! Let's give God the glory. 

I appreciate all those that did the performances and dance, they practised hard and I know because my children was involved and I was here too during their practise and I want to give them our appreciation and thanks. It is all worth it not just because of the four salvation because we all came together as a church. 

How many of your are here today? Or do you just park your body here but you're away shopping. 

Let's look at the book of Luke. 

Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Galatians 4:4-7

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

As we come to the end of the year, I don't know about you but I think the year passed too fast. It seems like time just flew by us. I want to talk about time. Albert Einstein says time is relative. For some of us we think we have plenty of time when we are young and time passed by slowly. When I was 17, I can't wait to have the license to drive. And at 20

I can't wait to be 21 to be able to vote. The opposite is true for the elderly, where we wished we have more time. 

But God says here in the fulness of time. Means at the right time. At the right time of history. Jesus was sent at a time when God has prepared history for his coming. Greek was being used at that time and as you look into our bible you'll see that it's Greek. Paul's time. History helped in his coming. Alexander the Great was a great time during the Roman Empire. What was their greatest achievement? They build roads to connect their empire. It was these roads that allow Jesus to move town to town to preach. 

God also sent Jesus into our lives at the right time. Look back at your lives and you'll know there were times which leads to our salvation and in the fullness of time God came into our lives. 

God did not make a mistake when he sent his son into this world. 

We read that Mary was a virgin engaged to Joseph. Their engagement then was different from now. A pledge or contract has been made and sign of acceptance from both family. It was very difficult to call off once it's done as it'll bring shame to the family. That's why there are such things as honour killings. We've seen these in Pakistan and the Middle East. 

Mary at no more than 13 to 14 had the angel of the Lord appeared to her. 

Luke 1:28-30

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

Mary had the right to be troubled. If you put yourself in Mary's shoes you'll see why. She's a virgin and at that time there's no sex before marriage. 

I don't know about you if I hear that I'd be worried. We may not see it as something that is good or the right time. It can be dangerous for her. This would bring great shame to her and her family. See Mary's response. 

Luke 1:34

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Mary's response was practical. How can it happen? It's not a right or wrong situation. And we see that God is also concerned about her situation. 

Luke 1:35-38

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

God answered her in a practical way and assured her with God nothing is impossible. He sent his son at the fulness of time. Not according to our convenience or schedule. 

See the last verse and the response. May it be to me as you have said. 

As we come to the close of the year. Many things have happened to us. Take a few minutes just to look back at this year and many things may have happened and we question the timing. We may ask if God could have postponed it. God allowed it to happened and in the beginning it may looked as if it's not good for you. But look at Mary's response. 

We don't invite things to happen in our life but our response should be this as we trust in him. Look at Galatians. Why did God send his son? To redeem us so that we receive the full rights of sons. 

To reconcile or redeem those under the law to give them a position to be sons and daughters of God. We can be the sons and daughters of Jesus. There is no problems to say we are the children of God. But to say we are sons and daughters is as if we are like Jesus. He made us co-heirs to the kingdom of God. That is what Jesus came to do in the fulness of time. 

I tell you a true story. 

In the year 2006, ABC news told a story about Sarah. After her first birthday she was adopted and she grew up in a close knit family. In a good environment of love. But as she grew up she wanted to look for her biological mother. She found the mother but the news was that her mother has passed away due to cancer. She was sad but what she did was she wanted to look for her biological father. And she found out that her father was still living and a ruling member of a tribe in Sierra Leone. A country torn with civil war. This actually made her a princess. 

So Sarah was royalty in that country so she flew to Sierra Leone to meet her father. When she arrived the whole tribe came to welcome her. Over 200-300 danced for her and she felt so welcomed. It was heartbreaking as much as she was happy. She saw the suffering so she started a foundation for Sierra Leone. When she was interviewed she said she did this is because the title princess meant responsibility and that was why she took it on. 

So was the title of son of God. It's not just a title we have. It tells us of our relationship with him. But more importantly that title came with responsibility. Jesus is our kinsman redeemer. He was not just someone outside. He came so that we can call him Abba father. God can redeem us from death because of Jesus. Just as the princess said, princess meant responsibility. We have responsibility toward God, the church and one another. Let's not just exercise our privilege but we will also exercise our responsibility. 

How wonderful it was for the 4 persons that came and found Jesus. Someone invited and brought them and when the altar call was made someone nudged them and in the fulness of time God came into their lives. And they are now sons and daughters of God. 

How many of you have bought your Christmas tree. Or how many of your has bought me my Christmas gift? (Laughs) The greatest gift we can give to someone is Jesus. We have that responsibility as sons and daughters of God. Many of us may have things happened to us in 2014, but let us respond like Mary. 

Alliances

Rev John Kirby

I met someone in the car park and it seems it's been five years since Rev Gideon has been here. It feels like it's just two years ago. 

We're all in the Christmas season. 

Sometimes we have to separate to restore. Much like marriage counselling. Where we need to talk to each of the couples separately. 

I'll try to read this quickly but I like to expound on the word of God, verse by verse and even word by word. There's so much to hear from God's word. God is alive and he speaks. The problem is our listening. 

2 Chronicles 18:1

​Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

It was by marriage that he had alliance. Alliance with Ahab. 

I want to speak to people who are inclined to be married. Be not yolked unequally. Many think I can win her or him to Christ. Remember the priority is not to win the person to Christ when you entered into the relationship but it's because you are in love. This is where you get into trouble. And it gets worst after marriage and you find one is more inclined to the world. And with children comes more complications. Please honour the Lord. 

2 Chronicles 18:2

Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead.

This is the will of the flesh being activated. He made a good impression so how to say no. Be careful of the world. Sometimes they tempt you with things of the world to slant your decision. 

2 Chronicles 18:3-4

Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” 

Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.” 4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”

Listen to what the spirit of the Lord says today. Jehoshaphat is someone conscious of the Lord and his word. He seek counsel from the Lord. 

Some people freak me out when they pray for everything. Like I ask them to worship lead and they say let me pray about it. There are things where we need to seek the Lord but not for everything. 

2 Chronicles 18:5

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets–four hundred men–and asked them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Go,” they answered, “for God will give it into the king’s hand.”

Without hesitation they decided to go as God has said it so it's a done deal. We have to study the word and not just hear what the internet says. We have to check it with the authority of the word of God. 

2 Chronicles 18:6

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”

There were already 400 so why wait for 401? The majority rules. But praise the Lord for Jehoshaphat who is looking for one who may hear from the Lord. 

2 Chronicles 18:7

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.

There is one who will prophesy but is not in favour of the king. But there is something about Micaiah and somehow King Ahab knew he has something from God or he would have got rid of him a long time ago. 

So he called his soldiers to bring Micaiah. 

2 Chronicles 18:10-11

Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’ ”

11 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

But all these still did not convince the King. Sometimes people say what you want to hear. But Ahab knew this prophet was different. Sometimes people around you sees something different in you because you're a spokesman for God. Like how Joseph spoke to the Pharaoh. 

2 Chronicles 18:15

The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord.”

Sometimes telling the truth Is the only right thing to do. By doing that you are in the right place. 

2 Chronicles 18:18

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.

2 Chronicles 18:20

Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 

“ ‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

This is one from the dark side. 

2 Chronicles 18:21-22

‘I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

22 “So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

This ministry has been abused over and over again that the church no longer wants to prophesy. False prophets and lying spirits can be found everywhere. Go back to the word. God speaks through his word and confirms exactly what he wants to do. Walk in the truth. You're going to be blessed. 

2 Chronicles 18:28-29

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

In those days the king goes out to battle in the front. It is so easy for the enemy to spot him. The world can spot us and know we are believers. Like at meals when the food is served but here is a group of people with their heads bowed. We are noticed. 

2 Chronicles 18:31-34

When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “This is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

33 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told the chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 34 All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.

What God has spoken God has spoken. The king died as prophesied. God reminds us and speaks to us and knock at the door of our hearts continuously but it will end. Jesus is coming back again. What he says will come to pass. How will you end? Will he say I know you not? Or will he say well done my good and faithful servant. Alliance. Believers needs to connect with believers. God wants to make us one and we need to align with him. 

If we alliance with the wrong company, there is a price to pay. Let us wisely choose who we alliance with. We need to get it right. Maybe some of you are at the wrong place. Come to Jesus and ask him to save you. 

Prepare Ye The Way

Rev Gideon Lee

Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

​1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way”–

3 “a voice of one calling in the desert,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”

4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This book is about Jesus Christ. He is the main hero. That's why it's called the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Of all the four gospels, Mark was the first gospel to be written. It is not arranged as the first but the writer wanted to get the book out as soon as possible because he was afraid people may forget about the events of the gospel. That is why it is not very detail. The other books has many details to complement the gospel of Mark. That is why you must read the four gospels for better detail. 

Who was John the Baptist? He was Jesus' cousin. Mary was quite young when she got pregnant. Scholars says she 13 or 14 years old. It was not uncommon then. Even during our parent's time girls marry young. At the longhouses some marry by the time they are fifteen. But Elizabeth was different. She was well in age. She's the mother of John the Baptist. And she longed for a child and she was blessed with John six months before Jesus. 

How was John's lifestyle? He was different from the other children. He would go to the desert and read about Elijah in the scriptures. He fashioned himself like Elijah as Elijah was his hero. People mistook him for Elijah. And his clothing is of camel's hair. I wouldn't use camel's hair for clothing. He used what was available. And he ate locust and honey. I mean honey was okay but locust!?!? He was not fussy. 

He was like on a mission trip. He had a mission. To declare the coming of Jesus. And he said this person that is coming, he was not worthy to even untie his laces. While he baptise in water he said he who comes will baptise in the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist is not a nobody yet he said Jesus was far greater than him. 

John the Baptist has an appearance you may not want to invite on a Sunday morning. And he has only one message and he preached on repentance. How would you like a preacher who has only one message his whole life?

He was so successful that the religious teachers there hated his guts. What made John the Baptist a success? I suggest to you three things that we must include in our message as we reach out to the community this Christmas. I pray that you'll apply these three things to you life. 

1. He lived a godly life. 

We are living in an evil world. One of my friends told me he's afraid to come to Penang. Your Penang has a serial killer. Chopping people up and leaving them around. It seems the police have caught the man and is interrogating him. And the scary thing is that sometimes when you ask the neighbours, they'll say he looked like a quiet and nice person. No suspicion at all. 

The church and as children of God has to live a godly life. Being godly is not popular. It is against what the body likes to do. Like I shared with you last Sunday about the longhouse church leader who opened a canteen or sundry shop to sell stuff  and one of the things he sold was liquor. I mean he of course also sell sundries like instant noodles and other essentials but with liquor he can make 500 ringgit a day. And the best day for business is in Sunday. Of course as a church leader he will be in church on Sunday but he will tell his wife to open his shop so the wife will not be in service. 

By the way, my wife is also not in service today but that's not because she has a shop somewhere. Jayden is unwell and had diarrhoea so was fussy last night. So today he's still not well so my wife is home with him. Do pray for him. 

This Christmas I pray we will not forget this. God is speaking to this person, the longhouse church leader. All this started because of greed. But God is speaking to him.  

One day a conman approached the wife and told them he has government connection for bantuan (financial aid). He even offered to take his wife to the government office to fill up the forms. Because of greed she agreed. They targeted her as she wore a lot of gold, necklace and bangles. The day came she went and as they were driving they said they need to get her photo taken. It made sense to get her photo taken for the form. 

They went to town to take photo and in the shop the man said they must take out her jewellery if not she cannot get bantuan with her wearing all her jewellery. She had to leave her jewellery with the man to take her photographs in another room and when she came out the man was gone and they took all her gold. 

John the Baptist was successful because he lived a godly life. They often mistook him for Elijah. And at one time he was asked if he was the messiah. And he said he is not. Can you imagine because of your behaviour people ask if you're a Christian. Not "aiyah, you Christian arr!"

2. He dare to challenge the people's sin

He called them to repentance. I hope we will not be afraid to say that. Confronting sin and challenging lifestyle. He was someone who did that. Repentance is not just saying I'm sorry but that you choose not to do it this way but to follow Jesus. 

John the Baptist dare to challenge the people that was why they came to him to be baptised. He choose to confront sin where he was, even against King Herod. Even the religious officials dare not to say anything about King Herod. Because he was a nasty guy who can get you killed. 

Too often in church we say judge not lest we be judge. We need to understand what that scripture means. We must be daring enough to confront wrong and wrong doers. 

In the longhouse we had a Q&A. They asked what is their weakness after going to their longhouse so many times. I told them it's because they did not confront wrong. They will come and tell me to tell their children not to smoke. I ask if she's the mother or me? We must confront wrong in love. 

That man who sold liquor, I had only one and a half day to confront him. You cannot be direct with them. You need to find an angle and use others or circumstances. I tried my best to confront him even if it's not direct. I even used a forum to confront the issue. In the forum they can ask questions so when they have no more questions I asked if it is okay to drink? And the church leader himself replied that it is up to the individual. That is where I confronted him with the word of God. That the bible did not say cannot drink but do not be drunk. When do you know you are drunk? When you are drunk but by then it's too late. 

The bible says be filled with the Holy Spirit and do not be filled with wine which will control you. What ever fill you controls you. If you are filled with the world the world controls you. When you are filled with the things of God the things of God controls you. When I shared that at least there is a glimmer of hope. I could see that he regretted. Repentance is more than just saying sorry. Even if he cannot close down his sundry shop, he should not sell liquor. 

3. He pointed the way to Jesus Christ

Many times in our walk with God there is a temptation to take the glory for ourselves. We say I did it. It is me. I'm the one. When they asked him if he's the messiah he could have said yes and take the glory. He has integrity and he know he's not the star. He pointed the way to Jesus. 

I pray amongst our Christmas eating and shopping we point the way to Jesus. Even our Cell Christmas Celebration, I pray we point to Jesus. He is the main star. Many times we fail to point to him. We point to programmes and many other things except Jesus. 

Some people tell me that in order to reach others we must be able to identify with them. And to do what they do. When in Rome do as a Roman do. I think we got that out of context. In everything we do we should point the people to the cross and not anywhere else. 

We are not perfect. We all have shortcomings including me but in everything I do I pray I will be someone who point the way back to him. 

The world was waiting for a messiah. Someone who will be majestic and victorious which is true of our Christ. But it was John the Baptist that first saw Jesus as the Lamb of God. Not the Eagle or Lion of God even though he is all that. He was the one who first saw Jesus who he really was. The Lamb of God that came to take away the sins of the world.

Master Derrick Hooi giving a comical report of his mission trip to Sarawak with a slide show.

Transactional or Relational Faith

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I want to start my message with a short story. 

One day God decided to do a site visit to one of the churches. He'd send an angel to visit one of the church as a messenger. Somehow the church heard of it and the church board was told that there will be a visit from an angel. So when the day came there was two angel that came instead and the church board asked who is from the Lord. And both said they were from the Lord. Obviously, one was not and the church board needed to find out which was which. 

So the church board asked what message do you have so that we can tell who is from the Lord? 

The first angel came and said I came in a Lamborghini and came dressed smartly in a tie. I came to tell you that the Lord will prosper you in all you do and you will have good success.

The first angel also told the church, God is going to bless them with long life. All your children will be professionals. And you will be promoted. And when you go to heaven the Lord will welcome you as the good and faithful servant. So the board thought this is good, the real stuff. Promises of God.  

The second angel came in a Proton Saga. Like Bro Hooi's. The second angel said be ready. The time of persecution is coming soon. Jesus is coming back so be prepared. But worry not for I will be with you. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. 

During the first century, this will not have been a problem. The wave of persecution took most of their possessions or even their life away. So they had no problem because they look forward to the coming of the Lord. 

But today there may be a board that would call an EGM to see who is the real messenger. 

The question is this, what is your most treasured possession? The first is about temporal wealth. The second holds fast on the confession of your faith. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. 

If you look into your heart, what is your most treasured possession. Your money? Your health? Your children? Or your faith in Christ?

1 Peter 1:6-7
In 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 your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

There are two words that come out strongly. 

One is trials. 

This was a time when the church was undergoing persecution. There are two types of trials. One is due to you standing up for Christ. The second type of trial are those that we all go through. The trials of circumstances. Like your health failing you. You finances fail you. Or relational issue. Or your children go through a difficult time. 

Peter said these trials are for a little while. They don't last forever. They will end. Peter writes that these have come that their faith may prove genuine. When God allows it, he is in it and he is in control. It is the time of the testing of our faith. It is easy when all are well in our life. But testing comes when things go the other way. Will we still say praise the Lord and still come to church? That is the test. 

Someone once said: "A faith that is not tested cannot be trusted." Most of us see short term. When we go through a problem all we want is a solution to the problem. When the doctor say we are not well we look to immediate healing. We want a solution, nothing more, nothing less. 

When we go through a trial he is interested in you and want to mould you to be more like Christ. People who have not gone through a specific problem cannot see the issue of those problems. It is in the furnace of suffering that spiritual maturity happens. 

I am currently on a high. Last day of school was on Friday so I decided to ask my colleagues about death. And they said "why go and talk about death?" Usually they stay about 45 minutes but that day they all cabut in 20 minutes. People fear suffering. We know we live in a fallen world. For us, God doesn't want us to fear anything or anyone except him. That is holy fear. When we look at suffering we are realistic. In suffering, in Christ we are overcomers and if God allows it, he has a purpose. 

This is one of the purposes of God where he can work out things for good. That is theological. 

I read this about 2 years ago from a famous philosopher and I think he got it right. 

The mark of humanism is suffering. But he said there is one antidote for suffering. Diluted suffering. It is not suffering that matters but whether you find meaning in suffering. If you find meaning, the suffering is diluted. I thought a lot about this. 

Like working. Most of us work 8 hours a day. Now imagine you work 2 jobs a day. 16 hour work day. Will you suffer? You will suffer. You won't say, wah, I enjoy working and no sleep. You will look to the day when you can just work one job or better still retire and not have to work. 

But if the man says he's doing it for his children, every time he goes to work and he sees his two children, and that he goes to work for them, his suffering is diluted because he found meaning for it. It is difficult for him but it is well worth it because it's for his children. 

Looking back on it biblically, we know God will not waste our suffering but has his purpose that is good for us, then we go through it with God's perspective and meaning and the intensity of the suffering will lose its sting. 

Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

As Christians we will go through trials but we are different because God is in our suffering and he has a purpose to work it out for good. 

The second word is faith. 

1 Peter 1:7
These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Peter used gold to compare and he says it's far more precious. Here I want to linger a little more. 

The word faith in verb form is belief. But when the word stands alone, we must look at it carefully. I see two types of faith. 

Transactional Faith. 

When things are good they praise God. When things don't go well they ask why. Then their language change. I do so much for the Lord why is this happening? When a person ask these questions, often it will move into a transactional faith. When I belief I expect something good to appear in a concrete manner. 

Transactional faith is well exemplified by my father. When my brother accepted the Lord, my father somehow found out about it when food that was offered to idols, my brother didn't eat. My mother asked why didn't eat? Stomach ache? In the end my brother said he's baptised and became a Christian. My parents practiced self control. And asked me to go buy Indian Mee for him. 

When in the room alone with my parents, my parents complained about my brother. The Cantonese have a proverb. You must tell the emperor before you chop off the head. What's the point you chop off then only tell the emperor. If the emperor wants to spare the person also too late already. I told my parents that he's irresponsible. I said I will never be like that. My father said I have you I "pang sim". (Laughs)

Then my second brother became a Christian. I told my mother, don't worry. Trust me. I won't be like that. 

Then the day came, I became a Christian, I told my father I want to baptise and I want my father's blessings. So I am one step better. My brothers baptised then told my parents but I asked my parents before I got baptised. (Laughs) My father said you have my blessings and told me it is fated for me to be a Christian. 

My father said you can belief but do not be a fanatic. My father's faith is totally transactional. He prays and expects things or blessings. 

Relational Faith. 

But when it comes to Christ, it is not transactional. It is faith in Christ. In transactional it is faith in what God can offer. This is proper biblical faith. This is genuine faith that is worth more than gold. Faith in the God of circumstances. Not the circumstances. 

If you have been praying for blessings, like when is the money coming, then that's a transactional faith. But when you pray and trust in the God that provides the riches, the focus is on him, then it's relational faith. When you have faith in him even if the prayer is not answered. 

It's like if you have not prayed it's your problem. But if you have prayed, then it is Jesus' problem. That is relational faith. 

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

The background is that God required Abraham to sacrifice his son. But before that God told Abraham he will provide Abraham a son and will through him give him descendants that is numbered like the stars. Here is where if you are Abraham, you will wonder since God promised that he will be father of many nations, why sacrifice Isaac? And that God has given him only one son and that he is in his old age. His conclusion is that God will raise him from the dead. 

What is your greatest possession? It would have been his son but in this case faith in God is his primary possession. If your faith is in your possession, in your substance then you need to fine tune your faith. Our faith needs to be on Jesus. 

Sometimes misfortunes fall on Christians. And we cannot explain so it's sometimes better to stay silent. 

I just watched the movie Interstellar. Some of us found it boring but I found it very interesting because I am a science teacher. Interstellar is an interesting story but I can tell you it won't happen. The man moved into a black hole and time became irrelevant. From a physics teacher, it cannot happen. The gravity is so great that I and my handsome face will become a dot. It's just a movie. 

Our faith goes beyond reason. It goes into the supernatural and goes beyond the natural. 

One of the great philosopher, a Christian contributed to human reason by saying that we cannot reason our way to God. God is above our reason. When we come to God, every intellectual or non intellectual have to take that leap to faith. And he used Abraham's position as an example. 

Faith is no longer faith if you can see it. It is something you cannot see. I have faith I'll be going to heaven. And I am often asked if you've not seen it how would you know? I say, if I've seen it I will not need faith. They have only reason. They have stagnant feet and cannot make that leap to faith. 

We know there are spiritual warfare all the time. The devil work day and night. I don't like to credit the devil but I must say he is more hardworking than us. When the devil looks at us, what is on his malicious evil mind?

Will he destroy our wealth and health? Like Job? The devil is not on that level. That is child's play. He may be evil but he is smart. He comes against you to turn you away from Christ. To attack us at the point of faith. He succeeds when one day he hears this, I was a Christian. The most treasured possession, guard it. If you lose everything you still have your faith in Christ. In Christ you have everything. 

And when the day comes, you can say it is well with my soul. I learnt the background of this hymn from Bro Hooi. 

Today I tell you the modus operandi of our enemy. Not everything is due to him. He will seduce and tempt you until you get into trouble and shake your faith. 

You work hard in ministry. Everything you do fails. He whispers and say its useless. He discourages you. 

Then the third way is he gives you wrong doctrine. Faith in the wrong Christ. 

But the devil is most dangerous when he encourages you. You may ask how?

I take Bro Jacob as an example. He has been worship leading for the last 30 years. And one day the devil whisper to him and said he is the best worship leader. And one day he comes up to worship lead and say he is the best and don't need God. 

After Bro Jacob gets angry with me so I also put myself in his shoes. I preach a sermon and I hear praises that I'm very good. And one day I think I no longer need God's anointing. Devil's praises and men's praises are very different. If your cell leader is doing a good job, praise and thank him. It is okay to encourage.

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

They were at that time heavily persecuted. There will be times when our faith level will be low. This verse is for us. There are two reasons given in Hebrew. 

Hebrews 12:16
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

This is the negative and a warning. Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup. The Hebrew is telling us that our faith is so precious that we sell off our spiritual birthright in exchange for the things of the world. Life is more than just a bowl of soup. 

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. And this statement by Paul shows his statement of life. 

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

His faith in Christ was intact and a crown awaits him and not just him but all who waits for the appearing of Christ. 

So in our life whatever we go through, hold onto the faith of Christ. 

True Love

Rev Ng Kok Kee

President of Bible College Malaysia 

I always enjoy coming to Penang and I'm glad to be back again. I was here for the Baptist Theological Seminary Graduation dinner so I drove up and we have more days here to visit places we wanted. So this weekend I was wondering what I'll do so I invited myself to TOP. Your pastor cannot refuse me (laughs).

And I got to drive on the second bridge and my wife was worried because there were no cars before us and no cars after us. It was so empty I wonder why they build that bridge. We drove and drove and there was no end in sight. It's so much longer than the first bridge.

Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

In 1944, a Polish Jew born in America Isaac Rabi a physicist and Nobel laureate, recognized for his discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance, which is used in MRI magnetic resonance imaging. He was also involved in the development of the cavity magnetron, which is used in microwave radar and microwave ovens. He was then asked by reporters how he discovered the sciences. His mother used to ask him questions every time he came back from school. He said his mother was not so much interested in what he learned but how he conducted himself in school that day. She would ask him whether he asked a good question that day. And that, he said made him become a scientist. He wanted to know the truth.

The Pharisees never really wanted to know the truth. They just wanted to test Jesus. They asked questions with wrong motives. They were not trying to learn, they were trying to trap Jesus. They wanted to do damage to his reputation. But Jesus was up to the task.

They asked Jesus which is the greatest of the Commandments. Sometimes I would ask what is the greatest commandments for the Muslims. I realised that Halal certification is serious. I read that we are the first nation to have a Halal CSI unit. To make sure that all halal products are 100% halal. I'm sure you've heard about the chocolates issue. Also recently a Muslim man tried to help Muslims touch a dog to remove the fear. But the next day it's being called haram. We may laugh and think that being halal is perhaps the Muslim's most important commandment.

So I want to throw this question to the Christian. What is our greatest commandment? Like we cannot do this or that. There are so many rules. You know what I mean.

The Jewish knows that the Do Nots were more than the Do's in the Torah. The negatives outweighed the positives. Scholars have different opinions. And any answer would risk pleasing someone at the expense of offending someone else.

So they knew if they threw a theological question to Jesus, he may say something that would offend someone. Bad questions. But Jesus must have stung them with his answer.

The greatest is to love the Lord your God with all your heart. And the second is to love your neighbour as yourself. And he said on these hung all the laws. He struck them with his answer.

What is this love? If you asked children you will find their answer to love is very wise and innocent. And we can learn from them.

Jesus saw that the Pharisees were so rule oriented that he said if you don't love God it doesn't matter what else you do. It's strange that God commands us to love him. If pastor Gideon can command the church to love him he'll be the most successful pastor in the world.

We cannot command love because it's a commitment. Look at Jesus. Your love is the only one thing God cannot take from you. It's the only thing God can have only if you voluntarily give to him. He can take your money, your house or your life, but only you can give your love. He cannot take it from you. Love is not a feeling but a commitment.

Loving God means keeping his commandments. To love God the way he wants to be loved is to obey God. I can tell how much you love God by your answer to me. Do you love God because you have to or because you want to? Parents will know this very well. They'll want their children to obey them because they want to. Not because they are afraid and have to.

There is this story of a rich merchant looking for the apostle Paul. He met Timothy and the merchant found Paul and saw this old man who was frail but had a serenity about him. He asked what was this man's strength. And Timothy said Paul is in love with Jesus Christ. Is that all, the merchant asked. And Timothy said that is everything. In love you don't have to act. People can see and know. It will be very evident if you love God or not. Some have to do so much to show they love God. It's not what you do or say. It's what you exudes when you love God.

The second part Jesus says to love others as yourself. God gave us two hands. One to hold on to God and the other to hold on to others. If our hands are holding on things of the world we cannot hold on to God and others. When we love God, his love will flow out to others.

There are four types of love.

Love among equals. This is not difficult and is perhaps the most common.

Love for the less fortunate, it is compassion. To love the ones that are poor, sick or abandoned.

Love for the more fortunate. This is rare. To love the ones that has more than us. In my words like the pendatangs love the bumis. To love your sister when you have 6A and one B when she has 7 A's. This is the love that always confuses the world because it's a saintly love.

Love for the enemy. The one that hurts you, condemn you, that hates you. This is a tortured love that loves the torturer. This is God's love. This is demonstrated by Jesus on the cross.

I think we need all these four types of love.

In a harbour there are two lights that guide the ship. As long as the lights are kept in line the ship will travel safe at the harbour. If we keep ourselves in line by loving God with all our heart and to love others like ourselves, we are in safe harbour in our Christian walk with God.

People say that love is blind, I say love is the only thing that sees. Let us love.

Pastor Gideon praying for some of the team members going on the mission trip to Sarawak

The Transfiguration of Christ

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Today's message is going to be something we seldom hear about. We are quite familiar about the incarnation or the birth of Christ. God became man. And we are also familiar with the baptism and temptation of Christ. The point of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is also another one and of course the resurrection, the empty tomb. The resurrection followed by the ascension. Today I'm going to talk about something a little more different, the transfiguration of Christ.

All the worship songs by Bro Jacob ties in with my message today. We are trying to reach out to the folks in Teluk Kumbar and also pastor’s vision to reach out to the drug addicts, a good place to take stock of is that we must always remember the focus of the Christian faith is not primarily the ministry. The focus is the minister. Our Lord Jesus Christ. As we move into ministry we must never forget our first love. Everything we do must spring from the Lord.

Luke 9:28-29 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning."

Matthew 17:2-3 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus."

As he was praying his appearance changed. Luke did not use transfigured but Matthew did. Jesus was praying and he was transfigured.

The first insight is that communion brings the glory of God in your life.

Jesus radiated the glory. As he was praying something happened to him. It's metamorphosis. And in that word we think of the butterfly as a student. The metamorphosis word tells us that what happened to Jesus was not just the outward. Today I wear different from normal because I'm preaching. Normally I'll were a t-shirt but today I wear long sleeve and a tie. Looks more handsome la. Transfiguration is also inward. The glory radiated from him.

When we put our hands on the plough and put our lives into ministry, first and foremost it must come from a communion from our Lord. If not two things will happen. We will become tired and burn out. And second we will not bear spiritual fruits.

Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord."

His face was radiant with the glory of God and the connection is that he has spoken with the Lord. He was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights.

Here was a description of his face being radiant because he has spent time with the Lord, had communion and spoken to the Lord. Moses was carrying the word of God. He has commune with God and his face was radiant.

A few months back I had a session with the ushers. And I asked them what is the most important asset of an usher. Like for example, a worship leader must be able to sing. To the usher it's their face, their countenance. For the teacher of the word will need to have God’s grace on him to be able to think. To be able to reason. The ushers must smile and the people look at our face. I told them they need to spend time with the Lord so that their face will shine the glory of God. Their countenance will show the glory of God. For the ladies, you can save some money on cosmetics with the glory of God. Or perhaps less make up.

Now that I have a smartphone, I found that a fashion designer Versace I think whose face is shining because he overdid his plastic surgery.

Often the words we say do not fit our actions, and some says the action or body language says more. Like an angry father may say to the son “do you know how much I love you?” Screaming at the child with anger. The child will think if love is like that, better don’t love me.

In communion there is something that the Lord does.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

In this verse we reflect the Lord’s glory. Radiate comes from the essence of who we are. Moses reflected the glory of God. For us we must understand that we are a little bit better than Moses. Because the Holy Spirit is in us and he works in us so that we can reflect the glory. The reflection is outward. If you commune with God, the reflection will be strong but if you are busy with other things the reflection will be dimmer. It is something we must do daily.

I watched a movie called long ago called The Fly. This man invented teleportation where he enters a pod and transmit himself to a second pod. One day, as he experimented, he went into the pod and a fly happened to fly in there and the genes of the fly infused into him, as he was teleported to the other pod. And soon he became more and more like a fly. Why am I saying this?

We have the capacity to be more like Jesus as we commune with him. In the story, the man became more like a fly and he cannot control it. In our case, it depends on how much we yield to the Lord. As we spend more time communion with him, we are transformed from glory to glory.

If we ask ourselves, Jesus has prayed many times. Why on this particular juncture he is being transfigured. Here we have to read the passage upwards. The transfiguration was connected to Peter’s response.

Luke 9:18-20 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”"

The transfiguration is the precursor to the full glory of God. He authenticated it by being transfigured. It is here that Jesus reveals himself that he is the Christ, the Messiah.

If you look at Luke you'll find the authentication became complete when God the father spoke. Much like what Jesus heard when he was baptised. If you compare the voice of God during the baptism and the transfiguration you'll find that at the baptism the voice was for Jesus. But in this transfiguration it is the three disciples that heard the voice. It was to confirm the messiahship of Jesus to the disciples.

So do you now really really know who is Jesus? It is easy to call Jesus the teacher, the healer, the prophet. In many other faiths what the God can do is more important than whom the God is. In Christianity who he is is far more important than what he can do. I want to elaborate a bit more on this.

Most of us are from Taoist background. If you worship “tua pek kong” and you asked for something and it's not answered, you may move to another “kong”. In Buddhism, the philosophy overshadows the founder. In the case of Buddhism if you follow closely you can become the next Buddha. In Christianity if you take out Jesus you have nothing. Christianity falls on the person of Jesus. Who Jesus is is of paramount importance.

At the transfiguration, the three of them, Peter, James and John recorded this down.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

2 Peter 1:16-18

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain."

For John and Peter this was the defining moment in their lives. The other one was James, died by the sword and Peter was crucified upside down and John was persecuted until his last days on the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelations.

In the transfiguration, they knew Jesus is indeed God. Whatever experiences you have it is a point of contact. That point of contact must lead you to the point of focus. And that focus is to lead you to the person of Jesus.

There are two things that will grasp and take our attention.

One, we have to be practical. The pressures of life are very real. The circumstances of life are real. On the other end is the Christ of God. If we want to mature we must turn our focus from the circumstances of life to the Christ of God.

There are four Ps in my bible. 

Person Presence Power Peace. 

When you focus upon the Person of Christ you will carry the Presence of God. In the presence the Power of God will manifest and you will have the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

Our tendencies are that we focus so much on our circumstances we loose focus on Christ.
When you look to Christ, the providential blessings of God will impact your circumstances.

The transfiguration showed them that Jesus is the Messiah and that changed their whole outlook on life. Let's turn out eyes to Jesus as the author and finisher of our life. Coming back to the ministry when we focus on God, our ministry will bear spiritual fruit or if you do it on your own you will have to slog it out yourself. The ministry is God’s work not your work.

The last question I want to ask is where the answer is not very clear.

What was the content of Jesus‘ prayer?

You will probably search the bible and theologically this is the best answer we have. If you look at 9:28-36pp – Mt 17:1-8; Mk 9:2-8 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray."

Luke 9:22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”"

Jesus was talking about him going to the cross. Also mentioned when Jesus prayed at the garden of Gethsemane. If you tie them all in, the one interpretation is like this.

This was a precursor to the garden prayer. The prayer about the cross and the transfiguration is God the Father’s answer to Jesus. Jesus was facing the cross. You must understand that he asked if it’s possible to pass it away from him. Jesus was looking at the abandonment and it is a deep struggle for the Lord. But in the end, Jesus submitted to the will of God. This was what we believe was in Jesus’ mind.

God the Father’s answer about him going to the cross did not take the cross from him. But what God gave him was victory over the cross. The transfiguration was an inkling of the resurrection. In it is the future glorified body of God. In the suffering on the cross is the glory that would come.

As children of God and Disciples of Christ, we must understand that there is suffering before the glory. Even if none of us has the transfiguration experience, the word of God tells us that we through communion with God the voice of the word will bring the presence of God into our lives.

There are three things we learn.

Our communion with God must drive our commission. God must drive the ministry.
Communion is not primary for the commission. The communion transforms you. In that presence is the peace and power of God.

The focus is not on our need but on God. Focus on God and your need will be met. Jesus is more than just what he can do for you.

And lastly, the Christian Faith is first and foremost a call to sacrifice and in it is the completion in glory.