Blinded by the Truth

Rev Gideon Lee

How many of you enjoyed Rev Benjamin Yeoh's message last week? What did he talked about? Faith? The ability to see beyond your circumstances. To see the bigness of your God. And the future reward from God. Not look at the now but what God will do in the future. 

I want to continue talking about seeing. Seeing beyond our circumstances. 

John 9

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.

17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God, ’” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

I want you to note a few things. 

v1 This man was blind from birth. He was most probably begging. Back in those days, if you had any infirmities, you'd probably have to beg and usually at the temple. People then believed in giving alms as being meritorious. 

They asked if it is his fault that he is blind. What would you do when you see someone in need? You would try to help him or meet his need. But his disciples were more interested in a theological question. Whose fault was it that he is blind? Who sinned? This guy or his parent's sin?

Jesus was not interested in their theological question. He said neither. I am not talking about our church but sometimes we as Christians when we are faced with a need we are more concerned about the theological questions but God is more interested in meeting the need. What did Jesus do?

He spat on the ground and played with mud. Where has this happened in the bible before. He spat on the mud, took the mud and put it on the man's eyes. 

We don't know if he had eyeballs or not. Maybe he has but cannot see or maybe no eyeballs and just a cavity. Probably there was no eye balls so the mud can be put into the cavity. He told the man to go wash his eyes after which he could see. 

The only time this has happened was when God created man from earth. He fashioned the earth and breathed life into it. Jesus did the same because he is God. He replicated creation. Only God can do it. 

He could see. How many times in these situation we see the Pharisees coming and asked how can this be done on a sabbath? It was supposed to be a day of rest. How dare this man healed you on a sabbath. It's like you come to church and how dare God heals on a Sunday. Or how a man can be saved on a Sunday. 

The man replied in v11. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

He referred to Jesus as the man called Jesus. Noticed as you go on in v17, his revelation of Jesus changes. He now sees Jesus as a prophet. 

v17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

v35 it went even further. Jesus is now the son of man. 

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This morning I want to point out a very important fact. Especially in the KJV. You should have a KJV version. 

v6 he anointed the eyes of the man's eyes, as in Christ the anointed one. He did not just put mud on this man's eyes but he anointed his eyes. 

v11 Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes

He christened his eyes. Like when they launch a new ship they would break a bottle of wine and christian the ship. 

This morning my question to you is whether your eyes are anointed. What happens when your eyes are being christened, it changes the way you see yourself. 

In general human beings are selfish. But we must move from being selfish. When babies are born, they don't see very well. They only see images but as the baby grow their vision becomes clearer. For babies everything is about the baby. Parents, your life changed when your baby came. 

In my case everything changed when my first child came. It changes my driving. I keep to the speed limit. I use my signals. When you travel you pack for your child. The strollers and so many other things. The baby is all about the baby. 

It's like us when we first became a Christian. It must move from just me and myself to others. Someone said conversion is from that belongs to me to I belong to that. It moves from self service to serving others. We have to expand our vision for others. From "do something for me to do something for others". 

Jesus was interested in meeting needs. When our eyes are anointed it changes the way we see ourselves. Our view must change. Are our eyes christened?

Secondly, it changes the way we see other people. 

Once a mother went to a cafe with her 6 year old son. Just before the meal came the mother said let's say grace. The son was excited and began to pray. And in the prayer he asked that God will bless him with an ice cream. The patrons there clapped and thought that it was cute and clever. 

But a woman said how can this boy asked God for ice cream. So the son felt bad and asked the mother whether he did anything wrong. The mother said, no you did nothing wrong. Maybe the lady needed ice cream. Someone in the cafe was touched and gave this boy an ice cream. So when the ice cream came, the boy took the ice cream and gave it to the woman. And he said to the woman, I think you need this ice cream more. 

When our eyes are anointed we see others differently. 

Lastly, it changes the way we see God. 

Just like this man when he received his sight he saw Jesus different. He saw Jesus as the son of man. Jesus is all about the people. His revelation of Jesus changed when his eyes were opened from a man, to a prophet, to the son of man. 

Who is Jesus to you? I know you will give me a Sunday school answer. Jesus is your Lord and saviour but does your actions say that? Is he God to you? Do you see him as that? I pray that our eyes will be christianed. It will change your vision. 

It will change the way you see yourself. It will change the way you see others and it will change the way you see God.  

Faith - the Ability to See

Rev Benjamin Yeoh

I like how your pastor asked you all to move around and shake one another's hands. I like the phrase he used, cross boundaries. We do that on our church where members will not just greet one another but also to just talk about anything. Sometimes even after 10 minutes, they are still talking and not interested in the sermon anymore. 

I wrote some declarations 2 years ago and I would like you to read it with me. 

I am marvellously made in the image of God. I am unique, one of a kind and precious to God.

God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life. No weapon formed against me will prosper because greater is God in me than the devil in the world.

I am a spiritual being with a physical body and my spirit being will respond to God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

My tongue has the power of death and life and I will choose to use it to build not destroy, to heal not kill, and to bless not curse.

Greater is God in me than the devil in this world. We are more than conquerors in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God has brought me to this church for a purpose and I will with God's grace put my talents to work, to win soul and build His church.

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God that brings salvation and I will stand on God's promise and believe that my family members will be saved.

Now that we have just seen the declaration, now let's say it with gusto and believe it. 

Hebrews 11:23-27

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

There was a patient in a psychiatric ward and they put some tests for him and he passed with flying colours. He did so well in such a short time that they were wanting to release him into the real world. But he must answer 2 question before they release him. 

You must remember this is the guy who is in a psychiatric ward. 

The first question was "if I am take a sharp knife and cut off your right ear what would happen to you?" He said he will not hear from that ear. Then the second question. "And what would happen if I cut off your left ear?" To which he replied, oh, then I can't see. Because my spectacles would fall off (laughs). 

Faith is the ability to see. The songs you all sang this morning has 3 songs that talks about the ability to see. 

1. Faith let's you see beyond the natural. 

When Moses was born they saw. What did they see? My son Derrick was born 21 days early. He was always in a hurry. When he was born my wife asked me this question. Boy or girl? Tall or short? Hair no hair? But instead she asked whose eyes. I said sorry but mine. Then she said she was very tired and she went to sleep. That's all she asked, whose eyes. 

They saw that he was no ordinary child. They saw beyond the ordinary. They saw ahead. More than the physical. 

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

It was beyond what we see. It's what we know. That is so so needed. Moses' faith started with his parent's faith. 

Impact your children's life for God. My children is sold out for God and the church. They grow up seeing us and it rubs off. We never tell our children about problems in the church but they know. Children can hear things. They grow up believing God. When I first came to church I told my members to not put pressure on my children. Don't say how can you do that? You are a pastor's son! Don't do that. If they do wrong they are given permission to discipline them. 

Jesus looked or gazed at Peter. It was a look that goes beyond the superficial. And he said your name is Simon, which is like a reed that flows with the wind, that can bend and break. But he said to Simon you will be called Peter, the rock. 

When Helen Keller was born, many thought she was born blind. She actually lost her sight at a very young age. A reporter asked her what is worst than being born blind and she said to be born with sight but has no vision. No wonder she wrote so many inspirational words. Like poems and greeting cards. 

I was born into the ministry as a 20 year old. In a youth camp. I responded to the altar call but I could not recognise why as I was a Form 5 drop out. Out of 8 papers I only passed 3. In bible school I was put into a special class. I thought I was special only to find out the class was for elementary English. A Form 5 drop out. God worked in me but I had to work hard. Stand in the mirror and taped myself speaking. You only realise how funny you sounded when you hear yourself over the tape. That was how I started. It is by the grace of God that I am what I am today.  

What are your challenges today? Don't be so lopsided. You see only the problems but not God. You see hopelessness. You see no way out. But God will make a way even when there is no way. 

2. Faith sees the bigness of our God. 

Hebrews 11:27

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

The bible says Moses saw God. He saw a God who was invisible. He came to a realisation. For Moses to lead millions of Israelites, he had to go to the king of Egypt. Moses said he cannot but God said I Am that I Am send you. You cannot say I am that I Am. Only God can say that. God existed all the while. He is self existence. And Moses saw the bigness of God. That's how he started his journey. With God he is able. He put God in the equation. 

You can say to God I am not capable but I am available. Just a simple shepherd's rod but that simple rod parted the Red Sea. 

When David fought Goliath, he was putting King Saul on the spot. To find one man to fight one on one and Saul being head above all was afraid to step out. When David stood out, Saul thought he must be joking. He was just a boy? It's like putting any one of us to fight Mike Tyson. Sure die. 

But David was saying the same God that help him fight a lion and a bear will help him fight this Goliath. He came in the name of the Lord God almighty. They may be saying wah Goliath so big cannot die but David say so big cannot miss (laughs). It's my gut feeling that when David released the stones, the hand of God led that stone to Goliath's only weak spot. He slew Goliath without a sword. He ran over took Goliath's sword and cut off his head. 

When we look at our challenges see them small. We need to see the bigness of God. Greater is he that's in me than he that is in the world. Moses was a visionary leader because he saw the bigness of God. 

3. He saw his future in God. 

Hebrews 11:24-26

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

He was looking ahead to his reward. He renounce his royal heritage. He turned his back to his palace life. He chose suffering over the pleasures of life. He gave it all up to follow the promptings of God. Why? He saw his future in God. 

You know a dacing? A weighing scale. On one side you have a weight. On the other side a produce. And you balance things up. In Moses' case, you put the best the world has on one side and the other side you put all the sufferings he will go through. His value system is that he saw his reward in the future in God. God will never short change you. 

I end with this story. 

Remember how Abraham and Sarah have passed the age of child bearing and they wanted to help God by asking Abraham to sleep with her maid. Abraham slept with Hagar and she conceived. Stomach swell, her head also swell and she despised Sarah and thinks she's the mistress of the household. Sarah ran to Abraham but he did not take any action. Men, we cannot do that. We are the head of the house. Sarah made it hell for Hagar and she ran away. In the dessert, an angel found her. God says to her to return back to Sarah and submit herself to her. 

Not one thing have changed. Sarah was still the angry Sarah. What has changed is Hagar had encountered God and she changed. In our difficulties we often think God has abandoned us in our troubles. She saw the God who sees her. 

Touching God and Experiencing Transformation

Pastor Pauline Ding

I am a fourth generation Christian so I grew up in church. Even so I went through so many inner struggles. 

I will want to talk about a passage that is so common to all of us, what we go through.

I am not going to be talking about the work in Teluk Kumbar. The last few days I have been on fire, like having a fever and I have been praying for rain so thank God for rain. I was so happy. The last time it rained I remembered the date, 16 February at the end of my 40 day fasting. I was so happy and praising God that I cannot sleep. It was like a confirmation. God can touch us in a special way and we can experience him personally. 

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Jabez actually means pain. Imagine being given a name called pain, pain in the neck. These two verses was just talking about this person but they are very striking words. A person born named pain and someone reaching out to God. He didn't want to be pain, he wanted to be a blessing and he got his request. 

How many of us think about our beginning? Maybe you are born in a different situation. I used to work with street people like alcoholics and drug addicts. They were in a very bad situation. 

Ephesians 3:14-15

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

All of us has been given our name and our family by our heavenly God. Whether you are a Tan, Lee, Khoo, you are placed there. I am from the Ding family. Ding Dong Dang (laughs). 

You may have a wish not to be born into your family. Like I had a boyfriend once and I wish I was born into his family. They were so nice. Ya, I had many boyfriends before (laughs). 

Your name is very important. My name is Pauline and I thought of changing my name. But my name is given by my father and it's in my IC. We have to learn to accept our name. Jabez came to accept that and called out to the creator God. Elohim, the originator. God is Jehovah, the great I Am. He is I Am to every situation of ours. He is your healer. He is your provider. He is your deliverer. He is I Am... and you fill in the blanks. 

There was one point in my life as I look at my family history I experienced rejection. My sister and my brother before me had problem before me and I am the third child and I felt unwanted. As a child I was very insecure. Always a cry baby. Always crying crying crying. Always looking for attention. And always thinking what's wrong with me. My parent was always fighting and didn't give attention to their children. My father was traditional, cannot talk so I was always feeling afraid. 

I became very insecure and soon became inferior. I came to a point I accepted myself as a born loser. I was also a jinx. My father, he called me Jonah. He said if I go into a boat it'll sink. I was so clumsy those days. I even fell off a fridge.  And I was involved in boys stuff. I have a black belt in martial arts. I was tough. I do all the stuff a boy do. I also felt like I am a jinx. 

I wanted to end my life at sixteen. As I was going to do it God spoke to my heart. Committing suicide is sin. So I stopped in my tracks and thought if it's sin I will end up in hell. So I didn't want that. 

At this point I cried out to God. To live on in this miserable life, just like Jabez. And the next year I was baptised in the Holy Spirit and I came to know him as my Lord. I found my reason for living, to serve and follow the Lord. Our journey with God is a 100% commitment to God. Jesus went all the way to the cross. He didn't stop half way. There is no halfway. 

When we don't do 100% we will continue to struggle. I have seen it in my life many many times. 

I forgot my title for this message (laughs). It's called "Touching God and Experiencing Transformation".

Too many times I hear people say the church is full of hypocrites. What is that? Not doing what God wants you to do. We need to be transformed by him. That is my life story. 

In Jabez case it is not just the daily things but to go back to the beginning. To accept who you are from the beginning where you are born. God can help you through inner healing even right from the beginning of your problem. Just like Jabez. Calling out to the creator God. 

Because of lack of love I had an orphan spirit. 

There was once when I was maybe 20 or 21 years old. My brother would write to my parents abd sign off your loving son. Aiyeeer. And I found I could never sign like this. I was once in Singapore and I couldn't sign like that because it would not be true. I was a "touch-me-not". Don't hug me. It was something alien to me. I didn't know how to love or to receive love. 

I went through a time of healing. An American preacher came and I asked him to hug and prayed with me like a father. After that when I wrote a letter I could sign already. Your loving daughter. I went through that to forgive my parents to change myself. If we don't change we will carry it though our whole life. I would still be a touch-me-not. 

In our childhood if we do not resolve our problems we will carry it till we are adults. 

I was told by my mother that if a frog urine touch my skin it would become very rough. I would be afraid of frogs. It became a phobia. I was cleaning the garden and held a can to throw and realised inside was a big toad. I was laughing that I was carrying a frog all this whole time and I was laughing and crying and running all over. When they asked me and realised it was just a frog they laughed and left me. I was exhausted by that but after that I felt insecure but the Holy Spirit told me to go to the chapel and pray. 

I prayed for God to close the door of insecurity and to renounce the fear of the frog and after that I no longer afraid of the frog. In Gertak Sanggul there are lots of frogs and I can call them hello Prince Charming. No longer afraid. 

Some people say they are afraid of height or afraid of water because you nearly drowned. We need to come and face them and not leave it unresolved. So this prayer in the second verse, look at the content of the prayer. 

1Chronicles 4:10

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

We need to depend on the Holy Spirit. All who are led by the Holy Spirit is the sons of God. We acknowledge the source of who we are. Our father in heaven. Relate to him and something good is happening. Being a Christian is not just to come and hear. Some even come to sleep. A Christian is a Christian all the time. Not only when we go to church. 

I have seen people especially businessmen where in church they can be so holy but out there so terrible. We need to relate to our Heavenly Father to experience his transformation. 

As we behold him he will change us from glory to glory. The word of God and the Holy Spirit will transform us. To love our enemies? The word says to do it but the Holy Spirit enables us to do it. 

I was a born loser. I was a jinx. I was a fearful person. But today I am as bold as a lion. "Roar". I am changed. 

I struggled with this in-confidence even into my late twenties and God has to take me through an experience to break through this. 

In 2007 God asked me to start a prayer group up in the highlands. What am I going to do? So many people coming. I was crying inside the prayer room. I had this lingering problem and I cried up to him. He had to force me until a breakthrough happened. 

I went to China for training and I was the only one who stayed back for Sunday service as all had left on Saturday. I didn't know how to speak in Mandarin but the pastor at the airport prophesied that by the end of that week I will speak in Mandarin. I have not spoken that language for more than 10 years! 

So I told the pastor whether he dare to let me share my testimonies in church. I think I spent 40 minutes. There was only one interpreter and I was under pressure and I shared my testimony by writing in romanised Mandarin. I became a changed person after that. 

I came back and told my friends I shared my testimony in Mandarin and my friends laughed their heads off. Because I haven't spoken that language for so long. I had a breakthrough. Our life must be like that. Letting God change us. We cannot continue to accept what our environment make us. When we know our God, we can do exploits in God. That's what pastor prayed for me too just now. Because God is holding our hands. 

Wah, time pass so fast. I have so many testimonies to share about God's transformation in my life. I have even written a book. That was what I wanted to do to leave a legacy. I thought when I am 55 it's the end but now I am already 59. It's called Songs of Deliverance. The next chapter is not written yet. You can get the book from me or from the library. 

God hears our prayer. If you mean business, he means business. Do you know he gave his all? He cares for us. Even like the sparrow he cares for us. God is able to change me from a useless, timid, fearful and jinxed person to a winner. I am holding my hands to the victorious one. We have the victory! Amen. 

Pastor Gideon together with the Church Board praying for Pastor Pauline 
during her installation into TOP's pastoral team.

It Ain't Over Till It's Over

Rev Gideon Lee

We need to pray for our country. Our nation. Now even Ultraman is banned. And we know Datuk Seri Anwar is in prison. I am not talking about politics. But we need to pray. And also the jet  MH370 that is missing. Let's pray for our nation. 

This morning I am going to talk about a serious subject. I may lose my job after this. Just joking ya. 

I am not yet done with the beatitude. 

Matthew 5:31-32  “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. ’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

We want to talk a little bit about divorce. There may be some here that have gone through the painful process of a divorce and I want you to know this is not about you. I took an oath so this is an issue I need to talk about especially for the youth. 

It is important enough for Jesus to address this in one of his most important sermon. He is talking to the Christians. Not non Christians. 

It is important because according to a survey the divorce rate have increased 700% in the 20th Century and continues to rise. There is one divorce for every 1.8 marriages. Round it up and it's almost one divorce in every two marriages. That's about 50%. Over a million children are involved in divorce cases and 13 million children under 18 have one or both parents missing. 

The United States has about 5% of the world's population. Nearly half of Americans believe there is no need for marriages. When the Wirthlin group recently asked Americans about their expectations when a friend gets married, 64% of them think that their friend's marriage won't last. 44% agree that marriage will end in divorce and many feel it will be sooner than later. And 59% say it is a smart idea to draw up a pre-nuptial agreement. You never hear of this in our father's time. 

You may say I am just quoting statistics from the non Christians. What about Christians. About 33% of born-again Christians marriages ends in marriage and 34% from non Christians. 87% of the born-again adults divorced after they accepted Christ. 2/3 of Christians see divorce as a reasonable solution to problematic marriages. 

There are only two things that causes unhappy marriages. It's men and women. That's it. It's how we view marriage. 

Jesus confronts the problem of marriage. Jesus quoted from the OT.

Deuteronomy 24:1

If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house,

They are saying God condones divorce and not only condones but that it's okay to do it as long as you gave a certificate. Jesus knew that many views marriage as a contract and not a covenant. God says no. God sees marriage as a covenant. God is not interested in how we can get out of marriage but how you could stay in a marriage. It's a covenant not a contract. It's not just about the legal aspect of a certificate. 

It is a hot topic then and so it is today. 

Matthew 19:3

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

Let me talk to you about some reasons for divorces in those days. Today it is usually termed as irreconcilable differences. In Matt 19:3, the Pharisees asked Jesus this question again, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" The reason they asked why is because the school of thought in that day was that a man can divorce his wife for any cause whatsoever. Here are some reasons. 

If she spoiled his dinner by adding too much salt. 

If she were seen in public with her head uncovered. 

If she talked with other men on the street. 

If she spoke with disrespect to her husband's parents. 

And this one takes the cake. 

If she became plain looking compared to another women who her husband deemed to be more beautiful. 

All he has to do is write a bill of divorce. But this is how God views divorce. 

Malachi 2:16

“I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the Lord Almighty.

So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

God's plan is a plan of permanence. For better or for worst, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part. 

I know some people who has extra marital affair elsewhere and they even have families outside of Malaysia. And they argue that their marriage in Malaysia does not stop them from having another woman in another country. They see it as contractual. 

But as a covenant, there is a third party. God. And it's for your good. 

Jesus was dealing with the attitude of a people who was divorcing their wives for very trivial reasons. Look at Jesus's advice. Jesus said unless it is for adulterous or marital unfaithfulness. But I want to say this. I have counselled many cases and in the Lord, coming together there will be reconciliation and they can have happy marriages. Don't give up. 

God has made it clear. They are not to divorce their wives simply because they added too much salt to their food. 

In divorces, not only the couple suffer but their children. I suspect God is interested in their children. God is interested in their marriage. We need to confront the ugly truth of divorce. Don't let Hollywood tell you it's okay. They are just actors and is paid. Don't let them fool you it's okay to have many partners and to sleep around. The word unfaithfulness is from the Greek word proneia from where you get the word pornography. It refers to any illicit sexual intercourse, whether it be adultery, homosexuality or incest. 

If we bring it to God there is hope even on cases of adultery. I have seen many cases and can testify to it. 

You know the word cleave in the bible? The word cleave signifies permanent attachment. Like glued together once you are married. 

Earlier I said marriage is like a contract or just a licence. Some people say no need to get married. It's just a piece of paper. I don't need to have a piece of paper to prove to you that I love you.

I put it this way. If you are stopped by the police can you tell the police no need license la. I don't need a piece of paper to prove I can drive. The police will still ask for that piece of paper. 

Would you tell your employer you don't need that piece of paper at the end of the month? You wouldn't need that cheque that you earned working for? Would you?

To let you know how important is that piece of paper, you have to bring your marriage cert to register your children's birth cert or IC. Even to do a passport I need that piece of paper. It's not just a piece of paper. It's not just a contract. 

Did you know that where a couple is married in a church the ratio of divorce drops to one divorce in 33 marriages? Did you know that where the couples are "regular" in church attendance, the ratio drops to one divorce in 105? When you stick with Jesus you can stick with each other.

Incidentally, there are other reasons why you ought to stick together. One of the most important investments you can ever make in your life financially is an enduring marriage. A National Institute of Ageing survey of 12,000 couples, ages 51 to 21, found that married couples are on average twice as wealthy as unmarried couples.

But for your own happiness you better think about sticking it out. 86% of unhappily married people who stay together find that five years later their marriages are happier. Three-quarters of people who have characterised their marriages as "very unhappy" but have nevertheless remained together, report five years later that the same marriages are either "very happy" or "quite happy." In the words of two prominent experts: "Permanent marital unhappiness is surprisingly rare among the couples who stick it out."

There was this woman who wanted to divorce her husband because he was a bully and treated her so badly. 

The woman came to a counsellor one time and said, "I cannot stand my husband, and I want to be as mean as I can to him."

The counsellor replied, "All right, if you want to really be mean to your husband here's what you do. Go home and tell your husband that you love him. Do everything possible to prove it. Do things that you've never thought to do for him before, and then when he's convinced you love him more than anybody else in the world, tell him you do not love him at all and you want a divorce. She said, "That sounds great, I'll do it."

In a few weeks she came back with a report that she had followed her counsellor's advice. The counsellor said, "Great, now you can sue for divorce." The woman looked at her and said, "Are you crazy? I've fallen in love with my husband for the first time in years and our marriage is more beautiful and happier than it's ever been."

Sometimes we are looking for a way out while God is looking for a way back in.

I am talking to those of you who are thinking of getting married. It is permanent. The escape clause is when death do us part. You make a decision to marry a person, it's for life. 

You may say what about the part where he or she is unfaithful? If you come together in the Lord, it need not end in divorce. It ain't' over till it's over. God can reconcile the relationship. 

The Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth

Rev Gideon Lee

Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “ Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. ’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all:neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your “Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No. ’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

How many of you remember a musical duo? If you are close to forty, you may remember this duo. Mini Vanilli. "Girl you know it's true" was their one hit song. They lip sing. They didn't actually sang this song but claimed they sung it. Even at the Grammy Awards they lip sing and was discovered. They retired in disgrace. When asked why they did it, they knew the system of the world. And that is people lie and is deceptive. People have no qualms about stretching the truth. And Jesus felt that was important enough for Jesus to address it at the beatitude. 

Lying is what I am talking about. Anyone here never lied before? Any have told a white lie before?

A survey was done before about who told the truth. Clergy was found to tell the truth 49%. Doctors 48%. Your best friend 28%. Local newspapers 9%. Presidents 8%. Don't talk about our nation ya. (Laughs). Politicians and lying seems to go hand in hand. 

Today we have Christian politicians so I am not judging them but it is so prevalent. Are we born liars?

Psalms 58:3

The wicked are estranged from the womb;

They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

You do not have to teach your child to lie. You have to teach them to tell the truth. But this cannot be used as an excuse. Lying is prevalent in our society. We need to learn what comes out of our mouths we have to guard it carefully. We will talk about honesty, integrity and sincerity. 

1. Don't be dishonest in what you say. 

When you are supposed to keep your word you have to see the minds of the Jews. There are two categories of promises. One is a daily promise where you may not keep it but when you swear or take an oath to God you have to keep it. 

Jesus said this is the problem. You cannot say things which you don't intend to keep. Instead being only responsible when you swear by God's name. But Jesus is saying that whatever you swear you have to keep it regardless of whether you use God's name or not. 

Like in court dramas. You hear them say to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth by swearing on the bible. Why? Because people lie. 

A Christian don't have to swear on anything  because they are to be truthful at all times. You hear people say "I tell you the truth ha". Why? We should be telling the truth at all times so why have to qualify what you say. The issue of lying is prevalent and it has crept into the church so we have to address it. 

We need to be honest and truthful all the time. I have someone who came and tell me Pastor, I am brutally honest. I am saying we tell the truth but not always we express the truth. 

Like if my wife ask me "how is my dressing today. Make me look fat or not." You don't have to express the truth even if your wife is a little fat. Or Jacob sang like his lungs come out of his mouth and you tell him after service your worship today lousy la. 

2. Don't be deceptive in what we say. 

When we say something and we stretch it to bordering a lie. I have been a salesman before and they are notorious for stretching the truth. I was working in advertising with a magazine and I told myself to always tell the truth. Paint the truth. We tell all nice things for them to buy and you see it's not true. We promise heaven and earth. 

In magazine, circulation is very important. If you print 20,000 magazine, you will know how much you are spending your advertising money on for one copy. In this magazine I work with they said their circulation is 20,000 but I know it's not 20,000. But when you go to the client you say 20.000. When I found out I could not bring myself to tell the client it's 20,000. I had to resign. Nowadays you have the ABC that audit your circulation. They will issue you a certificate so that it is truth. 

Our words. How many of us make appointments and are late. Your friend ask you where are you? On the way. But where are you? Just leaving your room? Just woke up? On the way. We are not to deceive anyone in what we say. 

The Jews makes two vows, a common promise and one where they swear by God which they have to keep. As children how many times we say, promise don't tell anyone ya. Show pinky finger I seal the promise some more. What we say should be what we do. 

You see, this is the day of double talk; putting a spin on something, the forked tongue, the day of "it all depends on what the meaning of 'is' is." We just can't tell it like it is. We just can't speak honestly, simply, and plainly. 

For example: Take the business world –

One Vermont firm had to reduce their work force, but they didn't say people had been laid off. They called it "A career change opportunity."

When General Motors closed one of its plants, they called it a "Volume-related Production Schedule Adjustment."

When Chrysler closed an entire plant they announced they were beginning "A Career Alternative Enhancement Program."

Business is not the only culprit. Education is one of the worst offenders –

Students don't fail anymore, they "achieve a deficiency." By the way, can anybody tell me how you achieve a deficiency?

People are no longer "bus drivers." They are now "Certified Adolescent Transportation Specialists."

Of course, you know the government is heavily involved. The Department of Defence says that soldiers are never surrounded; instead "they engage the enemy on all sides."

Soldiers are never out numbered, they simply "operate in a target-rich environment."

Governments never raise taxes, they just "enhance revenues."

Hospital patients never die, they just experience "a negative-patient care outcome."

3. Let your yes be yes and no be no. 

Be dependable in what you say. The word integrity comes from a Latin word meaning whole or complete. Integrity includes but goes beyond honesty. Honesty is conforming our words to reality but integrity is confirming this reality into action. Integrity is what you do when no one is looking. 

Porcelain was expensive in China and when you transport them they can break or crack. Porcelain also cracks when you heat them too much in the oven. So the traders tried their best to hide the cracks and sell it off. What they would do is melt wax and seal the cracks. So you cannot see the cracks. The normal way is to pour water in to see if there are cracks and the wax would still hold the water. The discerning buyer would put these vase in the sun and it will melt the wax and it will trickle out and you can see where the cracks are. Sincere means without wax. They would stamp on their product without wax. 

Are our words, what we say, the truth? If we are a truthful person, whatever we say people will believe. As a Christian let our words come out truthfully. Don't be dishonest and deceptive. We must be dependable. When we say it, do it. I pray that we will heed what God is saying.