Rev Gideon Lee

The Chinese New Year is good for getting together. Just like the church. This morning I'm going to preach on a Chinese New Year message. I'm going to talk about China. How God's plan includes China. China was mentioned in the bible. 

Romans 1:18-23

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

In the book of Romans, it says God has revealed himself. The bible says it has been made very plain to man. Through creation. When man look at the stars in the skies they wondered who created the stars above. God has made himself plain and did not hide himself. That everyone will know who God is. But instead of giving God glory, or ascribing all these to God they ascribed it to someone else. 

A complete lunar year is 60 years of 5 cycles each. The Chinese calendar is quite complicated. And each year is represented by an animal. So 12 animals are represented. And this year is the year of the goat. But as Christians we know and understand that this is not the year of the goat. This is the year of the Lord's favour. We tell our children you are born in the year of the dog or rat. And we tell them that if they are born in the year of the rat they will have the attribute of the rat. So everyone wants to be born in the year of the dragon. This is all man made. 

We need to ascribe the glory back to God. Sometimes my children ask me what year am I born in. What animal year they asked. I tell them according to the Chinese calendar she is born in the year of the dog but you are not a dog. You are a human being and you are born in the year of the Lord. We should not be bound by these tradition if they are not aligned with the bible. 

The CNY is not only celebrated in China only but also celebrated all over like Mongolia, Japan and Korea. They say it's even celebrated in Iran. There are Chinese is every continent or part of the world.  

Some people mentioned that this year the firecrackers are not so much. So I joked that it's because of the GST. What was the legend behind the firecrackers. There's the story about "nien", a ferocious dragon. They believed that this dragon would come during CNY and would eat people. And they believed that only wearing red can chase away this dragon and also to have firecrackers to frighten it away. 

The old Chinese people has this concept of the dragon symbolising evil. But satan cannot be scared off by the colour red. Except the red can be symbolised by the blood of Jesus. 

If you look back at China's history, it went through four religious stages. 

The Light was Revealed

The first was a China of one God. If you look at verses 18-20, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. 

At the Tower of Babel God confounded the people and they spoke different language and they moved to different parts of the world. Some moved to China. The original religion of China was monotheism. The believe in one God called "Shangti", or the God of heaven. This was way before Buddhism came to China. Or Confucianism. That there was only one supreme God. 

The Light was Rejected

Secondly, China became the land of many Gods. Over time they believed in many Gods. What happened to China was familiar to other countries in the world. Look at America. They were founded by the pilgrims. They were believers who were persecuted who migrated to America. And they have thanksgiving to give thanks to God. But today, they have forgotten that. Some called it turkey day because they must have turkeys. 

This also happened to many other countries. Many other Gods and cults came in. That's what verses 21-23 says Romans 1:21-23 Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

The Light was Removed 

Then the third stage, China became a nation of no God. How many of you remember Mao Tze Tong. He called Christian missionaries as spiritual aggressors. And the next ten year he persecuted and chased all the missionaries out of China. Even until today, there are Christians who are persecuted in China. Now they worshipped no God. He closed the door of China from the world and communism ruled the day. 

The Light has Returned

Now China has entered into its fourth stage. Now the light has returned. 

Jeremiah 16:19

19 O Lord, my strength and my fortress,

My refuge in the day of affliction,

The Gentiles shall come to You

From the ends of the earth and say,

“Surely our fathers have inherited lies,

Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”

Isaiah 49:12

12 Surely these shall come from afar;

Look! Those from the north and the west,

And these from the land of Sinim.

According to Strong's concordance and Hudson Taylor, the word Sinim refers to China specifically. God is saying the Gentiles including those in China would come back to him. That the Chinese will come back to the one true God. And this is what is happening in China. They say there are 1,000 people coming to God every hour in China. Great revival is happening in China. Many are getting saved. 

We hear of many many miracles happening to many Christians in China. Can you imagine how many is added to the Kingdom of God in a day? 24,000 people becoming a Christian everyday. If it happens in China it can also happen here in Malaysia. A time will come where people will know the one true God. As we celebrate CNY, we need to know we have a part to play in God's plan. 

I believe God wants to do that for our country. Start with us and then our relative. I pray we will be a bright and shining light for all our relatives. I shared about some traditions do not aligned with the word of God. We need to make sure we stand on the right side. Is there anything wrong with wearing red? No. But for us it's like any other colour. It's okay to give ang pows right? But it should not be we become covetous like to go to many houses just to collect ang pows. 

We all know that it is God who bless us. That's why I try not to use Gong Xi Fa Cai. A better word will be to bless others with peace or health. Our believe and our trust is not in these things. It's in God. We need to ascribe greatness to our God. 

It's not because if we put "Fook" at our house it'll be more blessed. No. It is because God bless us. We must not let these superstitions control us. We are a child of God and we know since the beginning of time it is God that bless us. So we must be different and shine for Jesus. 

Good tradition like visiting people we must do. Also the tradition that we must settle all our debts before CNY. By the way I don't believe we should be in debts, not talking about the bank. Like lion dance and firecrackers we should not be doing. Firecrackers also cannot meh? But we know the government also ban firecrackers so it's illegal. In Singapore they have banned firecrackers. 

It is the blood of Christ that sets us free. Amen. 

Let's Get Involved

Rev Gideon Lee

Hebrews 10:19-31

A Call to Persevere

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Corinthians 3:10-14

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

There is a vast difference between professing the relationship with Christ and someone who demonstrate that relationship in faith. 

Titus 1:16

16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Titus is saying that this group of people know God but their actions betray them. Their action proves otherwise. They know God but their action betray them. In actual fact what they do says otherwise. 

Paul is saying that the evidence of someone saying he is a child of God needs to show participation in the church of God. A survey showed that only 37% attends the main service. 12.3% attends more than once a week meetings. There is a difference between a member and an active member in the church. Today I want to talk about being an active member of TOP. 

We come to Church and be an active participant in the church. How can we be part of a church if we are not involved in the church? How can we be an active member if we are only attending the Sunday service. As your pastor I am saying that Christians can be active members. I'm not talking about your salvation. That is assured. 

Exaltation

Expectation

Warning

Exaltation 

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

This is about God coming back soon. We spur one another on. The motivation is that Jesus is coming back soon. It's to spur one another. Our fellow believers. How we can encourage one another in love because Jesus is coming back soon. I don't want a church that has many members, I want active members. 

There must be good works which is the evidence of your salvation. John Pipers says we must stimulate each other in love and good deeds. It is important that we encourage one another in good deeds. John Wesley says there is no Christian that is called a solitary Christian. 

We need to get involved with the church. To be active. There is no such thing as an undercover Christian. I call them a submarine Christian. We emerge only once or twice a year. Christmas and Easter. Then they submerged again. Until the next Christmas. 

Show of hands how many are active in church? We need more involved. To spur one another in love. Even as the day of Christ's return is coming. 

No undercover division for Christians. We are the light of the world. How can we shine if we are hidden?

Expectation

25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the DAY approaching.

Notice the Day here is in capital. His return. We are not to forsake or neglect the assembling of your brethren together. You cannot be a Christian outside of the church. The bible has made it very clear that we are to be part of the local church. Coming to church is a very important thing. Those who choose to isolate themselves is not obedient to the scriptures. There is no such thing as a loner as a Christian. The church is a hospital for sick or hurting people. The church is not a museum of Christians. 

Spurgeon says he don't care much about your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps don't talk but they do shine. 

We are to spur one another in love to do good deeds. We cannot do it in isolation. If you want to know what's happening in the church you have to be in a cell. In a cell you have member care. The first person to visit you in time of difficulty is your cell leader and your cell members. They are the ones that gets involved first. 

Let's be in cell and prayer meetings. I want to praise God for the prayer meetings. There is a group of intercessors that are faithfully coming for the prayer meetings. Prayer meetings are important. But less than 20% of the members come to prayer meetings. This is fundamental. You know but your actions do not back up your believe. 

Encourage your cell leaders. When you come to prayer meetings you encourage your pastor. When you come for prayer meetings you encourage me. When you attend the cell you encourage your cell leaders. When you come on time for service you encourage me. Let's encourage one another in love and good deeds. 

This coming Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday we have a special meeting. We have Juwita Suwito coming for these services. There will also be a vocal workshop on Saturday. And Rev Mike Constantine will be here to preach and also a workshop on family in Saturday. We want to invite others to these services. It's going to be evangelistic. 

How many of you will say you will invite non Christians to these services. Other churches will have their programmes for Good Friday so let them go back to their church. Let's open our mouth and invite our friends. 

Our young adults will change their cell meetings, their cell will be shifted to Tuesday. Because they are most occupied at work on Fridays because they have to clear work on Fridays. So Tuesday is a good day where more can come.

Warning

Your salvation is assured. But as you stand before the judgement seat of God, we will have to give an account of how we live our life for him. Some of us may build with good intentions but God says it will be tested by fire and we will see if it's gold or hay. We may be saved but we may lose our rewards. We will give an account of how we live our life. He will test my motive. Even me. Whether it's done with a sincere heart or in love. I don't want any of you to miss out on this. You may say as long as you get to heaven it's enough. No! I don't want you to get to heaven by the skin of your teeth. If you do that then I've not done my work. 

As Christians there ought to be evidence of our righteous living and salvation. We are saved to be a blessing. I pray you will hearken to what I say. We need to get involved. Don't be a member just by name. 

We need to be excellent examples for the Lord. There was once in trying to get to my destination and I couldn't find the place. There was no GPS or Waze back then. So I asked this makcik at a stall how to get there. She said it's difficult to tell me. She then got on her bike and asked me to follow her. She left her stall and led me. I felt so ashamed and felt like I'd buy everything at her stall. We must be like that. 

We may just say yoo hoo I'm a Christian. We need to show the world how to get to Christ. Let's make a change this year. Let's get involved. One of the most used excuse is that they don't want to get involved because the church members are terrible. I just want to come, pay my tithes and that's it. I don't want to get involved. Sheep are not just wooly and cute. They sometimes bite and kick people. But the bible says the shepherd is willing to lay down their lives for these sheep. We are to follow his example. He came and took on the form of man, lived his life like us amidst temptation and still not sin. 

Come on church, how many of you will say I hear what you say pastor and I'll get involved. 

Godly Fear

Bro Vive Supramaniam

Hebrews 12: 28-29
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Illustration:

Mysophobia is fear of "dirt."
Hydrophobia is fear of "water."
Nyclophobia is the fear of "darkness."
Acrophobia is fear of "high places."
Taxophobia is fear of being "buried alive."
Xenophobia is fear of "strangers."
Necrophobia is fear of the "dead."
Claustrophobia is fear of "confined places."
Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing
Telephonophobia- Fear of telephones.
Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the "number 13."

There are many types of fears that plague the lives of people. But there is another fear that is rarely if ever mentioned today among the lives of people, even among those within the church. It is the fear of God.

Introduction

• Our attitude toward God has become very casual and mundane and many seem unaffected today by the reality of God and His presence.

• The concept of "fear" in connection with God is not a popular concept today

• It may not surprise us that the teaching on fearing God is a lost biblical truth within the modern-day church movement

• There is a misconception of the term the Fear of God and often we downplay this term with the concept Grace and Love of God. 

• Many believers have become so familiar with Jesus that they sometimes behave as if He is their next-door friend

• Yes, He is our Friend but He is also our King
• Yes, He is our Abba Father but He is also God Almighty
• Yes, He is the Lamb of God but He is also the Lion of Judah
• Yes, He loves the sinner but He hates Sin

• We hear Christians say, “I don’t fear God, I just love Him.” They sometimes go on to say, “The God of the Old Testament was a God of wrath, but the God of the New Testament is a God of love; therefore, I don’t have to fear God any longer.” 

• People who reason this way merely show their ignorance of Scripture. 

• Now it is true that since the coming of Christ God’s grace and love have had a fuller revelation, but God in the New Testament is just as holy, righteous, and wrathful as He was in the Old Testament. 

• It is still true that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, for we must learn to fear God before we can genuinely love Him.

Hebrews 12: 28-29
“28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

• In the earlier verses (v18-27), the Hebrews author make a comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. It speaks about the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. 

• The Hebrew author acknowledges that we are the people of the New Covenant  - the recipients of God’s grace

• In Hebrews 12:28, we receive the unshakable kingdom of by Grace.  It is a gift from God.

• And this gift must be received with a heart of gratitude “...let us show gratitude...” 

• The Christian is to have a spirit of gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation for the eternal kingdom which is his in Christ Jesus. 

• But this Gratitude for the grace of God must be followed with Worship of God with reverence and awe.

• The concept of Godly fear is not something remote alien in the New Testament. It is not something of the past or something of the Old Covenant:

• In writing about the early church, Luke recorded: 

• Acts 9:31: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and   in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." 

Note that they were "walking in the fear of the Lord"!

• In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul told them:

• Philippians 2:12: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;" 

• This morning, I would love to share three things:

• Firstly, define what is Godly Fear or the "fear of the Lord"

• Describe why “Godly fear” is important to the Christian

• Suggest how we can develop a healthy "fear of the Lord" without going to one extreme or the other

What is the fear of God?

• The main Hebrew and Greek words translated fear in the Bible can have several shades of meaning, but in the context of the fear of the Lord, they convey a positive reverence.

• The Hebrew verb yare can mean “to fear, to respect, to reverence” and the Hebrew noun yirah “usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. 

• This fear acknowledges God’s good intentions (Exodus 20:20).
• Exodus 20:20 “Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."”

• This fear is produced by God’s Word (Psalms 119:38; Proverbs. 2:5)
• Psalms 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You
• Proverbs 2:5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

• This fear makes a person receptive to wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) 
• Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction

• In the New Testament, the Greek noun phobos can mean “reverential fear” of God, “not a mere ‘fear’ of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “Fear, Fearful, Fearfulness”). 

• This is the type of positive, productive fear Luke describes in the early New Testament Church:

• “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31, emphasis added).

• It is the fear of God that hates sin and things that displease the Lord.

• The fear of God is an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder. It is the only appropriate response to our Creator and Redeemer

• A healthy fear of God includes the fear of the consequences of disobedience. There may be times of temptation or trial when we may forget some of the better reasons for obeying God, and that is when we had better think of the consequences (Exodus 20:20).

• The Hebrews author describe in Verse 29 that Gratitude comes along with reverence and awe “...by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe (godly fear)...”

• Reverence and Awe is essence of the New Testament definition of the Fear of God.

Why “Godly fear” is important to the Christian?

• The positive aspect of the fear of the Lord taught in the Bible is a key element in change. 

• It helps us have a proper, humble perspective of ourselves in relation to our awesome God; 

• It helps us in times of temptation when we need to remember the serious consequences of disobeying God; and 

• It motivates us to become more Christlike.

• John Bevere in His book  Fear of God list some of The Blessings of Godly Fear

• Provides wisdom, understanding, and time management

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. —Proverbs 9:10–11

• Is our confidence and protection in the face of death

• In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. —Proverbs 14:26–27

• Provides peace of mind

• Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. —Proverbs 15:16

• Results in complete satisfaction

• The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil. —Proverbs 19:23

• Will keep us on the path

• And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me —Jeremiah 32:40

• We were both created and redeemed in order to know, love, and worship God forever.

• Godly fear is the key to God’s sure foundation, unlocking the treasuries of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.

• We cannot truly love God until we fear Him, nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him.

• The Fear of God will also lead to devotion in service to Him, and He will be pleased with nothing less. This service is to be done “with reverence and awe (godly fear).”

• Solomon pursued wisdom throughout his entire life. He obtained it, and it ushered in great success. However, he went through a period of torment and frustration in his later years. 

• The fear of God in his heart had waned. He no longer obeyed the commandments of God.

• He married foreign wives and served their gods.

• At the close of his life, he looked back and after much meditation wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes. In this book, Solomon examines life apart from the fear of God. His response to every probing question was, “Vanity!”

• At the very end of the book, he concludes that the whole matter of life is summed up in fearing God and keeping His commandments!

How we can develop a healthy "fear of the Lord"?

• Believers in the New Covenant are to have a healthy appreciation of God’s holiness, righteousness and sovereignty and realize that God does not tolerate sin anywhere, especially in His very own children.

• Godly fear gives God the place of glory, honor, reverence, thanksgiving, praise, and preeminence He deserves.

• God holds this preeminent position in our hearts and lives as we esteem His desires over and above our own, hating what He hates and loving what He loves, trembling in His presence and at His Word.

• Cultivating a lifestyle of fearing the Lord involves at least three things.  It 

• 1. Involves intimacy with God, 

• 2.  Spiritual disciplines 

• 3. Making ourselves accountable.

• INTIMACY: The fear of the Lord is the beginning, or starting place, of an intimate relationship with God.

• God first calls us to Himself and then commissions us to do ministry.  Jesus ordained the twelve apostles, “that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach.” (Mark 3:14) 

• Although God is concerned about the lost world (Mark 6:34) and the scarcity of laborers (Luke 10:2), He never intended the ministry to take His place.

• The seduction of sin has greater impact on us when we neglect our intimacy with God.  It is therefore imperative that we make spending time with God and developing intimacy with Him our first priority.

• The scriptures admonish us not to take the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1) Since God is holy, sin separates us from enjoying the benefits of a close intimacy with Him. (Isaiah 59:1-2) 

• Intimacy is a two way process.  

• Our love for God and the desire to be intimate with Him motivates to develop a lifestyle of reverence and worship.  Secondly, as we worship and reverence Him, we are changed into His likeness.  The more we get close to God the more we realize how wretched we are and our need for continuous cleansing. (Isaiah 6:1-8)

• You can only know some intimately until and unless you walk close with the person.

• SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE: Spiritual disciplines are practices and spiritual habits that we intentionally engage in consistently in order to maintain a close walk with God and vibrancy in our Christian service.  

• They involve life choices that a person makes for the purpose of entering into deeper awareness and relationship with God for personal growth and service to others.  

• They include but are not limited to disciplined prayer life, fasting, study of God’s Word and quiet moments of listening to God.

• THE "FEAR OF THE LORD" comes through knowing the Word of God:

• Just as "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17), the same can be said for the "fear of the Lord"!

• Notice Deuteronomy 31:10-13, where the children of Israel were told to gather every seven years to read and hear the Word. The purpose?  "...that they may learn to fear the Lord"!

• As one reads the Word of God, they should gain a healthy degree of the "fear of the Lord"

• ACCOUNTABILITY: The fear of God brings a sense of accountability before the Lord. We should have a healthy fear of God in our hearts today. It's this fear that motivates our lives and stirs us on to live for God. 

• To think that we will stand before God and be accountable to Him for the way we have lived is an awesome thing.

• Once again, this does not mean that we will be judged for our sins as believers but it does suggest that we should have a healthy fear for God knowing that God will one day examine our lives and see how faithful we have been for Him (1 Corinthians 4:2).

• One discipline that we need to develop in order to cultivate a fear of the Lord lifestyle is that of making ourselves accountable to mentors and spiritual leaders.  

• This involves willingly opening ourselves to others and sharing personal and sensitive information with such.  In doing so we allow them to speak to our lives, pray with us and correct us. (Proverbs 12:1) Such people are not there to police us but are a support system in our walk with God and service.  They are there to “stir us to love and to good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)

SUMMARY

• In his book, The Fear of the Lord, John Bevere told a story of an encounter with Jim Baker, a very successful TV Evangelist who was sentence to serve time in a prison. 

• He asked Jim the question, "Jim, at what point in your life did you stop loving Jesus?” 

• Jim said, “John, I never stopped loving Jesus, I did lost my sense of the fear of the Lord." 

• The take home is to keep myself in living in the fear of the Lord. Not that I'm afraid of God but that I am fearful of being away from God. I believe that I can love Jesus without the fear of the Lord.  In fact that is called religious. 

• The Bible says in John those that the Father looks for are those who worship Him in Spirit and truth. I want to worship God not only by loving Jesus but to walk close in the holy presence of God. I want my life to be an example of a man that lives in the presence of God in humility in the reverential fear of honoring my God. 

• The fear of the Lord is one of the most valuable treasures that we can gain, because God is our Creator, and if we are to find true success, we have to live according to His design. He knows what is best for our lives. As we gain wisdom about His ways and choose to value what He values, we will mature as His children and our lives will be blessed.

• Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.

Many thanks to Bro Vive who sent me his notes due to my absence.

Humility

Rev Gideon Lee

I know that 2015 is a year of uncertainties because of the GST. Many of you are unsure so maybe with that you also consider it when you made your Faith Promise. Remember it's called a faith promise. So I know as much as you use your rationale thinking, nothing wrong with that but let us trust God. If we just give based on what we can then it's not faith. Let's trust God and continue to do the work of faith. We are a people of faith. Amen?

The other thing I want to say is that the church had a way of decimating information. When someone is sick or is admitted to the hospital, who do you call? Jesus! Wah you all people of faith. Make sure you do that. Who do you call on someone earthly? Pastor! No. You call your cell leader and then you can call your pastor. Then we will know what to do. Sometimes the problem is we don't tell. Call your cell leader or your pastor. If you cannot reach me you can text me. If you don't tell your pastor cannot read your mind. If you want it P&C no problems. Just call me and tell me. We want to show member care. I hope you hear what I'm saying. So who do your call? Cell leader. So what happens if you are not in a cell who do you call? Pastor. No, go and attend a cell.

If you are planning to get married, you'd need to also work with the church. The first person to call if you want to get married is to tell your parents and parents-in-law. Tell your cell leader as well and then your pastor. We only marry members in our church. So you have to attend regularly and you must attend premarital counselling. Both have to be Christians. Counselling is at least 3 to 5 months. Wah! It's about one or two lessons a month. I do not want to rush. And if there are deep rooted issues we may ask you to defer. It is not automatic even though it is pre-requisite. And don't book your wedding dinner venue before you talk to me. I want to walk with you on this journey so check with me first to make sure I'm around. Including your wedding invitation. 

Let's turn to the book of Luke. 

Luke 14:1-14

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House

14:8-10Ref – Pr 25:6, 7

​1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law,“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Jesus was in the house of a prominent person and engages the religious leader, the Pharisees. He was hopeful to influence and speak into their lives. He saw a man that was sick and he asked if it is lawful for him to heal the man on a sabbath. Jesus knew that they classify healing as work. He wanted to influence them by saying that the rules of the day will not help that man but God is the one that can help this man. They knew the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. 

He also gave another example of a mule that fell into the well. Whether to help the mule. 

Then he spoke a parable of a wedding dinner. How many of you have been to a wedding dinner? Who sits at the main table? The bride and the groom. And at the wedding dinner table is a number. So we check which table is ours by the number. As a pastor I have been to many wedding dinners and most people think that pastors sit near the main table. Nearer to the bride and groom. 

Those days they have a u-table and the bride and groom will seat at the bottom of the "U". The seat of honour is the seat nearest the couple. They want to seat near them but Jesus said don't do that and don't think too highly of yourself. Instead seat somewhere humble and if the host ask you to seat nearer, it's an honour. 

Today I want to talk about humility. We are going to be at the marriage of the lamb at the great banquet table. It does not matter who you are and how much you have and how important you are. We are all going to be there. 

Sometimes we think we are overly important. That's how the Pharisees see themselves. It's not how great we are but how great he is. When we come to the Lord it's about him. 

Imagine I invited Joshua for breakfast. And I cook him 5 scrambled eggs. Then out of the 5 eggs the fifth egg is rotten and I accidentally added it with the other 4 eggs. I can think the 4 eggs can cover the bad egg. And I cook and serve it to Joshua. That's what we do with God. We try to do all the good we can for God and bring that to him. But Jesus is try by to tell us that we don't come to him with how much good we have done. We are sinners saved by grace. Remember it only takes one rotten egg to mess everything up. 

Jesus emptied himself. Considered himself as nothing. And God exalted him and gave him a name above every other name. There is a place for good works. But the equation is that we are saved by grace. Our good work is an expression of our gratitude to him. Jesus is telling them that they need to humble themselves. 

A research showed that most people think more of themselves. And we become proud. It's all about him. Coming to him it has to be with humility. In the corporate world we try to look good for our bosses. But the important thing is that God sees what you're doing. What ever we do it's unto him. 

I understood this principle when I was working in the corporate world. And God exalted me as one of the youngest in that position in the company. It's not me, it's him who exalts. 

We're all going to be at the grand banquet at the marriage of the lamb. We don't choose where we sit. God decides and it is him who exalts the humble. 

We are all prideful people. Remember this morning I talked about surrender. The more I surrender the more I see God in my life. We had a wonderful time of worship at the youth. Bro Aaron preached. I almost got saved a second time. It was a wonderful time of worship as we surrender to God. He will exalt you. 

Chinese New Year is coming soon. I asked someone if they have painted their house and they say no money la. No time la. They say Chinese New Year cookies are very expensive. I didn't even see any oranges. Come to church and we give you three oranges. Three enough la. 2015 we have to trust that God knows what he is doing and he will preserve his children.