Get Ready

Rev Gideon Lee

One day there was a pastor who visited his member at the hospital. He was quite sick and was in ICU. The member was sleeping so the pastor knelt and prayed for him so as not to disturb the member. As he was praying, the member just stood up from the bed with all the tubes on him so he couldn't say anything.

So the pastor gave him a piece of paper and the member wrote something then fell back on the bed and died. At the funeral the pastor remembered that piece of paper in his pocket and he wondered what it said. So he took out the paper and read "pastor, you are standing on my tubes". Of course this is only a story.

Sometimes it is hard to get our message across. We have difficulty communicating. Even when I talked to my children sometimes I have to say "are you listening?"

But God never had a problem getting his message across. He spoke personally to Adam. He used a donkey to rebuke Balaam. God speaks to his people and had no problem in conveying what he wanted to say. It is us who cannot comprehend.

Jesus delivered the most important message to us. Unbelievers. It's about salvation. To the believers, it's about surrender. He wants to use us for the extension of his kingdom.

It's about surrender. As we look at this passage of scripture he is speaking to the churches today. It is for us today.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

From here I want us to notice that:

1. This message is an urgent message
2. It's a specific message
3. This is an important message
4. It is an encouraging message

This is an urgent message.

Why? Paul came to this verse and said therefore. Therefore is a conclusion of the previous statements. The conclusion is very important. We need to know what exactly was Paul talking about before he came to this conclusion. He was talking about the resurrection. About his second coming. It is urgent because in light of his soon return it has become very important for us to do this.

When we send a parcel out we stamp urgent when it is. This verse is urgent in light of his second coming. Look at from verse 51.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The second coming, nobody knows the exact time or date. But we can judge the season and anticipate. This message is urgent because of the suddenness of his coming. We will never know. Sometimes we think it's over 2,000 years so we are unprepared. He will keep his promise.

It's urgent because this message is to the Christians. If he is coming back soon, what must we do. We must be ready and to get others ready as well. It's for our Church and the saved.

It's urgent also because it's sad. There will be millions that will be lost and not join us in heaven. We have to do our part to share the good news. What if your husband who is not a Christian, when Jesus comes he's not in heaven? Or your children are not in heaven? This makes it urgent for us. We cannot ignore it.

Many times we are caught unaware. When we see the traffic light turns yellow, we think we have enough time and can just scrape through. We think we are in the yellow light time. Actually when we see the yellow light we know the red light is coming. So when yellow light comes do we brake or accelerate?

Are we ready to meet Jesus? Are our relatives ready? When I get to heaven, I want to see them. If not what's the point? It's going to be selective. He will make a distinction between the sheep and the goats.

It is a specific message.

My dear brothers. He's not talking to some obscure person. Paul is addressing the church. The Christians. It is for you. What Paul is saying is that we have a responsibility as children of God. We have a responsibility.

What is that, which brings me to the next point.

It's an important message.

1. To stand firm.

Be steadfast, unmovable. Give an example? Like the palace guard at Buckingham. They will not move. He stands firm. In his position he stands firm. We have to stand firm. As a child of God. Are you standing firm? It means no compromise. I shared with the youth on Daniel chapter 3. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood firm. They refused to comply and compromise but stood firm. They refused to bow down to this idol. When they were thrown into the fire, the King saw a fourth man in the fire. Non of them was singed or the smell of burning on their clothes. Stand firm.

2. To be focused.

Always give yourself fully to the work of God. What is that work? Go and make disciples. We are to share the gospel but we are also to go and make disciples. Are we doing that as Christians?  Be focused in what we are doing. We want to focus on evangelism and in making disciples.

3. To be unmovable

How many of you saw the movie "God is not dead". And another movie "Heaven is for real". We don't need all these things to believe him. Do you need some movie to tell you Jesus is real? We have to be firm and unmovable in what we believe in. Are you sure that you are saved? How do you know? Your faith. The bible says so. How do you know?  You know that you know you're saved. It's inside you.

4. To be faithful

Give yourself fully to the work of God. If God comes back and asked if you have been faithful doing what he called you to what will your answer be? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant?

It is an encouraging message.

All that we labour are not in vain. All that we do is never in vain when it's for the Lord. If we labour for our own benefit it will be disappointing and it will be in vain. If we press on and persevere we will receive our reward.

How many of you heard the story of the devil with his garage sale? So he wanted to sell all the things he used in his ministry. The items had different prices. So when a demon saw a small item right at the back which don't look much and looked so worn out, yet the price is so much higher than the other items. He asked the devil why it cost so much. The devil explained why it's so high. He said "because that's my prized item as I have used it many times". The demon asked what is this item? And the devil told the demon it's called discouragement. It is very effective.

Do you know what's the remedy for discouragement? Its encouragement. How many of you have encouraged someone when you came to church this morning? I pray that we do.

Let's get ready. It's urgent.

Pentecost Sunday

Rev Gideon Lee

  

This morning is Pentecost Sunday and if you are a true Pentecostal you will know why it's an important day. The testimony this morning by Bro Vive is so in line with what I'm going to be sharing about. We are all going to reach out and evangelise. Not just coming to church but be mobilised to reach out and share the gospel.

Acts 2:1-24

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

​1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.’”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 2:36-41

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

How many of you have been to a concert? Or seen a concert on TV, where before the artists come to stage there are music and snake machine and pyrotechnics on stage? But we didn't pay good money for these fireworks right? We pay to see the artists. These fireworks are to build up our excitement.

I want you to imagine that day where they went to the upper room where all of the people were gathered in one accord. Then there was a rushing wind and the people began speaking in tongues. They were wondering how the people were speaking in their native tongues? This was an important date but after all these you need to understand that the main event was when Peter stood up to preach. 3,000 came to the Lord. God was preparing for this event since the days of Joel. He sent the Holy Spirit to get our attention and when Peter stood up to preach that was what God wanted us to hear.

Apart from what we do in church, like what the pastor last week said, it's not the ambience or the lighting, or the preacher that comes but the presence of God that we should be after. It must be about lives changed and lives touched. That's how we know the presence of God is here.

Some of us interpret the presence of God differently. Some may say it's the goose bumps I feel or that I am touched and cry but after all these it must be a change in our life. There must be lives that are transformed. If not it will just be another sermon.

I pray that all our services will have the rushing wind and the tongues of fire but I pray that there must be the presence of God and people coming to him. Let's look at peter's preaching.

Acts 2:22

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

He said that God sent Jesus to mankind. God confirmed that through signs and miracles.

Acts 2:23

This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

He also said that it is you who put him to death. Crucify him.

Acts 2:24

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

But on the third day he rose again. He didn't stay dead.

Acts 2:33

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Jesus is seated on the right hand of God to rule and reign.

God sent Jesus to mankind. Then you sent him to the cross and crucified him. On the third day he rose again. Now Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.

Isn't that the message of the gospel?

He is seated because his job is done. He has sacrificed for us once and for all. That is the gospel that Peter preached that day. It is the same message today. One day he is going to come back to us. And I pray that heaven will be populated by people we know. Your family and friends.

Like what Bro Vive shared, our brethren is evangelising aggressively. It is never about debate but the love of God that compels a person. It's that at the end of the day. You too must share and show the love of God, we will never reach them.

Peter quoted many prophesies. He could have stayed all day to share as there were many prophesies. The world is on the wrong side up and we need to get the world on the right side up and we are the ones to do it. Tell your neighbour pastor is talking about you. Then tell yourself that pastor is talking about you.

This is the Jesus that we crucify

Acts 2:36-37

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

These people were convicted of their sins. They asked Peter what must they do. The message of the gospel is that we are all sinners and when the word of God is preached I pray it cuts through the hearts of sinners. Sometimes we don't want to talk about sin in church, but we must not forget that the gospel includes the conviction of sin. Peter brought them to a point of conviction. They were cut in their hearts.

Acts 2:38-39

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Peter told them to repent and be baptised. Is that all? Peter said with that they'll receive salvation.

I once was told a story of an evangelist called Peter Cartright. And he was told that the president of the United States, Andrew Jackson was attending and they told him to tone down his message so that he does not offend him. Peter Cartright thought about it but he said to the president if you don't know Jesus he has to know him and if he don't know Jesus , he's going straight to hell. After the message, the president shook his hand and said if he had more men like him he will find it easier to run the country. He told the truth. 

How many of you pray for your Agong? Or your country's leaders. Sometimes we are critical of them but if we don't pray for them we don't have a right to criticise them. The solution of our country is Jesus. Pray for our country. Our leaders, our Agong, our Sultan. Change must start from the TOP. I like that. Change must start from Tabernacle of Praise.

I'm praying that God will light a fire on our behind, so that we can get up from where we are and do the things that God has called us to.

Pentecost means the 50th. Celebrated 50 days after the Passover. The Passover was when they painted the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and that the angel of death will "passover" that household and their firstborn will not die. The first Passover was celebrated when? The theologians calculated that it would be the time when Moses came down from the mountain and the people told Aaron that Moses have left too long and they made the golden calf. He was so angry that Moses broke the Ten Commandments and that first Pentecost 3,000 died but on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 was added on that day. Coincidence? The letter of the law kills and give life.

Remember the story of Elijah. After winning the battle with Baal and killed all their prophets, he received word from Jezebel, and Elijah heard and ran for his life. Just a message from Jezebel, not even in person. God had to save him twice through the Ravens. And he went through a pity party. Then God passed by that place. First as a mighty wind but God was not there. Then came a fire and God was not there. Then an earthquake but God was not there. Elijah found God in the still small voice. When you take time to seek him in his presence, you'll hear from God.

It is the gospel that will bring the 3,000 to find him. Pentecost is the day the church is birthed. The church began to grow in numbers. And the church was formed for one purpose, to take the same message that Peter preached to the rest of the world.

I'll end with this story. How many of you know what's a pendulum? The law of the pendulum is this. When you take it and swing it from end to end it will go on and on until it lose its momentum. The law is that it will not swing to or beyond the same point. It will always be slightly less than the swing before. This professor asked the class if they believe in the law of the pendulum. All said yes.

He then asked for a volunteer. Then he said he'll bring that pendulum to his nose and when he let go, the pendulum shouldn't hit the volunteer on its swing back. But instead of the pendulum he put a big weighted ball. But when he swung the pendulum, the volunteer was nowhere. What he said he believed was not reflected by his action.

Does what you believe in line up with your actions? If it is not, I ask that all of us adjust it so that gospel will be preached.

Testimony by Bro Vive on the open door to share at the Interfaith Dialogue at USM.

What is Jesus saying?

Rev Robert Benjamin Gal (Ps Bob)

Chaplain Emeritus of Edmonton Community Chaplaincy Association, Canada

It is a privilege to be here. Am I here to preach a sermon or to speak what God wants. The first song, A Friend Of God really brought in the presence of God.

What is Jesus saying to us today?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Do you want to hear what this Canadian is saying or what God is saying? He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and he call us friend.

He is in this room in our midst. Not Angels. The King of kings. Jesus Christ is in the house. The one who died on the cross, rose again and ascended to the Father is the same Jesus that is here today.

I feel it's only faith the we must truly acknowledge him. When royalty comes into the house we welcome him. Let's stand and welcome the King of kings.

You have a beautiful city. We see so much beauty but what does God see?

Amos 8:11

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,

“when I will send a famine through the land–

not a famine of food or a thirst for water,

but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

There is a famine and it is not a famine of food. It is a famine of his words. There are many who lives in big buildings but there is a famine. But here when I came in I sense this place has the word of God. I think you have to be at the family camp. I believe God is going to pour his Spirit on you and if you're not there you're going to miss it.

I hope it cost you more to go. That you have to eat rice and not chicken because you need to save up to go to camp. I don't know who the speaker is and I think it does not matter to God because God is speaking.

There is a big difference between hearing from a man of God and from God.

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’”

I believe God has a word for your pastor. And he is hungry for God's word. Not man's word. And if God is coming, you better change all your plans and appointments and make sure you're there because he is the King. This is not democracy but theocracy.

If every time you come back home and you see a spread of food you go ahhh. But if the food gets less and less until there is just a spoonful of food, you'll appreciate that piece of chicken. That's why God is bringing a famine. He's sending it because he loves you. How much time are we giving to God. Is there a famine?

Amos 9:11

Israel’s Restoration

“In that day I will restore

David’s fallen tent.

I will repair its broken places,

restore its ruins,

and build it as it used to be,

This is after the famine. This is after Amos 8. If you are a Jew and you hear this, you will question what you mean by all the nations. We are Israel.

We want presence not atmosphere. I'm from Canada so I know what I'm talking about. Pray for us. When you don't have his presence you need to create the atmosphere. It's a very sober time. You can be in a tin shack and his presence is everything. You want his presence.

David knew where the glory of God is. The ark while being carried almost fell over and the man who tried to stop it touched the ark and was killed instantly. There was no cloud, or fire or pillar, the remnant of God's presence was still enough to kill the man.

This is what God said when he said he will restore David's tent. God is going to do a new thing.

My son pastor in a small village in Canada and in 2010, God said he will pour out his spirit on the islands. The great move of God is going to come from the ends of the earth. I think it's going to come around here, just saying.

Acts 15:5

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

The Pharisees wanted them to follow tradition. They tell them they must do this and that or they cannot do this or that. They were trying to bring back the law. Then Peter stood up and said what God is doing there. Then Barnabas and James. Every man, woman or child can come into the presence of God, circumcised or not. We are between the law and the temple.

Do you want the glory of God again? Then this is what Jesus is saying today. Those whom I love I rebuked.

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

This is not a commercial for camp. Do you want him? Have you lost your first love? He's knocking.

Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

He will come in and commune with you. Do you long for this? Christ is longing for you. 

Pastor Joanne's Testimony

Pastor Joanne Ng 

You want to hear my story? I think Pastor Gideon have not heard my story before.

My father came from China and is a temple worshipper. He goes to the temple for four digit. I was actually given to the goddess of mercy when young. When I was 11 years old, my mother worship the god of the monkey and when she was going to put the joss stick into the bowl, she suddenly went into a trance.

She can go into a trance at any time.  Even when having a meal, her bowl can go flying. So my father was proud and decided to turn our home into a temple. And everything was red.

Then one day, my mother came home with a sword. And she used it to cut her tongue to draw blood. She would cut herself and indeed there's power in the blood.

She would also throw spikes to draw blood from her back. And she would even use a skewer to poke her cheek and when she draws it out there's no blood.

And I was fearful at the time. And after my mum goes into a trance I'll need to carry her home. I was only 12 and it put a lot of fear in me but I didn't tell anyone. After the trance she'll be very tired.

Then one day a friend told me if you know Jesus you never have to do this. That Jesus loves me. My mother drink, smoke and gamble at the temple. But my friend told me Jesus won't do this. Even at the temple my 7 year old brother knocked out for 2 days because they gave him brandy at the temple.

Then I received Jesus and the fear left. And I prayed for many many years for my mum. Do you think my mum became a Christian? Is it easy for a medium to become a Christian?

Actually it's easy because she's empty inside. Only demons and she's forced actually, so Jesus can free her.

Let me sing a song before I continue. It's about a father's love. If you do wrong, do you think your father will still love you? A father's love is unconditional.

After I became a Christian my mother became very angry. I'm a medium and you became a Christian. You made me loose face. I'm a temple medium and you became a Christian. But my friends prayed for me and even though my mum wanted to throw me out of the home,  it never happened.

So one day my mum even told me not to eat food offered to idols. Love can change a person. So my mum will follow me to church and to Christmas service and especially cell group. Cell group is important as many in my family got saved at cell groups.

One day I took my mum to an evangelistic service and during  altar call she raised both her hands. She some more shouted hallelujah. I almost fainted. Everyone was looking at us. Then when she went home she still bought apple and prayed at the altar. So I told my mum you don't have to do that anymore. That Jesus loves her and she don't have to be afraid. It was out of fear she prayed at the altar.

So I told her she don't have to be afraid. And she listened to me because she wanted peace. She had no peace praying at the altar. And she got baptised. Praise the Lord. Let's give God a hand.

Now I sing you a hokkien song.

Now I want to talk about after my mum became a Christian and after a few years she passed away but I thanked God she was a Christian before she passed away.

My father came from China so he is a typical Chinaman so I think in my mind he'll never become a Christian. At 73 years old my father got stage 4 lung cancer. So I was so worried because he is not a Christian. They gave him morphine and can only give him every 4 hours or he will die. But after 2 hours his pain came back so I asked if I can pray for him. That time my mother was still a medium. So my father said every time after I prayed for him the pain left. So I asked if he wants to accept Jesus. He said crazy ah, I'm over 70 years old, where to hide my face if I become a Christian.

Then one day I heard him in a phone call with a friend that he wants to go to church. When I heard I was so happy. So I asked him again whether he wants to be a Christian and again he said he won't as he wont know where to hide his face. He told me don't ask again. So what to do? You pray! You pray with tears, wet prayer because the doctors said he has 2 weeks left.

Two weeks later as I went to see him I saw him so happy smiling, sitting up on his bed. I thought he must be high from the morphine. You can get high on morphine or codeine. He told me to call the pastor as he wants to receive Jesus and be baptised. I don't know where he heard of that. He wanted a priest. I'm AOG where got priest. That time I'm not a pastor yet. So I went to a Catholic Church nearby and asked for the priest. He's an "ang mor" but he spoke mandarin. My father had a Christian name Joseph. So the priest prayed and baptised my father. And he was at peace and slept so well that night.

I will tell you one more testimony. Do we have time? Maybe I sing one more song and then I'll share one more testimony and then I'll make an altar call for salvation.

Each time you receive Jesus there will be persecution. When my father became a Christian my elder brother became very angry. I gave a small cross to my father but my brother threw away the cross. But I forgave him because he didn't know what he did. But two years later my brother and his whole family received Jesus. In his house there were 5 idols and he asked the pastor to remove the idols except one. It's an Indian god. I asked why he didn't remove that he said oh, it's not mine. It's a friend who "tumpang" at the altar. God also can tumpang.

He didn't remove the Indian snake god and a snake entered his house. He called me and said why he's a Christian a snake still entered his house ? I said you have the snake god there but never prayed to it so the snake came in. So he called the pastor to remove the idol and returned it to his friend and cleanse the home.

Last testimony about God who can deliver us from financial problems. How many of you have experienced that?

I was not a Christian when I got married. I was young and got married at 22. And we went through a rocky marriage. So after I received Jesus I fasted and prayed for my husband. After 2 years he became a Christian. So fast.

My husband has a brick factory. In the 1997 crisis, my husband's business went into debt because he couldn't collect payment so the bank wanted to come and take his machines because he couldn't furnish the loan. My husband is a true businessman so he told the bank come la.

I told my husband now that we are Christian why don't we pray. So my husband called all the cell members to have a special cell meeting just to pray for the situation. Thank God for the cell.

The next day he went to collect money by faith and he collected so much. A few hundred thousand. It is impossible because everybody had no money. It is God. God is good.

Now I want to be a little serious. I want to talk about salvation. We are sinners but God gave his son who shed his blood and died on the cross for you. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will never die. Our body die but our soul will never die. You are God's son and you matter to him. He comes for you.

Our greatest sin is not that we murder or burn down houses. The greatest sin is that we deny him. He gave us everything yet we worship other gods. He will not only give you eternal

life but your life will change. You have to come back to him. Don't wait or it may be too late. 

Godly Purpose

Rev Gideon Lee

Bro Steve with YWAM sharing about GoFest 2015 conference.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-9

Everything Is Meaningless

​1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”

says the Teacher.

“Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.”

3 What does man gain from all his labor

at which he toils under the sun?

4 Generations come and generations go,

but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun rises and the sun sets,

and hurries back to where it rises.

6 The wind blows to the south

and turns to the north;

round and round it goes,

ever returning on its course.

7 All streams flow into the sea,

yet the sea is never full.

To the place the streams come from,

there they return again.

8 All things are wearisome,

more than one can say.

The eye never has enough of seeing,

nor the ear its fill of hearing.

9 What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

The book of Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon. You all know about him right? What's peculiar about him apart from his many wives? He is considered wise. He asked from God. He could have asked for anything but he asked for wisdom. He asked rightly and God gave him wisdom. The wisdom he had was not the wisdom of man. It comes from above.

We may not agree with some of the decisions he made in his life but we all know he was wise. Even from chapter one, you'll find it depressing. To sum it all up, he said in life we may pursue many things like money and fame but he says all these things are meaningless. If we do all these apart from God, then it is meaningless.

That's what I want to talk about. It's a reminder for all of us that in everything we do what is our purpose? Even when we serve God or bring your tithes what is your purpose? It must be a godly purpose.

Have you asked this question, what is your purpose in life? What are you here for? Why were you brought into this family? There are many authors who have written about this topic. Discovering your purpose. Like Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life.

We need to have godly purpose because we don't want to come to the end of our life and say like Solomon that everything is meaningless. Even in serving God our motives has to be right.

I want to start by saying this. How many of you know this song, "It is well with my soul". I'm going to try to sing this song.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

The writer of this song  Horatio G. Spafford wrote it in 1873. Under what circumstances? He was a successful lawyer in Chicago. He bought houses with his money but there was a great fire in Chicago and he lost all his money that he placed in property. He promised his family a vacation to England and when the time came he sent his family ahead while he finish up his work but his wife and four daughters went ahead first.

 As destiny would have it, the ship collided with another ship and and all four of his daughters drowned. The wife survived. He and his wife decided to have another child only to have the child died of scarlet fever.

After all this, he could have asked what was going on here. But Horatio found his purpose and penned this song. In spite of all these things, he said it is well with his soul. He believed that God has a purpose in all these things.

So what is your purpose? Why are you here? Like I said earlier, Solomon in all his life could have anything.  Yet he came to a point when he said all these is meaningless without God.

Wisdom is meaningless. Let me clarify. I'm talking about head knowledge. Just studying and memorising facts. As a teacher you'd say you not just want your students to have head knowledge but to have understanding in what they study as well.

We need to have what you have in your head travel to your heart. Not just head knowledge but also heart knowledge. Put that degree that you learn into something meaningful.

So is the word of God. Not just be clever in the word of God. Some of us have read the bible from cover to cover but make sure the word of God become meaningful to you. Nobody gets saved because you can rationalise the word of God. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts and save. When we learn the word of God, it is so that we can apply the word of God. Are you doing that?

As you work, what is your purpose? Is it just to make money? If it's just that then it's so sad. I want what I do to have some meaning.

If you don't apply your wisdom for the greater good for the Kingdom of God, then it's meaningless. Life without God is empty. Talk to some rich people. They are often not satisfied.

Pleasure is also meaningless. But let me also clarify. I grew up with black and white television. Before that was radio. We had to imagine the stories on radio. I think we need that again. Then came TV. It was the latest technology then. The TV was so big it looks like a cupboard. The type with sliding doors. And when you on the TV, you have to wait a while for the bulbs to warm up. Then came colour TV. You see your neighbour has it. We all want to have it. I remember the time when we got the small 16 inch TV. Now they are thin but not big. Now it's 4K LED TV. We want the latest technology. When it comes out on the market we want it. The black and white we had was great until the latest comes out.

We go after the best things because the pleasure we have from it is only for a while. That is why it's meaningless. We go from one pleasure to another and is never satisfied.

So how do we do it? My father's first car was a Mazda 323 hatchback. Latest model back then. Then later my dad bought a Mazda 626. He just likes Mazda. When you upgrade there would always be a later model. You can have a godly purpose in upgrading your car. So we pray for a car but never use this car to ferry people to church. Is it just for our pleasure? Thank God we don't change or upgrade our wives (laughs). Are we using what God has given us for his purpose?

We ask God for a house and God bless us but at the end of the day the only piece of land we all need is a 6x6 (laughs). I pray that at the end, we don't say all these are meaningless. We use our house for cell or use the house for a visiting speaker who needs a place to stay. I pray that we have that kind of a mind-set.

Last but not least, everything has a time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-6

A Time for Everything

​1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

What is Solomon trying to say? Here on this earth our days are limited and there is a time for everything. He is warning us that our time is limited so what are we doing with our time? This earth is a preparation for us so are we using it wisely and purposefully?

I pray that we will live our life for the kingdom of God. With a God purpose in our heart. Some of us have to look at what we do at our work. How are we using that work of ours for his kingdom? How are you at the company that God has placed you there? Will you not share with your colleagues. Then you will find meaning.

We have a purpose wherever we are and to glorify God. It is easy to make money but to make money and use it for the purpose of God is different.

Solomon concluded with this.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

13 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole [duty] of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

Are you following God in everything that you are doing? Are you keeping his commandments? What is your purpose?

You were put here by a creator who loves you and your meaning in life is to have a loving relationship with him and to live your life to serve his purpose. Love God. Love people and on this hangs all the laws of the prophet.