How to have Peace of Mind

Rev Gideon Lee

Sis Evelyn who does translation of the Bible for the orang asli at Wycliffe shared how our giving came at the right time because she was diagnosed with cancer even though she felt completely fine. Praise God the lump was discovered early but the support came at the right time. She also thanked the church for Vive to be chairman of the Wycliffe board. He really helped them at a difficult time.

We are living in troubled times and if we live by what we hear and what we see it can be very discouraging. I want to look at the life of Moses in the Book or Hebrews. It talks of faith.

Moses was called to specifically bring the Hebrews our of Egypt.

Hebrews 11:23-29

23 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. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

It's starts off with this statement - by faith. We are called to walk by faith and not by sight. In the story of Moses there was an edict that was given that all the Hebrew children were supposed to be put to death but by faith Moses' parents put him on a crocodile infested river. It takes faith.

We are a people of faith and God's peace can rest upon us even when we see and hear the things around us.

Moses by faith did not want to be known as Pharaoh's son. You all know the story. The princess decided to keep Moses as her own. As the son of the Princess growing up at the Palace. But instead of choosing to be Pharaoh's son, he chose to be with his people and be persecuted.

This morning let me start by telling you that we live in a very troubled world.

There are just days where things go wrong. It's stressful at work and so many things that get us down. But even in that we can have peace. Look at Moses. He's a poster boy of having peace. Two million people of God and everyone of them had their opinion. For him to lead them, Moses must have got something right. Whatever circumstances we are in we can still have the peace of God.

Moses made his decision very early in his life. He set his beginning right. These are the 4 questions that he set right. No matter what else happened after that he was a man of peace.

Numbers 12:3

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

1. Who am I?

We need to know who we are. Who you are. Moses grew up with all the privileges in the palace but he grew up understanding that he was a Jew. And he asked what he's going to do about it. Is he going to pretend to be Pharaoh's son. To continue living this life. We need to answer this fundamental question. Who are you? He decided not to live this life even though it comes with this consequences.

Do you know that you are a child of God? If you are, are you living your life as a child of God or as the children of the world. Living your life as a Jew or as Pharaoh's son. He decided that he will stand on his identity as a child of God.

Have we compromised our identity. God loves you but he does not want you to continue in your sin. He wants only the best for you. Are you a child of God? Let's not dabble or continue to enjoy the pleasures of the world. Egypt represents the world.

What decisions would you have made if you were in Moses' shoes? If you were brought up as the son of the princess of Pharaoh. Would you choose to remain there or stop pretending to be an Egyptian? 

2. Who do you want to be?

We have choices we have to make and these decisions have consequences. The Bible says he choose and because of his decision he will be treated and persecuted like the Jews. We may have to suffer because of our decisions. Moses made a choice and it resulted in being ill treated by the Egyptians. Being true to God may result in persecution. At some point of our life we have to make a choice. One day if it becomes illegal to be a Christian in Malaysia, will you continue to be a Christian? Look at the way things are going there may come a time when we have to make a decision and we will have peace. It is well with my soul.

He was forsaken by the royals and lost all his privileges. I want to challenge all of us, as we make the choice, we need to not just know who we are but to continue to live for God. We don't like it when we have to pay a price. When Eve sinned and God asked her what happened, what was Eve's reply? She said the serpent made her do it. And when God asked Adam, he said Eve asked him to take it.

In my house I have "nobody" and "I don't know". I asked who left this cup on the table and they said nobody or I don't know. We play the blame game.

When we make a stand for God it will cost us. One day I was driving and talking on the handphone. I was talking to my youth leader at Bible school. The police came and he saw me and motioned me to the side. Asked me for IC and license. He asked me "do you know you're wrong?" Then he asked me "macam mana?" He said the summon is RM300. Bible school student where have so much money. I said I'm sorry I know I'm wrong but I cannot pay. I asked him for forgiveness or if cannot issue the summon. He looked at me and said like that I write the summon. There are times they let me go but there are times you just have to pay the penalty.

We have to be a testimony of what we do.

One day I had chicken rice and I told the man to calculate. The amount was very little. I said how come so little. I took up my wallet and paid. But I looked and said cannot be his charges. When he came back with the change I asked him how much a plate and I said it cannot be. How many of us would just say thank you Jesus for that free meal or that he charge me less.  If someone give you less wouldn't you ask so if they charge you less, why not give back? I'm not saying I'm perfect but I made up my mind that the choices I make have to be pleasing to Him. Moses understood this.

He wanted to be God's chosen people and be willing to suffer for it. He refused to be known as Pharaoh's son. If I have a famous father I'd want to be known as his son.

3. What was important in my life

v26 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.

What are his priorities. The first is identity and second is on choices and the third are priority. He saw greater value in choosing Christ over the pleasures of Egypt. What are your priorities this morning? The eternal or temporary? Where was his reward? Heaven. He understood his priorities. He invested into the eternal.

You want peace in your life? What are your priorities? Some of us look at the power, the pleasure and the possession. That was what Egypt represented. Moses could have access to much power. Power doesn't last. It's not eternal. It's not forever. It's only for a season.

If you talk about pleasure? It does not last. Nothing wrong with some pamper of good things but it does not last. He would rather choose the cross. He wants the eternal.

Egypt could have given him all the nice things. Big chariots or palaces. The splendour of Egypt. But he chose eternal life. He was looking towards his rewards.

Do you know who you are? Are you making right choices? And what are your priorities?

All these things will not last and Moses knows this. That's why he made right choices. And finally…

4. How am I going to live my life?

The key word here is with perseverance. That's the only way to live this life. The Bible tells us to don't give up. To live by faith takes perseverance. 

v27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

Moses gave many excuses. When pastor ask us to serve in church we have many many reasons not to. Moses gave many excuses. He cannot speak because he stammers. Send my cousin. Aaron can speak better.

It's the same modus operandi. Perseverance is needed. Moses persevered. God says I'm with you. Go and talk to Pharaoh. It was not easy for Moses but he persevered. Two million people complaining all the time. For forty years when it would only have taken a month.

The call for all of us is to be faithful. When we stand before God one day we hope God would say well done thou good and faithful servant. Not what have you done my servant?

This morning, do you know who you are? Are you making right choices? And what are your priorities? Last but not least, we must be faithful and persevere.

Overcoming the Battles in our Life

Rev Gideon Lee

The Bible often calls us the army of God. And the function of a soldier is to get involved in battles. We all fight battles on different fronts. Some is health or families or finance, but I want you to know the battle belongs to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:1-20

Chapter 20

Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir Defeated

1 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.

20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the Lord,

For His mercy endures forever.”

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

The End of Jehoshaphat's Reign

31 So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. 36 And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.” Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Note that it's not just one army. If I'm in a battle, I'd be worried if it's just one army but here it's more than one army. It's three armies joining forces. The Bible described Jehoshaphat as being alarmed. Not afraid.

It's okay to be afraid or be alarmed in some of the battles you are going through. But what's more important is your reaction. He was alarmed but he decided to enquire from the Lord. The people responded to come together to pray and to fast.

As king Jehoshaphat stood among his people he gave a word of encouragement. How good has God been to us. To remember how God has helped you in your past battles. Remember his promises. He reminded the people to remember how good God has been to them.

King Jehoshaphat was not denying the situation. He said he does not know what to do but our eyes are upon God.

I don't know what battles you are going through, friends where is your eyes fixed upon?

The families were together. By the way, starting March, the children will be worshiping together with us. After that they'll go back to their classes. Just worship God and let them see you worship God. When we set good examples our children will he grow up right. Children learn by example so they need to see and learn.

Coming back, the children and little ones stood before the Lord. And here, in the midst of them the prophet stood up and said "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."

When we make the battle the Lord's we don't have to stress it. God will know what to do. The Lord just tell us to stand firm. No point putting on the armour of God and then run. God wants us to stand firm. Stand firm whatever comes your way.

1. Identify your enemies

King Jehoshaphat knew who the enemy was. As a child of God who is our enemy? The devil. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. From the on start, our enemy is the devil. Therefore our weapons of battle is not carnal. But I want to make this caveat. Sometimes we are the worst enemies because the problems is caused by you. Sometimes it's our fault. Sometimes it is us. Don't blame the devil when you go to work late and you say your boss persecute you.

2. Don't be driven by emotions

When three of the enemies joined together against King Jehoshaphat, he was alarmed but his emotions do not control him. If he was emotion driven he wouldn't have called for a meeting and prayed. Control your decisions. Your emotions will change. If you trust your emotions it will be like a yo yo. The only thing that don't change is the word of God. Sometimes in a fit of anger we throw our resignation letter. Don't let your emotions control you.

3. Take your problem to the Lord

Instead of calling his generals and warlords, he said to enquire of the Lord. But sometimes when we face a problem we try to do it in our strength and wisdom. Maybe that's me. But God wants us from the onset to come to the Lord in prayer. We bring it to God first. When he called for fasting and prayer, the prophet stood up and gave them a word from God. Before anything else bring it to the Lord. No matter how clever we are, his ways and thoughts are always higher than ours.

4. Admit that you need help

We sometimes are very prideful. We don't want people to help us. We don't want people to know because it's shameful. We don't want to admit we have a need. If you don't admit how will others help you? Like my children we give them pocket money and I always tell them if you run out ask. But they don't ask so I think they have enough. But as concerned parents sometimes I just ask if they have enough in mid week then only they tell me they don't have enough. How would I know if they don't ask? When you have a need we need to ask. God knows you have a need but you still need to ask. When you ask and God supplies your needs it builds up your faith. God will not push into your situation until you ask him. Of course sometimes God in his wisdom supply our needs.

5. Rely on God's power

v12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

We have no power but have you relied on God's power? Rely on him today, at present. Have you relied on God's power? Then you can say when I am weak he is strong. When I am poor he is rich. Are you relying on your own power?

6. Learn to rest in God

v15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

When we learn how to rely on God, then we can learn to rest in God. Many times this is what happens. God speaks to you in his still small voice. Instead of learning to rest in his words, you ask God really ar? You really love me and will not forsake me ar? Many times we doubt and question him. Rest in his promises. The Lord has promised that he will do good for you and he will not leave you nor forsake  you. Rest in his promises when he assures us.

This brings me to the last point. What did Jehoshaphat did? He sent his worshippers in front of the enemies. That is not a military decision. You would send your best warriors. This also happened with Joshua. He sent his worshippers to march round the wall. Same tactic. He responded by thanking God.

7. Learn to thank God in all your circumstances

We need to thank God for what he is doing. You know you have a problem and you rely on God, then thank him. Deliverance may not have taken place but you still thank him. Learn to thank God in all circumstances.

And I'm going to close with this. When they came to the place of battle, all they saw was dead bodies. That's the best battle, you come the enemy is all dead. All you need to so is to collect the blessings. The plunder was so much it took three days to collect. When God blesses it is always more than enough. How many of us would like to do business that way. When God blesses us.

Come early to church. The praise and worship is not an interlude time or buffer time to come to service. The service starts from the praise and worship to the offering and announcements, to the word and altar ministry. All of it is worship. The whole service is worship. Come early and be excited and come prayerfully.

When we learn how to worship God you know what happens? When we learn how to minister to God he delights to meet our needs. When we honour and adore him he will do that for us. But often we come to service we treat God like an ATM. We expect God to do likewise, just to meet our needs. God is not our ATM. He is our provider but he wants  you to worship him first. To have a relationship with him like a father and a child. Your needs are met as a by product of your relationship with him. It is our walk with him.

Whenever anyone handles the word of God much is required of the Lord. One day I will stand before God and is answerable to God for all that I preach. This worship.

How do we handle the Battles of our life, you

1. Identify your enemies
2. Don't be driven by emotions
3. Take your problem to the Lord
4. Admit that you need help
5. Rely on God's power
6. Learn to rest in God
7. Learn to thank God in all your circumstances 

Agape Love

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning is Valentine's Day. How many husbands forget today is Valentine's Day? How much is a stalk of rose now? RM80? I read somewhere that a husband was so "kiamsiap" that he took the wife to Memory Lane and read each card to her. Not me ya.

The story of Valentine's Day is the celebration of all kinds of love. And this morning I want to talk about love. But not the kind of love you probably is thinking about. But God's love. Not just that he loves you but that you also love him. To tell Jesus I love you.

He wants you to share this love with others. Because that's why he came. His motivation is love. The whole Bible talks about his love for you and me.

Valentine's Day has a story. There was a Roman emperor called Claudius who was power crazy. He wanted to conquer countries and he wanted to be mighty. He felt that if men would remain single, they'll join the army. What happened was he decreed that there is not going to be any more marriage. That earned him the nickname Claudius the cruel.

There was a priest called Valentine who loved to conduct marriages. But there were couples who came secretly to get married. So this Valentine continued to conduct marriages in secret. He was caught and put in prison. One of the guards allowed his daughter to visit him. Just before he was executed, on February 14th, he wrote a note to the prison guard's daughter, my Valentine. It celebrates love. And this morning I want to talk to you about love.

John 15:9-17

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

What is his command? To love each other. The theme for this year and next year is GST. Go, Serve and Transform.

Today we talk about love. Everyone needs love. Everyone wants to be loved. We have that desire to be loved. We want to feel love. But we sometimes fall short. In the Greek there are three types of love. There's Eros, the sexual love. And phileo, brotherly love.  When Jesus asked Peter, do you love (agape) me, Peter said I love (phileo) you. Until the third time Peter finally said I agape you. How do you develop a love that's worthy to be given on Valentine's Day and every other day?

Jesus used the word love more than 30 times. What motivated God is love. That God is love.

Remember the first time we received his love? When we received him as our Lord and Saviour. Jesus is our first love. How can we have this love?

We need to receive his love.

Everything that I need to learn about theology is in this song, Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.

It's not possible to love another person if we have not known his love. Sometimes your brothers and sisters are so difficult to love. But the Bible tells us to love one another. The only way is when we have first received his love. This song reminds me of my Sunday school days. Do you know Jesus loves you? Because of you he sent his one and only son.

May I encourage you to accept and experience his love if you have not known him. Every person comes to know the Lord because of his love. Not because we won a debate.

We need to reciprocate his love.

We need to return his love.

v14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

His disciples were regarded as servants. But today he calls you friend. As we receive his love he now calls us friends because he loves us. It's another thing to tell Jesus you love him. When was the last time you tell Jesus you love him?

This morning I just felt like telling Jesus I love him not as a pastor, not as Gideon but as a son. We need to reciprocate his love for you and me. We need to tell him we love him.

When was the first time you fell in love? You're always thinking about the person constantly. You feel like you just want to call the person, you just want to be with that person. And when you're with that person you just don't want to leave. That is how Jesus wants us to be with him. That he's constantly on our minds. He loves us with an everlasting love. Have you told Jesus you love him this morning?

We need to share his love.

We need to tell others of his great love that he has for you and me. We need to replicate his love. To share with others and Jesus demonstrated that in the Bible. He washed his disciples' feet. Back then it was spring and the roads were all muddy. Their feet were dirty. When they get to the house, there will be servants there to wash their feet if you are rich. But when all the disciples came none of them wanted to wash each other's feet.

Jesus demonstrated his love for you and me. He took a towel, wrapped around his waist and decided that he'll be a servant, all 12 of them including Judas and washed their feet. I've tried this once in my church. The person has to be seated and you have to kneel down. It's humbling. I wanted to tell my leaders to go and serve others. They didn't know except my assistant who had to prepare the basins. I learnt a few things that day. That girls have cleaner feet (laughs). The guys… ohh. I have to take off their shoes and their socks. Some leaders didn't want to let me but I told them I have to. And some of my leaders cried.

On Valentine's Day it's one thing to know Jesus loves you but you have to reciprocate and tell Jesus you love him. And we need to tell others of his love. Love is more than emotion. It must go beyond that. It's a commitment. It's with action and not just with words. It's to learn to lay your life down.

I'm going to ask all the couples getting married are you willing to lay your life down for your spouse. Husbands you must be willing to lay your life down for your wife.

As I close, this Lord's table reminds us of his love. We must love him with all that we are and we need to tell it others of his great love.  We need to serve one another in love. Amen church?

Love As I Have Loved You

Sis Melinda Song

CNY Eve Combined Service

How wonderful to see you in the house of the Lord on the eve of Chinese New Year. You have made time to come to the house of the Lord and you will be blessed because Psalm 84:10 (NIV) tells us that “better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

Tonight is a very special night for most of us. The Reunion Dinner is a very important feature of the CNY celebrations.

I have already attended 2 Reunion Dinners. The first was with my sister-in-law from Singapore, the second with my brother and sister and our families. Tonight Hubby and I will be having reunion at my brother-in-law’s home.

As we prepare to gather with family and loved ones around the table for Reunion Dinner tonight I would like to share some thoughts with you from the passage in John 13:34-35

TEXT: John 13:34-35, NKJV

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The scene in John 13 is the Last Supper. Judas has left and Jesus tells His diciples that the hour of His departure and glorification is at hand (13:31-33) and He gives them a new commandment, to love one another as He has loved them (13:34-35).

In verses 34 and 35, we find a number of elements:

1.  Love is a command.

2.  Love is a new commandment.

3.  Love finds its source in God.

4.  Love is the hallmark of a disciple.

1. Love Is A Command (v. 34a)

A new command I give you: Love one another. 

What is a command? In the army, when your commander gives an order you don’t hesitate or negotiate. You just do it! He says, “Jump!”, you say”Yes, sir!”

Love is the characteristic command in the New Testatment. Jesus used love to summarise the commandments of God.

Matthew 22: 37-40, NIV

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The question we have to answer is: Can love be commanded? Can we do it? The answer is No if we strive to do it on our own. But since God has commanded us to love, it stands to reason that it must be within our power, in Christ, to love.

Love will often be accompanied by feelings, but emotion is not the only basis of love. It involves “all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “your strength” (Mark 12:30) too.

By the grace of God, in Christ, we can choose to love whether it is accompanied by feelings or not.

A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY : HOW TO POISON YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW

Once upon a time in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’ s habits.

In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly. Days and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation worse was that according to Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li’s poor husband great distress.

Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law any longer so she decided to do something about it. Li-Li went to see Mr. Huang who sold herbs. She told him about the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve her problem once and for all. The wise Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.” Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to.”

Mr. Huang gave Li-Li a package of herbs. He said, “Li-Li, you cannot use a quick-acting poison to kill your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving.

Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspect you the day she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. “Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.” Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her murder plot against her mother-in-law.

Weeks and months went by and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang said about avoiding suspicion so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had learned to control her temper and she hadn’t had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months. The mother-in-law now seemed a lot kinder and easier to get along. Her attitude toward Li-Li has changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in- law one could ever find. Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.

So now Li-Li has a problem. The situation has changed but what about the poison inside her mother-in-law that would eventually kill her.

Li-Li rushed to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help. She said, “Mr. Huang, please help me to keep off the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there’s nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.”

Love is a command, not an option, but the choice is ours. We can choose to obey or not to obey. But when we choose to obey it pleases God and He strengthens and enables us (Phil. 4:13, 2 Cor. 12:9).

2. Love Is a NEW Commandment (v. 34b)

In what sense is this commandment new? The command to “love one another” is an old commandment found in Leviticus 19:18 that states, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

It is new in the sense that we should not love others just as we love ourselves, but as Christ loves us. Jesus raise the bar. He set a new standard for love.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

Jesus Christ demonstrated this new standard of love by willingly paying the price for our sins (John 3:16). Truly “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). 

ILLUSTRATION: Hubby and I have been following a TV series entitled The 100.

When nuclear war destroys civilization on Earth, the only survivors are the 4,000 living on a space ark of linked stations orbiting above the earth. They were supposed to be on the Ark for 200 years to allow for the earth to decontaminate. However, after 97 years the oxygen level was depleting faster than expected. Desperately looking for a solution, the ark’s leaders send 100 juvenile prisoners back to the planet to test its habitability.

When those on the ark began to show signs of oxygen deprivation, a population control plan was initiated. It was supposed to look like an accident as if a section of the ship malfunctioned and cut off the oxygen. Everyone killed will be asleep when it happens and won’t feel any pain.

However, news that 300 people are to be sacrificed was leaked and the people were called on to band together to figure something out. Only 300 needed to die but the number who volunteered to be sacrificed were more than those who had to die in order for the rest to find a solution to the problem.

The 300 volunteers died knowing that their deaths would give those they love a chance to survive.

Truly “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).  But what is more amazing is that we were not friends of God in the first place. The Bible tells us that while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8), while we were His enemies (Rom. 5:10), Jesus died for us.

This is a total redefinition of love – one that is unconditional, unlimited, and unmerited.

That is the kind of love that Christ has for His Church and, through His new commandment, it is the love He expects Christians to have for one another and for others.

We are to follow Christ’s example and walk in the way of love (Eph. 5:1-2).

3. Love Finds Its Source in God (v. 34b)

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

In John chapter 15, instead of giving an example for us to follow, Jesus describes a connection that gives the power to love. We are connected to this vital power by being connected to Him.

John 15:9-11, NKJV

⁹ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

The key to Jesus’s love was His relationship with God the Father: “I abide in his love” (verse 10). Jesus lives in constant and perfect union with the Father and the Father’s love flows into Jesus and remains there as a divine power to love.

In verse 9, Jesus says, “Abide in my love.” As He abides in His Father's love, so we are to abide in His love.

John 15:5, NKJV

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

This is the secret of loving each other “as he loves us.” God is love and Jesus loves us by abiding in the love of the Father. We love each other by abiding in the love of the Son—which is the love of the Father.  We cannot love each other as as Jesus has loved us if we do not abide in Him as He abides in His Father. We must be connected to the source.

4. Love Is The Hallmark Of A Disciple (v. 35)

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Gold and silver have been mixed with other metals for centuries, as they are much too soft in their original form to make jewellery. It is not possible to recognize at a glance the quantity of cheaper metals used during manufacture. Most competent jewellers and chemists also cannot tell how much of the noble metal is present in an alloy.

In the UK, a hallmark is an ​official ​mark put on ​objects made of ​gold or ​silver that ​shows ​their ​place and ​year of ​origin and how ​pure the ​metal is that is used to make them. A hallmark protects you against fraud, and protects merchants against unfair competition.

Hallmark also refers to a distinctive characteristic, trait, or feature, e.g. some musicians have certain styles just like our worship leaders have different distinguishing styles.

The love of Christians for one another should be the distinguishing mark by which a watching world recognizes them as followers of Jesus.

a. We love because we are recipients of God’s love.

Romans 5:5b, NIV

…God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us.

b. We love because we are channels of God’s love.

1 John 4:19-21, NIV

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

We see this love being demonstrated time and time again in the way the Cell Groups respond to their members in times of crisis. They become channels of God’s love by coming alongside to stand with us, and for us.

c. We love because we are compelled by God’s love.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, NIV

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Jesus has given the entire world the permission to judge whether or not one is His follower simply on the basis of their love for their brothers and sisters and fellow human beings.

F. A. Schaeffer has referred to this kind of sacrficial love as “the final apologetic”, especially when it overflows and touches the world outside of the church.

ILLUSTRATION: When Ira Gillett, missionary to East Africa, returned home to report on his activities overseas, he related an interesting phenomenon. Repeatedly, Gillett had noticed how groups of Africans would walk past government hospitals and travel many extra miles to receive medical treatment at the missionary compound. He finally asked a particular group why they walked the extra distance when the same treatments were available at the government clinics. The reply: "The medicines may be the same but the hands are different.”

Love makes a difference. Christ has no hands, but our hands; no feet, but our feet. We are his ambassadors, representing him to the world. And when we love as He has loved us, it will make the difference. People will notice.

CONCLUSION

Next Sunday is Valentine’s Day. Many believe love is a just a nice, heart-warming feeling, as Christians, we are called for it to be more than that - we are called to take action.

1 Corinthians chapter 13 shows us how this love in action looks like.

Verse 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Love is tolerant and not easily annoyed. It is caring and considerate, noticing the unnoticed, loving the unlovely, or even by extending grace to those who are not so easy to be around. It does not want what it doesn’t have. It doesn’t show off not and is not swollen headed.

Verse 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love considers the feelings of others and doesn’t have a “me first” mentality. It not easily offended but seeks first to understand and then to be understood. It doesn't always bring things up from the past in the midst of conflict.

Verse 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices when truth prevails. It speaks positively about people and always thinks and believes the best of people.

Verse 8 Love never fails. Love never gives up.

Let’s make it our prayer today to ask God to help us actively love others. Let us ask Him to lead us to places where He wants us to shine His light and ask Him for the courage and strength to share His love with all who surround us in our daily lives.

May you be instruments of God’s love this Chinese New Year! 

Many thanks to Sis Melinda for her sermon notes.