The Rich Young Ruler

Rev John Kirby

God is doing something wonderful across this nation. God is stirring you in your heart to do something. God wants more to be happening outside, it was his commission to us. To go out into all the world. And your world is all around you. The moment you say yes, God works wonders.

So much needs to be done, especially the marginalised, like the orang asli. God wants to equip them to do something in this nation. God says he uses the foolishness of this world. Even children.

Are you glad to be in the house of the Lord? We just pass through life and the nitty gritty things in life just weigh us down, but we can overcome the accusations of the devil and the lies he sell to us. Today we are going to read about the life of this rich ruler.

Matthew 19:16-26

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

It is very interesting that Jesus doesn't answer their questions but rather talks about what's in our hearts. It is good to sometimes just to be still in his presence. God wants us to sometimes just consider why we pray what we pray. Ask yourself why are you praying for Malaysia?

This man asked Jesus an important question. And with a profound greeting. Good teacher. What must I do to inherit eternal life? This man talks about himself. He needs to see himself as he really is and Jesus wants to get to that point in his life. To go past this facade that all is okay when things are not okay. If you need God's deliverance you must come to Jesus that way.

The heart of God is that he loves to be needed. If you need Jesus more than anything in the world you've got him. We always say his grace is sufficient but how often do we just lean on him and say we cannot go another step.

The laws function is to let us know that we will fail. That we cannot do it on our own. This rich young ruler comes to Jesus as described in the other gospels. He has great possessions. It is not wrong to have possessions but there is one very important thing that he will understand. Your possessions should never possess you. You must possess your possessions. Some people think you cannot be rich looking at this passage. And that you must live in rags.

God has not called us to live that kind of life. We can live rich, in possessions and health but don't let it possess you.

Let's talk about his age. He's not an old man but neither is he a teenager. Until at 30 years, with the Jews you are still not a grown man. We need to not just physically grow but we need to mentally and emotionally develop. In some countries you're an adult at 16. That's not in accordance to God's plan. We need to go back to the biblical culture. Not Jewish culture but biblical culture. We are not old fashioned or new fashioned but God fashioned.

He is probably 24 to 30 years old so he's in the youth category. In a stage where he is wanting to learn and is curious. He was in the prime of his life. Not over the hill but climbing the hill. The secret to staying young is to keep learning. Don't be a know it all. We are to be learning.

He is a ruler so he has authority over others. He had position and wealth and is in the prime of his life. And obviously he was missing something. He may have everything but there's an emptiness in him. And that emptiness can only be filled by Jesus.

He calls him good teacher. Rabbi. That's what many calls him. We need to really know who Jesus is. Jesus says why call me good? That there is none good but God. Jesus was pointing out to him that Jesus was showing himself to this young man as God. Jesus doesn't come to anyone as someone else but as who he is. In absolute reverence to his Lordship. Not as a friend.

John 8:24

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Some people think he's like a Santa Claus, giving gifts. We have to come to him as God. And sin has to be confessed and renounced. Because he is God.

He talks to Jesus calling him good and master but Jesus showed him who he really is. Eternal life can only be earned by doing good, something this man grew up believing. He knows the law and also teaches others but what he knows is not precisely the truth. What he do is necessary so what is it that is missing or lacking in what he do. It is a focus in self and this man has to realise that there is no hope in self.

I go to many places and find many self righteous people. There is something  awesome about Jesus. In the things that you think you care about he doesn't care. Not by works of righteousness but according to his mercy he saved us. It is never about the works we have done but what he has done.

What shall I do to inherit eternal life and Jesus looked into his heart and knew what exactly he needed. He told him to keep the law. Keep the Commandments. Jesus knew what he was doing. To kill a cockroach you need to lure it out. There is a difference this is not a problematical but a man with problems. Jesus saw not a blind man but a man that is blind. So Jesus always deal with the problem. Some people deal with the person like he's the problem. He had the problem and Jesus knew his precise condition. And this man replied and said he's being doing it since his youth. He's being self righteous. In ourselves there is no goodness.

He qualifies the called. He doesn't call the qualified. Sometimes we wonder why someone who is in a marriage wreck stands at the pulpit and preach. Of course there is time out but when God has dealt with it who is to say God cannot use anyone. God has gifted and anointed these and God does not take back what he gave. Sometimes the church just don't see like Jesus. God never judges the world without judging the church first.

This man just needed to see his condition. What do I still lack he asked. Before a person can get saved, he needed to get lost. The law can never save him. He needed to see that he is guilty of self.  In verse 21 Jesus gave him a challenge. If you want to be perfect. Desperately in need of salvation he knew something is missing. That lack must lead us to Jesus. How many of you are poor in spirit? If you come in a spirit that knows that you need him, that he is the only one that can fill you up, like that woman at the well, you will find him.

Jesus always have an appointment with us at a certain time at a certain place for a certain need of yours. God sometimes uses things, even a movie to trigger a response. He is amazing. He knows your heart and he wants to draw you in and sort it out.

Jesus speaks grace but he never dismisses your problems. He sorts it out when you come to him. This man was concerned about how he performed. But God says if you fail in one part of the law, you've failed all. Have any of you perfectly followed the law? We all fail. The Bible says cursed is all who have not followed completely the law and Jesus wanted to release this man from that.

So what was the condition of this man? Following the law was not it. But Jesus knew his problem and that was his possession. Don't make this into doctrine. Don't tell people to sell all his possession and come to TOP. Jesus was talking to this man's specific condition. A very sensitive area in his life.

Jesus said if you can do this then follow me. There are very few followers of him in church. Jesus covers us provided we have all this mess dealt with. Perfection. I want to close with this thought.

Jesus said be perfect even as your father is perfect. It sounds like a challenge and commandment to us. But it is to tell us we just cannot. Abraham did not fully obey God. God told him to take his own son and kill him for a burnt offering. That was his instructions. He did go up, tied his son up and prepare the firewood but he didn't kill his son. Why?

I can tell you he did not wilfully obey because God has only one message. Salvation is so powerful that it can only be God and not man. Salvation has nothing to do with man but had everything to do with God. If Abraham can sacrifice his son, we can say we can do the sacrifice. Perfection can only happen with the lamb of God. The perfect sacrifice. The love of God just overwhelms.

Psalms 18

Rev Gideon Lee

The Lord led me to this Psalms even as I was looking at what to share.

Psalms 18

1 ((For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of Yahweh, who spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said,)) I love you, Yahweh, my strength. 2 Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. 3 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 5 The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came on me. 6 In my distress I called on Yahweh, And cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple, My cry before him came into his ears. 7 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, Because he was angry. 8 Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. 10 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion around him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 12 At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire. 13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky, The Most High uttered his voice: Hailstones and coals of fire. 14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them. 15 Then the channels of waters appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of your nostrils. 16 He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. 18 They came on me in the day of my calamity, But Yahweh was my support. 19 He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20 Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his ordinances were before me. I didn't put away his statutes from me. 23 I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 24 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. 26 With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 27 For you will save the afflicted people, But the haughty eyes you will bring down. 28 For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness. 29 For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God, 32 The God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect? 33 He makes my feet like deer's feet, And sets me on my high places. 34 He teaches my hands to war; So that my arms bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great. 36 You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped. 37 I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed. 38 I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet. 39 For you have girded me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, That I might cut off those who hate me. 41 They cried, but there was none to save; Even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them. 42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets. 43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me. 45 The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places. 46 Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation, 47 Even the God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me. 48 He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 49 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, And will sing praises to your name. 50 He gives great deliverance to his king, And shows loving kindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.

Here are the outlines.

David's Delight - v1-3

David Distress - v1-6

David's Deliverance -v 7-49

David's Descendants - v50

One of the hymns written for the church was by  Augustus M. Toplady. I know the name is unusual.

Toplady drew his inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England. Toplady, a preacher in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a storm. A gorge is like a valley between two steep cliff. He found a shelter, a cleft of rock just enough for him. A piece of rock that jutted out shielded him. It was there that he penned this hymn - Rock of Ages.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

This pastor hid there and it was where he realised and penned this hymn.

David's Delight

If you look from v1 to 3 you'll see David's Delight. David started out this Psalms with - I will love you Lord with my strength. Whatever that he was going through he wanted to start it right, I will love you. It was found in one other Psalms. It's with deep seated compassion. It added to his devotion to God. The matter of worship is to look back at the victories and deliverance that God has helped us.

We can't help but say my God I love you. Some important words that he used is you are my rock. Stability, firmness. Then he said fortress, a place you run to for safety. Then my deliverer. David knew God has delivered him many times. My strength, God is his strength, his strong defence. And his buckler, a small shield. God is our shield. All these descriptions he personalised it. My deliverer, my fortress, my strength, my buckler. The horn of my salvation. About power and strength, my high tower, that God cares for him.

All these words talks about protection. He had a theme and that God is his protector. As we look at this, I don't know what you're going through, let's start with God I love you. When we come in prayer, let's see how David does it, first in praise to go who is his salvation and fortress. Let's not let our prayer supersede our praise for him.

Verse 3 says I call upon the Lord with Praise.

David's Distress

From verse 4 to 6 tells us about David's distress. He was almost dying and if no hero came at that particular time he would have died. He had a tough time with King Saul. The enemies of Israel were also chasing David. Even David's own son, Absalom chased David. He came into these times many times. Anyone hunting you down now? I hope not. David was at a place where he was so hounded. Like the movie Fugitive. Where he was chased even though he was innocent.

More so when a loved one chased David for his throne. Maybe we are being chased by circumstances or situations where you can't get out. I want to encourage you through this Psalms. This morning God can be there for you. Maybe it's a sickness or physical condition, you have a rock you can stand on. David said he cried out and God heard him. He hears you.

David's Deliverance

It's from verse 7 to 49. 43 verses he talks about his deliverance. 

The first thing is that God came to his rescue. God arrives. Verses 7 to 15.

Psalms 18:7-15

7 The earth trembled and quaked,

and the foundations of the mountains shook;

they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;

consuming fire came from his mouth,

burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down;

dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;

he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—

the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,

with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven;

the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,

with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed

and the foundations of the earth laid bare

at your rebuke, Lord,

at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

Just think about it for a moment. What does these verses reminded you of? The book of Revelations described how God is like a consuming fire. He was looking into the future and prophetic in his writing. The book of Revelations was not written yet.

If you're going through something that maybe happened in the office, leave your enemies to the Lord and let him deal with them. God is able. He's coming with all his power and glory. David saw smoke, fire and coal. Appearing like lightning. God is more than able to handle your problems. He is more than able to handle your situation. He is a God that love his people. David understood that.

You see all these descriptions and I sat down in awe. I wouldn't want to be God's enemy. The fact that the God of Moses and Joshua is also the God of David. Sometimes we forget to count our blessings. Name them one by one. As we look at the faithfulness of God, thanksgiving and devotion arises. We must have that attitude of thankfulness. Worship is not just a time of singing songs. It's a time of devotion. We sing and worship because the lyrics help us to connect with God.

The Lord not just arrived but God helped him. God rescued, rewarded and revived him. God took hold of him and took him out of deep waters. God was his support. This is for you this morning. He will reach down from on high to take hold of you. A drowning man is in a desperate situation and God will grab hold of you. He is more than able to see us through.

God delights in you. God calls you friend. You are the Apple of God's eyes. We are all God's children because God has no grandchildren. When Christ was on the cross it was not the nails that kept him there but you and me. You are his delight. God tells you that you are his delight and he will rescue you.

God rescues this morning. Not only did God rescued and helped him he also rewarded him. 

Psalms 18:20-28

20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;

I am not guilty of turning from my God.

22 All his laws are before me;

I have not turned away from his decrees.

23 I have been blameless before him

and have kept myself from sin.

24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

26 to the pure you show yourself pure,

but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

27 You save the humble

but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;

my God turns my darkness into light.

God rewarded David. And God revived him. You are only able to do whatever you are going through when God revive you. He gives strength. If today you are tired and weary, he wants to revive you. He gave David that assurance. As you read this passage you see how David responded when God came through for him.

David's Descendants

This promise is not just for us but also to our descendants. It's for your children and all those that love the Lord. God wants you to do a great work for the Lord. God wants you to be effective. God is your rod and your strength. Many songs are made from Psalms 18. There are just too many to sing. It shows God can do it.

When you're going through a difficult situation we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. How long you have to continue to endure. Trust his heart and his character. You are his delight and he will save you.

Rock of ages. I like this last words.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Jesus is that cleft and that foundation. Just enough to shield you from that storm. This Psalms 18 is also repeated in 2 Samuel.

2 Samuel 22:1-4

David’s Song of Praise

22:1-51pp — Ps 18:1-50

1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation.

He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour—

from violent people you save me.

4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,

and have been saved from my enemies.

You continue to read and it's almost word for word. Different writer but the words are the same. On the storm, we see that cleft that shield and protect us. God is our refuge in the midst of our storms.

Pentecostal Fire or Hell's Fire

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning is Pentecost Sunday. Pop quiz, what is Pentecost Sunday? The promise from God, which was the Holy Spirit, was fulfilled this day. What does it mean to you? This morning we will learn more about this.

This is one of the Christian calendar where we commemorate. Like Christmas and Easter. Being an AOG church, we are part of the Pentecostal denomination. And the word Pentecostal comes from Pentecost. You'll never get a card for Pentecost. Christmas and even Easter possibly but do anyone greet you on Pentecost day? No? But it's actually very significant.

It is the beginning of the church. It's actually the church's birthday. The Jews celebrates it differently. Christmas is the time when the most cards are being sent, then Valentine's Day, Mother's Day etc. But there are no cards for Pentecost day. Women purchased about 80% of all cards. That's the statistics.

This is the festival of the first fruits by the Jews. The Beginning of Harvest season and they bring their Harvest as an offering to God. Like their tithes. They'll also be the giving of the Torah. But for us it's the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Where God wrote his laws on men's heart instead of on tablets of stone.

It gives us the imagery of fire.

Acts 2:1-4

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.

Acts 2:5-12

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 their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our 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?”

Here we see 120 disciples that were gathered here in the upper room. In one accord and they were praying. Then a mighty wind that came and shook the room and a fire descended upon them and they spoke in tongues. In Exodus 19, Mt. Sinai was enveloped by fire. John the Baptist said there will come one who will baptise you in fire. Fire is neutral but these are good example but there are also bad examples like hell where the fire never quenches. Jesus described it as a fiery furnace. So fire can be good or bad. That's why I titled my message Holy Spirit fire or hell's fire.

The first thing I want to talk about this fire is this.

1. One fire points to a failure while the other points to a fullness.

The fire of hell points to a failure. A failure in accepting the amazing grace of our Saviour. The fire of the Holy Spirit speaks of fullness, with God and one another. The Bible says hell was built for the devil and his angels.

God has done everything possible to keep us out from this place. As mentioned in John 3:16. We always think the devil is king of hell. Actually the devil is prisoner in hell. In Greek mythology, we think that hades is being ruled. We think Satan is in charge of hell but it's not true. In fact God is ruler over all.

We have this idea that God cannot be in hell but God is ruler over all. God does not want to send us there so he's asking us to make a choice. You may say I have not chosen yet but your indecision is already a choice. The truth is he'll exist even if preaching it is not popular. If we reject his love, then there's no other place but hell.

We are complete. We have life abundance if we receive his grace. And we can celebrate Pentecost Sunday because we have received his grace.

Acts 1:6-9

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

God has empowered us. You may have stepped into church many times, but you have not made a decision for God. That you will choose wisely.

2. One fire focused on I while the other is on others.

Luke 16:19-31

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

This rich man only thinks about himself. Never thinking of others like Lazarus outside his gate. The rich man did nothing whatsoever. Even the dogs came to lick his sores. But the rich man was not willing to help. He lived his life only to please himself. When he passed away he found himself in a place of torment. If we live just for ourselves we will end up in hell. God calls us to be witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea and to the ends of the earth. Jerusalem is where you are, and Samaria is those towns near to Jerusalem and then to all over the world. We first have to be witness in Penang, then the neighbouring states and Malaysia before the rest of the world.

If you talk about living only for I, you'll end up in the lake of fire.

Why the rich man asked Lazarus to dip his finger to quench his thirst? Why not ask Abraham? Then he asked Lazarus to go tell his other family members. He should have done it when he was alive.

I pray we will choose Pentecostal fire, a life that will care for others.

3. One fire focuses on the past, the other focuses on the future.

You can't take anything with you once you die. It was said Alexander the Great gave instructions  on how he was to be buried. He wanted the best physicians to carry his coffin. And he wanted his coffin to be open and his hands outside. He wanted to say that when you die even the greatest physician cannot save you and you take nothing with you.

This rich man lived only for himself but at death none of his riches can help him. I pray we will choose the path where it will count for eternity. That we will invest in the eternal. To look at the future. That it will count towards eternity. 

On Pentecost, God empowers us for a reason. The Bible says the gospel is foolishness. Why would anyone follow a God that died on the cross? But we all know Christ rose again. We believe in the eternal.

When we choose the fire of God we must know what to invest on. We don't just invest on things temporal. Your choice is important. We choose the eternal, heaven.

Both fires are everlasting.

One of the saddest thing about hell is that it's permanent. There's no rental or second chance or u-turns. Same goes for heaven. It's also permanent. But here's the difference. When you get to hell, it's a place you want to get out. Where else heaven is a place where you want to stay. It's a place you don't was to leave.

I want to close with this story. I serve at the Royal Rangers. We have camps with 800 - 1,000 attendees. One of the thing we do is when we take the children out for camping.

We will purchase tents, cook food and enjoy nature. But during the night time we have a camp fire with no distractions. No handphones. Anyway there is no line. Here they are very receptive to you and we use this time to share the word of God with them. When they are there their attention is on you and listened to you.

They always say they'll always remember the counsel at camp fire. I was also with the Scouts. And we also have camp fires but they tell ghost stories during those camp fire. You see we can use that fire to input into people's life or share ghost stories.

What are we doing with the fire of the Holy Spirit? Are we making it count for Jesus? Are we his witnesses? I want to challenge us, like that rich man, I still have 5 more brothers. I hope we don't get until there before we think about our brothers. We should think of them now. Do your best to share with them. Save them from the hell fire. Amen?

Mother's Love

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

When pastor Gideon asked me to speak on Mother's Day I asked if he was sure? Maybe he was confused as I have done Father's Day before. I believe pastor Gideon heard from the Lord when he asked me to speak on Mother's Day because he may not know it, but I know I am blessed to be here.

 I would like to start with something like this. A man love his mother and the man love his wife. And one day they are both drowning. Who do you save first? I don't want to answer this question because I don't want to go where angels dare not tread. The answer would probably be, let me think about this. It's a philosophical question.

The mother may not say it but in her heart she would say save your wife. The mother's heart is always sacrificial. It will always be - the child comes first. And she would say save your wife.

Mothers are not perfect. But mother's have a special love for her child. If your mother scolded you yesterday don't think that your mother is not like that. But the seed of sacrifice and the bond to her child will always be there.

The Bible records that David lay with Bathsheba and Solomon come from that. This was after the first child had died after birth. When a lady conceive, and the mom loses the child, it is a terrible thing. Something that we cannot understand. And healing takes a long time. And when another child came along, there is a special bond that this child is God's gift back to me.

Proverbs 10:1

The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Have you ever wondered why Solomon didn't write it the other way? That a wise son brings joy to the mother and a foolish son brings grief to his father? I think Solomon knows that a father's love and mother's love is different. A mother's love of a wayward child is different. If a son takes drugs both will be grieved but the first one who will say enough is enough is the father. When he has to draw the line, it'll be the father. But have you heard? Mothers will still secretly give to their son, like money. This is something that we see happening. When it comes to bonding with the child, the mother has a nine month head start.

That attachment with a child the father will not be able to really grasp. A mother's love has a certain empathising touch. The mother weeps in the heart when a child goes through a difficult time. It is this that expresses itself as a mother's love in a softness of heart for the child. And it is very direct. A mother will naturally want to embrace the child. That is a mother's love.

That love is drawn from two aspect, a sacrificial aspect and an unconditional aspect. That's why the mother will say save your wife.

This is where we want to look at where is the source of a mother's love. The agape love of God is expressed as sacrificial and unconditional.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

While we are yet sinners described God's unconditional love and Christ died for us described his sacrificial love.

That is why man will say only when a man becomes good does he deserve our love. God showed his love when we are still a sinner. And God is not all talk, he demonstrated his love by dying for us.

In the mother that sacrificial and unconditional love is expressed through her empathising for her child, that softness of heart and in the mother lies the capacity to love like that. On Mother's Day I want to say you are special because you have that capacity to lay your life down for your child and it's a gift of God. And when we say you have that seed, we have to nurture it. And we don't know how far you can go as you draw near to the Lord. That seed of sacrifice and unconditional love will grow in your life. It is a gift, nurture it and you will be blessed.

It is no accident that Solomon when God chose him was a pretty smart fellow. He was to ask one thing from God and he chose wisdom. And God said he has chosen a good thing. He asked for wisdom and God gave him everything.

1 Kings 3:27-28

27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

And here you see how Solomon used his wisdom from God in dealing with mothers. If you read the passage before these verses and you'll see how wise Solomon was in dealing with this case. Solomon knew there was a strong bond between a mother and the child.

1 Kings 3:23-26

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

Here you see an aspect of how a mother feel when a son's life is at stake.

In my school I have all ladies young and old. In a hall of 600 I can be the only man. When I told them I have a difficult assignment from my pastor to speak on Mother's Day and one person in particular told me, have you heard of a son's face where only a mother can love? You see, others see that child with their eyes but only a mother sees her child through her eyes.

I  am a reader of books but now I learn how to Google. So I read this story.

There was a child in school who is always asking questions in class. And the teacher got irritated with him because of his many questions. The teacher called the mother to complain that this child of hers is problematic.

The mother said my child is not backward and I'm taking her back to school him at home. This boy is Thomas Edison who has more than 1,000 patents.  That is why he was always asking questions. The school cannot accommodate him because he was a genius. But the mother saw him as special. The mum sees more, my son has potential.

But if the mum had listened to what the teachers said what would have become of Thomas Edison? That's a mother's love.

You also saw cases in earthquakes where they found a mother cradling her baby from the debris. That is a mother's love.

Today you've heard this, so what's your response. You may say I'll buy her a special gift, or take her to a special place but have you thought of what your mother actually wants? Mothers want obedient children.

I told my teachers at school that my mum seldom cane me and when she does, she canes me softly. But my brother will always kena. When my mum says come, he will stay at the corner and when my mum goes to him he runs around the room. He said not fair, mum canes him 10 times but only 2 times on me when we both did the same thing. I told my brother don't run. When mum says come you go and say sorry. But he never learns, so kena. Mothers want obedient children.

Ephesians 6:2-3

2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

I believe a man who dishonours his father or mother cannot honour God. Don't be a Pharisee. If he don't honour his parents, he is in no position to honour God.

Some time back I had a talk to my mother. I told my mum it's not how much money a son has in taking care of the mother but how much love he has. A son who has money may not give her mum the care that she needs in failing health. While a son who loves his mom will find a way to find the money for her mother's treatment.

My mom is not well and I spend time with my mom. Back from school and I'll sit in the wheelchair by her. My mom used to iron clothes until late at night so I whenever saw her and decided to stay with her. She can iron with her eyes closed and I told myself I'll stay with her until she sleeps. So after a while I'll tell her to go to sleep. She thinks I must care for her but because she don't sleep I cannot sleep.

I just want to say this to all of you. If your mum is not well, honour and care for your mum. Mums will always care for their child but it is sad that children sometimes don’t care about their mum. I want to take this opportunity to also thank my wife because as a son I also have my limitations.

Now coming back to the question of whether to save your mum or your wife, you may have the problem but your mum will not. She will say save your wife. For mothers, the child will always be in her heart. A mother will always grief when her child is not doing well.

So finally remember this, always care for your mum when she's not doing well.

Come to me…

Rev Gideon Lee

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When I read this passage a few stands up to me.

He says come to me all those who are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. Jesus said I will. Not try but I will. And he said my yoke is easy, which is strange because a yoke is normally burdensome. And he said you'll learn for me. I don't know how we can learn from it. How can a burden be easy and a yoke is light?

There is three parts to my sermon.

1. Refreshment
2. Relationship
3. Restoration

I want to start by telling you a story. There was a father who worked very hard. And he has an energetic son and he wanted the father to play with him. So the father have to think of how to entertain his son.

After a long day at the office and he came home, the son was waiting for the father to play with him. He didn't have time to plan on what to play with the son. He had a newspaper in his hand so he cut up the newspaper into small pieces to form a jigsaw puzzle. So he thought it'll keep the son occupied.

He went to get himself a cup of coffee and the son ran in and said "dad it's finished!". And true enough it was and properly pasted too. The father asked the son how he did it so fast? The son said oh, I didn't look at the difficulty of the puzzle because behind was a picture of a man and it was easy to put him together. So if the man is correct the other side would also be correct.

Refreshment

Jesus said come. Some say it's a welcoming invitation but actually it was a command. Jesus said come and the next word is to. In the Greek it means to look towards or facing. Come and face him. Looking towards him and giving him your full attention.

When you call your children to come, it's a command. I expect them to response. Sometimes they are slow, maybe because they are looking at the television.

Jesus is saying to come towards him and give him your attention. If you are weary or tired, Jesus is commanding you to come. There is no other way to sooth your soul.

When there's a problem, the world takes you to another problem. Like those Korean dramas, when they break up with someone, they run to the pub and drown their sorrows. Do you see them going to a church? Jesus is saying come to me and look at me. And Jesus qualifies the call. He said all. And the last time I checked my Bible, all means all.

Who are these all? All who are weary or weighed down. Jesus said don't wait, come to him.

Isaiah 55:1-3

Invitation to the Thirsty

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and you will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.

CS Lewis says God whispers to us in our pleasures and shout at us in our pain.

He wants to provide comfort. What he wants to do is to provide you with the rest that you need. He will turn your mourning into laughter and sorrow into joy. Exchange it for your rest. Only he can provide that for you. He ask you to come and has the full power to give you rest.

He says I WILL give you rest. Not maybe. Sometimes we don't admit that we have a burden. We seem to love our burdens too much. How we come to church and we leave our burdens at the door and come in to worship God. But the problem is when we leave we pick up our problems again. I say we should nail our burden at the cross so that it no longer goes with us.

Nowadays I see school children carry such big bags. And I see Josiah carry such a big bag that's even bigger than him. We don't have to carry that burden. 

Our young adult cells learnt about what bitterness can do. From the life of Joseph. He could have been so depressed or be full of bitterness but God is asking us to forgo that.

Relationship

This is the picture of a yolk. The central point of v29 is about relationships. He said learn from me. I am not talking about an egg yolk. It's to put on an animal of burden. Here it'll be the water buffalo. It's made from hard wood so that it's heavy enough as a restrain on a water buffalo.

The buffalo is tough and muscular so it has to be heavy to direct the water buffalo. The yolk is not made for one buffalo but made for a pair. So you are one of the buffalo and the other is Jesus. The farmer would put an older buffalo on one and put an inexperienced buffalo on the other so that it can learn from the older buffalo.

You don't have to do it alone. It will require teamwork. You and Jesus will get through it. Jesus said take my yolk. As I do that, the problem becomes Jesus' problem. He carries us. But we need to work together as a team. The Greek word is also used in the word baton. He shoulders our burden with us and if you remember Jacob and the ladder and how he wrestled with God? God touch his sinew and Jacob had to rely on a crutch to walk. He is then called Israel and he has to rely on God as he relied on the crutch. As he understood it, he said God is the one that blesses him.

It's like wrestling, a tag team. As we walk with him he carries us. You don't have to do this alone. He's there for you so learn to rely on him.

When Jesus say take my yolk, what did Jesus said? He said learn. As we come into a relationship with God and partner with him we need to learn. Learn how he tackles things. This learn is the same word disciple. To learn from inside your heart. Inside here and it requires relationship. I pray that you understand it requires a relationship with him.

My favourite team is Liverpool. You know why, because their tagline is YNWA - You'll Never Walk Alone. With God you'll never walk alone.

Restoration

He wants to restore. We are first refreshed, then we relate with him and is then restored.

Our restoration comes from our salvation in Jesus Christ. He is gentle. He will not turn you away. A gentle and humble God. That word humble is the same word meek. He is compassionate. He wants to help you. That's what we need. To come to someone with our problems and he is understanding. He said you will find rest.

Rest for our souls. The Greek word for rest is different than from verse 28. It's a noun that relates to our eternal state. He's the key to our restoration.

It's a paradox because he says his burden is easy. If it's burdensome then it's burdensome but Jesus says when he's in the picture our burden become light.

Remember the story of the boy? He said is the picture of the man is correct the other side is right. The same if we see the bigger picture and turn to Jesus, all else will be right. All we have to do is to come to Jesus and all is well.

There was a young boy in a family. And the parents bought a corner lot home. So they wanted to clear the house before they move in. So he called his son to go with him to clear the house. The young son was excited that he can spend time with the father.

So they started to clear up and they saw a stone. It's not a very big stone but what was under the stone was big. On the surface it looked small. The father asked the son to go remove the stone but it would not move. So he dig the earth around it and the stone looked bigger and bigger and he just could not move it.

Finally in defeat he went to the father with tears in his eyes and he said he could not move the stone. He used everything he could. The dad said don't worry but the son felt so bad. The father said you didn't use everything at your disposal. The father said you didn't call me.

Both father and son managed to remove the stone. That's the picture of us. We need to just come to him because he's your partner. You don't have to do it on your own.

I pray that all of us here regardless of what you're going through but the key is to learn see things how God sees it. Learn to look to him because he cares for us.