Testimony of Pastor Peter

Pastor Peter with his interpreter and the worship team.

Two weeks ago I was like in a boxing match. A bee stung me and my faced swelled and I had fever. I had to go to Ipoh but I just praise the Lord the whole way. That evening the Lord healed me.

Whenever we have a problem we have a sad face and wonder what God is doing to me. Have I done something wrong? That is Satan's attempt to deceive. There are problems in the world and it attacks everyone but the Lord's people will stand firm. Every problem will draw us closer to the Lord so that we can cling on to him.

But one day the Lord led me to the Ambassador of Christ Bible school. So I reduced my business because there is less time and to walk by faith.When I serve the Lord in Thailand, I had a church that was fairly big. And I had a bakery shop to support myself and the church. Both was doing quite well. Each day the income from the bakery was about 20,000 baht. And people start coming to the church.

Before that I was depending on myself to work hard and help the church. But God was beginning to change things for me. Actually come to think of it everything that was successful was because of God. At the end of my studies at Bible school, the Lord spoke to me to go to Penang. I did not know Penang at that time.

I prayed to the Lord to show me some signs. The Lord showed me three times. It was the third person that invited me to go to Penang. So the Lord was narrowing the area of consideration for me.

I told the Lord that if you want me to go give me the ticket and passport to go there. I never used my passport for a long time, so it was not usable.

Two weeks before I was due to go, there was complete silence so it was a time of doubt but I still believed.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The next week on Tuesday, a person came and blessed me with 2,000 baht and I knew that was for the passport. So I went and made my passport. On Thursday another person came and gave 14,000 baht, the exact amount for my plane ticket. I asked the person to book online for me but it wasn't successful. And so he asked me to go buy at the airport counter. I went with that money but the price of the ticket went up double. The amount was not enough.

But the plane is there, thank God. Because the Lord has told us to thank him at all times whatever the situation. Why thank God? I gave you an example. An athlete that is competing will not stop running until the time is up. Every runner will have the idea to do the best to succeed. Every time you run towards the finish line you'll have the strength to go on. Even if we cannot see the answer we will still thank the Lord. We will thank God first and we will see the success. This is the reason why God wants us to thank him.

We do not know how God will provide for us to go to Penang but we know God will provide. We packed and got ready to go. On Friday I went to Bible school as usual and the lady that met me on Thursday ran out and told me to go to the airport because the ticket was confirmed so we can go to Penang. God can change the situation if you believe in the Lord who can help us.

When we arrived in Penang, that church had a revival meeting. I sat at the back row and after the worship the senior pastor walked towards us. And she prophesied. You're the couple that will serve the Lord in Penang. Come with faith and stay. The Lord will bless. Hallelujah.

That trip was only for one week. On our way back to Bangkok, we prayed to the Lord and asked how do we stay in Penang? My English is not good but the Lord said go and evangelise the Thai people so that they can hear about the good news of Jesus. The Thais may not understand other language but they will understand Thai very well. I told the Lord I will go to Penang if you provide.

The Lord sent someone from another place to Bangkok. This family was coming to Bangkok to study the Bible. So I gave the bakery and church to this young man and his family so that I can come to Penang. By faith we went to the market and coffee shop to make friends with the Thai people and to talk about Jesus. We shared our testimonies to them. Witnessing.

Many people talk about good news but they do not have the experience. They must have the experience because it's the truth. He's alive and he helps us. Amen?

One day there was a lady that became a Christian and asked us to visit somebody. At Bukit Jambul with many apartment flats. Six blocks. On the way to visit the family with this lady, my wife whispered to m, "I've no sanitary napkins". Where's the money for it? The Lord provided, I'll tell you. The Lord did not provide from a human being. Or through the person we visited because we did not tell anybody.

If we say the Lord is great and he provides but we go and ask? We just trusted the Lord. After we visited and came down to the ground floor and was about to leave the building itself. All of a sudden there was a huge storm. We retreated into the building. The wind was so strong. And something dropped in front of us. A large box of sanitary napkins just dropped in front of us. I cried. There's no one or do we have any relatives in Penang. I couldn't ask from anyone but the Lord knows. There was no other way. The Lord was with us. He was ready to answer. When we remain strong trusting him. The Lord answered at the right time. Don't give up and trust in the Lord.

I will talk about a place in Thailand called Nasi Thong, the house of victory. When I was praying about asking God for a plane for us, a friend called us asking us to go visit him near the airport in Penang. We went and met a humble couple. And we talked to him about God's ministry in that house. We took our friend there and we saw him for a bit but after that we called one another and he asked us to come to see our place of worship. We looked at the fourth floor and said it's too big for the Thai church. We went to the third floor and also said too big. Then we saw another room and said that's perfect. We went back and prayed about it and the Lord confirmed that's the place.

The first Sunday I came and realised he's the Senior Pastor. Pastor Gideon. We could relate to one another. When I talked to some people about the miracle in my life some people do not believe. But he believed in the Lord and he does miracles. We began to meet on the third floor to minister to the Thais.

And another time he invited us to his office and talked about Nasi Thong. I said very nice but I have no interest. Two days after that the Lord worked in my heart and I began to have interest. So I talked to the Lord. Lord show me a sign that this is what you want me to do. The next morning somebody sent me an email that he wants to send his son to stay with me. I said okay. Normally it takes about two week to make the arrangements. But the Lord worked so fast the next day he arrived.

The man who brought his son is a chief policeman. He is the one who controls three provinces in South Thailand. He talks about helping drug addicts and he said he will help. And I believed that's a sign from the Lord.

I called pastor and started visiting Nasi Thong. The house of victory is almost ready. Like a pregnant woman about to give birth. Labour pains. But hasn't given birth yet. You are the doctors that is going to assist in the birth. Everything that we do we do it by faith.

I drive there myself and there are expenses for the car, petrol and the Lord has provided and given his blessing in so many ways. I don't have a monthly salary. The Thai church don't give me a salary. We walk by faith and the Lord has provided. The Lord is saying to you that in order to give you his blessings, when you hear from God you will see his blessings.

Apostle Paul the Theologian - Introduction

The Christian faith is a faith that is both simple and complex at the same time. The message of the cross, in its presentation of salvation by grace and through faith, is a simple enough message for all people. However, the implications of Calvary in relation to the biblical themes such as atonement, justification, sanctification and glorification and the like are definitely complex in nature.

This present Bible study endeavours to look at these themes from the eyes of the apostle Paul. What exactly was on the great apostles' mind when he wrote the 13 letters to the churches of his time? This is the question that we will seek to answer as we work through this study. One verse that captures the essence of how the apostle perceives the Christian faith is Gal 2:20:"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Apostle the Theologian

Lesson 1: The centrality of God in Christ

Lesson 2: Proclaiming God in Christ

Lesson 3: Suffering and the Pauline proclamation

Lesson 4: Dishonouring God

Lesson 5: The exaltation of Christ Jesus

Lesson 6: The righteousness of God

Lesson 7: The transforming grace of God

Lesson 8: Honouring God

Lesson 9: Persevering faith & the hope of glory 

Lesson 10: Agape love & the law In Paul

What was on the apostle Paul's mind when he wrote the 13 letters of the NT? Hebrew is not included because we are not sure who's the author.

Galatians 1:11-17

Paul Called by God

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Judaism  (verse 13)

Jewish faith and way of life developed during the period between OT and NT. Much of it is legalism and gave way to the biggest group, the Pharisees. The major sect to Judaism. Paul keeps emphasising that he received from Jesus Christ and not from man.

1. There is a strong emphasis that Paul says the 13 letters are a revelation from Jesus Christ. If you take all of the NT which has 14 other letters, our doctrine will be at best half baked if we do not have Paul's 13 letters. Revelations is on his second coming and the gospels are about Jesus on earth.
2. The apostle Paul was an expert of the OT. He is one of the top, the Pharisee of the Pharisees. He even persecuted the church and is competent in the law. He knew all Judaism tradition and law.

This is the background of Paul.

The interpretation of the Bible.

What was on Paul's mind

-> Pauline Letters <-

What is on our minds

When we read the bible we should not read it just from an academic view point but do not draw near to God. We are taught that we need the illumination of the Holy Spirit. But what does it mean to be illuminated or guided by the Holy Spirit? Some will tell you no need Bible study, or commentaries. You just read and the Holy Spirit will teach you. They may use verse 12 as defence, but what they forgot is they are not the apostle Paul. These people read the scriptures based on what's on their mind but not based on what was on Paul's mind.

Interpreting the Bible is not subjective. We must enter our study by looking at the Pauline letters through the eyes of Paul because he wrote them. This is the basic ground work. We must start with the author.

Many of these letters are written because of situational problems. He wrote to address certain problems at the church at that point of time.

Why do we have bible study? We already have preaching on Sunday. Or we have the Holy Spirit to teach us. One of the 5-fold ministry is teaching. You have to understand a little bit of church history.

Jesus at Calvary - AD30

Apostolic Era - AD100 (the first century church, early church or Apostolic church)

Church Fathers - AD400

Roman Catholic Church

Some thinks the true church is the early church. But we know from Paul's letters that they were no better than us. The early church was an infant church. There are the Jews and the gentiles, the Jew church and the gentile church. Some from the gentile background deals with different things. And they mix their believe.

Heresy

The Church Father's brought some of the doctrines that we have now and that's also when heretic teaching started. Paul was in the heat of all that turmoil. It is at those times that we see why Paul was exceptional in his teaching at that time. Heresy is when what we believe is distorted. Many of the Pauline letters addressed heresy.

Gnosticism

A believe system that sees the material world (matter) as evil. Secret knowledge or esoteric knowledge. It came from the gentiles.

Galatians - Galatians Heresy

Colossians - Colossians Heresy

1Timothy - Gnosticism

You may say these are old heresies so it is no longer valid? Is the church better today than those days? We may ask today if a church's teaching is okay or not? Then there could be heretic teachings but I think it's too strong a word. I use the dilution of the gospel or a distortion of the gospel. What is the difference between dilution and distortion?

A preacher that teaches financial prosperity as the primary blessings of God in Christ distorts the gospel.

A preacher that teaches grace without a proper understanding of the holiness of God dilutes the gospel.

What does Paul do in these situations like in the early church? Paul teaches. That's the difference between teaching and preaching. We need to ask if the apostle Paul teaches the prosperity gospel or hyper grace. These are also men of God and knows the Bible so where did they go wrong?

What is the CENTRE of Paul's thinking?

What is the foundational centre of Paul's writing? A person whose centre is his family, he will make his decision based on his family needs. A businessman whose centre is his business will make his decision based on his business. It's priority.

Some thinks Paul's centre are these. 

Justification (grace through faith)

Sanctification (pursuits of holiness in the spirit)

Blessing (physical blessings and promises)

If it's justification, grace becomes the foundation of your teaching. A gospel of grace. That is how hyper grace looks at Pauline's centre as grace. So the question is whether Pauline's teaching is centred on grace? Holiness become de-emphasised. Because grace supersede everything. If holiness is the centre, you will downplay grace and may move into some form of law. If your foundational thinking is material blessings, your gospel becomes prosperity gospel.

It is not for us to decide what is the centre of Paul's teaching. Or we may have the wrong centre.

GOD (who He is - Person of God) -> BLESSINGS (what He does - works/promises of God) -> US

Non of the biblical themes is the centre of his teaching. His blessings or promises is not the centre of his teaching. God himself is the centre of his teaching.

Are we exalting Christ or exploiting Christ? When Christ is lifted up, the church will prosper. 

A Time for Everything

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning I want to preach from the he book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

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

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

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

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

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

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Do you know that Malaysia has 4 seasons? The dry season. Then the drier season. The wet and the wetter season. 

We are now entering the raining season and then flooding during the wetter season. There's a place and sequence to everything. Winter does not come after summer. There's spring before summer. And autumn before winter. And Ecclesiastes says there's a season for everything.

A time to be born and a time to die.

To be born and to die is out of our control but I said last week that God is in control. Last week we just had two funerals. Beyond our control but we know who is in control. There is also a time for us to be born into the kingdom of God. How we responded to his word as it was shared to us. We were once the enemy of God but now we are a friend to God.

We have gone through seasons of war, like during the Japanese occupation and I was told by my parents that they survived on tapioca with chilli padi. But these don't last. There is a season to everything. These kind of season do not last. If you are going through a season of suffering or lack, it will come to an end. Just as summer will come after spring.

A time to scatter and a time to gather. You must understand these were written in a time when agriculture was their life. What do you do before you plant? You have to clear the land by gathering the stones. And they collect the stones to build a wall around to protect the land.

 A time to search and a time to give up.

Once I lost a poodle and I prayed hard to find it. I prayed really hard that time and the good news is I found it in a drain. I'm glad God searched and found us and did not give up.

 A time to keep and a time to throw away.

We all know what this is talking about. We often keep things because we always say one day we will need it. But that day often don't come.

 A time to be silent and a time to speak.

How often sometimes we wish we had not spoken something? There was once I tried to impress my boss and I realised the more I spoke, I realised the less I know. And what do we do like all salesmen is to goreng.

This morning I'm going to talk about stepping into a new season.

1. It will bring changes
2. It will bring new challenges
3. It will bring new champions

It will bring changes

We all know change is inevitable but we all know who holds tomorrow. Some of us are on the mountain top and we can see everything in the horizon. Or some of us are in the valleys, when we are going through a tough time. But these seasons don't last.

Matthew 4:18-20

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

One moment a fisherman and another he became a disciple of Jesus Christ. We know Peter one day did great exploits for God. A new season of his life came in a moment. This new season brought new changes in his life. One encounter with God and his life changed.

How many of you look forward to new seasons in your life? No meh? When in school I always look forward to the school holiday season. No school, no homework. No seeing the teachers for two weeks.

Do you know on the first day of school holidays I would throw my school bag at a corner and one day before school opens it's still where I left it. That's me la.

New seasons bring about new changes. Whether we like it or not, it'll come.

It will bring new challenges

But with it comes new challenges. Like when we first accepted the Lord, we have to put away the old ways.

Peter had challenges that he had to face following Jesus. Like walking on water. Like Peter, learn to step out of the boat and meet new challenges.

Like Joshua, who shared at cell that he will be studying in UK for his masters. There will be new challenges. No more char koay teow, only fish and chips. He shared how God miraculously provided the scholarship. New challenges.

Peter was the only one recorded to ever walk on water besides Jesus. Peter also denied Jesus three times. Jesus already said that and he denied Christ. New challenges. Peter went through this period of time but it did not stop him from following Jesus.

Jesus appeared to Peter and gave him a new challenge. Peter do you love me? Three times Jesus asked him. Some theologians said Jesus had to ask him three times for the three times Peter denied Jesus.

Are you going through a new challenge today? New job? You do not have to be afraid to go through new challenges.

It will bring new champions

Last but not least, new challenges make new champions. Peter was transformed from a fisherman to become a powerful preacher of the word. There was a power that rested upon him at the upper room that made him a champion.

He preached one of the most powerful sermon that day and 3,000 was added to the church that day. New champion.

We all became new champions the day we asked Jesus to come into our life. Sometimes we look and say it's impossible for my old grandmother to accept Jesus but it happens. New champions for God.

Jesus said follow me and I'll make you fishers of men.

I want to leave this with you. Just as changes is inevitable, we praise God that Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His character never changes.

These are some things that never changes.

• The Bible will never change. God's word does not change. 

• Prayer does not change. It changes us and the situation but prayer to God never changes because he will still answer. 

• The Holy Spirit does not change. He is still moving in our midst like he did before. 

• God still inhabits the praises of his people. That never change. 

• There will still be singing in God's house. That will not change because of our gratitude for what he has done. 

• God will still bless his people. That will never change. 

• There will always be room for one more soul at the cross. He does not wish any should perish. 

• God's love for you and me will never change. Things may pass away but his love for us will not change.

SaveSave
SaveSave

God is Still In Control

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning I want to talk to some of you and I think you need to hear this message. That God is still in control.

Haggai 2:21-23

21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

‘I will shake heaven and earth.

22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;

I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.

I will overthrow the chariots

And those who ride in them;

The horses and their riders shall come down,

Every one by the sword of his brother.

23 ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Note that the word used here is the Lord Almighty.

There are many things in this world where we have no control over. Like the stock market. Whether it goes up or down. 

We have no control over the rising cost of living or wages that are stagnant. We have no control over what's happening around us even our own security. Like hand grenades being tossed into a new eating outlet. Or the shootings that's happening right, left and centre. Or the recent news that ISIS is coming here.

Many things happen where we have no control over.  A world in turmoil and uncertainty. Maybe some of you are dealing with some personal issues. Like bills you can't pay or issues at work. Or health issues.

But matter what you are going through I want you to know there is one who is totally in control and his name is Jesus. When we see what's happening fear creeps in. And we forget who is in control.

My outline is like this.

1. He has a sovereign plan for you and me.
2. He possesses supreme power.
3. He has selected you and me for this special plan.

He is omniscient. He is all knowing. He knows all things. He is omnipotent. He is all powerful. And he is omnipresent. Always present, everywhere all the time. This is the God that we serve. This is the same God that we call Abba father.

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

The sparrows are one of the most common bird. They are not really pretty. They don't sell sparrows into he bird shop. God says even if one of them falls to the ground God knows. Are you not more valuable than sparrows. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. We don't tak count of our hair but God knows. Some this unimportant as this God knows. Are you not more valuable than sparrows?

It also tells me that God is control because he knows how many sparrows died yesterday. What a comforting knowledge to know that he is concerned for us. He has a sovereign plan.

Our government is not in control. Our prime minister is not in control.

God has a sovereign plan.

He has a sovereign plan for your life. The word of the Lord came to Zerubbabel not one but twice. God spoke to Haggai that God has commissioned him to build the temple. God is in control because he has a plan. If God has a sovereign plan for us, then what is our response.

We need to be a willing vessel so that God can use us. God want to do that in our church. For each and everyone of us. All he ask is that we avail ourselves. Here am I, use me.

This morning when I went to the Hokkien service I was pleased to see a new worship leader. This morning I am also quite please to see Ephraim Song leading with Alvin. We need to avail ourselves.

God's plan is good but our response has to be here am I Lord, send me. We need more people to serve here. Church do you here me?

The plane and nothing if God has no power to accomplish it.

He possesses supreme power.

Haggai 2:21-23

21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

‘I will shake heaven and earth.

22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;

I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.

I will overthrow the chariots

And those who ride in them;

The horses and their riders shall come down,

Every one by the sword of his brother.

There is great debate when is that day but it doesn't matter because it will come to pass. God has the power to shake the heavens and the earth. Who can do that? Only God can do that. The same God that says to the storm be still. Only God has power over nature according to the Jews.

He will overthrow rulers and government according to the scripture. How many of you are praying for your country. I want you to know God can turn things around. He possesses a sovereign plan for us and only him can dictate it. He has supreme power.

Pray for our chief minister Lim Guan Eng but understand that God is in control regardless of the outcome.

Romans 8:31

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He is in control of our situation. We may not see his hand on it but let's trust his heart. That he is in control.

Because we have no need to fear because God is powerful. We need not fear those that may come and persecute us because he is powerful. We can be comforted by his power. He will work all thing out for good to all those that love him and is called according to his purpose.

He has selected you and me for this special plan.

v23 ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

A signet ring is use to authentic an instruction by using the ring to seal the letter. So that you know it comes from the emperor or king. It shows the authority given by the bearer. He has given us the authority. God has called each and everyone of us. We are to make disciples and he has given us the authority to do it. What has God called you personally to do? He did not save us to just come to church and look pretty.

Be brave enough to say here am I, use me. God gave us instructions through the word. Your instructions are found in the he word of God. He is telling you there is something he wants you to do.

God's calling contains a purpose and privilege. All of us will be rewarded with some crown that we can lay before the Lord and I hope all of us will have something for him.

We may all not start well but we should all end well. That's what's important.

SaveSave

The Christian Mind

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Today I'm going to talk about an interesting topic called The Christian Mind. I've actually planned this topic some time back because it was actually for another preaching engagement but I changed topic so I'm talking about this today.

It is going to be more teaching than preaching. As a charismatic church we are often talking more about the move of the Holy Spirit than about the Christian who thinks.

Today, there are few what I called Christians thinkers. Men like Martin Luther King, St Augustine, John Wesley, John Calvin to whom we owe a lot of what we learn today.

Many think that Christianity begins when we accepted the Lord. But there is a treasure of biblical insights and experience that we can receive from men in the past that have been imparted to us. Today there are few Christian thinkers. But all of us are called to be thinking Christians.

I speak today not because we are in an age of critical thinking but it has all the time been through the age of history that people think. Not because the young are asking questions or the world is challenging our Christian thinkers.

My dad said "Ah Hin, I bless you because your faith is such that you are destined to follow Christ." He believed in destiny but for us it's like predestination. But it's his second statement that caught me. He said belief is good but don't be fanatical. Don't have a blind faith. It struck me. At that time I didn't really appreciate what he said. But along the way I think back about what my dad told me, I do believe there is such a thing called blind faith. It is blind faith that creates cult and also perverted gospels.

So today I'm gong to be talking about the Christian Mind. To be a thinking Christian.

I want to ask, every morning when you wake up what do you think of? Some people wake up thinking of your wife. Or their children. Some think about how they will enjoy themselves that morning. For most people, I would say a lot will be thinking about more dollars than devotion. More on investment than insights. More money than maturity.

Prosperity rather than the presence of God is your focus. Probably thinking of your investment which God blesses you with and you may thank God but you'll be thinking of your investment.

What is the meaning of Christian maturity? If you ask people most may have a vague idea. I would say most people think of it chronologically. Like I've been a Christian 40 years so I'm mature. Or I serve the Lord many years, 20 to 30 years so I've done more than others so that's maturity. Or you're the church secretary so you think position is Christian maturity. But how does the Bible look at Christian maturity?

Ephesians 4:11-15

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

We need to see the context of Ephesians. What was on Paul's mind? The Spirit of God comes upon the church and the focus was on unity. The Bible teaches not uniformity but unity. But there is potential in diversity in that unity. Unity was one heart, one soul one mind for the glory of Christ. Uniformity is like when everybody sounds and looks like one another. We are not called to uniformity.

In that diversity of apostles, teachers and Pastor's etc all is called to be in unity with one purpose to prepare God's people for the work of ministry.

This is the context of what Paul was working on. But the crux of my message is the word mature. In our Christian life, this is not for those who is involved in ministry alone but for all of us. We are to become mature.

What is maturity? It is the fullness of the measure of Christ. But what is the fullness of Christ? Run down 10 verses.

Ephesians 4:21-24

21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

One important measure of the fullness of Christ is like God in true righteousness and holiness. That's what maturity has got to do it the fullness of Christ. For a person to be like God, he needs to have his kind renewed. And Paul actually repeats this in Romans 12.

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

To offer your life and be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Christian maturity is true righteousness and holiness. But it's not what we will focus on. I want to flash back thousands of years. Some people asked me when was Adam created? Some say a few thousand years. Some said 100,000 years based on evolutionists. We did not come from ape and that we are created by God in his image.

When the serpent came and when he tempted Eve the serpent ask Eve a question. If God really commanded Eve not to partake of the fruit, Eve had to think and the serpent told half truths and she got confused. In that disorientation of Eve, the devil struck. It was what the devil told Eve, you will be like God. It was too good to miss.

It was true in a way. Paul says here you will be like God. But in true righteousness and holiness was what God said. And one of it to true righteousness and holiness is to have perfect obedience to him. To obey his commandments in its fullness. And the devil said you will know what is good and evil. You don't need God to tell you what is right and wrong. Instead of obeying God you can set your own standard. That was what the devil offered Eve and she fell.

The spiritual battlefield was the mind. And the serpent's modus operandi was to confuse Eve. The rattlesnake rattles not to warn the prey but to confuse the prey.

This week I received two calls. First, a friend of mine called me because he woke up in the morning and felt dizzy. He said he was scared to move because he was dizzy. He was afraid he gets dizzy, and can black out and then gets a stroke. It's in the mind. The half truth is he is dizzy but the half lie is that dizzy doesn't mean he will black out and black out does not mean he will get a stroke. It is fear. That is how people can get into a depression.

Second call was about a friend getting treatment. The person don't know whether to get chemo or not. It is all in the mind where the battlefield is.

Paul says you have to transform yourself through the renewing of your mind. What does Paul say?

Ephesians 4:13-14

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

We need teaching for our mind to be renewed. You can look at Colossians 1:28. When you say teaching it is in the word of God. And it is the role of the pastor and teacher to teach as mentioned by Paul.

Knowledge alone is not enough. There are people who has been reading the Bible like a literature. In school we have Bible knowledge class. I realised I have to teach the Bible like a literature book in order for the students to get A. Then thinking of it, I thought the Bible should never be taught like a literature book so I stopped.

Some people treat the Bible like a literature book. They know in detail all the facts. And us Christians may not know as much. The Bible is also not a philosophical book. So I want to put to you that teaching the Bible is to know it's a spiritual book. It cannot be about the facts without the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:13

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

It's about spiritual truth. Not human wisdom but spiritual insights. The Bible is supposed to be read prayerfully, submissively and humbly.

Immerse yourself in the word and you'll be able to see things like God sees.

The other aspect is this.

2 Peter 1:21

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

You must understand we believe in the inspiration of the Bible but how many of you understand what that inspiration of the Holy Spirit means?

Some say possibly Paul went into a trance and wrote the Bible. That's not it. Another is Paul look up and God gave him the words. That dictation. Ours is that while Paul wrote he was inspired with a spiritual insight that came from the Holy Spirit. Our believe and it's the position of the church is that the Holy Spirit was hovering over Paul as he wrote. The Holy Spirit was guiding every thought and every word of Paul but it was Paul that wrote. That's why the way Paul wrote and Peter is different. They were guided but it is them that wrote.

Someone put it very well. If you studied the Bible philosophically, you will have an objective view of the word. It is the word without the spirit and you will become judgemental. On the other hand if you say no need of the Bible and that God can speak to you, you become fanatical. That's what my father said to me, don't have blind faith.

The Christian Mind is a mind that needs to be taught and you need to study. But at the same time you need the Holy Spirit to give you the insight. So that the word of God in your head becomes the word of God in your experience.

John Wesley said the word of God can only be understood if you put on the spectacles of faith. That happened to me. My spiritual eyes were opened.

Another one is Jonathan Edwards. He was considered one of America's leading philosophers. He was the seed to the great awakening in America and he recorded this in his journal. He saw thousands and thousands came to the Lord. He was one of the few that had the balance of the word of God and the spirit of God. He preached one of the greatest sermon - sinners in the hands of an angry God. It takes someone like Jonathan Edwards to preach something like that. It was neither judgemental yet it carried so much spiritual truth.

What exactly is true righteousness and holiness? In the OT it's how you conform to the word of God.

Romans 13:9-10

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

But Paul is saying on true righteousness and holiness is not about what you do. It cannot be discerned from your conduct but by your motivation.

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

For the Pharisees it was about keeping the letter of the law but Jesus broke that understanding. Jesus says true righteousness and holiness is expressed or sourced from loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. To love God with all his mind. Only then can he love his neighbour like himself.

Spiritual maturity is that agape love of God, so do you agape God and do you love your neighbour as yourself? When you study the word of God, it must produce in you a greater love for your neighbour or there is something wrong with your Bible study. A spiritually mature mind will love not just himself but others as himself.

When we talk about love we think of husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend. But love is a many splendored thing because it is love of the mind and heart. The agape love of God begins in the mind and not the heart. Go and think about it. Agape love is a love by choice. It does not flow from the heart. It starts from the mind. My feelings and the choice to love are different things.

The Christian Mind can only be renewed by the teaching of God's word and must not just be words in the head and the word of God experienced in your life. Only Christians can do what the world says is impossible because with God all things are possible. Only the children of God can say even though I don't like you I can love.

I encourage all of you to be thinking Christians and grow in maturity.