Beyond the Resurrection

Rev Ronald Ooi

We had a wonderful week last week and it's not the end because Jasmine got a call and someone asked that she wants to know Jesus more and the next day she had a call and led the person to the Lord. Hallelujah.

And yesterday at the youth, four or five of them were baptised in the Holy Spirit. And it's just the beginning. We believe that there's more to come because we believe this is just the beginning.

God is working in our midst. He's present. It's the meeting of God.

Beyond the cross is the resurrection. We see that today Easter is the term we use. And in Sunday School, we give out Easter eggs that symbolises new life. But it has changed to celebration of the holidays and the meaning of the resurrection is lost.

But it didn't end with the resurrection. The story continued.

Acts 1:5 (NKJV)

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Jesus appeared to more than 500 during the 40 days after the resurrection. He said in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit. And he goes on.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This was a promise he gave to the disciples. And we know in Acts, Peter stood up to explain the phenomena of those who spoke in a language they did not know. Jesus  already promised that these people would be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:11 (NKJV)

who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

And the angels said Jesus will come back. That is also a promise. So there are two promises. He will baptise them with the Holy Spirit and that he will come back again. So they waited and waited and waited for the promise.

The Holy Spirit is the one that empowers his church to do the work of God. He is the one that brings the results and the final result is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one that comes alongside us. He was there in the creation of the world and in the Old Testament and in the New Testament Jesus said the Holy Spirit came upon him to do mighty works.

And we are now in the church age, the dispensation where we see the works of the Holy Spirit. He empowers and governs our life. We will receive power. Not only power to be witnesses but also his rule over us. A higher way of living. And Jesus  knew the higher way of living is to allow the Holy Spirit to come and rule our life.

When God rule our life, we come into his kingdom and he's a living and righteous ruler. Let him come and rule your life.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit changed my life. I was an impossible teenager. It was impossible for my parents to change me but the Holy Spirit did. God pulled me into his presence. When we enter into the presence of God, he will draw us. He will bring people into his presence.

It's not just me. My friends who was difficult people came and changed their lives too. So I know God works in lives.

The Holy Spirit came upon them and changed them and at a drugged rehabilitation centre where I was involved in, even a medical doctor came to interview us on how we did it. And I just said we pray with them and had Bible study with them. He said huh? That’s the amazing power of God.

There is no short cuts. The disciples came and waited and waited and waited. We have to celebrate before God and wait and wait and wait.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is also to prepare us for the last days. As we see the world come into a time of war and uncertainty, we know that all these will happen but God is with us because he has given us the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, beyond the resurrection is also the birth of the church.

Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

I call this the modal church. It's meant to be a movement and not a monument. People are changed by the spirit of God and move on and not remain where they are. The church is meant to be a hospital.

I thought on Friday, Saturday and Sunday we got a glimpse of it. And I must commend the church because you prayed and you brought people up. There was a miscommunication with the speaker because he thought the Good Friday service was just a service and that the Healing and Miracle Rally was Saturday. It was wonderful when the church work together with God. We got a glimpse of it and I pray it's not just an event but it’s a lifestyle. Events are good corporately but as individuals it’s a lifestyle. And if you look at Acts 2, it’s a daily thing. We live our life according to Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 is where the church is meant to be a hospital. A hospital for sinners not a museum for saints. I like this.

1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

That’s why when we have new people we need to reach out. Sometimes a person needs to accept Jesus a few times. Sometimes we need to give them the opportunity. We should be focused on winning the lost for Jesus.

It is a God thing and not a good thing. It is more than just the good, it is the God movement. And that’s what the church is all about. A church where God's presence resides. Its not a club or association but the church is more than that. It is a God movement. An organised organism. The Holy Spirit is the one that guides us.

I was so excited when my wife got pregnant. We walked into the clinic and the doctor said your wife is pregnant and I was so excited. And the baby grew and like the church it’s a growing organism. The baby bump, I was wondering why it was out of shape. That’s because the baby was probing and you can see his elbow pushing and it’s a beautiful process when you see the baby moving. That’s good news because its alive. And if it stops moving that’s not good. So the church is always moving because God is alive. It’s a movement and not a monument. It’s the formation of a new community. Ecclesia or an assembly of God's people. Maybe that's why we are called the Assembly of God church. It’s a new community with a new purpose and a new way of living.

Not just a new community but a spirit filled community that reflects God's love to this world. One heart and one mind.

Acts 4:32-33 (NKJV)

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

One of the best things in life is to belong to a church. It's a journey. There was a time when I thought I would leave church. We are all imperfect but we are on the way to perfection. But what kept me in church is because Jesus loves the church. He died for the church. It is a journey and we grow to love the church.

That was why when I was WhatsApp-ed by Kenny to come here, I said I don't have to be here but I want to be here. Because I love the church of Jesus Christ. As much as we asked the people to give their money to the church, its not about the money. I ask you for your heart. The last thing I want is your heart. Its more important than your money. You will walk and plough with one another. The church is a beautiful organism. I will not exchange it for anything in the world.

Beyond the resurrection, the church grew but they had problems. One of the things is good governance. It is important that it does not stifle the work of God. The revival in the church can be sustained by good governance.

Acts 6:1-7 (NIV)

The Choosing of the Seven

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The problem was resolved by the appointment of deacons. I like that they chose the seven men who was among them. They are known to them. Men and women. And in Acts 6:6 they were commissioned. We need not just be leaders but be spiritual leaders. Nehemiah may be a leader in the secular position but he was a spiritual man.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (NIV)

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

It's a noble task. If you were a leader at that time you can expect to be persecuted or to be killed. It's a noble task, don't say no. If everybody says no, there'll be no one to lead the church. Somebody has to say yes. Someone that God has been working on will say yes. When we know the church who stand with us, we can say yes.

Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.