Ordinary Heroes

Sis Melinda Song

NOTE: This is the full text of the sermon which was cut short because of the cell huddle.

INTRODUCTION:

There’s a story about a city dweller who was visiting relatives on a farm and the farmer gave a whistle and his dog herded the cattle into the corral, then latched the gate with her paw. "Wow, that’s some dog. What’s her name?" The forgetful farmer thought a minute, then asked, "What do you call that red flower that smells good and has thorns on the stem?" "A rose?" "That’s it!" The farmer turned to his wife. "Hey Rose, what do we call this dog?"

My husband and I are getting to the stage where we it is possible for us to meet with people, have a meaningful conversation with them and yet not remember their names.

Names are important. We all like to be remembered and it makes us feel important when someone can call us by name. It has been quite an experience choosing a name for our grandson. So many names were considered and rejected because we want the best name for him.

Names also represent people whom God loves. In Isaiah 43:1, NKJV tells us that God calls us by name. There are a lot of names in our text today which is from Nehemiah chapter 3:1-16.

In Nehemiah 3 we find a whole long list of names. Many people skip over this chapter as they read through the book of Nehemiah because it reads like a Hebrew phone book and Nehemiah Chapter 3 is not often the subject of sermons.

There are many lists such as these in the Bible because God cares about individuals, caring enough to include individual names within His Holy Word.

Nehemiah 3 is a marvelous account of ordinary people who come together in order to accomplish an extraordinary work--the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. They are ordinary people from all walks of life who worked together for one purpose—the glory of God—and they became heroes of faith in the eyes of God.

The 12 disciples of Christ were just ordinary men--most of the 12 were not highly educated, nor were they extraordinary in their careers.

Acts 4:13 (NIV) When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Most of us are just ordinary people. Yet God calls ordinary people to Himself.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (NIV) Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

When ordinary people step out and follow God by faith--they become a transformed people who God takes and uses for His extraordinary purposes, they become heroes of faith. That is why I have entitled this message: “ORDINARY HEROES.”

Let me set the context for the listing of these names.
Nehemiah was the trusted cupbearer of King Artaxerxes. He received word of the terrible situation in Jerusalem and took up the cause to rebuild the walls of the city.

After arriving in Jerusalem he successfully inspired the people with a vision to complete the walls. He was able to do so because he established a link between what God was doing through him and what God was up to in history.

Nehemiah 2:17 (NIV) Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

Nehemiah demonstrated that God had been working behind the and that the people could be a part of something God has His hand on.

As we look into the chapter there are two things we have to keep in focus. First it is…

• The Purpose of the Work

Nehemiah pointed the people to the purpose of the work, which is for the glory of God. They weren’t just working on walls, they were worshipping their worthy God.

The purpose of all ministry, and really of life itself is the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Everything we do in life should be towards the relentless pursuit of God’s splendor.

In verse 1: "Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep gate.” Nehemiah’s list starts and ends at the Sheep Gate. It is another way of saying, "Put God first."

The Sheep gate provided easy access to the Temple, and was given this name because of all the sheep to be sacrificed entered through it. By beginning here, Nehemiah is establishing that their relationship with God was central. This was the most important place to start.

We must never make the mistake of focusing so much on the work or the ministry that we forget God Himself. God is not impressed with your labor. He wants your heart. That’s why worship must always precede work.

Besides the purpose of the work we should also consider…

• The People of the Work

Nehemiah was tracing the work in a counter-clockwise around the city of Jerusalem, and recording who did what work.

Notice how often the phrase “next to him” is repeated. Next to him so and so worked here and did this and next to him another person did that and next to him… “Next to him” is a key phrase in this passage

The Hebrew for “next” comes from the word “hand” so the words literally read “to the hand of him (or them)”. It is a picture of them joining hands next to each other in the work. It is a great picture of unity. Everybody was all in it together with a lot of mutual commitment and trust.

Unity is absolutely indispensable in the church. Our unity must be centered around a shared focus: the Kingdom of God. We join our hands in working for God’s glory.

Underline in your Bible every time you see the following phrases: "next to him," "next to them," “next section” "beyond him," and "beyond them," These expressions are recorded 28 times in this chapter! The biblical principle is this: every person is to be involved in ministry because everyone has a job to do.

This is a saying that I came across many years ago that has stuck in my mind: Without vision the people perish, but without people the vision perish! People working together can accomplish more than if just one person tried to do all the work.

Let me tell you a story. I have to read it out because it is so confusing.

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to do and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody would do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. (Source: Charles, Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip)

Another simple illustration on unity is snow. A single snowflake is among the most delicate, frail things we can see. But if enough of them stick together they can paralyze a city! There is tremendous power in cooperation. Someone once said that “snow is a beautiful demonstration of what God can do with a bunch of flakes!”

In Nehemiah Chapter 3, we find 6 principles that can help us work together, that will turn ordinary people to heroes.

1. ​Leaders must set the example.

It is fitting that the Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests (v. 1) should set the example, for God’s reputation was at stake.

There were also a number of references to rulers in this list (vv. 9, 12, 14-19). The leaders were taking the lead and setting an example for the rest.

Our leaders have been, and will continue to set the pace at TOP, whether it is for Harvest Mission, the Big Party or Christmas with the Community.

Unfortunately, Eliashib did not remain true to his calling and later partnered with the enemy to create some serious problems for Nehemiah in 13:4-9. This serves as a good reminder to us that it’s not as important how we begin a project, it’s how we finish that counts.

I would like to highlight Malkijah in verse 4: The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem.

The “Dung Gate” was the gate through which all the garbage and filth was taken. He was a member of the nobility yet he willingly worked in a terrible place suffering the stench from the valley of Hinnom below, where the garbage was dumped. What an example of humility!

2. ​God uses all kinds of people.

The Lord didn’t summon professional builders to rebuild the wall. Instead He used people from many professions and from many levels of social status carry out His work: priests (1, 22, 28); goldsmiths (8, 31, 32); perfume makers (8), Levites (17); temple servants (26); guard at the East Gate (29); merchants (32); rulers of half-districts or districts (9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19).

The people were from many places, too. Some were very local, and some had to travel a bit. The wall-builders were from Jericho, Gibeon, Jerusalem, Zanoah, Beth Zur, Keilah, Mizpah, and Tekoa.

God wants to use me and you. He just needed ordinary people who were willing to work.

Viggo Olsen, who helped rebuild ten thousand houses in war-raved Bangladesh in 1972, derived unexpected inspiration from reading a chapter ordinarily considered one of the least interesting in the Bible: ‘I was struck . . . that no expert builders were listed in the “Holy Land brigade.” There were priests, priests’ helpers, goldsmiths, perfume makers, and women, but no expert builders or carpenters were named.’” (Yamauchi)

The people were not trained for this kind of work. They had an easy excuse to not do anything, but they did not. They rebuilt the walls even though many would not think them qualified or able.The most important ability in the work of the Lord is availability.

There is also the beauty of a gift-based ministry where there was a place for everyone, and a job for everyone to do. As we use our gifts, we will be fruitful, we will be fulfilled, and the church will be fortified.

A word of caution on gift-based ministry: We are not to be involved in aimless activity in the church, with everyone doing his own thing. All are to work together for a common cause and vision as put together by the leaders of the Church.

3. ​Some people will not work.

Verse 5: "The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors."

Literally, the phrase, "would not put their shoulders to the work," is an agricultural imagery that describes a "stiff-necked" ox who refuses to be yoked. The real issue was pride and lack of submission.

Jeremiah 48:10 is a stinging rebuke to those of us who just sit back, and refuse to serve: "A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work." Those who are lax in the Lord’s work are not only subject to a curse, they are also missing out on one of the greatest privileges of all time, being involved in kingdom work.

Some of the happiest Christians are those who are serving in their area of giftedness. On the other hand, some of the grumpiest Christians are those who are not willing to put their shoulder to the work.

There are a lot of different reasons why people don't work. Sometimes people don’t know what to do. Or maybe they think that their work wouldn't matter much anyway. Maybe they don't know their gifts. See Pastor or the leaders and they will find you something to do.

4. ​Some do more work.

Just as there will always be some who are slack in their serving, at the same time, there will always be those who do more work than others.

In verse 5, the men of Tekoa finished their section of the wall, even though their nobles didn’t help out at all. In verse 27: "Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section…" The men of Binnui did the same thing in verses 18 and 24. Meshullam completed one part (verse 4) and then repaired an additional section (verse 30). After Meremoth had finished his assignment (verse 4), he worked on the wall in front of his neighbor’s house (verse 21).

There’s a tendency within most of us to finish the work we volunteered for and then stop but kingdom work is never finished. As long as there is work to be done in God’s kingdom, there’s work for you to do.

In Matthew 5:47, Jesus addresses each one of us when He asks a very good question, "…What are you doing more than others?" Brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others?

It was not just Jerusalem’s citizen’s who rebuilt the wall. People came from at least eight different places to help from up to a 15 mile to 20 mile radius to work on the wall. Volunteers came from Jericho (v2), Tekoa (v5), Gibeon (v 7), Mizpah (vv. 7, 15, 19), Zanoah (13), Beth Hakkerem (14), Beth Zur (16), and Keilah (17, 18).
 
It was of little direct benefit to them if Jerusalem’s walls were repaired yet they sacrificed their time and left their homes and families in order to for the service of the city and in the service of God. Through the centuries, the church has been built on those that have sacrificed and were even willing to work behind the scenes and beyond the call of duty.

For example, Bro Hooi did not just turn up to help at the Big Party. He made the effort to get to know the people and visited them regularly.

5. ​Some work with passion.

Nehemiah mentioned one guy who worked zealously. Look at verse 20: "Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section…"

The Hebrew word “zealously” means "to burn or glow" and suggests that Baruch was not just serving; he was on "fire."

In 4:6 we read that "the people worked with all their heart." Everyone was working hard, but Baruch stood out from the rest. We need people like him who will say, "I don’t really care what others are doing, I’m going to do my very best."

Just because you work willingly, does not mean you work with a glow. Right? Baruch represents those who smile while they work. They are like the seven dwarves who advocate that you “whistle while you work.” These people are a pleasure to serve with and around.

I remember Bro. Leow visiting my father when he was in hospital. Despite all the difficulties in finding a parking space at the GH, he would cheerfully turn up every day with a big smile to comfort and pray for my dad.

6. ​Some work as families.

The final principle from this great passage is that some people worked as families, either on a section in front of their home, or on another section away from their neighborhood.

In verse 3, the Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenah and in verse 12, the daughters of Shallum worked on the wall. As families, we have the opportunity to be used in our neighborhoods and in our community. Instead of just looking at what we can do as an individual, let us be creative in thinking of ways to include our entire family in the joyful task of kingdom building.

I am encouraged by Bro. KB Lai doing visitation with his whole family after the Christmas with the community.

Christmas offers a great opportunity for parents to open their home for their children to hold Christmas parties for their friends instead of them holding parties elsewhere.

As a church we are committed to make an impact in our city, in our state, in our country, and to the nations. But, it’s got to first begin at home.

Summary

If God’s work is going to get done, we’re called to cooperate with one another. We must keep the main thing the main thing by never forgetting that God’s glory is at stake.

In order to work well with others on a job that is much bigger than we are, at a task that demands everything we have, we need to recognize that:

Leaders must set the pace
God uses all kinds of people
Some will not work
Some will do more work
Some will work with passion
Some will work as families

To me, the most interesting part of Nehemiah chapter three’s wall-builder hall of fame is that Nehemiah does not mention himself. There was a Nehemiah mentioned, but it was someone else.

Hebrews 6:10 says, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

God will not forget what you do. The world probably will not notice. Wealth and acclaim are probably not the result when you do God’s work. It is doing the difficult and inglorious work that must be done which will likely not benefit us, nor be rewarded with earthly acclaim or financial benefit.

It is Jim Elliot leading a team of five missionary men into a jungle in Ecuador to reach a head-hunting tribe of primitive Indians, and in return winding up corpses on a sandbar with spears sticking out of their backs. But it is that same Jim Elliot proclaiming that “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

We need to remind ourselves that the greatest reward is to hear “well done, good and faithful servant¨ from our Lord. He calls us not to fame or comfort or self-promotion, but rather to join in the greatest work, His work.

And be sure of this: God knows. You might think, “Oh, what I’m doing isn’t particularly significant. I just do this little thing. Nobody notices or cares.” God cares and knows! Others may not see what you do to serve God; God does!

Conclusion

Nehemiah 4:6 (NIV) So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

These people in chapter 3 of Nehemiah were ordinary people who worked with all of their heart. They were totally committed to the Lord and His work.

Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NIV) So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Working together for God’s glory, they finished in 52 days what could not be done in almost 150 years. And in so doing ordinary people became ordinary heroes - Heroes of Faith!

You and I can do the same as well. Make yourselves available to God for His Glory. Do the work in unity and in love - and do it with all of your heart. And God will take and use your life that you will be a Hero of Faith in God’s eyes and an inspiration in the lives of others.

Verse 5, says the nobles of the Tekoites would not stoop down to serve. And yet our Lord Jesus, the noblest king of all, Creator of the universe…left His throne and His glory above to stoop down to earth to serve us.

Mark 10:45 says, “The son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”

He gave his life for you so that you might be redeemed and brought into the family of God and experience the goodness of being a part of his church.

Here’s how Peter described that experience and I can’t help but think he may have had Nehemiah chapter 3 in mind when he wrote this. I close with his words, “you yourselves (are) like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Let’s pray.

Giving

Rev Gideon Lee

Today I am going to talk to you about a controversial topic, a difficult topic for pastors to preach to their congregation, a topic that can cause us to loose members.

Mark 12:41-44
The Widow’s Offering
12: 41- 44pp – Lk 21: 1- 4
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.”

She put in everything. Today, your Pastor wants you to give everything.

As I said earlier on, when we talk about money, it is controversial topic and at best sensitive. It is not because money is difficult to talk about but because Pastors are paid by the church, so there is vested interest.

But just because it is difficult does not mean it should not be talked about. That would be sad because it is in the bible and for Jesus, one in every three sermon is about money.

So today I am going to talk about money.

Notice here, Jesus sat himself in front where people were bringing in money. At that time, people do not mind being seeing how much is being given.

There is this pastor who followed the offering bag when it was being collected. And he would know how much each member gave. And he told them, as much as I know how much you gave, I want you to know God knows how much you have.

At that time, they dropped their money into the treasury box placed at the front. And at that time there were no notes, it was coins and how much you dropped in can be heard.

And this woman dropped in two copper coins. And Jesus said she gave more than all the others. When we read this we do not see the emotion. This widow when she dropped in the two coins, Jesus must have sounded out to his discipled with excitement.

Jesus commend this woman for her two cents. Because first and foremost she gave out of her poverty. I am going to talk about why we do what we do. It's the motivation. What motivated this woman to give?

Why we give? Why we do what we do? This is important. Right motive is important.

First motivation is we have to first give of ourselves.

First we give ourself then we put in our resources. But often we do it the other way around. We put the cart before the horse. We put in our resources before we give of ourselves.

I have nothing against the rich. But here is a story where there was this rich man that gave little to the church. 

There was a very wealthy man who had never been known for his generosity to the church. The church was involved in a big financial program and they resolved to pay him a visit. When the committee met with the man one afternoon, they said that in view of his considerable resources they were sure that he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program.

"I see," he said, "so you have it all figured out have you.? In the course of your investigation did you discover that I have a widowed mother who has no other means of support but me." No, they responded, they did not know that. "Did you know that I have a sister who was left by a drunken husband with five children and no means to provide for them" No, they said, we did not know that either. "Well, sir, did you know also that I have a brother who is cripple due to an automobile accident and can never work another day to support his wife and family." Embarrassingly, they responded, no sir, we did not know that either. Well, he thundered triumphantly, I've never given any of them a cent so why should I give anything to you."

He had never given of himself therefore he never gave of his resources. Giving is an outgrowth. It is the inevitable result of the warmed heart. As we surrender ourselves to God and to loving our neighbor then we will want to give not only ourselves but our goods to him and to his church. We have put the cart before the horse. We say in the church: I give, therefore I am a Christian. Friends, it's just the reverse. It is because I am a follower of Christ that I give.

See this man did not give of himself. Our firstly motivation is we must give of ourselves. Is your life your own or God's?

Second, the bible says where your treasure is there is your heart. If God has your heart no problem with him having your money.

You know during baptism, we get into the pool and get baptised but we take our wallet out before going in. So looks like we come out a new creation but not our wallet. Maybe we should be baptised together with our wallets.

Third, when we talk about giving, it is not only about money. I am also talking about your time. Stewardship includes your time. You know when Wednesday comes so difficult to come for prayer meeting. How strange it is if the thing is important enough to you, you will make the schedule to go. It's just about priority.

When a baby comes out, you will likely forget everything. When you first hold the baby, all the labour pains and suffering just vanishes. And the baby, everyone will say so cute. And even when he poop in his pants, it's still cute. But can you imagine when he is all grown up and still do that it's no longer cute.

We cannot be spiritual babies all the time. We have to mature. And as you begin to serve, you have to draw from God and that's when you mature. From receiving, you begin to give.

I want to tell you the big party is a big opportunity to serve. We are there to serve the community. We are not there to eat or to spend our time but to serve because these people are closest to the heart of Jesus. And don't say you are too old. There is no retirement in God's kingdom. Only promotion, no demotion.

What is your motivation about giving? Even about tithing. Some people come and tell me, "do we have to give 10%?" If you ask me I say 100%. If you are earning 500.00 you may think it's easy to give your tithes. Only 50.00. But when you earn 10,000 or 20,000 you will be tithing 2,000.00. That's a lot of money and you think it is hard to give.

What is your motivation? In every service when the offering bag is being passed around I make it a point to give. How often, we look into our wallet and see we have no small change or we take the smallest note to give?

What is your motivation? God don't need your money. There was a time when I had only 50.00 in my wallet and the offering bag was coming. I asked God whether I can "hutang" and give next week. But God convicted me. I hear God said, am I not worth 50.00? I was so convicted and repented. The good thing is, after church someone provided for my lunch. God is good.

I want to give because it makes God happy. God loves a cheerful giver. We should give because we want to. Too often we give because of a need. Let's just give because God deserves it, not just because of a need. We give beyond the need because we are so grateful to God. It is the outflow of who we are.

The widow when she gave, Jesus said she gave more than all the rest put together.

Another thing is we often give because God will bless you with more. If that is the case then our giving is like an investment. Yes, God will bless but there must be a right motive.

I want to tell you a real story. I went to visit a widow and spent time talking and praying with her. Just as I was leaving, she said wait and went to the kitchen to look for an Ang Pow packet. Then she took out 50.00 to put into the Ang Pow. I told myself I will not take from her as she is a widow.

I am very careful when receiving love offering. I mean sometimes when I speak in a church and receive offering, I sometimes give it back because the church is so poor.

When the widow gave me I said no. No drama. Then God spoke to me and said Gideon, the money is not for you but for her. I ask God "what? but she is giving to me." And God said it is for her. If you do not take from her I cannot bless her.

Let's give from our heart. I am very proud of TOP because I can see how you give. What about your time? Come to me and I'll find you a place to serve. Or you may say you are too old. Come and see me, I'll find a place for you to serve. If God can use Caleb, you are never too old. Or too young. I like this. Come to me, I'll wait for your to grow up.

There was this pastor who approached a young man to serve God. But he said "oh Pastor, let me focus on my studies first, then I will serve God." After he finished his studies, the pastor approached him again, but he said, "oh, I have to go out to work to earn a living so maybe later." Then when he has a steady career and income, the pastor again approached him to serve. "Oh, now is not a good time pastor, I am getting married and raising a family, maybe later after my children grow up, I will have more time."

Before long, all his children have grown up and he is now free of his responsibilities in raising his children. The pastor thought this is a good time to ask him again. But he said, "no pastor, this is the time in my life when I want to enjoy my life and reap the rewards of my labour. Maybe after I have traveled and see the world, then I will serve God." But at the end of the day, the man is now too old and too feeble to serve God. It is has become too late.

Note: I did not get to finish the actual transcription of the story above but you get the idea.
So friends, the moral of the story is this. I think it is okay to do all those things, but as you are doing that, are you serving God where God has placed you? Will you serve him?

Water Baptism

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

There is a water baptism in December and pastor has asked me to share on water baptism.

I am taking this message from the books of Acts and decided to look at it in a narrative way.

There will be real stories and some of you may not realize the issues and difficulties in water baptism until you hear them in real life.

I have four stories.

The first encounter was in 1994. My father accepted the Lord and at that time he said this: "I want to get baptized but I need to settle some things first." He was a religious man.

I told him no issue. So what's the issue? Does a man who accepted the Lord have to be baptised immediately?

The second incident, I have a cell member who came to me. The wife just accepted the Lord and growing. The husband said he has been a Christian for a long time. After half a year, I asked if he wanted to be baptised. And he said it was not important at that time. Later, over the phone I asked him would he like to be baptised this time around. He said it was not necessary for salvation, so he is not interested.

So the second issue, if baptism is not necessary for salvation, why baptised?

The third was in church where I was fellowshiping with one of the cell leaders and he said until they are baptized, we are not sure if they are saved.

Then this year, someone asked me about something to do with the big party. He asked how do we do baptism? He said some of them were baptised years ago but when he died he wanted his children to do the "Tong Tong Chiang". He don't want Chee Keong to sing. Haha...I already got permission from Bro Chee Keong about this (laughs).

I have raised four issues concerning baptism. And the question is who is to be baptised, when to be baptised and why do people get baptised? I won't talk about how to be baptised. The bible says full immersion so we won't talk about that.

I have this four real life stories. How I learn have always been like that, when people ask me questions. I go buy books and find answers to them. That's how I learn.

Acts 8:34-38 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

The passage before verse 34, verse 32-33 was taken from Isaiah. Who is this eunuch? The technical word is someone who has emasculate himself. The word eunuch is a common term used for a high official. This person talks to Phillip. He was ministering up North and he was called by God to move down south. Here we know he was most likely a god fearing gentile that subscribe to Judaism.

Those people at that time can be very committed. And they had the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

This passage made sense to the eunuch and he believed. This is when Phillip talked to him about Jesus and he believed. Verse 37 tells us very clearly that he became a believer. And he asked to be baptised.

1. Who are candidates for baptism?

The candidate must first and foremost be a believer.

2. When should the believer be baptised?

It was just a short time after he believed. Phillip didn't ask him, he asked Phillip. So when? As soon as possible. But you must understand that is a loaded question. He understood Judaism. He knew he should be baptised. And it is him who wants to be baptised. We are to teach what baptism is all about but the person is the one who must say he wants to be baptised, unless it is a logistic problem. Like if the person come midnight and ask for baptism, you may only have a small bathtub and may need more time to find a suitable place.

The passage tells us that it is a full immersion baptism. Why do we in church teach about baptism?

Romans 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Here we have the full teaching of water baptism. Roman 6 is the beginning of Paul's teaching on sanctification. And here appropriately, he begins with baptism, which is not by accident.

Baptism is a symbolism of us being united with Christ in His death. We go down as in we die to our old self. I checked with a commentary as I have to be very careful here. Jesus' death becomes our death. One key word in our Christian word is "in Christ". It is in Christ that we become a new man, it is in Christ that we become a saint. There is some form of union. And it begins when we become a believer in Christ. And the agent is when our spirit is regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

If you are saved and have accepted Christ and if you do not get baptised, you are saved but the baptism makes your identification with Christ vivid. It's a public profession of your faith in Christ.

You identify with Christ in his death when the pastor immersed you and you coming out of the water, you identify with his resurrection. This is a symbolism. An identification. Is such an identification important? This is a key question.

We have two ordinances. The Roman Catholic Church uses sacrament. We don't use that. Because they use the sacrament as tied to your salvation. Where else we use ordinances as an expression of you being already saved.

Why ordinances like that? No matter how close you are to God, you are finite, he is infinite. We need a symbol to make a connection because we are dealing with a transcendence God.

You will find that early on in the church, a profession of faith is easy to say. Not easy to do. Walk your talk. NATO (No Action Talk Only). Right from Judaism to Christianity, there is a place to make a public declaration of your faith. Here is where the baptism comes in. Jesus is the head of the body and when you have baptism you come into the fellowship of the body.

What is in your mind when you are baptized? Some people tell you when you are sick you pray for healing, you go in and come out healed. If you read Romans it has nothing to do with that.

It is the gospel call preached, accepted and actualised. And you are identifying with that. This is what your focus should be. Can God heal during the baptism? Yes. In God's presence it can happen but that is not the purpose and focus of baptism.

If you go into baptism without knowing that identification with Jesus, then you have missed out. In this you become incorporated into the body.

The next part I want to ask this question.

Is baptism necessary for salvation? The answer is NO. But salvation is necessary for baptism. Here I have to be very careful. I walk a tight rope. Baptism is not necessary for salvation but is necessary. That is a safe statement.

I give you one instance in the bible. The criminal on the cross. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

I like this, it answers a lot of theological questions. Today you will be with me in paradise. Saved? Yes. Baptized? No. He believed. Not baptized. He is in heaven.

This story was 7-8 years back. He was telling me he is doing bible study. I said very good. Which church I asked. What have they been teaching you? Oh, he said he has to be baptized in that church to be saved. I told him to come see me. My friend was being taught: baptism is necessary for salvation. Which is quite okay. But only if he is baptized in this church. That's not. I asked how many members in his church? He said about 60. I said only 60 will go to heaven in Penang? He said ya, don't make sense right?

Look at the following;

Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Is there a mention of water baptism in these two verses?

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, “ Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

There are no mention on water baptism in all these verses. Check the sinner's prayer. It is believing in Jesus and repentance of sin. No baptism mentioned. That is salvation.

Back to the four stories.

My father. He told me he wants to be baptized but give him some time. My father is saved. Very important. He has the desire to be baptized. My aunties were not happy my father accepted the Lord. The contention is my father is not baptized so how can he have a Christian funeral. They are saying he is not saved. But praised the Lord, some time back my father told this influential auntie that he is a believer. He told her that he believe Jesus is the one true God.

This auntie came to me and told me it is good that you young people believe but let the old believe what they believe. Usually, me being me, I would be very polite and just avoid the issue. But this time, I don't know why but I was very firm.

I told her my father wants to believe is because he himself wants to believe because he do not want to go to hell. I told her if he dies a Christian I will bear witness that his soul going to heaven. I told her if you do not believe and deny him a Christian funeral, then you bear witness that his soul will be in heaven. She quickly said cannot cannot. Probably she's afraid my father's spirit will come back to visit her (laughs).

The second story, this person do not have the desire to be baptized. A person who is regenerated, he will have a lot of desire for that which is godly. That is why we say a tree is known by its fruit. So if a person do not desire to be baptized, is he regenerated or saved? There is a question mark. I am not saying baptism is necessary for salvation. But I must say baptism is the fruit of your salvation. If a person is not baptised after many years, the issue is that, at best he is a baby in Christ and at worst he is not saved.

In case number 3, baptism is not necessary for salvation, it is already answered.

And the one about "tong tong chiang" funeral at the Hokkien service, we must be careful not to coerced a person into baptism. It must come from the person.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Here is the first thing a young believer must do. It is a first commandment given. Make disciple and then baptism. It is an obedience to a commandment.

And here is a perfect example.

Matthew 3:13-16
John Baptizes Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “ Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

Jesus himself was baptized. How much more us.

And to end with my own example. In my heart I wanted to be baptized but in my early Christian understanding is that, if I baptized no one will take my father's "Tong Huan". I told my father, my two brothers were already baptized and I told my father they "bo akai", don't think. I told my father I will do the right thing. And my father was so proud of his youngest son, who seemed wiser.

But the conviction came and in Dec 1993 as I was marking papers there was a still small voice, go get baptized. Until I put down all my papers and I said Lord, I cannot get baptized because of my father. Settled. The Lord left me alone.

Then I went to church and when I saw Sis Sandy, I wanted to say good morning but the words that came out was "I want to be baptized". "Tong Huan" went down the "Tong Sampah", rubbish bin. I asked whether I can be baptized now. But she said now cannot. But after a while she said wait, she try check with pastor. But after a while she said why not in two weeks as the church has a baptism session. I was baptized at Swimwell. I had that strong desire.

I want to end on a good note. When I was baptized I told the Lord, if I take that step of faith, I don't want my cousin to carry the "Tong Huan" for my father. But praise the Lord, my father accepted the Lord. The commandment of the Lord is not burdensome.

Acts 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Baptism is a joy. If you cannot catch that, you have missed it. After Swimwell I was full of the Spirit. I want to impart this to you, if you are a believer, make a public acknowledgment of your faith by taking baptism and it will be a joy.

God has you covered

Rev Gideon Lee

We want to pray for all those that are taking their SPM. I believe all our young in TOP do well, not just in their studies but in life. And parents, you all play a very important role. 

Isaiah 59
Sin, Confession and Redemption
1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
5 They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.
6 Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
7 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways.
8 The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace.
9 So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.
11 We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away.
12 For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
18 According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.
19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent- up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.
20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.
21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 60:1-5
The Glory of Zion
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.
5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

I want to give you a little background on the book of Isaiah before we go to chapter 59. Chapter 60 starts on a very encouraging note and verse 61, 62 and it is like that from that chapter onwards. But to appreciate the blessings that is going to come you have to understand chapter 59.

The book of Isaiah is written by who? Isaiah. What does Isaiah mean? It means the Lord saves or the Lord is our salvation. Isaiah is a prophet.

Remember what did Pastor Clement says about a prophet? He comes to tell you what to do, he is the index finger that points the direction. Isaiah is such a prophet.

Firstly, he gave a message for the people there at that time. Secondly, in the message is also about something that is going to happen in the future. And third is that the message the prophet have was not just for the people at that time but is also for us today. That is why we are reading it. If not it is just history and have no relevance to us.

Here in verse 1, he sets the tone, the preamble. Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

This is the first thing he wanted them to know. That his hand is not too short that he cannot save. That it is not impossible, without a shadow of a doubt he can save.

He is not like a dinosaur like the T-Rex with short hands though he is powerful. His ears are not deaf that he cannot hear your cry. This is a very good reason why we pray. That is because God hears our prayers. Then he goes on to what's happening. If you read this passage, it sound depressing right? That's why I ended with arise shine! That's more positive right?

Some of the situation sounds like what we were in, walking and groping in darkness. Not only were we walking in spiritual darkness but that it was our own doing. We were like that before we were saved.

Isaiah is saying we choose to walk away from God but he also said here's how you get out of darkness. By taking responsibility. That we turn from our sin. That was what we did when we first came to God right?

How often we will solve a lot of problems in a relationship if we know how to admit our wrong. How many marriages will be saved. That's what God wants from us. Total surrender.

That was why Isaiah was saying to the people and to us as well.

Isaiah 59:19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent- up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.

I love this verse. How many of you have seen a sunrise? Or how many of you have climbed Mount Kinabalu? I have not and would like to do that one day, by helicopter (laughs). They wake you up at 2.00 am and trek up to the peak to catch the sunrise. And they tell me it's beautiful. It's cold and dark and wet and just as the sun pierce the darkness and slowly but surely you see the sun rising up. I have not been there but I am telling you this (laughs). The bible says that's what it's like, his glory is like the rising sun.

This verse proofed to be quite controversial. In those days there were no comma or verse or chapter. It was a problem for the scholars where to put the comma.

When the enemy comes in, like a flood God will raise up a standard. Or when the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise up a standard.

The floods come in silence to places when you least expect. That was how some problems come to us right? But I am not bothered where the comma is because I like the end of the verse, God will raise up a standard. A banner. I like that.

In the old Chinese movies, how often you see two opposing armies charge at each other. And who goes first? The flag bearers.

Isaiah is saying that when the enemy comes in like a flood, like a tsunami that will overwhelm you, like this is the end for you, that is when before anything happens, the Holy Spirit is fighting on your behalf. He raises up a standard, his banner. I would rather have God on my side than the strongest man. He's got your back, he's got you covered. That's the title of this message. God has got you covered.

As a child of God, the Holy Spirit is fighting on your behalf.

Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

The redeemer is coming to the saved ones. You and me. Who is the redeemer?

Rev 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty- four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

This is a picture of our savior, our redeemer. The person who can redeem you has to be a kinsman. That was what Jesus did for us. Only Jesus can open the scroll who was worthy enough to do it. Jesus was your kinsman redeemer. If he did not withhold his life for you, don't you think he will withhold anything good from you? We have the Holy Spirit and Jesus, our kinsman redeemer on our side.

Isaiah 59:21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Not only do we have the Holy Spirit and Jesus on our side, we also have his covenant, his word. God has given us the assurance of his word.

So many times, we look at our problems and it looks so big. But have you considered who's covering your back? You've got the Holy Spirit, the kinsman redeemer and the covenant of his word.

We have a tag team on our side, like wrestling. I would go into any ring, any battle with my Jesus. So lets arise and shine. That's going to be our theme. So TOP, lets arise and shine. 

Five Fold Ministry

Rev Clement Wong

Tabernacle of Praise's 34th Anniversary (Combined Service)

Good morning. I want to congratulate the church for 34 years of existence. God has been faithful. My question is have the church been faithful to God?

One day there was a church that went into a big church building project. The committee said to the congregation, we have good news and bad news. So they asked, what's the good news? The good news is that we have the money already. So they asked, what's the bad news? The bad news is that the money is in your pocket.

A church with a vision plans for the future. We must see beyond our lifetime. We must plan the church for our future generation.

But I see a huge problem in church. Many children are physically taller than their parents but is spiritually shorter. We have to build a generation that is strong in the Lord after we have gone to heaven. Our children, or grand children or great grand children.

So lets turn to your iPhone or for some your Samseng phone to Ephesians. (laughs)

Ephesians 4:11-16
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— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

This passage of scripture is what I call a very heavy passage. Full of words and much about the church. I will try to dissect it and help you understand what it means for the church.

That's why I am happy for the announcement where you all are working hard for the Christmas with the community event.

I believe the church is not build for the believers but for the world.

But in verse 11, we sometimes call this the five fold ministry. The Lord has given to the church the five fold ministry. They are offices given to the church.

It is easy to understand and remember. We have five fingers or for some who is more specific, four fingers and one thumb.

The first, your thumb is for the Apostles. He builds the foundation of the church. So the thumb is very important for the hand. You need it to write or even to use a spoon. If you try to break an egg with four fingers is very difficult without your thumb.

Then we have the Prophet. The index finger which we use for pointing. Who points the finger and say "Thus saith the Lord". He give directions from the Lord.

Next, your middle finger is the Evangelist. The evangelist is the tallest one and he stands out. They go town to town and cause a whirlwind and the pastors have to clean up.

Then we have the Pastor who is the ring finger. He marries you and he buries you.

And the last one, your little finger is the Teacher. What he says goes into your ears (sticks finger into ear).

They're a gift to the church. When I stand before my church, I always see myself as a gift to my church. You may say "Wah pastor so proud" but it's not me who says this but the bible says.

The five fold ministry is a gift to the church. Because of this, I feel a heavy responsibility. I feel the call of God in my life. I believe we cannot employ the five fold because he's a gift.

But you may say, "but pastor we pay you wat". But I always say you can never give me enough. Because I am a gift. But they say "if you are a gift then free lo". I've got smart church members. You can never hire a five fold ministry. You can never hire and fire. Some of you think you can and do it and you face the judgement of God. I say if you're not happy with me, tell my boss. It is wiser to fear God than men.

I am reminded that when I answered God, I remember God said it is He that called me and not man. When it is man that call me, then it is easy to give up. Have I tried to throw in the towel and give up? Yes, in all sizes and colours. If it is God that called me I will not give up.

If you want to be a strong church, love the gift that God gave you.

I tell my church you can never pay me enough. You can give me as much as you want but my reward comes from God. My pay is out of this world. (laughs)

Why did God give us His gift? Are we perfect? No. Are you perfect? No. If I am perfect, I wouldn't want my congregation. If my church members are perfect, they wouldn't want me. We are all sinners saved by grace. Anyone goes to heaven because he is handsome? If anyone qualify its me. (laughs)

Why? For the equipping of the saints. As like in a military to train you to put weapon in your hands and show you how to fight. To equip us for the work of the ministry. I realize that as a pastor my work is not to do the ministry but to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. Who? Turn to your neighbour and said YOU. Who does visiting the sick in the hospital? Oh, we employ the pastor to do visitation. Who does the counseling? Oh we pay the pastor do that. Who pray for the needy? Oh we pay another pastor to pray. So what do we do? We go out and make money and eat 10%.

I see some churches, not TOP of course (laughs), it is like in a stadium. 22 players playing and 50,000 commentators. This is a problem with some churches, not TOP.

But the scripture say God gave the five fold ministry to equip you to do the work of the ministry. You lay hands on the sick, you go visitation, you share with the unbelievers. What does the pastor do? The pastor train you.

I am glad there are cell leaders. Cell leaders are like shepherds. You may say "wah Pastor I have 10 members and already so stressed. I don't know how you can handle hundreds of members." You need to be trained. You must be willing to be trained.

When you are in boot camp you don't ask why. This is the problem with the "Y" generation. Everything they ask why. You are trained to obey. You don't ask why. When the captain say jump, you say how high. When he says run, you ask how fast.

You don't ask why because at the battlefield bullets fly in all directions. When the sergeant say "hit the deck", you don't ask why. You hit the deck. Otherwise you hit the deck backwards. Then the sergeant will tell you "that's why la". (laughs)

God has given us the five fold ministry to equip us. Let's be obedient. If everyone of us do the work of the ministry, can you imagine how fast the church will grow. We are like the football spectators. We just complain. It is easy to complain but not easy to do it. You think it's easy to score a goal in front of an open goal? It is not easy.

So we want to tell our pastor to train us. To do the work of the ministry, to edify the body. Unless the saints do the work of the ministry we cannot edify the body. I used to almost visit everybody. It is impossible to visit everybody now. There's just no time. I cannot do everything. But we have others doing it.

A lot of people like to just talk. Don't just talk. If you want to talk talk to the right people.

Till we all come to the unity of the faith. When the body of Christ is being edified, then there is true unity in the church. The church cannot mature if we only want to employ somebody to do the work.

Look at the scripture. When everybody serves God, everyone is edified and there is true unity. There are too many babies in church. They don't do anything. They only complain. Some people after 20 years still ask "why nobody visit me?" Hello?!! You should be visiting others. Then the church will never grow. We are suppose to mature in Christ. And you can never mature if you don't serve. We need to grow up.

When you serve God in the ministry we will all come to the unity of the faith. The five fold that God gave to us is to mature the body of Christ. So the church must grow up. So that all of us can be a powerful force, all to be like Christ, no longer like children. When we grow up we will reproduce. When the church grows, we will need more pastors to equip the saints.

No prayer pastor, no visitation pastor. All of us should be doing that. If I visit you, then very serious already.

Can you imagine if all of us do visitation, how many is being reached? If half of you do discipleship, how many will be discipled? I still do visitation but rarely. I have leaders who do that.

We will jump a few verses. Verse 15, Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

The truth will help us grow. We may not like it but it will set us free.

Verse 16, how does the church work? Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The scripture says, the body is joined together and strengthened when everyone work together. The body can only be strengthened when everybody does their share. So in your anniversary, you need to ask yourself, what part do you play? Is it worship, music, multimedia, cleanliness of the church, usher, or the cell or even cooking? My mother used to cook and everybody loves her cooking and come just for that. And through that, she got many of her friends saved.

Another one of my member love coffee and he is a coffee connoisseur. He has many coffee making machine and many just want to go to his home because o that. And they got saved.

What can you do? Not what you cannot do. Many times you only think of what you cannot do. Some people want to sing when they can't. Want to try, don't try. You torture the congregation.

Can you drive someone to church? "Pastor out of the way la." There is no greater joy than to bring someone to church. Even if it is out of the way.

The sweetest words to our pastor is "Pastor what can I do for the church? Where you lead me I will follow, what you feed me I will swallow." (hilarious laughter)

I have been to many churches and in every church there is a unique person. There was this church where every service there is this elderly women that would come to the front of the church to dance. (Pastor Clement dancing to illustrate - laughs). So what? She has been rejected by many churches. Let her be accepted and loved. I see this church and I say they have matured. Let us all grow up.

Note from the transcriber: This is one of the most difficult sermon to transcribe because it is interrupted by too many laughter. Shaking hands not good on the iPhone's keyboard ;-)

The Church Board together with Pastor Gideon and the Anniversary cake.

And here they are ready to cut the cake.

The lighted candles showing 34 Years of God's faithfulness to TOP.

And here is a poem composed by by Bro Terence Low for the occasion.

TABERNACLE OF PRAISE (TOP)

Your Community Friend

Tabernacle of Praise

34 years of God’s amazing Grace

Tabernacle of Praise

JESUS CHRIST is LORD of this Place

Tabernacle of Praise

Lifting God high in worship and praise

God has placed TOP above and at the top

TOP stays top, praises go on non stop

God is faithful throughout the years

He saw our weaknesses and fears

He felt our sweat and tears

All our cries and prayers, He hears

We prayed fervently at PPN

We need to enlarge and extend TOP’s tent

To take up 3^rd floor and no more paying rent

God heard and His Kingdom will expand

The Spirit of the Lord has anointed TOP 

To preach the gospel to the poor and needy

Healing the sick and the brokenhearted

Setting the oppressed and captives free

3^rd year of TOP’s Christmas with the Community

Touching lives with God’s love and mercy

To bring them joy, hope and charity

To love and to serve the needy unconditionally

We trust God for wisdom and direction

We will work and serve together in unison

Caring and sharing with one heart and one mission

Laboring in humility for one goal and one vision

TOP’s Christmas with the Community

Hee hee ha ha anyone who comes will be happy

Got so many kinds of food, so ho chiak and so tasty

Char mee, kueh and TOP’s famous baked cookies 

TOP’s Christmas with the Community

Full of uncles, aunties and kiddies

Lots of fun games, prizes, goodies and freebies

TOP would not miss such evangelistic opportunities

Free haircuts, health checks, songs and talks

Exciting programs, activities, stalls for all walks

May each visitor feel God’s compassion and love

May everyone experience a special touch from above

We declare that JESUS is LORD over Jelutong

With God’s whole armor TOP is battle strong 

Harvesting souls with victories after victories

JESUS’ name is lifted high in the community 

LPN Vision

Pastor Albert Tan

LPN (Love Penang Network) Partnership Facilitator

I am very pleased to come and share with you the LPN Vision. We had a half day program at PCC two years ago to share the vision. That was shared by the pastors but now we want to go to the grassroots level which is all of you Christians.

We are going to show you two video clips.

The first are the views from the pastors with regards to the vision of LPN and how all these churches are partners to fulfill this vision. 

The next video is a collage of some of the work by LPN including some fund raising project and how LPN was started.

Then I am going to share with you the outline of our vision.

I have been traveling to the different LPN churches to share this vision. But now we realize that we cannot impact Penang the way we have been doing it.

I am going to show you the seven spheres were we can have influence and here we need you, the Christians at grassroots level to be discipled.

The Mission that compels us. 

We sense there was a unity amongst the 7 churches so the pastors looked at "intentional discipling". The pastors are looking at discipling a specific kind of Christian. We talked amongst ourselves and felt that we need a world Christian. Not a worldly Christian but a world Christian. A world Christian is very different from a worldly Christian. A Christian that sees and have the finishing line in mind. That before Jesus comes back, every people group must know Jesus. Some in this nation is not yet reached. We want to disciple Christians who will be involved in the great commission.

Christians are amongst those that have the biggest resources. And it is sad that these resources are inward by nature. We buy more houses and store up more money. We want to disciple Christians who know how to invest this resources into God's kingdom.

We want these to not just be discipled but to also disciple others. Not from the church but from bringing in unbelievers and disciple and produce Christians who will impact the world and transform our city.

We have 5% Christians (10% in Malaysia but that's mainly in East Malaysia) and if they are not world Christians then our impact will be limited. We have Christians everywhere, as businessmen, teachers, in politics, in the government etc and these Christians are in places of influence.

How many of you have been a Christian for more than 20 years? And how many of these have a younger Christian being discipled by you? Teaching them the ropes of being a Christian? Everywhere I go there is hardly any. We expect the church to do that. More bible studies. But that is only the giving and feeding of information.

We want to start planting churches. We need to bring in unbelievers and not just reach Christians. That is like taking a fish from one aquarium and putting it into another. We need churches that is local where people don't have to travel across the island to attend. We have different churches in different places with different languages.

We have to plant churches. How many? Unlimited. We want to saturate the city with churches where we can impact the city much more. We are planting into every area a lighthouse that can be a place for the lost in this city. Even if it is a group of 40 or 50, we are happy because number is not everything as long as the Christian is being discipled well. Not every church is a 1,000 strong congregation church.

When we plant churches where the leaders have to be implanted with the DNA that we are wanting to plant more churches. The speed of expansion is going to be dramatic when we do it this way. LPN event is open to all of us so you can see how some of these churches are doing their church planting.

Jesus wants us as believers to serve together. We want to network you. We want you to meet up with other Christians in the city within the same sphere. That way we can have better impact in the city.

When we do community service we are only doing the trimming of the leaves. We are not treating the root issues. Why are there so much hurts, so many broken homes? There need to be addressed bigger issues at policy level that is not being voiced. This is what we call structural evil that needs to be looked at. Unless structural laws are set in placed, the suffering will continue, like those of the migrant workers. Where some are even oppressed by Christian business owners. God looks at injustice with anger. He came for the oppressed and the poor and the marginalized.

But we cannot do this as one church. You may not even be able to fully reach Jelutong much less Penang. We have to do it together through the seven spheres.

The great commission involves shaping the culture of the city. God wants the city to have what we call His shalom peace. These seven spheres are influences that can shape the city's culture. All seven spheres are involved.

We have to reach the unreached people group. The rural urbanization is happening now because people are moving out to the city. 70% of the population is going to be in the city. That is why it is important to reach the migrant workers.

I am going to give all of you a form where you can tick two areas where you want to be involved with the spheres. Not more than two. It is usually an area of your work but not limited to it. We will want to pool all of you within the same sphere to come together and brainstorm how you can better impact Penang through your sphere.

Here are the PowerPoint presentation by Pastor Albert

Living Sacrifice

 Pastor Gideon Lee

We want to collect this morning a special offering for NECF as announced last week. The money you have saved during the prayer and fasting month will be sowed into the kingdom of God. And next week we will announce the amount collected.

Romans 12:1-2
Living Sacrifices to God
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.

What is happening here is a conclusion of the discourse that has been going on since chapter one. That's why he started with the word therefore. A term lawyers use to conclude their case.

I want you to note this that God's will is good perfect and pleasing.

These two verses as you have read them in there are two words that stands out "living sacrifices". The next word is "do not conform to the pattern of this world" and it did not stop there but continued with a comma "be transformed by the renewing of your mind". You can only do the transforming without the conforming. And the last thing is that God's will is good for us pleasing and perfect.

The book of Romans is written by Paul and if you know the history Paul wrote this when he has not been to Rome. His desire is to get a chance to go to Rome to preach there before the end of his life. Back in those time Rome is the centre of the world. He wrote this letter to prepare the people that he is coming.

Secondly he also wrote to correct some wrong doctrines. One of them is that the Jews that became Christians had problems with the Gentiles. They were still doing what was required by the Torah. He wanted to unite the Jewish and the Gentile Christians. There are a lot of fundamental doctrines being discussed.

And now at chapter 12 he is moving from the theological to the practical aspects of Christian life. From revelation to responsibility. How we are going to lead our life. From doctrinal to application.

Paul used a known analogy here. In the OT you bring animals to be sacrificed and the priest will first and foremost examine your sacrifice. You cannot bring a blind lamb or one with three legs. They need to be perfect. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice in every way.

We in nature give leftovers to God. Let's be honest with ourselves. "If I have the time if I have the extra money I'll give to God".

But to bring the perfect sacrifice the lamb needs to be killed and blood shed. Thank God we don't need to so that now or we have have a very dirty church. But Paul said we do not want a dead sacrifice but a living sacrifice. What Paul is saying is that we are to bring our entire body and let it be a living sacrifice as its our spiritual duty.

We cannot compartmentalise our life. It's not only Sunday that we bring our body to God. It's everyday 24/7. Then it becomes a pleasing sacrifice to God. You are a Christian 24/7. When we walk out the door we are supposed to be the same person whether we are in church or in the world.

365 days a year we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. When we do business we are a Christian businessman. And we are to be Christian employees. All the time. God doesn't want you dead he wants you to be a living sacrifice out there.

Verse 2 starts off with an imperative. A command. It's not a suggestion. Do not conform. We MUST do this. It is not an option. Don't let the world mould you.

How many of you knows how to make Ang Ku Kueh? To make it you need to press it hard into a mould. When the things come out we say chop chop like how a son looks like the father.

This is because we are not of this world. In it but not of it. We as Christian employees give our best to our employers. Everything is done as unto the Lord. Don't let the pattern of the world mould you. Paul is not talking about the outward. You can clean the outside but it's only for a while. Paul is asking you to be transformed. Of course the outward is also important but what is inside will come out.

This word transform is the same root word as the word metamorphosis. What happens during metamorphosis? Change happens. But change happens from the inside.

In science class we take a caterpillar and puts it in a jar. Then it goes to the stage of a pupae. Here it is in a cocoon and looks dead. But something is happening inside that changes it to a beautiful butterfly.

As a child of God we need to change from the worm that you were (for lack of a better word) to a butterfly by the renewing of your mind. It is a very important organ in your body.

Your mind needs to be constantly renewed and how you do it is by reading God's word. Like dialysis. You need to hook up to a machine that washes your blood like the kidneys. Out come the clean blood. That's what God's word does to our mind. It renews your mind. By reading and digesting the word of God. You need to saturate your mind with the Word of God. Not one day but everyday. It only ends when we see God face to face.

When we grow up we are somehow being moulded by our world. That's why there is peer pressure. We are forced to change to how the world thinks. But we are to be renewed in our minds, to be more and more like Christ.

When I was a youth pastor, a Christian brother showed me a wonderful Christian book. But I wanted to point out something to him knowing him well. I asked if he has read the bible from Genesis to Revelation. I am all for Christian books, don't get me wrong but we need to first and foremost read the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. This is because it is the foundation to what we read. So that we know what is rigth and wrong because all Christian books in the bookstore is based on the bible. Then we can test and know what is God's perfect plan and will for us.

Putting your mind to God's washing machine, washing it so that when we stand before God we are more and more like Him.

Five manifestations of a renewed mind.

1. When you actively accept and live a life with a purpose and destiny that God has given you.

Look at Gideon in the bible. God used him to deliver Israel. He lived a life with a destiny in God.

2. You are not ruled by circumstances.

Logic has a place to play but what does the word of God says? We live under supernatural circumstances in God. We are not ruled by circumstances when we have a renewed mind.

3. You recognise that abundance is not limited with the material that you have.

We always equate abundance with money. If you have a renewed mind you will know you can have a nice house in the best part of Penang but still not a home. You may have the best mattress in this world but not a good nights sleep that comes from a clear conscious. Or money to buy the best medication but not health.

4. When you have the right priorities.

What's your number one priority? Sad to say it's not your children? We are first Christian then businessman. First Christian then pastor in my walk with God.

5. When I see you in every area of your life you strive for excellence.

We need to do things where we give our best. Remember Caleb when he was 85 years old he told Joshua that he felt as young as when Moses called him. He strived for excellence at 85 to take the mountain. There is no retirement for Christians. The only way you retire is when God take you from one area of leadership to a higher area of responsibility. Retire as cell leader? Sure, then be a zone supervisor.

You want God's perfect will in your life? Then you need to renew your mind.