Saved to Serve

Sis Melinda Song

INTRODUCTION:

Galatians 5:1, 13-14, NIV

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

1. We Are Called To Freedom

Braveheart, tells the story of Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace who led a war against England during the 13th century. One of the most memorable quote from the movie is: “…they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!”

Wallace was captured. Just before he was hung, drawn, and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians, he indicated to the magistrate that he had something to say. With his last breath he cried, “Freedom!”

Freedom implies that there was a former captivity, oppression or bondage, e.g. Israel in slavery in Egypt or under the Roman rule. Wars have been fought and countless lives lost for freedom’s sake Freedom is the prevailing cry of the world today.

We are called to freedom, yet Christianity has often been perceived as repressive and an enemy of freedom with a lot of dos and don’ts.

As a young Christian, my sister and I always felt guilty and condemned whenever we went to the movies. I gave up dancing while others burn their records. Like the Galatians, we obsessed with rules and regulations. 

But true Christianity is a relationship based on love and grace. Those things we do or don’t do is out of our love and relationship with Jesus, not because we cannot do so.

Biblically, freedom is primarily relational. We were called to freedom when God called us into a relationship with himself through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Luke 4:18, NIV

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,

John 8:34-36, NIV

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

You are only as free as you are in right relationship with the living God. The more vibrant and intimate your relationship with the living God, the more freedom you will enjoy.

Now that you are free, what next? Paul offers two ways to manage our freedom – one negatively and the other positively.

2. Negatively - Freedom To NOT Indulge The Flesh

Notice it is God who calls. This is a reminder that God is our Master. Our freedom is won at a great price so it is not a license to sin.

Paul discusses the life of license thoroughly in Romans 6. After we are saved by the grace of God, can we go ahead and live in sin? And Paul’s answer to that question is “absolutely not. God forbid that we do.” You cannot live in sin and be a Christian on your way to heaven.

You may fall into sin, but you will quickly get out of it! You repent and ask God’s forgiveness. It is evident from the Lord's prayer (Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) that confession of sin should be a regular part of the Christian life, and 1 John 1:9 advocates repentance that is an ongoing part of our sanctification (not for salvation but for restoration of fellowship).  You do not use God’s grace of deliverance to continue to live in sin. 

Biblical freedom is not, “Now I can do what I want.” Biblical freedom is, “Now I can do what God wants.”

It comes with responsibility and boundaries and we are accountable for the way we use this freedom.

In most of Paul’s writings, “flesh” is not our body, but our sinful nature which is selfish, self-centred and self-serving. Later in the chapter, Paul goes on to give a list of appetites and attitudes that characterises the deeds of the flesh in verses 19-20 of Galatians Chapter 5.

Even though the flesh is crucified with Christ, it is not altogether eliminated. We still live in these sinful, fallen bodies; we still inhabit this sinful, fallen world and we all still live in “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4).

So what is the solution? Paul says, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (v. 16). We can resist the inclinations to indulge in the flesh when we are Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-controlled and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Although Jesus said this in the context of money, it is true that no one can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). Humans may think they are autonomous beings but the reality is that all of us are slaves. It is a matter of who our master is. Therefore we are to submit and surrender to the Holy Spirit instead of to the flesh.

We should channel our freedom in the service of Jesus Christ, our King, our Lord and our Master.

3. Positively - Freedom To Serve

Luke 4:8, NIV
⁸ Jesus answered [the devil], “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

In response to God’s unfathomable love to us expressed in Jesus Christ, you and I are called to love and serve God. This is only possible because we have been set free from the bondage of sin by Jesus.

Note that God does not need our service.

Acts 17:24-25, NIV
²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

But He has chosen to use us in His service.

Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are not saved BY works but we are saved FOR works.

Why? Because serving is an important component of growth. Serving is listed as one of the six most important disciplines for Christian growth and maturity in the book “Six Habits of Highly Effective Christians.”

Ephesians 4:11-16, NIV

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Our church theme is to Grow in the Word, Serve with Love and Transform Lives.

·     Serving offers an opportunity or outlet for us to channel out what we have learnt or received.

·     Freely we have received so freely we ought to give.

·     Maturity is for ministry. We are saved to serve, healed to help, blessed to be a blessing.

·     Compare the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea in Israel. Both have water coming into them but only Galilee gives out water. It is a vibrant living sea. But the Dead Sea is just that. It doesn’t have any outlet; it does not give out. You and I risk dying, risk stagnation in our faith, if we don’t give out.

·     Service leads to transformed lives.

Most of us are well grounded in our faith, have a good grasp of the Gospel, know what God wants of us. We need to serve: to stretch our faith, to develop our spiritual muscles.

"Growth leads to service and serving leads to growth – it's deeply connected," says Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research.

Serving God is expected but here Paul says that our freedom is a…

3.1 Freedom To Serve One Another

Colossians 3:23-24, NIV

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

We grow and the church grows when we cease to look inwards and begin to serve one another. It’s all about body ministry.

At the Damascus Road encounter (Acts 9:4), have you ever wondered why Jesus said Paul was persecuting Him, when he was in fact persecuting the church? That’s because the church is the body of Christ on earth. Therefore, the visible evidence of service to God is seen in our service to one another.

Unfortunately the default setting for humans is to be selfish. We don’t have the time or energy to serve others because we’re preoccupied with our own agendas, dreams, and pleasures. Only a small minority of people use their lives to serve others, but Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35, LB)

Very often the church is considered a commodity we consume and not a place where we should give of ourselves. Such self-centered, self-absorbed thinking hinders us from experiencing the fullness of God and the joy found in making a difference in the life of another person.

Too often when we are looking for a church to belong to, we look for a church that meets my needs, where I feel comfortable, which will be a blessing to me. Maturing Christ-followers don’t ask, ‘How will my needs be met?’; don’t say, ‘This church isn’t doing anything for me!’ Maturing disciples of Jesus ask, ‘Where can I serve, who needs my help, how can I be a blessing?’

In the early days of TOP we used to have revival meetings on Saturday evenings where new believers run the service. Everyone did something. Even the millionaire helped to arrange chairs and distributed the song-books.

It became a platform for us to discover our gifts and for the Pastor to identify budding leaders. Now we do it in the cells.

Serving is not natural in our modern, individualistic culture. But if we aren’t serving, we aren’t living life to the full; at least not the Jesus’ Way.

That is why Albert Schweitzer said, "The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve".

3.2 Freedom To Serve One Another Humbly

Paul uses a different form of the word for servant here. In fact in almost every place where the word servant is used in the New Testament it is the Greek word “doulos” which means a “slave, bondman, man of servile condition.” 

Philippians 2:3-8, NIV

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

When we look into the life of Jesus we find Him living a life of servanthood.

·     He said emphatically that He came not “to be served but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). Here, diakonéō is used for the word serve. The basic meaning of diakonéō is a servant who runs errands. It also is the root for the position of “Deacon,” in the local church (diákonos, i.e. Deacon).

·     Jesus says to His followers in Matthew 20:26, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

·     Then, on the night of His arrest, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, leaving them with a final teaching to serve one another: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (see John 13:12–17).

·     A foot washing ceremony can be very meaningful, but far more important than any ceremony is putting into practice the principle of serving others. Let us not forget that our calling is to serve others not to expect others to serve us.

There is no place for pride in service/ministry because:

1.   Everything we have – talent, time, treasure, our very breath – comes from God.

2.   The gifts of the Spirit are special abilities provided by the Holy Spirit to Christians for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. They are simply God enabling believers to do what He has called us to do. The Greek word most frequently used for spiritual gifts is charismata, a word that relates to the grace (charis) of God. 

But that does not mean we don’t appreciate or encourage those who are serving.

A word of warning here. It is very easy for us to only serve God in one area of ministry. Do not limit God. Let Him stretch you. We should not miss out on other opportunities to serve God.

Do you see a need in your church? Do what you can to meet it. Is there a position in a ministry that is vacant? Pray as to whether God would have you fill it. If we seek God's will and obey His leading, He will always equip us with whatever gifts of the Spirit we need.

"Growth leads to service and serving leads to growth – it's deeply connected," says Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research.

To that I add, “Humility leads to service and serving leads to humility – it’s deeply connected.”

3.3 Freedom To Serve One Another Humbly In Love

We are a T.E.A.M. All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit working together are needed to produce the full potential of the church. Since they are gifts of grace, their use must be controlled by the rule of love - the greatest of all the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 13).

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NIV

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Ephesians 4:11-16, NIV

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The emphasis on love is all-important because it is not law on the outside but love on the inside that makes the difference. Christianity works because it changes people from the inside out.

It was love that motivated God to send his Son to the earth. True love sees the need and then moves to meet the need even at great personal cost. Love of Christ and love for Christ will change our heart and bring obedience.

If duty, obligation or necessity is our attitude toward God and toward serving we will never have the heart for serving. We serve out of an overflow of love. Very often it starts as a duty, that grows into desire and finally becomes a delight.

Without love, you’ll end up serving for the wrong reasons: trying to earn the approval of others, trying to run away from your pain, trying to remedy your guilt, trying to impress God. Service motivated by these illegitimate reasons is bound to leave you burned out and ­bitter in the end.

A church that is not full of love and service will turn inwards like a cancer to destroy and consume itself – biting, devouring and destroying each other (Gal. 5:15). If we are serving one another because we love Jesus, then there will not be any cause for divisions and fighting.

"Growth leads to service and serving leads to growth – it's deeply connected," says Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research.

To that I have added, “Humility leads to service and serving leads to humility – it's deeply connected.”

And now I add on, “Love leads to service and serving leads to love – it's deeply connected.”

CONCLUSION

8 Blessings We Experience By Serving Others (Source: https://newspring.cc/articles/8-blessings-we-get-from-serving)

1. Serving allows us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

2. Serving allows us to experience miracles.

3. Serving allows us to experience the joy and peace that comes from obedience.

4. Serving helps us to be more like Jesus.

5. Serving surrounds us with other Christians who can help us follow Jesus.

6. Serving increases our faith.

7. Serving allows us to experience God’s presence in new ways.

8. Serving is good for your soul.

We make all sorts of rational explanations for not serving but the reality is the Lord doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called.

God wants to use you to make a difference in His kingdom.

May each and every one of us aspire to and encourage each other to Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered and Spirit-led service.

Hebrews 10:24, NIV

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

Serving one another is not the main goal, serving Jesus is. Jesus said in John 12:26, “My Father will honour the one who serves me.” Someday I want to stand before Jesus Christ and I want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” and it will be worth it all.

Will you dedicate yourselves to God’s service in this local assembly, taking practical opportunities to carry out your calling?

For some of us God's Spirit is showing you or reminding you that you are not free. You know you are in bondage this morning. You can feel the chains weighing you down.

Well, I am overjoyed to tell you this morning that God wants to, and God can, set you free. And He can do that when you believe in what Jesus already did on the cross.

Don't you want to be free this morning? If you do, reach out in faith. Put your trust in Christ. 

The Spirit Filled Community

Rev Ronald Ooi

The Church did not stop at the resurrection. Nor at the cross. There was the outpouring and baptism of the Holy Spirit. He continues to speak loud and clear. The Holy Spirit was there at the creation of the world. He was brooding over creation. And he was there with the prophets and he came upon the disciples when 120 of them spoke in a language that bewildered them. In the fullness of time, God does the right things. Why were they waiting and who gets drunk at 9 in the morning? They were drunk in the Holy Spirit and they were baptised in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon them and I want to talk about the spirit filled church. The spirit filled community.

I was just interviewed last week by someone doing her PhD and she wanted to talk about the prophet Joel. You can find a lot of info on Joel like the commentaries but her professor wanted her to challenge herself in finding new information on Joel. And she said yes, and she wanted to research on the voice of God. She interviewed me and many other pastors and she said this was information from the original source. Speaking to individuals who have been doing the work of God with the Holy Spirit in our midst.

The early church shouldn't be just called the Acts 2 Church but also the Acts of the Holy Spirit church. It's the original look at the church. This is important because the photocopy you make from the original must look like the original and then you certify it as true copy.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

It's a daily church. Church is not on Sunday morning only but church is in the house group, the PPN, the reaching out to the community.

The church was meant to be a spirit filled community. And it's connected to the kingdom of God. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will come and you will be my witnesses. Jesus was telling them the divine kingdom of God is more important than the present government of men. We become executives and agent in implementing his governance in our community. A community that would submit themselves to the kingly rule of God, men and women who are bound by their sinful nature cannot govern themselves well. Without the Holy Spirit we are but just a shell. No life of God within us to go back to the original model that God meant to be a Spirit led and powered community.

Back then they could do it because they were a spirit filled community.

Firstly, they displayed the love of God to one another and to the world.

Acts 2:45 (NIV)

They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

They saw the need and they were so giving and so gracious. It was not just a Baptism of the Holy Spirit but a baptism of God's love. It was a giving church.

It was also an eating church. The ate together. We don't have a problem as an eating church in Penang I am sure.

What about a praying church, a learning church, a growing church or a miraculous church with sign and wonders.

I was talking to the youth yesterday about a sale that's going on. I better don't mention the place. It's like the new garden of Eden. And they were talking about this brand of clothes. Then the other day, I was at an ice cream shop with the evangelist and Alex found us at Hagaan Daz. Not at McDonalds which is a level 1iice cream but this Hagaan Daz is a higher level. I was hoping he didn't see me. Haha.

Where are we in our level with God. It's progressive and it continues. I'm trying to find a proper English word rather than level but you can see their level of love in their lives. It is God's love shed abroad into their hearts. What is human love and what is divine love?

Level 0. You don't find find Level 0 in elevators and also -1 except at TOP. Level 0 in human love is "I love you because I can get something from you". Next level, Level 1, "I love you because you love me". If you don't love me I don't love you. It's conditional. Level 2 is "I love you even if you don't love me". Have we crossed the level that's more like God's love?

Level 4 is "I love you even if you love someone else". You look at the book of Hosea. The message was his life, Hosea and Gomer. Even though the wife prostituted herself, God told Hosea to bring his wife back. It was like Israel who worshipped other idols, he still loved them.

The next level is "I love you even if you back stab me". Who in the Bible? Judas. Jesus still called him friend. Is it common that you get back stabbed? I'll show you my scars.

Level 5, "I love you even if you hated me". Just like Jesus and the Pharisees who hated him. He was a threat to them.

Level 6, "I love you even if you kill me". Jesus on the cross, Jesus said forgive them because they did not know what they do. Also when Steven was persecuted and stoned. He was one of the men chosen for good governance in the church. He said father forgive them and do not hold this sin against them even as he was killed. That's a high level.

God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

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

Bob from Dalat School was a missionary back then and he lost his life saving a student. They were at the waterfalls and this girls was swept away by a sudden gush of water and Bob dived in and push the girl to safety but he slipped and he was swept over the waterfall. They found him only many hours later.

The highest level of God's love is Hagaan Daz. Maybe I shouldn't be talking about Hagaan Daz because the durian season is coming soon. We used to eat kampung durians and now we have graduated to D15, D9 and I can read your mind, the Musang King. We graduate to a higher level. Can we move to the next level? Will you love them like Jesus love us? That's why the Holy Spirit needs to be here.

They displayed the power of God.

Acts 3:6 (NIV)

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

We see that level where what Jesus did has now been transferred to the apostles. Is it the work of the apostle? No, it was the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit that is using us for his power to flow through. We saw how God moved at the miracle and healing rally and it is God that does it. We move one level more in terms of the display of his power but let's move on to a higher level.

I was talking to Ps Peter and I was trying to connect with his son who was not easy to connect with because also of language. I thought he was a girl because of his long hair at first. He was a miracle child if you have heard of Ps Peter's testimony. They were to abort the child but he is today normal and Penial is a big boy. It's a miracle. If you need a miracle it can happen to you this morning.

Acts 4:33 (NIV)

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

What I like is that Acts chapter 4 goes into chapter 5 and you see two characters. Chapter 4 you saw how the church was loving and generous and then Luke who wrote this next chapter looked at Barnabas. A person whose life was not only transformed but also a life that poured forth the love of God. Then Ananias and Sapphira was mentioned. And I used to think these two should not have been mentioned as it spoilt the early church. But I think in the midst of God's move, they succumbed to greed. So you see the contrast of Barnabas vs Ananias & Sapphira.

You see how one moved from one level to another while the other lied to the Holy Spirit. How can this happen? As I pondered upon this for many years, how can this happen?

God would not allow the original blue print of the early church to be corrupted. It's something for us to learn. Because of the original copy is tainted, all other photocopies will also be tainted.

Let's move from one level to another one at a time. Step by step by step. It took me years to move from the ice cream cone to Hagaan Daz. At the time it's not even ice cream, just ice. Let's move one level at a time. It's never too late.

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.

Empty Promises of Resurrection Sunday

Rev Allan Chan

The Crucifix – cruel death; torture; broken,

bruised; punishment; shame.

What is the DIFFERENCE?

I celebrate the empty cross.

It is FINISHED

John 19:17-30 (NIV)

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

19:29, 30pp — Mt 27:48, 50; Mk 15:36, 37; Lk 23:36

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

What was Finished?

Salvation plan of God which began in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:14 & 15):

The LORD God said to the serpent, “ I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

God’s Final Sacrifice for Sin

Isaiah 59:16 – And He saw there was no man …then His own arm brought salvation..” 

Jn.1:29 – "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Heb. 9:22 – without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Heb.10:18-19 – Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer (need for) any offering for sin…we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.

The Empty Cross Speaks of Fullness of God’s Promises

•  Forgiveness & Victory over sin
•  Reconciliation to right relationship with God
•  Restoration of position, status and authority
•  Abundant life now and…
•  Ruling with Christ forever.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

 - 2 Cor.8:9(NKJV)

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed

– 2 Peter 2:24

 For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).

– 2 Cor.5:21 (NKJV)

Jesus EMPTIED Himself that we might be full.  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

- John 10:10

We Celebrate an EMPTY  TOMB

Without an EMPTY TOMB

1 Corinthians 15:14-19

• Our faith is in vain;
• Our preaching is meaningless;
• We are still in our sins

•  There is NO SAVIOUR
•  There is NO SALVATION
•  There is NO HOPE for eternity.

He is not here:  for HE IS RISEN!

Matthew 28:1-6

•  Jesus was seen ALIVE for 40 days before He ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:3).
•  Mary Magdalene met Jesus (Mk.16:9).
•  The Disciples met and fellowshipped with Jesus (Lu.24:36; Jn.20:26; Jn.21:1-4).
•  500 people saw or met Jesus (1 Cor.15:3-8).

The EMPTY TOMB

•  EVIDENCE of the Resurrection of  Jesus Christ
•  PROMISE that we too will be raised to ETERNAL LIFE.
•  DEATH is defeated – no more fear.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

A Celebration Of  EMPTINESS

•  World gives us promises full of emptiness.
•  But God gives us emptiness full of promises.

Notes taken from the PowerPoint presentation.