Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng
28th June, 2009.
Parents Sunday
Posted By Teresa Han
Deutronomy 6:1-9
Main Idea: To teach your children to fear God.
Objectives: (1). Explain the purposes of fearing God. (2). To teach children how to fear God.
A. Introduction.- What gift you can give to children so that these children can stand the test and trials of all kinds when they are adults?
- Your answer must be something that can be counted for eternity.
- I strongly believe that the one gift that all parents/ adults must give to their children is this: Teaching your own children to fear God or teach children to fear God.
- Oswald Chambers says, “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.”
- Now, teaching children to fear God is something that is deep down in the heart of God. Today, God is still very much expecting us to do it.
- God expected the Israelites in Moses time to do it.
B. Background and Context- During Moses day, he was preparing a new generation of Israelites to enter the promised land, which was just over the Jordan River.
- Now, remember, it was something very difficult. The challenges were great because it was full of uncertainties, dangers from the attack of the enemies; mobilizing thousands of people to move along...
- How Moses prepared them? Normally, you would expect the writer of Deutronomy to at least mention about how Moses train the Israelites to fight. What a surprise? Fighting the enemies using warfare was not the emphasis in entering the promised land.
C. Explanation of text.- Instead, God used a very different approach. He wanted Moses to proclaim to the Israelites that He wanted them to observe all the commands, decrees and laws in the promised land.
- Take a look at the middle prat of verse 1, it says, “...God directed me to teach you to observe...” To observe what? The commands, laws, etc.
- And what was the ultimate purpose of obeying?
- The answer is clearly found in verse 2, “... so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God...”
- This was how Moses, and God prepared the Israelites to face the challenges ahead after crossing the river Jordan. Reminding the adult parents to teach their children and grandchildren to fear God.
- Now, in our context, the challenge is not to take on the physical promised land like the Israelites?
- Our challenge is how to help/ teach/ nurture/ train the next generation or the next next generation to face temptation of all kinds/ temptations that will bring them away from God; uncertainties of economic crisis that will come any time; challenge of illness; political uncertainties like a civil war or war between 2 countries....
- Our failure to prepare our children and grandchildren to face the world, a slight challenge that comes along, your children will give out their faiths; stop going to church, stop praying, stop practising christian values....
D. Applications/ Challenge of fearing God.- The best way to prepare our children and the next next generation is like the way Moses or the way of God. Now, in the first place, do you yourself fear God or not?
- (1). The first point of application is you yourself needs to set an example of fearing God when your children were still small; when they still depend on you. When you have done your best, if your children, or children who are under you still grow up to become gangsters, practise immoralities, not fearing God and not obeying God’s command, then, I believe God will understand you. But if you fail to give a good example, then, God will of course discipline you and hold you accountable.
- Do you yourself fear God? Do you desire to worship God? Do you desire to read bible and obey God’s word? When God says no, do you say yes? Do you consult God when it comes to decision making? All these show whether you fear God or not. Obedience to God’s commands show your fear of God.
- If you do not, then, you cannot nurture your children to fear God.
- Now, let me show you what are the differences of not fearing God and fearing God.
- People who do not fear God will say, “Where is God?” People who fear God will stick to the bible and believe in Psalms 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
- People who not fear God believe, “Death is the end of everything.” People who fear God will understand and believe Hebrews 9:27, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement.”
- People who are not fearing God believe, “All good people can go to Heaven.” People who fear God believe what Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
- People who do not fear God believe, “I follow my conscience. My conscience will guide me.” People who are God fearing, they stick to Proverbs 16:2, “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”
- People who do not fear God complain, “How come I have had such a streak of bad luck?” People who fear God believe with all convictions what is written in Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
- People who are not fearing God, they easily say, “The devil made me do it!” People who fear God will depend on God and believe in James 4:7, “Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- (2). The second point of application is that you must know the purpose of fearing God. In verse 2b, it says, “so that you may enjoy long life” (health). In verse 3a, it says, “so that it may go well with you.” (it means a smooth life in making a living) In verse 3c. it says, “that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey. (you will have acquisition of health and wealth, food production) Fearing God gives you all these benefits and rewards, do you want to fear Him now? I pray that you do.
- (3). The third point of application is that you need to know how to fear God. Verses 4-9, we see how the writer of Deutronomy teaches the Israelites how to remember the commands so that they could obey them and fear God.
- The 2 commands “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” in verse 4 and “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In verse 5 are even quoted by Jesus.
- The 2 commands show God is very particular about how we use our heart, soul and strength. We need to use our everything to focus on Him. He desires to govern our heart, soul and strength. Do you allow God to do so in your life? This is what He required Israelites to do.
- What the Israelites were to do with the 2 commands? You find the answer in verse 7, impress (teach)... talk... walk...lie... get up from sleep... (the commands are meant to govern the Isrealites’ homes.
- Then, in verse 8, it says the Israelites must tie them as symbol on hands and bind them on foreheads, write them on door frames, house and gates. All these efforts show that God desire the Israelites to allow the 2 commands to govern their habits and conducts, personally, privately and publicly). These are ways and means to fear God.
- For us today, God expects us to do the same thing as Israelites as we are believing in the same God of Abraham. We may not do exactly the same things as Israelites, but we need to fear Him. How?
- You need to be consistent in your word and action. When you nurture your children, does your word match your action? Do as I say or do as I do?
- Some of your may drop your children for Sunday School and not come to church. This is do as I say? If your children come to church and you also come, then, you practise do as I do. You set an example for your children to fear God. If not, they see your inconsistency, after primary 6, they also say bye-bye to Sunday School. By then, they have an independent mind, they choose not to come anymore.
- When you are inconsistent, you will be a confusing model to your children.
E. Conclusion
- How do you teach your children to fear God?
- Consistency is the answer.
- Decide to fear God now, the highest value of your journey of faith and that must be the way forward, the only way forward, in raising up your children. In helping your children to fight against all kinds of temptations and secul
The Descending of the Holy Spirit
Written By Rev Law Hui Seng
21th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han
Acts 2:1-13
Main Idea: The great impact of the Holy Spirit among the early disciples.
Objectives: a. To show the great impact of the Holy Spirit among the early disciples. b. To show that we need the impact of the Holy Spirit as well in GMC.
A. Introduction
- Oswald Sanders says, “A great deal of our ineffectiveness can be attributed to ignoring the Holy Spirit.”
- From Acts 12:2 we know that Herod beheaded the apostle James, brother of John, but do you know the rest of this story? According to tradition, James was the first apostle to suffer death after the martyrdom of Stephen. Although Herod was the authority that took his head, James’ fate started when a nameless individual brought charges against him before the tribunal. When the case was over and James had been condemned to death, the man who had instigated the trial was deeply moved by the behaviour and continence (the ability to control oneself especially the bodily desires and feelings) of the apostle. James was so filled with the Spirit of God that on the way to the place of execution the one who had initiated the charges against him made a confession of faith in Christ. When he asked James to forgive him, the apostle said, “Peace be to you, brother.” James then kissed him and both men were beheaded for their faith in 36 A.D. A spirit-filled life may lead to physical death, but more importantly, it always leads to eternal life.
- D. L. Moody, the American evangelist, once used a glass as an object to teach that the love of God overcomes our evil nature and controls lives. He asked his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One person said, “Suck it out with a pump.” But Moody insisted that this would create a vacuum and break the glass. He listen to a couple of other suggestions and then picked up a pitcher of water and filled the glass. “There”, he said, “all the air is removed. We cannot overcome evil and enmity, bitterness and temptation, simply by fighting against it. We must let the Holy Spirit fill our hearts, let Him pour in love until it overflows.”
- To all these disciple of Jesus, the person of the Holy Spirit is very real. Is He real to you? To the early disciples the Holy Spirit was very real to them. In fact, the Holy Spirit was so real to the early disciples that you can see the work of the Holy Spirit all over the pages of the book of Acts.
B. How real was the Holy Spirit to the early disciples?- The passage today really opens our eyes to see that the Holy Spirit was so real that the disciples could see and feel Him. This is recorded in verses 1 to 5.
- When the days of waiting called by Jesus were over, the Holy Spirit came upon the assembled group of disciples in a new way, accompanied by supernatural signs and causing them to burst out into the praise of God in languages other than their own.
- It is also fufilling the prophecies of prophet Isaiah 32:15, “till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field,...” and prophet Joel also said in 2:28 -32, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions...And evryone who calls on the name of Lord will be saved...”
- The promised “Holy Spirit” by Jesus and the prophets of Old Testament came during Pentecost. Pentecost is the New Testament name for the feast of weeks, when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a one-day festival during which special sacrifices were offered (Ex 23:16; Lev 23:15-21).
- Now, how real the Holy Spirit to the disciples then? The Holy Spirit was like the blowing of a violent wind (verse 2). It was something they could feel. Then, in verse 3, it says that they saw with their own eyes what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of the disciples.. Not only that, they experienced something spectacular, in verse 4, we were told they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them. The sound of the violent wind and the tongue speaking must have been so loud that they caught the attention of the God fearing Jews nearby their place of prayer. In verses 5 and 6, they say they come in a crowd in bewilderment.
C. The impact of the Holy Spirit (verses 6-13).
- Personally, I see it the amazing power of the Holy Spirit at work. The work of the Holy Spirit was so powerful; and we cannot explain how He worked then. I think nobody can because it is such a mystery. In verses 6 and 7, we were told that these God-fearing Jews discovered the disciples were speaking Galileans and the crowd understand the message of the disciples in their own language, native language.
- I believe the author Luke really wanted to show the power and impact of the Holy Spirit in evangelism for all nationalities, he deliberately spell out the list of nationalities in the crowd who were present.You can find the list in verses 9-11, it began with 3 countries to the east of the Roman Empire in the area known as Persia or modern Iran, and then moves westward to Mesopotamia, modern Iraq, and Judea. Next come various provinces and areas in Asia Minor, (modern Turkey), and then Egypt and the area immediately westwards, followed by Rome.
- In verse 11, Luke told us that all these nationalities heard the wonders of God in their own language. Brothers and sisters, I do not doubt at all the record here is for the purpose to show that God made use of this great miracle to bridge the language barrier in order for these different nationalities to go back to their hometown or countries to witness to their own people so that at the end of the day the gospel will spread.
- The wonderful impact of the tongue made people amazed and perplexed (verse 12) and some people eve made of it and commented that it was drunkenness (verse 13). Of course, people who did not understand the work of the Holy Spirit will interpret as such. Including like us today, sometimes, we do not understand the work of the Holy Spirit, we may even be scared when it happened.
- However, for me today, in the name of Jesus Christ, I preach to you today that when the Holy Spirt moves, God works through the channel of language. It was impossible for anybody to understand the phenomenon. How can the Galilean disciples speak in the language understood by other nationalities? The Holy Spirit must have converted the original language into their own native language. It was a great miracle to ensure that the Gospel.
- That is why I preach to you with all conviction, as far as mission, evangelism, are concerned, helping people to understand God is concerned, we do not need to worry about the language. We can use our limited abilities in Chinese dialects, Iban language, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, etc; we can invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us to use our limited language abilities to preach the gospel. The Holy Spirit will convert whatever language you speak into the language your audience can understand. It is all God’s idea for people to be saved and become Jesus disciples. Otherwise, we cannot make disciples of all nations.
- However, I do not rule out the need to learn the language and master it in order to give long term attention to a group of people, like the Penan people in Belaga. Sister Elsie Wong Hia Ching must polish her broken Bahasa Malaysia in order to make disciples among the Penan people.
D. Applications.
- Now, with this understanding of the great passage about the descending of the Holy Spirit, can we now see how the descending must impact us in a real manner.
- (a). How real is the Holy Spirit to you? Now, please do not get me wrong. We cannot make the Holy Spirit real to us. In other words, you cannot force the Holy Spirit to behave like you request. You cannot say to God that you want to speak in tongue now; and you ask him to fill you with the Holy Spirit to do it. Just in case, you misunderstand me, you must understand today’s passage in the context of the bible or at least the New Testament. Speaking in tongues is a gift, it is given by God to individuals for spiritual purpose. So, it is not for everybody. However, what is more important is, have we been experiencing the reality of the Holy Spirit? Yes, you cannot make the person of Holy Spirit real to you. But, have allowed the holy spirit or appropriate the Holy Spirit to work in you. If you do, then, the Holy Spirit must be real to you. When you receive the prompting of the Holy Spirit to do something like to say sorry to someone; to greet someone you do not like; to help someone; to say a prayer for someone; to sign up for a mission trip; to come for prayer meeting; to give to support church ministries; to love your children, your wives, your husband, etc, do you respond? If you do, you experience Holy Spirit. If not, then, you miss His work.
- I am very sure that these are the works of the Holy Spirit, because the person of the Holy Spirit always guide you into the truths, into obeying what is taught in the scripture. John 16:13, “... the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will will guide you into all the truth...” This is the greatest task of the Holy Spirit.
- (a). How has the Holy Spirit impacted your relationship with God? We cannot carry our bible us all the time. We do have mentor, pastor, or strong Christians beside you all the time. Praise the Lord, for Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinitarian God, He is with us all the time. Because He is a person, God the Holy Spirit can be personal to you; and you can build a personal relationship with Him. Because the Holy Spirit is a person, He can speak to you (Acts 28:25); teach you (John 14:25); convicts you of your sin; comforts you (Acts 9:31); helps you in your weakness (Romans 8:26), etc.
E. Conclusion: Don’t seek the Holy Spirit for experience sake.
21th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han
Acts 2:1-13
Main Idea: The great impact of the Holy Spirit among the early disciples.
Objectives: a. To show the great impact of the Holy Spirit among the early disciples. b. To show that we need the impact of the Holy Spirit as well in GMC.
A. Introduction
- Oswald Sanders says, “A great deal of our ineffectiveness can be attributed to ignoring the Holy Spirit.”
- From Acts 12:2 we know that Herod beheaded the apostle James, brother of John, but do you know the rest of this story? According to tradition, James was the first apostle to suffer death after the martyrdom of Stephen. Although Herod was the authority that took his head, James’ fate started when a nameless individual brought charges against him before the tribunal. When the case was over and James had been condemned to death, the man who had instigated the trial was deeply moved by the behaviour and continence (the ability to control oneself especially the bodily desires and feelings) of the apostle. James was so filled with the Spirit of God that on the way to the place of execution the one who had initiated the charges against him made a confession of faith in Christ. When he asked James to forgive him, the apostle said, “Peace be to you, brother.” James then kissed him and both men were beheaded for their faith in 36 A.D. A spirit-filled life may lead to physical death, but more importantly, it always leads to eternal life.
- D. L. Moody, the American evangelist, once used a glass as an object to teach that the love of God overcomes our evil nature and controls lives. He asked his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One person said, “Suck it out with a pump.” But Moody insisted that this would create a vacuum and break the glass. He listen to a couple of other suggestions and then picked up a pitcher of water and filled the glass. “There”, he said, “all the air is removed. We cannot overcome evil and enmity, bitterness and temptation, simply by fighting against it. We must let the Holy Spirit fill our hearts, let Him pour in love until it overflows.”
- To all these disciple of Jesus, the person of the Holy Spirit is very real. Is He real to you? To the early disciples the Holy Spirit was very real to them. In fact, the Holy Spirit was so real to the early disciples that you can see the work of the Holy Spirit all over the pages of the book of Acts.
B. How real was the Holy Spirit to the early disciples?- The passage today really opens our eyes to see that the Holy Spirit was so real that the disciples could see and feel Him. This is recorded in verses 1 to 5.
- When the days of waiting called by Jesus were over, the Holy Spirit came upon the assembled group of disciples in a new way, accompanied by supernatural signs and causing them to burst out into the praise of God in languages other than their own.
- It is also fufilling the prophecies of prophet Isaiah 32:15, “till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field,...” and prophet Joel also said in 2:28 -32, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions...And evryone who calls on the name of Lord will be saved...”
- The promised “Holy Spirit” by Jesus and the prophets of Old Testament came during Pentecost. Pentecost is the New Testament name for the feast of weeks, when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a one-day festival during which special sacrifices were offered (Ex 23:16; Lev 23:15-21).
- Now, how real the Holy Spirit to the disciples then? The Holy Spirit was like the blowing of a violent wind (verse 2). It was something they could feel. Then, in verse 3, it says that they saw with their own eyes what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of the disciples.. Not only that, they experienced something spectacular, in verse 4, we were told they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them. The sound of the violent wind and the tongue speaking must have been so loud that they caught the attention of the God fearing Jews nearby their place of prayer. In verses 5 and 6, they say they come in a crowd in bewilderment.
C. The impact of the Holy Spirit (verses 6-13).
- Personally, I see it the amazing power of the Holy Spirit at work. The work of the Holy Spirit was so powerful; and we cannot explain how He worked then. I think nobody can because it is such a mystery. In verses 6 and 7, we were told that these God-fearing Jews discovered the disciples were speaking Galileans and the crowd understand the message of the disciples in their own language, native language.
- I believe the author Luke really wanted to show the power and impact of the Holy Spirit in evangelism for all nationalities, he deliberately spell out the list of nationalities in the crowd who were present.You can find the list in verses 9-11, it began with 3 countries to the east of the Roman Empire in the area known as Persia or modern Iran, and then moves westward to Mesopotamia, modern Iraq, and Judea. Next come various provinces and areas in Asia Minor, (modern Turkey), and then Egypt and the area immediately westwards, followed by Rome.
- In verse 11, Luke told us that all these nationalities heard the wonders of God in their own language. Brothers and sisters, I do not doubt at all the record here is for the purpose to show that God made use of this great miracle to bridge the language barrier in order for these different nationalities to go back to their hometown or countries to witness to their own people so that at the end of the day the gospel will spread.
- The wonderful impact of the tongue made people amazed and perplexed (verse 12) and some people eve made of it and commented that it was drunkenness (verse 13). Of course, people who did not understand the work of the Holy Spirit will interpret as such. Including like us today, sometimes, we do not understand the work of the Holy Spirit, we may even be scared when it happened.
- However, for me today, in the name of Jesus Christ, I preach to you today that when the Holy Spirt moves, God works through the channel of language. It was impossible for anybody to understand the phenomenon. How can the Galilean disciples speak in the language understood by other nationalities? The Holy Spirit must have converted the original language into their own native language. It was a great miracle to ensure that the Gospel.
- That is why I preach to you with all conviction, as far as mission, evangelism, are concerned, helping people to understand God is concerned, we do not need to worry about the language. We can use our limited abilities in Chinese dialects, Iban language, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, etc; we can invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us to use our limited language abilities to preach the gospel. The Holy Spirit will convert whatever language you speak into the language your audience can understand. It is all God’s idea for people to be saved and become Jesus disciples. Otherwise, we cannot make disciples of all nations.
- However, I do not rule out the need to learn the language and master it in order to give long term attention to a group of people, like the Penan people in Belaga. Sister Elsie Wong Hia Ching must polish her broken Bahasa Malaysia in order to make disciples among the Penan people.
D. Applications.
- Now, with this understanding of the great passage about the descending of the Holy Spirit, can we now see how the descending must impact us in a real manner.
- (a). How real is the Holy Spirit to you? Now, please do not get me wrong. We cannot make the Holy Spirit real to us. In other words, you cannot force the Holy Spirit to behave like you request. You cannot say to God that you want to speak in tongue now; and you ask him to fill you with the Holy Spirit to do it. Just in case, you misunderstand me, you must understand today’s passage in the context of the bible or at least the New Testament. Speaking in tongues is a gift, it is given by God to individuals for spiritual purpose. So, it is not for everybody. However, what is more important is, have we been experiencing the reality of the Holy Spirit? Yes, you cannot make the person of Holy Spirit real to you. But, have allowed the holy spirit or appropriate the Holy Spirit to work in you. If you do, then, the Holy Spirit must be real to you. When you receive the prompting of the Holy Spirit to do something like to say sorry to someone; to greet someone you do not like; to help someone; to say a prayer for someone; to sign up for a mission trip; to come for prayer meeting; to give to support church ministries; to love your children, your wives, your husband, etc, do you respond? If you do, you experience Holy Spirit. If not, then, you miss His work.
- I am very sure that these are the works of the Holy Spirit, because the person of the Holy Spirit always guide you into the truths, into obeying what is taught in the scripture. John 16:13, “... the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will will guide you into all the truth...” This is the greatest task of the Holy Spirit.
- (a). How has the Holy Spirit impacted your relationship with God? We cannot carry our bible us all the time. We do have mentor, pastor, or strong Christians beside you all the time. Praise the Lord, for Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinitarian God, He is with us all the time. Because He is a person, God the Holy Spirit can be personal to you; and you can build a personal relationship with Him. Because the Holy Spirit is a person, He can speak to you (Acts 28:25); teach you (John 14:25); convicts you of your sin; comforts you (Acts 9:31); helps you in your weakness (Romans 8:26), etc.
E. Conclusion: Don’t seek the Holy Spirit for experience sake.
Evangelism series Pray to Choose Matthias
Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng
14th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han
Acts 1:12-26
Main Idea: To teach that we must involve God (Jesus) in decision making; all the more during crucial moment.
Objectives: a. To teach how the early disciples trust God to find a successor to replace; b. To teach that we must pray to seek God during crucial moments in life.
A. Introduction.- Most of us have not realized the power of prayer. I say this because we have not prayed as much.- Our problem is we try to get God to answer our prayers according to our ways and desires; and after we pray for a while , and it does not happen the way we want, we will stop praying. Furthemore, we see prayers like saying grace before meals, before a journey, before we go to sleep, after we wake up as something like a mundane, there is no use or power in it. We do not feel the difference and so we do not pray much. Are you like that? Not to mention praying constantly; prayer in decision making.
- Let us look at these quotes, they are very insipiring and they really encourage us to pray and not give up.
- Robert McCheyne says, “God will either give you what you ask, or something far better.”
- In October of 1996, Yankelovich Partners survey 269 doctors at a meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The results showed that 99 percent were convinced religious belief can heal. That’s 20 percent higher than the figure gleaned from the general public. In response to the question, “ Why do doctors feel this way?” Dr Herbert Benson said, “ Because we’ve seen the power of belief. We see it all the time, and we can’t deny it.” He went on to note, “The real breakthrough is the acceptance of these approaches by modern medicine.”
- Names such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, David Brainerd, Geroge Fox, Adoniram Judson, and John Hyde are well known to those who have studied church history. The impact of these men has been very significant and can be traced to their practice of prayer. Martin Luther said, “I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Wesley declared, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” His daily devotion of two hours in prayer demonnstrated the depth of this conviction. David Brainerd wrote in his journal, “I live be alone in my cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer.” William Penn said of George Fox, “Above all he excelled in prayer.” The most awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say was his in prayer.” Adoniram Judson withdrew from business and company seven times a day for the purpose of prayer. He began at dawn, then continued again at 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock and mid night. John Hyde was so characterised by prayer that he was nicknamed, “Praying Hyde.” It is so small wonder that these prayer warriors wielded such powerful influence for the kingdom of God.
- Raymond McHenry says, “May we never experience success without prayer.”
- Oswald Chambers says, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works... prayer is he greater work.”
- I give you so many quotes on prayer in order to convince you that prayer is a very important part of our christian life. You miss a lot as a christian; as a diciple of Christ.
- The early disciples and all the apostles knew the value and power of prayers.
B. See how the early disciples spend time to pray constantly (verses 12-14).
- That is why after the commission of Jesus and the promise of the descendance of the Holy Spirit, 120 of them, including the 11 apostles who were used to be with Jesus; the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, the brothers of Jesus all joined together constantly in prayer in Jerusalem in the upper room.
- What is so important about praying constantly after Jesus’ commission to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of all nations; and the promise of descending of the Holy Spirit? 120 of them meeting together to pray? Later on in chapter 2, you see the descending of the Holy Spirit.
- I would go to the extend of teaching you that the 120 disciples must have realized that if they did not pray constantly, the Holy Spirit might not have the channel to fill and empower them. Before the descending of the Holy Spirit, in verse 4, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem. The disciples knew it could not be just waiting without praying.
- May we learn one precious lesson today? Watch out for the pattern here. If the Holy Spirit is the divine gift which empowers and guides the church, the corresponding disciples’ or christians’ attitude toward God is prayer. It is as the church prays that it receives the Spirit.
- Brothers and sisters, if we do not pray as a church, then, our church will not receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
C. The Critical Moment.
- Next, with the homework of prayer, and when the disciples were most sensitive to God, apostle Peter, the leader of the group, he claimed that David had prophesied for the betrayal of Judas. He must have quoted from Psalm 109:8, “May his days be few, may another take his place of leadership.
- He exerted his authority to choose a leader to replace based on the Old Testament scripture. Then,he expressed the need to choose another person to replace Judas.
- I call this the critical moment. The moment of decision to choose a new leader. Peter did his homework, he did not want to simply choose one person. God must have put in his mind the criteria of the candidate. He must have 3 qualifications (verses 21 and 22). It is found in verses 21 and 22. (1). The person must be with Jesus the whole time; (2). He must be one of those who was with the disciples all the time; and (3). He must be there from the beginning of John’s baptism and he witnessed the resurrection of Jesus with the disciples.
D. How the early disciples made decision to choose Matthias to replace Judas.- The critical moment came to choose a new leader, so they have to propose two names, Joseph called Barsabbas and Mathias, for the the purpose of election.
- You see how they elect their leader in this critical moment. The answer is found in verses 24 and 25. They prayed as a big group and told God what they wanted. Take note the prayer was speficic, to take over the apostolic ministry of Judas. This person is to become an apostle.
- After they prayed, they still had to make a decision on how to elect among the 2. They must have discussed and felt that the best way was to cast lots.
- I want you to take note everything was done in the context of prayer. When it came to important decision, the early disciples prayed.
D. Applications.
- (a). How can you pray constantly? For those of you who are in the ministry, like the early disciples, the 120 of them, you cannot afford not to pray constantly. This is because the devils are always on the look out to attack you and make sure you fall, and you do not become effective for Christ. Let me say this to you in the name of Jesus, when you serve God, the devils will make us of your bad temperaments, watching of pornorgraphy, pride, greed, selfishness, immorality, stubbornness, etc. Somehow, when you have the sins of your life, the devils know them and they make sure that people do not cooperate with you in ministry; people do not respect you; people feel uncomfortable with you. Mind you, the devils know what is the standard of holiness and purity of a disciple. Do you know? Also, mind you, God is very particular about whether you are living a holy life inside out or not.
- To sure that you are coming more and more alert of the devils’ attack, you need to pray constantly. Especially those who are in leadership position, you need to pray constantly by attending Thursday night prayer meeting. We also welcome you to come to pray constantly every Saturday morning at 6-7am.
- Those of you who are not leaders, but you are in ministry, you need to come also, you need to pray more in order to maintain a strong relationship in Christ.
- Those of you who are not in position of ministry, you must pray 5 times a day. You should at least match the muslims who pray 5 times a day. The 3 times are before meals; 2 times are before you to sleep at night and after you wake up in the morning.
- (b). The need to pray during the critical moments of your life. The early disciples prayed much in the critical moment of choosing an aposlte to replace Judas, you must do so in the critical moment. For those of you who single and plan to find a life partner, you have a critical moment; who are married and have no children; rebellious children at home; marital problems; financial problem; choosing where to go after Form 5; having illness; our chruch is choosing leaders again; recruitment for missionaries to do short term missions; evangelism rally, etc, you need to pray.
E. Conclusion.- Prayer is one most neglected means of grace to ask God for blessing by Christians. Not many put a lot of faith in prayer. Not many felt the need to pray for more because we do not believe God is powerful. Unless we spend more time in prayer and build up our faith, otherwise, our faith is weak and shallow.
14th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han
Acts 1:12-26
Main Idea: To teach that we must involve God (Jesus) in decision making; all the more during crucial moment.
Objectives: a. To teach how the early disciples trust God to find a successor to replace; b. To teach that we must pray to seek God during crucial moments in life.
A. Introduction.- Most of us have not realized the power of prayer. I say this because we have not prayed as much.- Our problem is we try to get God to answer our prayers according to our ways and desires; and after we pray for a while , and it does not happen the way we want, we will stop praying. Furthemore, we see prayers like saying grace before meals, before a journey, before we go to sleep, after we wake up as something like a mundane, there is no use or power in it. We do not feel the difference and so we do not pray much. Are you like that? Not to mention praying constantly; prayer in decision making.
- Let us look at these quotes, they are very insipiring and they really encourage us to pray and not give up.
- Robert McCheyne says, “God will either give you what you ask, or something far better.”
- In October of 1996, Yankelovich Partners survey 269 doctors at a meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The results showed that 99 percent were convinced religious belief can heal. That’s 20 percent higher than the figure gleaned from the general public. In response to the question, “ Why do doctors feel this way?” Dr Herbert Benson said, “ Because we’ve seen the power of belief. We see it all the time, and we can’t deny it.” He went on to note, “The real breakthrough is the acceptance of these approaches by modern medicine.”
- Names such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, David Brainerd, Geroge Fox, Adoniram Judson, and John Hyde are well known to those who have studied church history. The impact of these men has been very significant and can be traced to their practice of prayer. Martin Luther said, “I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Wesley declared, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” His daily devotion of two hours in prayer demonnstrated the depth of this conviction. David Brainerd wrote in his journal, “I live be alone in my cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer.” William Penn said of George Fox, “Above all he excelled in prayer.” The most awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say was his in prayer.” Adoniram Judson withdrew from business and company seven times a day for the purpose of prayer. He began at dawn, then continued again at 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock and mid night. John Hyde was so characterised by prayer that he was nicknamed, “Praying Hyde.” It is so small wonder that these prayer warriors wielded such powerful influence for the kingdom of God.
- Raymond McHenry says, “May we never experience success without prayer.”
- Oswald Chambers says, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works... prayer is he greater work.”
- I give you so many quotes on prayer in order to convince you that prayer is a very important part of our christian life. You miss a lot as a christian; as a diciple of Christ.
- The early disciples and all the apostles knew the value and power of prayers.
B. See how the early disciples spend time to pray constantly (verses 12-14).
- That is why after the commission of Jesus and the promise of the descendance of the Holy Spirit, 120 of them, including the 11 apostles who were used to be with Jesus; the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, the brothers of Jesus all joined together constantly in prayer in Jerusalem in the upper room.
- What is so important about praying constantly after Jesus’ commission to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of all nations; and the promise of descending of the Holy Spirit? 120 of them meeting together to pray? Later on in chapter 2, you see the descending of the Holy Spirit.
- I would go to the extend of teaching you that the 120 disciples must have realized that if they did not pray constantly, the Holy Spirit might not have the channel to fill and empower them. Before the descending of the Holy Spirit, in verse 4, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem. The disciples knew it could not be just waiting without praying.
- May we learn one precious lesson today? Watch out for the pattern here. If the Holy Spirit is the divine gift which empowers and guides the church, the corresponding disciples’ or christians’ attitude toward God is prayer. It is as the church prays that it receives the Spirit.
- Brothers and sisters, if we do not pray as a church, then, our church will not receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
C. The Critical Moment.
- Next, with the homework of prayer, and when the disciples were most sensitive to God, apostle Peter, the leader of the group, he claimed that David had prophesied for the betrayal of Judas. He must have quoted from Psalm 109:8, “May his days be few, may another take his place of leadership.
- He exerted his authority to choose a leader to replace based on the Old Testament scripture. Then,he expressed the need to choose another person to replace Judas.
- I call this the critical moment. The moment of decision to choose a new leader. Peter did his homework, he did not want to simply choose one person. God must have put in his mind the criteria of the candidate. He must have 3 qualifications (verses 21 and 22). It is found in verses 21 and 22. (1). The person must be with Jesus the whole time; (2). He must be one of those who was with the disciples all the time; and (3). He must be there from the beginning of John’s baptism and he witnessed the resurrection of Jesus with the disciples.
D. How the early disciples made decision to choose Matthias to replace Judas.- The critical moment came to choose a new leader, so they have to propose two names, Joseph called Barsabbas and Mathias, for the the purpose of election.
- You see how they elect their leader in this critical moment. The answer is found in verses 24 and 25. They prayed as a big group and told God what they wanted. Take note the prayer was speficic, to take over the apostolic ministry of Judas. This person is to become an apostle.
- After they prayed, they still had to make a decision on how to elect among the 2. They must have discussed and felt that the best way was to cast lots.
- I want you to take note everything was done in the context of prayer. When it came to important decision, the early disciples prayed.
D. Applications.
- (a). How can you pray constantly? For those of you who are in the ministry, like the early disciples, the 120 of them, you cannot afford not to pray constantly. This is because the devils are always on the look out to attack you and make sure you fall, and you do not become effective for Christ. Let me say this to you in the name of Jesus, when you serve God, the devils will make us of your bad temperaments, watching of pornorgraphy, pride, greed, selfishness, immorality, stubbornness, etc. Somehow, when you have the sins of your life, the devils know them and they make sure that people do not cooperate with you in ministry; people do not respect you; people feel uncomfortable with you. Mind you, the devils know what is the standard of holiness and purity of a disciple. Do you know? Also, mind you, God is very particular about whether you are living a holy life inside out or not.
- To sure that you are coming more and more alert of the devils’ attack, you need to pray constantly. Especially those who are in leadership position, you need to pray constantly by attending Thursday night prayer meeting. We also welcome you to come to pray constantly every Saturday morning at 6-7am.
- Those of you who are not leaders, but you are in ministry, you need to come also, you need to pray more in order to maintain a strong relationship in Christ.
- Those of you who are not in position of ministry, you must pray 5 times a day. You should at least match the muslims who pray 5 times a day. The 3 times are before meals; 2 times are before you to sleep at night and after you wake up in the morning.
- (b). The need to pray during the critical moments of your life. The early disciples prayed much in the critical moment of choosing an aposlte to replace Judas, you must do so in the critical moment. For those of you who single and plan to find a life partner, you have a critical moment; who are married and have no children; rebellious children at home; marital problems; financial problem; choosing where to go after Form 5; having illness; our chruch is choosing leaders again; recruitment for missionaries to do short term missions; evangelism rally, etc, you need to pray.
E. Conclusion.- Prayer is one most neglected means of grace to ask God for blessing by Christians. Not many put a lot of faith in prayer. Not many felt the need to pray for more because we do not believe God is powerful. Unless we spend more time in prayer and build up our faith, otherwise, our faith is weak and shallow.
Jesus’ Commission for the Disciples
Written By Rev Law Hui Seng
7th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han
Acts 1:1-11 (Evangelism series)
Main Idea: Jesus’ Commission.
Objectives:To teach and challenge the congregation to take up disciple making ministry.
Introduction
- You can quote me in this statement I am going to make. With all humility, based on the teaching and authority of the Old and New Testaments, I called myself a disciple of Christ. I pray that you do also.
- It is for a very simple reason, Jesus called me to make discples of all nations. If I am not a disciple, how can I make disciples. If I do not obey the teachings of Jesus, I am merely a believer or a christian who believes and believes. Whatever I learn remain as belief and not more than that.
- I am very particular about how christians in this church are disciples of Jesus. All that Jesus expects you to do is are you working towards to be more and more like Him in the matter of life transformation to do His teachings.
- I emphasize much on life transformation because you can do what Jesus tells you to do but your inner life is not changed; take for instance, you can pray very well and do mission; you read bible but your inner life is still full of sin and darkness; unrepent, etc.
- Am I exaggerating if I say only one out of ten of us are engaged in discipleship in Jesus’ way. Our Lord Jesus is not looking for part time followers. He is looking for full time followers and disciples. It is not for me to judge who is a disciple in this congregation. Only God knows best and He will judge.
- I need to teach based on the word of God on Jesus’ commission on discipleship.
- Two quotes from Tiger Woods (a famous golf player) speak to the subject of discipleship. Of his earlier days in junior golf, Woods said, “I really didn’t know where the ball was going, except forward and a long way.” Discipleship is not about finding seasoned pros who have mastered the Christian life, but about helping each other refine and improve our lives so we can experience clearer direction and greater control. Discipleship is about encouraging one another with the reality that even though you might not be doing so well today, you may really excel in the years to come. When asked about improving his swing, Tiger Woods said, “I don’t believe that there is such a thing as perfection. But I have always been a big believer of professional excellence, and that is what I try to achieve.” Discipleship helps christians realize they are not perfect, and won’t be this side of heaven, but they can and should be moving toward spiritual excellence. Even though he was talking about golf, Tiger Woods said a lot about discipleship as well.
- Can we take on this challenge to be a disciple of Jesus? Only chrisitans (disciples of Jesus) have the privilege to be commissioned by Jesus to do this job.
- Discipleship is a huge ministry and it is dificult to define as a sentence. I pray that as you listen to my series of sermon on evangelism in the book of Acts, you will begin to see a good aspect of discipleship, mission and evangelism.
- To help you to understand the whole book of Acts better, let me help you to know the purposes of the book. Luke, the author, also wrote the gospel of Luke, must have written the document to present a church history; to give a defense for Christianity among Jews and Gentiles; to provide a guide for the rest of genaerations of disciples; and to depict the triumph of Christianity in the face of bitter persecution.
Jesus made sure His Disciples will continue his ministry of disciple-making (verses 1-5)
- As I examine this passage for today’s preaching, I find that Luke, being a disciple of Jesus, who was with Jesus one way or another, had really caught the vision of Jesus. He knew the burden and mission of Jesus on earth. His life was transformed by Jesus’ teaching and remembered lots of what Jesus said. He really saw that Jesus desired His disciples at that time and today all of us to continue the disciple making ministry.
- Luke must be one of those who had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus and how Jesus remained on earth for 40 days and tried to convince people about the kingdom of God.
- Luke knew that Jesus really desired His disciples to continue His ministry of disciple making when he quoted Jesus in verse 4 and 5, “...Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
- If not for the purpose of continuity of Jesus’ ministry on earth, there was no point to send the Holy Spirit whom He promised.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to witness for Him to the ends of the earth (verses 6-8)
- Some disciples could not understand the vision of Jesus for the whole world, they thought in a very narrow. They thought Jesus was only interested in restoring Israel.
- Jesus grasped this opportunity to correct and Luke was there to listen and put down the commission of Jesus to be witnessses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. As you read the whole book of Acts, you will see the disciples did just that.
- The command is go to the ends of the earth to be His witnesses. Are you?
Jesus proved Himself to be the God who has the authority to commission His disciples.
- You may like to ask how come Jesus has the authority to command His disciples to witness for Him.
- After the 40 days, if Jesus did not ascend to the heaven and still remain around and eventually died again, there wiould be no Christianity. The ascension proved that whatever he said in past was and is the truth and He is God, He has the authority to command His discples and all of us today to continue His ministry on earth.
- But ascension will not make Jesus so authoritative also, Chrisitianity will not be as powerful as it is now if Jesus did say not He would come back again. He will come back to judge you and me and all the former disciples who have died, see how well we do in discipleship.
Applications
- (1). Jesus is also commissioning you today to make disciples of all nations. Take this as a privilege. And you need to make a stand whether you are responding or not. I love this commissioning. If Jesus did not issue this command, there will not be christianity either. What Jesus command has been taken very seriously by the churches throughout the world. Are you willing to pay the price to do the commission? Personally, I find that Christians can only respond if we have understood and really appreciate what Jesus has done on the cross for. Unless our lives are changed by Jesus, otherwise, we cannot respond. I pray that everyone of us who call yourself children of God will sense God’s calling to make disciples of all nations.
- (2). Jesus equips you to make disciples. When Jesus issued a challenge like that, He was most practical and He did not leave everything to us. He equips us with the most powerful, most needed Holy Spirit to guide us, and empowered us; and to give us whatever we need to make disciples. You tell me what you need in order to make disicples. Money? Miracels? Skills? Facility? God will give all that, the only thing now left is are we now willing to take the step of faith to do it. Here in the church, at home, at work place, at long houses, at Belaga, Cambodia, etc.
- (3). We need to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. If whatever we do here is only limited to blessing those in the church, four walls of the church, then, we are still not completely faithful the commission of Jesus. I pray that we are strong enough to extend our territory, and believe the Jabez prayer, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” (1Chronicles 4:10). Any person who regards himself as a disciple of Christ will say, “That is God’s desire for me.” Unless we trust God to extend our territory, our discipleship will be limited to this small world of our families and church only. Then, of course we cannot do justice to the commission of Jesus.
- (4). We need to prove that Jesus is living in our lives. Jesus has resurrected and ascended to heaven and He is still living. But is he living in your life? If so, is Jesus real in your life? Has your life being changed by Jesus? Your darkest part of you life, has it being given to Jesus and allow Him to take over and cleanse it and repent? What is it you cannot let go and leave it to Jesus? You have to prove that Jesus is living in your life to Jesus, otherwise, your life on earth is only so so. You will be the same person as yesterday; 10 years ago; and 5 years in future: 10 years in future, etc. Unless you prove Jesus is living in you, otherwise, you can do nothing with the commission. You will sit on it only. You will only give lip service only. You will ask others to do it; and you are indifferent about it.
Conclusion
- I pray that you will be able to imagine this, one day, as you come to the end of your life, you will be able to say to Jesus, I have done my best in executing your commission, I have no regrets living on earth. I can face you now.
7th June, 2009
Posted By Teresa Han
Acts 1:1-11 (Evangelism series)
Main Idea: Jesus’ Commission.
Objectives:To teach and challenge the congregation to take up disciple making ministry.
Introduction
- You can quote me in this statement I am going to make. With all humility, based on the teaching and authority of the Old and New Testaments, I called myself a disciple of Christ. I pray that you do also.
- It is for a very simple reason, Jesus called me to make discples of all nations. If I am not a disciple, how can I make disciples. If I do not obey the teachings of Jesus, I am merely a believer or a christian who believes and believes. Whatever I learn remain as belief and not more than that.
- I am very particular about how christians in this church are disciples of Jesus. All that Jesus expects you to do is are you working towards to be more and more like Him in the matter of life transformation to do His teachings.
- I emphasize much on life transformation because you can do what Jesus tells you to do but your inner life is not changed; take for instance, you can pray very well and do mission; you read bible but your inner life is still full of sin and darkness; unrepent, etc.
- Am I exaggerating if I say only one out of ten of us are engaged in discipleship in Jesus’ way. Our Lord Jesus is not looking for part time followers. He is looking for full time followers and disciples. It is not for me to judge who is a disciple in this congregation. Only God knows best and He will judge.
- I need to teach based on the word of God on Jesus’ commission on discipleship.
- Two quotes from Tiger Woods (a famous golf player) speak to the subject of discipleship. Of his earlier days in junior golf, Woods said, “I really didn’t know where the ball was going, except forward and a long way.” Discipleship is not about finding seasoned pros who have mastered the Christian life, but about helping each other refine and improve our lives so we can experience clearer direction and greater control. Discipleship is about encouraging one another with the reality that even though you might not be doing so well today, you may really excel in the years to come. When asked about improving his swing, Tiger Woods said, “I don’t believe that there is such a thing as perfection. But I have always been a big believer of professional excellence, and that is what I try to achieve.” Discipleship helps christians realize they are not perfect, and won’t be this side of heaven, but they can and should be moving toward spiritual excellence. Even though he was talking about golf, Tiger Woods said a lot about discipleship as well.
- Can we take on this challenge to be a disciple of Jesus? Only chrisitans (disciples of Jesus) have the privilege to be commissioned by Jesus to do this job.
- Discipleship is a huge ministry and it is dificult to define as a sentence. I pray that as you listen to my series of sermon on evangelism in the book of Acts, you will begin to see a good aspect of discipleship, mission and evangelism.
- To help you to understand the whole book of Acts better, let me help you to know the purposes of the book. Luke, the author, also wrote the gospel of Luke, must have written the document to present a church history; to give a defense for Christianity among Jews and Gentiles; to provide a guide for the rest of genaerations of disciples; and to depict the triumph of Christianity in the face of bitter persecution.
Jesus made sure His Disciples will continue his ministry of disciple-making (verses 1-5)
- As I examine this passage for today’s preaching, I find that Luke, being a disciple of Jesus, who was with Jesus one way or another, had really caught the vision of Jesus. He knew the burden and mission of Jesus on earth. His life was transformed by Jesus’ teaching and remembered lots of what Jesus said. He really saw that Jesus desired His disciples at that time and today all of us to continue the disciple making ministry.
- Luke must be one of those who had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus and how Jesus remained on earth for 40 days and tried to convince people about the kingdom of God.
- Luke knew that Jesus really desired His disciples to continue His ministry of disciple making when he quoted Jesus in verse 4 and 5, “...Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
- If not for the purpose of continuity of Jesus’ ministry on earth, there was no point to send the Holy Spirit whom He promised.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to witness for Him to the ends of the earth (verses 6-8)
- Some disciples could not understand the vision of Jesus for the whole world, they thought in a very narrow. They thought Jesus was only interested in restoring Israel.
- Jesus grasped this opportunity to correct and Luke was there to listen and put down the commission of Jesus to be witnessses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. As you read the whole book of Acts, you will see the disciples did just that.
- The command is go to the ends of the earth to be His witnesses. Are you?
Jesus proved Himself to be the God who has the authority to commission His disciples.
- You may like to ask how come Jesus has the authority to command His disciples to witness for Him.
- After the 40 days, if Jesus did not ascend to the heaven and still remain around and eventually died again, there wiould be no Christianity. The ascension proved that whatever he said in past was and is the truth and He is God, He has the authority to command His discples and all of us today to continue His ministry on earth.
- But ascension will not make Jesus so authoritative also, Chrisitianity will not be as powerful as it is now if Jesus did say not He would come back again. He will come back to judge you and me and all the former disciples who have died, see how well we do in discipleship.
Applications
- (1). Jesus is also commissioning you today to make disciples of all nations. Take this as a privilege. And you need to make a stand whether you are responding or not. I love this commissioning. If Jesus did not issue this command, there will not be christianity either. What Jesus command has been taken very seriously by the churches throughout the world. Are you willing to pay the price to do the commission? Personally, I find that Christians can only respond if we have understood and really appreciate what Jesus has done on the cross for. Unless our lives are changed by Jesus, otherwise, we cannot respond. I pray that everyone of us who call yourself children of God will sense God’s calling to make disciples of all nations.
- (2). Jesus equips you to make disciples. When Jesus issued a challenge like that, He was most practical and He did not leave everything to us. He equips us with the most powerful, most needed Holy Spirit to guide us, and empowered us; and to give us whatever we need to make disciples. You tell me what you need in order to make disicples. Money? Miracels? Skills? Facility? God will give all that, the only thing now left is are we now willing to take the step of faith to do it. Here in the church, at home, at work place, at long houses, at Belaga, Cambodia, etc.
- (3). We need to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. If whatever we do here is only limited to blessing those in the church, four walls of the church, then, we are still not completely faithful the commission of Jesus. I pray that we are strong enough to extend our territory, and believe the Jabez prayer, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” (1Chronicles 4:10). Any person who regards himself as a disciple of Christ will say, “That is God’s desire for me.” Unless we trust God to extend our territory, our discipleship will be limited to this small world of our families and church only. Then, of course we cannot do justice to the commission of Jesus.
- (4). We need to prove that Jesus is living in our lives. Jesus has resurrected and ascended to heaven and He is still living. But is he living in your life? If so, is Jesus real in your life? Has your life being changed by Jesus? Your darkest part of you life, has it being given to Jesus and allow Him to take over and cleanse it and repent? What is it you cannot let go and leave it to Jesus? You have to prove that Jesus is living in your life to Jesus, otherwise, your life on earth is only so so. You will be the same person as yesterday; 10 years ago; and 5 years in future: 10 years in future, etc. Unless you prove Jesus is living in you, otherwise, you can do nothing with the commission. You will sit on it only. You will only give lip service only. You will ask others to do it; and you are indifferent about it.
Conclusion
- I pray that you will be able to imagine this, one day, as you come to the end of your life, you will be able to say to Jesus, I have done my best in executing your commission, I have no regrets living on earth. I can face you now.
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