26th September, 2010
Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
John 21:15-19
Main Idea: To love the sheep of Jesus
Objectives: a. To stir awareness in the congregation to make disciples of Penans b. To inspire the congregation to love Jesus by loving Jesus.
A. Introduction
- The social principle we are dealing with today is on Human Rights and Responsibilities.
- You can do so many missions by defending the rights of humanity in our society. It is a tendency everywhere to neglect the weak or to easily push them aside. Owing to our sinful nature, the strong tends to get stronger in every aspect of life; the weak tend to get weaker and so, there is a place to defend the rights of the weak.
- Let us read the shorter principle today on Human Rights and Responsibilities. Read it with conviction and do what it says. Do not just provide the lip service.
- I pray that you will understand why we need to defend the rights of those mentioned in the principle. These are the people who have no chance to voice out; may have nobody to pay attention and fight for their rights; the physically weak; may not receive as much human love or the love of Jesus through you and me.
- Today, I just want to focus on the rights of ethnic minorities. What is stated in the book of discipline is very challenging. You and I need to make a lot of sacrifice to make it happened in our society. It says, “We affirm the rights of those who belong to ethnic minorities. They should be given equal treatment in employment, promotion, remuneration, compensation, education, voting, in positions of leadership and all other citizenship privileges, including freedom of religion. They should not be marginalized, intimidated or discriminated by any party in whatever way.”
- The ethnic minority I want to focus on is the Penan tribal group. My dealing with Pastor Tom Gatum of Pa Adang, Lawas, tells me that there are about 15,000 of them throughout Sarawak. They could be more as many of them do not have identity cards yet.
- Why Board of Evangelism wants to do missions among them? It is not only because they are the ethnic minority; also very much because they used to be nomads who lived in jungle and now they tried to settle down in long houses. They still struggle very much to survive as a human race despite the government effort to help them. Many of them still struggle to find food; most of them who live in jungles and long houses, they do not have the knowledge and skill of farming. I hope I am not underestimating and degrading when I tell you their problems and struggles. On the other hand, my purpose to teach you to do missions among them.
- Some examples of their behavior, they may chop down a tree that bears fruit; as a result of lack of knowledge of danger of drinking alcohol, they love to drink and get drunk; owing to lack of knowledge on family, they get married very early, even in their teenaged years; some long houses located near the timber camps, majority of their men do not go to work; I am sorry to tell you that in most cases their children are not going to school like our children; they do not have the means to do it because they do not how to plan to use their money which they get from the timber companies; many of them do not even have the primary school education, etc.
- You see why the social principle says we must affirm the rights of the ethnic minority in education and other citizenship privileges? Do you hear the cry of the Penan people? Do you see why we need to offer the love of Jesus; Jesus to them?
- Do you see Jesus has to ask Peter 3 times, “Do you love me?”
B. Jesus also asks you, “Do you love me?”
- Each time Jesus expected apostle Peter, “Feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; feed my sheep.”
- Jesus asked Peter in verse 15, “Do you truly love me more than these?” What are these? It could be his love for fellow human beings; people’s love for him; the fishing career.
- Why repeatedly 3 times like that? You could see that Peter was impatient in answering Jesus. He answered in 3 responses, “Lord, you know I love you.”
- Probably Jesus wanted to reinforce Peter’s love for him after the great denial (3 times) before the crucifixion. Jesus understands our human weaknesses, Peter’ weakness. Probably Jesus is preparing him for martyrdom in preaching the gospel. This is indicated in verse 19, “Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
- Each time Jesus wanted Peter to pay attention to “my lambs; my sheep.” I strongly believe that Jesus desired Peter to express his love for Him by taking care of the lambs and the sheep.
- Today, as disciples of Jesus, we are expected to do the same. The Penans are the lambs and the sheep of Jesus. We need to feed them with the word of God through education and the gospel.
C. Applications
- What you can do for the ethnic minority Penans? First and foremost, you need to pray for the missionaries to go there and serve long term in the area of education and preaching the gospel. then, when you have a chance, you must go in to visit them and love them through social concerns. Go and read more about Penans in the internet and develop your compassion for them. You may even write article about them in the connection. Will you?
- Win the Penans today, their future generations will be disciples of Jesus.
D. Conclusion
- Penans Jesus in every where. Will you be there for them?
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