Are you born again?

1st August, 2010.

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han 

Main Idea: Born again through Jesus Christ

Objectives: a. To teach the need for people to be born again. B. To explain the meaning of born again. C. To change people to be born again.

A. Introduction

- Christianity is very relevant to our everyday life because it meets the need of the world which is full of sin. We need to find the answers to our problem of sin.

- Different religions and beliefs and world philosophy have all try to give answers.

- And today, we see one answer or the best answer Christianity is giving the world, to solve the problem of sin.

- It has to do with the question of: Are you born again?

B. Born Again

- This question arises out of the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a member of the powerful Jewish ruling council. He must be one of those Jews who was attracted to Jesus’ teaching and miracles and believed Jesus was sent by God. At the same time, he feared persecution by fellow Jews if he identified with Jesus in any way.

- So, he came secretly at night to ask Jesus about kingdom of God. Jesus recognized the visitor’s heart as He is God who is all knowing. He recognized the spiritual hunger for the kingdom of God. This was where Jesus took the opportunity to teach him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he was born again.

- New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) translated it as “You must be born from above.” Both the meanings of born again and born from above refer to how Jesus saves individuals from sins and forgiveness of his/ her sins.

- Naturally, Nicodemus misunderstood the meaning of Jesus and he thought one could not go back to his mother’s womb in order to be born again. So, Nicodemus asked, “How can one be born again?” This is where Jesus, being the word became flesh, grasped the opportunity to teach him and the world today and anybody who read this book of John will know answer in verse 5, “born of water of Spirit.”

- The water here refers to at least 2 meanings. One who is born of water means being baptized by water and life being transformed by the living word of God. Water here also refers to living word of God because Jesus Himself is living water. He offers the Samaritan woman living water that will not cause her to thirst. It is the living word of God.

- Jesus wanted to lead him into a personal relationship with Him. And for this to happen, it takes both the word and God’s Spirit, the wind, the pneuma. The action of the wind of God.

- It takes both the word of God and the Spirit of God together to transform a person’s life, to help him to repent to become a new person.

- Jesus went on to liken himself to bronze snake that Moses lifted up upon the instruction of God in the Old Testament for Israelites who received snake bites and the moment they look at the bronze snake, they would be saved and healed.

- Jesus is hinting that people who come into a personal faith in Him who would be crucified and lifted up high on the cross one and anyone who come to accept him and repent in Him shall have eternal life.

- He makes Himself very clear in verse 13 that he is the Son of Man coming from heaven. Then in this context, he says in verse 16, he says He is the only Son of God sent by God, to love the world, every human being. Not to condemn the world but to save the world and gives anyone who come to Jesus eternal life and salvation.

- He also equates Himself to the light of the world, in a world of darkness. He challenges people to come to this light and live by the light, do not do evil for the evil deeds cannot stand the test of the light. A person who is saved will live in the light.

C. Applications

- In view of the water (word of God), what should be our attitude towards the word of God? Do you believe and accept Jesus as the living water, word of God? If so, then, our attitude towards the bible must be that we are under the authority of the bible. we must obey all the teaching in it; not part of it. And this takes a life time.

- If born again is so crucial in deciding whether you enter the Kingdom of God or heaven, then, you have to be sure you are born again.

D. Conclusion

- The best life policy is to live a life in obedience to God’s word.

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me… (Missions Sunday)

11^th July, 2010 

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Main point: The Holy Spirit empowers us to do missions.

Objectives: a.  To teach that we need to be filled by The Holy Spirit like Jesus to preach the good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, to heal the blind and to release the oppressed.  b. To list out the areas that we can do missions.

A.      Introduction

-          At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry/ missions on earth, the books of Mathew, Mark  and Luke all say that Jesus is tempted by the devil and only Luke says He is full of the Holy Spirit in verse of Chapter 4 today. This is very significant for Luke and this is emphasis for this gospel. The temptation happens after He fasted for 40 days. He passed the test of the temptation by the devil.

-          I want you to take note in verse 14 that Luke says Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.  He went to Galilee and then,  His own hometown, Nazareth, and of course, eventually, He went to lots of other towns to do His missions on earth. The scripture said he taught in synagogues and the audience praised Him for His teaching in verse 15.

-          Then, one day, may be as usual, being a good teacher,  a Jew (Jews worshipped Yahweh in synagogues), He was especially privileged to be allowed to read a portion of the Jewish scripture.  This portion happened to be from Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

-          As the congregation of the synagogue focused their attention on him, in verse 21, Jesus dared to claim, “… Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  Out of so many verses in Old Testament scriptures, how could He be sure this portion of the Book of Isaiah was referring to Him?  I can only say unless He is sent by God the Father, otherwise, He was not in the position to claim.

-          This portion of Isaiah strikes me very much because it is exactly the mission of Jesus on earth. It was foretold in the OT and now, it was fulfilled in Jesus.  As it is the mission of Jesus; and I am taught by apostle Paul in his epistles to be like Christ, as part of my discipleship, I must do what Jesus has been called by God to do.  Not only me, as long as those who called ourselves Christians, followers of Jesus, disciples of Jesus, must we do the missions that Jesus had done on earth!

-          Notice only when the Spirit is on Jesus, only then, He is able to do the mission on earth.  Today, as a disciple of Jesus, I can also do it because the Spirit of God is also on me.  Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  The word of Jesus, promised that we can receive power to do missions when the Holy Spirit comes on us.

-          Is the Holy Spirit on you or not? If not, you cannot do it?

B.      The Spirit of the Lord is on Jesus.

-          John’s gospel talks about Jesus His disciples to do greater works than Him. I cannot understand what Jesus means if not disciples of Jesus are not filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

-          The needs out there even in Jesus’ time were huge.  Today, in our situation, It is thousands of times worse and Jesus know it and that is He commissions us in Matthew 28:19 and 20 to make disciples of all nations.  That is why he gives the Holy Spirit, we cannot do it.  The devils are powerful, disciples of Jesus easily give up.  Look at how apostle Peter gave up by denying Christ after Christ was arrested before he was filled by the Holy Spirit.

-          Today, we need to ask our selves what it means to be like Jesus to preach the good news to the poor.  People who do not have enough to eat; those who have no job and struggle to survive as a family; children who drop of school because they cannot pay minimum expenses; most probably those who steal and rob in order to survive and of course according to our human nature, we always condemn them, etc.  I always tell me if you have been robed or your goods have been stolen, it is God telling you to do missions.

-          Why  Jesus particularly mention the poor, not the rich here? Most probably they need it more than anyone else, but honestly, the good news is more receptive to the poor than the rich. The rich tend to say they do not need God whey they have all the material things.

-          Who are the prisoners? Yes, they definitely refer to the prisoners in the prisons but what about those whose souls are imprisoned? The depressed, the hurt, people who have all the bitterness, rejection, etc. They are in everywhere in bondage and imprisoned.

-          Who are the blind? Yes, it refers to the physically blind. But what about those who cannot see the truth of the love of God, see the need for eternal life, etc.

-          Who are the oppressed? Those who work very hard but being paid very little; who are powerless who have no right to speak out; etc.

C.      Applications

-          What does it mean for the Spirit of the Lord to come on you? It means you will receive power to overcome all obstacle to preach the gospel so that people become disciples of Christ. You need the power to pray to defeat devil, to heal the sick, to help people to overcome their problems, to help people to see the need of salvation, etc.  When you get it, you will not feel tired of doing God’s work; you will give up; you will have all the energy to do it; you will have joy and strong faith and strength to do it, etc.

-          What can you do when the Holy Spirit empowers you? Look around you and discern the needs around; the unsaved around you; yourself; the poor in the town; Penans of Ulu Belaga; Ibans in the long houses; students; workers from Indonesia, china, etc; Cambodia needs for English teachers; Indonesia’s need for Mandarin speaking missionaries and pastors; etc.

D.      Conclusion

-          Will you equip yourself to respond?

The Lord Calls Samuel

27th June, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

1Samuel 3:1-21

Main Idea: God calls people to serve His purpose.

Objectives: a. To examine what is God’s calling. b. To challenge the congregation to respond to God’s calling to serve His purpose.

A. Introduction

- Have ever experienced God’s calling to do something? By this, I mean according to the teaching of the overall scripture, there is such a thing as you will have personal encounter with God and being sure of what he or she is told to do for God in life.

- It is so exciting, challenging, and so fill with joy when you get it.

- I am using this great passage of God’s calling of the boy, Samuel to illustrate to you what it means by God’s calling.

B. The Lord calls Samuel.

- In the first place, little baby Samuel came to this world as a result of her mother’s (Hannah) much prayer as she could not conceive a child. In chapter 1, we read that Hannah even prayed that if she was given a child by God, then, she would dedicate him to serve God throughout his life. Look at her vow to God, “…O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord of all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” In those days, Israelites could make vows to God with uncut long hair to symbolize the dedication of their life to God. Normally, it was for a period of time but in this case it was for the rest of Samuel’s life and it was done by a mother on behalf of a unborn child.

- Hannah conceived and Samuel was born. She kept her vow with God and sent him to the priest Eli, of the temple.

- Samuel served in the temple under the guidance of the priest, Eli, as a small boy. Chapter 3 says in the midst of rare visions in those days, the Lord called Samuel 3 times to serve His purpose. In this case, it was to prophesy to the Israelites what God would do to them and also, specifically, what he would do to the Eli’s family (verses 11-14).

- For the first 2 verbal calling, the boy Samuel had mistaken them for Eli’s calling because verse 7 says Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. It means Samuel had not experienced God directly.

- With the guidance and mentor of the priest, Eli, the boy Samuel, finally responded to God’s calling (verses 8b – 9). The boy acted according the guidance and responded to God, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” We need to do this to our young people also.

- The calling was affirmed by the recognition of Israelites. Not only God fulfilled everything that He wanted Samuel to prophesy but in verse 20 we are told that the whole of Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized as prophet. Verse 21 continues to say the Lord revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

- So, this is really a biblical example of God’s calling for person to serve His purpose.

C. Applications

- Let us learn the first point of God’s nature of calling. It is basically coming from God (not human desires) and in this case God spoke with a audible voice. It is very specifically for His purpose, like in this case for the purpose of God doing something for Israelites and how God wanted to discipline Eli’s family.

- Secondly, the passage today implies that God calls everyone at every moment to serve Him in his purpose. So, are you sensitive to His calling? Is your present position/ job God’s calling? If not, leave it and find one that God calls you. How do you know God calls you to serve Him at your present vocation?

- Thirdly, there is the implication of the passage that God can call any of you to be full time pastors and missionaries. Can our parents be like Hannah or the priest Eli, to guide our children to respond to God’s calling as pastors and missionaries if God calls them?

D. Conclusion.

- As God calls Samuel to serve Him as a prophet, so God calls you to serve in the area which is pleasing to Him.

Have you any influence?

6th June, 2010.

Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Main Idea: Need to exercise our influence in the society for Christ.

Objectives: To challenge the congregation to respond to Christ’s teaching on salt and light by prayer, evangelism, witness and protest.

A. Introduction

- I see 2 worlds; tensions…

- One world is like this: a world of Christians who come to church for service on Sunday; for ministry of all kinds like prayer, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, BB, GB, small group, etc; and we can be good at the ministry; and our lives are transformed by the word of God. There is certain degree of holiness in this world. Another world is like this: this other world of secularism and godlessness and it contains all other religions and Christians unavoidably live in it. For most Christians who are living in the second world, most of us out there put in very little effort to impact the second with our holiness and biblical values. In other words, we have no influence over their lives. We have not shown them for examples, what are biblical examples of honesty, integrity, accountability, humility, love, forgiveness, etc. In a lot of cases, we are secularized, we become as dirty, dishonest, angry, revengeful, immoral, depressed as if we have no Jesus, etc.

- I see lots of tensions among Christians: there is this great gospel of salvation and God’s love in our hands and we have the answers to man’s hopelessness and we want put across to people around us but we do not how to do it. Our lives are transformed by God’s word in the bible and we others to experience the same but it is not happening to our loved ones, friends, colleagues and relatives. May be we often find our worship is so enriching but we are not so courageous to invite others to come and share with us. I find that we have little influence in helping others to know Jesus and become His disciples. That is why the sermon topic: Have you any influence?

- Today, as your pastor, your shepherd, I ask God in the person of Jesus to help me to help you to breach the gap; to influence for Christ; to stand up for Christ. A gap some of us have realized long time ago and you are still very much struggling to overcome. May be some of us are still not aware of it. I pray that this sermon on salt and light teaching of Jesus (a small part of teachings by Jesus on the sermon of the mount) will help you to meet the need of breaching the gap.

B. Salt and Light.

- Everybody is familiar with salt and light. They are found in our house. Jesus as boy in Nazareth must often watch his mother Mary use salt as a preservative in the kitchen and light the lamps when the sun went down. He knew their practical usefulness.

- So, Jesus used these images later to show the influence of His disciples on the human society. At that time, his disciples were very few and yet he expected them to do it for the whole earth. What did he mean? At least 4 truths from this teaching of salt and light of Jesus must be emphasized:

- Firstly, Christians (disciples of Jesus) are fundamentally different from non-Christians. The images of salt and light set the 2 communities of Christians and non-Christians apart. There is a clear cut difference between Christians and that of the non-Christians. Jesus is really teaching that the world which we live in; the world his disciples were living at his time was and is dark (gelap), but his disciples at that time and all of us Christians (and disciples) now must be the light in the world. Brothers and sisters, you must be the light in the world. The world is morally decaying very much! Look at how people practice free sex (sex before marriage; sex with others even after marriage; how Aids spread through immoral sex; homosexual sex, etc); how people abuse drug and alcohol; how people, politicians, businessmen, even ordinary people become so greedy; how people of one religion hate and kill people of another religion. You see how decay and dark the world is!

- You see why Jesus calls His disciples and all of us as His disciples to be salt and light. Jesus calls you to be differentiated from darkness and decay. God in the person of Jesus is calling you to be holy, set apart, different and stand up for Jesus everyday. God is calling us all the time, every minute, every second, every moment to be holy, because He says, “I am holy.”

- Secondly, Christians must permeate non-Christian society. Although Christians are morally and spiritually distinct from non-Christians, they are not to socially segregated, separated from the rest of the society. On the other hand, their light must into the darkness, the sinfulness of the world. Their salt must soak into the decaying world, the decaying meat. The lamb does no good if it stays under the bed, and the salt does no good if it stays in the salt container. Similarly, Christians must enter the society and mix with the society and become immersed in its life. We must let our light shines so that our good deeds, good behavior are seen. People see Jesus in us and we are pointing people, showing them the way to the savior.

- Thirdly, Christians can influence non-Christian society. Before the days of refrigeration, salt was the best known preservative. Either it was rubbed into fish and meat, or they were left to soak in it. In this way the decaying process was retarded. Light is even more obviously effective; when the light is switched on, the darkness is actually dispelled. Jesus is really saying that Christians and His disciples can prevent social decay and dispel the darkness of evil.

- In Sarawak, we have 41% Christians in a population of 2.4 million, have you prevented the society from social decay? As our population increases, it looks like we become more and more morally not right. You see more and more of illegal trade; rape; corruption; injustice; cheating cases on money; prostitution; gangsterism; selling of illegal drug; etc. Where is our Christian influence? Whose fault is it? Who to blame?

- We always blame others. If the house is dark when night comes, there is no sense in blaming the house, for that is what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is “Where is the light?”

- If he meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat, for that is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is “Where is the salt?”

- Similarly, if society deteriorates and its moral standards decline, until it becomes like dark night or stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming the society, for that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. Jesus has taught us to be salt and light; and therefore, if darkness and rottenness still prevail in our society, it is our fault and we must accept the blame.

- Fourthly, Christians must retain our Christian distinctiveness. If salt does not retain its saltiness, it is good for nothing. If light does not retain its brightness, it becomes ineffective. So we claim to be Christ’s followers have to fulfill 2 conditions if we are to obey Christ. On one hand, we have to permeate non-Christian society, and immerse ourselves in the life of the world. On the other hand, while doing so, we have to avoid becoming assimilated to the world. We must retain our Christian convictions, values, standards and lifestyle. These are the things that help us to be influential, and to be salt and light.

- But how can we exert some influence for Christ? What does it mean in practice to be the world’s salt and light? What can we do for social change?

- Brothers and sisters, we must pray and do evangelism; we must witness and protest.

C. Prayer and Evangelism.

- Firstly, in order to influence our society, we must pray a lot as there is power in prayer. I beg you not to dismiss it just as a holy act; I beg you not to underestimate its importance in causing people to come to know Christ and be saved. I have preached to you all power, wisdom, faith and resources of God almighty is available to Christians; unless we pray, and we have no access to them. We cannot read the bible without being impressed by its constant emphasis on the effectiveness of prayer. James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Matthew 18:19, Jesus says, “…if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven.” We may not understand fully the rationale of intercession. But somehow it enables us to enter the field of spiritual conflict, and to align ourselves with the good purpose of God, so that his power is released and the principalities of evil are bound.

- The Filipino dictator, President Marcos, was as a result of the power of prayer, not people power as claimed. How could the machine guns and tanks fired at 2 milliion human barricades who were unarmed civilians, Roman Catholics and Protestants, who prayed! You see the power of prayer?

- Our churches must pray for those who are corrupted and injustice to be removed from power and authority. 1Timothy 2:1-4 actually urged us to pray for our authorities so that there may be peace and harmony in our country.

- With prayer, we must bring along the gospel as it is powerful. So, we must do evangelism. Gospel changes peoples’ lives. Have your lives being changed by the gospel? Every Christian must be able to echo Paul’s words with conviction, Roman 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

D. Witness and Protest

- We see the power of the gospel in transforming life. In fact, gospel is made up of truth. All truth is powerful. God’s truth is much more mighty than the devil’s crooked lies. We should never be afraid of the truth. Nor do we ever need to be afraid for the truth. For God watches over the truths and He will never allow the truth to be suppressed.

- As Paul put it, “we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2Corinthians 13: 8)

- We Christians and disciples are all called like our Master, Jesus, to bear witness to the truth.

- We must also protest if we find something not truthful. We may voice it or we write against it or we do not want to participate in it. So, are you for the truth of anything? Not just on matters concerning God, but also matters on every day life, like whether somebody has done something or say something. If you are there, can you witness for the truth?

E. Conclusion.

- You see why if you are putting in all the effort to be salt and light, you can make our society better in every sense? Your salt and light are at stake today.

The Trinity (Part 1 of 2)

30th May, 2010

Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han 

John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; John 14:16; 16: 8, 12-16; 1Corinthians 12: 4-6.

Main Idea: The Trinitarian God is really one God.

Objectives: a. To help you to appreciate the Trinitarian God and build a strong personal relationship with Him. b. To help you to clear your confusion about the Trinitarian God.

A. Introduction.

- The word ‘Trinity’ is not in the Bible. It is a theological term not a biblical term. By theological we mean that it is a term which best expresses what we believe the bible teaches. By not biblical we mean that the word itself is never used in Scripture. But it is definitely pure biblical teaching!

- The gist of the Trinity teaching is like this: one God in 3 persons: Father, Son, Spirit. God is one in his essential being but in this being there are 3 persons. Though they are 3 persons they do not compete with each other. God reveal him self to human beings like us in 3 forms.

- The 3 persons are distinctly clear in the one true God. The Father is 100% God, the Son is 100% God and the Spirit is 100% God.

- The Apostles’ Creed was one of the earliest creeds and shows the belief in the Father, Son and Spirit. You still remember, “I believe in God the Father almighty, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, …”

- A word of caution: do not allow Muslims or Cultists to accuse you of believing in 3 gods. This is their simplistic way of making you feel stupid or confused.

B. To understand the Trinity we begin with Jesus (John 1:1)

- John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God.”

- Was he a person? Yes. He was a man. 1Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” He had personality: He had feelings. Matthew 14:14 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” He had a mind. Philippians 2:5 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

- Was he God? Yes. He existed from the beginning (John 1:1). He was creator. John 1:3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. He was fully God (John 1:1).

- He was worshipped Matthew 2:2 “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” He forgave sins. Matthew 9:2 “Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

C. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.

- The Holy Spirit is a person. Jesus described the Holy Spirit as another paraclete. John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever”

- A paraclete (Greek, parakletos) is one who comes alongside. When Jesus called the Holy Spirit ‘another’ paraclete, it means the Holy Spirit is a person just as much as Jesus is a person.

- Take note the Holy Spirit is never an ‘it’ but a ‘he’. John 16:8, 12-14 “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

- Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words that cannot express.”

- The Holy Spirit has personality. Acts 5:32 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

- The Holy Spirit has feelings. Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

- The Holy Spirit has a will. Acts 16: 6-7 “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”

- The Holy Spirit is God. He is creator. Genesis 1:2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

- He is called God. 1Corinthians 12: 4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

- For today, we can see distinctly the Trinitarian godhead. I pray that you will see that the Trinitarian Godhead is real to you. It is not something for your knowledge and information only. I pray that as you are clear of the Godhead in 3 persons, the next time I preach to you the second part, you will find Trinity is very practical, it is in your life.

D. Conclusion.

- You see why it has to be Trinity? He can get personal with you and He is real to you.

What is the purpose of Jesus clearing the temple?

23rd May, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Aldersgate’s Sunday

John 2:12-25

Main Idea: The special relationship of Jesus with God

Objectives: a. To teach that we need a special relationship with God like Jesus. b. To teach that our bodies are temple of God and we need to take good care of it.

A. Introduction

- This is one of the rare occasions in the 4 gospels where Jesus was angry, aggressive and he cleared the temple as if he had the authority to do it.

- On what ground Jesus clears the temple as recorded?

- This is where we need to examine some background information and; we have to some explanation on what he says.

B. What is the purpose of Jesus clearing the temple?

- Now, why Jesus was so angry with what happened in the temple courts? Verse 14 says, “In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.”

- The temple here signifies the whole of temple and its surrounding areas. This includes the various courts as well as the holy place. The trading must have been done in the outer courtyard, the court of the Gentiles. The reason for the practice was at the convenience of those who could buy the sacrificial animal. People who came to worship from a distance, they could not bring with them the sacrificial animal.

- Money changers also took the opportunity because worshippers are only allowed to do money offerings in the approved currency. The other currencies were not acceptable was because they bore the Emperor’s image or they contained the image of idols. For whatever the reason, the rule required that money changers must be somewhere at work!

- Jesus made a whip from cords and used it to drive out all the traders with their goods, including the animals meant for trading purpose. He also overturned the tables of the money changers.

- It is clear that it was not so much the physical force that was used as a moral power to empty the courts. One commentator (H. E. W. Turner) said it was the blazing anger of the selfless Christ rather than the weapon which really cleared the temple courts of their noisiness and the mixture of all other goods.

- Who was Jesus who dared to do it? On what ground, what authority he could do it? Who asked him to do it? Was he not afraid of the consequence of his action?

- Simply put, what is the purpose of Jesus clearing the temple? The answer is found in verse 16 and the verses that follow. In verse 16, Jesus said to those who sold doves, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market?”

- What Jesus objected was the practice of trading at the temple courts. His motive was the reverence for my Father’s house. The temple court was supposed to be a place where Gentiles might go to pray or meditate in the temple. They could do it with peace. But now, it had been turned into a market place, which certainly affected the atmosphere of temple worship.

- Upon seeing the action of Jesus, His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9 which says, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” It is very clear again and again throughout the gospel of John, the writer’s aim is to show Jesus to be the Messiah. John wanted to show Jesus’ actions throughout the gospel as having a special relationship with God. John wanted to show that Jesus behaved like that because of His calling as Messiah. John is showing the readers, may be all the more, the Jews, at that time, that in Jesus, God is working out His purposes of salvation for mankind.

- So, in theological term, Jesus clearing the temple was a messianic action.

- In verse 18, we see the Jews demanded that Jesus authenticated His action with a miraculous sign. The Jews expected their Messiah to perform mighty miracles to prove that He was Messiah!

- But Jesus was to be manipulated by the Jews at their timing. He had his own timing to prove so. So He said in verse 19, “Destroy the temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

- Brothers and sisters, you see again and again, in Jesus’ ministry, He is all the time focused on His mission of salvation on earth. It is number one thing we need to give ourselves priority also.

- The Jews had mistaken what he said to refer to the physical temple which took 46 years to build.

- But, after the death of Jesus, His disciples knew then came to understand what Jesus meant by the statement he made, “Destroy the temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

- They knew that the temple referred to his body. His body was to be a sacrifice for man’s sin once and for all, to bring about forgiveness of our sins.

- Jesus’ word for temple denotes the shrine, the sanctuary, the very place where a deity, a god lives. It may be applied to us as believers also. It is advocated by apostle in 1Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” For this reason, today, I preach to you in the name of Jesus, your bodies are temple of God. Do not sin with your bodies. Your bodies are holy temple of God.

- No matter what, Jesus’ use of the word, temple probably implies that God lives in him in a very special way.

C. Applications

- a. John Wesley’s special relationship with God is like that of Jesus’ special relationship with God. Please do not misunderstand me. I mean John Wesley modeled after Christ’s relationship with God, the father. Can you also do the same? Take a look of Wesleyan movement on holiness through class, society and bands. He mobilized Christians to strike personal relationship with God through these means.

- B. Your body is a temple of God just like Jesus’ body is a temple of God. Do you see how sacred is your body. If only realize it more and more, otherwise, we will sin more and more using body. Sometimes, we treat our body like a pig treats its body. A pig, after it is washed, it will literally gets itself dirty again and again.

D. Conclusion

- Do you see how precious and important are you in the sight of God? Do you still want to sin with your body, mind and soul?

What is the big deal about Jesus changes water into wine?

16th May, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

John 2:1-12

Main Idea: Water is changed to wine revealed the glory of Jesus.

Objectives: a). To teach that miracle always reveals the glory of Jesus. b). To challenge the congregation to do the mission that Jesus has done on earth.

A. Introduction

- I believe we are all attracted by miracles. We believe in miracles, otherwise, we cannot be here praying to God in the name of Jesus and listening to sermons and worshipping God. We believe in the miracles of the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection of Jesus, for example.

- For us Christians, as disciples of Jesus, all miracles must lead us to believe in God in the person of Jesus and obey Him and He is glorified.

- By no means, miracle performers are glorified. If we do so, then, we face the danger of making a person God/ deify a person/ make a person deity. This is against the first and second commandments.

- Let us take a close look at the miracle of Jesus changes water into wine and how it glorifies Him.

B. The first powerful miracle of Jesus – Changes water into wine.

- The context was a Jewish wedding feast. It was a custom even among poor people because the guests brought gifts, including provisions. Jesus and his disciples would have been viewed as family for this purpose. However, they had no gifts to bring along. That would have caused Jesus’ mother, Mary to draw his attention to the situation. It was hardly a plea for a miracle, but he had some responsibility for it, and surely he could do something to meet it!

- Jesus’ reply was in verse 4, “Dear woman, why do you involve me?...”My time has not yet come.” This is probably Jesus also shares his mother’s concerns. And here, the hour refers to his task of bringing the kingdom of God, which will climax in his death and resurrection. The work of bringing God’s kingdom has been given by his Father, and the Father alone can determine when it begins, not his mother.

- The instrument used in meeting the need of wine is clearly significant in a Jewish setting. Jars of water originally designed for the purpose of ritual cleansing for people who come to the wedding feast, now, after Jesus prayed over them, they become jars of wine for the purpose of celebrating the mercies of God. Among the holy, pious Jews, wine was almost exclusively used for religious purposes.

- As I meditate on the passage, I asked the question, “What is the big deal about Jesus changes water into wine?” The answer is found in verse 11, “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”

- What is the big deal? The miracle of changes water into is to manifest the glory of Jesus. This great account of the first display of glory of Jesus by miraculously providing enough wine in an embarrassing situation may point to the full salvation that Jesus come to bring. As people were distressed from the situation of embarrassment, from no wine, John, the author wanted to use the provision of wine to testify for Christ’s saving mission in the world. This, Jesus knew right from the beginning. And He focused on it and he even used this miracle to show it.

- Please take note that the result of the miracle, the wine, is for everybody, all the peoples who come to the wedding feast. The wine here symbolizes the kingdom of God, the eternal life, which Jesus offers is for everybody. Eventually, this eternal life is made known to Nicodemus in Chapter 3.

C. Applications

- Let us not just become amazed by this miracle, by all means, let it impacts our life.

- Firstly, you can see that miracles have their godly purpose. A miracle that is performed by God must glorify Him, not any other human being. This is our Christian theology. It must always draw people to God in the person of Jesus, especially salvation in Christ. In this wine miracle, verse 11 says, “…Jesus disciples put their faith in him.” Otherwise, all miracles will remain as mere satisfaction of our human desire for entertainment, not more than a cinema show!

- Secondly, the wine miracle shows that Jesus is glorified in order to show mission in this world. He showed the miracle to demonstrate God’s power in providing salvation. Right from the beginning, he had this mission in his mind. He is full of strong sense of mission. All his miracles recorded and not recorded point all human beings to salvation in God; get people to worship God; get people to become disciples of Jesus. Will the choir presentation; choir ministry which we want to begin again show people the path to God; salvation in God?

- The wine miracle must help us to be like Jesus to be full of strong sense of missions on earth. Do you live for Jesus sense of mission on earth? If you do, you will great transformation in life. If you live for yourself, and yourself only, you will have no answers for your problems of selfishness, greed, hatred, anger, etc.

- Thirdly, “your life can change water into wine.” I put this sentence in quote and unquote. What it means is this, our lives can impact others life as hold dear the mission of Jesus to your heart. As you sacrifice for Jesus, people will be impacted by your life, as you give yourself to others. As you give yourself to others, you become a miracle, you change water into wine.

D. Conclusion

- Can all that you achieve in life be attributed to Jesus? If so, you are a miracle.