My food is to do the Father’s Will

7th November, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

John 4:27-38

Main Idea: We are fed by doing God’s will.

Objectives: a. To explain the reason for the food. b. to challenge the congregation to do the father’s will in our society.

A. Introduction

- You need food to survive. Food is vitally important to us as human beings. Without food, you will die of hunger. The physical food here is not the emphasis of Jesus. Jesus uses our human need for the physical food to bring out a dying/desperate need of Christians (His disciples).

- What is this desperate need of disciples of Jesus?

B. What is Jesus’ food all about?

- It is about the spiritual food that each disciple of Jesus needs. We need to be fed spiritual food by Jesus.

- This spiritual food which Jesus emphasizes is all about doing the father’s will. Jesus uses the food, the spiritual food to inspire us and challenge us to do the father’s will. Doing the father’s will is our spiritual food.

C. Why doing the Father’s will become the food?

- Let us see the context (verses 27 to 30) to know the reason why doing the Father’s will become the food. The Samaritan woman with 5 husbands at the well had a great encounter with Jesus which transformed her life. She even urged people to come to see Jesus, whom she regarded as Christ (Messiah).

- The disciples were unhappy that Jesus talked with her as she was unclean. Jewish (God’s) people were clean and the others were not clean. The disciples question Jesus for the conversation with the woman.

- I believe Jesus remembered very much the disciples question and He was trying to use the occasion to teach them something crucial. His opportunity came when the disciples urged him to take some food in verse 31. He grasped the kairos (time) moment again to tell his disciples in verse 32, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

- The disciples still did not know what the food was all about . So, they answered in verse 33, “Could someone have brought him food?”

- Then Jesus grasped the opportunity to explain that His food is to do the will of the father in verse 34, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

- Then, from verses 35 to 38, Jesus elaborated further on the food. It is about saving souls for eternity. The disciples talked about waiting for 4 months before the harvest of the wheat but Jesus is talking about the urgency of harvesting people for eternal life. The people out there were ripe for harvest. They were ready for salvation, like the immoral Samaritan woman.

- Most probably John the Baptist had done the hard work of sowing the seeds of repentance and now Jesus and the disciples can reap the harvest. That is why Jesus said in verse 38, “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

- So, the food is really referring to spreading the gospel of salvation and people are saved for eternity.

D. Why doing the Father’s will become the food?

- Isn’t reading bible, the word of God, listening to sermon, etc , our food? How come doing God’s will in terms of saving the lost become our food?

- Let us learn a new insight about spiritual food today. The new insight is this: by bringing people into the kingdom of God, we are spiritually satisfied; our life purpose on earth is fulfilled. We are spiritually nurtured. So, can you work hard on our Alpha project? We need to pray and do some work for the star fish on the beach before the Alpha course next year.

E. Why the need to do the Father’s will?

- The answer is found in verse 35. The fields are ripe for harvest.

- Do you see the needs of the people out there. I pray that when you see the immorality, how rebellious are the teenagers; the drug abuse; Aids; the sick and dying; corruption, you see the fields ripe for harvest.

F. Applications

- You must now learn to understand why Jesus’ food is to do the Father’s will in our society.

- If you have been reading bible and doing prayer, listen to sermon after sermon, you are still not satisfied spiritually, I put it to you that it could well be you have practiced the will of our Father yet. His will for you to bring the lost into the kingdom of God.

G. Conclusion.

- My food is to the Father’s will – can you claim that?

Desire Living Water (73)

24th October, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

John 4:1-26

Main Idea: Only Jesus gives living water

Objectives: a. To teach the congregation to desire the living water as the Samaritan woman. b. To teach that the way to desire the living water is through worshipping Jesus in Spirit and truth.

A. Introduction

- Human beings are created by God with the potential to desire anything. God, the creator, gives us freewill to desire and do anything. God does not create us to be like a robot.

- What do you desire in life (in next 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years on earth)? Your desires in life will affect your life pursuit? It will decide how you spend your life, money, energy and time. If you desire something that is not godly (like pornography, hypocrite, greed), you will become one. You will do the things according to the pornography; you will be one kind in church and totally another different person out there; as desire greed, you will cheat all the way, you will overwork, etc.

- You need to set the boundary of your desires. As disciples of Jesus, you need to make sure you desire the right and godly thing.

- Today, I preach to you that you need to desire the living water given by Jesus. Do you desire the living water?

B. What is the Living Water of Jesus?

- Let us see the context of this living water given by Jesus. Jesus approached the Samaritan woman for water. The woman knew Jesus was a Jew and it was ceremonially unclean for a Jew to use a drinking vessel handled by a Samaritan (verse 9 ).

- Jesus ignored the unclean law and reached out the Samaritan woman by engaging her in a great conversation on living water. He offered her living water and challenged her to know him (verse 10).

- From the response of Samaritan woman, you know she did not understand Jesus’ meaning of living water. She thought it was still very much the physical water from the well (verse 11).

- Then, Jesus made himself very clear in verses 13 and 14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The living water here is interpreted as the Holy Spirit as in chapter 7:38, 39.

- In verse 15, from the response of the Samaritan woman, we see she still misunderstood Jesus’ living water but this time, it created in her a desire to go for it. She requested Jesus for the living water.

- Jesus, being God also, of course knew why this woman needed the living water very much. In verses 16, 17 and 18, Jesus called for her husband to come and she confessed she had no husband and Jesus pointed her immorality.

- The woman discovered the great prophetic power of Jesus and regarded her as a prophet and she did not want to engage Jesus in a morality or immorality talk. Instead, she started to get religious and engaged Jesus in the venue of a religious worship.

- Could this be our tendency also? When we have sinned against God, when others pointed our sins, we do not to admit it and we switch to other spiritual topics. We pretend to be spiritual. We use something spiritual to cover our sin!

- But, Jesus made good the most ungoldly switch in verses 21 to 24. He took the golden opportunity (crucial moment, the kairos moment) to lead her to salvation in God the Father. Directing her on how to come to salvation in God the Father. The way is by worshipping the Father in spirit and truth for God is spirit in verses 23 and 24. And this is the kind of worshipper whom God is seeking for.

- To this, the Samaritan woman suddenly came to realize who was Jesus actually! She knew Jesus as the Messiah whom the Jews had been waiting for.

- As I reflected upon this great passage on the word of God, I asked myself why Jesus tried to link the immorality of the Samaritan woman to worship?

- I believe the answer has to be this: Jesus really saw the sinfulness (immorality of having 5 husbands) that deserved God’s intervention. Unless this woman came to God, otherwise, her soul would be lost for eternity in hell. She needed to come to terms with God by worshipping him in spirit and truth. Jesus really wanted to direct her desire for living water to desire to worship God.

- Brothers and sisters, do you see the same as Jesus? When you see the sinfulness of ourselves and society, do you feel the need of these people for salvation in Jesus? Do you see your own need for Jesus’ forgiveness of your sins?

C. Applications

- My first point of application now is the immorality that caused the Samaritan woman to desire the living water. Because of her immorality, she started to feel the need for God to forgive her sin. Eventually, in the later passages, you find that she must have really repented as she ashamedly announced the arrival of Messiah. In fact, in verse 39, we are told that many Samaritans believed Jesus because of her. Brothers and sisters, does your sinfulness get to desire God’s forgiveness like this woman? Church nowadays need this very much. We are not at all powerful disciples of Jesus because we are bonded by your sinfulness.

- Secondly, will you desire the living water like the Samaritan woman? I believe, in the face of Jesus, she felt she was completely morally bankrupt; she needed God’s forgiveness very much. Do you have that kind of desire?

- Thirdly, the way to desire the living water is through worshipping Jesus in spirit and truth. You have to come before God with your inner your spirit with all honesty.

D. Conclusion

- The water can become living because Jesus is living God. Desire Jesus the living water more than anything in life.

He must become greater; I must become less

17th October, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

John 3:22-36

Main Idea: To show Jesus must become greater in our lives and we must become less.

Objectives: a. To show human tendency to become greater b. To show that we as disciples of Jesus must become less and He must become greater in our lives.

A. Introduction

- When you are sinful, you are so proud of yourself, Jesus becomes less in you. When you are sinful, (fill with pride because you are right all the time, the others are wrong; not willing to let go of your wrong mindset; you are lying and keep lying; there is unforgiveness, hatred, etc), you will like to have the final say about your lives, you ignore all the truths, all that Jesus requires you, you compromise on the word of God, of course Jesus has less and less say in your lives, Jesus becomes less in your lives.

- Sin put you yourself at the centre of your life and it means self-centeredness and pride taking over your life.

- You face all the consequences of self-centeredness and pride.

- Study the Chinese character of smelly. The word self is above the word big and with a dot in the middle, it means smelly. When you are big, you are smelly!

- We desperately need to learn from John the Baptist to allow Jesus to become greater in our lives.

B. Mentality of John the Baptists’ disciples.

- Now, we understand from the context that John the Baptist and Jesus and their disciples were doing ministry and baptism at the same time. John’s disciples developed an argument with a Jew on the ceremonial washing and they consulted him. They pointed out that Jesus was also baptizing like him and everyone is going to Jesus to receive baptism in verse 26.

- As disciples of John, it is very natural to develop the sin of jealousy towards Jesus because those who received baptism by their teachers were getting less and less. Or, even nobody came to John for baptism. Their teacher was becoming less important now! Their teacher could even be replaced by Jesus!

- Praise the Lord John the Baptist knew very well his own identity and his mission was to prepare the way for Jesus. He was not at all threatened by the presence of Jesus.

C. John the Baptist’s attitude towards Jesus.

- Let us see the attitude of John towards Jesus in verses 27 to 36. His attitude toward Jesus is the title of this sermon, in verse 30, “He must become greater; I must become less.”

- How John can develop such attitude towards Jesus? The skill behind it is like this: John, right from the beginning of his ministry knew that his mission from God was to prepare for the coming of Jesus. But most important of all, he was willing to do the God given mission for Jesus because he knew thoroughly who was Jesus. His knowledge of Jesus allows to develop the godly attitude of “He must become greater; I must become less.”

- In verse 27, John recognized that Jesus was mandated by the heaven to do what need to be done. Verse 27 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.”

- From verse 28, John also recognized he was the Christ but he just sent ahead of Jesus. In verse 29, he likened himself to be the friend to the bridegroom (Jesus), so, when he heard that Jesus was coming, he was overjoyed and he felt his job was complete when he was able to prepare the way for Jesus.

- You see how well he knew Jesus from verses 31 to 36: in verse 31, Jesus is the one from above is above all; in verse 32, Jesus has personal experience that is coming from God; in verse 33, the people also accepted Jesus as coming from God and it was for the purpose of salvation; in verse 34, Jesus spoke the word of God and the Holy Spirit empowered Him to do so; in verse 35, God the Father loves Jesus, the Son, and God has put everything in His hands; and in verse 36, John recognized Jesus as eternal life giver, as Savior.

- This thorough knowledge concerning the real person and God in Jesus of John allowed him to develop the humble attitude of Jesus must increase in his life and he himself must decrease. This must be our attitude towards Jesus.

D. Applications.

- How do you allow Jesus to be greater inside you?

- First and foremost, you need to realize who Jesus Christ is, as John the Baptist realizes who Jesus Christ is.

- To do that you need to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. Most of the times, we only have head knowledge of Jesus. We may know and believe in a superficial manner how good, powerful, merciful, gracious, all knowing, is He, etc. But we never allow Him to have a final say about how we should live our lives (if He says, we lie anywhere and even allows the devil to have the final say in our lives; we allow devil to work more than Jesus work in our lives). So, since our lives are not transformed, we do not find Jesus real in our lives.

- How do we transfer the head knowledge of Jesus and allow it to touch our hearts, move our hands and legs to obey Him? Not to be so self-centered? Allowed Jesus greater space in our lives?

- For a lot of people, because God disciplines His children, God has to use crisis to break down our pride, self-centeredness, to hit us, to wake us up so that we obey Him.

- Can we do without this alternative as it is too painful?

- Can we use a more gentle path of reasoning with God’s word? Can we do lots of dialogue with God? Why I still have this sin, weakness, struggles, pride, pain, etc? What are the consequences for my disobedience? What can Jesus do to me if I obey Him? How much do I want to suffer before I let go and let God, in the person of Jesus to have the final say in my life?

- As you dialogue with Jesus, may be you will give up the greater financial gain in order to deal with greed in your life; give up your face in order to deal with your pride in your lives; give up the woman in order to experience joy in marriage; give the man in order to experience joy in marriage; give up hatred, bitterness and unforgivenss in order to be reconciled with people around you, etc.

- When you give up the rubbish, the sins in your life, Jesus will become greater in your life. If not, in your bondage to sin, do you think, do you expect to be greater in your life?

- Secondly, then, we need to realize how much we need Jesus in our lives. Most of the times, we do not feel the need for Jesus because we do not regard Jesus the master of our life; as our God who has the final say about how we make decision; as a result, we do not fill the need for him.

- Personally, as I stay close to Jesus because of the authority of God, everyday, I find that I face temptation to lie, to be pride, to condemn and not love, to gossip, to pull down others and show people how great I am, I feel that I need Jesus very much. I always go him and have dialogue with him. If I leave anything godly behind, after my 9 years in GMC, it is this one precious thing, the art of doing dialogue with Jesus. Do that, you will find that your live will allow greater space for Jesus. Jesus will become greater in you.

E. Conclusion.

- If Jesus is not becoming greater inside you then you are growing “Bigger” inside. Then, you miss Jesus totally. One great consequence is there will be no joy in your life. You are just living a sinful life.

Repentance (Social Concerns 5)

3rd October, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Luke 23:26-42

Main Idea: The need for human kind to repent

Objectives: a. To teach the meaning of repentance so that we all repent from our unholiness. b. To help the congregation to see the repentant and unrepentant people from Jesus’ perspective.

A. Introduction

- Today we will read the last 2 social principles of the Methodist Book of Discipline, Peace and World Order; and Political Life.

- May we read it with a mission to transform our society with scriptural holiness? I shall focus on the criminal and restorative justice but I will not be that specific as it is.

- On the criminal and restorative justice, the book of Discipline says, “In the love of Christ, who came to save those who are lost and vulnerable, we urge the creation of a genuinely new system for the care of restoration of victims, offenders, criminal justice officials, and the community as a whole. Restoration justice grows out of biblical authority, which emphasizes a right relationship with God, self, and community. When such relationships are violated or broken through crime, opportunities are created to make things right.”

- I will imply from that point and emphasize on the scriptural holiness of repentance, something the whole society, including you and me need so much.

- Today, if you think you do not need repentance in your life right now, you are wrong and I am sorry to say to you your life will not get better. If you have sin in your life and not repent, how can God bless you and you get better.

- I pray that you will not think that only the criminals need to repent and you do not need to repent. I pray that at the end of my sermon, everyone of us will feel the need to repent from something that is not right in the eye of God, or according to the word of God, the bible.

- I pray that Jesus uses me to enlighten you on the subject. The passage that God impresses on my heart is Luke 23:26-42. May this passage inspire you to go for repentance and help you to help people to repent?

B. What is the difference between the two criminals?

- As we face the great passage of Jesus’ conversation with the criminals, we must thank God for it inspires us to see the criminals and all who those evil or sinful people in a very different light. How do you see the criminals in our society?

- Most of us see them as people who have broken the laws and deserve punishment? Some of us who are more compassionate will see them as victims of modernization and environment. Some see them as they deserve many more times of punishment. Some even see them as hopeless cases. I do not blame you for all such perceptions. We may have been trained to perceive them like this.

- Jesus’ experience today at the cross must challenge us to change our perceptions about the criminals. I have done the reflection and meditation from verse 26 till verse 46. I thank God for the great the communication between me and Jesus in this valuable passage. Only Luke recorded the conversation between Jesus and the 2 criminals; Matthew only mentioned there were 2 robbers crucified with Jesus. Thank God for the precious record in Luke.

- I asked the question in meditation, “What is the difference between the two criminals?

- You see the difference in these 3 verses, 39,40 and 41. The one in verse 39 says, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!? You can see even in hour of death, he was full of pride and unbelief. He still believed he was in control of the situation. Out of pride, he challenged Christ to come down from the cross like others. He insulted Jesus.

- The other criminal in verse 40 says, “Don’t you fear God … since you under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” You see the difference. This man on the cross before he died, he repented. He confessed his wrong, his sin. He feared God. He was remorseful; felt regret about the crimes he committed. He even urged his fellow criminals to do likewise. The first criminal was unrepentant and the later criminal repented!

- No wonder Jesus gathered all His strength in the dying moment, to declare and respond to the 2 criminals, and (especially to the second one) who might have committed the same crime and sin in verse 43, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” You see how Jesus forgives the criminal and accepted him into the paradise.

- Our God accepted repentant people into paradise and of course, heaven eventually. Theologically, paradise is believed to be a temporary place where all those who repented and saved in the arm of Jesus will end up there first before the great judgment by Jesus when He comes the second time.

- Now let us see how Jesus further sees the sinners of this world in verse 34 in his dying hour, suffering hour in great pain. Those are His most powerful words, precious and valuable words, words worth our attention; words that must transform our lives; words that must shape our perception of the criminals and sinners like you and me and all others out there.

- Jesus says in verse 34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This is most inspiring for personal relationship with God. It teaches me and I pray that it also teaches you on how we must see the sinners in us and all others.

- The great implication is this, no matter how evil and sinful we are, God is all the time forgiving towards us. Can you see the criminals and sinners in this light? Then, it will help you to do a lot of evangelism and missions. When you see people as those who are qualified to be forgiven by God, you will be so powerful for Jesus, you will Christ disciples to help them to know God and become Jesus’ disciples.

C. Applications

- We need to repent from our unholiness, e.g., unwillingness to recognize our sinfulness like pride, greed, self-centeredness, etc. The way to do it is to do self examination of everything you say and do. Watch out for your own attitudes, hearts, mindset, perceptions, personality, and character. See if there is any flaws, come to Jesus and repent.

- How Jesus sees a criminal should help us to minister to both the repentant and unrepentant people. You will love everybody, even your enemies if you obey Jesus’ teaching.

D. Conclusion May Jesus help you to repent from our unholiness. Only then, we can help others to repent.

Do you love Jesus? (Social Concerns 4)

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?

Jesus Loves the Sick (Social Concerns 3)

19th Sept, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Matthew 10:5-10

Main Idea: Reach out to the Sick

Objectives: a. To teach the congregation to reach out to the sick as Jesus loves the sick. b. To teach the causes of sickness.

A. Introduction

- The Methodist book of discipline has a big section on the social principle of the Church and General Welfare. Let us read it with conviction and allow it to influence our daily living.

- There are many answers to the issues we face in our society. Our stands for those issues are very clear. I pray that you will stand by them and promote them. Let us read them now.

- For my third social concern sermon today, I shall concentrate on the area of reaching out to the sick. The social principle on the church and General Welfare has a section on mental health and medical care. Let me quote the relevant parts. “…We strongly favor the healing ministries of the church… We believe that adequate facilities with professionally trained staff must be made available for the emotionally ill and the mentally retarded of every community. We also believe that churches may become spiritual centers of healing through worship, pastoral concern, and volunteer service for the emotionally ill.”

- How far have you reached out to the sick and lost? By the sick, I mean those who are physically, emotionally and psychological sick. Sometimes, they do not know God yet and they do not have proper life purposes on earth yet, and so they are lost. Have you grasped the opportunity to visit the sick and pray for them?

- It is Jesus’ priority to heal the sick. You can see that in today’s passage.

B. What can Jesus do with the sick?

- In Matthew 10 verse 1, we see that Jesus literally mobilized His 12 disciples and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. One implication for us here on this series of sermon on social concerns is this, the church needs to care for the sick. The church of Jesus is made up of disciples like and me, we need to heal the sick. That is the command that Jesus has given to disciples like you and me. Will you do it?

- And in verses 7 and 8 today, you see the clear command of Jesus for His 12 disciples and you and me, “As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” And the ministry should be done with no expenses. In verses 9 and 10, the disciples were told not to bring along any financial means and facility to support themselves, for God will supply their needs through the people, “… for the worker is worth his keep.”

- Do you see the great priority that Jesus gives to the sick? I hope you do and you will reach out to the sick as commanded by Jesus.

- As I meditate on this passage, I ask why Jesus heals the sick. My answer is very simple. He loves the sick. He has compassion for the sick people. He does see the sick as people who are troublesome for him to deal to with him. He even gives special command to the disciples like you and me to heal them.

- As I reflect more, I just feel that Jesus is very down to earth, He desires to meet the deepest need of people. Brothers and sisters, this is the nature of our faith, our relationship with Jesus (God), our God desires us to meet the human needs of people. So, what people need, we must meet the need. When people are sick, they need healing.

- In our society, of course we have all kinds of sickness like cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, diseases caused by germs, bacteria, and viruses, etc. We are also at a stage where life is getting more and more stressful because we want to pursue a higher standard of living. We now also witness the fact that mental health problem is on the increase.

- There are more than ever, more and more people are getting depressed, emotionally ill and mentally ill. In most cases they need a lot of encouragement, support, and most important of all love, and attention. What can you do?

C. Applications

- When you see depressed people, do not do any finger pointing anymore. Do not condemn them any more. Let us reach out to them for Christ, whether they are Christians or not.

- In most cases, the causes of mental sickness could be due to unhealed hurts and the patients are depressed about it. They become very negative and depressed, even become suicidal. They just cannot come out of the negative thinking and I always believe it takes God’s intervention to happen. In serious cases, they need medication. But that is not all, they need lots of love and attention in order to recover. So, you need to do lots of listening, counselling, prayer, etc.

- In view of the need of the sick people of all kinds, God may be calling you to become counselors, doctors, dentists, nurses, pastors, etc.

- As an ordinary disciple of Jesus, can you express your love by visiting and praying for the sick? Most importantly, you need the compassion for them and then, you need to spend the time with them.

D. Conclusion

- Can you be Jesus to the sick?

Be a good tree (68) Social concerns (2)

12th September, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Luke 6:43-45

Main Idea: To teach the congregation not to practice corruption.

Objectives: a. To explain the meaning of a good tree. b. To teach the congregation not to practice corruption.

A. Introduction

- The second social principle of the social creed is about Christianity and the economic order. Let us read it with understanding and allow it to impact our lives. This second principle is very rich in its content. It is touching on political power, corruption, property and acquisition of wealth, poverty and employment, workers and bargaining powers, consumerism, rural and urban life, mission and Christian vocation!

- I shall focus on corruption on this series of sermon on Social Concerns. Let me justify myself. First and foremost, it is for the purpose of awareness and we must not become part of it. Secondly, it is a serious problem that affects the allocation of resources of our country. Take a look at the part of the social principle that talks about corruption:

- “We are gravely concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development, the rule of law and the administration of justice. We are also seriously concerned that most of the time, the least privileged bear the highest cost of corruption when the state’s financial resources are inefficiently allocated and wasted. The church stands against all forms of corruption in her Endeavour to be the salt and light of the world. The church advocates and promotes integrity, accountability, and proper management of public affairs and public property and to this end the church rejects and will not participate in the giving and receiving of bribes. The church supports all comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to prevent and combat corruption effectively”. (Page 34, Methodist Book of Discipline, 2008)

- It is in the context of corruption that I use the scriptural text today.

- I liken a person who does not practice corruption to a good tree that bears good fruit.

B. How destructive is corruption in Malaysia?

- You may ask what is corruption or bribery. Its simple definition is to intentionally give a reward in monetary form or other forms with the understanding that the other party will give you the project , license, or any business deal the giver of bribe desires for. The bribe can be given so that you become the preferred candidate or it is done to speed up a process of application for a particular permit, approval, license, etc. Take for instance; you give a bribe secretly to one government officer so that you can a project to supply something to his department. It is a sin because both of you bypass the principles of transparency, justice and accountability. A small example will be to give a small amount to a traffic police so that he will not “saman” for your traffic offence. It is a sin because as a responsible citizen you have disobeyed a traffic rule which is designed for the safety of road users. You also have contributed to making the police committing a sin.

- What is so destructive about corruption in Malaysia? What is at stake is not only a sin. When everybody is doing it, when people from top to bottom are doing it, then, ultimately, wealth will concentrate in a few hands throughout the country. It results in very unequal distribution of wealth given by God to all the citizens in the country. It is what the book of discipline says, “the state’s financial resources are inefficiently allocated and wasted.” Eventually, the poor will get poorer and powerless and the rich will get richer and more powerful. In the end, the poor may not stand it any longer, they will not only commit crime, they will organize demonstration and violence!

C. Applications

- A good tree produces good fruit. Christians, in essence, by nature, after salvation, as we walk through our journey of faith, we must live a life of holiness, God fearing, a life of godly characters. Jesus likens us to a good tree.

- So, Jesus teaches in verse 43, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” When we are dealing with plant life, it is clear that each tree has its characteristic fruit. You cannot pick a certain type of fruit from any tree but its own. All other trees grow different fruit.

- Good people, good Christians, like good trees, produce good fruit. He produces his fruit out of the good treasure of his heart. It is what he has in his heart, in his inner life that determines what fruit his life will yield. So, also with an evil person, his inner evil can produce only evil

- The principle stated in the end is out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Our words reveal what is in our heart.

- People whose hearts are filled with greed will no doubt produce words of corruption and leading to bribery. No greed in the heart, there will be no bribery. A good heart, a good tree will not practice bribery.

- How to fight against corruption? You need to ask your what good will you gain by bribery. You have sold away your Christian characters like contentment, honesty, accountability, etc. You put the name of Jesus to shame, you take on greed, dishonesty, hypocrisy, self-centeredness, etc. You distant yourself from God and the person of Jesus, you sin against him. You may be richer, but you may not have peace in heart, you cannot face Jesus; etc.

- Remember, your godly characters are at stake when you compromise your Christian values. You sold away dignity and identity as Christians. Can you face Jesus’ judgments?

D. Conclusion

- Be a good tree that is grounded in the word of God. When your holiness is rooted in the word of God, you will not bribe. You shall be a great testimony for Jesus. People will know Christians, disciples of Jesus will not both receive or give bribe.