Sunday, 15th November 2009
Back in January 2007, I recall a discussion I had with Rev Peter Koh, the senior pastor of my church. He had (and still has) some reservations about the prosperity and health gospel. Specifically, he told me that there are Christians who subscribe to what is no different from "positive thinking" instead of accepting some of the harsh realities of life such as falling sick. He felt that it would give Christians a false sense of hope if they do not ultimately recover from a terminal illness.
I would have agreed 100% with him even as recent as 7 years ago. I was a "practical" Christian who lived by the maxim "hope for the best but be prepared for the worst". My son's medical condition, and the state of my marriage and career back then were cases in point. I remember dismissing the Kenneth Copeland materials that Mrs Catherine Wee gave my wife in 2000 and 2001 as a load of bullcrap.
It was only when Mrs Wee showed me Rom 4:17 and Prov 18:21 in the midst of that marital counselling session in January 2003 that the scales began to fall from my eyes. I now know that because of the price that Jesus paid on the cross, we have every legal right to not only hope for the best but also be prepared for the best.
Coming back to that discussion with Rev Koh, I responded by telling him that there was a difference between worldly positive thinking and the Christian's version of positive thinking, as it were. The former is based on self-efforts, on psyching oneself up without any spiritual foundation. The latter is based upon identifying what is written in the Bible and then aligning ourselves with those promises. As an illustration, worldly positive thinking says "I can do it! Nothing is impossible!", whereas aligning ourselves with God's Word is saying "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me because nothing is impossible with God" (Phil 4:13, Lk 1:37)
Praise God then that nearly three years after that discussion with Rev Koh, this topic on "Christian positive thinking" came to light again at the youth service today, whereby Ps Reuben preached a sermon entitled "Proactive Speaking"!!! :-)
Just in case you were wondering, nope Ps Reuben did not consult me on this, nor was he even aware of that discussion I had with Rev Koh (which took place in Jan 2007, whereas Ps Reubs only came to PLMC in Aug 2007) . Rather, it is the same Holy Spirit that dwells within him and within me that is merely confirming what is already contained in His Word. Amen?
We, who are humans created in God's image (Gen 1:26), have also been given that same power in our words (Prov 18:21). Just like how a horse's bit or a ship's rudder controls its destiny, so too does our tongue control ours (Js 3:4). God spoke the universe into being, so too can we speak to shape our future. The best example is that of Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham, which means "father of many". Imagine how he had to go around introducing himself, "Hi, I am father of many" when he did not even have a proper son at that point in time. But as he went about declaring so, God caused those words to come to pass and through him the heir of promise was born.
By the way, you can listen to Ps Reuben's "Proactive Speaking" at the following link:
http://www.box.net/shared/xr0v11bsql
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Discipleship Defined
Saturday, 14th November 2009
My church is currently going through the book of Mark as a series to understand what is meant by discipleship.
When I was a youth growing up (and even in my earlier years as a Christian), discipleship was not really a "user-friendly" word, if you get my drift. It conjured up images of someone who had to read 6 chapters a day, pray 2 hours a day, fast twice a week, etc etc. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, a picture of a Pharisee would come to mind.
Which I now realise is actually not that far off. As a result of Jesus giving these folks names like "a brood of vipers", or "whitewash tombs", we get this idea that Pharisees are a bunch of religious hypocrites. But their intentions were actual noble ones.
The word Pharisee comes from the Hebrew פרושים perushim from פרוש parush, meaning "set apart". God had called Israel to be set apart from the other idol-worshipping nations, and here were people within the nation of Israel who wanted to be set apart unto Him. They would study the Laws of Moses under the tutelage of a Rabbi. And that is why Saul took pride in pursuing this path. When he dragged the early Christians and put them into prison, he really believed he was doing God a favour. He really believed he was doing God's will. And shudder of shudders, he really believed he was being a disciple!
So I really thank God for opening my eyes last week, and helping me to see discipleship in the correct perspective. Ps Reuben preached a sermon entitled "The Whole Equation" whereby he defined discipleship as basically becoming more and more Christ-like as a result of spending more and more time with Him and looking to Jesus as our model.
I don't know about you, but when I see discipleship in this new dimension, it becomes desirable and pleasurable. It is no longer about a set of do's and dont's but about enjoying Him and getting to know Him more. It is no longer being a Martha, rushing about here and there trying to please God. Rather, it is about being a Mary, simply sitting at His feet and enjoying Him.
So does it mean we become lazy and do nothing? Certainly not! In due time, God will place us at the right place at the right time to do His good pleasure, just like He placed Mary at the right place at the right time. She had chosen the good part and that was not taken away from her. While several women had failed to anoint Jesus on Easter Sunday morning because His tomb was already empty, Mary was the only one who succeeded the week before. We read this in Jn 12:1-8
John 12
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
So while the other womenfolk were at the wrong place at the wrong time, Mary was at the right place at the right time as far as anointing the Lord was concerned. Likewise, we the modern-day Mary will also be placed by God at the right place at the right time to do His good pleasure.
By the way, you can listen to Ps Reuben's sermon entitled "The Whole Equation" at the link below:
http://www.box.net/shared/k9q2036s1f
My church is currently going through the book of Mark as a series to understand what is meant by discipleship.
When I was a youth growing up (and even in my earlier years as a Christian), discipleship was not really a "user-friendly" word, if you get my drift. It conjured up images of someone who had to read 6 chapters a day, pray 2 hours a day, fast twice a week, etc etc. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, a picture of a Pharisee would come to mind.
Which I now realise is actually not that far off. As a result of Jesus giving these folks names like "a brood of vipers", or "whitewash tombs", we get this idea that Pharisees are a bunch of religious hypocrites. But their intentions were actual noble ones.
The word Pharisee comes from the Hebrew פרושים perushim from פרוש parush, meaning "set apart". God had called Israel to be set apart from the other idol-worshipping nations, and here were people within the nation of Israel who wanted to be set apart unto Him. They would study the Laws of Moses under the tutelage of a Rabbi. And that is why Saul took pride in pursuing this path. When he dragged the early Christians and put them into prison, he really believed he was doing God a favour. He really believed he was doing God's will. And shudder of shudders, he really believed he was being a disciple!
So I really thank God for opening my eyes last week, and helping me to see discipleship in the correct perspective. Ps Reuben preached a sermon entitled "The Whole Equation" whereby he defined discipleship as basically becoming more and more Christ-like as a result of spending more and more time with Him and looking to Jesus as our model.
I don't know about you, but when I see discipleship in this new dimension, it becomes desirable and pleasurable. It is no longer about a set of do's and dont's but about enjoying Him and getting to know Him more. It is no longer being a Martha, rushing about here and there trying to please God. Rather, it is about being a Mary, simply sitting at His feet and enjoying Him.
So does it mean we become lazy and do nothing? Certainly not! In due time, God will place us at the right place at the right time to do His good pleasure, just like He placed Mary at the right place at the right time. She had chosen the good part and that was not taken away from her. While several women had failed to anoint Jesus on Easter Sunday morning because His tomb was already empty, Mary was the only one who succeeded the week before. We read this in Jn 12:1-8
John 12
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
So while the other womenfolk were at the wrong place at the wrong time, Mary was at the right place at the right time as far as anointing the Lord was concerned. Likewise, we the modern-day Mary will also be placed by God at the right place at the right time to do His good pleasure.
By the way, you can listen to Ps Reuben's sermon entitled "The Whole Equation" at the link below:
http://www.box.net/shared/k9q2036s1f
Sunday, November 8, 2009
More to Words
Sunday, 8th November 2009
Back in 2002, my marriage was on the rocks.
My wife and I live with my parents. When they heard us quarrelling practically everyday, they advised us to go for pastoral counselling.
Back then, the senior pastor of my church was Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup (who is now the TRAC President).
The first two counselling sessions were held separately: I would see Rev Wee and complain to him all about my wife. My wife would see Mrs Wee and would, needless to say, complain to her all about me.
Then, the third session was a combined one, after which we were asked to pray for each other. I was asked to start first and prayed something along the lines of, "Dear Lord, please forgive me for the wrong I have done to my wife. Help me Lord to be a better husband." When it came to my wife's turn, she prayed, "Thank you Lord that our marriage is strong and that Mal is a good husband." I was stunned because back then, that was far from reality! Our marriage was not strong and I was a horrible husband.
Then Mrs Wee showed me the following verses:
Rom 4:17 -- about God calling for things that do not yet exist as though they do
Prov 18:21 -- about life and death being in the power of the tongue (ie our words)
Wow, it was a real revelation to me! Even though I had been a Christian since 1979, this was the first time I was made aware of the existence of these two verses!!!
Mrs Wee then went on to tell us about how God had spoken the universe into being, and we being created in God's image, have that same power to speak life (or death) into our situation, and we would eat the fruit of our lips.
And indeed, it was because of those positive confessions that our marriage was restored, as well as my career.
Which now leads me to sharing another wonderful testimony about something that just happened yesterday.
My boy had a kidney transplant back in April 2008 and needs to go for regular blood tests in order to monitor how well the transplated kidney is doing. There is this particular reading called the creatinine level, which ideally should range between 125 and 150. Two weeks ago, on 31st October the reading was at 163. When the nephrologist was told about this, she kind of panicked and wanted my son to be hospitalised and to go for further tests. However, after some negotiation, she agreed to letting him come back for a test one week later (ie. yesterday, on 7th November).
The day after that first blood test, my entire family (including my son) went to attend our youth service because Ps Reuben Ng was preaching. And what do you know! His sermon text was on Prov 18:21!! What a timely reminder!
And so, during the course of last week, we took Holy Communion and confessed that Mark's kidney was operating perfectly. After all, the good work that God had started (in giving him the kidney), He would also bring to completion (to continue to preserve and protect the kidney).
Welll, praise the Lord! He took the blood test yesterday, and voila, the reading was at 143! Hence, there is no need for our son to be admitted for further tests. Hallelujah for the rhema word of God spoken through Ps Reuben's sermon last week.
Speaking of which, that sermon is entitled "My Life, My Death, My Words", and you can download it at the following link:
http://www.box.net/shared/7szz5hzopq
Back in 2002, my marriage was on the rocks.
My wife and I live with my parents. When they heard us quarrelling practically everyday, they advised us to go for pastoral counselling.
Back then, the senior pastor of my church was Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup (who is now the TRAC President).
The first two counselling sessions were held separately: I would see Rev Wee and complain to him all about my wife. My wife would see Mrs Wee and would, needless to say, complain to her all about me.
Then, the third session was a combined one, after which we were asked to pray for each other. I was asked to start first and prayed something along the lines of, "Dear Lord, please forgive me for the wrong I have done to my wife. Help me Lord to be a better husband." When it came to my wife's turn, she prayed, "Thank you Lord that our marriage is strong and that Mal is a good husband." I was stunned because back then, that was far from reality! Our marriage was not strong and I was a horrible husband.
Then Mrs Wee showed me the following verses:
Rom 4:17 -- about God calling for things that do not yet exist as though they do
Prov 18:21 -- about life and death being in the power of the tongue (ie our words)
Wow, it was a real revelation to me! Even though I had been a Christian since 1979, this was the first time I was made aware of the existence of these two verses!!!
Mrs Wee then went on to tell us about how God had spoken the universe into being, and we being created in God's image, have that same power to speak life (or death) into our situation, and we would eat the fruit of our lips.
And indeed, it was because of those positive confessions that our marriage was restored, as well as my career.
Which now leads me to sharing another wonderful testimony about something that just happened yesterday.
My boy had a kidney transplant back in April 2008 and needs to go for regular blood tests in order to monitor how well the transplated kidney is doing. There is this particular reading called the creatinine level, which ideally should range between 125 and 150. Two weeks ago, on 31st October the reading was at 163. When the nephrologist was told about this, she kind of panicked and wanted my son to be hospitalised and to go for further tests. However, after some negotiation, she agreed to letting him come back for a test one week later (ie. yesterday, on 7th November).
The day after that first blood test, my entire family (including my son) went to attend our youth service because Ps Reuben Ng was preaching. And what do you know! His sermon text was on Prov 18:21!! What a timely reminder!
And so, during the course of last week, we took Holy Communion and confessed that Mark's kidney was operating perfectly. After all, the good work that God had started (in giving him the kidney), He would also bring to completion (to continue to preserve and protect the kidney).
Welll, praise the Lord! He took the blood test yesterday, and voila, the reading was at 143! Hence, there is no need for our son to be admitted for further tests. Hallelujah for the rhema word of God spoken through Ps Reuben's sermon last week.
Speaking of which, that sermon is entitled "My Life, My Death, My Words", and you can download it at the following link:
http://www.box.net/shared/7szz5hzopq
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Innocent Named and Shamed while the Guilty Gets Away Scot-Free
Saturday, 7th November 2009
I came across this article in yesterday's Straits Times. It was
about a doctor who was accused by one of his clinic assistants of molest.
While the general rule for crimes is "innocent unless proven guilty", for such "crimes of passion", it seems to be the reverse, ie "guilty unless proven innocent".
Whatever the case, the accused is always named and shamed while the guilty gets away scot-free.
In this particular incident, although the doctor was acquitted because of inconsistencies in his assistant's testimony, his name appears in the article in full.
On the other hand, the only thing that is mentioned about the assistant is that she is a 31-year old.
Some may ask, where is the justice? After all, the doctor's reputation has been stained while the assistant is none the worse. His photo appears in the papers for all the world to see, but she remains incognito.
But a deeper spiritual truth dawned upon me as I reflected upon this. Jesus Christ, the second person in the Godhead was named and shamed 2,000 years even though He was perfectly innocent. On the other hand, we the guilty and un-named are able to get away scot-free because of His complete and perfect work on the cross.
Hallelujah!
I came across this article in yesterday's Straits Times. It was
about a doctor who was accused by one of his clinic assistants of molest.While the general rule for crimes is "innocent unless proven guilty", for such "crimes of passion", it seems to be the reverse, ie "guilty unless proven innocent".
Whatever the case, the accused is always named and shamed while the guilty gets away scot-free.
In this particular incident, although the doctor was acquitted because of inconsistencies in his assistant's testimony, his name appears in the article in full.
On the other hand, the only thing that is mentioned about the assistant is that she is a 31-year old.
Some may ask, where is the justice? After all, the doctor's reputation has been stained while the assistant is none the worse. His photo appears in the papers for all the world to see, but she remains incognito.
But a deeper spiritual truth dawned upon me as I reflected upon this. Jesus Christ, the second person in the Godhead was named and shamed 2,000 years even though He was perfectly innocent. On the other hand, we the guilty and un-named are able to get away scot-free because of His complete and perfect work on the cross.
Hallelujah!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
What is Eternal Life?
Sunday, 1st November 2009
I became a Christian at the age of 12.
Why?
Because I was told that by doing so, I would go to heaven after I die. One of the most quoted verses of the Bible is Jn 3:16 " For God so loved the world that He gave His begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
Back then, to me eternal life meant going to heaven.
Then, at the age of 19, while in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, a fellow brother shared with me the following verse:
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (Jn 17:3)
After sharing it, he said, "Isn't this marvelous?" to which I replied, "Yes."
But deep inside, I felt a tinge of disappointment...
Eternal life to the Christian is supposed to be what nirvana is to a Buddhist.
So if eternal life was not about "heaven" but was about "knowing God", then what was so great about that since I already knew who He was, having grown up in Sunday School?
And that summed up my life as a Christian back then for the next 20 years, until as recent as 5 years ago. I am sure there are many other Christians who will be equally disillusioned when they are shown Jn 17:3.
It was no wonder then that being a Christian had little impact on my everyday life. Hence the thought of suicide while in the Basic Military Camp in the Army. You can read about that here.
Hence the anger with God in 1997. Hence the thought of divorce in 2002. You can read more about that here.
It was only in 2005 when that colleague of mine left his pastor's CD sermons in the office for others to borrow was there a start of that breakthrough. No prizes for guessing which pastor I am referring to, but you can read this post just to make sure :-)
It was listening to those sermons where Jesus and His finished work was being unveiled that the concept of "knowing God" became relevant, and meaningful. It was then that I realise what Jn 17:3 was all about and that knowing our Creator God is the greatest privilege that any created being can ever ask for!!!
This truth is illustrated in Lk 10:38-42 where we read the account of two sisters -- Mary and Martha.
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
In the eyes of the world, what Martha did would have been honourable as she was busying herself with "all the preparations that had to be made", while Mary would have been considered lazy for not lifting a finger in helping her sister.
Yet, Jesus rebuked Martha saying she was "worried and upset about many things" and praised Mary for "choosing what is better" -- by sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to what He said.
What was Mary doing? She was doing the one thing that is needed. She was getting to know Jesus. She was experiencing eternal life.
And that is what you and I as beneficiaries of the New Covenant should be doing too. The more we know God the Father and Jesus the Son, the more we know what has been accomplished for us already. The more we will experience eternal life.
And that was what Ps Reuben was conveying to the youth at a recent sermon he preached entitled "That You May Know Him", which you can download to listen to at the following link:
http://www.box.net/shared/olo7ihxqlp
I became a Christian at the age of 12.
Why?
Because I was told that by doing so, I would go to heaven after I die. One of the most quoted verses of the Bible is Jn 3:16 " For God so loved the world that He gave His begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
Back then, to me eternal life meant going to heaven.
Then, at the age of 19, while in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, a fellow brother shared with me the following verse:
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (Jn 17:3)
After sharing it, he said, "Isn't this marvelous?" to which I replied, "Yes."
But deep inside, I felt a tinge of disappointment...
Eternal life to the Christian is supposed to be what nirvana is to a Buddhist.
So if eternal life was not about "heaven" but was about "knowing God", then what was so great about that since I already knew who He was, having grown up in Sunday School?
And that summed up my life as a Christian back then for the next 20 years, until as recent as 5 years ago. I am sure there are many other Christians who will be equally disillusioned when they are shown Jn 17:3.
It was no wonder then that being a Christian had little impact on my everyday life. Hence the thought of suicide while in the Basic Military Camp in the Army. You can read about that here.
Hence the anger with God in 1997. Hence the thought of divorce in 2002. You can read more about that here.
It was only in 2005 when that colleague of mine left his pastor's CD sermons in the office for others to borrow was there a start of that breakthrough. No prizes for guessing which pastor I am referring to, but you can read this post just to make sure :-)
It was listening to those sermons where Jesus and His finished work was being unveiled that the concept of "knowing God" became relevant, and meaningful. It was then that I realise what Jn 17:3 was all about and that knowing our Creator God is the greatest privilege that any created being can ever ask for!!!
This truth is illustrated in Lk 10:38-42 where we read the account of two sisters -- Mary and Martha.
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
In the eyes of the world, what Martha did would have been honourable as she was busying herself with "all the preparations that had to be made", while Mary would have been considered lazy for not lifting a finger in helping her sister.
Yet, Jesus rebuked Martha saying she was "worried and upset about many things" and praised Mary for "choosing what is better" -- by sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to what He said.
What was Mary doing? She was doing the one thing that is needed. She was getting to know Jesus. She was experiencing eternal life.
And that is what you and I as beneficiaries of the New Covenant should be doing too. The more we know God the Father and Jesus the Son, the more we know what has been accomplished for us already. The more we will experience eternal life.
And that was what Ps Reuben was conveying to the youth at a recent sermon he preached entitled "That You May Know Him", which you can download to listen to at the following link:
http://www.box.net/shared/olo7ihxqlp
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