tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74649566814059272902024-03-21T11:34:50.402-07:00HOPE EFC JOURNALThe Blog Journal of Hope EFC, Kuala Lumpur.Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-64717769534928264532015-04-06T23:29:00.001-07:002015-04-06T23:29:08.231-07:00TOWNHALL MEETINGS MARCH 2015At our recently concluded Townhall Meetings, we reiterated the four things that are our focus this year and beyond.<br />
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Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-80182431542009008142014-10-10T02:08:00.002-07:002014-10-10T02:16:48.490-07:00BUMBLEBEE Library-on-Wheels <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS0pCRotuWDdJfVxgTrTC79szAINcIIQOB3xYdz_2QUNdXABy2QMa3du9dvxUpRotJ2GO2pMBtLrYnYPo_95KhhnMH8hE8MbIjFSGKQpURGd063AIrdYvkX8YCF3d3cEaFepie_dTIFc/s1600/Bumblebee+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS0pCRotuWDdJfVxgTrTC79szAINcIIQOB3xYdz_2QUNdXABy2QMa3du9dvxUpRotJ2GO2pMBtLrYnYPo_95KhhnMH8hE8MbIjFSGKQpURGd063AIrdYvkX8YCF3d3cEaFepie_dTIFc/s1600/Bumblebee+Logo.png" height="135" width="400" /></a><br />
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Many housing estates outside the city centre do not enjoy access to books, toys and games that are so common to more privileged homes. This is why <a href="http://www.malaysiancare.org/" target="_blank">Malaysian CARE</a> came up with the idea of an educational resource centre on wheels, bringing resources and educational activities to marginalized children.<br />
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Called <b>BUMBLEBEE,</b> the mobile resource centre is a modified 1-ton truck that is designed to bring a little sunshine into the lives of these children, and indirectly promote community development.<br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht01u0Nv5cxw7KTAtUrPY7NkYXG4A-Vw42o505xHcwbyualu8xWm11nr0QlP9wXEdcZumkxTvw8SE7TRHYi8RiKujFKdP0TxMq_06ePArgohg1L-wGL_7imYyS9sFsBHf6i1Gu0mzw8oI/s1600/SriS+BB4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht01u0Nv5cxw7KTAtUrPY7NkYXG4A-Vw42o505xHcwbyualu8xWm11nr0QlP9wXEdcZumkxTvw8SE7TRHYi8RiKujFKdP0TxMq_06ePArgohg1L-wGL_7imYyS9sFsBHf6i1Gu0mzw8oI/s1600/SriS+BB4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a>
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<b>BUMBLEBEE</b> makes monthly visits to designated low-cost neighbourhoods in the Klang Valley where our partners already have an ongoing outreach programme. We open up our door flaps, unpack our gear, spread out outdoor waterproof floormats and welcome children to help themselves to our stock of books and goodies.<br />
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Together with volunteers, we supervise simple educational activities, read-alouds, or simply let the children do as they please. We provide ‘space’ for relationship-building, life-enriching lessons and encourage collaboration to build friendships.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssotwMDcRKJhU-6up0pNoZtKnf6XWAmb2OxQS0QTuVBp0PDLtdRE5m42Opx-G5gc12EoDrQdshhyd3yqNrzA2UndW63bui0HytJ9UXYfhnE9jznJTZhyfcionhTiN_6SN1UFqfVWxoTY/s1600/SriS+BB7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssotwMDcRKJhU-6up0pNoZtKnf6XWAmb2OxQS0QTuVBp0PDLtdRE5m42Opx-G5gc12EoDrQdshhyd3yqNrzA2UndW63bui0HytJ9UXYfhnE9jznJTZhyfcionhTiN_6SN1UFqfVWxoTY/s200/SriS+BB7.JPG" /></a></div>
<b>HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP!<br /></b><br />
We need volunteers (older teens and adults) who will spend time with the children and befriend them. You will assist to engage these children in simple games and educational activities. Volunteers provide supervision and ensure that order is maintained, and help is available when necessary.<br />
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More importantly, your presence will go a long way to build friendships and improve community relations among people of different races, especially among those who are culturally different from us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdfQ34p_mntNBLiVaigaycIvADf2_z9-W_hfAdkg9PpW8X4CUWCt9skL70R7oU_XEon3exQBxFmx3xN1raUA05ySNORaDMjpVmG2eSo94MPObb4JZPCyGaUOjJJylWxCnT1-Mf9anv0c/s1600/Razak+mansion+BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdfQ34p_mntNBLiVaigaycIvADf2_z9-W_hfAdkg9PpW8X4CUWCt9skL70R7oU_XEon3exQBxFmx3xN1raUA05ySNORaDMjpVmG2eSo94MPObb4JZPCyGaUOjJJylWxCnT1-Mf9anv0c/s1600/Razak+mansion+BB.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>WHERE’S THE ACTION?</b><br />
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Presently, Malaysian Care sends BUMBLEBEE to several low-cost locations.<br />
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In Setapak, BUMBLEBEE visits PPR Sri Semarak, Air Panas on the third Saturday monthly, starting at 4pm, where Hope Evangelical Free Church (Hope EFC) hosts English Language activities and a Reading Room. There are plans to increase visits to nearby PPRs as and when we have enough volunteers.
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<b>HOW MUCH TIME DO I COMMIT AND DO I NEED TRAINING? </b><br />
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Each visit is no more than 2 hours long. We will also advise that you attend a short briefing session to be aware of the dynamics of our activities and understand cultural sensitivities of the community we operate in.<br />
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<b>WANT TO VOLUNTEER?</b><br />
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<b>We are constantly looking for people who want to make a difference in our society. Here's a simple way you can do it. </b><br />
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Make yourself available. Make yourself present. Make an effort to interact. Make time to make friends. Along the way, you will build bridges and promote community neighbourliness among people of all walks of life, especially those who are more vulnerable and less privileged.<br />
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<b>Please contact Sook Ching (0126779884) </b><br />
<b>or Pei Yin (0126515818)
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Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-13815030358147797442014-09-21T23:23:00.000-07:002014-09-23T00:09:05.352-07:00Sermon Series: Epistle of James 1:19-27Sunday Worship
Message by David Tan<br />
Click on SlideShare to get a full view.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/39408850" style="border-width: 1px; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="425"> </iframe> <br />
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<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/dbctan/james-1v19-27-hearing-and-doing-39408850" target="_blank" title="James 1v19 27 hearing and doing">James 1v19 27 hearing and doing</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/dbctan" target="_blank">David Tan</a></strong> </div>
Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-69413850383600764092014-09-17T04:47:00.004-07:002014-09-17T04:48:34.567-07:00<h2 class="contentHeadline" style="border: 0px; color: #b20000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Sabah churches move off secession clamour</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17 Sept 2014</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Malaysiakini)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Sabah churches today distanced themselves from the ongoing clamour on secession from Peninsular Malaysia, but they want the federal government to address a litany of grievances that have been raised over the years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Key issues they want tackled are religious freedom and human rights, which we outlined in in a Malaysia Day message termed as their “Kota Kinabalu Declaration”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The clamour for Sabah and Sarawak to pull out of Malaysia has refused to die down, especially in social media, and grew louder in the run-up to the yesterday’s Malaysia Day celebrationss despite threats by the authorities to use draconian laws on them, including the Sedition Act.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Quoting Scriptures, the 31-paragraph statement declared that as “A triple-braided rope is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12b), therefore, “we declare our commitment to defend the sovereignty of Malaysia as a federation composed of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It emphasised that the Federation of Malaysia comprises Sabah, Sarawak and the Federation of Malaya as equal partners when the new nation state was formed on Sept 16, 1963.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Alluding to the threat of Ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy by extreme right wing elements, the statement pointed out that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the nation and all citizens have equal protection under the law. Any other form of supremacy is clearly ultra vires the constitution and unacceptable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The Kota Kinabalu Declaration was issued today, at the end of a three-day revival meeting themed “Moving into a New Season” together with a “Mitabang Mamangkis” which is the climax of all the 21 Mamangkis gatherings held at various towns in Sabah over the past two years.</span><br />
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<span class="subtitle" style="border: 0px; color: #b20000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A war cry and victory song</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Mamangkis is the war cry and victory song from the old head-hunting days of the Sarawak natives, but has been contextualised as the clarion call for Christian revival. Mitabang is the call for believers to close ranks and to help one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The Kota Kinabalu Declaration is signed by Sabah Council of Churches president Bishop Thomas Tsen, Commission on Sabah Affairs of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairperson Rev Jerry Dusing, Perpaduan Anak Negeri (PAN) Sabah or Native Solidarity chairperson Pastor Esther Golingi, and by Pastors Steven Choon and Daniel Chin of the Kota Kinabalu Pastors Fellowship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The declaration states that under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Article 18 states that everyone has the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his or her religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance and the freedom to change one’s religion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It cited Article 19 of the UN Declaration as declaring that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The senior clergymen said, “The proliferation of oppressive laws that violate our fundamental civil liberties continues unabated, the legislative, executive and the judiciary must take urgent measures to remove such offensive laws and selective prosecutions and to restore just, fair, and democratic principles of governance as envisaged by the framers of our constitution and our founding fathers.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">On the position of Native Christians, the statement said, “By the will of the Sovereign Lord, more than two-thirds of the Christian population is made up of Malay-speaking bumiputera believers, the first born of the land; the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia and the Anak Negeri of Sabah and Sarawak.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">“The prophetic Word of God declares: “Every place that the sole of your feet will tread upon I have given to you just as I promised to Moses.” (Joshua 1:3).”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It said that under Article 153 of the constitution, Malays in the peninsula and indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak are accorded a special position and privileges, but the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia are excluded from such protection and it is timely, after half a century of such unjust exclusion, that the rights of the indigenous Orang Asal communities must be given due recognition with utmost urgency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It also said while the special position of the Malays and natives of Malaysia shall be safeguarded, it is timely that the legitimate interests of other communities in Malaysia be equally observed and upheld in accordance with the provisions of Article 153.</span><br />
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<span class="subtitle" style="border: 0px; color: #b20000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, Islam is the official religion...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">While affirming Islam as the religion of the Federation, it said other religions may be practised and people of other faiths shall have the constitutional right and freedom to profess, practise, propagate, and manage their respective faiths without interference and intervention by the State.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">“The constitution provides for laws to be enacted for the administration of Islam, such laws shall not be applied to non-Muslims, nor shall non-Muslims be subject to shariah law,” the statement says.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It also pointed out that freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and set out in the first of the 18-Point and 20-Point conditions of Sarawak and Sabah respectively under the Malaysia Agreement, but the legislative, executive and judiciary have persistently and wilfully trampled upon such rights of people of other faiths by making laws and decisions that militate against such freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">“The prohibition of the usage of the word ‘Allah’ by bumiputera Christians to refer to the one true God and the restricted ban on the use of the Al-Kitab, the Malay language Bible, since the early 1980s are instances of gross violations of human rights.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The senior clergymen also hit out at the judiciary at its highest levels for increasingly becoming more inclined to defend the supremacy of race and religion than to abide by their oath of office to defend the supremacy of the constitution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It said, “The judiciary must act with justice and righteousness so that the ordinary citizen can drink from the fountain of the King’s justice, without fear or favour.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">On the usage of the word ‘Allah’ in the Al-Kitab (Malay Bible), the statement said the right to determine the liturgy and theology, including the translation of Holy Scriptures of non-Muslims, reside exclusively with the respective ecclesiastical authorities. The state, including Islamic agencies and the sultans as heads of Islam in their respective states, must not intervene in the exclusive province of other faiths.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It said, “The crisis over the usage of the word ‘Allah’ and the Al-Kitab remains unresolved for over 30 years now. The Malay speaking members of the Church in Malaysia have no other alternative but to continue to use this word and the Al-Kitab in the manner their forefathers have done so.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It also took to task extremist dakwah elements who undertake aggressive Islamisation by both covert and overt means to convert bumiputera Christians through intimidation, deception, or inducements, particularly targeting remote and poor villagers, as well as the conversion of school children living in government hostels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">“The National Registration Department, despite its denials, is also classifying native Christians with ‘bin’ or ‘binti’ in their names as Muslims in their MyKad, without their knowledge or consent. Such unlawful and oppressive practices must stop immediately,” it said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It also accused the government of having allowed hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants to inundate the country by giving them identity cards and/or citizenship since the 1970s, while scores of native-born people remain as stateless persons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It said the influx of illegal migrants ending up as eligible voters through dubious means has grown to the extent that they seriously undermine free, fair and democratic elections.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The clergymen also demanded that “against such acts of treason, action to the full extent of the law must be taken against those who perpetrate such treason, regardless of how politically influential they may be in the ruling regime.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">BOB TEOH retired recently as a newspaper editor. He was the National Union of Journalists secretary-general from 1984 to 1986.</span>Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-89226035843700348962014-09-14T23:09:00.000-07:002014-09-22T23:29:57.218-07:00Sermon Series: Epistle of James 1:12-18Sunday Worship Message by David Tan<br />
Click on SlideShare to get a full view.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/39408452" width="476"></iframe>Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-68956378125307524742014-09-07T23:03:00.000-07:002014-09-22T23:30:24.732-07:00Sermon Series: Epistle of James 1:1-11Sunday Worship
Message by David Tan<br />
Click on SlideShare to get a full view.
<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/39408259" width="476"></iframe>Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-60321683089956900712014-06-29T10:03:00.002-07:002014-06-29T10:03:35.172-07:00COMING SOON! Christian Homeschool Dialogue #2 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-78269153190941688752014-06-27T03:43:00.000-07:002014-06-27T03:43:11.346-07:00CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL DIALOGUE #2<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZaWPdy9p3MkWlZyy5rbm1flZzo66u06idsYs8ZiT6TDcJIeXIVDoyr5WvOVoCBkKOhtTG02OhSbDn7UA94PfvH5OUQE3EH2kEClWiiWtYdHzpn9exRU0reo2BriZKkh0MmJ0wGJvsNw/s1600/Dialogue+2+Stories.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZaWPdy9p3MkWlZyy5rbm1flZzo66u06idsYs8ZiT6TDcJIeXIVDoyr5WvOVoCBkKOhtTG02OhSbDn7UA94PfvH5OUQE3EH2kEClWiiWtYdHzpn9exRU0reo2BriZKkh0MmJ0wGJvsNw/s1600/Dialogue+2+Stories.png" height="290" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: nowrap;"><b>Homeschooling parents and kids </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: nowrap;"><b>share their their convictions and experiences</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday 12 July 2014 </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3.00PM ~ 5.00PM </span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hope Evangelical Free Church </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No.6-1 Jalan Wangsa Delima 10,<br />
Wangsa Link, Wangsa Maju,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia </div>
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Tel/Fax: 03 41435357 </div>
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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/pet7skn" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/pet7skn" target="_blank">Google Map</a><br />
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Light refreshments will be served.<br />
Please note that NO babysitting services will be provided<br />
and parents are responsible to keep their children occupied<br />
during the session.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Guest Speakers:</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">David & Sook Ching Tan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Alfred & Stacey Chong</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Amy Wan Ratos</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Natalie Ng (23)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Elliot Tan (22)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Eliza Tan (15)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Registration:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Fees: RM10 per adult parent. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">RM5 per child above 12 years. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Free for children under 12 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(Payable at the venue)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To register, please email names of parents, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">children's name and age, to:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">ckeong7@gmail.com</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">dbctan@gmail.com</span></span><br />
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The truth is, there is no such thing as a <i>"christian"</i> homeschool. However, what we have are Christians who educate their own children in the home in very personalised ways.<br />
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And no two homeschoolers are alike, because no two families are the same. But homeschoolers who choose to have their children educated at home share very similar convictions. </div>
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Join us to hear how these homeschooling parents are doing on the road less traveled, how they teach and discipline their children, what challenges they face, and what keeps them chugging along day by day. You will also hear homeschooling children talk about their experiences.<br />
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With two ex-homeschoolers and one teen who is still homeschooled, there will be interesting stories for sure!
If you have always wondered what is homeschool and how parents educate their own children, this dialogue session is for you.<br />
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If you are already homeschooling, here's an opportunity to network and find encouragement as we learn from one another.<br />
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<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-35827398466607589502014-06-01T22:16:00.001-07:002014-06-01T22:16:59.779-07:00Christ's Ascension<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-62680823253693597102014-02-11T20:23:00.000-08:002014-03-31T06:25:58.420-07:00FISH OUT OF WATER<b>SPEAKER: CHEE CHIN HOE</b><br />
<b>TITLE: FISH OUT OF WATER: GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HUMANITY</b><br />
<b>TEXT: GENESIS 2:7
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Genesis 2:7 </i><i>Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. </i></blockquote>
The Genesis record of God’s creation offers an interesting look at what humankind was created for. We read of a natural habitat that was designed for plants, as well as land and marine life, where each ‘kind’ could multiply and thrive. By looking at these earliest passages of Scripture, we discern God's design for humanity and why evangelism and mission are important to His church.<br />
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<b>It began with the Creation Mandate</b><br />
Genesis 1:11,12:<i> The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. </i><br />
Genesis 1:20: <i>Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky. </i><br />
Genesis 1:24,25: <i>And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” </i><br />
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However, Genesis 1:26,27 reports the creation of humankind differently: <i>Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.</i> <i>So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."</i><br />
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Unlike other plant life and living creatures, humankind’s life is naturally found in God, being created in His image and breathed into life (Genesis 2:7).<br />
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Because the Fall separated men and women from God, real life that is wholesome and full with a perfect relationship with our life-giving Creator was lost. A person without God is therefore like a fish out of water, removed from its original habitat. And like fish out of water, a person without God will die. God's people is therefore mandated to help bring lost souls back to their original life giving habitat, which is a living relationship with God our Creator. This is God’s purpose for His church, and this is the reason Jesus came to live among us.<br />
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<b>It is exemplified in God’s covenant with Abraham</b><br />
When Abraham first received God’s call, it was to go out to a Promised Land. The call came with a promise - as God blessed Abraham, he would in turn be a blessing to others. Genesis 12:1-3 <i>“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” </i><br />
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It is the Church’s mandate as God’s chosen people</b><br />
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 <i>God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…</i><br />
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As a people set apart for God, the church has an important task to be agents of reconciliation. Some of us will receive a special call to cross-cultural mission. But everyone’s responsibility is to reach out to unbelievers wherever they are placed, to bless others as they themselves have been blessed.<br />
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In order to become an effective witness and impact our community for Jesus, the book Becoming a Contagious Christian offers a helpful formula.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b>HP + CP + CC = MI </b></blockquote>
Maximum Impact (MI) is achieved when a follower of Christ displays High Potency (HP), which is an authentic life of holiness and passion, and lives in Close Proximity (CP) with people around them to intentionally touch their lives. There must be Clear Communication (CC), by which the gospel of Jesus is shared in ways that unbelievers and the irreligious can understand and be impacted.<br />
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It is God's desire to see the lost saved. If we recognise God's purpose, we will not hesitate to be used of Him to help the dying find life.<br />
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<b>Chee Chin Hoe</b> <i>is the CEO of <a href="http://www.visionfund.org/" target="_blank">VisionFund Cambodia,</a> the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision. Chin Hoe and his wife Sook Fern are based in Cambodia. They have one adult daughter who is living in Melbourne. </i><br />
<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-75575954558486479792014-02-06T23:46:00.000-08:002014-02-11T06:56:31.673-08:00LIVING BEFORE GOD'S FACESUNDAY SERVICE: 2 FEB 2014<br />
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN<br />
TEXT: GENESIS 17:1-3<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>GENESIS 17:1-3 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. </i></blockquote>
<b>Living in an enduring relationship </b><br />
‘Walk’ is a figure of speech, a metaphor, for “the way we live” and it always implies a choice we make every waking moment of our life. Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9); Enoch walked with God and he was taken up to heaven (Gen 5:21-24). In every instance, this walk is an ONGOING journey that is undertaken by the person and God, as if they were traveling side-by-side together.<br />
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It refers to an enduring relationship, for we can’t ‘walk’ together unless we are friends. As every relationship has expectations, so as God invites Abram to walk with Him, he adds: “Be blameless.” So walking before God is not just a destination, but a direction, or a particular way we live. The more we love God, the more we will live to please Him. Paul says: “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Eph 4).<br />
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<b>Living in the face of God </b><br />
<i>Coram Deo</i> is the Latin expression that means living “before God’s face,” which is what Abraham is expected to do. It means to <i><u>live in the reality of God’s world and his sovereignty</u></i>. He is ever present, ever seeing, every minute, every hour, every day – not just when we are involve in church activities. This is both a fearful reality and a comforting presence. For though we do not see God, He sees us and this is both an encouragement to righteous living and an assurance of security that only God can provide.<br />
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To live before God’s face is to <i><u>live in God’s favour.</u></i> Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”<br />
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Our Lord blesses when we seek to live to please and honour him.
When King David sinned, he would cry, “Do not hide your face from me.” (Ps 102:2) Sin blocks God’s face. Jesus hung on the cross because he bore our sins. God turned his face away from his Son so He can turn His face towards us in grace. Therefore to live in the face of God is<i><u> living a transparent and honest life</u></i>. We examine our lives daily, confess and repent where necessary. Where there is confession and repentance, reconciliation begins, and we find forgiveness and wholeness.<br />
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Living before God’s face also means <u><i>God sees all the suffering or injustices inflicted on his people</i></u>. As Paul’s conversion story illustrates (Acts 9:4) God sees the evil His children suffer as if they were committed against our Lord personally. Thank God that we can commit our fears to Him and trust He will act and deliver as He wills for His name’s sake.<br />
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<b>Living as redeemed sinners </b><br />
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The only way to a healthier and meaningful life is to live gratefully as a forgiven sinner. Many of our emotional problems have roots in a withdrawing or hiding from God, as Adam and Eve did when they first sinned. But as we face up to our sin and accept God’s gift of grace in Christ we experience freedom. Walking before God is the way God transforms us and makes us good, as CS Lewis reminds us.<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
God is inviting us to live <i>Coram Deo</i> before his face. We can’t see God’s face, but when we look at Jesus, it is God we see, and it is the face of love, grace and mercy. It is not a small thing to live before God - It is a privilege as well as a responsibility. Abraham himself made many bad decisions and sinned. Yet he continued to walk before God, and he was counted righteous and honoured as God's ‘friend.’ Let’s seek God’s face, choose now to walk with Him, and live.<br />
<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-34290763832096577002014-01-30T22:24:00.000-08:002014-02-10T22:42:36.185-08:00DOING GOOD, ENDURING EVILSUNDAY SERVICE: 26 JAN 2014<br />
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN<br />
TEXT: 1 PETER 3:8-17<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7iCHNXfd-BP5-Wr1nvB0ZT1Hh-HEqTxoZMKYLkaJR3uWmEEbca88TButqDf5ufGGYmTQSfTzPcjHoill4JsYDAarxor7xylNoRfpiZTkQV9L3sqj3vs1CKcYa_BskjcCTVbbz38_W3E/s1600/Doing+good+title+slide.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7iCHNXfd-BP5-Wr1nvB0ZT1Hh-HEqTxoZMKYLkaJR3uWmEEbca88TButqDf5ufGGYmTQSfTzPcjHoill4JsYDAarxor7xylNoRfpiZTkQV9L3sqj3vs1CKcYa_BskjcCTVbbz38_W3E/s400/Doing+good+title+slide.png" height="300" width="400" /></a>Peter wrote his letters to Christians in the Roman empire between AD 64 – AD67 as Nero’s rule over Rome was at its most violent, at a time when God’s church faced her fiercest persecution. In times like ours in Malaysia, Peter’s letters are a good reminder to remain faithful witnesses even through suffering – especially as our destiny is victory and glory! As believers, Peter says we should not be surprised at the coming fiery trials (4:12). Meanwhile what do we do? How are we to be witnesses?<br />
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<b>We witness by our convictions</b>
In the first chapter of his first letter, Peter tells his readers that they have been chosen by God, their salvation is sure, they have a living hope (1:3) and that their faith is more “precious than gold that perishes” (1:7). He refers to the Christian life as an inheritance that is waiting for us through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. It is this conviction that helps Jesus’ followers to stand and declare what they believe when confronted with persecution and suffering. Our endurance affirms our convictions .<br />
<br />
<b>We witness as a community</b>
We do this as a gospel community, a holy community, and not as an individual believer.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“How is it possible that the gospel should be
credible, that people should believe (in the) power… that is represented by a
man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only
hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it
and live by it.” <b>Lesslie Newbigin</b></span></blockquote>
Peter addresses his letters to “a people belonging to God” (2:9,10). He offers advice and commands for families, husbands and wives to live in harmony; he speaks about relationships between masters and servants, citizens and emperors. He talks about the importance of unity and brotherly love, kindness, humility. Our witness fails, when our community fails. Only as a community living together in love and fellowship will our gospel be a credible witness to a hostile world. <br />
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<b>We witness by our confession</b>
Our confession may be expressed through the Church sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion; at other times words must be used.
But mainly, we confess to what we believe by being a people who are godly and who are eager do good. "<i>Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (2:2)</i><br />
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As Bishop emeritus Hwa Yung said: “We may not be wanted, we may be treated like pendatang, but God has called us to be a blessing. And I don't care what you think of me, I am going to be a blessing!"
God’s power is truly demonstrated when we remain united through fiery trials and His people continue to do good even when they are hated and persecuted (3:16).<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b> The church of God is the aroma of Christ. Unbelievers watch to see if what we preach is true, and if the benefits are real. As our society grows more intolerant, we need to be a community that speaks powerfully of God’s grace and salvation through righteous living and good works - to those in the church as much as those who are outside. We cannot do this alone, but as God’s community we can do much by His grace. Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-41310918593742762692014-01-23T06:28:00.000-08:002014-01-24T06:31:25.629-08:00NEW YEAR, NEW LIFE <b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 19 JAN 2014 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: ROMANS 6:1-4 </b><br />
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The Bible has important things to say about newness: a new covenant; new heaven and earth; God’s mercies are new every morning; we are born again into a new life, a new creation. Yet we do not always feel new. For many of us, our Christian faith feels <i>old</i>, our life somewhat dull. What does the Bible mean by new life? How does a Christian receive it and live out this new life?<br />
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<b>Newness of Life</b>
When a person becomes a believer, he receives through faith in Jesus a <i><u>new lif</u></i>e. It is a new spiritual reality that we cannot fully understand but can only experience. A believer has a new direction and begins to think, feel, act in a completely new way as if he is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).<br />
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<b>Jesus our righteousness</b>
Newness of life is a <u><i>status</i></u> we receive when Jesus’ righteousness becomes ours. Paul describes how Jesus’ death justifies us, grants forgiveness and saves us from God’s wrath.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Roms 5:17</b> For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! </i></blockquote>
Paul goes on to say that we do not earn our salvation – this gift of righteousness is free, thanks to Jesus’ finished work on the cross!<br />
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<b>Dead to sin, alive to God</b>
Paul refers to baptism to explain a believer's identification with Jesus in death and resurrection. We died with Christ (Rom 6:5) when He<i> “died to sin once and for all”</i> (Rom 6:8-10). Therefore the power of sin no longer enslaves a believer.<br />
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Paul is however <u><i>not</i></u> saying that the effect of justification only happens during baptism – justification takes place upon a simple confession of faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection As Rom 4:25 declares,<i> “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” </i><br />
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Baptism is a visible display of obedience and an acknowledgement of God’s ownership of our life: “You belong to me now,” God says. “I’ve made you new. Live for me because I will live in you.”<br />
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<b>Reign of righteousness</b>
In writing about new life, Paul refers to two kinds of rule. He writes of the reign of righteousness: <b><i>Rom 5:17 17</i></b> <i>For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! </i><br />
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And he writes of the reign of sin:
In <i><b>Rom 6:12</b> “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body…..”</i><br />
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A believer is given a new passport – citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. The laws of the other kingdom no longer apply and the believer escapes God's wrath . The believer who has now been saved by grace is therefore motivated by love and thankfulness to serve the rule of righteousness, to live a life that pleases God more and more.<br />
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<b>Process of sanctification</b>
More than a status, the new life is also a process where the believer is being made holy by the Holy Spirit. This process is called sanctification. An evidence of new birth is a vital relationship with God. We want God more and more; yet unless we are made holy, we can’t have that relationship. So the Holy Spirit sanctifies us to desire more and more of God, to live in righteousness.<br />
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But what happens when we fall into sin? Thankfully, we can turn to God who forgives (1 John 1:8,9)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>John Newton:</b> "My exercise of grace is faint, my consolations small, my heart is full of evil, my chief burdens are, a wild ungoverned imagination, and a strange sinful backwardness to reading the Scriptures, and to secret prayer….But my eye and my heart are to Jesus! His I am; Him I desire to serve; to Him this day, I would devote and surrender myself anew." </blockquote>
Like John Newton, though we fail, we ought to keep our eye and heart on Jesus. In confession and repentance, God will forgive and make us whole.Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-57836919072744423352014-01-16T00:54:00.000-08:002014-01-17T02:13:00.689-08:00THE SEEDS OF STRENGTHS IN PARENTING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 12 JAN 2014</b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: JOSEPH TAN</b><br />
<b>TEXT: PSALMS 1:1-3</b><br />
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<i><br /></i>
<i>1 Blessed is the one </i><br />
<i>who does not walk in step with the wicked </i><br />
<i>or stand in the way that sinners take </i><br />
<i>or sit in the company of mockers, </i><br />
<i>2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, </i><br />
<i> and who meditates on his law day and night. </i><br />
<i>3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, </i><br />
<i>which yields its fruit in season </i><br />
<i>and whose leaf does not wither— </i><br />
<i>whatever they do prospers. </i><br />
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<b>Fruitfulness vs Productivity</b><br />
Life is like a garden – there’s always a lot of effort to tend it, to remove weeds, etc before we enjoy its fruit in season. The phrase <i>‘fruit in season’</i> tells us very much about what the Bible regards as important: while the world talks about productivity, the Christian focuses on fruitfulness. Productivity has to do with efficiency, while fruitfulness has to do with effectiveness. What does fruitfulness imply?<br />
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In John 15, Jesus called on his followers to abide in him. Only by abiding in him or obeying will the Christian bear much fruit (v5) and only then will there be joy (v11).<br />
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These Biblical truths point us towards lessons in parenting. It is intentional, it bears fruit, and it produces joy. And joy ultimately sustains us and builds up the total person, spirit, body and soul. Joy is therefore not merely the fruit of a faithful life of attentiveness and obedience, it is also the seed of a person’s strength. In parenting, we must be careful to nurture that which bears the fruit of joy.<br />
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<b>The Anatomy of Strength </b><br />
College Administrator Edward Anderson once said, <i>“Most students leave college because of disillusionment, discouragement, or reduced motivation, than because of lack of ability or dismissal by school administration.” </i><br />
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Children face similar challenges in the home while parents struggle to understand why. Just as joy is essential to productivity in school and the workplace, joy is the key to fruitful parenting. How do we cultivate this?<br />
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Proverbs 22:6 says,<i>"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
</i>The <u>way</u> that a child should go must be according to her bent and natural inclination, or strengths. This is because we are all not wired the same way – we all function differently.<br />
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As Romans 12:4 says, <i>“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.”
</i>When a person performs according to her bent or strengths, there is growth and development as well as joy. Parents must be careful not to push a child in a direction that is against her bent but instead work with their child's strengths.<br />
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The test of a fruit lies in its taste. The taste of fruitfulness is joy. We will be better parents when we acknowledge this important aspect of our parenting effort.<br />
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<b>About the Speaker</b><br />
<i>Joseph Tan is the Director of <a href="http://www.goodmonday.com/" target="_blank">Good Monday Consulting</a>, a training and consulting company </i><i>which focuses on the personal transformation of the individual by developing character and </i><br />
<i>discovering strengths. He is also a certified instructor with the Character Training Institute (corporate and education) and leads the Malaysian chapter of Answers in Genesis. Joseph and his wife Debra homeschool their two daughters Eliza and Eunice, and worship at DUMC. </i><br />
<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-67665683800321996492014-01-09T01:23:00.000-08:002014-01-17T00:19:16.578-08:00The Obedience of Faith<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 5 JAN 2014 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: ACTS 5:33-42
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This passage of scripture records the encounter between Jewish religious leaders and the apostles. Having been arrested and warned not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name these apostles replied, <i>“We must obey God rather than men.” </i><br />
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<b>A Time for Courage</b>
OpenDoors USA placed <a href="http://www.worldwatchlist.us/?utm_source=opendoorsusa.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=world-watch-list&utm_content=homepage-map" target="_blank">Malaysia as #40</a> (moderately persecuted) out of 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The situation is likely to get worse and God’s people are called to make a stand and take courage.<br />
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Courage is not an arrogant show of strength, but the strength of conviction. Our conviction must be derived from a conscience that is informed by God’s Word. Martin Luther on trial in 1521 for defying the Catholic Church’s unbiblical doctrines and practices said, <i>“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one’s conscience is neither safe nor sound.” </i><br />
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We obey because it is God’s command and because we love.<i> “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”</i> (John 14:15) In the present controversy, we make a stand to affirm our constitutional rights as affirmed in Article 11. Thankfully we find strength by turning to God.(Psalm 56:3-4)<br />
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<b>The Call to Trust</b>
Being obedient may bring danger, and therefore we need to trust that whatever happens, God’s work will never be hindered. Trusting God means taking the long view and believing in God’s final victory over his enemies.<br />
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Like Abraham we may not have a map (Hebrews 8:11), but our confidence comes from having Jesus as our guide. He is the good shepherd who has promised to be with us: <i>“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (</i>Deuteronomy 31:8) <br />
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<b>The Witness of Faith</b>
While challenges increase, God’s people must continue doing what’s right faithfully. This includes loving our enemies as well as carrying on with bridge-building services in our community – such as our Sri Semarak and Orang Asli ministries.<br />
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For the Apostles in Acts 4:29, being released from detention did not discourage their mission. Instead they prayed for boldness to continue, and even counted it a joy to suffer for Jesus’ sake.<br />
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<b>Focusing on the Unseen</b>
Obeying God rather than men means to keep our eyes on eternal things that we cannot see. <i> "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."</i>(2 Cor 4:16-18)<br />
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We will endure and not lose heart when we pay attention to the unseen and eternal glory of Jesus. Get to know the Bible; understand God’s big story; keep in step with the Spirit; and keep an eye on the work of God throughout the world. There is encouragement that while persecution of God’s church has increased in our day, more and more people are also turning to Christ in large numbers like in China and Africa, as well as parts of the Middle East.<br />
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May God be glorified by our faithfulness and obedience.<br />
<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-37754022315089782012013-12-13T00:34:00.000-08:002013-12-13T00:43:29.113-08:00THE FULLNESS OF TIMESUNDAY SERVICE: 8 DEC 2013<br />
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN<br />
TEXT: Galatians 4:4,5<br />
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What was it like to live in the time of Isaiah waiting for the coming Messiah, anticipating the birth of the child who would be called Immanuel? (Isaiah 7:14) .<br />
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Advent has something to say to us about waiting and hoping. In writing about Jesus’ coming, Paul’s letter to the Galatians said:
<i>"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
that we might receive adoption as sons." (<b>Gal 4:4,5</b>) </i><br />
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The phrase ’fullness of time’ in Greek is <i>KAIROS</i>. It refers to God’s perfect timing when every opportunity is in place to achieve a perfect objective. So at <i>KAIROS</i> time – the fullness of time, at the right time - God sent his Son Jesus, born of virgin Mary.<br />
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The advent of Jesus in God’s “fullness of time” has personal applications too. We can see it as a process that is designed to build our relationship with God in the following ways:<br />
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<b>The necessity of faith </b>
Much of Christian experience is founded upon what we do not see, hoping for things yet to come. We cannot be Christians without living by faith and accepting uncertainties in life. When Habakkuk first declared that the “righteous shall live by faith” (Hab 2:2-3) the righteous faith of believers was displayed in trusting God and clinging to His promises, even when things did not make sense.<br />
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In waiting, we develop an attitude of faith in God’s faithfulness, learning to put God’s kingdom and his perfect timing first above our own desires.<br />
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<b>The discipline of self-reflection</b> As Christians we should expect a lot of waiting in our spiritual journey for it is often God’s way to make us examine our deepest desires in order to deepen trust in Him.<br />
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Psalm 62:1 equates waiting for God’s salvation to confident rest.
We reflect if we are truly waiting for his direction, or if are are insisting on our own ambition. This was Abraham’s lesson, waiting until old age for God to give him a son, and then learning the hard way about obeying God completely and sacrificially.<br />
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Waiting is denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and surrendering in humility to God.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>James 4:10</b> “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” </i> </blockquote>
Through self-denial, we are drawn to God and his perfect will for us, learning to put away idols that may grip our heart.<br />
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<b>The imperative of God’s sovereignity</b>
Waiting for the fullness of time is submission to
God’s sovereignty and recognising Nd loving his Kingship over our life. Jesus is not Lord and King if we are always fighting against God’s desire for us.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Romans 8:28</b> “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” </i></blockquote>
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What then is the ultimate good that comes out of waiting for God? Paul explains right after this verse in v29 that, “<i>For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...”</i><br />
To willingly accept God’s agenda and what He does for our good - that we become like Jesus - is the heart’s desire of those who truly love God.<br />
May all who love God consider their period of waiting as a time to strengthen faith, learn self-denial, and humbly trust in His perfect will. For the outcome of God’s action upon their life is to transform them into the likeness of Jesus for their eternal good.Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-41119199212428405902013-12-05T05:29:00.001-08:002013-12-05T05:30:09.412-08:00GOD’S MISSION IN THE ADVENT<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 1 DEC 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: Eph 1:7-12
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<br />
The Advent season reminds the Church of the weeks leading to Jesus’ birth.<br />
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Modern day believers tend to see Jesus’ coming as a <i><u>personal</u></i> saviour to save them from sin and death and to bless them with all good things. The Jews on the other hand – while rejecting Jesus as Messiah – look to the yet to come Messiah who would be a <i><u>national</u></i> savior, with Jerusalem as the new centre of God’s rule as in the days of King David.<br />
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God’s plan is far grander and it encompasses a cosmic and universal salvation.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Eph 1:7-12</b> <i>In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. </i></blockquote>
<b>GOD’S MISSION</b>
Paul’s letter uses words and phrases such as <i>“mystery of his will” </i>(v9), <i>“according to plan”</i> (v11), <i>“purpose of his will”</i> (v11). God’s mission is God’s purpose in human history. As his letter shows, it is God’s mission to bring everything under Christ’s dominion or authority: <i>“to unite all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” </i>(v10) and to bring about shalom. The coming of Jesus which ends on the cross and resurrection is how God will accomplish this.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Col 1:16</b> <i>For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him…. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. </i></blockquote>
<b>GOD’S STRATEGY</b>
After declaring God’s grand plan and purpose, Paul now tells his readers that they were chosen to conform with the purpose of his will (Eph 1:11) .<br />
<ul>
<li>God’s strategy is to set apart people – beginning with Abraham, and then thru his descendants. This means the conversion of hearts and minds of people who respond to the gospel of Jesus. We need saving, and it is God’s desire that all people are saved. In other words, we are part of God’s eternal strategy to accomplish his purposes. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>God sets out to transform the way people think and act. This is what Paul means when he says God seeks to conform us to his will. Many believers think they are at the centre of God’s salvation plan, and therefore think and act as if they are entitled to personal comfort and spiritual blessings. To conform to God’s will is to embrace God purpose in history and work to advance God’s agenda. God’s agenda is advanced when we involve ourselves in his mission of reconciliation: </li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>2 Cor 5:17</b> <i>The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. </i></blockquote>
<ul>
<li>God sends his people out to witness to God’s salvation – applying God’s purpose to society, bringing righteousness and justice, modeling community living as Jesus’ body, and to invite others to enter into God’s shalom through Jesus Christ. We prefer to be saved, but we don’t like being sent. Yet this is what Jesus says: <i>"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."</i> (John 20:21)</li>
</ul>
<b>CONCLUSION</b> Believers are saved from a certain state for a certain purpose, and not merely to wait for heaven.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphpTD9mVjFHjBOjyhja1n6yHoZZ_UnMeZG8193HVQ6a5msMLlyYMRCTamBc9gJ6mg3vLWevldqdWVo2yExqbP-E4XanznHFQ52PIMcDyLFkRx_GJruUWFQbcA1kmoyRYQQSfZEvFHQOI/s1600/Chris+wright+mission.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphpTD9mVjFHjBOjyhja1n6yHoZZ_UnMeZG8193HVQ6a5msMLlyYMRCTamBc9gJ6mg3vLWevldqdWVo2yExqbP-E4XanznHFQ52PIMcDyLFkRx_GJruUWFQbcA1kmoyRYQQSfZEvFHQOI/s400/Chris+wright+mission.png" width="400" /></a><br />
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Advent is a timely reminder of God’s cosmic mission. It is also another encouragement to the church to put away its self-centeredness and embrace God’s mission in practical ways. When we obey him in this, we are living <i>“to the praise of his glory”</i> (Eph 1:12). As Chris Wright says, it is a marvelous privilege to be invited to join our God in his grand purpose for human history, and for this we are humbled and thankful!<br />
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May God be glorified by our faithfulness.<br />
<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-53486852277564143462013-11-28T23:29:00.000-08:002013-11-28T23:53:24.236-08:00SERVING THE LIVING GOD<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 24 NOV 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: 1 THESSALONIANS 1:8-10</b><br />
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<u>SUMMARY:</u><br />
<br />
What exactly do we mean by serving God?<br />
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<b>Serving God is a mandate and responsibility</b>
In the book of Genesis 2 the retelling of creation informs us that God created Man and placed him in the middle of Eden. <i>“Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.”</i> (v15) <br />
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Subsequently, when God gave Adam a <i>‘suitable companion to help him’</i> (v18) - or a ‘helpmeet’ in older translations - it cannot simply be for narrow mutual benefit alone. It is more appropriate to understand this to be God’s plan for Adam and Eve to work and serve God together, to care, work, manage, nurture, make the world flourish and grow in beauty to the glory of God.<br />
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It is possible to infer that the command to multiply and have children was so that there would be more helpers and gardeners. Therefore followers of Jesus are not to live for themselves: we are gardeners, carers, workers and stewards, doing good for God’s creation and the larger community.<br />
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<b>Serving God is a specific pattern of outward behavior</b>
This outward behavior is an expression of inner transformation. To serve God is first to turn away from unbelief and to turn towards the Living God. We see this in the example of the Thessalonian Christians:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>1 Thessalonians 1:8-10</i></b> <i>For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. </i></blockquote>
These believers expressed their service to God as faithful witnesses to the gospel, being dedicated in the face of persecution, and by living exemplary lives of holiness. This is clearly not a shallow modification of behaviour but a deep work of the Holy Spirit.<br />
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In another reference, Paul commended these same believers for their sacrificial lifestyle: <i>"...but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor. I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. Of their own free will they begged us and pleaded for the privilege of having a part in helping God's people in Judea." <b>2 Corinthians 8:2-5</b></i><br />
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<b>Serving God is an attitude of submission</b>
The words <i>service, serve, servant</i>, carry varying shades of meaning in Scripture. Sometimes the word refers to any form of help that is generally offered to another person. Other times it refers to a specific duty as in Acts 6:1-3, where we first read about deacons and their ministry of ‘serving tables’.<br />
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The point is, to believe in God is to submit and serve him exclusively. Apostles like John, Peter and Paul acknowledge that they are God’s servants. <i>“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” <b>Romans 1:1 </b></i>This is the heart attitude of a servant who knows his God, not a title or social class.<br />
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Interestingly, in John 15:15 Jesus said to his disciples, <i>“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”</i> All believers serve in the joyful comfort and security of friendship with Jesus.<br />
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<b>Serving God is our spiritual worship</b> <i>“By the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” <b>Romans 12: 1</b></i><br />
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God’s gift of salvation in Jesus leads to a new life. A life of righteousness is now our act of worship. “Spiritual worship” or <i>act of worship</i> carries the same sense as <i>‘service’</i> in the original language. Above all, service must include righteous living and the pursuit of holiness.<br />
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Finally, we are confronted with a choice: Judas and Peter finished differently even when both were in the presence of the same Lord. Only one served God right to the end. If we call Jesus King and Lord, then we are drawn to submit to him and obey him.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Colossians 3:23-24</b> <i>“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” </i></blockquote>
We all serve somebody – whom are you serving?Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-75664878476719478672013-11-21T23:46:00.002-08:002013-11-22T01:40:50.951-08:00No Other Gods<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 17 NOV 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 8:11-20 </b><br />
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<u><br /></u>
<u>SUMMARY:</u><br />
It is not often that believers admit to being ‘idolaters’ or people who worship idols other than God. But as Tim Keller says, an idol is the one thing other than God that you could not live without. A good thing that has become the ultimate thing is equally an idol.<br />
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Moses’ farewell message to the children of Israel before they crossed into the Promised Land is therefore timely advice.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” </i><b>Deut 8:11-14 </b></blockquote>
We are called to worship God alone and not the things he has created or blessed us with for several reasons. Chris Wright's quote comes to mind.<br />
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<b>God is to be worshipped because he alone is the living God </b>Deut 4:39 <i>“Know therefore today, and lay it in your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.” </i>There is no other God but Yahweh, the living God. Because he is the living God, he is able to give us life.<br />
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One recurring phrase in Deuteronomy is, “that you may live.” Eg, Deut 8:1 <i>“Be careful to follow…that you may live.”</i> The only way to meaningful life is to worship the living God.<br />
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<b>God is to be worshipped because he alone is worthy </b>God is often presented in the context of his mighty acts. He delivers, he saves, he leads, he blesses. Who else but God is worthy? Ex 20:1<i> “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” </i><br />
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God is worthy of our sole worship not only because other Gods are false, but because he has been good to us. The greatest thing God has done for us is to show us grace and welcome us into his kingdom on the basis of Jesus' death on the cross. The appropriate response to God’s salvation is not merely belief or acceptance, but worship. As God has declared “I brought you out of Egypt; now do not worship other Gods but Yahweh, the LORD alone."<br />
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<b>God is to be worshipped because he holds our life in his hand</b>
It is true that we love God because he first loved us. But we worship God also because he has the power to determine life and death. Heb 10:31 <i>“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”</i><br />
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It is not possible to worship One whom we do not fear. As Heb 12:29 says, isn't God a “consuming fire.” We are in reverent awe, we are humbled, because God has the power to take our life away. So God warns the Israelites, <i>“If you go after other Gods, to worship and serve them, I solemnly warn you, you shall perish” </i>vs19,20.<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b> We note how Israel was often denounced by God’s prophets because she <i>forgot</i> who God was and what He had done. We may keep at our spiritual routines, we go to church, give our tithes, etc. But if God no longer holds the utmost place of importance and no longer impacts our life’s decisions, we have indeed forgotten Him.<br />
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May God help us to keep away from idols.Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-17353751797423567802013-11-13T22:44:00.000-08:002013-11-14T23:42:31.377-08:00Walking with Jesus<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 NOV 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: PASTOR RAYMOND KOH </b><br />
<b>TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:6,7
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<b><u>SUMMARY</u></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Colossians 2:6,7</b>
<i>Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. </i>(NASB) </blockquote>
The message of the Gospel is not merely <i>conversion</i> but <i>transformation</i>. And transformation must lead to visible impact or influence upon our community.This is a long-term view which must be marked by obedience to Jesus who is not just our Saviour but Lord of all.
What does such a commitment imply? We look at key words in this scripture passage.<br />
<br />
<b>Walk</b><br />
Our Christian life is said to be a ‘walk.’ It implies action, progress, and faithfulness. Though it that may not always be comfortable it is always dynamic and exciting. It also means walking with Jesus, not with the wicked. Such an act refers to the relational aspect of faith. Additionally when we walk we meet others along the way who we can pray for or share the gospel with. In time we may even draw others to join our journey.
<br />
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<b>Rooted</b><br />
To be rooted in God one should delight in God’s word and spend time on it.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Ps 1:2,3</b><i>
“…but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”</i></blockquote>
We also need to be rooted in the community as little can be achieved if we do not identify with the people we serve. Being rooted in the community allows God’s people to do good in a more profound way. We look for opportunities in times of confusion; we are present to help especially those in need, whether spiritual or material. Although we may not see results overnight, we can persevere. As Covenant EFC's Rev Edmund Chan says, “Think big, start small, grow deep.”<br />
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<b>Built up</b><br />
<b>1 Cor 3:10-13</b> <i>"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it."</i><br />
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Being built up involves the ministry of a number of people. We are building, yet other faithful Christians also contribute towards building up our faith. The believer must move from being firmly rooted to being built up. To build oneself up in faith is a continuing effort of being established upon the right foundation.<br />
<br />
The right foundation is obviously Jesus and God’s Word, but we must not neglect the practical expression of faith as well. The more we walk, the more we trust; the more we are nourished by his Word, the more established in faith we become.<br />
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<b>Thankfulness</b><br />
Finally, the believer must express thankfulness or gratitude in all situations. Every situation is either a challenge or a blessing. We need to cultivate a way of looking at things from a different perspective. Very often believers who are walking in Jesus need to recognise problems as opportunities - as in the case of the Allah controversy. By so doing we we express thankfulness. A believer who overflows with thankfulness is evidence of one who is built up in Jesus.<br />
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<b>PASTOR RAYMOND KOH</b> <i>is the Executive Director of non-profit Harapan Komuniti.</i>Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-7856926492359643862013-11-07T00:31:00.000-08:002013-11-08T07:31:08.208-08:00COMMUNION & COMMUNITY<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 3 NOV 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-34</b>
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In Mt 28:19-20, Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, baptize converts and <i>“to observe all that I have commanded you”</i> (v20). We believe that the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are the only 2 sacraments that Jesus commanded His Church to observe.<br />
<br />
Our Lord himself commanded us to observe the Holy Communion as a memorial, <i>“in remembrance of me”</i> (1 Cor 11:24).
The Bible does not provide instructions regarding the actual observance – composition of bread, wine, who should conduct, how frequent, etc - and therefore what is important is ‘discerning’ the occasion (1 Cor 11:25) and participating with gratitude.<br />
<br />
<b>Here are other lessons to take home from our Communion celebration. </b><br />
<br />
<b>We acknowledge that only Jesus truly satisfies</b> We begin by recognising what Jesus has accomplished. John 6:53-56, Jesus said:<i> “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”</i><br />
<br />
Eating and drinking are another way to describe participating in God’s drama; we enter into God’s salvation story. The Lord’s Supper tells us only Jesus can nourish us, satisfy us deeply, and sustain us for this life and until he comes again.<br />
<br />
<b>We affirm our communion with God and community with one another</b> Observance of the Lord’s Supper is profoundly about communion and community. <i>Communion</i> means intimate fellowship. <i>Community</i> is a group of people living in active meaningful fellowship and sharing things or values in common. Jesus’ death brings us into right relationship with God, and right relationship with one another.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>1 Cor 10:16-17 </b>Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation (koinonia) in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf </i></blockquote>
<ul>
<li><b>We are equally welcomed before the Lord</b> The fellowship is a free invitation offering the same meal for all who say yes. The whole bread means we are one though we are many. But this symbolism is meaningless unless we eat and drink and fellowship together. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>It teaches us to care for one another </b>Christians who eat together in communion cannot neglect or remain indifferent to one another. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the importance of forgiving one another, caring for one another, and supporting the body towards life and growth in Christ. We are one body in Christ, one with each other, with responsibilities towards one another. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>It gives us grace to bear life’s tragedies</b> While we remember how Jesus death has saved us from God’s wrath, his victory over death and all its symbol of hope and triumph does not make the tragedy less painful. Before there is relief, there is need for endurance. Being in community we find grace to bear each other’s pain. <i><b>Gal 6:2</b> Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. </i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>It is a hint of what heaven will be like</b> When a person accepts Jesus Christ, he or she becomes a member of the Church, the true invisible Church, and is automatically engaged to Christ. A caring community of forgiven sinners from all walks of life reminds us what true community is intended to be.</li>
</ul>
May God grant us grace to be a community that glorifies His name!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;">DAVID TAN</b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;"> is Chairman and Elder of Hope EFC and the proprietor of an advertising agency.</i><br />
<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-71672902234997193092013-10-31T06:53:00.000-07:002013-11-01T07:38:00.417-07:00GOSPEL FAITH<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 27 OCT 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DAVID TAN </b><br />
<b>TEXT: ROMANS 1:16-17
</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<u><b>SUMMARY</b></u><br />
Gospel faith is founded on the doctrine that our salvation is COMPLETELY an act of repentance of sin, and turning to Jesus in faith. The good news is, Jesus died to save us “while we were still sinners ” and not on the basis of our own righteousness. By God’s grace we are now accepted and justified – we now live in obedience as the fruit of our repentance and a testimony of our love for the Lord who loved us first.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Rom 1:16-17</b>
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” </i></blockquote>
It was in 1513 that Martin Luther came to this radical realization as he read Paul’s letter to the Romans . In 1517 he set off a movement that would revolutionise Christianity and changed the world.<br />
<br />
What is the gospel? It is good news concerning Jesus whose coming was foretold in the Old Testament, who was born, died and rose again (Rom 1:3,4) to save all humanity, both Jew and Gentile (Rom 1:16,17). We see 4 key teachings regarding the gospel in this text:<br />
<br />
<b>1. God has the power to save</b><br />
Salvation is the act of being delivered from a disaster or death or both. Human life is already under judgment because of sin (Ro 3:23) and one day we shall all face death. Only God who created life has the power to save, and He alone can be our savior.<br />
<br />
<b>2. God’s salvation is for everyone</b><br />
God desires all people to be saved. How are we saved? By believing. <i>‘Believe’</i> and <i>‘faith’</i> are key words in Paul’s letter. <i>“It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes”</i> (v16). To believe is to put complete trust in Jesus whose death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead promises salvation . It is not mere agreement with a set of doctrines but trust in a person. Like the thief on the cross, to have faith is to <i>“come and with the mouth of our soul open to seek God’s grace” </i>(Calvin).<br />
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<b>3. It is God’s righteousness revealed</b><br />
As Paul declares, the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel <i>first</i> and <i>last </i>(v17). Firstly, salvation reveals God’s righteousness, and lastly, salvation makes the unrighteous righteous by his grace. It is not God’s righteousness working together with us offering up our record of righteousness. Salvation is from start to end, the work of God. Douglas Moo defines God's righteousness <i>"as the act by which God brings people into right relationship with himself"</i><br />
<br />
<b>4. The righteous live by faith </b><br />
Faith believes and receives God’s righteousness that is displayed on the cross of Jesus and by his resurrection. By trusting in Jesus’ finished work, we are counted as righteous.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Rom 3:25, 26</b> “…because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” </i></blockquote>
God does not magically transform us into morally perfect persons at the point of belief. It means God’s Supreme Court has found us ‘Not Guilty’ and we have been acquitted, as if we have not committed sin.<br />
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The first step towards faith is illustrated by Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) who both went to the temple to pray. It was the Tax Collector who cried out, <i>“God have mercy on me, I am a sinner!”</i> Jesus said the Tax Collector and not the self-righteous Pharisee who went home justified before God.<br />
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In conclusion, as a people who have found grace and forgiveness, Gospel faith rightly motivates joyful obedience. Because we have been accepted in Jesus, Gospel faith drives our service because we have experienced the love of God.<br />
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<b>DAVID TAN</b><i> is Chairman and Elder of Hope EFC and the proprietor of an advertising agency.</i>Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-19066357176787401342013-10-23T20:37:00.002-07:002013-10-24T23:11:17.689-07:00HABAKKUK<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 20 OCT 2013</b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DR CHEN BOON TAI</b><br />
<b>TEXT: HABAKKUK
</b><br />
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<b>SUMMARY</b></div>
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The question of evil troubles many
people. Why is there evil in our world? Why is there so much injustice? Why do
the wicked get away and why do the righteous suffer? The Old Testament prophet
Habakkuk was a man who was also troubled by similar questions. In Habakkuk 1:2-4, we read:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>How long, LORD, must I call for
help, </i></div>
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<i> but you do not
listen? </i></div>
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<i>Or cry out to you,
“Violence!” </i></div>
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<i> but you do not
save? </i></div>
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<i>Why do you make me look at
injustice? </i></div>
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<i> Why do you tolerate
wrongdoing? </i></div>
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<i>Destruction and violence are
before me; </i></div>
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<i> there is strife,
and conflict abounds. </i></div>
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<i>Therefore the law is
paralyzed, </i></div>
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<i> and justice never
prevails. </i></div>
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<i>The wicked hem in the
righteous, </i></div>
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<i> so that justice is
perverted. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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The book of Habakkuk records
Habakkuk’s cries and God’s answers.</div>
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<br /></div>
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During Habakkuk’s prophetic
ministry, Judah was ruled by four kings who led the nation astray. Josiah, who
was Judah’s last good king had instituted many reforms following a national
revival. But his reforms did not last and the four kings who succeeded him
namely Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, did evil. This eventually
led to the fall of Judah and destruction of Jerusalem by the invading
Babylonians.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What were the sins of
Judah? </b></div>
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•They practised impure worship by
honouring both the one true God and the pagan idol Molech (Zeph 1:5) •They set
up numerous altars to foreign gods (2 Ki 21:3,5)</div>
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•They adopted unacceptable pagan
culture (Zeph 1:8)</div>
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•There was widespread violence and
deceit (Zeph 1:9)</div>
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•There was indifference towards God
(Zeph 1:12)</div>
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•There was no obedience or trust in
God (Zeph 3:2-7)</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
How did God respond?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">God said He would do an ‘amazing’ thing that would appear
unthinkable. In vs6-11, we read that God would bring judgment upon Judah
through military conquest by the Babylonians (or Chaldeans, who are from modern-day
Iraq). But why would God raise up an evil empire known for their ruthlessness
to do his work? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Scripture seems to tell us that God does admit responsibility
for bringing about good as well as bad. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Isaiah 45:7 says:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">I form the light and create darkness,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">I bring prosperity and create disaster;</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
do all these things.</span></span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">But as Habakkuk records it, God justifies his impending
discipline by spelling out the sins of his people in Habakkuk 2:6-20 - all of which
deserves judgment. While God acts, the righteous are called to remain faithful, <u1:p></u1:p>for</span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> “…the righteous person will live by his faith”</span></i><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;"> (</span><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Hab 2:4</span></i></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sometimes God answers our prayers in surprising ways. We are
troubled by injustice and cry to God to deliver. And God replies by using
instruments of evil to fulfil his purposes and to discipline his people. This
is hard to comprehend but the believer must live with such mystery. We ought to
be struck by the way sin offends God and cry as Habakkuk did:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Hab 3:2</span></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">O LORD, I have heard the reports of
you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in
the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 11.0pt;">Even as God used the wicked Babylonians as a tool of
judgment He will surely judge the evil that they do.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Indeed, history does record the
destruction of Babylon - 60 years later.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: white;">Meanwhile the righteous must trust in God's
sovereignty and wait faithfully until God acts.</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
<b><i>Habakkuk 3:17-19</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Though the fig tree does not bud</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> and there are no grapes on
the vines,</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">though the olive crop fails </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> and the fields produce no
food, </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">though there are no sheep in the pen </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> and no cattle in the
stalls, </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">yet I will rejoice in the Lord, </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> I will be joyful in God my
Savior. </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The Sovereign Lord is my strength; </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> he makes my feet like the
feet of a deer, </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> he enables me to tread on the
heights.</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr Chen Boon Tai<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">is an Elder of Hope EFC. He is also the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: white;">Director
of Project Development, IGB Corp/Mid Valley City Developments</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and Industry Professor of Management,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Malaysia University of Science and
Technology</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-24221781527561943952013-10-22T23:12:00.001-07:002013-10-22T23:12:32.834-07:00EFCM JUBILEE SERVICE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464956681405927290.post-79813339745189527082013-10-17T07:57:00.000-07:002013-10-24T23:10:24.393-07:00MONEY, MONEY, MONEY…IT’S A RICH MAN’S WORLD<b>SUNDAY SERVICE: 13 OCT 2013 </b><br />
<b>SPEAKER: DATUK KENNY NG </b><br />
<b>TEXT: JAMES 5:1-6 </b>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Money, money, money,<br />Must be funny, In the rich man's world<br />Money, money, money<br />Always sunny, In the rich man's world<br />Aha-ahaaa All the things I could do<br />If I had a little money, It's a rich man's world </i></blockquote>
So goes the 1980s hit song by ABBA.<br />
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James does not say it is a sin to be rich. In fact, money per se, is neither a blessing nor a curse. Abraham was a wealthy man who walked with God and blessed the whole world.<br />
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But James is against unlawfully accumulated riches and advises the immoral rich to <i>“weep
and wail”</i> in v1.
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James expresses three concerns.<br />
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<b>1. How The Rich Got Their Riches (v4, 6a)</b><br />
They got rich by not paying workmen their due wages. This includes not paying just wages to foreigners and migrant workers. Such failure is sin.<br />
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<i><b>Deut. 24: 14 – 15</b> Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. </i><br />
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Other similar references include Lev. 19: 13; Jer. 22: 13.<br />
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The rich are also guilty of controlling the courts and subverting justice (v 6a). A number of scripture passages point to the importance of judges of integrity (ref: Deut. 17: 8 – 13; Ex. 18: 21; Lev. 19: 15; Deut. 19: 16 – 21; Isa. 33: 15; Micah 3: 11 & 7: 3). God is highly displeased at such unjust practices.<br />
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<i><b>Amos 5: 12</b> For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.</i><br />
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<b>2. How The Rich Use Their Riches (v3 – 5) </b><br />
Instead of laying up treasures in heaven by using their riches for God’s glory (Mat. 6:
19), the rich hoard them for their own pleasure. However, a rich man who is a good steward of his wealth would help others to benefit from his riches.<br />
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<i><b>1 Corinthians 4: 2</b> Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. </i><br />
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In the Old Testament, Boaz deliberately instructed his workers not to completely harvest his fields but to leave some grains behind for the needy.
Another example was Joseph who kept faith as a responsible steward in Potiphar’s house.<br />
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Scripture speaks against greed and excess but not accumulating wealth to provide for one’s family (1 Timothy. 5: 8).<br />
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<b>3. What Will Happen to the Rich and their Riches (v1 – 4) </b><br />
Since riches will not last forever Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 6: 17 has this to say:<br />
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<i>Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. </i><br />
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The immoral rich will be judged, both in the present (their wealth decaying and their character eroding in v3) as well as in the future (v4 & 9). In Warren Wiersbe’s words, <i>“Luxury has a way of ruining character.”</i><br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
God’s church must be thankful for the blessing of material wealth, gifts, and opportunities for success. In light of James’ warning against greed and indulgence, we should guard against covetousness (Exodus 20:17) and seek to be more generous with what God has entrusted us. Thanks be to God who is our Jehovah Jireh.
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<b>DATUK KENNY NG</b> is the Senior Partner in Lee Swee Seng & Co and an elder of Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church<br />
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<br />Hope Evangelical Free Church, KLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17820528004602300549noreply@blogger.com2