DOING GOOD, ENDURING EVIL

SUNDAY SERVICE: 26 JAN 2014
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN
TEXT: 1 PETER 3:8-17

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?

We witness by our convictions 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 .

We witness as a community We do this as a gospel community, a holy community, and not as an individual believer.

“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.” Lesslie Newbigin

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.

We witness by our confession 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. "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)

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).

Conclusion 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.

NEW YEAR, NEW LIFE

SUNDAY SERVICE: 19 JAN 2014 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: ROMANS 6:1-4 

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 old, our life somewhat dull. What does the Bible mean by new life? How does a Christian receive it and live out this new life?

Newness of Life When a person becomes a believer, he receives through faith in Jesus a new life. 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).

Jesus our righteousness Newness of life is a status we receive when Jesus’ righteousness becomes ours. Paul describes how Jesus’ death justifies us, grants forgiveness and saves us from God’s wrath.

Roms 5:17 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! 

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!

Dead to sin, alive to God 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 “died to sin once and for all” (Rom 6:8-10). Therefore the power of sin no longer enslaves a believer.

Paul is however not 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, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” 

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.”

Reign of righteousness In writing about new life, Paul refers to two kinds of rule. He writes of the reign of righteousness: Rom 5:17 17 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! 

And he writes of the reign of sin: In Rom 6:12 “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body…..”

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.

Process of sanctification 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.

But what happens when we fall into sin? Thankfully, we can turn to God who forgives (1 John 1:8,9)

John Newton: "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." 

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.

THE SEEDS OF STRENGTHS IN PARENTING

SUNDAY SERVICE: 12 JAN 2014
SPEAKER: JOSEPH TAN
TEXT:  PSALMS 1:1-3

1 Blessed is the one 
who does not walk in step with the wicked 
or stand in the way that sinners take 
or sit in the company of mockers, 
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 
 and who meditates on his law day and night. 
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, 
which yields its fruit in season 
and whose leaf does not wither— 
whatever they do prospers. 

Fruitfulness vs Productivity
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 ‘fruit in season’ 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?

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).

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.

The Anatomy of Strength 
College Administrator Edward Anderson once said, “Most students leave college because of disillusionment, discouragement, or reduced motivation, than because of lack of ability or dismissal by school administration.” 

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?

Proverbs 22:6 says,"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” The way 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.

As Romans 12:4 says, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.” 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.

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.

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About the Speaker
Joseph Tan is the Director of Good Monday Consulting, a training and consulting company which focuses on the personal transformation of the individual by developing character and 
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. 

The Obedience of Faith

SUNDAY SERVICE: 5 JAN 2014 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: ACTS 5:33-42

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, “We must obey God rather than men.” 

A Time for Courage OpenDoors USA placed Malaysia as #40 (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.

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, “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.” 

We obey because it is God’s command and because we love. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (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)

The Call to Trust 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.

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: “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.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

The Witness of Faith 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.

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.

Focusing on the Unseen Obeying God rather than men means to keep our eyes on eternal things that we cannot see.  "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."(2 Cor 4:16-18)

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.

May God be glorified by our faithfulness and obedience.