FISH OUT OF WATER

SPEAKER: CHEE CHIN HOE
TITLE: FISH OUT OF WATER: GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HUMANITY
TEXT: GENESIS 2:7

Genesis 2:7 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. 

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.

It began with the Creation Mandate
Genesis 1:11,12: The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. 
Genesis 1:20: Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky. 
Genesis 1:24,25: 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.” 

However, Genesis 1:26,27 reports the creation of humankind differently: 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. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

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).

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.

It is exemplified in God’s covenant with Abraham
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 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.” 

It is the Church’s mandate as God’s chosen people
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 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…

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.

In order to become an effective witness and impact our community for Jesus, the book Becoming a Contagious Christian offers a helpful formula.

HP + CP + CC = MI 

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.

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.

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Chee Chin Hoe is the CEO of VisionFund Cambodia, 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. 

LIVING BEFORE GOD'S FACE

SUNDAY SERVICE: 2 FEB 2014
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN
TEXT: GENESIS 17:1-3

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. 

Living in an enduring relationship 
‘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.

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).

Living in the face of God 
Coram Deo is the Latin expression that means living “before God’s face,” which is what Abraham is expected to do. It means to live in the reality of God’s world and his sovereignty. 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.

To live before God’s face is to live in God’s favour. 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.”

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 living a transparent and honest life. We examine our lives daily, confess and repent where necessary. Where there is confession and repentance, reconciliation begins, and we find forgiveness and wholeness.

Living before God’s face also means God sees all the suffering or injustices inflicted on his people. 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.

Living as redeemed sinners 

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.


Conclusion
God is inviting us to live Coram Deo 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.