SERVING THE LIVING GOD

SUNDAY SERVICE: 24 NOV 2013 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: 1 THESSALONIANS 1:8-10

SUMMARY:

What exactly do we mean by serving God?

Serving God is a mandate and responsibility In the book of Genesis 2 the retelling of creation informs us that God created Man and placed him in the middle of Eden. “Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.” (v15)  

Subsequently, when God gave Adam a ‘suitable companion to help him’ (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.

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.

Serving God is a specific pattern of outward behavior 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:

1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 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. 

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.

In another reference, Paul commended these same believers for their sacrificial lifestyle: "...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." 2 Corinthians 8:2-5

Serving God is an attitude of submission The words service, serve, servant, 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’.

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. “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” Romans 1:1 This is the heart attitude of a servant who knows his God, not a title or social class.

Interestingly, in John 15:15 Jesus said to his disciples, “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.” All believers serve in the joyful comfort and security of friendship with Jesus.

Serving God is our spiritual worship  “By the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12: 1

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 act of worship carries the same sense as ‘service’  in the original language. Above all, service must include righteous living and the pursuit of holiness.

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.

Colossians 3:23-24 “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.” 

We all serve somebody – whom are you serving?

No Other Gods

SUNDAY SERVICE: 17 NOV 2013 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 8:11-20 

SUMMARY:
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.

Moses’ farewell message to the children of Israel before they crossed into the Promised Land is therefore timely advice.

"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.” Deut 8:11-14 

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.

God is to be worshipped because he alone is the living God  Deut 4:39 “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.” There is no other God but Yahweh, the living God. Because he is the living God, he is able to give us life.

One recurring phrase in Deuteronomy  is, “that you may live.” Eg, Deut 8:1 “Be careful to follow…that you may live.” The only way to meaningful life is to worship the living God.

God is to be worshipped because he alone is worthy 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 am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” 

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."

God is to be worshipped because he holds our life in his hand 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 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

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, “If you go after other Gods, to worship and serve them, I solemnly warn you, you shall perish” vs19,20.

Conclusion We note how Israel was often denounced by God’s prophets because she forgot 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.

May God help us to keep away from idols.

Walking with Jesus

SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 NOV 2013 
SPEAKER: PASTOR RAYMOND KOH 
TEXT: COLOSSIANS 2:6,7

 SUMMARY

Colossians 2:6,7 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. (NASB) 

The message of the Gospel is not merely conversion but transformation. 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.

Walk
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.

Rooted
To be rooted in God one should delight in God’s word and spend time on it.

Ps 1:2,3 “…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.”

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.”

Built up
1 Cor 3:10-13 "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."

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.

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.

Thankfulness
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.

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PASTOR RAYMOND KOH is the Executive Director of non-profit Harapan Komuniti.

COMMUNION & COMMUNITY

SUNDAY SERVICE: 3 NOV 2013 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-34

In Mt 28:19-20, Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, baptize converts and “to observe all that I have commanded you” (v20). We believe that the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are the only 2 sacraments that Jesus commanded His Church to observe.

Our Lord himself commanded us to observe the Holy Communion as a memorial, “in remembrance of me” (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.

Here are other lessons to take home from our Communion celebration. 

We acknowledge that only Jesus truly satisfies  We begin by recognising what Jesus has accomplished. John 6:53-56, Jesus said: “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.”

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.

We affirm our communion with God and community with one another Observance of the Lord’s Supper is profoundly about communion and community. Communion means intimate fellowship. Community 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.

1 Cor 10:16-17 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 

• We are equally welcomed before the Lord 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. 

• It teaches us to care for one another 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. 

• It gives us grace to bear life’s tragedies 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. Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

• It is a hint of what heaven will be like  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.

May God grant us grace to be a community that glorifies His name!

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DAVID TAN is Chairman and Elder of Hope EFC and the proprietor of an advertising agency.

GOSPEL FAITH

SUNDAY SERVICE: 27 OCT 2013 
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN 
TEXT: ROMANS 1:16-17

SUMMARY
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.

Rom 1:16-17 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.” 

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.

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:

1. God has the power to save
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.

2. God’s salvation is for everyone
God desires all people to be saved. How are we saved? By believing. ‘Believe’ and ‘faith’ are key words in Paul’s letter. “It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (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 “come and with the mouth of our soul open to seek God’s grace” (Calvin).

3. It is God’s righteousness revealed
As Paul declares, the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel first and last (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 "as the act by which God brings people into right relationship with himself"

4. The righteous live by faith 
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.

Rom 3:25, 26 “…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.” 

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.

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, “God have mercy on me, I am a sinner!” Jesus said the Tax Collector and not the self-righteous Pharisee who went home justified before God.

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.
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DAVID TAN is Chairman and Elder of Hope EFC and the proprietor of an advertising agency.

HABAKKUK

SUNDAY SERVICE: 20 OCT 2013
SPEAKER: DR CHEN BOON TAI
TEXT: HABAKKUK

SUMMARY

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:

How long, LORD, must I call for help, 

   but you do not listen? 

Or cry out to you, “Violence!” 

   but you do not save? 

Why do you make me look at injustice? 

   Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? 

Destruction and violence are before me; 

   there is strife, and conflict abounds. 

Therefore the law is paralyzed, 

   and justice never prevails. 

The wicked hem in the righteous, 

   so that justice is perverted. 

The book of Habakkuk records Habakkuk’s cries and God’s answers.

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.

What were the sins of Judah? 

•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)

•They adopted unacceptable pagan culture (Zeph 1:8)

•There was widespread violence and deceit (Zeph 1:9)

•There was indifference towards God (Zeph 1:12)

•There was no obedience or trust in God (Zeph 3:2-7)

How did God respond?

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? 

Scripture seems to tell us that God does admit responsibility for bringing about good as well as bad. 

Isaiah 45:7 says:

I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things.

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, for “…the righteous person will live by his faith” (Hab 2:4)

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:

Hab 3:2 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.

Even as God used the wicked Babylonians as a tool of judgment He will surely judge the evil that they do.

Indeed, history does record the destruction of Babylon - 60 years later. Meanwhile the righteous must trust in God's sovereignty and wait faithfully until God acts.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud

   and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails 

   and the fields produce no food, 

though there are no sheep in the pen 

   and no cattle in the stalls, 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, 

   I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; 

   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

   he enables me to tread on the heights.

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Dr Chen Boon Tai is an Elder of Hope EFC. He is also the Director of Project Development, IGB Corp/Mid Valley City Developments and Industry Professor of Management, Malaysia University of Science and Technology

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