DO WE PRAY? 

 “I have no time.”

How true it is that we have time for everything but prayer. All too often, we allow the things we enjoy (television, newspapers, chats, internet, recreation, and all kinds of worldly things) to interfere with our communion with God.

We are quick to stifle the Holy Spirit’s prompting. We say, “As soon as I can find time, I will seek the Lord.” Such thoughts reveal our true values. Our real problem lies in our priorities more than in the time available to us. There is enough time in each day for everything that is in the will of God. If we have no time for prayer, we need to re-order our priorities.

Better to Let the Lord Control Our Tongues

God’s Word confirms that human tongue is unruly evil, uncontrollable and full of deadly poison, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body…And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly(untameable, uncontrollable) evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:2, 6-8).

When truly acknowledging our evil tongues, we shall ask God to control our tongues as well as our hearts. Jesus says,“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matt 12:34-35). If our hearts are full of worldliness, we shall like to speak about worldly things. When unbelievers gather together they like to talk about worldly values and lifestyles, about movies, fashions, movie stars, pop stars, sports stars, or new high-tech gadgets. Those whose hearts are full of sexual lusts will talk about sexual topics. Those whose hearts are full of anger, deceit, boast or pride shall speak out bad words, strong words, flattering words, lies, boastful words and arrogant words. It is vital for you and me to have a sanctified heart full of good things from the Lord, so that we can speak edifying words to others.

Better to Watch Our Words

You and I have to watch our words because every word we have spoken and shall speak will be judged on the Judgement Day. The Lord Jesus Christ confirms this truth, “But I say unto you, That every idle word (empty word, insincere word)that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt 12:36-37), and “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things” (Ps 12:3), and “…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev 21:8). It is so serious! God’s Word teaches us to keep our tongues from evil and deceit so that we can enjoy His blessings, “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Ps 34:12-14), and “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Prov 18:21) and “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Prov 21:23).

BY FAITH WE ARE PREPARED

Read God’s Word with faith and reverence: God has many warnings for us in the Bible. They are always true and serious, so we should read and trust His Word. We must shut our ears to Satan’s lie and man’s empty words. If we are too lazy to read God’s Word carefully and faithfully, we harm ourselves and our loved ones!

Be moved with fear: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world…” (Heb 11:7). Noah received God’s warning with faith and trembling even though he did not see God’s judgment yet. Although we have not seen God’s great tribulation and His final judgment of hell for the wicked, we should receive God’s warning with faith, fear and trembling.

Walk with God alone: Although the majority was ungodly and wicked, Noah still walked alone with God as his great-grandfather Enoch did; “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD… and Noah walked with God” (Gen 6:8-9). We should not let the ungodly majority influence us, even “scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet 3:3- 4). It is always wise to walk alone with God.

Prepare ourselves: Noah was not inactive when he received God’s warning, but he “prepared an ark to the saving of his house” (Heb 11:7). It required his faith, time, labour, efforts and even his life for the salvation of himself and his family. He still built the ark and preached God’s message of warning to the ungodly for 120 years even though there was no positive response. We should not be discouraged when we share the Gospel with others and there is no postive response. We should set a good example of godly Christian life and pray hard for our loved ones that God may save them by His grace in His timing.

THOUGHT: Just honour God’s Word and walk alone with Him! PRAYER: Lord, help me to walk alone with Thee with faith.

Blessed be the King

Luke 19:37-38 “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:2; John 12:12-19

COMPARATIVE GOSPELS

Matthew 21.9 

“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

Mark 11.9 

“And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”

Luke 19:37,38

“...the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

John 12:12-13

“… much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

SERMON OUTLINE

•               INTRODUCTION

1.             BLESSED IS THE KING - PERSON

2.             BLESSED BE THE KING - PRAISE

3.             BLESSINGS OF THE KINGDOM – PLACE / PEOPLE

•                 CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION – “BEHOLD THY KING”

•               John 12:14-15 “And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.”

•               John 12:16 “These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”

1. BLESSED IS THE KING - PERSON

•               Matthew 21:5 “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

•               Behold how the LORD came into Jerusalem (cf. Luke 9:51; 18:31);

•               Behold how the LORD was received;

•               Mistaken identity of the LORD (cf. Matthew 21:10,11)

1. BLESSED IS THE KING

•               Matthew 21.4,5 ”All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

•               Quotation from Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

2. BLESSED BE THE KING

•               Luke 19:38 “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

•               “Peace in heaven” – Peace is what is lacking right now in Jerusalem (cf. v.42);

•               “Glory in the highest” – “highest degree or highest strains or in the highest heavens.”

•               Their greatest desire of the blessings of the LORD (cf. Psalm 118:26)!

•               John 12:13 “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

•               “The palm-tree was a tall tree, with a single stem, which was surmounted with a tuft of feathery ramifications, six or eight feet long, and called sometimes branches and sometimes leaves. They were used in marches and processions as the emblems of rejoicing and victory.”

•               Hosanna means “Oh save” It was a political term more than a religious declaration. They were saying “Save us O king from these Romans. Free us from being under their authority.” They were looking for a king that would conquer and kill their enemy.

•               The people thought that Jesus was their Messiah. They believed that he might be the Holy One of God who was coming to overthrow the Romans and bring national freedom to Israel.

•               Instead He was coming to give His life as a ransom to bring spiritual freedom to all mankind.

PALM TREE – EMBLEM OF VICTORY!

•               Revelation 7:9 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”

3. BLESSINGS OF THE KINGDOM

•               Mark 11:10 “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.“

•               They considered Jesus the Messiah to restore the kingdom of David;

•               To bring back the nation to independence and prosperity.

•               1 Kings 2:4 “That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.” (King David)

•               1 Kings 8:25 “Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.” (King Solomon)

•               “This entry into Jerusalem should not only remind us of what was . . . it should also point us to what shall be.”

•               Luke 19:11-12 “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.” (cf. Revelation 5:9-14; 19:1-6)

CONCLUSION

•               Look at Jesus in the proper light – a meek and gentle Saviour now;

•               Recognize Christ (Messiah) as the King of your life now and ever with your reverence and honour;

•               Praise Him with the appropriate praises not only in words but in life as well!

VERSES TO REMEMBER

Revelation 19:6-7

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

Sign Before the Coming

(2 Thess 2:3-4)

Do you believe that Jesus is coming back? Some may say yes, and some no. How do we know we believe the right thing? The answer is in the Word of God.

The Lord’s glorious return is the believer’s “blessed hope” (Tit 2:13). And the Lord’s coming is near, even “at the doors.” Are you ready for His return?

As we look to His return, we as believers must live godly and righteous lives now (Tit 2:12), in obedience to Him, our Lord and Saviour who has died for our sins (Tit 2:14), to save us for a glorious future.

For the unbeliever, however, what awaits him is everlasting damnation. When the Lord comes, everlasting damnation of unbelievers will be sealed.

Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the two signs of our Lord’s return are as follows:

1)    “Falling away”:

This refers to a spiritual falling away when churches preach a false gospel, instead of the true. Today, many have already fallen away, and have become neo-evangelicals, charismatics, liberals, etc. The Roman Catholic Church has countered the Reformation to bring Protestants back to Rome. Westcott and Hort (in the 19th Century) subverted God’s Word when they introduced a corrupt Greek New Testament which paved the way for corrupt modern English versions of the Bible. The B-P Church in Singapore too was “infected,” resulting in the dissolution of the B-P Synod in 1988. Today, more B-P churches have fallen away.

2)    “Man of sin be revealed”:

This “man of sin” is a man who impersonates God and demands worship from the people (2 Thess 2:4). He leads at least 1.2 billion people in nearly 200 countries, and is unrivalled in power and wealth.

In these last days, there will be “scoffers” (2 Pet 3:3). They are the unbelieving believers! They scoff at the second coming of Jesus! Remember Revelation 22:12. Jesus said, “…behold, I come quickly….” He has prepared a beautiful place for us. Read Revelation 21 and 22.

The Warning Example of Israel

Text:  1 Cor 10:1-13

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, the Apostle Paul brought up the example of Israel as a warning for us. The children of Israel had received tremendous blessings from God, but they took God for granted, sinned against Him and failed as the national witness of God. Paul warned us to take heed lest we too will stumble and fall (1 Cor 10:12).

The blessings upon Israel:

1.    The blessing of God’s presence and guidance (1 Cor 10:1; Exod 13:21-22)
2.     The blessing of God’s protection (1 Cor 10:1)
3.     The privilege of having Moses, a faithful and meek servant of God, as their leader (1 Cor 10:2)
4.     The miraculous provision of meat and drink by God (1 Cor 10:3-4)
5.     The blessing of the presence of Christ (1 Cor 10:4)

The children of Israel came out of the land of bondage, but many of them did not get to enter the Promised Land because of their sins.

The sins of Israel:

1.     The sin of lust (1 Cor 10:6; Num 11:4-6, 34; Ps 78:18-32)
2.     The sin of idolatry (1 Cor 10:7)
3.     The sin of fornication (1 Cor 10:7-8; Exod 32:6)
4.     The sin of tempting Christ (1 Cor 10:9; Num 21:4-6)
5.     The sin of murmuring (1 Cor 10:10; Num 14:27-29)

We must not take our faith and salvation for granted. We must trust and rely on God. With God, there is nothing that we cannot overcome. He is a faithful God (1 Cor 10:13).

THANK GOD FOR HIS SON, THE GREAT PROPHET

ACTS 3:13-26 ACTS 3:22
“A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up…”

Jesus is the Great Prophet. A prophet is God’s spokesman to speak God’s Word to God’s people and to those whom God sent him to speak. A true prophet must be called and sent by God and faithfully speak God’s Word without any addition or omission. We must thank God for His true prophets and for His only begotten Son, the Great Prophet, through whom God gave us His Word (Heb 1:1-2). Jesus is the Great Prophet, who fulfilled the prophecy concerning Him, whom Moses had spoken of in 1500 B.C., “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deut 18:15). The Holy Spirit used Peter to remind us of this fulfilment, “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23). Jesus confirms, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49). Do we really hearken to the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Great Prophet, with a submissive heart?

Many prophets are not called or sent by God but “steal” God’s Word to preach their own ideas in Jesus’ name to serve their purposes, beliefs and doctrines! They are just false prophets. God said to Jeremiah, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart… I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied… Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour” (Jer 14:14; 23:21, 30). Do you want to listen to Jesus’ words or to man’s words? “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Are you Jesus’ sheep?

THOUGHT: I have to hearken to the Lord Jesus and follow Him. PRAYER: Lord, I thank Thee for Thy Word and guidance.

The Gift of Marriage and Celibacy

Text: (1 Cor 7:1-7)

 

In 1 Corinthians 7:1, “to touch a woman” means to get married. When Paul said it was good for man not to get married, he was not contradicting Genesis 2:18 (where God created a helpmeet for Adam). Social conditions have since changed and sin has complicated the marriage union. Husbands find it difficult to love their wives, and wives find it difficult to submit to their husbands. As a result, there are broken marriages and families.  It was in view of sin that Paul said it is better that one does not get married, i.e. it is good to get married, but it is better to be single.

(1)    The Gift of Marriage (1 Cor 7:2-16)

Marriage is a divine institution and has its purposes (Prov 18:22, Heb 13:4). It is needful (especially in Corinth) “to avoid fornication” (1 Cor 7:2). 1 Corinthians 7:2 also teaches that marriage is a monogamous relationship between one man and one woman. In a marital relationship, there are certain obligations (1 Cor 7:3-5). In verse 3, “benevolence” has the meaning of a debt. The husband and the wife are indebted one to another. Both must willingly consent to meet each other’s sexual needs. We must not belittle our sexuality.

Those who are married must work hard to stay married and to make their marriage work. (Note that the married ones are not less holy or inferior to those who are single.)

(2)    The Gift of Singlehood (1 Cor 7:17-35)

Singlehood is also a gift from God. A single person can totally and fully devote himself for God’s service. God will grant him the grace to be single. The advantages of singlehood are as follows:

-    free from marital hardship (v 28: “trouble in the flesh”),
-    more time to serve God (vv 29, 31),
-    can serve God “without distraction” (v 35).

(Note: It has been said that “Marriage makes Marthas out of Marys.”)

Each one of us has our individual calling from God (1 Cor 7:17, 20, 24), and we must personally know what God’s calling is for us.

Your Body and Spirit belong to God

Scripture Text:  (1 Cor 6:12-20)   We each have a body and a spirit. The body can be seen and touched physically while the spirit cannot. God has given us each a body and a spirit so that we can do His will and give honour and glory to Him. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, the Apostle Paul warned the Corinthian church against the sin of sexual immorality which can destroy both our body and spirit. Sexual immorality abuses our body and spirit in two ways. (1)    It controls us (vv 12-13) The Apostle Paul used food to illustrate this point. Not all food are good for us. We have to exercise both control and discipline so that we will not eat food that are harmful to our body. Similarly, for our sexual appetite. We must exercise control by guarding our own eyes and avoiding places that will make us vulnerable to sin. We must control our sexual needs and not let it control us. (2)    It perverts us (v 15) Man is often not content with God’s creation and original intent for him. He wants to change and alter the use of it, i.e. pervert it. God forbid! An example is in the matter of marriage. Marriage, as ordained by God, is between one man and one woman, to join together as one flesh and unto Him in one spirit till death. However, man perverts it by divorce, homosexuality, etc, which are against God’s original design. The only way to escape from the perversion of sexual immorality is to flee from it (v 18). Our body is the temple of God (v 19). God has bought us with the blood of Jesus Christ (v 20). Jesus has died for us. Sin can no longer have any power over us. As our body and spirit now belong to God, we must live a holy life, always glorifying God with our body and spirit and not follow after the ways of the world which lead only to destruction. May God help us.

Sermon on the Mount (Part 9) - The Christian and his judgement

Scripture Text: Matthew 7:1-12 

1. We make judgements everyday. As Christians, we want to avoid wrong judgements. This is taught in v.1-5. We are to follow good judgements as taught in v 6. Finally, we have to learn what to do with judgements we do not know (v.7-11). 

2. We must be careful with our judgements on others as the Bible tells us we will be judged the same way. There is the law of just retributions. We are first to examine our own hearts and make sure we have repented of our own sins before judging others. In judging others, we must show compassion and care to restore them. Hence, this is the meaning to first cast out the beam (big object) from our own eyes before pulling the mote (small object) out of our brother's eyes. 

3. The good judgements are when we should preach the Gospel to those who are willing to listen and know when to stop for those who harden their hearts and persecute the believers. Yes, we should persevere on to preach the Gospel but when we are thoroughly rejected, we should also move on to other places where there are ready hearers who want to believe the Gospel. 

4. The "don't-know" judgements are when we are in cross-roads and not sure what we to do. Jesus taught us to pray and we must intensify from asking to seeking to knocking. God is our loving and good Heavenly Father who will surely take care of us and help us whether it pertains to our physical needs or spiritual needs. 5. Finally in verse 12, we learn to do unto others what we want others to do unto us. Hence, we must make righteous judgements before the Lord

Emmanuel, God with us

Scripture Text: Matthew 1: 18-23 

1. Joseph and Mary had to travel all the way to Bethlehem even though Mary was already heavy in pregnancy. They had to pay their taxes as Joseph was of the linkage of David and Bethlehem is the city of David. This was God’s way that prophecy must be fulfilled for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. 

2. Jesus was born in a manger which was really a box in which the food of animals was kept. The manger was a place of dirt and Jesus was born there to show His humility for us. 

3. The Bible tells us very clearly that Mary was with child from the Holy Spirit. She is the only virgin in this world that could conceive – one and only one. The power is of the Holy Spirit. There never was and it will never happen again. Again, this was prophecy fulfilled from prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus Christ was even born in this world that a virgin shall conceive a son. God knows the end from the beginning. 

4. The meaning of Jesus is Saviour for He came to save His people from their sins. Jesus is also called Emmanuel which means God with us. God has come into the company of men. Jesus is God and He proves it by His words and miracles. Jesus came to live with sinful men and then to die on the cross for the sins of mankind. 

5. Christmas is only meaningful when we receive Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, in our hearts to have eternal life.