Building collapsed in Shanghai. The foundation is not strong.Act 20:17-38 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. (18) And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, (19) serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; (20) how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, (21) testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
(22) And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, (23) except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. (24) But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (25) And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. (26) Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, (27) for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (28) Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (29) I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (31) Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. (32) And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (33) I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. (34) You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. (35) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (36) And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. (37) And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, (38) being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Introduction
- A solid foundation of life and civilization can only be built based on truth because only truth can hold and sustain such a foundation
- A strong framework for life and civilization can only be built based on the night foundation of truth, justice, righteousness and respect in the Christian faith
What do we need to know?
In order to leave a lasting legacy and civilization what do we need to really know?1. Be very clear what the truth is. (Jn 14:6)
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus did not say he is a way or a truth or a life. Truth is not found in a set of rules or standards. Truth for the Christian belief is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Such a claim can only be one of 3 Ls – a lunatic, a liar or the Lord. We are forced to examine the life of Jesus Christ to determine the reality of Jesus’ claim.
Joh 20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
Mat 28:16-17 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. (17) And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Thomas and the eleven found it too good to be true. But it’s too good not to believe.
Anything built on a foundation other than Lord will not last.
2. Know that only truth can transform (Jn 8:31-36)
Joh 8:31-36 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (32) and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (33) They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" (34) Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. (35) The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (36) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
3. Know what is crucial and of lasting value in life (1 Pet 1:22-25)
1Pe 1:22-25 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (23) since you have been born1 again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (24) for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, (25) but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
"If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed." ~Mark Twain
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
The Bible never misinformed. (But it can be misinterpreted.)
Steps to take
What steps must we take to pass on this legacy to every generation?1. That truth is carefully guarded and uncompromisingly exposes (Acts 20:28-31; Heb 4:12, 13)
Act 20:28-31 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (29) I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (31) Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.
Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (13) And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
One thing has gone wrong in the Western society is that the pulpit ministry is compromised – the Word of God is not preached in its fullness and power. What is a nation weak? It is because the Word of God is not faithfully preached.
Preaching is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable. (Author unknown, shared for the 2nd time by Pastor Daniel.)
2. That this truth is lived out in all areas of our lives. (Acts 20:18,19)
Act 20:18-19 And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, (19) serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
Of all the people on earth, Christians are the most blesed. (More on this in the Spiritual Leadership II.)
3. That we must pass it on well to every generation. (2 Tim 2:2)
2Ti 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Pass on what is good.
Problems in society started from home. The DUMC Fathers Club is aimed to ensure that great fathering is passed on.
4. That every generation undergoes a personal revival. (1 Thes 1:4-6a)
1Th 1:4-8 a For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, (5) because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (6) And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, (7) so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (8) 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
The faith of our children cannot be a hand-me-down faith but more of a pass-me-down faith. Let our children get involved in ministry to help the down and out. Send them to camps and missions. (not to New Zealand but Cambodia, etc.)
Sometimes we can experience amazing miracles in our lives. During the 14-day fasting and prayer in 2002, the former Ruby theatre was packed and some had to sit on the floor. Today, some of them have no interest in prayer and fasting. A miracle is no guarantee of a revival.
We must make sure our children go through a personal revival. They must experience this themselves.
5. There is a structure to regularly renew our commitment and covenant with the Lord. (Mk 1:35; Lk 5:16; Josh 24:15;24:25)
Mar 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Luk 5:16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Jos 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Jos 24:24 And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."
Watch night each year is a time to renew our covenant with God.
Questions for discussion
- Why is knowing the truth so important and what has this truth done to you and for you? Share the areas in your life where you and others around you have seen change and transformation.
- What are you dong to communicate and to pass on this truth? How can you ensure that you and every generation after you are embracing this truth well and that we are passing on this heritage and legacy well?
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