Rev Dr. David Geisler, 27/02/2011
Pastor Daniel recommended the book written by David and his father Dr Norman Geisler.
David felt like we are his family. His life has been changed this week.
David teaches in four seminaries in Singapore. His wife is professor.
(Hmm … this is sounding like a repeat of yesterday’s message.
I will add additional notes, if any to the previous post.
Every change is always accompanied by pain.
When we talk about love, we often think about 1 Cor 13. There is another verse in 1 John 3:16.
1Jn 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
This is the highest expression of love. Love is kind, gentle and patient. But love is expressed in the highest level when we can lay down our loves for our brothers. It is not just love in words but also in deeds.
Ps Richard went to Mugale, Myanmar. He brought offerings from the church members together with the Malaysian Baptist Convention to build a school there. He experienced Mark 16 (take poison and won't die) when he used a mosquito as toothpaste. A school is built with a shelter in case of another disaster with the scale of Nargis.
Background of 2 Thess 3
In spite of Paul's instructions and encouragement in the first letter, many were still struggling with 3 problems:
Chapter 1 – Is God fair? Paul told them they would suffer a bit.
Chapter 2 – Will Jesus come again? Paul told them wrong teachings had crept in.
Chapter 3 – Then, how should we live? The people wanted to know what they could do besides praying. Paul told them God is in charge. They should not become idle. Paul's counsel – serve consistently.
2Th 3:1-2 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, (2) and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.
Paul wanted the message of God to run quickly. We, the carriers of the Gospel should run swiftly.
There are people with their own personal agenda.
There is another group without faith, who had not heard about Jesus. Paul called for the church to intercede for them.
2Th 3:3-5 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (4) And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. (5) May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2Th 3:6-12 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. (7) For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, (8) nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. (9) It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. (10) For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. (11) For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. (12) Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Idleness and false teaching disrupted church.
There are people in the church who were using the imminent coming of Christ not to do anything. They are taking advantage of the others. Paul told the church to cut support from such people. Paul were not talking about people who are handicapped but those who are capable to work but refused to work.
The suggestion for imitation is very strong in the Bible. First Jesus then Paul. As Christians we sometimes look at another Christian as our model. If you are a leader, you are responsible to walk straight with God. Paul encouraged the Thessalonica church to follow him.
Paul is clearly referring to people who are capable but instead of working spend their energy and time to unproductive work.
2Th 3:13-18 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. (14) If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. (15) Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (16) Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (17) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. (18) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Paul now turned his attention back to the church.
The wrong group of people can lead us to the wrong path, either morally or financially. Paul asked the church to admonish such people and to tell them what is from the Bible.
We know that God is in control and it's just a matter of time before He put everything in order.
Questions:
Will you be able to stand firm and strong despite the economy and pray for the company?
Pastor Richard Toh, 14/12/2008
Background (1 Thess 2:1-16, Acts 17)
Thessalonians is one of the earliest books written in the NT along with Galatians. Paul passed through Thessalonica in his 2nd missionary journey. Paul didn't start his letters to the Thessalonians (and Colossians and Philemon) referring to himself as the apostle. This is probably because he didn't need to exert his authority. He spoke to them in excitement because they were growing.
Whenever Paul planted churches, there were oppositions from the Jews. Opponents were demeaning the messenger and the message. They suggested Paul was a troublemaker who came with ulterior motives. Paul reminded them of his motives and behavior in teaching and nurturing them. We can pattern like Paul to be teachers and help others learn the Scriptures. The bottom line of the Thessalonians to walk worthy of God's calling. Majority of the congregation listening to the sermon are Christians but are they living in a way worthy of God's calling. When people see us can people see the difference?
Paul noted the work of faith, the labour of love and the endurance in hope in the Thessalonica church. There are always people in the church who discourage us and make comments. The last line of our church vision is to fulfill the Great Commission. We need to share the Gospel and disciple people. We are responsible.
When teaching others (1Thess 2:1-16)
1Th 2:1-4 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. (2) But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. (3) For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, (4) but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
1Th 2:5-8 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness. (6) Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. (7) But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. (8) So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
1Th 2:9-12 For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (10) You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. (11) For you know how, like a father with his children, (12) we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Paul lives how he preaches. We must walk our talk.
1Th 2:13-16 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (14) For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, (15) who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind (16) by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved--so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!
... be inspired and encouraged by this crisp and clear message.
When You Started Out (1 Thess 1:1-10)
Elder Stephen Choi, 20081207
Good works for Christian
· Remember where we were? Someone comes into your life and God convicted you. Any changes?
· Started out as Christian – what happened? Did you share Jesus with others?
· Continue grow in the Lord. Enthusiasm/Excitement? Continue to show gratitude to God for His work in our life. Has your love grown or faded?
1Th 1:1-10 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. (2) We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, (3) remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Three cardinals / virtues of a Christian are faith, hope and love. They are not an end in themselves.
What does faith produce? Paul said it produces work in the life of Christians. We are saved not by works but grace – by what Jesus did on the Cross. James said faith without work is dead. We can do work without faith perhaps due to humanitarian purposes. There are people who help others without knowing God. But faith cannot be without work. Work can be evangelistic, helping others or act of kindness.
Love if often linked with labour or the pain involved in the work. Love motivates Christians to work hard even when the work is difficult and tiring. The labour is prompted by love. This love itself is prompted by the love of God which is placed in our hearts (Rom 5:5). Because of the love of God in us, we are willing to walk the second mile. Love is long suffering and it involves a lot of self-sacrifices. If our labour in church is not prompted by love but by a desire to fulfill people’s expectations, one day we will burn out and wonder what we are doing. We need to check ourselves.
Endurance is inspired by hope which will see us through tough times. It is not the suffering or hardship that causes despair, it is when we lose hope that we fall into despair. When we study the book of Job, we find Job to be so enthusiastic in his worship of God and acknowledged that God gives and takes. In Job 30:10, we see Job in despair. When hope defers, the heart despairs. What is the basis of our hope? Is it our bank account? Our children who will take care of us? Our government? Our hope is based on Jesus Christ.
God deposited these three virtues in every Christian. Do we recognize them in our lives? Are they working in our lives? Recognize God’s work and value them. Paul wrote letters to express his appreciations to those who labour hard for God. Sometimes it can be discouraging. Shepherds and church workers should be thankful that God is working in our lives. People’s appreciation is a bonus.
1Th 1:4-6 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,
God was talking about how when he preached it was with the power of the Holy Spirit. It may sound like boasting but it changed the lives of the Thessalonians. The Word of God has power to change lives. The Holy Spirit is behind of this power and the changing of lives takes place because they were receptive to the message. Paul being convicted in his message also helped. He preached as though the audience believed in him
When Paul went to Thessalonica, he preached the Gospel and many were saved and great things happened. The church was established in a short time (Act 17). The accomplishments brought persecution by the Jewish leaders. They went to Jason’s house in hope to catch Paul. Paul wasn’t there and he was told to flee. Those who want to preach the Gospel must pay the price. There may not be immediate blessings (“in much affliction” in v6.) Despite the suffering and persecution, they were open to God. The Joy of the Lord flooded their souls.
Life is not always smooth sailing. When we face difficulties, we may be tempted to go into self-pity. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we will receive the joy of the Lord. The world says when we have wealth and health, we will have happiness. Happiness in the world is not formed in suffering. But to the Christians, it is through pain that we find joy. It’s a paradox that the world cannot understand. We don’t invite pain. The pain and suffering refers to persecution due to our belief.
It is uncertain times now. Are we going to despair and fall into self-pity? If we are receptive to the Holy Spirit, it will see us through. We have received the Holy Spirit when we received the Lord, let’s continue to be receptive.
We sing the song “you give and take away” and “blessed be the name of the Lord” so easily. It came from the book of Job. Let’s hope we can overcome difficult situations with the joy of the Lord. “Blessed is the road marked with suffering.”
1Th 1:7-10 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, so that we need not say anything. (9) 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, (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
The lifestyle was already evangelistic. Their lifestyle shows their belief in God. We must believe in the Gospel ourselves. We must believe the Gospel can change our lives. The Gospel must be powerful enough in our lives to change us first. Our lifestyle must align with our word. Many don’t become Christians with the excuse of the bad testimonies they see in Christians.
People can see the process of changed lives and this itself is a powerful testimony.
1. We turn from something, e.g. idols.
2. We turn the true, living God. We turn to serve the true and living God.
3. We expect God to come again.
The way we show gratitude to God is to live the way God wants us to live and to influence others to do the same. The process of conversion must be evident in our lives. Are we still living with idols in our lives? Are we serving the living God? Do we live like people who have hope?
When we have hope that God will come again, we can endure difficulties in our lives.
Conclusion:
When we started out as Christians, God entered our lives. Let’s continue to be receptive of Him and respond to the Holy Spirit. Let’s be a good and positive influence to others.
Pastor Reynold Lim (CBC Kota Damansara, English)
Prayer is not easy, it is fighting against ourselves. It is a change agent and we don't like to pray because we don't like to be changed. Prayer brings refreshing and revival. It changes us first. It fights against our mind, our will and our whole bring. Prayer reveals the will of God which we usually fight against. We need to submit and let God does His work.
Psa 25:4-5 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. (5) Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Prayer is a change agent and it re-aligns us with God's values.
Relationships bring conflicts. If we handle them well, it can bring benefit in life.
Before we can understand the Jerusalem Council which decides our future, we need to understand the background. At the end of Acts 14, Paul & Barnabas on furlough in their home base of Antioch of Syria. The served their 1st term as missionaries in Cyprus and Galatia. They planted at least 4 churches in Galatia in the cities of Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra & Derbe. They had gone back to each of these churches & installed elders (Acts 14:23).
A worst case scenario: Acts 15:1 (AD 48) – Some church leaders visited the Galatian churches and contradict the essence of salvation. The 1st Gentile churches planted in Antioch in Ad 45 – Uncircumcised Gentiles professed faith in Jesus Christ, God of the Jews (Acts 11:23;26).
When the Jews heard that Gentiles became Christians without observing the whole spectrum of the Jewish customs, they were not happy. Herod took advantage of this and persecuted the Christians. He killed James the brother of Jesus and attempted to capture Peter.
Act 12:1-3 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. (2) He killed James the brother of John with the sword, (3) and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
The notion that uncircumcised Gentiles could profess to be Christians was so radical &
A worst case scenario - The Jews remained mono-cultural and enthno-centric. Salvation did not removed their racism.
Two developments:
The face-to-face theological debate between Paul and these Messianic Hews (Judaizers) in Antioch resulted in the convening of the Jerusalem Council.
The unsettling news from the news churches provoked Paul to write his first epistles - to the Galatians.
The issue of the Gentile circumcision is by all measurements one of the most crucial missiological challenges in the entire history of Christianity.
The Epistle to the Galatians is Paul's response to these tumultuous events, before the Jerusalem Council.
Gal 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- (7) not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
If we understand the background in Acts 15, we can appreciate better Galatians.
Act 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (39) and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Paul's 1st recorded sermon was met with anger.
The foundational nucleus of the church at Antioch was made up of Gentiles who had become Christians and elders in the church without being circumcised.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Paul was furious at the insistence of Jews to circumcise the Gentiles believers.
Paul described the Judaizers in Gal 2:4 as false brethren secretly brought in.
Gal 2:4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in--who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery--
If there was no Jerusalem Council, men today need to be circumcised and worse, Satan would have nullified the work of Jesus on the Cross. Satan made many attempts to do so, in Queen Esther's time, and the time when Jesus was born.
In Gal 2, we see the conflict between Paul and Peter regarding Gentiles conversion.
Gal 3 deals with problems arising from Jews and Gentile believers (formerly Gentile proselytes).
Gal 4 deals with problems arising from pagan Gentiles, including the God-fearers.
Gal 5 shows that both of the problems can lead to the works of the flesh as opposed to the fruit of the Spirit.
Four steps to conflict resolution:
1. Acknowledge the Issue (1-2)
What was the issue? The central question was What should a Gentile do to be saved?
Justification by faith was not seen as enough – one must keep the Mosaic Law and be circumcised.
The response to this question would affect the entire history of Christianity and determine the way we view salvation today.
We need to put down the issue.
2.Look at the Issue (5-12)
a. Method of Discussion: Show respect to both sides of the question. Allows for much debate (Acts 15:7a, cf 1 Tim 2:24-25
b. Testimony of Peter (Acts 15:7b-11) God who knows their heart gave them the Holy Spirit. Peter reminded that God used him as a vessel to bring good news to the Gentiles. He then reminded that the Gentiles are saved in the same way, i.e. through faith by grace and he confirmed the salvation of the Gentiles. Paul pointed out that the Jews were trying to imposing the yolk that they themselves they could not bear on the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas then shared their testimonies of God's miracles among the Gentiles.
3. Look at the Scripture – James, who was seen as the chief elder presented a Theological Pattern with 4 Strands of Thoughts (v13-21)
a. God is doing this, not man (v 14)
b. It had been God's plan all along. The Word of God is being fulfilled, not contradicted. (vv 15-18)
c. The basis of salvation is grace, not law (v19)
d. A lifestyle of obedience and love must follow salvation, not license (Acts 15:20-21, Gal 5:13)
When we consider the Scripture, we need to look at what God has been doing in the church. Elder James was not telling the people he ignored all their rights. He recognized four things that offend the Jews greatly.
Act 15:28-29 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
4. Reach a Consensus - a Written Statement (v 23b-29; 30b-35)
Act 15:23-29 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. (24) Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, (25) it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. (28) For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
Two points stood out.
A public announcement was made in Acts 15:30b-35. Paul, Barnabase, Judas and Silas (v22) sent to Antioch with the letter in hand. The response to the council's decision was tremendous. The people rejoiced, were encouraged and strengthened. They felt a sense of peace. They continued to preach the Gospel.
Let's ask ourselves some hard questions:
Do we welcome in to our fellowship those who look different than we do? Who talk differently whose pasts may littered with failures or sin Do we shim rough-edged new converts? Do we shun divorcees or single parents? Are we willing to listen to others' opinions? Why can't we accept? Could we be prejudiced / self-centred / arrogant?
How do you take to change Are you flexible when grace make changes to your own law?
God's grace always challenges us to be open to any change that better communicates the Gospel. Is God pushing for a grace change in your life right now? What it is? Resistant to this change? What do you need to do to be flexible?
English Puritan Richard Baxter says, in necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
Does your disagreement centre on a necessary thing or secondary issue? Is it truly worth fighting for?
In "all things," are you holding to "charity" as your goal and motivation? What's in your heart?
We must focus on the fundamentals: God's grace, salvation through faith alone, freedom in Christ and making loving sacrifices for another.
Legalism – emphasis on Works, impact is Guilt. "If you don't achieve, you are a failure."
License – emphasis is on self, impact is Offense. "Do it your way, don't worry about others' feelings."
Grace – emphasis on Christ, impact is Love. "Love others as Christ has loved you."
Grace is the middle of the two extremes. It is the essence of a Christian life.
Pastor Ronnie Teoh
Luk 13:18-21 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? (19) It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." (20) And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? (21) It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."
3 levels of learning
We want to invite the Holy Spirit to open His truth to us (at the 2nd level of learning.)
Pastor Teoh participated in a 3-day pastors and leaders national prayer. Their counterpart in England did the same and saw a vision of Malaysia.
The context
Jesus had just healed a woman who had a bent spinal column (possibly calcification) in the synagogue on a Sabbath. This was prohibited by the religious leaders. The synagogue rulers openly opposed Him.
Jesus explained through the Parable of the Mustard Seed that His Gospel cannot be confined by Jewish restrictions because it is universal in character.
Birds nesting on a tree was a familiar symbolism for the gathering of the nations of the world. Birds observed no boundaries. The parable explains the universal scope of the Gospel, it is not just for the Jews but for the whole world. The Jews could not understand this and no wonder they opposed Him.
By the Parable of the Yeast, Jesus explained how the Gospel would spread to the whole world through its transforming power.
Thumb drives and hydrogen fuel are inventions of Malaysia. We have the ideas but we may not have the capability to develop and manufacture the product. The idea of the thumb drive was sold to Koreans who popularized and commoditize it.
By this parable, Jesus was illustrating the most basic method of evangelism.
EEIII (Evangelism Explosion III) works well in the Philippines because most of the people there have a Judea-Christian understanding.
Yeast in the Biblical concept is almost always used as a negative symbolism. The Israelites' offering to God never contained yeast. Yeast represented the evil influence of the Egyptians. In NT, Jesus warned about the yeast – the hypocrisy of the Jews and their negative influence.
1Co 5:1-6 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. (2) And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. (3) For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. (4) When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, (5) you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (6) Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
Jesus must have very good reasons to use yeast to represent the dynamism and the work of the Kingdom of God.
The principle to observe about a parable is that it usually carries one central idea. We should not be creative and spiritualize the parables. It's "and earthly story with a heavenly meaning." We don't have the liberty to interpret parables. We just need to focus on the central truth. Once we identify the central truth, we can attempt to amplify it.
Yeast does its work of transforming dough through direct contact. Yeast it mix together with flour before it's kneaded. A little yeast affects the whole lump of dough. The Jews then were familiar with this. The total character of the lump of dough is changed by the yeast.
Jesus was not interested in the commercial potential of yeast, rather He was using it to communicate a powerful message of the Gospel's ability to transform minds. When this powerful Gospel is deposited in our society and then it will do its work.
Jesus brought the Gospel to the planet earth. He came to earth and walked the earth. He lived a perfect life and die for our sins and rose again. It is now our task to take the Gospel out into our society.
When we received the Gospel, we went through the powerful transformation in our lives. We can bring this transformation into our society.
All evangelism methods are either go or come Evangelism. Statistics show that 90% of Christians DO NOT REGULARLY ARTICULATING the Gospel to others.
Haggai Institute in Hawaii published a startling statistic which suggests 75% Christians never bring someone to Christ in their lifetime. If we are a fermented people, we should go to share the Gospel.
Billy Graham once told a story about a middle age man in small town America. He didn't think he needed to become a Christian even though he knew many Christians. He admired his boss. He thought that if he could become more like his boss it would be ok. His Christian colleagues invited him to a church service and to his surprise, his boss was a leader in the church and yet he never once shared the Gospel with him!
We are comfortable with COME evangelism. We'd invite people to come for services and meetings. We hope by attending the event, our friends will receive Jesus.
A lot of Christians cannot even invite friends to evangelistic events because they have never been doing the groundwork.
FGBF in Alor Setar organized a grand dinner and invited all their friends and associates. 400 were invited. That's a big number in Alor Setar. The guests expected this to be a normal Christmas function with dinner and presents. It was then announced that a speaker would share the message of Christmas. Pastor Teoh had 40 minutes to lead the people who knew nothing about Christianity to accept Jesus. The Gospel can transform lives. But the primary method of evangelism taught by Jesus is GO Evangelism. We are fermented and so we should go and deposit into the lives of people.
Organizations all over the world have a tagline. CNN's is Be the First to Know. HSBC calls themselves the World's Local Bank. Pastor Ronnie's tagline is 'Deposit the Gospel As You Deem Best and Let The Holy Spirit Do the Rest.'
We cannot squeeze someone by the neck until they are blue to make them believe in Jesus.
Pastor Ronnie published a booklet entitled 'Are All Religions the Same?' This is the number one religious concept in Asia. The booklet starts with a no and explains why. It also contains a persuasion part. He is going to publish another booklet called 'What is the Meaning of Life?'
If you are still just a lump of a dough with the label Christian on you, you are not much good to the Kingdom of God.
Communism is a second class call. They bring to it the first class commitment. Communism is such a threat because of its ability to influence. Christianity is the first class call. There is nothing that compares to the call to share the Gospel. But we bring to it a second class commitment.
Ps Reynold said the 3-month prayer journey must culminate in evangelism, something that connects to people. Revival and evangelism always work hand in hand.
Pastor Ronnie once took a flight from LA back to KL. He took a Korean Airline flight. He chose the cheapest seats. It was a 7-hours flight and they stop over in Korea. He was promised a tour. He went to a place called Nam San (literally southern city.) It was cold so before long, Pastor Ronnie wanted to run back to the bus which was heated. Before he reached the bus, an elderly lady passed him a tract. She probably targeted foreign tourist in Nam San in her distribution of English tracts. It was a cold night,
Korea is seen as a revival country. Amazing amount of evangelism is going on there.
Many years ago, Pastor Ronnie and wife went to the SS2 Pasar Malam around 5:00 p.m. Stall owners were setting up. One was a stall selling idols. The owner was eating noodles when a woman came to rebuke the idols loudly. The man put down his bowl of noodles and told the woman if there was a problem they can discuss. He didn't understand English. The woman continued.
This is not the way to share the Gospel. Ps Ronnie has given us tips for evangelism with his tagline. When there is no personal revival in the Christians there will be no results. Christians need to be stirred up so they will go to the LORD and let the LORD transform them.
We judge who, what, how, etc. in evangelism. One way or another, some way or other, we find some way to deposit the Gospel into the lives of the non-believers. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts. It is our part that we have failed.
How do we go about doing it?
Ps Ronnie was the first pastor in Malaysia to pick up EEIII. He went to Ft Lauderdale twice.
Question 1: When we tell others the Bible is the truth, how to we respond to doubts? (Kevin Suit)
Don't give theological answers. Determine if our friends are genuinely looking for an answer. Explain how the Bible was written. Talk to pastors, teachers and get them books.
Question 2: What to do with someone who knows about Jesus but could not love his father? (Ong)
Show the stories from the Bible that shows a father's love, e.g. the Prodigal Son, John 3:16, etc.
There are supposed to be 99 names of a god but none of them is love. The God is the Bible is love.
Question 3: Is believing in Jesus enough to go to heaven? (Ong)
We are in a consumerism era where we can choose the best things we want. Many people believe in Jesus in that way. They have minimal involvement with the Body. That's not Biblical Christianity. This is substandard Christianity. (Ps Ronnie just wrote this down in his notebook today in preparation for his preaching tomorrow.) This is a major problem for the church today. People pick and choose what they want from the Bible.
Question 4: How to we handle non-Christians who have been hurt by Christians, perhaps by their lifestyles or cheated by Christians? (Joshua Chan)
It's difficult. Believers are still imperfect. Do not let believers who are imperfect prevent you from knowing the perfect love of God. Don't share testimonies because they already have bad experiences with Christians. We encourage them to look to God and not men.
Question 5: Some people think they already belong to a certain god. How do we share with them? (Jen Leong)
We have to show the idea of science. If we look at this world, we can tell there is a Creator. Friendship is important as it enables us to have heart to heart talk with our friends. There are many evidences. The Big Bang Theory (the expanding universe) supports the idea of a Creator. If we read the Bible, we find that the Big Bang Theory is consistent with the Creation of God.
The starving baker is one habitudes named by Dr. Tim Elmore. It is a picture of one who is constantly giving without receiving.
In ministry, there is no two ways about it - if we don't spend time with God, there is no way we can effectively serve Him and His people.
"Without a meaningful devotional life, the ministries of these influential church leaders in their 30s are dry and lifeless. But the constant and enormous demands of leadership regularly threaten to crowd out their time with God."
"I don't tell my wife I'm going to spend 20 minutes with her doing one thing and then 20 minutes doing something else, and call that a 'relationship,'" says Les Hughes, pastor of Westwood Baptist Church (Alabaster, AL). "It's much more fluid, more varied, and more about understanding and communicating our hearts than going through some arbitrary motions."
"In relationships with people, sometimes I'm talking, and sometimes I'm listening, and sometimes we're just together and nobody is talking. I'm trying to cultivate that kind of relationship with God."
Read on here.
