I preached three times on Sunday, Mandarin in the morning, Cantonese in the afternoon (it's after 12) and then Malay in the evening.
After the sermon, we had good fellowship with Stan and Jen and their children over lunch before we work on the final artwork of the booklet to be printed and distributed during the church anniversary on 03/08/2008.
Stan has put in a lot of effort. Wow!
When Paul and Barnabas went to Galatia (specifically Iconium, Lystra, etc.) they faced troubles in the form of rejection, misunderstanding and persecution.
When their 'good news' rejected by the Jews (they are still awaiting their Messiah until today), Paul and Barnabas didn't give up. Instead they depended on God (Pro 3:5-6) to keep preaching the truth. Then only they left for Lystra.
Now, when a man born lame stood up and walked at Paul's command, Paul and Barnabas were seen as incarnation of gods from the Greek mythology. They proclaimed this in a language that Paul and Barnabas probably could not understand. It is interesting to note here that Barbanas was seen as Zeus (the king of Gods) while Paul Hermes (the messenger of gods.) Either way, Paul and Barnabas did not succumb to the temptation to take glory that belongs to God alone.
Perhaps many today would let it get into their heads. They will get bloated and take credit for God's doing and lost focus. Paul and Barnabas didn't. They explained the truth to the confused and deceived people.
Next stop - old friends (read 'enemies.') Their old acquantances from Antioch and Iconium missed them and pursued them all the way to Lystra. This time passion run high and they 'passioned' Paul. Some may find this funny that Paul is now at the receiving end of what he dished out earlier in his life. Either way, the believers displayed courage when they risked their lives to go see Paul outside the city. They possibly wanted to bury Paul if he was really dead and helped him if he was still alive. Paul sprang up and did the unimaginable. He returned to the city and left only on the following day. He remembered the tasks God gave him. He would finish his work before he moved on.
He then revisited all the previous places (including Antioch and Iconium). One would imagine he had a death wish. He and Barnabas revisited the believers to strenghten their faith. They wanted to encourage the bew believers. They helped to elect Elders. They fasted and prayed for them. They also gave them the truth - that being in the Kingdom of God, the believers would go through many tribulations. Wow! What kind of marketing strategy is this? This is God's way. What you see is what you get. There is no attempt to trick you into accepthing Christ. This should bring to shame those who rely on 'good stuff' to attract believers. God will heal you. God will bless you. God will bring you to heaven. God will give you a job. God will prosper you. Really? I'd take the God who gave His life for me anytime, despite all the tribulations and hardship I will endure.
This had been a cry of many churches. Heaven without hell is not balanced. 'Promoting' God's providence and blessings without mentioning presecution and rejection is a distorted truth, if it can be called the truth at all.
God's good news should be presented in its entirety. We cannot just pick the nice stuff and hide the more scary parts.
You can get a PowerPoint on this topic here.
Have a good week!
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