JURONG OUTREACH - APR 04

Those Old Shoes by David A Sargent
4 Apr 04

There was once a very poor orphan who wanted nothing more in the world than to belong to a family. Finally, his opportunity came. When he was eight years old, a family wanted to adopt him! Introductions were made, papers were signed, and just 6 days after his eighth birthday he left for his new home. He took with him his hope and his possessions - the old worn and torn clothes he was wearing, his tattered shoes with holes in the soles, and a single soft toy. His new parents were excited to have him with them, and wanted him to feel like one of the family. A special celebration dinner was held, he was given his own room, and he was introduced to the other kids in the street.

His new parents took those old clothes, threw them away and bought him beautiful new clothes. They bought him a bike and more toys, and pretty soon he began to feel just like all the other kids in the neighborhood – loved and part of a family. One thing, however, was curious. The young boy’s old shoes, the ones with the big holes in them, weren’t tossed out with the rest of his clothes. His new father placed them on the mantelpiece. It wasn’t long before the newly adopted son found out why. Every time that boy did something wrong his father would go and get those shoes and say "Look at all we’ve done for you. We took you in when you had nothing, but look at how you’ve behaved."

I’VE GOT GREAT NEWS FOR YOU: God wants to adopt US into HIS family! Even though "ALL of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" due to our SIN (Isaiah 64:6), “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

God wants us to be a part of His family.

Our "adoption" has been made possible through God’s Son, Jesus. When the time was right, God sent his Son to "pay the price" for our redemption that that we might receive the adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5). “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

God "adopts" us when we: place our trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6), “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

repent of our sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

and are baptized (immersed) in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Once adopted into His family, WE need to remember where WE were without Him! With grateful hearts, we should CONTINUE to live obediently to the will of our Father. We also need to remember something very important: When God adopts us into His family, he throws away ALL of OUR " filthy rags" (our sins) – even those old, tattered shoes! God says, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember NO MORE” (Hebrews 8:12). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Longing for a family? Allow God to add YOU to His family through your trust and obedience.

Did You See What Happened Sunday? by Allen Webster
11 Apr 04

The view from the pulpit is often interesting.  People are so used to watching unresponsive TV and computer screens that they forget preachers can see them! 

When Christians gather for worship on the Lord’s Day, something special happens.  Their common bond is strengthened as in concert they pour out their hearts’ gratitude to their Savior.  It is a time of :-

Worship (Acts 20:7) “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

(1 Cor 16:1,2) “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Rejoicing (Ps 118:24) “ This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Examination (2 Cor 13:5) “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

And Fellowship (Acts 2:42) “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

It is the week’s beginning and the week’s highlight—nothing else done in the next hundred and fifty or sixty hours equals it.  We understand why Paul once delayed a journey for seven days so he could worship the Lord on the Lord’s day with the Lord’s people.

(Acts 20:6,7) “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul”

People of all ages are usually present: babies, children, teens, young adults, families, singles, senior saints etc.  Each comes to express a common love for an uncommon God; each feels a universal thirst for eternal Truth.  While worship is formal and congregational, it is neither cold nor impersonal (in “spirit” John 4:24).  Personalities are involved, and that can make it interesting.  This past Lord’s Day we had an uncommon service, You should have seen what happened…

A BABY CRIED.  Occasionally someone frowns when a child cries during services, but most of us smile.  Good mothers and fathers recognize the need to take a child out to avoid disturbing others, but we don’t want them to feel self-conscious.  We are glad it happens!  What if no baby had cried Sunday?  It would have meant there were no babies there, for all babies cry.  No church wants to be that quiet—a tomb is quieter than a nursery, but who wants to worship in a cemetery?!  A church without children is a church with its best days behind instead of ahead.  If no babies had cried Sunday, it might also have indicated that parents saw no need to train the next generation in the Lord’s ways (Ep 6:4).  Good parents want their children to learn about God from their first Sunday on planet earth (Matt 18: 1-3; 19:13,14).  They do not want them to even be able to remember the first time they came to worship.  We know they’ll eventually learn to be quiet, but for now we’re glad to hear them.

A SISTER LEFT EARLY FOR WORK.  In a perfect world, all businesses would close so that every person could exalt the name of God in worship each Lord’s Day (Ps 34:3).  It will be that way in heaven, but it is not that way on earth.  Christians are sometimes forced to make decisions.  This sister had to be at work before the service ended.. What to do?  She could have skipped and told others that she “had to work.”  She could have slept in, had plenty of time to get ready, left in time to avoid traffic, and got a bite to eat before her shift.  But she chose to get up early, be in Bible class, sing God some songs, open her heart to Him in prayer, thank Him for Christ’s sacrifice during communion, give Him part of her salary and listen to His Word.  She sat toward the back so as not to disturb others when she exited a few minutes before the sermon ended.  Therefore, not everyone saw her “sermon on priorities” (Mat 6:33; Col 3:1,2), but it did not go unnoticed in heaven.

A SISTER NODDED.  No one except the evangelist probably noticed, but a faithful sister nodded in agreement with a sermon point.  She would not speak out to say “amen” like her husband (1 Cor 14:34; 1 Tim 2:11), but she encouraged the preacher just as much without saying a word.  “Nods” also help others in the audience to know that the sermon is expressing both the preacher’s convictions and those of other Christians.

A CHILD TOOK NOTES.  Last Sunday a child was interested enough to take notes. (1 Tim 3:15).  There is nothing so unusual about that—when a visual aid is used, little eyes are always paying attention, and little hands are often copying those words down.  They may not yet fully comprehend these concepts, but the seed is planted, the foundation is laid, the base colour is on the canvas.  One day fruit will ripen, the structure will stand, and the painting will be perfected.

That’s what happened Sunday! Insignificant? You be the judge.

Do You Like What You See? by David A Sargent
18 Apr 04

There was once a wealthy businessman who was fascinated by the microscope. Looking through its lens to study crystals and the petals of flowers, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. He decided one day to examine some food he was planning to eat for dinner. Much to his dismay, he discovered that tiny living creatures were crawling in it! Since he was especially fond of this particular food, he wondered what to do. Finally he concluded that there was only one logical way out of his dilemma - he would destroy the instrument that caused him to discover the distasteful fact..... So he smashed the microscope to pieces!

"How foolish!" one might exclaim. But MANY people do the same thing with God's Word, the Bible. THEY HATE IT and would like to GET RID OF IT because it reveals to them their TRUE condition!

James describes the Word of God as a MIRROR: "Do not merely LISTEN to the word, and so DECEIVE yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS! Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who LOOKS INTENTLY into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:22-24).

James 1:22-24 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

The MIRROR of God’s Word reveals our TRUE condition! The imperfection revealed by God's MIRROR is called SIN - and each one of us has been marred by it! "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The Bible also reveals that there is something that can be done to take care of our" FATAL FLAWS."

The CURE for our sin problem is Christ! Jesus died on the cross so that WE might have the forgiveness of our sins

(1 Peter 2:24) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

LOOK CAREFULLY into the MIRROR of God’s Word. When it painfully reveals your sins, DON'T throw it away! Keep looking and follow the instructions: place your trust in God

(Hebrews 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

repent of your sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

confess that Jesus is Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

be baptized (immersed) in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

and keep on looking into mirror of God’s word and OBEY its instructions

(1 John 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Look into THE MIRROR! Do YOU like what you see? Won’t you DO something about it by submitting your life to Jesus!

Being "A Good Person", is that enough?
25 Apr 04

The Lord Jesus said those people “that have done good” will be raised from the dead “unto the resurrection of life” (John 5:28).  Someone might say, “I have a neighbour that is special.  Everyone says that she is a really good person.  I know she tries to help people that need food and clothes.  She is just a very kind, sweet person.  There is not a mean bone in her body.  If everybody n this old world were more like her, it would be a much better place to live, that’s for certain.  Since she is always doing good deeds, it sounds to me like Jesus is saying that she’ll be saved when He comes to raise the dead and judge all of us.”  What about it?  Is it a sure deal that the neighbour described above is living a life that pleases the Lord God?  Is the fact that she is counted as “a good person” a guarantee that she is heaven-bound?  Consider some questions and answers that are related to this important subject.

In order to please the Lord,

1. Is it necessary to do good works?

Ans: Titus 3:8 says, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men”  the same epistle declares that Jesus has purchased unto Himself “a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:14)

Again, we read, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

(Eph 2:10). Yes, it is God’s will that we do good works.

2. Is it possible to be a “good” person in God’s sight?

Ans: The New Testament plainly teaches that it is not possible to live without sin once one has reached an accountable age.

(Rom 3:23; 1 Jn 1:8,10).  However, being a “good” person is not the same as being sinless.  One can be good, though not sinless.  The Bible says that Barnabas “was a good man” (Acts 11:24).  In addition, older women are told to teach young women to be “good” (Titus 2:3,4).  So yes, it is possible for a person to be good in the sight of the Lord.

3. Is it necessary to refrain from evil activities? 

Ans: The Lord commands Christians, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thess 5:21,22) Again, we read,

“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”  Yes,  God does require us to refrain from doing evil.

4. Is it enough just to be a good moral person?  Put another way, is it enough in God’s sight for a person to refrain from participating in immoral deeds?  Does being a good moral person guarantee that such a one will go to heaven? 

Ans: Redemption or salvation is in the Christ

(Rom 3:24, 2 Tim 2:10).  Therefore, in order to be redeemed or saved, one must be in Him.  Just how does a person get into the Christ?  Nowhere does the Bible say that this is accomplished by being a good moral person.  Rather, it is written that one gets into the Christ by being baptized (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27), that is by obeying the gospel.  When a multitude of lost people in the first century asked the apostles what they must do in order to be saved, Peter’s answer was, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Act 2:38).  In view of that inspired answer, we must conclude that no, being a good moral person is not enough.

5. Is man’s concept of doing “good” always the same as God’s concept? 

Ans:Isaiah 5:20 helps us answer this inquiry: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil... God has an objective standard of good and evil, but sometimes men get “good” and “evil” turned around.  It was “good” for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath day, but some of the Jews thought it was evil (Matt 12:10-13).  Some of the Jews were opposed to the preaching of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 4:1-3), counting such preaching as being evil.  But our Lord charged His apostles to preach the gospel, which includes His resurrection (Mk 16:15).  Jesus calls the preaching of His resurrection “good news” or “glad tiding”, but some men call it a bad thing.  So there are times when man’s ideas about doing good are far different from the Lord’s.

6. In the Bible does the idea of “doing good” at least sometimes include obeying the will of God? 

Ans: It sure does.  In (Deut 6:17,18) we learn, in this context, to do good in God’s sight means to obey His commands.  “Doing good” might have reference to treating others properly, as when Jesus said, “..do good to  them that hate you… (Matt 5:44), but as we have seen, “doing good” can also include obeying or carrying out the will of God.  Let’s come back to John 5:28 and the teaching of the Christ.  He said that those people that “have done good” will be raised unto the resurrection of life.  Elsewhere we read that the Master taught that “the righteous” will enter into eternal life (Matt 25:46).  Those that are righteous are those that do righteouness or what is right in the sight of God.  (1 Jn 3:7).  Since all God’s commands are righteousnesss (Ps 119:172), then a righteous person is one that obeys His commands. Being a good person—is good enough to win a few friends, receive an award or even be praised in the local newspaper.  But, in view of all that the New Testament teaches, being a good moral person is not enough to bring a person the forgiveness of sins or get him to heaven.  Salvation is given to those that obey the Lord

(Heb 5:9). Without obedience, one might be as neighbourly as can be, as thoughtful and courteous as they come, but still be lost in sin.