JURONG OUTREACH - JUN 04

Christianity, Not My Hobby by Sis Angelia Chew
6 Jun 04

Nope, Christianity to me is definitely not one of my hobbies where I allocate left over time for.  It is not a “If free, then I do” thing.  It is our “calling” our “vocation” not “avocation” (Ep 4:1). Do not make it our hobby subconsciously too.  Let’s ask ourselves some questions to see if we have made Christianity our hobby:

1) What is my priority when there are clashes in Church services and other appointments?

This is just a general guideline.  There might be genuine and extreme clashes where only God knows if He should pardon us.  I am talking more in general.  Christianity requires our First Priority.  Last Sunday’s sermon, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Mtt 6:33) taught us not only have we to put God first but we also need to seek Him.  Like I have said earlier, we usually do not forsake our working time to carry out our hobbies.  Most of the time, our hobbies are done during weekends or after work.  In our mind, we know we need to attend to our work first in such a situation, how about our attitude towards worshipping God on Sundays?  Do we consider worship as most important above all?

2) What would I do if I do not have much time for myself? (Ep 5:15-16)

Maybe we can start asking ourselves, is our schedule too tight and too busy for us to handle?  Either we continue with the busy lifestyle and not replacing worship time for rest, or should adjust our schedule in such a way that we have time on other days to rest.  Business is not an excuse.

What is necessary in ensuring that Christianity does not become our hobby? 

(i)         We need to discipline and examine ourselves.

God loves us, and He expects first place in our hearts and lives. (Mat 6:24, Lk16:13)  He wants first place not because He wants us to submit to Him for no reason, but so that we will grow in Him and submit to Him in order for us to have the hope of eternal life.  He knows that if we put Him in the second place, we may be in danger of falling away.

Just like a simple hobby, if we do not discipline ourselves to keep on keeping it, after some time, we might lose interest in that hobby and shift our focus onto something else.  A hobby that is given up after some time is not as dangerous because it does not affect our spiritual soul.  But if we apply the same principle to our religion, it is dangerous because we are jeopardizing our souls.  Hobbies can be changed or forfeited anytime, but not our commitment to God! (1 Tim 4:8)

(ii)         We need to repent and improve ourselves. (2 Cor 7:9-10)

If we realize that we are treating our religion as something extra that we would get involved in only if we have the time to, it is not too late to repent.  In the past, the apostles were busy with preaching the gospel to people around them.  In fact, all their time is spent on doing the business of our Father in Heaven. 

Unfortunately, our lifestyle in Singapore is such that we need to work to maintain life.  Almost 80% of our time is spent on working and other activities.  So let’s not steal away the other 20% from God.  20% is considered very little already.

(iii)         We need to sacrifice. (2 Sam 24:24)

Sacrifice is the main theme of my writing here actually.  Sacrificial things are more precious.  In Part one, we talked about the woman who gave only two mites but that was all she had.  She sacrificed all that she had to give unto the Lord.  That was why Jesus praised her for her generous giving although the amount is considered nothing compared to those who gave so much more.  It is much more precious to know someone is actually giving God something that costs him and not just the left over.  God demands our sacrifice.  He doesn’t want us to serve Him and do His work only when we are free and only when we have extra time to do so.  Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for us.  He did not need to do that actually.  He did not give us what He doesn’t need, but what we needed which is His life!

Do we give God our spare change every Sunday?

God doesn’t want us to treat Him as someone not important, but someone so great that we offer our best to.  In Mal 1:7-8, God said that those people at that time offered Him sacrifices that are lame and blind.  Those people offered God things that they did not even dare to offer to their governors.  This shows that their governors are more important than God in their eyes.  Same thing applies to us.  If we treat our religion and our faith to God as some kind of a hobby, we are actually telling God that if we have some left over time and extra time, then we worship Him and do His work.

Let us all try to look within ourselves, to constantly check if we are subconsciously treating our religion as a hobby.  When decisions have to be made about sacrificing our precious time, I hope we can choose wisely and correctly.  (2 Cor 13:5)

Missing The Treasure
13 Jun 04

An Associated Press story a few years ago told of a man in Texas who purchased a 1,905-carat sapphire at a gem show for $10.00. How? He bypassed the professional dealers and went to an area where the amateur dealers were displaying their merchandise. He found the stone in a box of rocks priced at $15.00. He realized that the rock was valuable and inquired about it. The dealer cut the price to $10.00! The purchase was made. The sapphire was later appraised at $2.28 million!*

The uncut sapphire probably passed through the hands of many people before someone finally recognized its value. Everyone would love to have an opportunity to purchase a sapphire for a fraction of its worth. The problem is that many of us would not recognize it, even if we held it in our hand.

Today, many fail to recognize a treasure far more valuable than sapphires. It is well within their grasp (Acts 17:24-28), yet they do not realize its WORTH. That treasure is "eternal life" in an "eternal kingdom" -- the kingdom of heaven!

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…., which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:44-46). “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

The kingdom came at a tremendous price - the death of Jesus, the Son of God. He purchased the kingdom (the church) with His own BLOOD (Acts 20:28). “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Through this purchase, He also provides a way for YOU and ME to become a part of His glorious kingdom – to walk as citizens of this heavenly kingdom NOW (Colossians 1:12-13) “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

AND to inherit the kingdom at His appearance

(Matthew 25:31-34) “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

ALL those who submit to the King are added to His kingdom (see Acts 2:41, 47). In order to be added to the kingdom, one must place their trust in Jesus (Acts 16:31), repent of sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The King has decreed, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of WATER and the SPIRIT [a reference to baptism], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

This treasure of being a part of a glorious, eternal kingdom is available to ALL who will submit to the King. Yet, so many miss this "treasure" because they do not recognize its worth. Please don't make that mistake!

"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, AND….. you will receive a rich welcome into the "eternal kingdom" of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10-11).

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

An Amazing Thing!
20 Jun 04

Two boys grew up together as the closest of friends. As they grew older, however, they went in different directions. For years they did not see one another. One day they met again – in tragic circumstances. One was a CRIMINAL, the other the JUDGE in a courtroom. The case was heard and the criminal was clearly guilty....

What could the judge do? Could he DISMISS the matter because the criminal was his friend? Justice would not permit that course of action. However, the judge did AN AMAZING THING! He pronounced the criminal GUILTY! He stated the heavy fine that the convicted man had to pay – a fine that the judge knew his old friend would not be able to pay. Then the judge arose from his bench, removed his judicial robe, stepped down and stood beside his friend and said, "I’ll pay the fine for you." So the judge paid the fine that he himself had imposed, and the criminal was set free.*

YOU and I are a lot like that criminal! "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We are GUILTY, and we deserve the punishment: "the wages [heavy fine] of sin is DEATH" (Romans 6:23)

JESUS, the One who will judge ALL mankind on the last day (Acts 17:30-31) “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man”, because of His GREAT love for us, temporarily removed His heavenly "robe" and took for himself a "robe" of human flesh. He then came and stood in OUR place, and paid the debt of OUR sins with His own life. "He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree [i.e., the cross], that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed" (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”.

Those who accept this incredible gift are set free from their sins. Jesus pays the debt of those who: place their 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 their 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 Him 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 and are baptized (immersed) in His name (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.”

His payment will CONTINUE to be sufficient for those who CONTINUE to follow Him (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.”

"Greater love has NO one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13) “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”Jesus demonstrated THIS LOVE for you and for me.

How will YOU respond to His AMAZING love?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Amazing Grace!
How sweet the sound!
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost,
But now am found;
Was blind, but now I see

Who Has The Good Life? by Allan Webster
27 Jun 04

Though Americans and Tanzanians live on the same planet, they live in different worlds.  In so many ways we are a hundred years ahead of them— medically, technologically, educationally, and materially.  We would not even consider trading places with them.  In areas like transportation, food preparation, hygiene, farming and entertainment, their lifestyle does not even register on the same scale with the American way of life.  For these reasons, we feel sympathy for them.

But in other ways, they still have what we left behind.  They seem to enjoy life and laugh a lot more than most Americans.

(Prov 17:22).  They still enjoy the simple pleasures we gave up long ago.  They aren’t rushed and have time to “stop and smell the roses.”  For these reasons, we find ourselves a little envious.

So, who has the “good life?” You decide……..

They worry about getting enough vitamins and protein in their diet; we worry about getting too much cholesterol and fat.

They wear their clothes out because they wash them on a rock; we throw ours out because they are last year’s fashion (Prov 18:9)

They worry about chasing rats away; we worry about winning the rat race. “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat” (Mk 6:31)

They live in mud huts because they cannot afford better houses; we live in better houses that we cannot affort.

“...beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the thins which he possesseth” (Lk 12:15)

They are poor and humble; we are rich and proud. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17)

They bathe naked (nearly) in a river for lack of indoor plumbing; we have it and (sun) bathe naked (nearly) on a beach. “….whosoever lookedth on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt 5:28)

“….that no (wo)man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his (her) brother’s way: (Rom 14:13)

Their children are poorly dressed but sit quietly through two hour services; ours are immaculately clothed but get a drink of water every ten minutes and won’t behave. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Eph 6:1)

They are poor and satisfied; we are rich and discontented. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim 6:6)

They have little and want little; we have a lot and want more.  “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim 6:7,8)

Their pace is slow, but they have time to talk after a worship service; ours is fast, but we have little time for each other. “...tarry one for another” (1 Cor 11:33);

“...let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Heb 10:24)

They live in misery and long for heaven; we live in luxury and doubt the afterlife. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20b); “ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal  (Mt 25:46)

They believe in superstition and witchcraft; we have motels with no thirteenth floors and read our horoscopes       each morning.  “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these...idolatry, witchcraft, hatred…” (Gal 5:19,20)

They live in mud huts with no doors, but are unafraid; we live in mansions with alarms and fear for our lives.

They have no Bibles but beg for them; we have several that we rarely open. “...they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11)

Which has the good life?  Neither.  Who does?  Those who make it to the perfect land of eternal delights. (Rev 21)!

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Do we, who live in Singapore see some similarities?  Are we careless with our lives?  Today is ;the day of salvation. 

Today is the day to make right our relationship with God. 

Act now!