JURONG OUTREACH - October 10

Misconceptions concerning Christianity – Faith
3rd October 2010

Ever heard of the phrase “leap of faith”? Or how about this – “faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to”? These two quotes tell us how the world at large perceives faith. One of Dictionary.com’s definition of faith is “belief that is not based on proof.” The world think that faith is believing in something for the sake of believing in it, without substantial proof or evidence, because it is unnecessary. But what really is faith, and what role does it play in our lives? What do we really mean when we say, “I have faith in God”? 

The Bible defines faith very much differently from the world. In Heb 11:1, we have a definition of faith from God. It says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This is the Bible’s definition of faith. This is God’s definition of faith. But what does this verse mean? It means that faith is hoping for something or knowing or believing that something is true even though it is not explicitly clear, but that the evidences points to the truth. For example, when we say we have faith that God exists, what we really mean is that we believe that God exists although we cannot see God, nor feel Him, nor physically hear Him, but we know He exists because of the evidence which points to His existence – the things around us (Ps 19:1-3). This definition of faith is very much different from the world’s definition in that the faith that the Bible talks about is belief based on rock-solid evidence and hard facts. It is not blind faith! It is not believing in something for the sake of believing in it. That is not the faith that the Bible talks about. That is not faith. That is a baseless opinion.  

The faith that we have in Jesus and in God is based on truth, and the truth we have is based on evidence. That is what our faith should be – a truth-based faith. Rom 10:17 says, “Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” while John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” Our faith is built when we hear God’s word! By implication, that tells us that if we do not expose ourselves to God’s word on a regular basis, our faith will eventually fade away, since then we would not hear God’s word. Therefore, we ought to consider the word of God on a regular basis so that our faith will grow, and not eventually die off. However, consider ourselves – what are the sorts of things we are considering today? Hit movies? Latest fashion trends? Sports results? It is not to say that trying to watch movies or keep up with the latest developments in sports are wrong, but that sometimes these activities take up so much of our time, that there is no place for God in our lives. When this happens, it’s no wonder why our faith doesn’t grow! 

Now we know that our faith must be based on truth, and truth based on evidence. The evidence we have must be good, strong and convincing, so that the truth that is based on it is indeed the truth. The question we need to ask ourselves is – Is that faith that we have based on truth? For 1 Pet 1:7 says, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The Bible tells us that the genuineness of our faith has to be tested. This implies that our faith may be one that is not genuine. Genuine brings the meaning of real, not fake. If our faith is not genuine, it is as good as being non-existent! So we have to examine our faith from time to time, to ensure that what we believe in is not some made up fairy tale. We need to examine the truths that we have and challenge our own faith. This is important, because there have been brethren who have never done so. And then when the time came when their faith was questioned, they fall away – because they never tested their faith! Therefore, we should first challenge our own faith, and answer it before someone comes and challenges it, for then we would be ready to give an answer to them, with meekness and fear (1 Pet 3:15).  

Did you know that Paul himself examines his faith from time to time? Consider his arguments in 1 Cor. 15:12-19. Here he talks about the resurrection of Christ. Paul recognizes that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen, and if Christ is not risen, then our faith is futile. This is because if Christ did not rise, then He does not have power over death – He was just an ordinary man who taught great things, but He wasn’t the son of God. This would imply that our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins! Also, those who die in Christ died hopeless and they have all perished, having put their faith in something which wasn’t true in the first place. And for us who are living, if we only have hope in Christ, then this hope is useless – it is a dead hope, then we are of all men most pitiable! But Paul further writes in vs. 20 that this is NOT the case, because Christ is indeed risen! Yes, because all evidences point to the fact that Jesus did die, and in three days he arose!  

Brethren, we see here that examining and testing our faith in fact further strengthens it! So now, have you examined your faith? 

May the Lord bless us all. 

After Death – What Then?
10th October 2010

Have you ever wondered what happens immediately following death? Most of us have thought about this at some time or other. There is a story in the New Testament which supplies us with much information about what happens immediately following death. This story was told by Jesus. It is recorded in Luke 16:19-31. 

The story tells about two men. One man was very rich. He had everything that he desired. The other man, Lazarus, was very poor. He was sick. He lay at the gate of the rich man’s house and begged for the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table.  

After a time Lazarus died. The rich man also died. Just as there was a great difference in life between the two men so there is also a great difference in death between them. However, the situation is now reversed. Lazarus was "carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom." But the rich man "lifted up his eyes being in torment." There are many very valuable lessons which we can learn from this story. One lesson is that wealth, power, and social position do not extend beyond this life on earth. The rich man had all of these and yet he went to a place of torment. Lazarus had none of these things in this life. Yet he was in a place of happiness after death. 

Another lesson is that consciousness continues beyond the grave. Some think that when one dies he is simply unconscious until the resurrection. This is not true. The body sleeps in the grave. The soul does not. Memory also continues beyond the grave. The rich man was fully conscious. He recognized Lazarus. He remembered that he had five brothers back on the earth. He was concerned about them and begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to preach to them so that they would not come to the place of torment where he was.

Many fathers and mothers after death will remember their children and how they failed to teach them about God when they had the opportunity. They will long for someone to teach them so that they will not come to be with them in torment. Many will remember with deep regret the opportunities they had to prepare for death while on earth, but did not take advantage of them. 

Still another lesson that Jesus taught in this story is that after death, there is no second chance. The rich man begged for Abraham to "send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue" but Abraham refused. He pointed out that "there is a great gulf fixed" and that none could cross over it. 

God has given us the time that we have on this earth so that we can prepare for death, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). But once death comes, it is too late! There are only two possible places to go when we die. There is the place of the blessed where Lazarus went. This is the place where God’s faithful children go to await the resurrection and the Judgment. There is also the place of torment where the rich man went. This is the place where people go at death who have taken no thought for God and for doing His will during their lifetime on earth.  

What about you? Are you prepared for death? Life on earth is uncertain. We have no assurance that we will live to see tomorrow. Death is certain. The Bible warns, "Come now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow, we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away?" (James 4:13,14).  

The Bible also says, "Behold now is day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).  

Begin today while there is time. Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24).

He alone is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Only through Christ can we be saved eternally (Acts 4:11,12). 

Repent of all your past sins (Acts 17:30,31).  

Confess your faith in Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37).  

Be buried with Him in baptism to have your sins washed away (Romans 6:4; Acts 22:16).  

Then serve Christ faithfully in His church for the rest of your life and you will be blessed throughout all eternity. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). 

Rejoice With Those Who Rejoice, And Weep With Those Who Weep
17th October 2010

(Rom 12:15)
The Bible in Ecc 7:2-4 reads, “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to a house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” 

Sometimes we wonder why we go to wakes and funerals. We think to ourselves, “The person is already passed on, what’s the point?” Sometimes we make excuses for ourselves not to go for these things by trying to keep ourselves so occupied that we tell ourselves we’re too busy to attend a wake. However, here the wise man Solomon exhorts us to go to these places, not only to comfort the relatives of the deceased but also for ourselves, because every wake and every funeral is a reminder of how fragile our life is. James wrote in James 4:14, “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Our life is uncertain. We can make as many plans as we like, but at the end of the day, sometimes things just don’t turn out the way we want to. What we need to remind ourselves constantly is that God continues to be in control and that we need to trust Him.

It is difficult for us to empathize with people who have lost their loved ones, even when we ourselves have experienced it once before. The Malays have a saying, “Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul”, literally translated “Heavy for the eyes which watch, even heavier for the shoulders which bear it.” It says that no matter how much we try to understand the sorrow of people in situations like these, we can never really understand them unless we ourselves are in that position. Nevertheless, we should follow the example of Job’s friends in Job 2:13 which says, “So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” Sometimes all we have to do is to be there for our brethren in their time of bereavement. We do not have to say a word, but just our mere presence in itself is comforting. 

I recall once when our dear brother Benjamin Tee from Klang passed on from this world at the tender age of 15. Despite him being from Klang, the brotherhood from various congregations, from Ipoh all the way down to Singapore, were there during the wake services and the funeral. It was certainly a great comfort and an encouragement to the family, and this is something that the church should do. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the church being one body, but all being of the same mind and same ultimate purpose. In 1 Cor 12:26, we read, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it,” and again in Romans 12:15-16, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” 

These two passages teach us one thing – as members of the body of Christ, the church, we need to continually offer support and encouragement one to another. When one member suffers, all the others rally around to comfort him and encourage him, and when one member rejoices, all the others come to congratulate him and rejoice with him. 

Recalling the painful incident of the passing of my cousin last year, I remember a certain brother who was not from the Klang congregation, but was a doctor. My cousin was suffering from fever for a few days and suddenly became very ill. My uncle, as soon as he noticed this, rushed him to the hospital, but  in the midst of receiving treatment, at some point his condition turned critical and he passed away. Naturally my uncle was filled with guilt, thinking that if he had noticed this earlier and had sent him to the hospital earlier, this might not have happened. After my cousin passed on in the hospital, the brother came out and tried to explain to my uncle that it was not his fault that this thing has happened, saying that it could or could not have made a difference, we don’t know. He tried to comfort him. The amazing this was that he did not know my uncle before this, but yet he did what he did, because in his words, “we are brethren”.

Again, this is a fantastic example of what we as the church is all about, continually offering support and help in times of need. Therefore, let us, as brethren continue to look out for one another with genuine concern, bearing one another’s burden, thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal 6:2).

God bless. 

1John 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God”

Do Demons Possess People Today?
24th October 2010

Many believe that evil spirits, called demons, can take over people's bodies today. This was widely accepted in Europe hundreds of years ago. It is still believed by many in Africa in areas where the influence of Christianity is not strong. It is also a growing belief in America. A study revealed that about one third of all Americans believe that demons can take over the bodies of people. Is it true? Should we fear demon possession today? What does the Bible teach?  

The Bible clearly teaches that evil spirits exist (James 2:19). They are called "devils" in the King James Version and "demons" in other translations of the Bible. These devils or demons must not be confused with the Devil, Satan, the Tempter (Matthew 4:1-3, 10). There is only one Devil, but there are many demons.  

In the Bible, we learn that demons entered into people and controlled them (Matthew 8:28-34). They were under the power of Satan (Beelzebub), the chief of all evil spirits (Matthew 12:24). They often caused sickness in the people they entered such as not being able to speak or see (Matthew 12:22); insanity or madness (Luke 8:26-36); personal injuries (Mark 9:18); and other bodily infirmities (Luke 13:11-17).These demons also knew who Jesus was. They knew why He had come into the world (Luke 4:41). They believe in God (James 2:19). They fear the Judgment and eternal punishment (Matthew 8:29). This clearly shows that demons are not diseases as some have suggested. They are spirit beings who think, speak, and act. 

Jesus often cast demons out of people (Matthew 8:16). He also gave the ability to cast out demons to His apostles (Luke 10:17; Mark 16:17, 18; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:12). The apostles were able to give miraculous gifts to others by laying their hands on them (Acts 6:6-8; 8:14-21; 19:1-6). This included the power to cast out demons (Acts 8:5-8). 

An account of Jesus' casting out a demon is found in Mark 5:1-20. When Jesus came to the country of the Gadarenes, a man met him. He had an "unclean spirit" (demon). This demon possessed man lived in the tombs. He wore no clothes. He was not in his right mind. He cried day and night and cut himself with stones. He also had great strength. When others had bound him with chains, he broke them and escaped. The evil spirit in the man knew who Jesus was and begged Him not to torment him. Jesus asked the evil spirit, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." When Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man, they begged him to send them into pigs who were feeding nearby. Jesus did so. The pigs ran to the cliff, fell into the sea, and drowned. When the people of the area came to Jesus, they saw this man "sitting, clothed, and in his right mind." When the demon was cast out, the man was restored to health of body and mind.  

Do demons still possess people even today? Zechariah, an Old Testament prophet, spoke of the time when Christ would come. He said: "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah 13:1). This fountain was opened when Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the world. Zechariah then said: "It shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall be no longer remembered. "I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to depart from the land" (13:2). Following the time when the Lord would die for our sins, prophets (men who spoke by the Holy Spirit) and unclean spirits (demons) would no longer be in the land (earth). When did this happen?  

We have learned that the apostles could give to others the ability to work miracles. The purpose of these miracles was to confirm (prove) God's Word (Mark 16:20: Hebrews 2:2-4). Paul said these gifts of the Holy Spirit would fail, cease, and vanish away (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). These miraculous gifts would cease when that which is perfect has come (v.10). This refers to the New Testament, which is called the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). One of these gifts was the power to cast out demons. Therefore, evil spirits possessing men, along with the power to cast them out, ceased when the New Testament was completed and confirmed. If demon possession continued today, Satan would have more power than God, for he could send his demons into people, but God's people could not cast them out.  

God permitted demons to possess certain people in the time of Christ and the apostles so that His power could be seen. Not only did Christ have power over nature, disease, and death, but He also had power over the spirit world. The Devil and his demons were proved to be powerless before the Son of God (Colossians 2:15; 1 John 3:8). Demons still exist, but they do not possess people today. Today, we need to be concerned about Satan, the Devil, who tempts us to sin (James 1:14; Matthew 4:3; 1 Peter 5:8). 

Many are using choirs and solos in their attempts to worship God. Are choirs and solos authorized by God as a part of Christian worship? To find the answer to this question, we must turn to the Bible. The Bible is God's Word (2 Tim 3:16,17; John 12:48; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Pe 1:3; Jude 3). Man does not have the right to add to, nor to take away from, the teachings of the Word of God (Rev 22:18,19; Deu 4:2; Pro 30:6). The New Testament portion of God's Word is the standard of authority for what we do in the work and worship of God today (Col 2:14; Heb 8:6-13). 

In His Word, God has authorized five acts of worship for His church. These five acts are: singing (Eph 5:19; Colossians 3:16), giving (1 Cor 16:1,2; 2 Cor 9:6,7), prayer (1 The 5:17; 1 Tim 2:8), eating the Lord's supper ( 1 Cor 11 -23-29; Acts 20:7), and the preaching of the Word of God (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 2 Tim 4:1-4). These acts of worship are authorized by direct statements, commands, implications, and approved examples. 

Singing in worship is commanded by God. The New Testament contains many examples of Christians singing in worship to God (Acts 16:25; Rom 15:9; 1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:18,19; Heb 2:12; Jas 5:13). These passages describe the kind of music God has authorized so that His people can worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The kind of music God authorized is singing. This singing is congregational singing. It is done by every Christian in the assembly! It must be done with understanding. The purpose of the singing is for Christians to glorify God and to teach and admonish one another. 

Does Ephesians 5:19 teach congregational singing? The word in the original Greek language in which the New Testament was written, which is translated as "speaking," means "to utter speech, to convey speech, to use the tongue or faculty of speech, to utter articulate sounds, to talk, to tell, to use words to declare one's mind and thoughts." The New Testament word translated "yourselves" is a "reflexive" pronoun of the third person. It shows that the person who acts and the person who receives the action is the same. In other words, while one is speaking to others in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, others are also speaking to him in the same way. This is a clear reference to congregational singing where all mutually teach one another as they unite their voices in song. To obey this command, there must be an interchange of action. When one group or person is active (a choir or soloist) and another group is passive (the listening audience), there is no interchange of action. Eph 5:19 cannot be obeyed by choirs or solos! 

Does Col 3:16 teach congregational singing? The New Testament word, which is translated "teaching," means "to teach, instruct, by word of mouth." It requires that the one who is taught understand the teaching given. The New Testament word translated "admonishing" means "to put into the mind, instruct, warn." This teaching and admonishing is to be done to "one another." The phrase "one another" is translated from the same New Testament word as  "yourselves" in Eph 5:19. Therefore, when the church is worshipping God by the act of singing, there is teaching and admonishing one another taking place. Col 3:16 clearly teaches congregational singing! When one group or individual (the choir or soloist) is active, and another group is passive (the listening audience), there is no interchange of teaching and admonishing! Congregational singing (singing by every member of the congregation) was the practice of the church in the first century.  

But many today claim that choirs and solos in the worship are permitted because the Bible is silent concerning them. When God commanded Christians to sing and admonish one another, that eliminated choirs and solos in worship. It was not necessary for God to give a long list of "Thou shalt nots" concerning singing. It was not necessary for God to say, "Thou shalt not use mechanical instruments of music in My worship." It was not necessary for God to say, "Thou shalt not use choirs or solos in my worship." When God specified congregational singing, that eliminated choirs, solos, and instrumental music. 

Choirs, solos and mechanical instruments of music in New Testament worship were never commanded by the Lord! No apostle of Christ ever approved of choirs, solos or instrumental music in the worship to God! No inspired New Testament writer ever taught or approved of them. There is no command, implication or approved example of the use of choirs, solos or instrumental music in New Testament worship. Thus, they are completely without the authority of the Lord! To use them in worship is sinful (Mat 15:8,9-12 John 9-11; Rev 22:18, 19). 

Must worship be entertaining? Many seem to think so. Every Christian must realize that God has commanded him to worship in "spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). This means that every Christian must worship with the correct attitude and the correct actions. God is the One Who is being worshipped. He is the audience. Therefore, He is the One Who must be pleased! 

Some try to defend the use of choirs and solos by saying that 1 Corinthians 14:26 teaches such. A close look at the verse will reveal that it does not teach the use of either choirs or solos. To say that "every one of you hath a psalm" does not mean that every one sang a solo or that several sang solos. A psalm can be read, or quoted. In this context, Paul is dealing with the misuse of a spiritual gift. The best explanation of what the verse means is Acts 4:23-30. When the disciples heard what had happened to Peter and John, "they lifted up their voice to God with one accord..." (Acts 4:24). 

Lyman Coleman, a church historian, wrote: "The prevailing mode of singing during the first three centuries was congregational. The whole congregation united their voices in the sacred song of praise, in strains suited to their ability ....the most ancient and most common mode of singing was confessedly for the whole assembly; men, women and children blend their voices in their songs of praise in the great congregation" (Ancient Christianity Exemplified, pages 329, 330). 

All worship, at all times, and in all places must be done in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). If one does not worship in the right acts and with the right attitudes, his worship is vain and he is guilty of sin. There is absolutely no authority in the New Testament for the use of choirs and solos in worship. Therefore, those who practice such are worshipping in vain and are guilty of sin.