Sunday Sermon: Say Yes to God!
By Pastor Tony Tan
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By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill- treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
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By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill- treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
Business Fellowship: Thus says the Lord, "Be fair and just in all that you do, love kindness and humble yourself before Me."
by Pastor Chan Chong Yew
“With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a
year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of
my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the
Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly
with your God? Micah 6:6-8
The Lord says, “I do not need grander worship services and
celebrations, neither do I need opulent buildings and celebrities. What I need
is for you to be fair in all your business dealings and partnerships. I am the
Lord that owns a thousand hills, the treasures of all the earth belongs to Me.
Am I not able to prosper you? If you would promote the welfare of another and
not try to rob one another; I would expand the revenue of the your marketplace
so that it would be more than enough for everyone.”
The Lord says, “Be compassionate and passionate to lift up
the weak and the handicapped, and I will expand your wisdom and territory. Do
not sin against me by putting your security on your gold and silver. If you
would believe that I am Lord that builds the house and no one can tear it
down.”
The Lord says, “Humble yourselves before the almighty God
who alone can raise up and tear down. If you would revere me, I would raise you
up with and visions that no one can understand.”
Business Fellowship: Thus says the Lord, "I will wash you with my word. I will cleanse your house with my rod of love."
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
Her priests instruct for a price
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord saying,
“ Is not the Lord in our midst?
Calamity will not come upon us.” Micah 3:11
11 “Can I justify wicked scales
And a bag of deceptive weights?
12 “For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
Her residents speak lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Micah 6:10-12.
The Lord says, "You have abused your position of power. You have abused your foreign workers and deprived them of their wages. Because you have done this, you have dishonored me."
The Lord says, "Your leaders have been corrupt and deceitful in your dealings. I will cleanse your house and sanctify it from the top to the bottom. Nothing that is hidden that will not be exposed! I will protect my people, those that I have called."
The Lord says, "Your spiritual leaders and prophets have been faithful and ministering with love and compassion. Because of you, I have not taken away your portion. You are not lured by the riches and the lust of the world and have remained true to my name. Yet there is some of you who have substituted my kingdom and my ways with your own. Your eyes have shifted from the teaching of my laws to the pride of the world. You have exchanged my glory for blessings! You have given impenitent men an excuse for evil. My patience and my grace will not permit deceit to thrive in my temple."
Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
Her priests instruct for a price
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the Lord saying,
“ Is not the Lord in our midst?
Calamity will not come upon us.” Micah 3:11
11 “Can I justify wicked scales
And a bag of deceptive weights?
12 “For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
Her residents speak lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Micah 6:10-12.
The Lord says, "You have abused your position of power. You have abused your foreign workers and deprived them of their wages. Because you have done this, you have dishonored me."
The Lord says, "Your leaders have been corrupt and deceitful in your dealings. I will cleanse your house and sanctify it from the top to the bottom. Nothing that is hidden that will not be exposed! I will protect my people, those that I have called."
The Lord says, "Your spiritual leaders and prophets have been faithful and ministering with love and compassion. Because of you, I have not taken away your portion. You are not lured by the riches and the lust of the world and have remained true to my name. Yet there is some of you who have substituted my kingdom and my ways with your own. Your eyes have shifted from the teaching of my laws to the pride of the world. You have exchanged my glory for blessings! You have given impenitent men an excuse for evil. My patience and my grace will not permit deceit to thrive in my temple."
Business Fellowship: Thus says the Lord: "For my Name's sake, I will raise you up."
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
The vision of the Lord came to me, "read the times of Micah, from which you will understand my will and my calling for Singapore." The Lord said when the economy seemed to be flourishing, and the churches seemed to grow in strength and profile.... "I will do a new thing!" The Lord said I will renew and reinvent Singapore and raise him up." Singapore will be the chief mountain of mountains. Micah's prophecy was directed towards the nation Israel. However, Singapore share the same blessings with Israel through Christ. If we would heed the prophetic message of Micah today, we would share its blessings. If we do not, we would suffer the same fate as Israel during those days.
The vision of the Lord came to me, "read the times of Micah, from which you will understand my will and my calling for Singapore." The Lord said when the economy seemed to be flourishing, and the churches seemed to grow in strength and profile.... "I will do a new thing!" The Lord said I will renew and reinvent Singapore and raise him up." Singapore will be the chief mountain of mountains. Micah's prophecy was directed towards the nation Israel. However, Singapore share the same blessings with Israel through Christ. If we would heed the prophetic message of Micah today, we would share its blessings. If we do not, we would suffer the same fate as Israel during those days.
And it will come about in the last days
That the mountain of the house of the Lord
Will be established as the chief of the mountains.
It will be raised above the hills,
And the peoples will stream to it. Micah 4:1.
The Lord said, "Look, I have already made Singapore an economic and financial centre of Asia." Indeed, people from surrounding nations, even people from the west are streaming into Singapore. The Lord said, I will do a greater thing! Singapore will have a culture of its own not like the culture of Korea or Japan. The Lord said that Singapore will take on the culture of the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God will be Singapore's source of wealth and prosperity. Although it does not possess the natural resources like that of the surrounding nations. Although it does not possess the cultural legacy of Korea or Japan. Although it does not possess the shrewdness of the Jewish people or the creativity of the west. But Singapore will possess the righteousness of God, and God Himself will be Singapore's inheritance.
Many nations will come and say,
“ Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord
And to the house of the God of Jacob,
That He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For from Zion will go forth the law,
Even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Micah 4:2
Then the Lord said, "I will use you Singapore to be my mouthpiece, to bring the culture of righteousness to the nations. The nations will recognize that its not by the resources in the ground, or the resources of talents or violence, but the resources that comes from righteousness that you will be prospered." Singapore is now an educational centre not only at a academic tertiary level, but at governmental level. Nations are sending their leaders to observe the ways, its social welfare systems and the culture of Singapore. The Singapore educational system has much to learn from the west, but it is growing at a rapid rate.
And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they train for war. Micah 4:3
The Lord said, "I will use Singapore as a peacemaker and mediator for the nations. Singapore will be an instrument of peace, a catalyst of peace and prosperity in the region. Her views are seen to be wise and objective. Her wisdom are respected and sought after even by western nations." Nations will turn from their radical views because they have seen Singapore's prosperity and have given them much hope. They will lay down their racial and religious differences to focus on renewing their minds and hearts according to the righteous ways of God.
Testimony of AIDS patient who was healed!
City Revival Church Healing Crusade Myanmar July 2012
AIDS patient healed! from City Revival Church on Vimeo.
AIDS patient healed! from City Revival Church on Vimeo.
Excerpts from our orphanage in Yangon
Our rented orphanage in Yangon that is home to 33 children. Our goal is to educate these children so that they could be productive and independent at the age of 18. The orphanage have been constantly moving because of persecution by the neighborhood. The other reason is because most houses are built for families, not for orphanage purposes. Hence, we are raising funds to purchase a building.
Our precious orphans from Love The Children orphanage (LTChildren) eating Marks & Spencer biscuits... Yummy :)
Our top 5 students holding Smiggle pencil cases :) Press on children !
Weekly Devotion: Location, Location, Location
by Pastor Chan Chong Yew
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
What do early civilizations look for when they settle into a new territory? They would look for a water source or a river. They knew that if they settle next to a river, the river would bring livelihood and agriculture. The running water would irrigate their crops and cattle. It could also serve as a means of transportation downstream. If man were to prosper, he would have to look for the river and settle along its banks. The river will not look for man for it is fixed and immovable, man will have to look for it. Similarly the will of God is fixed and settled in heaven, man would have to bend his will to settle along the flow of God's will in order for him to prosper. God is sovereign, He has made plans and has set in place principles in which the world may operate. The weather may be unpredictable, it could bring rain or famine, but the river will always be a reliable supply for life. Our circumstances may change, it could be good one day, and bad on another, but as long as we search out God's will and live in it, everything will eventually be alright.
What do real estate investors look for as the first, second and the third most important criteria in a worthy real estate investment?…………. First, its the location, second, its the location and third, the location. A good piece of real estate derives its value almost entirely from its location. Everything about the real estate is about its location. Man cannot create value in the real estate apart from its location. Hence, a good piece of real estate cannot be manufactured; it can only be discovered. The real estate investor must make all effort to discover a good location. He must not be distracted by the design of the building; its peripheral features or even its price however attractive it may be. He has to be fiercely focused to search out a good location.
God has determined the flow of the river, He has predetermined where the "good locations" are. Hence, we need wisdom to discover what the will of God is. We need to understand the ways of God and obey Him. By doing so, we are like a tree planted by the "streams of water that yields its fruit and the leafs does not wither." The Psalm 1:3 also says that whatever he does will prosper. Lasting prosperity comes not from our limited ability and insights. Success comes when God reveals to us His will and when we obey Him single-mindedly. Only God knows the future, a bad location now could be a priced possession some years in the future. Whom will God reveal His will to? Apostle Paul prayed for the church, "we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects." Colossians 1:9,10. God reveals His will to anyone who is willing to trust Him and obey Him in ALL that He says. Before we set out to work, we must do all to understand the will of God. Else we may be wasting our resources and years of effort.
Jeremiah, a prophet of God in the days when Judah was about to be conquered by Babylon, was given an instruction from God to purchase a field. As war was imminent, land prices in Judah were plummeting. However, God told Jeremiah, 'For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land”’ Jeremiah 32:15. God foresaw the future of the Israel and instructed Jeremiah to purchase land. Jeremiah's family benefitted greatly from this revelation. Jeremiah not only heard God's wisdom, he is obedient and faithful to do what God said.
Tang Choon Keng (CK Tang) was born to a Presbyterian Pastor in Swatow, China at the turn of the 20th century. He went from a peddler of hand-made Swatow lace to become a $500 million dollar enterprise. After years of hard work, he made enough money to invest in a land at the corner of Orchard and Scotts roads in 1958. The site was considered a bad location as it faced the Tai San Ting Cemetery. However, he saw it as a revelation from God that this site would one day be the hotspot of a thriving commercial centre. He constructed the landmark CK Tang Department store at 310 Orchard Road at a cost of $50,000. Today, the site remained a magnificent testimony of a man after God's vision. CK Tang worked hard with God's laws as His guiding principles, he said, "Honesty is my foundation." He instituted the policy of not opening the department store on Sunday so that His staff could worship God.
We as God's people must do all to know what the will of God is before we set off. How do we receive the revelation of God's will? We must love Him with all our hearts, meditate on His laws and be faithful in all respects of our work life, family life and social life. As we plant ourselves by the river of God, we will surely prosper in all seasons of life.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
What do early civilizations look for when they settle into a new territory? They would look for a water source or a river. They knew that if they settle next to a river, the river would bring livelihood and agriculture. The running water would irrigate their crops and cattle. It could also serve as a means of transportation downstream. If man were to prosper, he would have to look for the river and settle along its banks. The river will not look for man for it is fixed and immovable, man will have to look for it. Similarly the will of God is fixed and settled in heaven, man would have to bend his will to settle along the flow of God's will in order for him to prosper. God is sovereign, He has made plans and has set in place principles in which the world may operate. The weather may be unpredictable, it could bring rain or famine, but the river will always be a reliable supply for life. Our circumstances may change, it could be good one day, and bad on another, but as long as we search out God's will and live in it, everything will eventually be alright.
What do real estate investors look for as the first, second and the third most important criteria in a worthy real estate investment?…………. First, its the location, second, its the location and third, the location. A good piece of real estate derives its value almost entirely from its location. Everything about the real estate is about its location. Man cannot create value in the real estate apart from its location. Hence, a good piece of real estate cannot be manufactured; it can only be discovered. The real estate investor must make all effort to discover a good location. He must not be distracted by the design of the building; its peripheral features or even its price however attractive it may be. He has to be fiercely focused to search out a good location.
God has determined the flow of the river, He has predetermined where the "good locations" are. Hence, we need wisdom to discover what the will of God is. We need to understand the ways of God and obey Him. By doing so, we are like a tree planted by the "streams of water that yields its fruit and the leafs does not wither." The Psalm 1:3 also says that whatever he does will prosper. Lasting prosperity comes not from our limited ability and insights. Success comes when God reveals to us His will and when we obey Him single-mindedly. Only God knows the future, a bad location now could be a priced possession some years in the future. Whom will God reveal His will to? Apostle Paul prayed for the church, "we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects." Colossians 1:9,10. God reveals His will to anyone who is willing to trust Him and obey Him in ALL that He says. Before we set out to work, we must do all to understand the will of God. Else we may be wasting our resources and years of effort.
Jeremiah, a prophet of God in the days when Judah was about to be conquered by Babylon, was given an instruction from God to purchase a field. As war was imminent, land prices in Judah were plummeting. However, God told Jeremiah, 'For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land”’ Jeremiah 32:15. God foresaw the future of the Israel and instructed Jeremiah to purchase land. Jeremiah's family benefitted greatly from this revelation. Jeremiah not only heard God's wisdom, he is obedient and faithful to do what God said.
Tang Choon Keng (CK Tang) was born to a Presbyterian Pastor in Swatow, China at the turn of the 20th century. He went from a peddler of hand-made Swatow lace to become a $500 million dollar enterprise. After years of hard work, he made enough money to invest in a land at the corner of Orchard and Scotts roads in 1958. The site was considered a bad location as it faced the Tai San Ting Cemetery. However, he saw it as a revelation from God that this site would one day be the hotspot of a thriving commercial centre. He constructed the landmark CK Tang Department store at 310 Orchard Road at a cost of $50,000. Today, the site remained a magnificent testimony of a man after God's vision. CK Tang worked hard with God's laws as His guiding principles, he said, "Honesty is my foundation." He instituted the policy of not opening the department store on Sunday so that His staff could worship God.
We as God's people must do all to know what the will of God is before we set off. How do we receive the revelation of God's will? We must love Him with all our hearts, meditate on His laws and be faithful in all respects of our work life, family life and social life. As we plant ourselves by the river of God, we will surely prosper in all seasons of life.
Weekly Devotion: Subduing our environment through faith and perseverance
By Chan Chong Yew
God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
Two countries residing side by side on the Korean peninsular, yet with two very different agricultural and economic conditions. During one year, South Korea had a surplus of 1.4 million tons of rice after meeting their domestic needs. That amount was exactly what their famine struck northern neighbor was short of in that very same year. The surplus of the south actually fulfilled the shortage of the north. The consistently low crop yields of the north according to an internal minister were due to factors including cold damage and famine. The question remains as to why two adjacent territories have such drastic differences in weather and agricultural conditions. The South Koreans were consistently outpacing their northern neighbor not only in their agricultural sector but in all other sectors of their economy including electronics and financial services. The reason is that the South Koreans recognized the authority of God as some 20% of their population are Christians. They believed that the authority of God to subdue and rule over the environment is theirs through faith in Jesus Christ. In Christ, believers are given the power to break the curse of poverty over their environment. Once the curse is broken, prosperity and abundance will abound through the work of boldness and perseverance.
In the verse above, God has given mankind the mandate and authority to be fruitful and multiply across the face of the earth. In other words, to create, to build, to fulfill our wildest dreams. The process includes subduing the environment and ruling over every living thing on the earth, in the sea and sky. God had made the environment such that it must first be subdued by us before it could work for us. The living things have to be ruled over before it could cooperate with mankind. The horses of the wild have to be tamed before any man could ride on it. However, because of the sin of Adam, a curse descended over the earth making it impossible to be governed. Hence, before the environment could work in man's favor, it must first be subdued by breaking the curse over it.
Sin invokes the curse of poverty and robs mankind of the authority that he needs to subdue and rule over the environment. On the day that Adam rebelled against God's laws, God said, "Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you… By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground," Genesis 2:17-19. Our sins and the sins of our forefathers resulted in a curse that descent upon our environment. God removed the curse by placing it upon His Son Jesus resulting in His death and suffering. Galatians 3:13-14 said, "Christ redeemed us from the curse that came from sin, having become a curse for us... in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the people of all nations through faith." The curse that originated from Adam's disobedience have been rendered ineffective through Christ's work and will no longer hinder God's people. How could we receive this blessing? By repentance and faith.
Repentance is about making a decision to turn away from the unrighteous deeds that first plagued Adam and walk in the ways of righteousness. Repentance does not mean one will never sin again for we are still a work in progress. Repentance is a sincere desire to turn away from evil to worship God and to love Him forever. Repentance is a mindset that continuously seeks to walk in righteousness. Faith is to agree that Jesus' work on the cross is sufficient and immediately effective in breaking the curses over my territory. Faith expresses itself in diligence and perseverance in the midst of challenges until breakthrough comes.
Our economic and business environment may seem hard and unyielding because of unrighteous dealings. Those who engaged in evil practices are falling into a curse themselves even though they may prosper for a while. As God's people persevere in righteousness and diligence, it will just be a matter of time that all things will work in our favor. The bible said in Proverbs 13:22b said, "And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Do not give up! For in due time, we will reap a bountiful harvest in our work.
God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
Two countries residing side by side on the Korean peninsular, yet with two very different agricultural and economic conditions. During one year, South Korea had a surplus of 1.4 million tons of rice after meeting their domestic needs. That amount was exactly what their famine struck northern neighbor was short of in that very same year. The surplus of the south actually fulfilled the shortage of the north. The consistently low crop yields of the north according to an internal minister were due to factors including cold damage and famine. The question remains as to why two adjacent territories have such drastic differences in weather and agricultural conditions. The South Koreans were consistently outpacing their northern neighbor not only in their agricultural sector but in all other sectors of their economy including electronics and financial services. The reason is that the South Koreans recognized the authority of God as some 20% of their population are Christians. They believed that the authority of God to subdue and rule over the environment is theirs through faith in Jesus Christ. In Christ, believers are given the power to break the curse of poverty over their environment. Once the curse is broken, prosperity and abundance will abound through the work of boldness and perseverance.
In the verse above, God has given mankind the mandate and authority to be fruitful and multiply across the face of the earth. In other words, to create, to build, to fulfill our wildest dreams. The process includes subduing the environment and ruling over every living thing on the earth, in the sea and sky. God had made the environment such that it must first be subdued by us before it could work for us. The living things have to be ruled over before it could cooperate with mankind. The horses of the wild have to be tamed before any man could ride on it. However, because of the sin of Adam, a curse descended over the earth making it impossible to be governed. Hence, before the environment could work in man's favor, it must first be subdued by breaking the curse over it.
Sin invokes the curse of poverty and robs mankind of the authority that he needs to subdue and rule over the environment. On the day that Adam rebelled against God's laws, God said, "Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you… By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground," Genesis 2:17-19. Our sins and the sins of our forefathers resulted in a curse that descent upon our environment. God removed the curse by placing it upon His Son Jesus resulting in His death and suffering. Galatians 3:13-14 said, "Christ redeemed us from the curse that came from sin, having become a curse for us... in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the people of all nations through faith." The curse that originated from Adam's disobedience have been rendered ineffective through Christ's work and will no longer hinder God's people. How could we receive this blessing? By repentance and faith.
Repentance is about making a decision to turn away from the unrighteous deeds that first plagued Adam and walk in the ways of righteousness. Repentance does not mean one will never sin again for we are still a work in progress. Repentance is a sincere desire to turn away from evil to worship God and to love Him forever. Repentance is a mindset that continuously seeks to walk in righteousness. Faith is to agree that Jesus' work on the cross is sufficient and immediately effective in breaking the curses over my territory. Faith expresses itself in diligence and perseverance in the midst of challenges until breakthrough comes.
Our economic and business environment may seem hard and unyielding because of unrighteous dealings. Those who engaged in evil practices are falling into a curse themselves even though they may prosper for a while. As God's people persevere in righteousness and diligence, it will just be a matter of time that all things will work in our favor. The bible said in Proverbs 13:22b said, "And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Do not give up! For in due time, we will reap a bountiful harvest in our work.
Weekly Devotion: An Inheritance More Precious Than Gold
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
"to His saints God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27
Every father and mother desire to give their children inheritance. Physical wealth ranks as the most desirable inheritance that parents could give to their children. We marvel at those who were born with silver spoons and gold water taps. However, we know there are intangible inheritances that are far more precious than gold and assets. Healthy genes, wisdom, personal values, honor, authority and even citizenship are such. The richest individuals in the world; both Bill Gates and Warren Buffet couldn't agree more and donated most of their wealth to charities. Bill Gates in an interview with The Sun said, "I knew I didn't think it was a good idea to give the money to my kids." He said in another interview that he would pay for education and health issues, but his children are expected to find careers and support themselves while making a contribution to society. Bill Gates is leaving his children an inheritance worth more than money. They're learning the value of hard work and what wealth can do to enrich the world. It's like leaving with your children the Golden Goose, not just the eggs.
The true and incorruptible inheritance is the image and legacy of fathers. Hence, those who were fathers could start building an inheritance for their children by living a life of legacy and wisdom. The Bush family in the United States produced two presidents and the Lee family produced two outstanding prime ministers in Singapore. It is undeniable that intangible inheritances as mentioned are more important than tangible assets. Having said that, not all of us come from refined or comparable family backgrounds. Some families have been trapped in cycles of poverty and mediocrity for generations; such are not only poor in spirit but in material assets as well. How do such families transcend their level of debasement? In Christ, there is good news: God has given us a far better inheritance than our earthly fathers through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every child of God can now be equipped with the capabilities of God to create wealth and to achieve their highest dreams.
Our Father in heaven has given an inheritance to His children far more precious than anything in the universe; that is His own DNA. In the above verse, "the riches of the glory" refers to the inheritance of believers. This inheritance is in fact "Christ in you, the hope of glory" which means the attributes of God. In other words, God is giving us as an inheritance not only the status as a son of God but the nature of God as well. Just imagine, from now on whatever Jesus could do, you could do likewise (John 14:12). This is far more glorious and exciting than plain silver and gold. The nature of God includes His power and authority, His wisdom and character. With these attributes, life's possibilities become limitless.
How then do we obtain the inheritance of Christ's attributes? Colossians 3:1-2 said, "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." The "things above" represents the attributes of Christ, the "things below" represents fleshly pleasures. The phrase "set your mind" means being intentional in manifesting Christ's qualities in our actions and rejecting the pleasures of darkness. In the face of every challenges, we seek to be bolder and more confident than before. Keep imagining the Christ within you speaking out in truth and confidence. Always try to see things from Christ's perspective and allow His wisdom to surface in your thoughts. Do not put off thoughts that seemed foreign or impossible to you. Do not entertain impure thoughts and pleasures of the flesh. This is the mindset of God and it takes a lot of getting used to. You will soon find yourself opening the "Red Sea" like Moses, prospering with perseverance like Joseph of Egypt and doing things that you've never thought possible.
Weekly Devotion: Child-Likeness & the Kingdom
by Pastor Chan Chong Yew
"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Luke 18:17
We could almost unanimously agree that children are the most blessed. Children possess the simplicity, the boldness, the obedience that many adults lacked. Even though children don't exactly own anything, yet they seemed to possess all things. I have young nephews and nieces whom I observed gave away their Chinese New Year collections without blinking. They don't seemed to be bothered by how much they have lost, neither do they understand the value of money. They only know the love and security of their parents. It is well-known that toddlers are faster learners in swimming than adults, they are natural swimmers; they learn to float the moment they enter the water. As for skiing, they are fearless, they take to the slopes without hesitation. They are impressionable, they believe whatever their parents say and obey them. These qualities of trust, generosity, boldness and obedience are key qualities for one to experience the blessings of God continuously.
In the passage below:
15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Luke 18:15-17
The disciples prevented the children from coming to Jesus because they felt children were not mature and well mannered enough to deserve Jesus' attention or to connect with Him. People tend to believe that only the accomplished and the wise deserve to enter the Kingdom of God. Children on the other hand do not have the concept of social status nor do they know how to express respect and reverence towards elders. Ironically, Jesus loved the children and was not offended by their childish mannerism. In fact, He went as far as to say that only those who are child-like could enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus taught that unless we have qualities like that of a child, we will not experience God's kingdom. What are these qualities? Jesus was referring to humility; which is to understand one's weaknesses and the need to depend on God. Children's means of survival are dependence and trust in their parents. They understood their own helplessness and were entirely at ease with it. It is precisely this quality of humility that attracts God and causes them to inherit the blessings of God's kingdom. A humble person is one who recognizes that his strength is not sufficient for success. He also recognizes that his knowledge is lacking however knowledgeable he may be. Hence, he sees himself as weak and simple and that he constantly goes to God for strength and wisdom. God imparts power and wisdom to him without reservation because he is humble and obedient as a child. Jesus taught that the psyche of children reflects the relationship between the parents and the child in its purest form. By observing the child's responses and interactions with his parents, we could learn deep and profound lessons of how we as grown ups should relate to God.
The kingdom of God and its prosperity is descending upon the humble today. What we have accomplished with God's given measure of strength and wisdom for the day, we give thanks in faith and leaving the results to Him. Our part is to be obedient and faithful to the work that was entrusted to us. God's part is to cause our work to bear fruit by His love and power.
Weekly Devotion: Love Begets Love
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
Love begets love
"We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19.
One universal principle of life is to reciprocate the love that you received. Treasure those who truly love you and actively return your love to them. Common wisdom tells us that if a tree bears good fruit, you should spend more time caring, fertilizing and pruning it. So that it will bear even more fruit. For a tree that bears no fruit, one should consider giving it some time, then cutting it off eventually. Spend more time with the good trees and at the same time getting rid of the bad ones. The problem is many people gravitate towards those who hurt them. These people are carried away by their wounded emotions and by the darkness of their hearts. They take from those who loved them and give it to those who would destroy them.
We need to identify those who truly love us and make plans to spend quality time with them. Speak words of love, acts of service, and the buying of gifts. Our family, spouse and parents have all contributed much into our lives. Ben Elton said, "If only the strength of the love that people feel when it is reciprocated could be as intense and obsessive as the love we feel when it is not, then marriages would be truly made in heaven." Hence, we must always remember to reciprocate the love we received from our spouse. By reinvesting what we have taken from them, will cause them to amplify the love that they have given to us. Thereby, we create a sustainable energy of love that will not easily die much like a cyclone whose winds recycle and feed into itself.
Our God in heaven who gave His Son Jesus, truly loves us. In Psalm 139:13-18, the psalmist celebrated the love of God:
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
In the above passage, God was there molding us even when we were still in our mother's womb. As for our future, God has ordained His perfect plans me. We reciprocate our love for God by spending quality time and connecting with Him. We want to know His desires and join Him in fulfilling His will on the earth. We want to see Him, feel Him and touch Him. Some gravitate towards the devil through the pleasures of sin knowing their destruction is at hand. By doing good and loving God, we cause Him to reveal more of His love towards us! No wonder the Psalmist say in Psalm 63:3, "Your lovingkindness is better than life itself!"
Weekly Devotion: Doing the Father's Business
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24
Companies are competing for top grade employees with the right skill set and most importantly, the right heart. A person with the right skills is efficient in contributing as an individual limited to his direct responsibilities. But a person with the right heart goes beyond that: he is effective in influencing the company's culture and direction towards the common good. As an employee, if we work for an interest beyond our own so called "KPI", God will reward us not just with wages, but with an inheritance fit for a prince. The above passage instructs us not to work selfishly for personal or human interest, but for God's purposes. Hence, whatever sacrifices we make for the greater good of the company, our reward will come from Him. For God is the grand owner of all companies.
One company in their candidate screening strategy leaves waste papers on the floor of the interview waiting room. Those that pick up the waste paper and dispose them in the basket tend to view the interest of the company as his own. People in this category will more likely make decisions considering the impact to the whole organization as well as its long term repercussions. They also exhibit certain resilience and tend to be better team players. They may not stand out from the crowd at the first glance. However, they prove themselves when they deliver the results over the long term. Skillful and savvy people may seem impressive in the short term, but if their motives are for personal gain alone, they may make decisions that could hurt the organization in the long term. The financial crisis that happened in 2008, was partly due to unscrupulous bankers and sales people hungry for profit. Company executives hid losses from shareholders. Government officials misled the public concerning their national debt.
The world is looking for people who are motivated towards a higher purpose. However tough our job may be, God has placed you there with a divine purpose; that is to become a channel of blessing to the organization. Having that in mind, seeing our circumstances from God's perspective does motivate us to press on. Remember, you are the best person for that seat that you are sitting on. You are anointed for this moment and there is no one in the world more suitable to do the job than you are. Lastly, at the end of the working day, rejoice for the job well done as one who is faithful unto Him.
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9.
Weekly Devotion: I Believe, Therefore I See
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
"Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." John 20:29
There are two kinds of people: those who believe after they have heard the promises of God, and those only after they have seen the evidences. Both lead to an increase of faith in God. However, those who belong to the second category will experience only limited growth. But those who believe purely from the word of God will receive greater blessings and unlimited growth. Those who are in the second category base their trust on physical evidences and reports. They often thrive on other people's energy and successes. But those of the first category will surpass their peers and do things that were never done before. Unlike those of the second category, their thoughts are often unconventional and they root themselves not on popular opinion but on first principles. They have an immovable conviction and persevered in their personal beliefs until they see results.
In John 20, Thomas a disciple of Jesus proclaimed that he would not believe that Christ has resurrected unless he sees and feels for himself the imprint of the nails on Jesus' hands and side. Why did Jesus single out Thomas? Didn't the rest saw the resurrected Jesus before they believed? The reason is because Jesus had told them of His resurrection before He went to the cross. Based on Jesus' word, they should have believed and expected His resurrection. Thomas was singled out because the disciples responded to the news carried by the women and sought out the tomb where Jesus laid whereas Thomas did not. Thomas' approach to faith is based on evidences. Hence, there is no faith at all. Some of us are moved more by people's testimonies rather than by the word of promise. Such are easily discouraged when things are not moving fast enough. They are often attracted to new methodologies, and admire high profile personalities.
In order to affirm Thomas and protect His faith, Jesus showed Thomas His hands and side (John 20:27). Thomas grew in faith that day because of what he saw. However, like Thomas, we all need to take risks and made bold decisions based on God's word and not on resources we could see. Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom's vision and work, and all that we need will be given to us." (Matthew 6:33). As we take God at His word, we move into action saving souls and healing the sick. We set up ministry platforms to reach out to the world and God will provide for us the resources needed. We take the first step by faith, God will then provide the results.
I make it my lifestyle to rejoice at the face of every challenge, for that is proof of my faith in God. I seek to see the vision of prosperity as God would see it in the future, and by faith I persevere and work it out. The bible said in Galatians 6:9, that we ought not to lose heart, but press on in the good work, and in due time we shall succeed.
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