by Pastor Tony Tan
Sermons & Teachings: Click to listen
Letting
Go & Letting God
By
Ps Chong Yew
There
is a story that says in Africa, the natives use a technique to catch monkeys.
They hollow out one end of a coconut and they put peanuts in there. The monkey
puts his hand in the coconut and when he makes a fist to grab the peanuts, he's
trapped. The natives will pull a string attached to the other end of the
coconut and capture the monkey. Motivational speakers use this story all the
time to inspire people to "let go" of their old perceptions - since
in truth, the monkey was never trapped. All he had to do was let go of the
peanuts.
What
does it mean to submit myself under God and give Him full authority over my
life? It involves releasing what I hold dearest in my heart and give God the
full authority over it. It could be my life goals and direction, it could be
how I spend my time, and it could be my character and habits. Unless these are
submitted to God, we could be like the monkey that never let go.
When
I was younger, I was holding onto my dreams that meant the world to me, and I
wasn’t about to submit them to anyone. I was a goal getter and had my own ideas
of how my future wife would be like. I had the desire to climb the corporate
ladder so that I could achieve a certain social status, at the same time, I
wanted to give my life to serve God. These conflicting thoughts were resident
until I encountered God and sensed His love for me. Jesus gave up His life and
His earthly dreams in exchange for my salvation. He too struggled in His
submission to the Father. As He willingly forsake His own goal in exchange for
a higher goal, God resurrected Jesus and crowned Him with honor and glory. This
realization caused my perspectives to change and my heart started to take on a
different direction. I began to treasure things that are beneficial and
practical, and not things that are glamorous. I took joy in doing things that
would benefit others. I realized the things that glitter don’t look as
attractive as before. While my colleagues splurged on expensive cars, and
branded stuff, I stayed practical. My wife and I could save enough money to
purchase investments and to help the poor.
Before
God could use a person, God wanted to make sure that He had full authority over
his life. Abraham was in a dilemma when God instructed him to sacrifice his
only son Isaac to Him. This is an impossible decision that no man can make; who
would kill their own son! However, Abraham made a supernatural and unnatural
decision. God gave him the strength to submit this last area of his life to
God. Of course we know that God did not allow Abraham to kill his own son, but
instead provided an animal in Isaac’s place. God boomed from heaven saying,
“Abraham, now I know that you have put me above all things.” (Genesis 22:12). Submitting
our life goals to God will give Him the authority to use our life for honour and
glory. By submitting our habits and daily hours to God allows Him to help us
maximise our time and to increase our capacity to bear fruit.
Back
then, I made a list of the qualities that I would pursue in my future wife. I
also planned my finances as wisely as I can. While people spent their weekends
enjoying themselves and catching up on homework. I used my weekends to do God’s
work while I worked doubly hard on my schoolwork during the weekdays.
What
is the last unconquered and untamed territory of your life? Are you submitting
your relationships to God? What about your financial planning? Or is it the
pride of life that is directing your life goals? Let us release those “peanuts”
in the hole of the coconut and allow God to spread a sumptuous feast in your
honor. Let go and let God.
Gentleness & Persistence - Keys to Getting Your Prayers Answered. Phil 4:5-8
by Pastor Chan Chong Yew
God Seeks True Worshipers - 2 Samuel 6
By Pastor Chan Chong Yew
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For mp3 download, click here
For sermon notes, click here
When You Have Come To The End Of Yourself - 2 Samuel 2-5
By Pastor Chong Yew
For iPhone, click here
For mp3 download, click here
For sermon notes, click here
When you have come to the end of yourself. That is where God begins.
Some of us have come to the end of ourselves, but we refuse
to admit it. When you have tried everything, and nothing seems to work. When
you could not overcome your weaknesses, and you keep falling into the same
hole. When you could not overcome your fears, and you remain petrified, or when
your world caves in, and you became devastated and disappointed with God … You
have beyond the shadow of doubt come to the end of yourself.
Today, I have good news for you… When you have finally
realized that you have come to the end of your strength. That is also where
God’s miracles and power begins. Most people will not bounce up, until they hit
rock bottom. But the sooner you realize your inadequacy and humble yourself
before God, that is when God’s strength becomes imminent and breakthrough will
be just around the corner.
In 2 Samuel 1, King Saul and his son Jonathon died. Saul’s
son Ishbosheth was made King of Israel and David was anointed King of Judah.
During that time, the northern kingdom of Israel was at war with the southern
kingdom of Judah. David’s kingdom grew steadily stronger while Saul’s kingdom
steadily weaker. Both kingdoms consist of able and capable people, but it makes
a difference if God is with you. David’s men killed 360 of Saul’s men while
they lost only 20 of their men. During those times, they fought with primitive
equipment. Given all things being equal, you should have roughly the same
number of casualties on both sides. In essence, there is only one answer: God
is with David. As God is also with us, we could soon see the majority of people
growing and prospering in our church.
Then Abner, Israel’s commander defected to David. Abner,
being an influential rallied the elders of Israel to join him. David made a
covenant with Joab and he went in peace. Unfortunately, Joab, who is Judah’s army
commander wanted to avenge his brother’s death and murdered Abner. When David
was just about to be anointed as King over all of Israel and Judah, suddenly he
realized that he has very little power and control. His own commander disobeyed
him and carried out this heinous crime. David has lost a good and righteous man.
David said to his servants, “I am weak, though I am anointed
as King.” 2 Samuel 3:39.
David realized he has failed in exercising authority over
his second man, Joab. He realized that he has no control to prevent evil from
happening in his kingdom. Hence, he humbled himself and fasted. His fasting is a
repentance of his arrogance and acknowledgment of His impotence that God alone
must rein over the kingdom.
There are a number of reasons why man must depend on God in
order to succeed:
1. Man’s
influence is localized, whereas God’s influence is universal. Man could only be
at one place at a time, but God is omnipresent. Man could only exercise his
influence within a limited capacity. A mother when she is at work could only
depend on others to protect her child at school. Hence, we must depend on God
because only He is omnipresent.
2. Man can
persuade, but it is God who could convict and change their hearts. People would
not obey just because you tell them to do so. Unless people have to feel
convicted in their hearts, they will not follow. However, Spirit of God could
convict man’s hearts. Hence, we must depend on God when we communicate with our
colleagues, our children or our customers.
3. Man knows
the cause and the effect, whereas God knows the end from the beginning. We
exercise control based on the predictability of cause and effect. We exercise a
certain cause of action to achieve a desired effect. However, most of the time,
a cause does not necessarily lead to a desired effect. But God does not work by
cause and effect; He determines the end from the beginning. Proverbs 16:33,
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
The chaos theory or the “Butterfly Effect” says that a small
but insignificant event at place can result in a large difference at a later
state. In meteorological terms, a flapping of the wings of a butterfly could
ripple through causing a tornado some days later. Hence, there are many
butterflies that were flapping their wings at one time making our decisions
uncertain. Therefore, the bible says, “man plans, but God establishes His
ways.” (Proverbs 16:9).
What should we do in the face of uncertainties?
1. We humble
ourselves before God and acknowledge our impotence, and disobedience.
2. We make a
decision to receive God’s grace through prayer, obedience and tarrying.
Apostle Paul said, “And
God has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
When man’s strength and wisdom come to an end, God’s grace
begins. The sooner we realize our inability and weaknesses, the quicker we will
experience the power of Christ. Spending time in prayer together with God’s
people brings the grace of God to prosper.
Issues to ponder:
1. What areas
in your life have you been struggling and found wanting?
2. What do you
feel?
a. a sense of lost;
b. perpetual
weakness in a certain area;
c. trapped
in a vicious cycle and going nowhere;
d. the
same problems reoccurring.
3. What are the
possible issues?
a. you refuse to recognize your weaknesses;
b. you are looking at an “easier” way to “tap” into God’s grace;
c. you could not bring yourself to pray, obey and wait upon
God.
.
.
The Road No One Traveled
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” John 18:8-9
Jesus exchanged His own soul for the souls of the world
When the Jews came to arrest Jesus, He said to them, “... let these go their way”. In another passage, Peter vowed to follow Jesus no matter what happened. But Jesus insisted that where He would be going, Peter cannot follow (John 13:36). The fact is: Jesus came in the flesh to suffer WITH humanity by walking along side with them. However, there is a road that no man can follow: the road of condemnation and death. It is on the road of condemnation that Jesus suffered and died FOR humanity, to be punished and crushed FOR our iniquities. It is one thing to suffer WITH humanity, stripped of His divinity, putting on a fallible nature and a corruptible body; and quite another to die FOR humanity.
In suffering WITH humanity, He came in the flesh, being exposed to the common tribulations of man. He experienced humanity’s sorrows, betrayals, sickness, shame, and poverty. In so doing, He is able to empathize with our sufferings and failings through which we receive healing and wholeness. The wounds of our heart would find healing and restoration because Jesus understands. When we invite our hurts forward in the presence of the Spirit, we receive inner healing and wholeness.
In suffering FOR humanity, He went ahead to the place that is reserved for the enemies of God. Jesus had to go there alone so that none would experience the condemnation and the ultimate suffering, which is death. No man could go to this place and remain faithful to God accept Jesus: the chosen Lamb of God. Hence, Jesus said, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” He went to that place of condemnation and death so that we do not have to go there. It is in Jesus’ condemnation and death that humanity’s sins are blotted out. The punishment that was reserved for humanity was laid upon Him until God find justice fulfilled through His suffering. It is a suffering that is indescribable, meant only for the enemies of God.
Would we do all, to suffer inconvenience, even injustice so that we would lose no one under our care. Would we endeavor to ensure that all who are entrusted to us fulfill their highest potential and experience abundant life?
Issues to ponder:
1. It is man’s basic instinct to care only for ourselves or for our family. Then, is Jesus’ selfless sacrifice too idealistic for real life?
2. How do we draw the line between self-care and care for the needs of the world?
3. It is not possible in our limited resources to bring salvation to every need to see. How do we draw the line between what is our responsibility and what is God’s responsibility?
Jesus’ Righteous Confession
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “ Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “ Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He.” John 18:1-8
Jesus’ righteous confession became our righteousness
Here is the hour for Jesus to be delivered into the hands of the enemy. What happened in the garden clearly spoke of the boldness of a righteous man, as well as the fear of the wicked. Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing. But the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Judas arrived with the Roman soldiers who were probably bribed by the Jews to help them carry out the arrest of an innocent man. As they were seeking and enquiring who Jesus was, Jesus approached them and asked, “Who do you seek?” They answered, “Jesus, the Nararene.” Jesus, without hesitation said, “I am He.” At that point, they drew back and fell to the ground. It seemed as though they were astounded by the awe of God Himself. Perhaps, they were expecting a fleeing Jesus and some skirmishes. To their surprise, Jesus revealed Himself without fear or hesitation even at the face of persecution. The integrity of a righteousness man strikes fear in the wicked.
What we could learn from Jesus is this: if we speak the truth, walk in the truth, and our conscience being clear, we have no fear, and God is with us to protect and deliver us. If we have sinned and repented, God is faithful to forgive our sins. But if we persistently walk in darkness and harbors deceit, then we have every reason to fear. Truth and grace is our greatest defense as well as offense in the face of wicked opposition. Jesus had no fear because He walked in righteousness and in the love of the Father. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”
We must not be afraid to speak the truth. The truth may cost us some inconvenience, but it is the truth that sets us free. Eventually, people will come to respect us as truth bearers. Proverbs 16:7 says,
“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
The truth may cause conflict with the people we love, but it is the truth that sets people free to grow (John 8:31). As long as the truth is spoken to edify, and not to destroy, they will eventually appreciate what you stood for.
Jesus, in His three years of active ministry has been evading the Jews who were trying to kill Him. However, Jesus knew the hour to reveal Himself to them. There is a time to avoid confrontation and there is a time to reveal the truth. Perhaps, the incident at the garden gave the disciples the greatest impression of Jesus: His truth and grace. They saw Jesus stood up to opposition without fear and or the use of force; that inspired them to do likewise in their own journey.
Speaking the truth without fear and living it out is perhaps the greatest way to impact and evangelise the world for Christ. It is truth in action that inspires those who love the truth and to live the truth without fear. Apostle Paul, who was imprisoned because of Christ said,
“my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel... most of the brethren... because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14
Evangelism is not just about saving souls from hell through the knowledge of Christ, but more importantly to turn the world away from falsehood towards the truth. The truth provides us the direction towards abundant life and His grace gives the power break the bondage of sin and to live abundantly.
Issues to ponder:
1. Why do we some times speak what others like to hear rather than speaking the whole truth?
2. What are the consequences of one professing to live a certain lifestyle in public and yet living a different lifestyle in private, thinking that others would never know?
3. How do we discern when is the time to co-exist and the time to confront with the truth?
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