by Pastor Eelyn Poh
Luke 2:25-32
3 P's that ends the wait :
1. A place of divine Appointment
Luke 2:27
# There were 4 groups of people during the 400 silent years between the book of Malachi and Matthew. These people are Pharisees, Saducees, Zealots, Essenes
# But Simeon didn't join any of these groups
Chronos
Time in general or time in which anything is done
Kairos
Strategic or right time, the opportune point of time which something should be done
John 4:3-4
2. Power of the Holy Spirit
v25
The Holy Spirit was upon him
v26
It had been revealed by the Holy Spirit
v27
So he came by the Spirit into the temple....
John 4:13-16
Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman
v13-15
Living waters
v16
Husband
v20 - religion
Samaritan woman argue about Religion
v23 - heart
God is not looking at just your worship but God is looking at your heart
John 4:39-42
Psalm 16:8-11
Isaiah 55:8
3. Passion for people
v25
Simeon was waiting for the comfort of Israel
v26
He will not see death before he sees the lord Christ
v32
A light to lighten the gentiles and a glory of the people, Israel
John 4:6
Jesus having traveled such great distance was wearied from his journey ....
John 4:27
The unspoken prejudice in the disciples heart
One act of kindness is worth a lifetime of sermons preached
by Pastor Richard Wee
What is being spiritual?
- being involved in church activities doesn't mean spiritual.
- read the bible over & over again doesn't mean spiritual
- pray to God everyday doesn't mean spiritual
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
"The person without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the spirit. The person with the spirit makes judgements about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgements, for, "who has known the mind of the lord so as to instruct him?" but we have the mind of Christ."
There are 2 types of food offered in the bible :
- Milk
- Solid Food
John 3:16 (Milk)
"For God so loved the world that He have his only begotten son that shosoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life"
God's word instructions and commandments, everyday living principles (Solid Food)
When God speaks and when God works, sometimes it is not logical. It is very easy for us to accept absurd ways of God about other's story when we already know how the story ends. But when God speak to you, or send you to somewhere.... the story is still continuing in your life.
Being spiritual is to accept the lordship of God. Sometimes even your loved one do not understand you. Hang on, pray through and continue to believe.
Being Spiritual :
1. is to accept the Will of God
2. is to discern all things
3. is to having the mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5-8
"As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did. In his very nature he was God. Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact. Instead, he made himself nothing. He did this by taking on the nature of a servant. He was made just like human beings. He appeared as a man. He was humble and obeyed God completely. He did this even though it led to his death. Even worse, he died on a cross!"
Self sacrifice
Service
Obedience to death
Why be spiritual? Because :
- We are spiritual beings
- We have the Spirit of God
- We get revelation from God's Spirit
- We overcome warfare between spirit and flesh
Once saved is not always saved. We have the freedom of choice to choose 24/7
4. is to live in His Will with gladness
How can we be spiritual?
1 Corinthians 14:2
"Anyone who speaks in a language they had not known before doesn’t speak to people. They speak only to God. In fact, no one understands them. What they say by the Spirit remains a mystery"
- Connect with God
- Accept
- Obey
- Act
The Day of the Lord is coming
1 Thessalonians 5
"Brothers and sisters, we don’t have to write to you about times and dates. You know very well how the day of the Lord will come. It will come like a thief in the night. People will be saying that everything is peaceful and safe. Then suddenly they will be destroyed. It will happen like birth pains coming on a pregnant woman. None of the people will escape. Brothers and sisters, you are not in darkness. So that day should not surprise you as a thief would. All of you are children of the light. You are children of the day. We don’t belong to the night. We don’t belong to the darkness. So let us not be like the others. They are asleep. Instead, let us be wide awake and in full control of ourselves. Those who sleep, sleep at night. Those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But we belong to the day. So let us control ourselves. Let us put on our chest the armor of faith and love. Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet. God didn’t choose us to receive his anger. He chose us to receive salvation because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Jesus died for us. Some will be alive when he comes. Others will be dead. Either way, we will live together with him. So encourage one another with the hope you have. Build each other up. In fact, that’s what you are doing.
Brothers and sisters, we ask you to accept the godly leaders who work hard among you. They care for you in the Lord. They correct you. Have a lot of respect for them. Love them because of what they do. Live in peace with one another. Brothers and sisters, we are asking you to warn certain people. These people don’t want to work. Instead, they make trouble.
We are also asking you to encourage those who have lost hope.
Help those who are weak.
Be patient with everyone.
Make sure that no one pays back one wrong act with another.
Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Always be joyful.
Never stop praying.
Give thanks no matter what happens.
God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.
Don’t try to stop what the Holy Spirit is doing.
Don’t treat prophecies as if they weren’t important. But test all prophecies.
Hold on to what is good.
Say no to every kind of evil.
God is the God who gives peace. May he make you holy through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept free from blame. May you be without blame from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes. The God who has chosen you is faithful. He will do all these things. Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. While the Lord is watching, here is what I command you. Have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
by Pastor Calvin Lee
Esther 8:16
Esther 10:1-3
Mordecai had Victory over Haman's household including his 10 sons were killed
Mordecai had victory where the Jews were able to kill and defeat the enemies which was an edit issued by the King
1. STRUGGLES
- When we talk about victory it doesn't mean we don't have struggles
- Life is a 3 way struggle (our own personal struggles, we struggle with people, we struggle with God)
- Remember even Queen Esther struggled for not knowing how the king will respond to her appearing before him without being summoned
- Queen Esther struggled whether she should pluck up the courage to approach the king or not
# fear to go approach the king or not
# there was a moment of fortified where Esther said "If I perish, I perish"
# there was also a moment of faith in God when she asked the people to fast & pray for courage to approach the king
# there is no victory without a battle
4 important principles :
A. Struggle is normal, in fact it can be a good thing
B. Our response to our struggles largely determines our spiritual growth
C. There is no growth without struggle
D. We encounter God's grace through our struggles in ways that would not have happened if the trials were not there
2. SOVEREIGNTY
- God is in charge over affiars of this world, our lives and families
3 important truths :
A. God is in control
- when we understand this truth, we become more rested
B. Things don't just happened by chance
- we believe God is in our lives and situations
C. No matter what we face, God is at work for His glory
- when we pray for the glory of God's name in our situation, we become more God-centred and not self-centred
3. SAVIOUR
- it's about God bringing about a complete victory
Deuteronomy 20:4
"For the lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory"
4 important points moving forward :
1. We must acknowledge that God rules and reigns over every area of our lives
2. We must recognize that through Jesus Christ our victory has already been secured
3. We must press on in the strength of the Lord
4. We must give Him all the glory
eg. Purin Feast
Esther 9:27-28
"So they established it as a regular practice. They decided they would always observe these two days of the year. They would celebrate in the required way. And they would celebrate at the appointed time. They and their children after them would always observe these days. And so would all who join them. The days should be remembered and celebrated. They should be remembered by every family for all time to come. They should be celebrated in every territory and in every city. The Jews should never stop celebrating the days of Purim. Their children after them should always remember these days."
- Learn to share your faith and victories with your children
1 day-5 years, We experience many spills
6 years-16 years, We pick up many skills
17 years-20 years, We undergo many drills
21 years-25 years, We discover many thrills
26 years-40 years, We have to pay many bills
41 years-60 years, We suffer many ills
61 years-75 years, We have to take many pills
75 years onwards, We worry about our wills
