by Rev Dr Wilson Teo
Big idea:
Preserving Godly values begins with God's people and families
What is Section 377A?
"Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years."
377A existed since year 1938
This petition to repeal became more intense when western countries start to accept LGBT relationships, while Singapore criminalise it.
The Government retained Section 377A for its "symbolic" value without "proactive enforcement" in 2007.
The judicial court may become the battleground for more legal challenges against Section 377A, resulting in other polarizing issues.
1st Learning Point:
Be aware of our society's cultural shift towards liberal western values.
There is a shift within the last decade in Singapore accepting LGBT
Our kids are desensitizing to behaviours, liberal worldview, through social media etc.
What does the Bible says to what's happening around us?
This is not new even in Paul's days
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
The Jews are looking for outward signs, Greeks seeking for world wisdom. Christ gospel could not be understood by the world, yet Paul continue to preach.
Only the gospel can counter the cultural shift toward ungodliness.
2nd Learning Point:
Strengthen family discipleship
The law of the land cannot be the only safeguard against ungodly.
Your choice:
Embrace Godliness or Liberal society?
The society we want in 10 years time begins with us now
The more Scriptural way is to entrench the belief of traditional family in our homes by teaching and living it out.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
A biblical example of young people who persist in the belief:
Daniel 1:8-16
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Above is a generational who lives in a babylonians cultural and yet honor God through Godly convictions, who loves and fear God in all of their hearts.
3rd Learning Point:
Live courageously as Christ's imagers in society.
Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Everyone is created in God's image even though we may not share the same values with every group.
All human beings are created in God's image. The status of representing the creator by having dominion over all creation. The different is that believers have Christ to model after and live like Christ. We live like kingdom values, at same time, we know many don't share the same kingdom values like us. These people who oppose are also created in God's image. We must learn to disagree respectfully and yet stand firm in our Godly values. We must allow differing groups to speak, until it reaches against our convictions. Be courageous to speak out our convictions and live out christlikeness, do so without demeaning fellow imagers of God. We are to influence them to become like Christ.
The enemy is already in our home through social media and wifi. Our children must still be in the world yet to disciple them not to live like the world. Not to rely solely on the "moat" (picture above) of the law to deal with issues, but it must be entrenched through discipleship of God's values in our family.
by Chew Thiam Keng
Exodus 14:14
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
2 Kings 18
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
2 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.
7 And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
10 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25 Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
27 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.
33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
2 Chronicles 32
After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
17 He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
23 And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.
25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Isaiah 31
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!
2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
4 For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
5 As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
7 For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
8 Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 32
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7 The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
12 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
14 Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.
20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
Isaiah 33
Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
2 O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.
4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
5 The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
10 Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21 But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Knowing the Bible and Theology alone is not enough.
A. Reading the bible and listening to Sermon
B. Understand
C. Remember the teachings
D. Do it and trust Him
E. Persist in doing it and trusting Him
Start with knowing and need to end with persisting in doing
Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
1. In whatever you are doing, let your hearts be fully His. Be faithful to Him and He will be faithful to you.
2. In all situations, trust Him and not men nor the things of this world.
3. True security can only be found in God.
by Sis Ho Wan Leng
Part 1
The 3 bucket budget plan
Part 2
A balancing act if 3 sets of principles
Part 3
A story and a song
10 Key Drivers:
1. Recognition
2. Social status
3. Life enjoyment
4. Peer pressure
5. Contribution to society
6. Social norm
7. Security and stability
8. Luxuries
9. Technologies
10.Financial gains/wealth
Whichever is your top choice, check also is that your heart rest
Biblical financial
Maximizing our earnings for God's glory
The 3 bucket personal budget plan
Necessities (50%+)
Desires (10%+)
Treasure box (10%+)
1. Create a personal financial budget plan
- Personal financial well being starts with personal budget plan (Necessities 50%+, Desires 10%+, Treasure box 10%+)
- this is biblical
LIVE SIMPLY THAT OTHERS MIGHT SIMPLY LIVE!
Luke 14:28
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Create a budget plan,
MAJOR on necessities (needs)
MINOR on desires (wants) and
be GENEROUS in sharing our treasure box to honor God and advance His kingdom.
2. A balancing act of three sets of principles
set 1 : Earn honestly, spend wisely and save fervently
set 2 : Contentment and Godliness
set 3 : Borrow less and be debt-free
Exodus 20:15
“You shall not steal.
- This is clear cut wrong
But there are others that are wrong and we argue the rights.
James 5:4
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 28:6
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Our struggles in finances do not justifies dishonest gains
We shouldn't be anxious about money problems
Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
The formula to avoid : Great wealth-Contentment=Stress
1 Timothy 6:6-7
But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and[a] we cannot take anything out of the world.
Philippians 4:12
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Contentment with godliness brings great wealth
Great wealth without contentment brings stress
Great wealth without godliness leads to our fall
Contentment without godliness is unsustainable
Godliness without contentment is fake news
Coveteousness
Exodus 20:17
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
Comparison to be Competitive
1 Timothy 6:9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
Let's do a balancing act daily
- Earn money optimally but honestly and justly
- Save money fervently but not hoard it
- Spend money wisely with discretion and control
- Give back to the Lord, joyfully and sacrificially but with discernment and the guidance of God's Spirit
- Be wealthy but don't love money and be content
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Psalm 37:21
The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
John 6:5-7
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
Philip has seen Jesus performed miracles but where was the faith now? Perhaps Philip had knowledge of Jesus but not knowing Him
John 6:8-9
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Give like the little boy although it's little
John 6:11
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.
This is what God can do when we seek to honor Him with our finances. Little can be made much in His hands
John 6:14
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Jesus transformed the hearts of the multitudes to proclaim
My treasures for God's glory!
by Pastor Wilson
INVESTigate
This series deals with our
Talent, time, treasure
is tithing for today?
Big idea:
God wants us to worship Him with our financial giving
1st type of tithe
Levitical tithe
Numbers 18:19-24
“You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. 20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them[a] to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
24 “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean,
Levitical tithe ensure provision for levites and priest. is for levites and priest
2nd type
Festival tithe
Deut 14:22
“You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.
This tithe is a tithe that was brought to Jerusalem during the festival, celebration. Is like a national potluck, also to be given to the levites
3rd type
The welfare tithe or tithe for the poor
Deut 14:28-29
“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Took place every 3 years where a tenth give to needy, foreigners, levites, widows etc
Malachi 3:8-12
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer[a] for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
During Nehemiah where ppl return from Exile to Jerusalem. Ppl more concern about themselves than levites and priest. There was no honor for His God so God very upset. Don't test the lord as and when we want base on malachi
This verse It was for the Israelites then.
Paul did not mention tithing as well. Gentiles believers need not obey mosaic laws.
There was no need for levites and priest to run house churches
Are we required to tithe today?
Since gentile Believers in christ are no longer under mosaic laws
Matt 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Christ has fulfilled the law which mean...the law was a set of instruction to help Israelites then, to guide them. However the law also point to reality that no one can be righteous b4 God only christ is the only way to God
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1st theory
Through this act of christ, our sins are forgiven without need to sacrifices anymore, therefore we now do not need the mosaic law
2nd theory
Romans destroy the 2nd temple in jerusalem. Christ came and there is no need for a temple because Believers in christ are the temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Cor 3:16-17
Do you not know that you[a] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Our giving to the Lord is for the livelihood of the full time staff leading and equipping the faith community
1 Corinthians 9:9-11
For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
Our giving to the Lord is for the Great Commission and the celebration of God's people
Our giving to the Lord is for the poor and needy in our community
We don't tithe to the temple but give to the local church to fulfill Christ's commission
Our giving today is not under religious law, but our love and worship to God.
GIVE TO BE FREE FROM THE FEAR OF LACK
by Pastor John Lin
Big idea:
God desires us to fulfill our calling whether we're singles or married
1 Corinthians 7:1
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
A. Divorce
1 Corinthians 7:10
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
Matthew 19:4-6
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[a] 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Matthew 19:9
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Marriage goes beyond just a certificate, it is a covenant with God between man and woman. Divorce case must be taken with much care and consideration. Healing and reconciliation must be considered first.
B. About Singleness
1 Corinthians 7:28-29
But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
In light of eternity, all believers will be with the lord, whether singles or married
C. Mixed Marriages
1 Corinthians 7:13-16
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Corinthians placed singleness above everything, thinking that's on right track to pursue spiritual maturity. However, Paul does not elevate singleness over marriage
1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Gift = Gift of Grace or Gift that empowers you
Focus should be on how we're receiving this gift from God, with contentment and gratitude
What is gospel solution?
# Stay as one was when called.
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Above passage denotes Paul repeated emphasis of being called, remaining or stay as one's called
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 7:29
What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
What counts is not the status but a person must keep the commandments of God.
How well do I keep the commandments of God, not outside change
Our spirituality is seen through our submission and obedience to God's word
Accept our status as gift from God and serve God wholeheartedly.
by Pastor Joey Asher
Big idea:
God desires His family to dedicate their body to Him
Since we as the temple are now that sacred space where the Spirit dwells in, how much more must we keep this body set apart and sacred?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
What we are discipled by determined how we make decisions and live. Is it media, social, people etc?
The main issue the corinthians faced is a distorted view of who truly owned their body. Therefore, they had sexual intercourse with prostitue, with their slaves etc.
1 Corinthians 6:12-13
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
In this above passage, Paul was referring to a specific roman law.
Sometimes doing what is permissible in the eyes of the law isn't always pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
Paul warned us that our physical body is dedicated to God and His holy purposes which includes sexual purity
1 Corinthians 7:1
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
A. Pursuing chastity in Singleness
First question:
What is christian freedom if our body belongs to God?
1 Corinthians 6:12
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Above passage states that we must be subjected to God's standard, not the world nor our own standard
# Christ freedom isn't freedom to what pleases your flesh but to do what pleases God
# Do your action pleased yourself or God?
Second question:
What is the purpose for our body?
1 Corinthians 6:13-14
You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
Christ resurrection is proofed our body will be raised. Our purpose is to rule and reign on His behalf, that's our function on earth. We will have another glorified body when we rule and reign with God.
Third question:
Who are we joining our body with when we commit fleshly desires?
1 Corinthians 6:15-17
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[a] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Above passage denotes sexual union between 2 individuals results in one flesh with each other. We are already joined with God with one integral unit, still do the unthinkable by doing the immorality with a prostitute?
Fourth question:
How can we flee from sin in the body?
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Above passage exorts us to glorify God in our body, for God redeemed us at a very high price. Our body is for the lord with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, living in us.
What does it mean to pursue chastity?
# Flee from sexual immorality
First step in fleeing:
# Identify the trigger points
- Eliminate the trigger points, wiser to flee then to resist it, ie. put phone our of the bedroom, tv etc.
Second step in fleeing:
# Change your thought pattern
# Trying not to think of it
# Pray in tongues
# Play a worship song
# Get a prayer partner
B. Pursuing faithfulness as Married couples
1 Corinthians 7:2-5
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Above passage means it is not "you owe me" but it is "I owe you". A spouse should not deprive and should not demand
What does pursuing faithfulness look like?
Married christian must flee as much as those who are singles
Proverbs 5:18-20
May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
Confession is the first step to healing
Matthew 5:27-30
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
by Pastor Wilson
Big idea:
God gives us authority to judge conflict and sin within a house
1 Corinthians 5:1-6
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?
Paul was informed of a sexual immorality that is to cohibit with one's stepmother. Instead of feeling sad or concern, the church was proud and was boasting. Paul ask to enforce discipline on this man from faith community and hand him to satan for the destruction of the flesh.
Why would Paul partner with satan to have this sinful man's flesh destroy?
It is not true. We must understand Paul's Jewish background and his concept of sacred space. Symbolically sending Israel sins into Wilderness.
Sacred space is a space where God and His people would occupy
Leviticus 16:7-10
Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.[a] 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
Above passage talks about 2 goats to be presented to Aaron. He then slaughter the goat chosen by God to clean the holy place. The other to release into the wilderness, Aaron release the sins and send it away. Wilderness symbolise the realm of fallen evil.
1 Corinthians 5:5
hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
Paul was very redemptive in 1 Corinthians 5:5 in his instruction, hoping the man will realise his sinfulness and eventually to return back to God's sacred space.
1 Corinthians 5:7-11
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[a] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
Above passage must be understood in the context of a believer who wilfully sin against the lord and is proud to live in sin. It does not refer to someone who occasionaly sin, is about someone who have chosen to live in wilful sin and no desire to repent in the lifestyle, which will negatively affect the faith of the faith community.
A. Early church treated sin very seriously
# Christ grace is not the licence to live in persistent sin where there is no true repentance in our hearts before the lord
# The malice of sin and evil will negatively affect the faith community
Can we judge a fellow believer in Christ?
Matthew 7:1-3
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Judge carries different meanings when use in different context
1. First meaning of judging
# Analyse or evaluate people and situation
2. Second meaning of judging
# Condemn or to avenge
# Solely reserved for the lord when He comes back
# For this meaning, we are equally in need of God's grace and redemption
B. We must have the courage to enact church discipline and bring redemptive action to those affected
# Although the person can still go to other churches, but it should not stop us from enforcing God's word
# The faith community must have both discipline and restoration process for the person to come back into God's presence
1 Corinthians 6:1-10
If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Above passage narrate dispute among believers.
To the victim:
Why not rather suffer wrong?
Why not rather be defrauded?
To the culprit:
Will not inherit the kingdom of God, believers included
Paul theology determines his bahaviour and conviction. Paul believes believers will judge angels and the world, ungodly will be judged in condemnation. He encourage all belivers to live with an end in mind, what we truly believe and embrace must come out through the way we live.
C. Be ready to be wronged and cheated by a fellow believer
# Not every believer is perfect when they display ungodly behaviour
3 Let God judge the culprit for me, when I am wronged and cheated
D. There are eternal consequences when one lives in sin
E. Trust the church community to mediate and make the right judgement for you
Does your theology shapes your conviction and behaviour?
Can you believe that God sees your pain and will give you back more than you have lost?
by Pastor Meng Chiam
Why would God allow....?
Faith is:
Believing when I don't see it.
Obeying when I don't understand it.
Giving when I don't have all of it.
Persisting when I don't feel like it.
Trusting when I don't get it.
When we find ourselves in a situation we don't understand, what matters?
1. Faith matters!
# Expectant faith (believe in God at all times no matter what)
# Enduring faith (Faith remain strong despite....)
Faith doesn't take you out of the problem, but it gives you ability to handle the problem....
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Hebrews 11
shows us men and women demonstration of enduring faith
God is God, Job is not and I am not. God don't owe me an explanation even though I could not understand.
John 20:27-29
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We believe in Him, it is not blind faith but it is called bold faith in God
2. Foundation matters!
# Our understanding
# Our insight
# Our perspective
# Our perception
MUST BE ALL BASED ON GOD'S WORD
Proverbs 7:1-3
My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
A. See life through the lens of Scripture
B. Saturate our heart and mind with Scripture
C. Sort out current situation according to Scripture
It will be good
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
3. Fundamental matters!
# Prime importance is your relationship with God
# Your walk with God
# Know God personally not just know Him
# He's my Saviour
# He's my Shepherd
# He's my Strength
Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.
When we are close to God, we see:
all His Glory
all His Majesty
all His Greatness
through all our situations and problems.
