You only live once YOLO

by Pastor Wilson

Do we understand God's intent for the many events in our life?

Big idea:
How you live for king jesus in earth will determine how you will rule and reign with Him when He returns

1. Kingdom and priests unto God

Revelation 1:6
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.


Ancient day Myra is current day Turkey

# Concept of Kingdom:
- In every kingdom there will always be a king
- John was referring to the kingdom of God who was Jesus

Citizens are those who have pledge their loyalty and allegiance to Jesus, no other kings

You can be a believer but not a follower of Jesus because you do not give allegiance to Jesus

James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.


# Concept of Priesthood:
Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”


God called the nation to be a kingdom of priest to represent God to claim the nations for Him

Priest represent people to God and represent God to people

Israel was to represent God to the nations and also to point the nations back to God

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.


We are called to represent King Jesus to other believers around us and to point them back to God

Revelation 1:6
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.


@@ God's will for me is to be a citizen and priest in His kingdom @@







a. Have you lived as a citizen of God's kingdom on earth? is Jesus t..... b. Have you lived as a priest unto God?





Allow Holy Spirit to show us to allow him to work in our lives

A day will come when what we have build on earth will also be tested by God's fire

1 Corinthians 3:12-15
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [13] their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [14] If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [15] If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.


On judgement day, God will reveal what we have built on earth by His purifying fire

Build on what will last!

Why would I need to be concerned when I need to only go heaven?

Revelation 2:26
To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—


1. To rule & reign with King Jesus

- Conquer translate as overcome

The true believers were to overcome persecution, false teaching, idolatry, and all forms of compromise that would weaken their loyalty and allegiance to King Jesus

Revelation 2:26-28
To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— [27] that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. [28] I will also give that one the morning star.


# Believers will receive the morning star

Revelation 3:21
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.


# Believers will be seated with King Jesus

Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. [10] You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”


2 Timothy 2:10-12
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. [11] Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; [12] if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;


Revelation 21
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. [2] I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. [4] ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” [5] He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [6] He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. [7] Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. [8] But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” [9] One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” [10] And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. [11] It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. [12] It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. [13] There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. [14] The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. [15] The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. [16] The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. [17] The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. [18] The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. [19] The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, [20] the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. [21] The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. [22] I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. [23] The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. [24] The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. [25] On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. [26] The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. [27] Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.


Revelation 22
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. [3] No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. [4] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. [5] There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. [6] The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” [7] “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” [8] I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. [9] But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” [10] Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. [11] Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.” [12] “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. [14] “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. [15] Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. [16] “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” [17] The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. [18] I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. [19] And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. [20] He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. [21] The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.


The new heaven and new earth are not two different locations, but it is heaven on earth.

We are co rulers with King Jesus. We are to represent our King in whatever assignment we are given in heaven, even in eternity.

Do not think what you do now has nothing to do with eternity.

The challenges, suffering without losing loyalty in King Jesus sharpen your character and prepare you as co rulers with King Jesus

Are we ready for His return?

With the passing of one year, we also move another year closer to Jesus in eternity

Peace has come

by Pastor Peter

Peace has to be greater than those quotes suggest in motivational talk

Big idea:
God invites all to experience his peace

The prince of peace and the price of peace

Luke 2:8-14
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Why do we need peace?

There's one conflict, a broken relationship that stands above it all. That's our broken relationship with God, that's why we need peace.

We sometimes don't know what we want or what we need

We need to submit ourselves under the lordship and rulership with Christ. But we can't do that unless we restore our broken relationship with Jesus.

Even if we have to go through in difficult times, even when our problems did not go away, but we have the peace of God. Knowing that God is here with me is enough.

Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


Luke 2:14 is for those who believe.

Why did God choose to reveal his glory and make this acclamation to shepherds?
God could have send the message to people of high status but God chose people who are lowly, agricultural people to be the first to hear of this good news. This reveals God's hearts to the humble

Luke 2:4-7
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

God's peace comes to the humble, especially those who are overlooked.

God's peace is within your reach. What hinders us is we think we can manage on my own, we choose self rule. We deprived ourselves of God's peace. Respond to God's peace wisely and humbly.

How did Jesus restore our broken relationship on earth?

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures


Jesus was the prime target of all the evil forces of the world. He did it because He loves us. What an amazing love that the creator King would be willing to suffer and die for us, a sacrificial love ..

Jesus resurrection was proven with historical fact

Acknowledge Jesus as the king of your life, commit to follow Jesus, to trust and live in his ways. Turning away from what is evil. Let Him lead your life. Jesus is not like any earthly king. Jesus love is perfect. Jesus rule with perfect love on his throne.

The Prince of Peace came to pay the Price of Peace.

First you'll need to find peace with God then you'll find peace in your life.

The God of Peace

by Ps Gideon

Big idea:
God steps into our troubled world to bring us His peace

Luke 1:26-31
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.


#1 we need to be reminded that God is present in our fears

Wrong time ...due to Mary did not consumated
Unthinkable... Shame and dishonour

Crisis interrupt us violently and shooks our faith, grips us with fear

@ We fear not because we lack faith, but because we lose sight

KNOWING THAT GOD WITH US DOES NOT MEAN SITUATION HAS CHANGED. KNOWING THAT MEANS WE DO NOT NEED TO LET FEAR TO DEFINE OUR SITUATION BUT LET FAITH DETERMINE OUR RESPONSE

We can choose to:
1. Lift our voice to God
2. Lean into God
3. Look to God

Choose to:
- Thank him
- Praise him
- Present our request to Him

Allow God to shower us with His peace, promises, character, his faithfulness, meditate on His word so it will fill us in our times of needs

THE MULTITUDE OF OUR PROBLEMS CANNOT COMPARE TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE GOD WE SERVE

His presence will bring us peace

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall God cannot move it
There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my brother that He will carry you
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my sister that He will carry you

@ Faith does not deny how we lived but faith decides who we choose to serve

#2 God reigns in our fears

Luke 1:54-58
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. The Birth of John the Baptist 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.


@ God creates life out of barreness. God makes a way when there seems to be no way

Angel told Mary that Elizabeth was old and barren, yet she conceived by the word of the lord

@ We can trust that God's word will come to pass

Elizabeth pregnancy was nothing short of easy since she already passed child conceiving age

@ God does not merely begin the work. he sustains it

Mary would have been encouraged by Elizabeth

We would feel like Mary with dead end, tied in a spot, things we are once familiar with becomes undesirable and uncertain

We may have switch into:
- Fight mode
- Freeze mode
- Flight mode

We're still worried and end up with no true peace. We struggle to surrender and relinquish control to God

@ We can trust God in the present and entrust our future to Him

Mary said "Behold I am a servant of the lord"

Road ahead will still be bumpy but we can still be in peace

@ In both our truimphs and trials, God's purposes will be accomplished in our lives

The promise of Peace

by Pastor Joey Asher Tan

Big idea:
God remembers His covenant and promises peace to those waiting in darkness

When gratefulness increases, our grumbling and complaints reduce

We tends to Manufacture peace by fixing things ourselves

(1) God's silence does not mean his absence

Luke 1:5-6
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.


Herod did expand a temple but built pagan temples along holy sites

In the days of oppression. Darkness and compromise.

Political oppression
- Herod was appointed by Rome. Israel was given by Greece

Prophetic silence
- 400 years since God last spoke through Malacchi. Heaven went quiet after Malacchi closed his books.

God was working behind the scene but Israel felt like God had stop speaking for 16 generations no prophet.

Israel was longing for prophesied Messiah.

The silence was loud for Israel until Zechariah and Elizabeth appeared.

Couple was obedience even when life was hard for them.

Luke 1:7
But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.


Barreness were social stigma. Seen as sign of divine disfavour

They remain faithful to YahWeh

Luke 1:8-9
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.


Most priest throughout their entire life time do not get the chance to enter the temple of the lord and burn incense. It was part of God sovereign plan to let the lot fall on Zechariah out of 24000 people.

Luke 1:10
And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.


They were praying for deliverance and peace.

Luke 1:11
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.


God is about to break the silence this time

An angel appeared

Luke 1:12
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.


Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.


Your prayer has been heard

What prayer?
- God didn't just speak but God acted
- It felt God had forgotten them when they pray for a child

God remembers His covenant. Is base on who God is. God fulfill the promises through a barren couple.

# Waiting time is never wasted time

God is setting the stage for Jesus

God is working even when you can't see it.

Redemption was already beginning. Kingdom breakthrough always happen in unexpected ways.

Zechariah served faithfully even when life's difficult

The kingdom's breakthrough begins in unspectacular ways:
- ordinary obedience
- private longing
- humble duty

God is never idle even when you can't see what He's doing

God is orchestrating behind the scenes to prepare you and the people around you

I may not see but God is still at work. God still remember me

(2) God promises peace through King Jesus

Luke 1:14-17
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”


is direct connection from Malacchi 4:5-6

Malachi 4:5-6
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”


John is just the opening act

Luke 1:18
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”


Luke 1:19
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.


Daniel 8
In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great. 5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7 I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. 9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?” 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” The Interpretation of the Vision 15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.” 17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,”[b] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” 18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet. 19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.[c] 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power. 23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. 26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” 27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.


Daniel 9
In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes[a] (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[b] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. 7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. 15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. 17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” The Seventy “Sevens” 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision: 24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[e] 25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[f] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.[k]”[l]


Angel Gabriel was the angel that appeared in Daniel 8 and Daniel 9

Luke 1:20
And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”


Priest should come out to pronounce Aaronic blessing

Luke 1:21-22
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.


Luke 1:23-24
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.


Luke 1:25
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”


Luke 1:68-72
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn[a] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,


Zechariah song to Jesus after his tongue came loose

Luke 1:76-77
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,


This declaration that John will give knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of sins

The song ties the covenant to the Messiah

Answered prayers are never isolated

Peace comes when king Jesus reigns in your life

# True peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of King Jesus

We don't need circumstances to experience peace, we need the king

- Can you identify an area where you feel God is silent?
- How has God been faithful in the past?
- Who will you share this promise of peace with?

Luke 1:78
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven


John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.


At Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of a King who brings God's reign, rescue and peace

Luke 1:79
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Our daily bread

by Pastor Victor

Big idea:
God is able to provide all that we need

Matthew 6:25-29
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.


Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


Worrying is focus on the future "what if"

Worry Vs Anxiety:
1. worry can be rational, but anxiety often involves catastropic thought patterns
2. worry is fleeting, but anxiety is not

"What you worry about the most often reveals where you trust God the least"
- Craig Groeschel -

When we focus too much on Human man made dreams. All these desires caused us unwanted worries and anxieties. Our securities cannot and should not be in our plans

Trust that God has already seen your tomorrow and He has already provided for tomorrow

Trusting God develops in us a daily gratitude and thankfulness regardless of our situation

Don't just raise the standard of your lifestyles. Raise the standard of your giving!

Why we need kingdom gospel part I - Why the Nations are lost?

by Ps Wilson

First panel:
The creator king reigned over heaven and earth and wanted to share his glory with his human family on earth

Second panel:
God Reign Rejected through the three Rebellions

1. The human family rejected God's rule and chose self rule
2. Rebellious Supernatural beings deepened human depravity by mating with the daughters of men and spreading wickedness

Big idea:
Though the nations turned from God, King Jesus provides a way for every nation to return to His Kingdom

Supernatural beings Corrupt humanity with wickedness so that we cannot see His fullness

Genesis 11:1-4
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”


What's wrong with this idea and ambition?
God commands:
to Noah's family:

Genesis 9:1
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.


to Adam's family:

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”


Their acts of wickedness:
1. The refusal to disperse all over the earth
2. The desire to make a name for themselves
3. The intent to build a temple structure (ziggurat) to worship other gods

In another word, the towel of Babel was built NOT to worship Yahweh

Genesis 11:5-9
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel[a]—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.


The Dominion Mandate (Genesis 1:26) was about humans being fruitful, multiplying, overseeing the land, and stewarding its resources, through responsible care of the earth

1. Towel of Babel is a Statement of defiant towards what God had intended

How do we ensure that we do not build a towel of Babel?

2. The dispersion of the nations

God allow other lower rank supernatural beings to rule the nations

Deuteronomy 32:8-9
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.[a] 9 For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.


YahWeh disinherited the nations through the sons of God but Israel was God allocated nation

Moses reminded Israel of how God had formed them through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the rest of the nations were ruled by the sons of God

Psalm 82:1-8
God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”: 2 “How long will you[a] defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?[b] 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. 5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ 7 But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” 8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.


YahWeh called the sons of God before Him. They failed to uphold Righteousness and justice among the nations. They turned nations to idolatry and corruption. Due to their rebellion and corruption, God punished them to experience death like human beings when Christ return. Supernatural beings to die like human beings is horrific. Thus they prevent the nations from coming back to the family of God

Are the nations today still under the sons of God?

Daniel 10:12-13
Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.


We are told that another supernatural beings call Prince of Persia intercepted

Are there other fallen sons of God or supernatural beings overseeing the nations?

There is no need for believers to find out about this, since we don't see it in scripture

All we need today as God's people is to know the Prince of Peace

Colossians 2:13-15
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[a] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[b]


This passage shows Jesus has "disarmed" means to permanently removed. Jesus ascension has done it all

3. God's plan to inherit the nations

Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a] 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”[b]


Israel was the north star pointing the nations back to God as seen in

Psalm 82:8
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.


God's heart is not just for Israel. His heart has always been for the nations

Sadly, Israel was conquered by the Babylonian but God's plan was not to be thwarted, He sent Jesus

Matthew 28:18-19
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Why we need the kingdom gospel I - why we are created?

by pastor Wilson

big idea:
God created us to reflect His reign and share His glory on earth

God's Reign over heaven & Earth

Gods Reign rejected by 3 Rebellions seen in Genesis 3, Genesis 6 and Genesis 11

Gods Reign foreshadowed through the formation of Israel as God's representative to the nations

God's Reign inaugurated through the comming of Jesus - the Messiah King

God's Reign extended over the nations through the church - you and me

God's Reign completely restored through the establishment of the new heaven and new earth when king Jesus return

Understand God's intent and purpose for you

God bestow special staus of bearing the image of God. This image was not for any other creature on the ground but only Adam and Eve

The image of God is a special status given by the Creator-King to humanity in representing Him on earth

It is God's desire for humanity to be His vice-regent over the earth because God wanted to share His glory, His rulership with humanity

As long as you are human you bear the image of God. That's why we do not belong to the ape or gorilla category because we have the image of God, they don't!

It is also this image bearing status that gives human life its sacred value calling all of us to cherish and to protect life

That's the reason the christian faith is against all form of murder, that violate the sacredness of human life made in the image of God

unborn child, special needs people, sick and frail elderly does not justifies us ending their life early because they bears the image of God

As caregivers over these people, you have given dignity to them, you are honouring the image of God status in them. Yes, the journey is tough but God has entrusted you with a sacred assignment that few others could carry. The Lord will reward you for your faithfulness over this assignment that requires you to love and to respect God's image in your loved ones

Even King David, writing thousand of years after creation reaffirmed humanity unique worth found in

Psalm 8:3-5
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; [4] What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? [5] Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!


God's plan was disrupted when Adam and Eve rebelled against Him in Genesis 3

Garden of Eden was God's dwelling place where the creator King rule heaven and earth, Eden was also God's sacred space where His supernatural and His human family gather together

When Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, that situation posed a serious problem for humanity which is how humanity represent God properly when they no longer access to God although they bore God's image?

There is now a separation between God and man. This separation prevented humanity to know God's heart and mind, this led to people bearing Gods inage but did not represent Him well in their actions and behaviours

God was never afraid of the three rebellions found in Genesis 3, 6 and 11

The wicked schemes of the fallen, supernatural beings could never thwart God's plan to have His human family to rule and reign on earth. Yes the plan was delayed, yes the plan was disrupted but God had His ways to restore it

More importantly, God wanted to restore humanity ability to image Him, to reflect Him, to represent Him in a godly manner the way Adam did before the fall in Genesis 3. Only through Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:15-16
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.


Jesus is the image of God He is the firstborn of all creation

"firstborn" here refers to Jesus preeminence, where He holds the highest rank and supreme authority over all creation

How can I model Jesus even though i cannot see Him?

John 16:13-15
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. [14] He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. [15] All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.


John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.


We have the Holy Spirit who will work through godly men and women around us to help us become more and more like him

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.


God's image is still upon your enemies, God's image is still upon someone you don't like. We must not take things into our own hands to hurt or kill because they bear God's image

1. God made humanity in His image to represent Him on earth

2. This is a special status not based in one's natural talents or merits

3. Even after the rebellion of Adam and Eve, humanity kept this special status, albeit as imperfect representatives of God

4. Jesus was the perfect image of God when He lived on earth

5. God wants to restore all of us to the image of Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit in disciple making

Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [28] God blessed them; and 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.”


The Dominion mandate was about humans being fruitful, multiplying themselves, overseeing the land, and stewarding its resources through responsible care of the earth, creation care

Eden was perfect but the rest of the earth outside Eden was not cultivated. God required the first couple to subdue it, the rest of the earth outside Eden to transform it to become like Eden

God placed them in the garden of Eden to learn how to be the best gardener in earth

Genesis 2:8-15
The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. [9] Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. [10] Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. [11] The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. [12] The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. [13] The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. [14] The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. [15] Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.


Garden of Eden was God's training ground for Adam and Eve to subdue the earth

Both of them were supposed to bring Eden to the rest of the earth where God's glory and presence could be seen through the first couple. And God wanted to share His glory with humanity, with His human family through their care and stewardship of the earth

Prebelievers do not live their lives intentionally to bear the image of Jesus Christ and to reflect God's glory. They can be very well known, very successful in their careers, like many of our friends around us yet disconnected from the divine creator who has made them. For believers, we are to represent Jesus Christ in every sphere of society, carry His glory, fulfill His purpose in all that we do

Believers are representatives of King Jesus in our homes, schools, campuses, the marketplace. and in every sphere of influence we are placed

Why we need the Kingdom gospel - Why evil runs deep?

by Pastor John Lin

1st Panel:
God's Reign over Heaven & Earth
- God created us to reflect His reign and share His glory on earth as royal image bearers

2nd Panel:
God's Reign Rejected (The 3 Rebellions)
- The tragic choice of autonomy over allegiance to the King at garden of Eden which fractured creation and plunged it into disobedience and death

3rd Panel:
God's Reign Foreshadowed (Israel)

4th Panel:
God's Reign Inaugurated (Christ)

5th Panel:
God's Reign Extended (Church)

6th Panel:
God's Reign completely Restored (New Heaven & Earth)

Big idea:
We as human beings join rebellious spiritual being in spreading depravity, but Jesus frees us through his death and resurrection

#1 Evil Is Found In Both Human And Spiritual Beings

Genesis 6:1-5
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with[a] humans forever, for they are mortal[b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. 5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.


Similar parallel in Eden, Eve also saw the fruit is attractive and ate it

- Sons of God actually appears several times in the OT consistently referring to supernatural beings, members of God heavenly counsel as mentioned in Job 38:7

Job 38:7
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?


- Some of these supernatural beings did something horrific, they decided to abandon their God-given boundary and directly interfere with humanity - These Sons of God were supernatural beings who chose to rebel Yahweh as mentioned in Jude 6

Jude 6
And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.


Jude 6 pointed back to the story of Genesis 6:1-5

These angels are not those with wings, but supernatural beings

- After Adam and Eve rebellion in Genesis 3, these supernatural beings saw humanity vulnerability and decided to exploit it. They crossed a boundary that God has set attempting to corrupt the human line and produce their own race of rulers call the "Nephilim" (giants, mighty warriors, men of renown who served as a catalyst to spread human wickedness)

- These Nephilim were seen as heroes of the ancient world but with a very dark and evil ancestry

- This rebellion by the Sons of God in Genesis 6:1-5 intensified Human Depravity

This wasn't just human sin worsening. This was evil, spiritual forces contaminating humanity and according to ancient Jewish writings that were used during the second temple period, these rebellious Sons of God, supernatural beings attempted to hijack God's plan. They wanted to imitate God by producing their own human children when they decided to mate with the daughters of men. And worse, they intermingled with God's human family and introduce forbidden divine knowledge, spread violence and magnified human wickedness to unprecedented levels. Rather than accepting God's desire for human to be part of His family, these supernatural beings sought to rule humans. God's intent to create humanity was to be a part of His family, He didn't want slaves, He wanted a family. So this cause widespread evil and wickedness on the land

God judged these supernatural beings, He called on Noah and brought about a flood.

2 Peter 2:4-5
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[a] putting them in chains of darkness[b] to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;

Peter was pointing back to Genesis 6 to the rebellion then from the above verse. God cast the Sons of God into imprisonment in the underworld, held in chains for final judgement, locked away, they are unable to continue their direct interference. Yet their corruption has left a mark. Violence, depravity, wickedness filled the earth. These explain why evil often feels more than just human making bad decision, is more than that, this is why evil feels so enslaving

Behind all our struggles that we go through, behind the false idols, cultural idols that enslave society, behind systemic injustice that seems impossible to uproot, there are spiritual powers actively working to corrupt, to enslave and to destroy God's imagers

Think about it:
Why do we witness crimes that are involving more and more of the younger generation?

Why do we see entire nation fall into the cycle of violence and wars, generation after generation?

Why do ungodly ideologies spread like viruses capturing minds and hearts in our world today?

Because evil is deeper than we think, is more than human making bad choices

Yet God continues to extend His love and grace. He pronounced judgement but He preserved Noah

Genesis 6:8-9
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah and the Flood 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.


Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”


Genesis 3:15 declared where God promised that Eve's offspring would crush the serpent's head. These rebellious supernatural beings were attempting to corrupt that line but God preserved Noah from whose line came Jesus 2000 years later

Why?
Because we cannot win this battle on our own, we need divine intervention, we need a King powerful enough to defeat both our human rebellion and the spiritual forces corrupting creation. A King who had to be fully human to reverse the rebellion in Genesis

When addictions feel like chains that we cannot break, there's a reason
When our world seems to plunge darker and darker each day, is because evil runs deeper than we think

Only a King with authority over both human physical and spiritual realms can set us free. We need the Kingdom gospel

#2 King Jesus Defeated All Powers And Restores Us As Spirit-Led Imagers

1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive,[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.


Peter in this whole passage is pointing back again to Genesis 6 rebellion. He's telling us what Jesus did, that He confronted the imprisoned, rebellious supernatural beings. Between His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus went to the prison (the underworld) where those rebellious Sons of God from Genesis 6 were held. He went there to remind those rebellious beings that they are doomed and they will continue to stay doomed. He went there to proclaim His victory over them that God's plan for His human family would be restored through Him. He went there to declare triumph over what they had done in Genesis 6

Water baptism:
- is our response of loyalty to King Jesus
- is public declaration that everytime a human being goes through baptism, this person corresponds to what Jesus had done
- is public declaration that spiritual forces are doomed and have no hold over us anymore
- is a complete shift of our loyalty from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light in God

Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.


What does it mean to be truly human?
To be like Christ

The arrival of the Holy Spirit launched a powerful reversal campaign against the rebellious Sons of God. Why? Because The Holy Spirit enables us to walk in freedom and holiness. So when you walk each day in freedom and holiness, you are reversing the effects of that rebellion that happened in Genesis. You are walking in the Light of God

Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.


When we walk by the Spirit, something happens. When we walk in step of the Spirit, when we rely and depends on the Spirit, something happens inside of us, the Holy Spirit begins to work in you, the Holy Spirit begins to produce something in your life. The fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Jesus embodied all of the fruit of the Spirit

Start with:
1. Set our minds on the things of the Spirit
- what is filling your mind today? What are you meditating on?
- what is taking space in your mind right now?
- finances, relationship, things you watch etc
- when we fill our minds with certain things, our minds become set on it
- are we thinking about things that brings us closer to Jesus?
- is our thought life worshipping God, glorifying Him?
- it begins with what we allow into our lives, what we are consuming today?
- if all we are consuming today is what we see on media, feed, algorithms... latest podcast over God's word, are we too caught up with games etc
- spend time on the word of God, else how can Holy Spirit work in you?

Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.


John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Why we need the kingdom gospel part 1 - Why We're Broken?

by Pastor Meng Cham

God create us to:
1. Reflect his reign
2. To share his glory in all the earth

There's sign of brokeness around us. Aggression, mental health. Struggles, family breakdown, natural disasters, discrimination. Divorce, death etc

The problem is 'us'

Big idea:
We rejected God's rule, but Jesus restores us through His obedient life and sacrificial death.

# Royalty commands Loyalty

Sacred space is a place where God is encountered in a special or direct way, by virtue of which the very place becomes holy and set apart from ordinary space

Eden was YHWH's Home, Temple, and Throne

Yahweh laid down house rules

Genesis 2:16-17
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”


The venomous supernatural serpent knows how to exploit human desires

Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.


Serpent was talking to both of them, meaning Adam was all the while standing next to Eve

God gives prohibition to prevent damage

When you doubt God's intention, God's goodness, the tempter made it desirable.... Surely they will not die, they did not die immediately but sacred space was fractured. The harmony they had - become harm only

We have to do it according to God's boundary inside, not outside

Desire on the eyes
Desire of the flesh
Pride of life

Instead of peace is panic

In place of shalom peace they experienced:
Shame
Fear
Blame

Genesis 3:14-19
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”


5 fractures emerged:
1. between the Creator and His creation
2. between the Woman and the serpent
3. between the Woman and the Man
4. between the Man and the ground
5. between the Humans and their King

Before they can start edenic project, they have to now do it without god's glory and his presence

Death will be our ultimate separation

Human rebellion opted the sacred space

Christ came to mediate to show us obedience and taught us that as imager of God,
# The cross precedes the crown

Adam and Eve chose autonomy which is self rule over allegiance

Genesis 3:21
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.


For our brokeness to be healed, the healer must be broken

Genesis 3:22-24
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side[a] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.


He reversed the effect of rebellion on two ways:
1. See all kingdom. If you bow to me... Desire of eyes 2. After 40 days. Devil ask Jesus to command... Desire of flesh 3. Devil showed him kingdom... Pride of life Philippians 2:6-11
Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


# Jesus chose the cross over the crown

Christ not just live a sinless life, He lives in obedience also through his sacrificial death

De-throne yourself from your own self rule and turn your life to God and said "Lord, come and reign"

Disciple making is the advancement of the kingdom of God, reconciling human, one subject at a time, with her Creator-King!

Even when costly...

I am the sacred space as Holy spirit lives in me

How to?
1. Resist the tempter voice
- whispering lies that question God
- we must be Proficient with the word of God

2. Guard our family
- become the best guard by keeping each other align as husband and wife
- able to set godly boundaries
- guard our marriage

3. Protect the sacred space
- don't quench the spirit that is in you
- keep pure and holy
- don't allow something corrupt to keep us away from God
- cultivate prayer and worship

Flourishing in our Friendships

by Pastor Joey Asher

In a biblical sense true friendship is more than just longevity or seeing each other weekly

It talks about laying down of one's life

Flourish - How life is meant to be

How many of us have true friends we can count on and not friends we can count?

Does connectedness means closeness?

Yes we're friendly with one another but not closeness.

We can be surrounded by people and still alone. We're comfortable with surfaced acquaintances and not comfortable to make ourselves vulnerable....

True friends ensure good and hard times, runs deeper and a lot more intentional

Big idea:
True friendship reflects God's covenantal love and helps us flourish in community

Have we confuse Connectivity with community?

What kind of friendship do we really need?
How do we actually build this friendship?

1 Samuel 18:1-4
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.


True friendship is tested by adversity and attested to by sacrifice

"Love' in this message is not between husband/wife, parents/children but of frienship love

Jonathan allegience to David was to God's purposes and not his own purposes

Covenantal friendship is about loyal allegience, first to God then to each other

Symbols of kingship:
- Jonathan Robe symbolise royal status
- Jonathan Armor marked him as heir to king saul throne

When we isolate ourselves we not only experience loneliness but also denying each other to how God's love for us

True friendship is marked by sacrificial love - a love that seeks the other person's good above your own

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.


The true test of friendship is hardship

Proverbs 17:17 encourage us to Be constant in every season

Build Kingdom friendships that goes beyond spouses, parents and children.

Going deeper is tough

We keep our guard up

Go beyond superficial

by doing that then we no longer share prayer request on value terms

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.


1. True friendship produces greater fruitfulness
Ecclesiastes 4:9 (because they have a good reward for their toil)

2. True friendship lifts us up when we stumble
Ecclesiastes 4:10 (for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow)

3. True friendship comforts us in hardship
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (again, if two lie together they keep warm)

4. True friendship helps us stand firm together
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (a threefold cord is not quickly broken)

Ecclesiastes 4:10
Isolation isn't just painful but dangerous, and makes us vulnerable

Jonathan friendship with David foreshadowed the ultimate covenant friend

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.


1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.


Kingdom friendships transform how we befriend each other because we moved from...
# minding our own business to gentle involvement
# transactional to covenantal friendships
# isolated to intentional relationships

If you let things happen naturally, nothing happens naturally

We have a chance to change the script

Flourishing in your Vocation

by Ho Wan Leng

Numbers, matrix, financial performance, employees recruitment, exams scores, awards... Do more we bless, better still, do faster than the rest before everyone else, driven with achievement culture. No wonder AI took over....

Mid level manager at work, AI help to draft reports, within minutes. Report clean floor, thermomix cook in minutes, self driven taxis, buses, companion robots, track health and keep companies.

They cannot flourish because flourishing is uniquely human cos is tied to purpose and fruitfulness. They never replace the image of God in us. ai can analyse but no robots can pray wisdom and bring peace or shine Christ light in situation. Ai can complete task but only human can radiate Christ

In a world of common code, I am a special vessel

If all I do is functioning well, I can be sure I will be replace

We are called not just to function well but to flourish, no robot can replace you

Functioning well is doing your job with competence and diligence
Flourishing refers to the process of growing, thriving and becoming more like King Jesus

Bearing lasting fruit and impacting lives for God. We carry the fragrance of Christ, bring meaning, value and redemption into our marketplace.

Flourish not in what we do but Who we belong to

Big idea:
God wants us to thrive in our vocation beyond strife and performance

You're not your annual remuneration, profession or position but who God called me to be. To love Him, to serve him to glorify him

Before you were ever called to a vocation, you were called to Jesus to belong to Him as a child of God

Vocation is where I live out my calling, a God given assignment

You are called and not just employed. Your vocation is your God-given assignment

# Flourish beyond function

How do we flourish beyond function?

John 15:2-8
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.


we are formed by destiny and flourish in fruitfulness

1. Commanded to Abide

Dwell, remain and stay close. Without him you cannot bear fruit that last. Abiding is a permanent heart posture, not a seasonal visit. Do go looking busy, successful but lifeless and empty within. Abide deeper.... Dwelling more in his presence, his words and obedience to surrender

Only those who abide in Christ will truly flourish and bear fruit that last so that we will be formed for destiny

2. Formed for Destiny

Paul did not become an apostle overnight. The pathway to destiny is not speed by abiding in Christ.

Destiny is an outcome of formation. Formation always precedes promotion from God. He chiselled us, refined us so that our character can carry the weight of our calling. David was anointed three times, shepherd, king of Judah, king over all Israel

First Anointing : The Call

1 Samuel 16:1-13
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.


David spent 13 to 15 years in hiddeness. God's timing is always perfect and always specific. He learned faithfulness, tending to sheep, intimacy with God, courage to fight.

God shapes us in the hidden places so we can stand in the public places. God called us as we are but will not leave us as we are.

The Call of God prepares what we will be but Pasture prepares what we must become. Saul died and his sons took over.... David was anointed second time.

David continue to wait....

Second Anointing : The Promotion

2 Samuel 2:1-7
In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”


You often get hired for what you can do, but you get fired for who you are. Your competence must be matched by your character.

Don't despise your hidden and waiting season which are testing ground. Your Competence must be matched by your character.

Third Anointing : The Destiny Fulfilled

1 Samuel 5:1-4
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” 3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.


Psalm 78:72
And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.


Waiting seasons are shaping seasons. Marketplace is where we face Failure, injustice, competition...

If we desire the crown without communion, if we desire the platform without the presence, if we desire influence without intimacy, then we miss the heartbeat of Jesus' calling in our lives.

3. Flourish and be Fruitful

You bear fruit of character that impact lives, not personal success, carry eternal significance bringing glory to the Father.

WIN-N-E-R
A winner who evangelizes, disciples and reproduces

Marketplace work is kingdom work. Your workplace is your mission field

Reclaim home, marketplace, community for the lord, people need the lord. Jesus doesn't want your output but He wants your heart

Good and faithful servant, not good and productive servant

You are called to Abide
You are formed for Destiny
You are meant to Flourish

Flourishing is to be Faithful, fruitfulness and fullness in Christ