by pastor Wilson Teo
Big idea:
God watches over those who love Him as Saviour King
Q1: Who is the God of your life?
Q2: How long do you want to live?
Q3: How do you live your life?
Q4: How certain are you to experience divine providence in 2025?
Q1: Who is the God of your life?
Psalms 90:1-2
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Do you have Christ in your life?
Is he your saviour King?
It's not just to forgive our sins and gave us eternal life. He also came to reign as our only King in all that you do, is He the king in your career, in your marketplace, in your family, in your marriage, in your personal life?
Christ does not just want us to have Him as Saviour, but He wants to be the Saviour King in our lives!
God is not a spiritual game that we play every week, he wants a daily relationship with us
Q2: How long do you want to live?
>
Psalms 90:3-10
You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Moses is describing The depravity of human life as compared to God
Have you lived a meaningful and fulfilled life in Christ?
of what God wants for you to live?
Are you ready to meet our lord if you're taken home tonight?
Q3: How do you live your life?
Psalms 90:7-12
We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
v12
God, teach me to number my days that I may get a heart of wisdom.
Similar events to happen until we have converted the learning points ...
Age is not an indicator of wisdom, because some did not gain them ..
Godly wisdom begins with a fear of God and continues with a posture of learning from the past to gain wisdom for the future
So that We can learn and gain wisdom from there. Allow his to probe deeper and process learning points that I may grow a heart of wisdom in my life
From experiences to wisdom
Q4: How certain are you to experience divine providence in 2025?
Psalms 90:13-17
Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Father may your presence go before us and establish the works of our hands..
Bani:
Brittle
Anxious
Non linear
Incomprehensible world
Psalms 121:3-4
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
Despite of difficulties and challenges in my life, God says: Nothing is wasted with Him, Nothing is wasted with the lord
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Christmas
by Pastor John Lin
During Joseph time, For the past 400 years there was silence. No word from God, no prophecy. But prior to that God would raise different prophets to prophecy about the coming of a Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed one, this man would be the saviour King who would rule the world bringing salvation and healing.
What is God trying to save us from? What is sin to begin with?
God, right at the beginning, He created humankind in his image to represent him on this earth. We were made to flourish in relationship with God and with one another and to rule the earth with him. But our world and our humanity became broken in this world because of sin. Sin is simply choosing our own way, our own will over God's plan and design for us. And this sin separated us from our created God and it fragmented our relationship with one another but God sent His son Jesus Christ to come as flesh as a baby to be born and later to die for the sins of the world. Three days later he would rise again, resurrect, having the power to overcome sin and death so that the world can experience what true freedom, hope and love is in Him. We get to experience that with God.
# Sometimes the very disappointment we face could actually be a divine appointment from God
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it's the purpose of God that will stand.
# Sometimes the best decisions in life are also the hardest decisions
During Joseph time, For the past 400 years there was silence. No word from God, no prophecy. But prior to that God would raise different prophets to prophecy about the coming of a Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed one, this man would be the saviour King who would rule the world bringing salvation and healing.
What is God trying to save us from? What is sin to begin with?
God, right at the beginning, He created humankind in his image to represent him on this earth. We were made to flourish in relationship with God and with one another and to rule the earth with him. But our world and our humanity became broken in this world because of sin. Sin is simply choosing our own way, our own will over God's plan and design for us. And this sin separated us from our created God and it fragmented our relationship with one another but God sent His son Jesus Christ to come as flesh as a baby to be born and later to die for the sins of the world. Three days later he would rise again, resurrect, having the power to overcome sin and death so that the world can experience what true freedom, hope and love is in Him. We get to experience that with God.
# Sometimes the very disappointment we face could actually be a divine appointment from God
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it's the purpose of God that will stand.
# Sometimes the best decisions in life are also the hardest decisions
Monday, December 16, 2024
Honor the Star
by Pastor Meng Cham
Big idea:
God desires us to do our very best to honour Jesus as our king
1. Welcome the king
Luke 2:1-5
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 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.
Jesus is no ordinary baby, Jesus is Israel's long awaited Messiah
Micah 5:2-5
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,
Micah Prophecy on Messiah coming through ordinary event..
Do we pause to thank God for seemingly happy coincideces that happens in our lives? What about unhappy coincidences?
# Trust Him instead of our sub optimal circumstances. Like Mary knowing she bears a Saviour of the world in her womb
Luke 2:6-7
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.
Jesus cries were accompanied by the animals sounds
2. Worship the king
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
At this time probably 2 years have passed and Jesus is already a child.
Magi are gentiles astronomers, they were star trakkies... They are not spectators, they are ex-spectators
Occult, black magic or astrology... Are not to be practiced.
Astro navigation were how people travel.... No GPS
Matthew 2:7-11
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
What/how did they mean to worship Him at this point of time?
They worship:
# with their hearts
- They rejoiced with great joy exceedingly with the moment of anticipation. We're the magi more ardent worshippers than us, today's believers?
# with their actions
- They fell and prostrate themselves before the king Jesus in child form. This lowly posture demonstrated their submission to Jesus the king
# gold, frankincense and myrrh are customary gifts for kings in those days
All of us can honour the king in two ways:
1. By surrendering our lives to His lordship as king by using what he has already given us which is Time, gift, talents. We can choose to use it for a lifetime or for eternity.
2. Going the distance in welcoming and worshipping Him
John 18:37
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Above Jesus in reply to Pilate
Only once in human history that a "king become a baby"
** The greatest gift of Christmas is to Share the greatest gift of Jesus to others
Let's all be expectators not spectators !
Big idea:
God desires us to do our very best to honour Jesus as our king
1. Welcome the king
Luke 2:1-5
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 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.
Jesus is no ordinary baby, Jesus is Israel's long awaited Messiah
Micah 5:2-5
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,
Micah Prophecy on Messiah coming through ordinary event..
Do we pause to thank God for seemingly happy coincideces that happens in our lives? What about unhappy coincidences?
# Trust Him instead of our sub optimal circumstances. Like Mary knowing she bears a Saviour of the world in her womb
Luke 2:6-7
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.
Jesus cries were accompanied by the animals sounds
2. Worship the king
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
At this time probably 2 years have passed and Jesus is already a child.
Magi are gentiles astronomers, they were star trakkies... They are not spectators, they are ex-spectators
Occult, black magic or astrology... Are not to be practiced.
Astro navigation were how people travel.... No GPS
Matthew 2:7-11
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
What/how did they mean to worship Him at this point of time?
They worship:
# with their hearts
- They rejoiced with great joy exceedingly with the moment of anticipation. We're the magi more ardent worshippers than us, today's believers?
# with their actions
- They fell and prostrate themselves before the king Jesus in child form. This lowly posture demonstrated their submission to Jesus the king
# gold, frankincense and myrrh are customary gifts for kings in those days
All of us can honour the king in two ways:
1. By surrendering our lives to His lordship as king by using what he has already given us which is Time, gift, talents. We can choose to use it for a lifetime or for eternity.
2. Going the distance in welcoming and worshipping Him
John 18:37
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Above Jesus in reply to Pilate
Only once in human history that a "king become a baby"
** The greatest gift of Christmas is to Share the greatest gift of Jesus to others
Let's all be expectators not spectators !
Sunday, December 8, 2024
The Star of Christmas - Seek the Star
by Pastor Peter Lim
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Big idea:
God wants us to encounter and experience Christ for ourselves
How do we experience Christ and not just know about him?
1. The star
- Is this star a planet, a nova, a super nova etc?
- Best to describe as supernatural occurrence because it rose and stays at a location
- what is the significance of this star?
- in ancient, people see special star as birth of royal family
- the star did not point to king Herod family
- instead it led wise men to real STAR
# The star led the wise men to the real STAR of Christmas
2. The scribes
Matthew 2:3-6
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[a]”
- king Herod was troubled
- he was well known to be paranoid
- he wanted to kill jesus
- the city of Jerusalem was troubled with king Herod as well
- commentators said that to portray Jerusalem as opposition and rejection to the Messiah
- the scribes were experts in Jewish law, most of them were teachers
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
- the scribes were able to identify the relevant verse and prophecy that points to the event
- yet they were so close yet so far
- however the scribes did not join the wise men in search of the baby
# When the scribes knew where the Messiah would be born they did not bother to join the wise men in their quest. The scribes took Jesus for granted
This is different between knowledge and insight
You can know about Christ but did not encounter Him
God could have used us mightily, oh taste and see... In the end we must taste God ourselves
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
# Act on our knowledge about God and experience HIM personally
3. The shepherds
Luke 2:8-9
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.
- shepherd's were peasant located in humility
- yet God chose to give first hand info about His son in a farm to the shepherds
# The glory of God would now occupy the most unexpected of places and reveal itself to the most unexpected of individual
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
The shepherds were filled with awe and fear but angels assured them to have no fear
The good news is for all people. To be preached in all nations and all people
Luke 2:11-12
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.”
In contrast to the knowledge of the scribes, the shepherds have the privilege of receiving this revelation
Revelation
# Jesus is the saviour, the Messiah, Lord and King
Luke 2:13-14
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.”
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Joy, revelation and peace are just some of God's attributes
However, It's about experiencing God's glory, his beauty for ourselves personally
# It is pleasurable and wonderful just to know Him to enjoy His beauty and presence
Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
# The shepherds don't have much to gain materially but their lives were changed and transformed. They simply share
# The shepherds were the first evangelists.
A. SEEK the star of Christmas (He's not just the theory, take it as truth, obey and live it out despite the grief, challenges, choose to experience God instead of the gift and benefits)
B. BE a star at Christmas (be a light to point people to Jesus)
Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Big idea:
God wants us to encounter and experience Christ for ourselves
How do we experience Christ and not just know about him?
1. The star
- Is this star a planet, a nova, a super nova etc?
- Best to describe as supernatural occurrence because it rose and stays at a location
- what is the significance of this star?
- in ancient, people see special star as birth of royal family
- the star did not point to king Herod family
- instead it led wise men to real STAR
# The star led the wise men to the real STAR of Christmas
2. The scribes
Matthew 2:3-6
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[a]”
- king Herod was troubled
- he was well known to be paranoid
- he wanted to kill jesus
- the city of Jerusalem was troubled with king Herod as well
- commentators said that to portray Jerusalem as opposition and rejection to the Messiah
- the scribes were experts in Jewish law, most of them were teachers
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
- the scribes were able to identify the relevant verse and prophecy that points to the event
- yet they were so close yet so far
- however the scribes did not join the wise men in search of the baby
# When the scribes knew where the Messiah would be born they did not bother to join the wise men in their quest. The scribes took Jesus for granted
This is different between knowledge and insight
You can know about Christ but did not encounter Him
God could have used us mightily, oh taste and see... In the end we must taste God ourselves
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
# Act on our knowledge about God and experience HIM personally
3. The shepherds
Luke 2:8-9
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.
- shepherd's were peasant located in humility
- yet God chose to give first hand info about His son in a farm to the shepherds
# The glory of God would now occupy the most unexpected of places and reveal itself to the most unexpected of individual
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
The shepherds were filled with awe and fear but angels assured them to have no fear
The good news is for all people. To be preached in all nations and all people
Luke 2:11-12
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.”
In contrast to the knowledge of the scribes, the shepherds have the privilege of receiving this revelation
Revelation
# Jesus is the saviour, the Messiah, Lord and King
Luke 2:13-14
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.”
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Joy, revelation and peace are just some of God's attributes
However, It's about experiencing God's glory, his beauty for ourselves personally
# It is pleasurable and wonderful just to know Him to enjoy His beauty and presence
Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
# The shepherds don't have much to gain materially but their lives were changed and transformed. They simply share
# The shepherds were the first evangelists.
A. SEEK the star of Christmas (He's not just the theory, take it as truth, obey and live it out despite the grief, challenges, choose to experience God instead of the gift and benefits)
B. BE a star at Christmas (be a light to point people to Jesus)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)