Sermon Notes: June 2014

Sunday, June 29, 2014

June 2014 Choir retreat

Our choir had an in-house retreat

Our meditation was brought to by Mrs Chang Wei Hwa

Focusing on WHYs

And the need to tap on agod like a 3A battery

We has a sumptuous buffet lunch

Then the boys and girls were separated

William brought the men though some basic techniques

Warming up

Focusing on uniform vowel pronunciation

Picking out the vowels in a song

adding the constanants...

Zinnia zinned the girls.

By the way Eric had nice tulips for us: thanks Eric.

My comic book style notes .

Saturday, June 28, 2014

20140628 Crossing the Jabbok

Sermon topic: Crossing the Jabbock River

Dr Tan Lai Yong

Wesley Wesley Methodist Church

Saturday 28 June 2014

Text: Genesis 32

Crossing the Nijiang River is scary, terrifying.

Jacob was crossing the Jabbok

He was scared

He named the place "Mahanaim" which means Two Camps but there was only one camp!

There was a binary theme in his life.

2 daughters of Laban became his wives

2 flocks

2 groups coming to meet him

2 brothers

2 wrestling matches

2 times angels

He always sought to devide and conquer.

Problem: what was on his heart?

Chinese writing

Knife on heart: ren, endurance

Self on heart: ji: jealousy

reason on heart: En: grace

Double amputee

Came to ask for two artificial legs so that when he walked into a brothel he would not be rejected.

He was looking for love but on the wrong way

(he was given the artificial legs)

Jabbock

Alone

Calculating

Battling

Opponents

An angel came to wrestle

Through wrestling with God (Prayer) God changes us.

Through wrestling Jacob was changed from Possessions to Stewardship.

Question to ask

Where is your heart?

Psalm 51:10

New International Version (NIV)

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

We need to confront and deal with the many lies around us

Eg "the PSLE is the most important examination in your life.

"If you don't do well, you're never going to make it."

Be an Israel

Be a God-Wrestler.

Handicapped girl on a picnic

Feeling downcast

We are like the grass on the picnic site

Every one step on us

On the brighter side; if there is no grass there would just be mud.

Take home message as seen by su min

From

problem

Fear

Possessiveness

We can find release

Transformation

Change

Through struggle, wrestling, prayer.

To achieve obedience , stewardship.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

20140622 Life Change

Andrea stuck in the ball pool

Rev Joel Yong

22 June 2014

Life Change

aka How God's power comes

John 10:10

I have come that you have abundant life

But not all are experiencing the abundant life

Need change

Need U-turn.

For a car to U-turn

Need to apply brakes

Then apply accelerator.

Need to stop what is harmful

Need to start what is helpful

But this is not easy

Especially if you are stuck in a bad habit

Many stumble at the first rung of the ladder

We want proof before we start

Eg proof that dieting work

Eg proof that counseling work

But that is not how God works

Faith is living in advance what you will see in future

Nick Grumble

The ship is only safe in habour

But if you want to go anywhere you have to move out.

Exodus 14:13-14

Chariots were chasing the Israelites.

God says "Do not be afraid. Stand still."

Red Sea had not yet parted.

Nor did the Israelites know that it would.

Israelites were trapped.

Egyptians were advancing.

Yet God wants them to stand still!

Joshua 3:8

similar situation.

Enemies advancing.

"Take a few steps into the river and stop there"

They obeyed and the River Jordon parted!

John 2:7-9

at the banquet

The wine ran out

The servants were told to fill the jars with water and serve the guests.

It was while they obeyed that the miracle occurred.

Luke 17:14.

The lepers were told

"Go and show."

And as they went, they were cleansed.

(It is not that they were healed then they went..)

As they went, power came along .

Why does God do this?

(Require us to obey Him without proof?)

2 Kings 5

Naaman and Elisha

Naaman had leprosy

Was told that Elisha could heal him.

Stopped outside Elisha's house.

Was told by messenger

"Wash yourself 7 times in Jordon River"

Naaman was angry

Bigger issue was pride

Prophet would not see him face to face

asked Naaman to wash in dirty river

Syrian rivers are cleaner

But it is not about the cleanliness of the Syrian rivers

But about the power of God

Naaman is persuaded to try washing in the Jordan

And indeed it works

He is cured of leprosy

And he believes!

"Now I know there is no God in the world except in Israel."

He even thinks Israel's dirt is better than Syrian dirt.

God's power had stripped away his pride.

Max Lucado tells how his daughter Andrea was collecting balls in a ball pool.

Andrea slipped and was at the bottom of the ball pool.

"Andrea" Max shouted "push down on the floor and you will be able to get up"

"I can't, my hands are full of balls" she replied.

What do we need to let go of in order to get up?

2 Cor 5:7

We live by faith not by sight.

Olympics

Although the motto is faster, higher, better...

These achievements are mainly the result of better technology.

Cinder track vs modern surfaces

Hole in cinder vs starting blocks...

If you truly want better you need God.

Pastor Joel was in his 3rd year university course when he felt called to full time service . He responded by applying for theological studies. Now he has been in ministry for the last 12 years.

Is God calling you to change?

Career?

Body weight?

Relationship

To mend?

To break?

Join a small group?

Whatever the change

God is saying

I will give you strength

Strength for the first step

Strength for the first day

And the next

And the next.

Will you take the step of faith

Will you change?

Sunday, June 15, 2014

20140615 Calling on the Father

Found with his head on the chair...

Wesley Methodist Church Singapore
Sunday 15 June 2014
Calling on the Father
Rev Philip Lim
Text John 17:11-26

Context:
The cross was looming
Jesus was facing rejection
being foraken
Yet Jesus takes time to pray
For himself
For his people
For you

Jesus prays for your
A) Development
B) Duty
C) Destiny

A) Jesus prays for your DEVELOPMENT
A farmer once put a growing pumpkin into a glass jar
The other pumpkins grew big round and healthy
The pumpkin in a jar was limited by the jar.

What kind of jar are you putting yourself in?

Jesus wants you to be secure in Christ.
Depend on what God says you are for your value and worth.

Not on what others say,
not on what things you own or what clothes you wear.

Be contented.
Experience joy.

Happiness depends on circumstance.
Joy is rooted in the Lord
and is the work of the Holy Spiri.

Contentment is priceless.
1 Tim 6:6

Be protected
Be in the world but not of the world

Sanctified
Set apart as his witnesses

Resources are provided
Ability to win over temptation
1 Cor 15:57-58
Ability to win over the tempter.
James 4:7

Charlie & son
Charlie's son had just come out of an operation

Son said "Hold my hand daddy, I hurt so much".
Charlie held his son's hand.

Charlie was led to pray
"Hold my hand Father... I hurt...."

B) Jesus prays for our DUTY
For our agreement
For our unity

Disagree without being disagreeable
Do everything you do with a view to unity.

You and I are living advertisments/ witnesses to God.
Live in love

Duty for affection.

B) Jesus prays for our DESTINY.
we are destined to heaven

Prayer is just a matter of having a conversation with Jesus.

Called to a man's sickbed, pastor found an empty chair next to sick man.
"I dont know how to pray but my friend said just put a chair next to me and imagine Jesus is there, and talk to him."

Subsequently he died
Daughter said his head was on the chair

Perhaps he died with his head on the lap of Jesus