Sunday, November 17, 2024
Defection (reflecting on Ps Hui Min's sermon)
Today’s sermon at Every Nation Church, KD was a timely one, to remind us of the rock solid promises we have in Christ Jesus, and that God is with us every step of the way even when things go terribly wrong as they often do.
As the worship leader sang;
“I’'ve carried a burden
For too long on my own
I wasn't created
To bear it alone”
Life can be cruel and many of us have worn the battle scars in our hearts from what was, and the hurts in our soul for too long. It need not be as the singer reminded
“And my heart found a surgeon
My soul found a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again”
God can mend our broken hearts, heal our emotions and inspire our discouraged souls. So come to Him as there is no reason not to…
“I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait” as the song renders….
Defection
The sermon was the last on a series on “Overcoming Dysfunctions in a Church” namely Defection. In 1st Corinthians, apostle Paul had to address serious doctrinal defections in the church at Corinth. Paul founded the church in Corinth before moving on to Ephesus, and he soon began receiving reports of conflict at the church in Corinth. The people were facing all kinds of problems, so Paul wrote this letter to offer guidance, teaching, correction and encouragement.
Some deviations Ps Hui Min reminded that accepting Christ isn’t an instant lottery ticket windfall. With many preaching the prosperity gospel, many think that having Jesus is an instant road to riches. I can tell you that this is nothing further from the truth.
Ancient Greece abound with many famous philosophers like Socrates, Plato & Aristotle to name a few. The Ancient Greek philosophers and even commoners debated a wide range of topics like justice, virtue, knowledge, and truth.. It was their favourite pastime. In Christianity, God’s doctrine becomes the philosophies by which we live. But in some religions like Buddhism, the philosophies of men has become doctrine, likewise here at the church in Corinth. Greek philosophy didn’t believe in an afterlife. They could not completely grasp the hope in the resurrection of Christ. It is not only a substitutional death, but a co-death and resurrection with Christ Jesus. In heaven, we will have new and perfect bodies -- bodies that will never age or become weak or die, because they will be like Christ's glorious body after His resurrection.
The Good News
Paul preached that our faith in the gospel is hinged on Jesus’ DEATH->BURIAL->RESURRECTION. Yes Jesus did many miracles, but the gospel of salvation or the Good News is what was preached to the Corinthians two (2) millennia ago and that is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day. It's the same Good News being preached to us today. Without this, Jesus was just a kind-hearted, ordinary man who performed miracles and did good deeds and that is all. He would be no Saviour!
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 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 (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Evidence of His Resurrection
Jesus appeared to Peter (Cephas) and His remaining disciples. Jesus appeared to more than 500 of his followers at the same time after his resurrection.
..that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
His resurrection was also foretold in Isaiah 53 and Psalms 16. In fact Jesus even foretold His own death and resurrection in Matthew 16.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and rsuffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,and be killed, and on the third day be raised (Matthew 16:21).
The testament of His resurrection can be seen in the transformed lives of His disciples and followers. Till today there are many risking death to spread the good news in places where the Bible is forbidden, places like North Korea, the Arab world and China.
What if Christ not been raised?
If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then our faith is futile. We might as well live like there is not tomorrow and continue living a sinful and lawless life. There would be no eternal life that every heart yearns for.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:14-19).
But Jesus has been raised so we too have been baptised into His death and His resurrection. Therefore we have a great hope!
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
Don’t let people mislead you or bad company corrupt you. The world is full of temptations and it is good to be in the company of fellow church members or a cell group to be accountable to them as no one is beyond reproach.
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[ 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame (v 32-34).
Because Jesus has conquered death, we can take solace when love ones inevitably pass away. They are merely going home, not leaving home. They are returning to the Lord (if they are in the Lord), where “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:3-4.
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (v 55-56)
Then What?
Knowing that our names are written in the Book of Life, what we now do matters! We are called to fulfil the Great Commission. Let’s populate heaven and plunder hell. Be prayerful and Christianity is a relationship with God. Ps Hui min reminds us to stand firm in our faith and to labour in love as we serve the Lord with our lives, and our resources.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.(v 57-58).
The resurrection is a foundation of our faith. It’s the hidden force that drives me on despite the setbacks and scars in my heart. Knowing what I am living for, not only forms the cornerstone of my existence, but also be the values that encompass the secret of my own happiness, and that which defines my destiny. O’ Lord I want to draw near to you as You resurrect my life, career, finances and relationship.
Ps Hui Min said “our hope goes beyond the grave”. There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow (OS Marden). Eternity in the presence of the my Creator! No more tears, no more pain.
Amen!
