Monday, July 17, 2006

Message Outline 16th July 06, 5th Anniversary

Managing for Significance - by Ps Steven Teo

Intro; Recent events, like have a couple of friends who die relative young at early 50s. Their regrets and unfinished aspirations, families and children etc.

Text: Nehemiah 6:1-3
"1 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it although up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates- 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."
But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?
"

Nehemiah was enjoying the privilege of serving the Emperor in Persia. But when he heard about the sorry state of Jerusalem, the spirit of God stirred within him and he wept. And prayed..

Then he took the arduous journey and obtained the Royal authority to return and rebuild the homeland...

What is significance work? Building and repairing the wall seems like a mundane and unimportant. But in Nehemiah's context, it was most crucial and significant. Without the wall being rebuilt fully, there is no security for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The restoration of Jerusalem is of utmost importance at that time.

It was a purposeful and intentional work.

What is significance? It is not about being popular,
It is not about numbers, financial resources or the visible success, great pompous affairs and seemingly important things...

It is about doing what God wants you to do or the task that only you can do. We have only one life, soon it will be over and only what is done for God will last..

We must aim beyond successes to significance. No body will argue or quarrel with your success, but only significance will last. Don't miss the mark.
Australia need the church as it is in a crisis mode. Less than 5 % goes to church every Sunday. Many biblical and good laws are being change to appease the vocal minority and questionable morality.

How to manage or life for Significance?

A. Building a Foundation for Others
To build something always requires sacrifice. In fact great sacrifices!.
What foundation are you laying for others?
The famous Pastoral Theologian Henry Nouwen - small acts of kindness, empty yourselves. At the height of his teaching career at Harvard & Notre Dame, he gave it all up to serve a home for the intellectually disable people. He held their hands, served them food. Hugged those who do not even know how to respond or have no capacity to return your affection.

B. Significance comes from Obeying God
Eg like Ken Toe, Ps Steven' brother, he was frustrate with the church who refused to send him to the mission field in Medan. But he had to be obedient to the call. It has more to do with his obedience that being upset with his church that did not share his personal vision or calling.
A lasting legacy comes from being hungry and dependence on God and God alone. What example are you leaving for your children? Pushing for success of faith and trust for deeper significance?
A typical bad example is King Solomon, pursue grandiose and lust for pleasure, power and fame. His sons split his kingdom soon afterwards.

C. Significance is Bout Impacting people

Passion begets passion. A Christian by definition is a leader because he is called to be the salt and light to the world - an influencer and bearer of light.
Do your part conscientiously. You won't have to ask why my children are not in church. Often it is because they see the duplicity and inconsistencies in your life. You are the greatest influence on them.

Leave a lasting legacy! Manage your life for significance

Message outline 9th July 06 - by Ps Jeremy Wong

FAITH Revisited
- Faith to believe the incredible, Faith to see the invisible, Faith to attempt the impossible
Intro: Death Man Still Speaking…
Hebrews 11:1-6

What is faith?
• Saying ‘Amen’ to God.
• Forsaking All I Take Him. Acrostic: F-A-I-T-H.
• Famous definitions:
‘Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.’ AUGUSTINE.
• ‘If the blind put their hand in God’s, they find their way more surely than those who see but have not faith or purpose.’ ‘HELEN KELLER. II Cor. 5:7.
• ‘Faith is the title’s deed of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ Heb. 11:1
• 1 John 5:4-5, ‘and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’

I. FAITH BELIEVES THE INCREDIBLE – all the Cs
• In Creation. Heb 11:3, ‘Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear,’ see also (Psalm 33:9, II Peter 3:5).
• Christ’s Incarnation (John 1:14)
• Christ’s Resurrection - coming back from death - (Heb11:17-19).
• Christ’s 2nd coming – to rapture and Judge the earth.(1 Thes 4:16)
• Christ’s Miracles. (John 20:30-31. ‘Signs & Miracles.’)
• Compassion of God -That God could love and save sinful man. (John 3:16).
• Co-existence of the Trinity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit of the Godhead. (Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:19; Genesis 1:26-27.)


II. FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE.
• ‘For he (Moses) endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible, 11:27.
• V7 - The Unseen and Unknown Future–Noah’s flood. Where will you be in 5 or 10 yrs time?
• V13 - The OT Saints saw the Promises of God. “Rumours of another world” by Philip Yancey
• V17 – Abraham believed God gives and God takes
• V22 – by faith Joseph gave instruction for his bones
• V26,27 Moses saw Jesus and His Riches..
• V 31 by faith the prostitutes Rahab was saved

Faith sees God more than the circumstances!!
‘For we walk by faith, not by sight,’ 2 Corinthians 5:7.


III. FAITH ACHIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE
• The Dead Speaks! Through faith, Abel still speak to us, verse 4.
• Pleases God and takes an express chariot to heaven! Enoch, verses 5, 6.
• Defy God’s natural law. Peter, Matthew 14:30-31. Walked on water, Move Mountains, Luke 17:6.
• Abraham and Sarah become parents of Isaac in Old Age, verses 8-11.
• Stopped the mouths of lions, verse 33. Daniel
The list goes on.......


APPLICATION & CONCLUSION
• Faith believes the incredible, sees the invisible and achieves the Impossible.
• This is no pep talk. These are divine principles! God can use you to transform your generations by many or by a few!
• “…and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23b) Faith please God, and by the same logic, faithlessness displeases God!
• Those who are fearful of losing are those who will lose! Fear will get its result just as sure as faith. (Job 3:25). Welcome to the life on the edge!
• Faith overcomes offence – (A lady who stopped going to church for 15 years because of a cake!) What a waste of a precious life!
• Faith means to step out of your “self serving” mode and serve Him for a change. I will not want to rob you of the joy and reward of serving the King of kings.
• If we can surely and plainly do any task WITH OUR OWN RESOURCES, DO WE STILL NEED GOD?.

Message Outline 2nd July 06 - By Uncle Say Yaun

Title the World Game - Spiritual Lessons from World Cup Soccer on Germany 2006

Living the Kingdom Life is similar to playing the world game, We need the following...
A.PREPARATION

1. The Ball -> Christ the Lord (John 17:3) 'Know thew only true God...."
2. The Players -> Strength in Numbers (2 Peter 1:3-4)
3. Coach/Captain - The Holy Spirit ( John 14:26) "the Holy Spirit will teach you all things..."
4. Skills - skills, talents and spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10 each should use his gifys to serve others.
5.Training - Tough, methodical and vigorous (2Tim 3:160 the inspired scriptures, 1Tim 4:7 train yourself to be godly...
6. Attutudes - teachable, positive, never-say-die Phil 2:5
7.Teamwork - Team spirit unity..Phil 2:1-4 passing the ball

B. PICTH BATTLE
1. Know your opponents - their strengths and weaknesses
1 Pet 5:8-9 the devil prowls around ..
Eph 6:10-12 the devil, rulers, authorities and powers in this dark world
1 Tim 4:1 deceiving spirits and demons

2. Defend and Attack
Jas 4:7 ... resist the devil and he will flee from you
1Pet 5:9 Resist and stand firm in your faith
Eph 6:10-18 put on the full armour of God

3. Victory and Defeat
**wining/passing the ball, running past opponents
**making mistakes, stumble and fall, tricked/fouled by opponents, conceding goals etc
**pain and agony in defeat, inh\juries, broken bones, bruided egos, tears
**joy and celebration/ecstacy in victory, rewards, glory and honour
** the thrills and spills of game, the ugliness

4.Beautiful game in heaven/on new earth
* play for pure joy, not to win at all cost
no rivalry, competition, diving, trickery, anger or rage, malice etc


C. PRIZE/TROPHY

1. Not just a trophy - title that can be forgotten over time - who cn rememebr the winner 40 yrs ago?
There is no real glory if we win by foul means...

2. The eternal Prize - reward from GodIsa 35:10 crowns of everlasting joy
Isa 61:3 Crown of beauty, Oil(spirit) of gladness, garment of praise, Oaks of righteousness, splendour
2Tim 4:8 crwon of righteousness
James 1:12 Crown of life
1Pet 5:1-4 crown of glory
Phil 3:14 The prize in heaven

CONCLUSION:
Play the beautiful game.... live the beautiful Kingdom Life