Walking in Faith

Walking in Faith信 心 的 路 程 - by Ps Jeremy 21/01/07
Introduction - Joshua 1
Why did God stating the obvious? Don’t they Know Moses was death?
What is your next step?

Bible Text Today: Joshua 3

1. Faith is needed every step of the way.
Joshua Chapter 1 - is about the FAITH needed to assume the mantle of leadership.
God had to assure Joshua no less that 3 times See v 6, 7, 9, "to be strong and courageous"
Then his followers had to remind him again.(v18)

2. Keys to Seeing God in action
Thirst: (Psalm 42:1-2)
Toil: (2 Tim. 2:15)
Time: perseverance and persistence
Teachableness: we will get the most when we come to the Scripture with a teachable spirit asking God to teach us His truth, for it is His truth and only His truth that sanctifies and sets us free (John 17:17; 8:32) .

3. Faith followed by Action that Yields result -
Look at The "You" in these verses –
V3,4 When you see, you must move out…
v4 It’s a new way, you’ve never been before! !
v5 Consecrate and keep your distance – reverence
V10 This how you will know that the living God is among you…(1)

4. God is magnified and glorified when Faith is shown.
1.Why choose a time when the river is flooded?
2. Nothing happens until the priest dipped their toes into the water…….

5 . Conclusion : How shall we Walk?
The church that grows, the church that glorifies Him is a church that hunger for the reality of God to be manifested here!
Enough of talk, enough of wishing. Enough of meaningless business to fill the void in our hearts.
Let us ask God for a tangible manifestation of His Power & Glory!
Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me? "

"Clean Hands & Pure Hearts" by Ps Jeremy

Message outline 7th Jan 2007

Psalm 24 - Title: A Psalm of David
- When was it written and sung?
Answer: Probably a sacred hymn sung during the transfer of the Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem (Se 1Chron 15:25) In previous attempt, David used the pagan method of using a bullock cart to transfer the Ark and Uzzah was struck dead. (1 Chron 13:9)

1. A Timely Reminder (V1-2)
1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.

--Ownership of everything is the Lord God. The earth, everything and ALL – every tongues and tribes. The Jews during Jesus day said, “The holy land is God’s. Abraham’s heirs are his only people”. To an ethnocentric bunch of people, Jesus ‘s answer was like adding petrol on fire. eg the gentle will be included in the kingdom of God...

-- the LORD is the master over the land and seas. So many have thought that they have built on firm foundations, properties, assets, even the virtual world of the internet – yet when the great flood came, like Noah or the Tsunami…. The recent disruption to under sea cable as a result of Taiwan Earthquakes show that even thise virtual world is not safe.

2. The True Israel (V3-6)
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from God his Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. - Selah

- God is seeking a true race of people, whose eyes and heart are focussed on Him. Not on other human and judge others by the color of their skins or even the language they speak. (See Rev 7:9-10. millions among the saved in heaven. The Haj is a earthly copy and a counterfeit - the real one is in heaven! (see Also Rev 21:22-27 –the New Jerusalem).

- Clean hands and pure hearts – inside and outside. We will eventually show the inside – no matter how well we dressed it up of camouflaged it. Plastic fantastic will not last. God prefer child like faith so keep it simple smart.

A VISION OF JUDGEMENT seat of Christ- let me list the following Quotes
The preaching of the judgement seat of Christ is the most neglected topic in Christian preaching in our day. Nothing is more sobering, nothing is more terrifying.

When Noah Webster the famous linguistic was asked what was the most profound thought that ever came into his mind, his reply was "the awesome reality of our personal account with God at the judgement seat." Oh how we need this piercing, heart rending, life changing vision in our day. David Smithers the Church historian stated: "We need a vision of eternity, of Hell and the Judgement Day."

Many people place utmost importance and value on things in this life but truly what will only last is that which is eternal.

Another Christian speaker stated this recently: "You cannot walk a mediocre worldly life and walk in the power of heaven. You have to be different; you have to understand that judgement is coming and that we don't know how much time we have left in this earth." How true it is we need to walk with the sobering reality of the Judgement seat of Christ everyday. When we lose focus of the judgement seat of Christ we lose focus of the true gospel. Every man that has his eyes on the judgement seat "purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

Leonard Ravenhill said: "I'm embarrassed to be part of the Church today because I believe it's an embarrassment to a holy God. Most of our joy is clapping our hands and having a good time and then afterwards we talk all the nonsense of the world. We're overboard on laughter and happiness. There's an old saying in the world, "Laugh and the world laughs with you." I change it and say, "Laugh and the Church laughs with you, but weep and you weep alone." Because there isn't enough real joy in the house of God, we need entertainment. Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy. Because there isn't enough power in the house of God, people are always looking for something to take its place. We point the finger at the world, but we need to turn to the Church and say we'd better all get sackcloth and ashes and humble ourselves and say "Almighty God!" When I see the Church in the New Testament, they didn't have stately buildings or paid evangelists or a lot of money. (They couldn't get on television and beg!) But I'll tell you what they did - they turned the world upside-down! Have you ever seen the little plaque that reads, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last?"

3. Herald the Ascent of the True Redeemer (V7-10)
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty— He is the King of glory. --- Selah

Words have creative powers!. Speak prophetically and you will see that it happens. Speak negativity and negativity will descend upon you.

As people of God we are to be a herald – blowing the trumpet – calling the gate keeper to response.
It also has a more eternal significance. Preaching is kerusso – proclaim and herald – This is a prophetic and a Messianic Psalm.

Open your heart, let the king of Glory comes in!

How can we ignore such a great salvation? How can we stare eternal judgement in the face and just walk away?
- after we have embrace the Lord, we need to go out. We need to minister- everyone is given a gift – to reach the world. Never wait till you are ready= becos much of it is on the job training! Look at the 12 apostles
-
Conclusion -- How shall we Respond?
Acknowledge His Lordship over our lives
Review our approach and attitude when we come before the King of kings
Let us usher in His kingdom by….
Shouting & Singing, proclaim it on the house top
Seek His face, consecrate our lives
Share His love - word and walk. Share our resource & plus put ideals into action.

New Year's Eve Message 1 Peter 4:7-10

The end of All things is at hand…1 Peter 4:7-11 by Ps Jeremy Wong

....Let us focus on our "focus"

Bible Text
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
7 萬 物 的 結 局 近 了. 所 以, 你 們 要 謹 慎 自 守, 儆 醒 禱 告 。
8 最 要 緊 的 是 彼 此 切 實 相 愛, 因 為 愛 能 遮 掩 許 多 的 罪 。
9 你 們 要 互 相 款 待, 不 發 怨 言 。
10 各 人 要 照 所 得 的 恩 賜 彼 此 服 事, 作 神 百 般 恩 賜 的 好 管 家 。

A Matured Focus by a Matured Apostle
The Peter writing these epistles is not the same Peter we know from the Gospels. No longer is Peter hung up with dates and timing and signs. Now, Peter seeks only to remind us that the "end of all things is at hand" and that we should live accordingly.

Our Lord Jesus refused to focus on the date His kingdom would be established and was unwilling to reveal the specific events immediately preceding the inauguration of His kingdom. What Jesus emphasised were the importance of watchfulness and alertness, a consistent readiness for the kingdom. He warned that His coming would catch most people unaware just as past judgments had done. He urged His disciples to be found faithfully carrying out the tasks He had given them to do in His absence. (See also Luke 17:26-30 26)
“And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it shall be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed”

The Bible reference on the "End times" or the 2nd Coming of Christ
Matthew 24:45–25:13; 26:45-46;
Mark 13:33-37;
Romans 13:11-14;
1 Corinthians 7:29; 10:11; 15:20-58;
Philippians 4:4-6;
1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12;
2 Timothy 3:1-17; 4:3-4;
Hebrews 10:23-31; James 4:13–5:11; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 1:3; 22:12, 20.

These references are just a sample - there many more... but Jesus has promised that he will come back to judge the living and the dead.

What about the Mockers who has been mocking the Christians' claim of Christ Return?
We must interpret Peter’s teaching here in light of the rest of his teaching. From the rest of Peter’s teaching on the end times, we see he knows he is soon to die (2 Peter 1:13-15). From Peter’s words in 2 Peter 3:3-4, he seems to have expected a delay before all the prophecies were fulfilled. Some things are seen by Peter as yet future (see 2 Peter 3:3). Indeed, in 2 Peter, he feels the necessity of explaining the apparent “delay” in the fulfillment of prophetic promises. He sees this delay as consistent with past delays (see 2 Peter 3:5-6). Alos he showed us the concept that God is above and beyond the constraints of time and space. A 1000 yrs is but a day and a day to the Lord may seem a 1000 yrs to us humans!

Hence, Any apparent delays in prophetic events must be viewed from an eternal time frame rather than a merely temporal one (2 Peter 3:8). The delay is gracious (2 Peter 3:9). Peter also recognizes that prophetic revelation is difficult to understand and easy to distort (2 Peter 3:14-18).
We must also understand the difference between saying “the end of all things is near,” and “the end of all things is here.” Peter’s meaning of the term “near” is illustrated in Paul’s teaching in Romans 13:


HENCE IN CONCLUSION

Let us be Kingdom Minded People - Do you know that we are not just living on the eve of a New Year but actually ..."Living on the edge of Eternity"
Make no mistake - The kingdom is here and it reign and rule will certainly be fulfill in full measure

THERFORE, let us focus on .....
1. Prayer – self control, sobering focus
2. Love – each other deeply - a command ( remember John 21 - the last words of restoration to Peter?)
3. Use your gifts in service or you'll lose it!
4. Be hospital without grumbling - grumble and you'll lose the chance to enter teh promise Land!