The Core Of The Core
Spent some time in bed last night tossing and thinking about next week.
We will be having the Global Conference (GC) here in Singapore from the 19 - 21 August.
Many of the staff have been working really hard to ensure that all the necessary preparation are done up. However, to ensure that this GC be successful in touching lives and setting things aright in our movement, God's Presence is the key. The core of the core really is Him!
As such, I was spending some time in prayer on my bed and I would like to ask you to pray as well. Even as you read this, please take around 15 minutes to pray.
Pray for God's Presence be evident through all the P&W sessions and teachings and fellowship
Pray for God's assurance in the hearts of the pastors and leaders and members that God is with us as we move forward
Pray for God's anointing on all the stage ministers
Pray for God's truth and strength and encouragement be shared aboard throughout all the fellowship
Thanks for carrying God's vision with me!
We will be having the Global Conference (GC) here in Singapore from the 19 - 21 August.
Many of the staff have been working really hard to ensure that all the necessary preparation are done up. However, to ensure that this GC be successful in touching lives and setting things aright in our movement, God's Presence is the key. The core of the core really is Him!
As such, I was spending some time in prayer on my bed and I would like to ask you to pray as well. Even as you read this, please take around 15 minutes to pray.
Pray for God's Presence be evident through all the P&W sessions and teachings and fellowship
Pray for God's assurance in the hearts of the pastors and leaders and members that God is with us as we move forward
Pray for God's anointing on all the stage ministers
Pray for God's truth and strength and encouragement be shared aboard throughout all the fellowship
Thanks for carrying God's vision with me!
posted by Jeff Chong at 1:56 pm
28 Comments:
wow... this is the Hot thing for everyone in Hope now...
yup alice... that's because God is HOT!
True true... our God is an all-consuming fire!
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090817/tap-as-singapore-religion-832f4ab.html
What are your views, Pastor Jeff?
hi may i ask if this is Pst Jeff Chong from Hope Singapore?
hi samuel, am in meeting for this whole week... what are your thoughts?
hi Chris, yes i am... care to intro yourself? :)
Hi Samuel & Ps Jeff, can allow me to share my thoughts?
I believe the biblical parallel & response can be found in
Luke 13:31-32
Hi Ps Jeff,
It's Winnie from People trends here! Sorry I couldnt know how to reach you as the church office email bounced back ;p
Can you kindly contact me at winnfong@gmail.com, thx!
Hi Ps Jeff,
Any comment on my (previous) comments?
hi, you can perhaps elaborate on how you draw the parallel from Luke 13.
Herod Antipas is likened to the political opposition to the gospel in our country. Jesus' response was to continue doing what he needed to do - despite the death threat.
Similarly, we need to spread the gospel and do the work of the Kingdom - whether our govt like it or not. Am I not right?
we will spraed the gospel and do it wisely. Although in the final analysis, we do not fear any world authorities.
However, we also want to be wise to work and work through with the world authorities as much as possible.
Hope this brings in some balance.
Hi PS Jeff,
I learn a lot of things about life through your semons. You are like a teacher. Happy teachers day
Yes - the key word is "as much as possible".
If the authorities pose a stumbling block to us, we have to "obey God rather than men" Acts 5:29
Samuel, it was great of you to pose the article in hope that it would generate some discussions of interest and for all of us to explore how Singaporean Christian should make sense of the recent happenings in light of biblical truth. However there are not enough discussions from different perspectives to have a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the matter. Perhaps the church or the CG should explore having discussions among brothers and sisters to help us understand and correlate the WOG with reality
God has instituted the Church and the Government for different purposes. Jesus himself said in Matt 22 to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." He didn't disapprove the secular government run by Caesar. Moreover, in Roms 13, we are called to governing authorities. I Romans 13, the secular government exists to maintain justice among the people. "For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." The government has to maintain peace, stability and equality among people of different race, language and religion. The government has to stay objective, or put in the "worldly" word, "secular". There can't be any religion nor race that is perceived that is favoured upon by the government. If not, there will be anarchy, as what is happening in Thailand now. Christians should understand this and be sensitive to this. This doesn't mean Christians shouldn't evangelise but do this in a sensitive, personal and less intimidating way (to other religions)
On the e.g pointed out in Luke 13:31-32, I wish to caution against hastily drawing certain principles and conclusion without specifically understanding the context why Jesus said that, and also in reference to the entire bible. The way that annoy-nymous phrased "Similarly, we need to spread the gospel and do the work of the Kingdom - whether our govt like it or not..." threads on a thin line, which if being read negatively would incite hatred from other religions towards Christianity. Notice how Ps Jeff didn't answer directly to his questions but rather carefully states his points across. As pointed out in the earlier posting, the authorities have a purpose from God for their existence. They are not against Christians or posting a stumbling block to Christians. PM Lee is addressing this to all religions. Finally I wish to add that obeying God doesn't mean doing things unwisely, nor without thinking. Phil 1:9-11 urges us that "your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless..." Our love should include wisdom and understanding, so that whatever we do may be the best over long term, that Christians may be deemed as blameless and pure.
To Anonymous of 3 Sep 09, 5.52pm - I honestly know of no other way of interpreting Luke 13:31-32.
If being "wise" is defined as avoiding trouble with the authority leaders, I think Jesus himself had not been very wise on many occasions.
He called the Pharisees and teachers of the law "hypocrites", "snakes","vipers" "whitewash tombs" etc. He overturned the tables and drove out the people doing business inside the temple. He had to resort to violence to get his point across.
If no one is ever offended by us, we have to question ourselves whether we are still effective disciples of Jesus Christ - or merely salt that have lost its saltiness.
hi both, appreciate your animated discussion. I am stepping in and will not be publishing one other comment as it may boil over.
My take is this: both views are right and good. As replied earlier, we need to have a balance in this.
It was intentional that I did not asnwer the question directly but was careful to state my point across. That's because I want to be responsibile for sharing my views. It is also difficult for me to be comprehensive in my sharing in this platform.
We must want to work with the authorities. Romans 13 tells us that. However, if (and only if) it comes to a point where we have to choose otherwise, we will have to do so.
Once again, it would be hard for me to express and explain things all too comprehensively here.
Do talk with other mature believers or you can catch me and talk to me when you see me.
LOL..
Sure Pastor Jeff, thanks for the moderation.
Maybe this perspective from a Christian leader might help to give a comprehensive stand for us- http://www.konghee.com/www/2009/08/racial-religious-harmony/
Hi Jeff,
I glad that this blog did not blow out of hand. Indeed, as you rightly pointed out, we need to share the gospel wisely in a sensitive manner. Ravi Zacharias in his apologetics ministry have also wisely taught that we must never throw mud at others or else we will also get our hands dirty.
I also hope that the brother/sister who used Luke 13:31-32 will have a chance to talk to you or other mature believers to understand the issues at a more comprehensive, as you have hoped for. Indeed Luke 13:31-32 should have been understood in the context of God's pre-ordained plans for Jesus which would definitely include His eventual death on the cross in Jerusalem at Calvary and the rising up from the grave on the third day. God's plans would not be thwarted by anyone, including Herod.
Have a nice day, and God bless.
Cheers,
Guo Xiong.
Hi Pastor Jeff, thank you for another great sermon yesterday. Actually there is one point which i wish to seek your clarification further. You mentioned that our chain is only as strong as our weakest link, while you also stated that it is important to move with the movers. While both points are very true by itself, sometimes when leading a CG, i find it very difficult to find the right balance.. Do i spend more effort on strengthening the weak links and risk losing the "movers" or do i focus on the "movers" that sometimes the weak links just fall away furher. I hope you do not find this question a "no brainer" but its really one of the greatest struggle when leading a CG...
Hi Pastor Jeff, not sure if i post the last entry correctly. Anyway , i will re-try. Ok firstly, just want to thank you for another great sermon yesterday, i really enjoyed it and find the principles very applicable. Just that 1 point i wish to seek your opinion further will be on the part about our chain is only as strong as the weakest link vs moving on with the movers. While the 2 points is very true by itself, sometimes i find it a struggle to find the right balance. Do we spend more effort on strengthening the weakest link and risk losing the momentum of the movers ? or do we move with the movers and risk the weakest link drifting further away? .. I hope you will not think this as a no-brainer because its really a true issue when leading the group.. Hope can get some enlightening from you. Appreciate your valuable input and sharing if you also faced similar problems and how you make decisions..
There is a balance here. On one hand, we will have to move on with the movers. The spirit is not to abandon those that do not move on (else we will be dead as we all have our moments of not non-progressive).
The key is focus. We focus and spend more of our time with the movers and at the same, still afford some time to encourage the non-movers hoping that they will "get it" soon and move on with God :)
I'm not sure if this is how people should "move on with God".
"Still afford some time to encourage non movers" seemed to suggest that giving left over time for non movers.
But we see in the Bible that during Jesus' ministry, He healed the sick, ministered to the broken hearted etc...
Seemed like He devoted more time to the so called "non movers"
If only the church preach real spiritual food that nourishes the soul, the "non movers" will be fed and healed and they will find the strength to continue on.
these may be a mismatch in the definition of non movers.
I was referring to people who know the truth but yet refused to be involved in the Kingdom; even though that they can.
There is also a context to the question... it was asked in the light of the sermon that I preached from Neh 3 (verse 5) where the nobles refues to work.
Thanks Pastor Jeff, your explaination helps. I was indeed asking in context of your sermon only, nothing else . :o) . Its good to see some discussion over here but hope everything is done in good nature manner. Pastor we have been blessed by you tremendously...have a great week ahead and just wanna wish you a Happy Birthday (sorry abit belated) .. :o)
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