MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 Weekly Newsletter of MARANATHA MESSENGER Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10 September 2017 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28) Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore Sunday School: 9.45 am Sunday English / Chinese Worship Service: am Sunday Chinese Worship Service: 7 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Introduction Strangers And Pilgrims In This World There are many metaphors used in the bible to describe our calling as a Christian. The apostle Paul compared us to a fit athlete taking part in a race, a diligent and patient farmer, a construction worker, and even a soldier fighting a war in a manner pleasing to his commander (2 Timothy 2:3-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:4-7). We are also compared to a pilgrim and stranger on earth. 1 Peter says, 'Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.' Holiness Required One of the attributes of a Christian ought to be holiness, or one who is set apart or consecrated to his God, or sanctified. We are not to be corrupted or contaminated by this world, similar to how we keep ourselves clean or pure spiritually. The word here is, Sanctify which we need to study and understand today. According to the Webster dictionary, it can mean : 1. to make sacred or holy; to set apart to a holy or religious use; to consecrate by appropriate rites; to hallow or 2. to make free from sin; to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution; to purify. Sanctify them through thy truth (word) or 3. to make efficient as the means of holiness; to render productive of holiness or piety or 4. to impart or impute sacredness, venerableness, inviolability, title to reverence and respect. A pilgrim is a religious traveller with a spiritual motive and he lives a sanctified life benefitting of 1

2 his calling. A dictionary defines a stranger as anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found. The free dictionary defines a pilgrim as a religious devotee who journeys to sacred place or one who embarks on a quest for something conceived of as sacred. The example is commonly given of the English Separatists who founded the colony of Plymouth in New England in 1620 which is modern America today. The quest for holiness for the Christian as a stranger and pilgrim on earth is vital for our witness and testimony and it is a direct command from God not a suggestion nor option. Leviticus 11:44-45 says, 'For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. The commentators to the Geneva Study Bible have these study notes to expound further on this theme of holiness. One reason why we ought to live holy lives is because we are citizens of heaven, and therefore we ought to live not according to the laws of this world, which is most corrupt, but of the heavenly city, although we are strangers in the world. The children of God live not according to the flesh, that is, according to that corrupt nature, but according to the Spirit. Therefore fleshly actions should not rule us although those lusts gratify us, yet they do not cease to fight against our salvation. Matthew Henry, a reformer pastor and theologian has in his renowned commentary on the verse in 1 Peter 1:17 with the following advice on strangers and pilgrims. "Sojourners, literally, settlers having a house in a city without being citizens in respect to the rights of citizenship; a picture of the Christian's position on earth; and pilgrims, staying for a time in a foreign land. Flacius thus analyzes the exhortation: (1) Purify your souls (a) as strangers on earth who must not allow yourselves to be kept back by earthly lusts, and (b) because these will go against the soul s spiritual progress. (2) Walk piously among unbelievers (a) so that they may cease to calumniate Christians, and (b) may themselves be converted to Christ." The Christian s duty is to abstain from, and to suppress, the first inclination of temptation. Many of them proceed from the corruption of nature, and in their exercise depend upon the body going into a sensual appetite or inordinate which Christians ought to avoid. Consider : 1. The respect they have with God and good men: They are dearly beloved. 2. Their condition in the world: They are strangers and pilgrims, and should not impede their passage by giving into the wickedness and lusts of the country through which they pass. 3. The mischief and danger these sins do: "They war against the soul; and therefore your souls ought to war against them." 2

3 The grand mischief that sin does to man is this, it wars against the soul; it destroys the moral liberty of the soul; it weakens and debilitates the soul by impairing its faculties; it robs the soul of its comfort and peace; it debases and destroys the dignity of the soul, hinders its present prosperity, and plunges it into everlasting misery. It refers to the physical temptations of the world that can cause us to fall into sin and we are to resist and not to succumb to it as it is an offence to God. Example of a Stranger and Pilgrim One good example of a good pilgrim and stranger in the Bible is none other than Abraham, the father of the faithful. Consider his faith in God and his sacrificial and remarkable sojourn from Er of Chaldea (i.e. Iraq today) to the land of Canaan (Israel today) as ordered by the Lord. He gave up everything including his possessions and relatives in search of God and the land that God had promised for him and his descendants. He is a good example worthy of our emulation in our journey of life. On Hebrews 11:13 the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary has these relevant pointers here. "They were strangers and pilgrims - so is Abraham to the children of Heth (Genesis 23:4); and Jacob to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:9; Psalm 119:19). Worldly men hold fast the world; believers sit loose to it. Citizens of the world do not confess themselves "strangers on the earth." The word pilgrims in Greek, literally, means 'by the way' or sojourners" on the earth-contrasted with "an heavenly" (Hebrews 11:16): "our citizenship is in heaven" (Greek: Hebrews 10:34; Psalm 119:54; Philippians 3:20). "Whosoever professes that he has a Father in heaven, confesses himself a stranger on earth; hence there is in the heart an ardent longing, like that of a child living among strangers, in want and grief, far from his fatherland" [Luther]. Like ships in seas while in, above the world." The Word of God warns us not to become too comfortable here on earth. Note that our lives on earth are temporary and even though we are physically in the world we are not of it for we do not belong here at all. Our dreams, aims and affections are to be fixed on heaven above. Paul in Colossians 3:1-2 says, 'If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.' We need to know that our everlasting joy and comfort comes from God and not from the things of this ephemeral world that are corruptible and that will be destroyed one day (2 Peter 3:10-14). Psalm 119:18, 19, 54 says, 'Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.' 3

4 Word vs World We are not to like or act to like the world and take on the unedifying practices as well. When our worldly friends invite us to a night spot to party and get drunk, as a Christian, we do not join them. The world would reject God and His ways and seeks its own pleasures and fun but we are different because of our calling. When we watch videos, internet websites or television, we see how the world glorifies horror, cohabitation, transgenderism and homosexuality and premarital sex for those who are not married. Beware of suggestive and questionable websites that encourage a flippant and frivolous lifestyle that is contrary to the teachings of the Bible. We are to reject them all these unedifying practices of this depraved world and be set apart for the service of God (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). James 4:4 says, 'Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.' There are often unedifying handphone games and worldly programme that are full of coarse jesting and ghost movies promoting horror, violence or teaches a promiscuous lifestyle or promote the practice of the occult (Diablo, Yoga, meditation etc.). It is either the Holy Word or Holly wood. It is the Word vs the World, God vs Gold and they are opposite and do not get along very well. As Christians, we are to avoid these and not to participate in them for we worship and serve God. 2 Timothy 2:20-22 says, 'But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.' Colony of Heaven Each local church is like a "colony of heaven" while on this earth, made up of the redeemed people whose citizenship is in heaven as our names are written down in the Book of Life. As pilgrims and strangers and as the citizens of heaven, we long for communion with God's chosen people. The further we are from the world, the closer we are to God, His Word and His people of God. Like pilgrim in John Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress, let us not be enamoured or seduced by this sin filled world but let us lay our affection on things above and not things on the earth. Preaching the gospel brought me and my wife to more than 25 countries and we feel like aliens in a strange land often when we travel overseas. We long to come home to Singapore which is where we belong but heaven is the eternal abode for us all one day. Our citizenship is in heaven and not on earth, from which we eagerly await our Saviour s coming as Paul in Titus 2:13-15 says, 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.' 4

5 We are to keep away from fleshly lust by living soberly, righteously and godly in this world. We are to be looking for "a new heavens and a new earth." which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. We, who are strangers and foreigners scattered over this world are to be witnesses and testimonies for Christ as light and salt in this sin decadent world. Matthew 5:16 says, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' These who are truly strangers and "pilgrims" will think often of their true home and long to be there with God one day and not be seduced and enthralled with worldly enjoyment and temporal pleasure here. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us, 'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.' Practical Application Are we truly "pilgrims or strangers of the Lord"? As Christians, we recognize that our lives here on earth are but a short journey through a foreign land! Let us focus in Christ and keep ourselves separate from the things in the world that would lead us away from God! The heavenly city God has prepared is for those who believe in Him and who know they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth! But you are NOT a pilgrim and you have not yet begun your spiritual sojourn if you have not known Christ as your Saviour and Lord and embraced the gospel of Christ! Do not allow the attractions of the world to distract you from your spiritual journey and separate you from God. Come to Jesus now in faith and repentance and set your priorities right (Matthew 6:33). If you have not known Christ, now is the time to believe and trust in Christ and repent of our sins and believing in Christ as the only true Saviour and Lord who died for our sins at Calvary cross. You need to heed Romans 10:9-10 which says, 'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' Let us resolve to do it before it is too late as He is coming very soon! Christ will save this elect to the uttermost when we seek Him with all our heart. Paul in Romans 1:6 identifies all believers as those who are separated and called out from this world. We are to live like temporal residents and live with a spirit of biblical separation as called out from the depravity of this fallen world. We belong to Jesus Christ and to be set apart for Him in eternity one day. Conclusion Finally, Hebrews 12:1-2 says, 'Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.' To live a dynamic Christian life pleasing to Christ, we must understand the calling of a stranger / pilgrim. 'This world is not our home, we are just passing' through as the hymn writer says. Do 5

6 not be enthralled with the world and its possessions and allurements for tomorrow we may break camp and leave it totally. We are not to invest all our time, energy and resources into this ephemeral world that will be destroyed one day but in the Kingdom of God. Someday, we will have to leave every thing behind (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Rather seek God and the things above and develop your godly character, as Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:11-12, 'But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.' Jack Sin A Note of Thanksgiving : Ten Years of the Lord's Goodness Thank God for leading Maranatha BP Church Chinese Service for these 10 years. In these 10 years there have been close to 5,000 Chinese who have come to church and heard the gospel. From what can be seen, some have repented and believed in Christ. But who can say for the rest, whether the seeds of faith that were sown in their hearts, will not blossom and bear fruit after they return home? Who can tell if within this group, there might be some that will become pastors, bringing many more to believe in the Lord? God's ways are wondrous and not predictable by man. Man's responsibility is to spread the gospel. This is our Lord Jesus' commandment. Maranatha Church has been following this Great Commission. In these ten years there have been laughter and tears, times of strength and weakness, joyful and trying times. Looking back, we see this is not a job that can be done by a person, neither is it something that can be done by human strength, it is all the Lord's work! Ten years of remembering God's grace, experiencing the presence of a faithful God, and believing God will continue to lead the future work. Psalm 105:43-45, And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; That they might 6

7 observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD. Preacher Timothy Zhu Thanksgiving Thanks Pastor Jack so very much for the sermon the other Sunday on Following The Way Of Righteousness (and every Lord's Day). Thank God for your explanation on "way of righteousness" and the verse. I struggled with this verse. May God continue to bless you and your work at the pulpit for Christ Jesus. I am excited to share with my mother in a simpler way. I pray for the opportunity to share with my nieces too in God's time. A Fervent Christian

8 8

9 Theme for the Quarter : Developing A Biblical World View English Worship Service Rev Mani speaks on The Longsuffering Of God (Scripture Text : 2 Peter 3:8-14; Responsive Reading : Psalm 86) [End of MM] 9