MARANATHA MESSENGER. The Necessity and Joy of Christian Contentment

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1 Introduction MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 8 March 2015 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28) Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore Tel: (65) Fax: (65) maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Website: Sunday School: 9.45 am Sunday English / Chinese Worship Service: am Sunday Chinese Worship Service: 7 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev. Dr. Jack Sin (HP: ) The Necessity and Joy of Christian Contentment We live in a fallen and discontented world of much murmuring and complaints (ie Singaporeans favourite pastime according to a local comedian) and it is all too easy for the Christian to share its spirit. The Bible is the only book that remedies this spiritual disease in practical and effective ways. "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11). We need a timely reminder to revive the discontented spirits of some saints in this decadent age. Discontentment is real and has already come upon all the world to try the inhabitants of the earth. The word of God is the very life and soul of all practical divinity. Let us enroll in the school of Christ, and learn necessary lessons from Him that every Christian should learn in the power and growth of godliness in his own soul. Contentment is the most powerful proof to the truth of our Christian profession. As Christians we profess the glorious truth of the absolute sovereignty and providence of God. Our God reigns and He rules over everything, including us and this is reason for contentment for us. The proof that our confession is genuine will be found in a life of thankful contentment. A life of contentment in the Lord before your children, the world and your family and friends, is the strongest witness you could ever give to your profession of faith. Our reaction to how much we are paid; and to our house and the things in it; to our looks; how we react to setbacks and disappointments is the profession that we make before the world. Contentment demonstrates our confession of faith. Contentment is seen in our lives when we believe and praise God that we are in the hands of God. In a life of contentment we show that we are thankful and that we believe the power and the grace of God. The apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." It is expressed in the words of Asaph in Psalm 73:25, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." I have no more desires on earth if I have Thee. "The LORD is my shepherd; I 1

2 shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). I do not lack for the Lord is my portion. It is to be truly happy, to be truly content that we belong to the living and true God. Contentment is the mother of all graces. For out of the womb of contentment is born thankfulness, joyfulness, love, peace and usefulness in our Christian walk. Do we possess the grace of Christian contentment, of peace and a grateful satisfaction in our soul? Do we believe that God will meet all our needs and has met our greatest need in Christ, and that the heavenly Father works all things for our good? Or do we live a life of discontentment and murmuring like the Israelites in Numbers 11? Are we thankful about our spouse, church, house, our cars (or public transport), our jobs, looks, children, or clothes, or that we have much or little money? Or are we dissatisfied with our wife or husband, or with a single life or married life, or with the church or with the leaders, or with fellow believers or with ourselves or God? Content in the Grace of God Contentment is a very important word in the Scriptures. If depression (which is affecting many today) is darkness of life, contentment is life in the sunshine of God's countenance. Contentment is the crown of the Christian life. The word means "to be sufficient, to be enough, to be full." God Himself is the complete and sufficient One. Contentment, therefore, involves satisfaction with God. Contentment can be found only when the God of the Bible is our God by His grace. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." We are exhorted in Hebrews 13:5 that our "conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he (God) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." We also find the word contentment translated into the word sufficient, for instance, in 2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." Consider 2 Corinthians 12:9, God's words to the apostle Paul concerning the thorn in the flesh : "My grace is sufficient for thee". The secret of contentment is the confidence of faith in the sufficiency of God's provision for our needs in every circumstance. The exhibition of contentment is to experience the peace of God. It is the ability to say to God and mean it, "Have Thine own way." It is the knowledge of God's power and the knowledge of God's grace, a knowledge rooted in the heart of faith in God. To be content means that one believes God will meet his needs and that God will work all circumstances for his good. A godly person has found what the envious, greedy and discontented are looking for and never find. He has found satisfaction when he has found rest for his soul in God (Matthew 11:28-30). 2

3 Counterfeits of Contentment To know what Christian contentment is, we must distinguish it from its counterfeits. We must know what it is not. Christian contentment is not placid, easy-going, and matter-offact lifestyle. You may have such a personality or temperament, but you must not confuse that temperament with the grace of contentment. It is not simply about our personal tolerance level as a measure of contentment. Christian contentment is not indifference or complacency. For while one can be easy-going over setbacks and complacent about problems, one can also then be easy-going over sin and complacent about God. Contentment is the spiritual transforming grace as a result of the life of the Spirit of God working in our hearts, giving lasting joy and satisfaction. Contentment is not self-righteousness or to be self-satisfied. When God gives us the grace of Christian contentment it does not mean that we do not do our best. Christian contentment is not self-satisfaction, of the brand of the Pharisees who felt no guilt, no sense of failure, before the holy God. That is rooted in the conceit of self. That is blindness, spiritual ignorance, and folly before the thrice Holy God, who calls us to be holy and to serve Him with a wholehearted obedience (1 Peter 1:16). Contentment is not simply a matter of temperament, or of self-satisfaction, or simply that we do not complain. All of those things do not add up to true Christian contentment. The main point is in 1 Timothy 6:6 that says it all, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." Godliness must accompany it. Christian contentment is not inner repression. It is not when all of our desires and ambitions are firmly repressed within us. Christian contentment is not the ability simply to hold things. Christian contentment is a gracious work of God in the heart. It is a giving of our all over to the hand of God. It is submission to the hand of the Lord and believing that what He does, He does well. Contentment is the grace of God rooted in the heart and it transcends the spiritual and the material. The apostle Paul said, "I am content in whatsoever state I am." That is the difference between being content with the world and being content in the world. We may be content in the world of things; but we should not be contented with it nor be conformed to it (Romans 12:1-2). Our contentment is not due to our possessions, to the things that we have in this world. We are content in the world temporarily but what gives us lasting and true contentment is not the physical, not the material, but it is God Himself who is our All in all. Christian contentment can be a present possession. We cannot on our own plan our contentment because we are presently sinful and depraved. So often one may think, "Well, when I get to this certain point or when I have this and that in my life, then I will be contented." That is present discontentment and covetousness in action. The Word of God encourages spiritual contentment and peace for believers. The psalmist says, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8). 3

4 It can be the present possession of us through Christ. It is the present knowledge of faith that God rules over all. Contentment is a present possession, not only a future hope. Be alert and fight against all obstacles to Christian contentment. Beware of the temptation and danger of greed or covetousness. The Lord warned us of covetousness for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things that he possesses (Luke 12:15). We are told not to lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break through and steal (Matthew 6:21-33). Remember that it is harder for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Let the grace of God transform us in our life toward money and worldly things and possessions in a profound way. Be aware of the deceitfulness of riches that our Lord speaks about in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). Happiness, personal worth and success are not found in one's possessions, or achievements. That is worldly thinking in action. True religion is a complete trust and satisfaction in God alone and not self. Covetousness dulls our spiritual senses and debases us and turns our minds into a mind of physical pleasure and personal gain. Spiritual Joy and Satisfaction Contentment, therefore, is the grace of God given to us to make God's value judgments concerning what is truly rich. True richness is to have a clear conscience before God and a joy in serving God with whatever he has given us (Acts 23:1, 24:16). True richness is to have fellowship with the living God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the peace of God in my heart and the assurance that we are accepted by the beloved Son of God. Learn to be cultivate a heart of gratitude and be content in the Lord and avoid practical avarice (i.e. gambling) or covetousness which is rebellion against the will of God. Discontentment and rebellion before God will do two things to us. It will, first of all, make us blind to the gifts that God has given to us in our wives or husbands, church, talents and possessions when we become too obsessed with them rather than with what God wants us to be. We can become blind to the gifts and blessings that God has given. Secondly, it will make you incapable of appreciating Him and to murmur and complain against Him just like the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 11:1-10). Discontentment is basically rooted in dissatisfaction with God, with the truth of His sovereignty or the lack of understanding of it. That must be corrected in our hearts and minds first. Our lives are marked out with His gracious care. Let us be thankful and grateful to God always. Contentment gives us peace and strength and an eagerness and readiness to serve Him. It is an inner calm with the grace of God that makes us a devoted worker. 4

5 We become energetic unto every good work. The contented person is the person who has a spiritual focus and sensitivity. His mind is to use on God and he is happy and content to persevere in obedience. Remember the word of God: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee" (Isaiah 26:3). Let us focus our minds in the Lord Jehovah, for in the Lord is everlasting strength. Present Reality in Christ Jehovah Jireh has supplied all our needs (in our family and church) all these years and we have lacked nothing. He has always faithfully provided, and we thank Him and those who were His agents to help us in times of need. Are we unshakably content in Christ? Our greatest need is to know that we are all sinners and God is the only Saviour and Lord and to know as our God and that He is with us when we repent and believe in Him. That is all we want (Psalm 23:1) for His grace is sufficient for us. Are we truly content in the Lord today? Are we united with Jesus Christ by saving faith and repentance of sins in him alone? We need to be grateful and to rest in God completely as Lord and Saviour, and turn to Him in repentance. Our Lord says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 Conclusion God has been so merciful and gracious to us. Let us be thankful and dare to believe and trust in the promises of God's word. We are able to do all things in him who gives us strength daily. Our lives do not consist in the abundance of things neither should be we be anxious, Jesus said in John 14:1, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Therefore, let us not be anxious with anything (Philippians 4:6). He is with us, and he shall never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), He will be with us, strengthening us, even in the hour of our death and when we die, God will send his angels to carry us into the very presence of God. He who has started the wonderful saving work in our souls will continue and finish it till the very end, and make us victorious and glorious at His soon coming and that is the basis of our Christian contentment for l the elect of God. Jack Sin

6 Military Christian Fellowship 45 th Anniversary Greetings in the blessed name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice with you, your council and members on this blessed commemoration of MCF 45 th Thanksgiving Anniversary. I remembered my involvement in MCF and OCF (where COLs Jimmy How and Raymond Chia were serving then and we had a OCF meeting in the former s home in Normanton Park ) from during my NS days when I was a young signal officer in the School of Signals then in the old Sembawang camp (one of my Christian commanders was then CPT Foo Jong Ai who later became the Chief Signal Officer). We would organise monthly (or bimonthly) meetings with some of the soldiers with mutual sharing and corporate prayers and sometimes we would have speakers to come and share the word of God with us. It was an edifying time and we cherished the sessions of Christian fellowship and mutual encouragement as we strengthened and exhorted one another in the knowledge and fear of God during our NS days. It is our prayer that you and the MCF council and the next generation will continue steadfastly to labour fervently and to persevere on with the good work of spreading the pure gospel among our national servicemen and their families to the saving of souls and to the spiritual and moral enrichment of their lives and their families in the SAF and for the spiritual well being of our nation. Many Christian commanders have played a pivotal role during these 50 years of nation building and even beyond. We are sowing the seed of everlasting life in the next generation. Let us leave behind a God honouring legacy for our labour of love is not in vain in the Lord (Galatians 6:9-10). May the Lord greatly strengthen and bless you on this occasion by this biblical resolve to encourage all of us with these inspired words. Nehemiah 4:6 which says, So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. Jack Sin from Myanmar We already bought the rice and cooking oil for the children in the orphanage. We are very happy for your assistance. If your church had not been helping our children, we would be struggling for their daily bread. May our good Lord continue to bless all of you. I packed the Gospel tract that which I translated from Dr Jack Sin s article, 25 copies, and passed it to a woman who is coming to Singapore today, but unfortunately, her departure moved to 28th of February. So please be patient with me, it may reach you soon. 6

7 Please continue to pray that this small tract may be used by the Holy Spirit to convert lost souls, I am very happy for our church women s fellowship that have been passing this tract of more than 200 copies to nonbelievers, they are prepared to continue to pass on to many. Rev Salai Immanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church Yangon, Myanmar (NB. MBPC is supporting the Immanuel Orphanage with S$500 each month. Those who wish to help, may designate to the Benevolent Fund.) I love Maranatha Testimony of CNY Retreat All thanks be unto the Lord! God moved brother in Christ, Caleb (Jin Xing) to pen down the following poem on my love for Maranatha. Please allow me to share it with you : Maranatha Church, our House, is filled with warmth. A child with a home is blessed indeed! A House with selfless spirit endears a child. Hearts as fire, passion like honey. Love shone forth by the Triune God, felt in our hearts. Maranatha shepherds us and leads us! We follow the steps of our Lord Jesus closely, We depart not from His Way. Loving, Caring, Praying, Admonishing and Encouraging one and all. Through our merciful Father, we have peace and joy, We gather to praise, serve and sing unto Him. To listen to His Word, His Teachings; To Walk in His Way, Not ours. We receive His Grace with a thankful heart, and reciprocate. Thus, with His Blessings and His Power, We shall praise and speak of His Will 7

8 generation after generation! Amen! Du Jin Xing CNY Retreat Testimony I am Cao Hong Wei from Nanyang City, Henan Province. I have been a Christian for about 10 years. I came to Singapore to work on 28 May On the 3 June, a brother came to our hostel and passed me a tract. I was in bed then. He handed me a Gospel tract and showed me the address of Maranatha BP Church after extending an invitation to me to join them in worship. He said the Church van would pick us up and so, I joined them. When I first came to Maranatha, I saw that the brethren were all very warm-hearted and zealous in serving. On the way back to the hostel, I thought of how wonderful it would be to be able to come to such a church that feels like home. So I continue to worship here, even on Sunday mornings. Just before the Lunar New Year, Brother Timothy Zhu Jia Wei invited me to join the Retreat organized by the Church. I agreed after giving it some thought. I truly experienced the love of God during those 3 days. The brothers and sisters were very fervent; besides preparing food for us, they also got ready for us items that were needed for the Retreat. I felt indebted to the Lord for failing in my duties as His child. In the 3 days, I learned to study the Bible and was moved beyond words as I experienced His love. I take this opportunity to reflect on the 3 days of Retreat that has revived my spiritual life. I experienced the will of God and see His honour. Thus, I want to thank all the co-labourers who made this Retreat possible, especially the teachers who taught us God s words. I was filled with joy basking in the warmth of Christian fellowship. Thank God for the blessing of this Retreat. Cao Hong Wei

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10 Theme for the Quarter : Biblical Strategies in Spiritual Battles (Studies on the Book of Joshua) Rev Dr Jack Sin speaks on An Extraordinary Vision by a Senior Soldier (Joshua 14) [End of MM] 10