Blog 13

A man after God’s own heart

By Ps Nelson Koh

(1 Samuel 13: 7-14; Acts 13:22)

                                                       preached at CACV on 06 May2012

 

Introduction

I wonder how you would like to be called “a man after God’s own heart?” Sounds great doesn’t it? It certainly would be, especially if we’re referring to God’s heart…all pure and holy!  Why then was David called “a man after God’s own heart”?

Well, it all began with Samuel’s rebuke of King Saul who had just offered burnt and fellowship offerings ahead of his arrival at a place called Gilgal. This was what Samuel then declared to Saul in 1 Sam 13:13-14, “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”  Wow! That’s the price Saul had to pay for disregarding the Word of the Lord’s prophet and anointed one, Samuel.

David, as we know was chosen above and apart from 7 of his apparently good-looking older brothers in 1 Sam 16. Who would have thought that God would have chosen the youngest boy – ruddy and fine in appearance and handsome – but only a boy minding the sheep! But God looks at the heart and not the outward appearance! God looks at the inner disposition and character, not the outward show! God looks at the potential and the future, more than just the present.  So Samuel anointed him with oil and from that day the Spirit of the Lord was upon David!

Then you might say “What?” You mean God chose this guy called David? Wasn’t he the one who lusted after Bathsheba and committed adultery with her? He certainly was! Wasn’t he the one who manipulated and arranged for her husband to be killed at the front-line? He certainly was. Wasn’t he the one who should have been leading his men and the battle-front but instead remained in the palace while his men fought and slept in the open fields? Yes, indeed! Wasn’t he a bad father, who, after his son Amnon had raped his half-sister, did nothing about it? O yes, he was. Wasn’t he the one whom Joab, his commander said “You love those who hate you and hate those who love you” (see 2 Sam 19:1-7), when he failed to go to war and encourage his men to attack a city called Rabbah, while he mourned for Absalom? He certainly was!

So how could this scoundrel, this murderer and adulterer, be ever considered, let alone be called a man after God’s own heart?

Well, there are several reasons for that but firstly, it’s important to note that:

David suffered the consequences of his sins

Firstly, on the matter of Bathsheba, David had to pay dearly for his liaison with Bathsheba. God caused the first son from the adulterous relationship to die. (2 Sam 12:18)

Secondly, for his sin of murder, he was told by the prophet Nathan that the sword will not depart from his house. Sure enough, his sons came to violent deaths. Amnon was killed by Absalom in 2 Sam 13:28-29 and Absalom was killed by Joab as he hung with his head caught among a branch of a tree (18:14). Adonijah, David’s son after Absalom died at the hands of Solomon in 1 Ki 2:25.

Thirdly, the prophet Nathan prophesied that David’s wives would be given to one close to him and he will lie with them in broad daylight. Sure enough, Absalom lay with his father’s concubines on a roof in full sight of all Israel, as in 2 Sam 16:22.

Besides these, David was driven out of his palace in Jerusalem and was relentlessly pursued by his son Absalom, who conspired to snatch the throne from his father.

God is a holy and righteous God and David, paid dearly for each one of his sins. Likewise, we are reminded that God is our loving heavenly Father, full of love and mercy but he hates sin and though He forgives us when we confess our sins, we are not immune to suffering the consequences of our sins…that is what a righteous and loving God will do to us.

Back now to the question “Why was David called a man after God’s own heart?”

Well, it’s often said that “THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS THE HEART!” Here’s why…It has all to do with the condition of David’s heart! How was David’s heart like?

1.    He had a Repentant Heart

 

After committing adultery with Bathsheba, Nathan confronted David. Here we see the repentant heart of David. Many people when confronted with their own sin would either kill the messenger, deny responsibility or blame someone or something else. Not so with David.

 

This is what he said to Nathan in 2 Sam 12:13, “I have sinned against the Lord.” That’s all…one simple sentence. He did not deny, defy or blame someone else. He just repented deeply and this comes out in Ps 51.

 

In v4 he said “Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” Then in v7 he added “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I’ll be whiter than snow.” “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” V10-11.

 

Nathan then replied “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” He could have blamed Bathsheba for bathing in the open, the servants for bringing her to him or some other excuses but he didn’t. He was always ready for correction. Whenever he sinned, he was quick to repent. He had a teachable and malleable spirit.

 

After he heard that his son from his adulterous relationship had died, he simply got up from the ground, washed himself, changed his clothes and then went to the house of God to worship. He paid for his sins – yes, God was harsh but he submitted himself totally to God’s discipline. He did not kick or squirm. His desire was always to please God.

 

2.    He had a Humble, Broken and Contrite Heart

 

He confessed his sins with a contrite heart and declared that the Lord does not delight in sacrifices but “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Ps 52:17

 

We see this too in Is 66:2 “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” And in Is 57:15 we have, “…I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,…”

 

In 1 Sam 17:58, after overcoming Goliath, Saul asked “Who are you?” David replied – the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite. He remained humble and did not say that he was a hero or the chosen one. David saw victory after victory, but he always attributed it to God.

 

To be broken is to have a healthy dissatisfaction of self or disappointment with self. David knew and acknowledged his moral failure. Only with a broken and contrite heart can one see one’s own wretchedness and acknowledge one’s own need for God. In Ps 16:2 he said …”You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.”

 

To be broken and contrite is to say “I’m only a sinner saved by grace.”

 

God doesn’t look so much at our capabilities or our sacrifices but whether we have a humble, broken and contrite heart for God is close to the broken-hearted (Ps 34:18); and he longs to lift up those who are bowed down. 
 

3.    He had an Obedient and Willing Heart

We read in Acts 13:22, “After removing Saul, he made David their King. He testified concerning him “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

Wow! David was willing to do whatever God called him to do! WE may do things for God, but God desires for us to do everything He wants us to do…not what we want to do.

There are many portions of Scripture where God shows us that He wants to use us e.g... In Eze 22:30-31 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”

Many of us may have done many things but it may not be what God wants us to do. We need to do the right things the right way. Are we willing to be men and women after God’s own heart? Then we need to listen and do the right thing God’s way.

David knew that he was not to touch the Lord’s anointed. In 1 Sam 24, even though he had the opportunity to kill Saul, when Saul pursued him at the crags and caves of En Gedi, yet he refrained from doing so. Instead he cut off a corner of Saul’s robe as evidence. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed.” Later he shouted to Saul from afar “may the Lord judge between you and me…so my hand will not touch you.” He knew when and how to refrain from touching the Lord’s anointed. Hence, David did the right thing the right way!

David always kept to the Lord’s commands. In 1 Ki 15:5 we have “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life – except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”

What else did David do?

·         He constantly inquired of the Lord

·         He loved the Word of God – “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Ps 119:97)

·         He wrote many psalms

·         He loved to pray – I love the Lord for he heard my voice; I will call upon Him as long as I live.” (Ps 116:1-2)

·         He loved unity as in Ps 133:1

·         He hated every false way (see Ps 119:104)

 

4.    He had a Passionate Heart for God

 

David was passionate for and about God. John Orthberg, in his book “Growing a heart for God”, describes David as having a heart of wild abandon. Everything he did was superlative – unabashed, unashamed and unafraid…he loved God with a wild abandon. Once, while he and his men brought up the ark to the City of David, he danced half-naked before the Lord. We find this in 2 Sam 6:4 “David, wearing a linen ephod danced before the Lord with all his might,…”  He did it much to the disgust of Michal, his wife and Saul’s daughter.

 

David was never half-hearted. He loved God unreservedly and unconditionally. He wrote in Ps 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

 

How is your love life for God today? Do you love Him unreservedly and unconditionally? Many things can rob us of our love for God. Do you whinge at every little setback or discomfort. The bible says in Pr 4:23, “Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

 

David was also big-hearted and very generous. Look at how he treated Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth in 2 Sam. David demonstrated his kindness because of his promise to Jonathan. In so doing, he reflected and pointed towards God’s grace, love and mercy. He did not hold back, but was always generous, gracious and free-spirited.

 

5.    He had a Devoted and Worshipful heart

Oliver Newton John once sang “I’m hopelessly devoted to you…” David was hopelessly devoted to God. In Ps 86:2 he said “Guard my life, for I am devoted to you…” In Ps 9:1 we have “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart…” In Ps 86:11 he prayed “…give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

To be devoted is to have an undivided heart for God. Although David had committed serious sins, his heart was never divided when serving the Lord. In 1 Ki 15: 3, we read of Abijah, King of Judah, a descendant of David “He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord, his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been.”

David was full on for the Lord. We are often divided in our devotion…distracted by the cares of the world. David was focussed. This comes through in the psalms he wrote. For instance, in Ps 139, he said “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

He had a great intensity in his devotion to God. He spoke to God as a close friend and confidante. He knew God deeply. In Ps 32:7 he said “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

David was a great worshipper of God and a great musician too. Many of his psalms turned out to be songs of praise and worship. For instance, we have Ps 57:11 “Be exalted O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” Ps 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.”

He introduced what is known as Davidic worship. It is a mode of worship that involved song, music and dance. In 1 Chr 16:4-7, David ordered a new priesthood to minister praise and worship before the Lord. The people ministered before the ark, which was previously forbidden.

Here was a new boldness in God’s presence…the priesthood no longer came before the presence of the Lord with animal sacrifices but with song and dance, praise and thanksgiving. It was a precursor to the new life and worship of the church, whereby there is no longer the tent of the tabernacle but we ourselves are now the tabernacle flowing in praise and worship. We may ask ourselves “Are we a tabernacle of worship?”

           Close

David made many mistakes in his life. He HAD FAILURES but was NOT A FAILURE. He was SINFUL but NOT SIN-FILLED, in the sense of being sin dominated. He was a sinner, but paid for his sins big-time. When confronted, he quickly admitted his sins, was genuinely repentant, paid the price and moved on.

He had a heart which was teachable, malleable, humble, obedient, broken and contrite…all these are beautiful before the Lord. If we would allow Him, He can also make all things beautiful in His time,

The Lord doesn’t look at our capabilities, our successes or our failures as much as he looks at our person and our character. He is drawn not so much to our sacrifices but to our brokenness.

David was passionate for the things of God, was totally devoted and had an undivided heart which came through in his generosity, grace, and as a worshipper and servant of the Lord.

For these reasons, David was called a man after God’s own heart.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Blog 12

 

WHY MISSIONS?

( Ro 11:25-27; Mt 28: 16-20 )

By Ps Nelson Koh

      ( first preached at C.A.C.V. on 30 September 2012 )

 

INTRODUCTION

We often hear of the need either to support or to go on Missions. However, have we asked ourselves why? Why Missions?

Biblically, two main reasons stand out as to why we should be engaged in Missions. The first is known as “The Mystery of Missions” and the other is “The Command of Missions”.

1.    The Mystery of Missions

Paul says in Ro 11:25 that he does not want us to be ignorant of this mystery. Then he reveals to us what the mystery is. Israel has experienced a hardening of heart in part until the full number of the gentiles have come in.

This “hardening of heart” of course refers to the rejection of their Messiah and Lord, Jesus Christ over the past two millenniums. We don’t know for how long more this rejection will continue but what we do know is that it will go on until the full number of the gentiles have come in…meaning us!

As we look at passages in Isaiah 6: 9-10 and similar messages in the 4 gospels, in Acts and Ro 9-11, we understand a little more of what Paul meant when he said Israel has experienced a hardening of heart in part.

The fact is with disobedience, God can actually harden the hearts of his people, as he did to Pharaoh. Up to a point God will say to his people, may you hear but not understand, see but not perceive, may your heart be calloused, ears dulled, eyes closed and may you not turn and be healed!

This is the mystery of missions – the hardness of Israel’s heart and the growth of the seed i.e. through the gospel, the gentiles have become joint heirs together with Israel, members of the one body and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:3-6).

So we live at a time of the in-coming of the gentiles where we the wild olive branches are being grafted onto the olive tree. Meanwhile, Luke in Lk 21:24 says that Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. When this finally happens, Israel as a remnant will look on Him whom they had pierced and will mourned and grieve bitterly and finally be saved (Zech 12:10). Then the Lord will return and be “King over the whole earth” (Zech 14:7)

So that’s the “Mystery of Missions”.

In the meantime, our life’s goal should be to glorify Him forever by knowing God and making Him known. May it inspire us then to support and be engaged in missions until “the earth shall be filled with the full knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Is 11:9) and the earth be filled with the full number of Gentile believers, till Israel finally relents and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2.    The Command of Missions

The Command of Missions is the Great Commission in Mt 28. It is often said that the parting words or ‘parting shot’ of a person is vitally important. Jesus left us a vision and a mission.

And this was His vision “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations…” This is an imperative and a command, meaning that having received all power, approval and resources from His Father, Jesus has passed it on or delegated all to His disciples, who then were expected to pass it on to next generation and then to generations after until it reached us! So this command did not just stop at his immediate disciples but the generations of disciples that followed, including us.

So as disciples of Jesus Christ, we have an obligation to obey His command to go and make disciples of all nations, until the full number of Gentiles have come in, and then, and then only will the end come.

This is our specific call and mandate – To go and make disciples of all nations.

But what is our mission? Our mission is basically about how to go about fulfilling the vision. First, we are called to baptize disciples (or followers) in the name of the Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, v19. This we need to do as a public testimony of an inner conversion experience. Baptism is not restricted to the pastor alone. Technically, as part of the priesthood of believers, all believers may baptize but out of deference, we leave it to the pastors and priests.

Then in v20a, we need to teach them to obey everything that the Lord has commanded. In 1 Tim 2:2, Paul reminds us “And the things you have heard from me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

It is a good ambition to aspire to preach and teach as part of the discipleship process but it is also good to note from Ja 3:1 that “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because we know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

Finally, we have a great promise for those who have done well. For v20b says “…and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What an honour! What a privilege that if we obey his call to missions, his promise to us is that he will be with us forever and ever! If we have God with us, blessing and honour, what else can we ask for?

3.    See sample Mission Slides Presentation

 

4.    Other Reasons to engage in Missions

4.1         To challenge and transform peoples’ views about God – e.g. Jonah. God used Jonah to affirm how compassionate He was to turn the hearts of the Ninevites toward Him

4.2         To challenge our cultural-social biasness – Jesus reached out to the Samaritan woman in Jn 4. In the end, many believed and this also set the stage for many other Samaritans to be called to His Kingdom in Acts 8.

4.3         To transform peoples’ understanding of the Body of Christ. See Peter’s vision in Acts 10, where God said “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”, and subsequently his trip from Joppa to Caesarea where Cornelius the centurion became the first Gentile convert to Christ. God shows no favouritism and accepts men from every tribe and nation who fear Him and does what is right.

4.4         Missions also gives us the opportunity to give of our time, energy and resources (including our gifts and monies) to do God’s work

4.5         It helps us to see firsthand what God is doing in the field

4.6         Helps us to explore God’s call to be engaged further in the missions field

4.7         Broadens our prospective by opening us up to different cultures and expressions of faith

4.8         Helps us to identify with and look to the varied and dire needs.

4.9         Helps us to be a part of God’s plan in evangelism

4.10      Changes and transforms our lives to see as Jesus sees, feel as Jesus felt and to be more like Jesus – helps us change our stereotypes

CLOSE AND CHALLENGES

I would like to encourage you not only to support but also to engage in Mission work, short or long-term. Out there is where the real action is. Start with your local community, school, neighbour, Uni, then to city, state, country and then to the nations.

All it needs is preparation and a ready, willing and obedient heart. God will provide the finance, time and opportunity. Do not be like Jonah who suffered the consequence of his unwillingness.

Our God is a Missionary God. Missions is in the very heart-beat of God. Jesus was Himself a Missionary. Mt 9:35 says, “He went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them…”

Paul, Silas, Timothy and Barnabas were all missionaries. The word Missions

comes from the Latin word ‘misso’ meaning ‘to be sent’. Are you willing to be

sent?

The church exists for the purpose of Missions. It does not exist as an end in itself

or it doesn’t deserve to exist if its end purpose is not for missions.

 

Will you now respond to the call to Missions? Will you respond to the call to be

Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20)? May your answer be Yes Lord – send

even me!

Amen!

Blog 11

 

OF DREAMS, VISIONS AND CALLING

By Ps Nelson Koh

at Em2 Camp - 14 - 16 Sept. 2012

 

Introduction

I'm glad you have endeavoured to dream dreams. It is so important to be able to dream dreams. Unless one is able to dream, one will never be able to reach beyond oneself.

Look at Steve Jobs - if he had not dreamed big dreams, Apple would never be where it is today and there probably would never have been an iPad or an iPhone etc.

Likewise, someone must have dreamt of man walking on the moon, otherwise it would never have come about. Soon, I believe man will make it to Mars. Beyond that, it appears inconceivable because a return trip to Mars alone, using conventional means will take anything up to a year. How are we then to take man beyond Mars for several years and even up to a lifetime, yet be able to bring him back safely?

Guys, I believe that unless we are able to dream of going to the far reaches of the Universe, we will never go beyond our immediate solar system...At the last camp, I spoke of the possibility of us, in your lifetime, of travelling from Melbourne to London in a couple of hours using scramjets.

I believe that in the distant future, man will be able to travel to the outer reaches of the solar system and return within their lifetime, millions of light years away, by riding on comets. Isn’t that exciting!

So I would encourage you to go on dreaming, especially about how you can be used by God in these end times!

Question is, how does God speak to us? Well, he speaks to us in a variety of ways!

 

1. Through Dreams

The bible does tell us about dreams, in the sense of what we dream about while asleep or in the unconscious state.

Classical cases would be the 2 Josephs

First we have Joseph the Dreamer

He got into trouble only because of his indiscretion

Then, there is the other Joseph, where twice an angel appeared to him in a dream, the first to take Mary home as his wife and the second time to take mother and child and flee to Egypt.

Of course, there was Jacob's dream of a "stairway to heaven", in Gen 28, where God said he will give the land he was lying on to him and his descendants. Though they would be spread out to the north, south, east and west, he would bring them back to the land.

Besides this, there was fleeting mention of a disquieting dream of Eliphaz in Job 12:21 and a dream and it's interpretation overheard by Gideon about a ball of barley loaf crashing against the Midianite camp.

Acts 1:17 quoting from Joel 2:28 however, says:

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

Your old men will dream dreams

It is interesting to note that actually, old men like me will dream dreams but young men and women like you are more likely to see visions!

However, if dreaming means to aspire to something quite beyond ourselves, then we all need to dream dreams. It is said that one can only achieve what one is able to conceive in one's dreams.

When my future son-in-law spoke to me about how he would like to create an empire, I was not impressed...but the point is unless one is able to dream, one will not be able to achieve things beyond ourselves. Today, he appears to be succeeding in making a mark, at least materially, but one day and more importantly, I hope he will be able make a mark in the Kingdom of God!

So God can speak to us in dreams and he can also speak to us in visions.    

2. Through Visions

A vision does suggest to us a conscious state or a semi-conscious state or a trance state. We don't read of having come out of an unconscious state, like in a dream.

Classical case, we have Paul, who had a vision of the man of Macedonia in Acts 16,  begging him to come and help. With that came his first forage into Europe. It illustrates to us that when God does give us a vision, it is for a purpose, like a ministry call.

Then there is Ananias in Acts 9, who received a vision instructing him to lay his hands on Paul, so that he might see, receive the Holy Spirit, and be baptized. Hence it signalled the start of Paul's ministry.

And of course, in Acts 10, Peter had that famous rooftop vision of a large sheet lowered from heaven containing all kinds of four footed animals, reptiles and birds of the air. Then he was told to kill them and eat. But he said "Surely not, Lord!" But the Lord said, "do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Meaning of course, that God has opened the door for the gospel to be made available to the Gentiles.

John was considered to have seen a vision or visions during his exile on the island of Patmos, as he wrote the Book of Revelation.

So God can also speak to us in visions. The calling of God can come to us in a vision or visions.   

3. Through an Audible Voice

God can also speak to us through an audible voice.  Classical examples? Moses of course, God spoke from the burning bush. Gideon through an angel at the wine press. Then there was Paul, "Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting me?"

My wife Kim, on the night that I was taken by 12 men to be incarcerated, would vouch that she heard God’s audible voice “Kim! Kim!”, as if as a warning.

So far, all three ways of how God can speak to us have been pretty dramatic. In most cases however, I believe God is more likely to speak to us in one or more of the following ways:

4. Through an Inner witness and perception

The good news is that God desires to speak to us. He does that through our thoughts, an inner witness and perception. The question inevitably arises as to how...how can we tell if it's God's thoughts and not ours or the devil's? How can we tell if it's God's voice and not any other?

Well, the bible says in Jn 11:27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." So the key to knowing if it's God's voice or another is by entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ. There are no short cuts. It is only through spending regular time and intimate moments with the person can one tell if it’s the person or not.

I have 3 daughters who over the phone sound pretty similar - they all have very similar tones and inflections in their voices - often it’s difficult to tell who’s who - especially since they all have a similar Aussie accent. After a few moments however, I can usually tell, because I know their peculiarities and favourite phrases and choice of words and inclinations or preferences.

So, it is with God, it’s got to do with building a relationship and spending time with him, even intimate moments through prayer, intercession and knowing the inclinations of his heart through his word. That way, one is usually able to tell if it's God's voice or not.

5. Through circumstances and divine appointments

God knows the intents and inclinations of our hearts e.g. how sincere we are, whether we are truly desirous of him, honest and serious about loving him and serving him.

Then he places circumstances or situations and opportunities or divine moments in our path, such that we may develop and grow further in him, so that we would enjoy the privilege of joining him in the work he is already doing...as in the case of Paul, in the saving of souls.

A classical case would be Philip the Evangelist. Through a divine appointment that God had arranged, he meets up with the Ethiopian Eunuch and then assumes the honour of bringing him to the Lord and through the waters of baptism.

Then there was Esther who was called my Mordecai to speak to the King and plead for mercy for her people which she did after Mordecai’s famous words to her in Esther 4:14 " ...And who knows but you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Circumstances led to Paul entering Europe and earlier, for Peter in meeting his first Gentile convert, Cornelius.

So God does speak to us through circumstances and divine appointments.

Finally, God speaks to us through his Word and through the transforming of our minds.

6. Through his Word and the transforming of our minds

In Ro 12:2 we have "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The written Word of God is His revealed Word to us and contains a full measure of God's general and specific call to us. For instance we are called firstly, not to conform to the pattern of this world...then and only then can our minds be renewed.

If our minds are filled with garbage that this world can afford, there is no way that our minds can be renewed. And if there is no way that our minds can be renewed, how can we tell what God's perfect will is for us, individually and corporately as a church?

We are called primarily to be his disciples (or followers). If we do not obey this general call to us, how can we honestly expect God to call us more specifically and to share in a greater measure, his ministry...unless we are someone special, like Paul, who was miraculously converted and called to be an apostle to the Gentiles or Jonah, called to be a prophet to preach against Nineveh.

Then we are called to the Great Commandments. And finally, we are called specifically to the Great Commission, that is, to make disciples of all nations... How can we make disciples, teaching them to obey everything he has commanded unless we are disciples ourselves...availing ourselves to be thoroughly equipped for every good work?

Close

In closing, I would like to re-iterate that God has spoken to us all at many times and in various ways, as the writer of Hebrews puts it. But these days he has spoken to us by his Son i.e. through his revealed Word...time and again, in countless measure.

Will we then accept the challenge to first read and to obey his Word and to abide in him? Then surely, we’ll be positioning ourselves to grow and understand more clearly, what his will and calling is for us - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Amen.

Blog 10

My recent trip to HongKong

I was glad to be able to visit HongKong recently, after a lapse of some 30 years, this time to attend a Conference entitled M28: Training Summit. The Conference was held at the Baptist Theological Seminary from 27 – 31 March 2012. There were about 25 participants from different parts of the world, each with a common interest in international student work. As we have just started an International Students’ Ministry at our church at CACV, my colleague Rev. Colin and I were assigned to source out the initiative by an organization called International Students’ Incorporated or I.S.I. with its HQ in the U.S.A.

Basically, the I.S.I. has an interesting global vision to reach the nations exponentially, particularly through international students in tertiary institutions, in the first instance through facilitated Discovery Bible Studies (DBS). The process continues with the laying of emphasis on building community and life, commitment to Christ, discipleship, training of leaders, starting new DBS groups and even on to church planting.

The presenters were excellent. What I appreciated most was the Kingdom mindset and missional agenda of the program with its emphasis on the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

What I didn’t appreciate was the ‘facilitated’ approach to bible studies for non-Christians and seekers.  My concern remains that even with close supervision, this “blind leading the blind” mode employed is most likely to cause them to lead each other astray, just at a time when it is crucial for them to lay a firm foundation. All too often we have heard of the mush-rooming of false teachings and cults in places like China, the Philippines and Cambodia, for lack of able teachers and pastors.

I have always held that carnal methods will produce carnal Christians and secular methods will produce secular Christians. The ‘facilitated’ approach, to me, is a post-modern secular approach common in places like Universities, imposed on a fundamental biblical principle of “…entrusting spiritual truths to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Tim 2:2. Also, while the word “teach” or “teaching” appears innumerable times in the bible. I have yet to find a single instance where the word “facilitate” or a word that connotes it appears in the bible.

Hence, not until faith is established through firm and doctrinally correct teaching will I dare to introduce the ‘facilitated’ approach to reading and understanding the bible. I hold that spiritual babies have to be taught first. ‘Facilitation’ is best left to the matured.  

Besides this, I had a few hours of opportunity to get a ‘feel’ of HongKong. I must say that the public transport system with inter-connecting light rail and bus systems was excellent. I was at busy Mongkok with its thriving night market and delectable desserts.  My mind still rings of names of places like Sai Kung (an end of the road village), Shatin, Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun. It was at the latter that I was glad to visit my niece Angeline and staff of YWAM., where I was given a brief on the ministries of the organization, of which I was particularly interested in its Creative Arts Ministry.

Finally, what impressed me most of all with my brief sojourn in HongKong was the youth! Besides my niece who bothered to come all the way to the seminary where I stayed and brought me all the way to Tuen Mun by public transport, a good 20 kms. away, there were two other male youths I approached for directions who, on separate occasions unhesitatingly walked me to a bus-stop and the other, a bus-station and showed me the way back to the seminary. Bravo to the youth, who made my stay in HongKong that much more worthwhile and memorable!

Nelson Koh

24 May 2012   

25th Anniversary Message - Blog 9

I've been pretty dormant for a while - so I thought I might post this short message:

A Message to commemorate the 25^th Church Anniversary of the Christian Alliance Church of Victoria

(by Pastor Nelson Koh)

I feel honoured to be able to pen a few lines in conjunction with the 25^th Anniversary of the church. As you would be aware, I’ve only served as pastor of the English Congregation for about 11/2 years, up to August 2012. During this time, I have learned to appreciate most of all, the love and faithfulness of the people toward God. Hence, it is most appropriate that we should choose “Thanking God for his love and faithfulness”, as the theme of this anniversary celebration. 

I have shared before of the impression that I got of the C.A.C.V. as “A City on a Hill” as far back as 12-13 years ago when I was first invited to preach at this church. The immediate message then and still is, is that “a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put in under a bowl…” as in Mt 5: 14,15. Then in v16 we have “…let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven…”

My immediate prayer then and now is that the C.A.C.V. will not just be a literal “City on a Hill”, perched on a hill overlooking Deakin University, Burwood, but she will be a spiritual power-house radiating God’s love and gospel light to the neighbourhood and beyond, even to the nations.

I’m glad that since then, several measures have taken place which has inadvertently pointed towards the fulfilment of the vision of a “City on a Hill”.

Firstly, the name change to “Christian Alliance Church of Victoria” has been a major step in giving the church a new profile reflecting the church’s expressed desire to be a more modern, multi-cultural and inter-generational church. However, as mentioned before, changing a name alone may not be sufficient in reaching out to people from all walks of life, which is the purpose of the name change in the first place. One has to actively live out the new name in thought, word and deed and this requires a new resolve, a mindset change and a new character, if we ever hope to see the fulfilment of the vision.

Secondly, it has been heart-warming to see concrete moves to reach out to the community, including the 917 Evangelistic Night, Christmas Carols by Candlelight held outside the church, Christmas carolling at nursing homes and the start of the International Students’ Ministry, all held towards the close of 2011. It is hoped that this will not just remain as ‘events’ to be held only in passing but a ‘normal way of life’ of the church, in meeting the call to truly make a difference in the life of the church and in reaching out to the immediate community and beyond, to a dying world.

May God in His grace continue to bless C.A.C.V. abundantly for the next 25 years and into the future. Finally, I would end with Hag 1:9, “The glory of this present house be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. And in this place I will grant peace, declares the Lord Almighty.” Amen