2 December 2012

Topic: The Light of Christ In Your Life

A testimony of a woman of 44 years old who had her first menses. She recalled and thought that it was the prayer she made when she was in the elementary school not to have menses. However, the doubt was cleared after knowing God's will for mankind.

Pastor pointed out to the testimony saying that it is never God's will for mankind to suffer. It is the evil forces that took advantages of such.

John 1:1-12
Verse 1: So in the beginning there was the word. The word "trinity" is not in the bible. However, in the bible it showed the Father speaking, the Holy Spirit coming and the birth of Jesus.
Verse 3: All things were made by God. Scientists cannot understand why atoms are held together. We know in the word that Jesus holds everything about you. Disease is the manifestation of dis-ease. When Christ came, He held you together so that disease has no power over you. Jesus is the super glue in your marriage. If it is really problematic, give up and let God. Not referring to divorce here.
Verse 4: In Christ there is zoey life. Jesus revealed to Pastor a pyramid during his younger days. The top layer was vegetable life; the lowest form of life. Food does die, you understand that they do have a life. The next layer was insect life, followed by animal life and at the base, it was human life. When you are born again, you have eternal life. You do not rely on the other parts of the pyramid. Believers do not become an insect after they die. Man can never cease to exist. God breathe into man and so man never dies. Only the body turns to ashes and so there must be a place to store the spirit. Salvation is not progressive. It is instant and the effects are eternal. You are a spirit and it came from God. Your body is a house, not part of you. When a believer sleeps, he steps out of the body and he lives forever in heaven. He has a bodily body which can touch and feel Jesus. Those countries where the gospel has not come, they are still under the darkness. Look at Bach or Mozart. They all believe music is from God. That is why when you listen to their music, you become intelligent. If you need light in your business, Jesus can be your light. You can have knowledge but have no light. One who has the light, knows more than a theologian. The first time God spoke was when He brought forth light. In greek, His name (Yah) was the first character He spoke as He called forth light. That is not referring to His son as Jesus was mentioned in the fourth day. The bible calls our bible the glorious gospel. The devil has blinded the minds of people from the glorious light of the gospel. For example, you can think that by smoking, you can still live long. Somewhere along the way, you can have that belief. When you belief that, the devil has blinded you from the glorious truth. The bible defines God as love and light in 1 John.

Pastor shares a story of Jesus which is not recorded in the bible. You may choose to take it or throw it away. We call it biblical truths.
Jesus walked past a well and saw a dog in it. The people around the well spoke nothing good about the dog and when they saw Jesus, they all kept quiet to see how Jesus would react. Jesus looked at the dog and spoke, "Pearls are not as white as the teeth of the dog". Our God only sees our good.

When one is in darkness, he would not want to be in the light because they think it's too painful. They do not want the light to expose their uglyness. No, Jesus see your perfection in Jesus. God does not judge you by looking at you. As He is, so are you in this world.

Pastor joked that that was just the introduction to today's sermon.

Exodus 10:22-23 (Story of the plague of darkness)
Verse 22: This darkness here is not referring to natural darkness. It is judicial darkness. If it was natural darkness, the Egyptians would have used candles or lamps to light up and avail themselves of it. It was a punishment from God.
Verse 23: If the darkness is not natural, then this light this verse is talking about has to be supernatural light.
Some of you may have a dark belief. Let the light shine into your belief. You don't curse darkness like no tomorrow. Follow God's system. How? Turn on the light!

Back to John 1:1-12
Verse 6: There is a ministry called John in the second coming. John was not the light. The light that came gave men inspirations, life, ideas and prosperity. If people comes to you and ask if you believe in prosperity, say yes. Even the government believes in that. Prosperity is a servant, it is not being materialistic. Prosperity is a danger when it becomes a master. Ask God to give you light in every situation. Some people says they see it when others talk. What does it mean? It means they understood. Keep coming to church to see God's truth. God's light shines into your belief each time you come to Him.

In ancient Israel, there are 3 kinds of light:
In the Tabernacle: Our lives surround the church. In the bible, it says that each tribe faced the tabernacle. In the natural, it looked like a dangerous position isn't it. That's man's logic. But God says He will take care of your back. Each flag/banner represented different tribes. As long as they all faced and lifted up Jesus, Jesus takes care of their back.
Pastor shows a video: First, in the open, the tribes then followed by the priests killing the lambs (to cover their sins). The light outside here is sunlight- natural light. Next, the video continued to go into the tabernacle. In there there are candlesticks - referring to the 7 churches in Revelation. Each one signifies a local church. The light inside here is the light of the church.
Read Leviticus 24:1-3
Verse 3: Aaron is a picture of Jesus Christ, who takes care of the candlesticks. When your light goes out, Jesus does not say to you that your light is not as bright as Pastor Henry's or will He ever reject you. In ancient days, it is the priest who tends the candlesticks. He will pull up the wick to stop it from burning out. (Usually the light starts to go out the moment it starts to submerge into the oil) Jesus will not crush a bruised wick. When you have lost your song and lost your song of tune, He will not throw you away. He has a strong and big army for you to rely on. He comes and sit beside you and walks with you. He will walk with you through the darkest valley. Aren't you glad the church is the light. Your part is to declare, preach and share the light. He will explain for you on your behalf.
Many of times, you will only understand only after you accept Christ. Don't be like the world who says you need to understand first. Just like there are many who do not understand how the air-con works but yet they enjoy and utilise the capabilities of the air-con.

Jesus said in Ephesians 2.
Look to Revelation 2:1-2.
Verse 1: Angels refer to messenger. It can be representative, not necessarily a reference to God's angels. Whatever doctrine that comes in to the church, the Pastor is responsible. Jesus will only remove the candlestick if the doctrine is harmful. The seven stars represent the seven pastors. A beautiful revelation here of Jesus holding them.
Verse 2: Whenever the church meets, Jesus is there. He is never outside. Works, labour and patience is mentioned by Jesus to the pastors. Works in the natural are activities done by the church. Refer to 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 to look at how works of faith, labour of hope and patience of love mentioned.
Back to Revelations 2:2, the Ephesus church lost the 3 fruits, faith, hope and love.
To lead a successful life, you need to have faith, hope and love. It makes people want to surround you. Make sure your endurance is of expectation of good.

Numbers 8:1-3
Verse 1: Aaron is the high priest. Jesus takes care of the candles during the darkest hour. What does it mean, when you are in your darkest hour, Jesus lifts you up. He will not quench your smoking flags. When the candle starts to smoke, it means it is about to burn out. He takes you and removes the burnt parts in your darkest times. For the candle stand, the lights must all point to the center light. It means to glorify Jesus Christ. Jesus is the center stick. If you want to have a successful marriage, put Jesus in the center. Don't put your husband in the center because he does not make a good god. Don't let your happiness be in the mere mortal who breathes through his nostrils. Never let a new addition like your baby be the center of your life.

Acts 3:11-13
Verse 11: A man who was lame in the womb healed.
Verse 12: Peter asked why looked at us in awe or marvelled at us when the man was healed?
Verse 13: Peter pointed to God being the healer. What he was doing was to point to the center of the candle stand. Some of you come to church to find out how to become rich or to drive a ferarri. That's shining the light on yourself. God does not care what tin with wheels you are driving on. He has chariots with fire in heaven.

1 Thessalonians 5:8
Verse 8: Why is it Christians these days are losing hope? Read on to know that you need to have hope. Bible hope is the confident expectation of good in your future. Salivation is health and wholeness in every area.

1 Timothy 1:12-14
Verse 14: Faith and love in Christ Jesus. Who wants faith and hope in Christ Jesus? In KJV, it shows faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. In other translation, it says faith and love which are (singular verb) in Christ Jesus. That "are" is a singular verb. So where do you find faith and love? In Christ Jesus. Talk to Him every morning and have an intimate relationship with Him.

Pastor shares how his son knew where the portrait of Jesus is hung at home. Whenever Pastor asks where is Jesus, he will turn his head to the painting and make noises of "hmm hmm". In Matthew 21:16, it says "... Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" In essence, Jesus revealed that babes refers to infants who are still suckling (breast feeding) and they have their way of praising God.

In closing,
The keyboardist starts to play while Pastor asks the church to tell God,
Jesus, be the center stage of my marriage, career and my life. I promise to give back all praises to you who is the source of my blessings in time to come.
You may say Pastor, my marriage is fine. It is not fine because it is built under man's efforts.
Praise and worship continues...