The heart of a good partner

The heart of a good partner: Rev Jerry Eng

On 21^st January 2007 at CDC, we had the privilege of Rev Jerry Eng give the message on the heart of a good partner from Philippians Chapter 1:3-6

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Philippian church was probably the dearest to Paul of all the churches. He really loved them and was filled with joy every time he thought of them. There was a real spirit of “koinonia”, a fellowship of the closest kind.

Drawing examples from the Philippian church, Rev Jerry highlighted three main characteristics that we should have in our partnership with God in His service and gospel

(1)   Giving of ourselves :- The Philippian church gave of their own. Epaphroditus was sent to Paul to help him while he was in chains in prison. He was so dear to Paul that Paul referred to him as a fellow brother, a fellow worker and a fellow soldier. He became sick and almost died because of his service yet gave everything of himself to help Paul as much as possible. Rev Jerry challenged us to always be ready to serve, regardless of age. Never say you are too old, never say you have no time.

(2)   Praying:  The Philippian church prayed constantly and fervently for Paul. Paul was confident that their prayers would help deliver Him. Good partners recognize the power of prayer and pray constantly for each other. To be a good partner in our family, cell group and church, we need to learn to pray constantly for them.

(3)   Giving of finance:- The Philippian church also gave generously in terms of finance to God. Even though they were poor, they gave all they could to help the church in Jerusalem, and also to Paul in his missionary journeys.

May the Lord help each one of us give of ourselves and our finances generously to help others, especially our brothers and sisters, and also remember to pray fervently for our church, our cell groups, our brothers and sisters, and our families always.

God bless,

Jason

Friendship Evangelism

Friendship Evangelism

Rev Jerry gave an excellent message on Friendship Evangelism on Sunday.

Some useful points:-

(a)    Personal testimony – The best and most effective way of sharing is testifying how good God has been to you. Like the demon-possessed man freed by Jesus, who was told to go home and tell his family what God had done for him and how He had mercy on him.

(b)   Walking the walk – Rev Jerry said its pointless to share if we don’t live the life that we talk. Showing a good example at work or at school is all important in lifestyle evangelism

(c)    Caring – Like churches in Penang who extended care and help to those Tsunami victims in need, without any compulsion or attempt to “evangelize”. Being caring is very important, showing the heart of Jesus

(d)   No frontal assault – The Rev told a story of an old lady condemning the idols of his brother mercilessly, leaving a very bad image of Christians on him. We must remember to share always with “gentleness and respect”.

(e)     Creative sharing, by the Spirit- The Rev spoke of how Jesus and the Apostles never shared in exactly the same way, but according to the circumstance. Likewise, we should pray for creativity, and the help of the Holy Spirit to know what to speak when the time comes.

God bless,

Jason

Be Pure: The responses of Judah and Joseph

Be Pure: The responses of Judah and Joseph

This Sunday, CDC had the privilege of Reverend Jerry Eng share the message which was based on Genesis Chapter 38 and 39, an interesting comparison of two sons of Jacob, and their amazingly different characters at the time of temptation.

Starting of his sermon, Reverend Jerry drew our attention to the alarming rise of pornography on the internet, and the increasing immorality amount the generations today, even among Christians. This placed a burden in his heart to share especially on the subject of purity in the Church of God. 

Genesis Chapter 38 looks at the story of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. Having married a Canaanite woman, Judah had three sons. He got a wife named Tamar for his firstborn, Er, but he soon died because of his wickedness. Judah instructed his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar, and fulfill his duty to his older brother by producing offspring for him. However, he did not, and the Lord also put him to death for his wickedness. Now Judah feared for the life of his third son, Shelah, and wondered if Tamar might be a bringer of bad luck. Deceitfully, he sent her back to her father’s house, with the false promise that he would give her Shelah when he grew older. However, in due time, it was clear that he had no intention to do so, and Tamar, in a desperate act to seek her redemption, disguised herself as a prostitute along a road where she knew Judah would pass. Judah, not recognizing his daughter-in-law, propositioned her and Tamar, as guarantee for her payment, amazingly obtained his seal and his staff, effectively his Mykad and his driving license.

Now turning our attention to Genesis Chapter 39, we see the story of Jacob’s favored son Joseph, who was sold by his own brothers as a slave to Egypt. However, in Egypt, Joseph, ever the man of integrity, was granted success by God in everything he did. In a short time, he was given the responsibility for the whole household by his master Potiphar. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife also looked with favor on Joseph, but from a different point of view, and pestered him day and night to sleep with her. His righteous response is a wonderful model for all of us to follow:- “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"

Judah was governed by his own natural lust. Joseph was governed by the fear of God. Judah gave up his own identity willingly to a prostitute, Joseph maintained his integrity and righteousness before God’s eyes at all cost.

In today’s world, temptation comes right to our doorstep, in the form of television, the internet, and even in person, buffeting us almost everyday. Will we, like Judah, lose our identity to sin by following our carnal, human desires, or will we, like Joseph, choose to obey God rather than our bodily desires?

Pastor Jerry warned us that it is so important for us to guard ourselves against temptation. Billy Graham and his team, at the Modesto manifesto, met to discuss what were the common criticisms, real or alleged, that the public had of evangelists in their day. From this meeting, Billy Graham resolved to never travel, meet or eat with any woman other than his wife so as not to give the appearance of any impropriety. Incidentally, he had the break the manifesto once, when he was invited to a meal with the First Lady, Hilary Clinton. This too, he did in one of the most famous restaurants in town, at a table right in the centre, where everyone could watch them. Pastor Jerry also warned that a man should take care not to counsel a woman in private, and vice versa. In the office, we are warned not to stay back late or during lunchtime, when there’s only one other colleague of the opposite gender around. He challenged us also to have an accountability partner, who would check on us to see if we were walking in integrity and honesty. If we accidentally come across a dodgy website, close it off immediately, don’t even linger, and pull out the plug if you have to! Accountability to God and transparency to others is a necessity for all of us to live a righteous life in God’s eyes.

Pastor Jerry then read from Ephesians Chapter 5:

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^[a] 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.
 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible.

When Judah heard that Tamar was pregnant, his immediate reaction was to burn her. However, when he found out what she had done, he admitted “she is more righteous than I”.  Her actions exposed his own unrighteousness in breaking his promise and not fulfilling his responsibility as father to arrange for the continuation of his firstborn’s line.

Joseph’s integrity landed him in trouble in the short term, but in the long term, God rewarded his faithfulness, and lifted him up to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt. Later, unlike Judah, who was so quick to condemn, he willingly forgave his brothers, realizing that it was God’s plan for him to suffer initially in Egypt that he might later become the savior of his family. 

 

In closing, let us to make it our desire and calling to live a pure life, in honesty and integrity, like Joseph of old, and live by the fear of God and not our own natural desires, our hearts intent only on the glory of His name.

God bless,

Jason