SUNDAY MESSAGE FOR: MARCH 9, 1997.
SPEAKER: REV KHOR TONG KENG (Senior Pastor of Kum Yan)
Scripture passage: Ezra 9:1-10:3
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people committing these abominations?
Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor?
1. God is waiting for us to return to His ways
...we have forsaken Your commandments, which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.'
a) We have abandoned God's ways.
How?
We will not possess the unclean land and work it with cleansing, and fill the land with cleanness and purity of our conduct.
Ephesians 4:11-12 It was He who appointed some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,to prepare God's people for works of service,... (NIV)
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, To whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
b) We have wilfully chosen to do what God told us clearly NOT to do
Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons;...
...and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong...
...and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.'
2. God is waiting.........
a) We go on choosing satan to be our father, rather than the LORD our Maker
Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty...
b) We have been insensitive to God's feelings
and for our iniquities we, ...have been delivered ...to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day.
c) We go all out to wear God's patience down
Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us... And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, ...to give us a measure of refreshing in our bondage.
d) We become complacent about ourselves
And after all that has come upon us... and have given us such deliverance as this, should we again break Your command-ments,...? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor?
3. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this?
a) Speechless... ?
So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished.
And I said, "O my God: I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.
b) Throw ourselves upon God's faithful mercies
At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.
O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!"
SUNDAY MESSAGE FOR: MARCH 2, 1997.
SPEAKER: REV KHOR TONG KENG (Senior Pastor of Kum Yan)
Lessons based on the message on 79th Anniversary, 2 March 1997, The Cantonese Methodist Kum Yan Church.
Scripture passage: Hear, O Joshua the high priest, both you and your fellow ministers who sit before you: you are men of good omen.
Zechariah 3:8
The Bible's witness to what is a bad omen
a) the person who has only an auspicious name, but powerless for doing the good (the high priest, given the auspicious name, JOSHUA = the LORD saves);
b) anyone who who bears guilt (Joshua stood accused before the Almighty God);
c) whoever is wearing filthy garments (Joshua could not answer satan's accusations because he was covered with the guilt and the corruption of his sins).
The Bible's witness to what is a good omen
See: Zechariah 3:2,4,8 & Galatians 3:13.
a) when the LORD Jesus silences our accuser before God;
b) our guilt and corruption are removed from us, and holy garments are put upon us;
c) God pronounces His approval of us and declares we are His sign of the Good that He is going to do;
d) whoever joins himself to Jesus Christ and walks with Him (Zechariah 3:8-9, Colossians 2:9-10).
How to be People of Good Omen
a) Be God's omen and not men's sign: a bad sign in men's sight and rejected by men, but precious in God's sight as His chosen (Psalm 71:6-7);
b) Speak God's way of speaking (i.e. speak good to all, especially to your enemies who accuse you falsely (Zechariah 3:10; our vine and our fig-tree = we bear fruit that refreshes the souls of men; see the 'fruit of the Holy Spirit', Galatians 5:22-23 and compare with the works of the flesh, verses 19-21);
c) Sit at Jesus' feet and delight in Him to walk in His ways (Zechariah 3:7).
The lesson from Paul and Jonah for believers
Jonah -- a bad omen to all in the ship.
Why? Jonah refused to carry out what the LORD told him to do, to go and preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to those who were his people's enemies.
Jonah had to be thrown out of the ship into the raging sea, in order for the people on board to be safe from the storm.
Paul -- a good omen to everyone on the ship caught in a terrible storm.
Jesus was with Paul and made him to be the divine sign for good for everyone on the ship. Everyone was to remain on board the ship with Paul. If they would not, they would lose their lives in the storm.
SUNDAY MESSAGE FOR: FEBRUARY 16, 1997.
SPEAKER: REV KHOR TONG KENG (Senior Pastor of Kum Yan)
THROUGH OUR PRAYING
Scripture passages: Ezra 7:1-28
1. The story of Monica
a) the story of motherhood: the sad tale of many families (including the Cosa Nostra, aka the Mafia), the sign of the coming millenium;
2. When fathers recover their authority
a) when the LORD shall again show to us His father's pity and compassion
Zechariah 10:6 I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
I will restore them because I have compassion on them.
They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
I will strengthen the house of Judah and save
the house of Joseph.
b) when fathers clothe themselves with the lifestyle of prayer
Ezra 8:23,31 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this,...and He answered our prayer. (...The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.)
(i) humbled himself in identification with the 'family'
Ezra 9:3-5 When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head andbeard and sat down appalled. ...And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice. (Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles.)
(ii) went before the LORD to beg for mercy for his family, with tears flowing down his face.
Ezra 9:6 Then, at the evening sacrifice, (I) fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God and prayed: ...
(Ezra 10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing,
weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large
crowd of Israelites ...gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.)
c) and they become Mighty Men.
Zechariah 10:7 The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, ... Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.
3. The LORD will speak through the fathers' praying
a) the LORD shall bring about:
Zechariah 10:8 I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.
(i) RECONCILIATION in the family
I will whistle for them and gather them
(ii) DELIVERANCE for the family
I will redeem them
(iii) FRUITFULNESS in regards to BLESSINGS
they shall increase
b) the LORD will sow the fathers and their families among the nations
Zechariah 10:9
(i) To bring forth fruit of repentance in many lives
(ii) They and their families shall bear the remembrance of the LORD continually
they shall remember Me in far countries together with the children, they shall live, and they shall return [to the LORD].
(i) They shall strengthen themselves in the LORD
(ii) They continue walking in His Name.
SUNDAY MESSAGE FOR: FEBRUARY 9, 1997.
SPEAKER: REV KHOR TONG KENG (Senior Pastor of Kum Yan)
1.
through civil authorities against the thief and false accusers
Ezra 6:13-15 Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence....
[Ezra 6:7,11-12 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.]
2. The LORD acts...
with His shaking the complacent world
Haggai 2:1-9
a) Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? ...declares the LORD.
b) In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD Almighty.
[ Zechariah 1:7-16 ...So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly." ...I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped-- but with evil intent....]
3. The LORD acts...
in dealing with our stubborn ways and deeds
Zechariah 1:1-6
a) ...the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, "The LORD has been very angry with your fathers.
b) So they ...said, "Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us."
4. The LORD acts...
to remove our sins and clothe us with righteousness and glory
Zechariah 3:1-8
a) Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, ands satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
b) The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, satan! The LORD who has chosen
Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"
c) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him."
d) And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."
e) And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him.
5. The LORD acts...
transforming a people of curse into His people of blessing
Zechariah 8:9-15
a) Let your hands be strong, you who have been hearing in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who spoke in the day the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD of hosts, that the temple might be built.
b) ...For before these days there were no wages for man nor any hire for beast; there was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in; for I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.
c) ...says the LORD of hosts. For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew ...
d) ... just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing....
6. The LORD counsels us
a) Be strong,
O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
...all you people of the land, and work.' says the LORD,
'For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains among you.
b) 'Return to Me,' says the LORD of hosts,
'and I will return to you,' says the LORD of hosts.
Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, ...
c) Do not fear, let your hands be strong.
...Just as I determined to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, says the LORD of hosts, and I would not relent, so again in these days I am determined to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear.
SUNDAY MESSAGE FOR: FEBRUARY 2 , 1997.
SPEAKER: REV KHOR TONG KENG (Senior Pastor of Kum Yan)
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Haggai 1:1-15
How do I hear Jesus' voice?
1.1 I listen to Jesus' words but I'm not hearing: scarcity
a) the evidence of effort spent and results obtained
Haggai 1:5-6 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
b) the evidence of expectations and outcomes
Haggai 1:9 You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away...." declares the LORD Almighty.
1.2 But, God hears our condition and He speaks:
"Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. Haggai 1:9
a) because we grow careless about about God's will and His honour
Haggai 1:7-8 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD.
b) because we busy ourselves for ourselves and not for God's glory
Haggai 1:10 "Because of My House, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house...."
1.3 Is anyone hearing?
a) Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him.
b) And the people feared the
LORD. Haggai 1:12
SUMMARY:
Haggai 1:14-15
Then, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.
[Haggai 1:1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the Word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:...]
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