Staying Focused

Elder Khoo Kay Hup
30-12-2018

Staying Focused on the Great Commission:

1) As His Witness

Matthew 28:16-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.

Jesus came as the Son of Man and the Son of God.

Philippians 2:5-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 1:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Josephus Flavius recorded that the Second Temple fell in AD70 during the reign of Herod the Great.

2) As we face competition

Luke 19:11-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Minas
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten [a]minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

John 1:11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 He came to His [a]own, and His [b]own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [c]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Matthew 10:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Persecutions Are Coming
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless[a] as doves.

3) As we face opposition

Matthew 16:13-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

The first mention of church was in Matthew 16.

The second time was in Matthew 18.

Jesus purposely took almost two days journey to Caesarea Philippi to show what He's going to do in the future.

During the day, Jeroboam worshipped demons. The place (the gates of Hades) was Satan's stronghold. Babies and virgins were thrown alive into this cave.

Sometimes God wants His people to build His church in hostile ground.

Matthew 16:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God [a]ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

There are still many mysteries but God will not reveal to His people who are not disciplined.

Build His church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 

Acts 19:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
Paul at Ephesus
19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

Each chapter of Acts is a year after Pentecost.

It has been about 20 years later. There was no impact and no transformation in the city.

Unless you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are only going on your our own strength.

Acts 19:8-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:8-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
Paul Ministers in Ephesus
8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

Acts 19:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.[a] 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:23-27 New King James Version (NKJV)
23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [a]Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and [b]her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

The non-believers took notice because the city was changed.

Matthew 16:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [a]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Ephesians 6:10-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

That's one of the keys.

How to stay focused on the Great Commandment?

1) Stay connected

John 10:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 15:1-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
The True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

We need to know the cost of discipleship. We need to be witness to stay strong, to speak truth. We stand as a witness in a society and community that hates God. When we share the gospel, people will believe because they see and observe us 24/7.

Stay close to Jesus. Not only you're encountering social challenges, but also spiritual challenges.

2) Stay in love

Revelation 2:1-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Loveless Church
2 “To the [a]angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your [b]patience, and that you cannot [c]bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

In Revelation 1, the lampstand is the church.

The church of Ephesus started well but they have left their first love.

It is the authority of the church to take down darkness.

But if we lost the first love, the authority in the spiritual and natural realm will be taken away.

Ekklesia = Each one of us is to be the church.

We need daily consistent spiritual discipline to stay focused.

The Word feeds your spirit. Prayer is exercise.

Read your Bible, pray every day.

When we keep our time with God and honour Him, He will honour us and show us the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

We need the Holy Spirit to guide us step by step. The challenges we face every day are new but the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. 

Christmas

Joanna Dorai
25-12-2018

Luke 2 New International Version (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

The people of Israel at that time were under oppression from the Romans. They were crying out for a Saviour.

Suddenly the Lord appeared in the quietness of their lives.

The Saviour is born in the time and a place when the people were not expecting it and He is the Messiah.

The promise of God today is the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

Out of the glory of the Lord comes the good news. Out of the glory of the Lord comes a Saviour. There is a sign that makes you identify with the Saviour. And His name is Jesus Christ.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

I need a Saviour and this Saviour comes to seek and to save.

Every single day, heaven will be open unto me and I can call upon Him.

Today a Saviour has been born to you and He is the Messiah, the Lord.

When your soul feels trap and you cannot contain the hurt and disappointments, what do you do? It is the condition of the soul that is trapped inside. Cry out and say, "I don't want to be angry and be trapped anymore!"

Today the Saviour has come for you and He is Jesus!

Know that you can be saved. Christ has come not to make you good. Christ has come to save you so that you can be with Him in peace and glory.

Today heaven is open upon you.

Would you like the glory of the Lord to shine upon you when you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow?

Peace to all those whom God's favour rests.

Share the love, joy and peace of Christmas.

The message is Christmas is that you have a Saviour and that you don't have to struggle in your own soul.

John 14:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 11:25 New International Version (NIV)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

The Great Exchange

Pr Anand Kumar
23-12-2018

Luke 2:4-21 New International Version (NIV)
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

1) God with us.

Today we no longer need to go to Jerusalem to meet God.

Jesus is a demonstration of God's love that now God is with us.

When we invite God, He is with us.

God's presence is now with us.

For many years, man was separated from God. Sin separated us from God.

But God's standard is perfect.

When Jesus was God, it was good news. He came to reconcile man with God.

2) God: One of us. 

The birth of Christ was the physical form of God becoming a man.

Jesus was revealing Himself that He is the way, the truth and the life. He showed the way to heaven.

Man's destiny is death. Jesus shows us the way to the Father. He showed us the way to eternal life.

Jesus, in the form of man, He understands and relates. He knows temptations and trials. He knows hunger, pain, hardship, loneliness, abandonment and rejection.

He came fully man and fully God. He knows and understands.

Today, you can invite Him into your situation.

3) God is for us.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Jesus went to the cross. He who was sinless took all out sins and died for us. And He said, "It is finished." He rose again on the third day and is now in heaven.

Joy is about how God comes into our heart and gives us hope and purpose.

If you put your faith in God, He has a purpose for you.

Jesus gives us meaning.

Because God is for us, you can hope that God can come through for you.

Conclusion:
Jesus the Saviour for all people.

Christmas is a celebration of purpose and hope.

You too can have this gift of eternal life. Place your faith in God today.

The greatest gift that Christmas has for us is the gift of eternal life.

Take hold of God today. He wants to offer you this free gift.

On our own, we can't save ourselves. On our own, we cannot go through eternity.

We can count on God and take hold of Him.

The Passover (Exodus 12)

Elder Saw Lip Hean
16-12-2018

Exodus 12 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Passover Instituted
12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without[a] blemish, a male [b]of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. 10 You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus you shall eat it: [c]with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Egypt:
Egypt depicts the world. The Israelites came to Egypt during the time of Joseph.

The Jews were given the Nile delta.

But they became too comfortable. They forgot that Egypt was meant to be a temporary abode. They ended up staying there for 400 years.

Human beings tend to forget that the world that we live in is a temporary place.

Life is too short.

The anticlimax of life is death.

Life will have meaning if we can live forever.

You are working towards perfection. Unfortunately before we reach perfection, the anticlimax comes and we have to cash out of this world.

Bitter Herbs:
To remind the Jews that the world is a bitter place because of the problem of sin. Everything becomes tainted and we end up becoming slaves to sin that envelop our lives.

The bitterness that comes from life is a realisation that you are not the master of destiny.

Why is it that you and I cannot see God, know God and talk to God?

Why did God create us if He didn't want to fellowship with us?

If God is God, He must be hply. He must be perfect.

We cannot draw close to Him and have fellowship with Him because of the sin factor.

People who deny the power of sin denies this.

Without Hope:
So long as we live for ourselves, there is no hope.

We cannot save ourselves.

Lamb:
This is the gift of God. This is how God has planned for us to be saved.

The soul that sins, it shall die; it shall be separated from God forever.

God knew that when He created us and gave men the freedom to choose, men will choose wrongly.

From Day One, He already taught Adam and His children that there is a way to go back to God by the sacrifice of a substitutional lamb.

a) Abel's Sacrifice:

How did Abel know to bring an animal to sacrifice to God? He must have been told by God. From the beginning, God had already planned for it.

Cain thought he could do better, easier and with less effort. That is typical man.

When it comes to the gift of God, He had planned from the very beginning.

b) Abraham's Obedience:

God has meant all along for a substitute for our sin. And this was to be a lamb without defect.

God in His infinite mercy and grace planned it from the beginning.

Jesus revealed that He was the substitute Lamb.

There are two aspects of sin:
i) The sin that we do
ii) The sin that we didn't do. That is done in Adam. You die because of Adam's sin. If you were to die for your own sin, how many Jesus Christ would there be? Impossible.

When Adam sinned before God in the Garden of Adam, he represents the whole of human kind. The history of mankind sinned in him. Death came to the whole of mankind through Adam.

Because of one man, sin came to this world. Through one man, life came to the whole of mankind.

God is constrained by His own laws. What is right is right, what is wrong is wrong.

When Jesus died, He bore the entire sins of mankind.

Man is created through one man, Adam. If there is no creation, how can human ever become slaves and go back to God?

When Jesus came, John the Baptist announced to the whole world that Jesus is the Lamb of God that would die on the cross to pay for the penalty of man.

Every single doorframe must be coated with the blood of the Lamb. What is the significance? Have you applied the blood of Christ on the doorframe of your life and accept Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb to pay the penalty for your sins?

Every single Israelites was protected by the blood of the lamb on the doorframe.

We need to appropriate this for ourselves. You and I must paint the blood on the doorframes of our lives by faith That Christ shall be my Lord and saviour.

Life on earth makes no sense unless we live forever. God has designed for us to live forever.

Once you believe that Jesus is the sacrificial and substitutional Lamb, one day the Lamb of God will be glorified.

When you believe, you will be glorified with Christ when Christ is glorified.

Quickly apply the blood of Christ on the doorframes of our lives. Receive it by faith.

You always think you have time by not accepting Jesus.

The life in Jesus is worth a billion time over what this world can offer.

Unleavened Bread:

Before you apply the blood on the doorframes of your life, you are enslaved.

The minute you apply the blood, you are free and enjoy the true freedom and power to do God's work untainted by your selfish desires.

You are free to do good and keep the laws of God. The laws of God that Jesus gave is to guide us how to live.

You are set free and are now able to live for God.

Unfortunately, many of us choose to eat leavened bread and end up having a very blurred picture of God.

When your communion with God is broken, you get angry and irritable easily. You are angry with everybody. But in reality, you are angry with yourself because your fellowship with God is broken.

When you become a Christian, eat unleavened bread.

Journey:

Your life is a journey. This is a journey of discovery. You will discover the purpose that God has for you.

If you have not accepted Jesus, today is the day you need to decide.

The Bible says the Lord disciplines whom He loves. To those who are the chosen remnant of God, God allows suffering so that through that suffering you will be given the wisdom to see how God works in your life. You are destined to eat unleavened bread. Don't be fooled by the leavened bread.


Even though we have been freed from the penalty of sin, we still live in the presence of sin. This is where the Blood of Christ comes in and you will be able to see the hand of God in your life.

Ecclesia, Go!

Bro Nelson Tjiunardi
09-12-2018

Ecclesia describes a body of believers in Christ.

In the Book of Acts, the Bible paints a different picture about what a church is.

They were loving one another, submitting to one another and selling their possessions for the good of others. They were an unstoppable church.

But today's church is so stoppable.

Metaphors to describe the church today:
1) The church is like a gas station.

You are all pumped up on Sunday. On Monday you begin to leak a bit. By Saturday it's 10% left.

2) The church is like a cinema.

You come to listen to your favourite speaker on the stage.

3) The church is like a hypermarket.

There's all kinds of programmes to cater to various age groups.

If we are not careful, we can come to church with a consumer mindset.

The Bible says that we are the living stones. But we become the crawling stone, crawling from one church to another.

Matthew 16:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it.

Gospel of salvation is about salvation. 

Gospel of the Kingdom talks about Jesus' Lordship and Kingship in your lives. It is about your lifestyle.

Many Christians are not bothered about expanding His kingdom on earth.

The keys of the Kingdom has been given to us.

Colossians 2:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus has already won the victory.

We as the citizens of the Kingdom, Go and proclaim the good news. You are ambassadors of Christ. Through our lifestyle, show the world so that people want to emulate us and draw people to Jesus.

Our mission is to go but we have fellowship with one another at the same time.

Jesus says the harvest is plentiful but what is lacking is the labourers.

Pray, "Lord, here I am. Send me."T

The Kingdom of God is here and the keys have been given to your hands.

We are God's ecclesia. Let's exercise the Kingdom authority. Change our hearts. Here we are. Send us. We want to use the keys to the Kingdom. Anoint each of us here. Our hearts cry out for this land. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. Holy Spirit empower us to be Your witnesses everywhere. You have come to set the captives free. Send us to go to where the harvest is. We pray all this in the mighty, wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.