Sermon Title: Prepare for change; Prepare to Change (Embrace The Work of God)
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
To embrace the Work of God is to know His Heart.
Like everything about God, the ways of His Heart are infinitely higher than ours – just “as the heavens are higher than the earth.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
John 3:16-17 tells us:
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Though He loves the world immensely, those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will undoubtedly perish.
We have heard it said that “God hates sin, but loves the sinner.”
This understanding is incomplete.
This misinformation has made the church complacent, confused and complicit to the many transgressions of the world; and even allowed wickedness to leach into the body of Christ.
God hates sin, and hates the sinner.
Even in John 3:16-17 is found both consecration – for those who believe in Christ; resulting in eternal life; and condemnation – for those who refuse to believe; resulting in the second and final death.
It is certainly true that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
And that: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
However, we must understand this clearly.
God loves us so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified on the Cross for the atonement of our sins; but the fact remains that He hates both the sin and the sinner.
Psalm 11:5 is unmistakable when it comes to the things that God hates:
“The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion.”
It is clear.
God hates the wicked with a passion.
Even so, in the knowledge that God’s love transcends our understanding, our lives must consistently and conscientiously bear witness to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Ref: Acts 1:8)
“Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
For not only are we personally sent by Christ, our every endeavour and enterprise must be working for, and serving the Lord.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Christ’s Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:14-20) is the divine call to every true disciple to participate in His Work of inbreaking the Kingdom of God.
Disobedience to the great Commission contradicts the state of a true disciple; and exposes the disciple as false – in which case, they are outright unbelievers whose allegiance remain earthbound -destined for the second death. (Ref: Revelation 21:8)
In fact, there’s more to this wickedness.
Our Lord Jesus actually promised His Presence with us as we participate in His Kingdom Work.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20)
The failure to embrace the Work of God – to participate in God’s Kingdom Inbreaking Work - is really a rejection of Christ, and thus, the mark of the defiant - which is, abhorrently wicked in His Sight.
The Apostle Paul exemplifies our attitude towards Kingdom Work in 1 Corinthians 9:16: “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
As true recipients of His Grace, we would feel compelled, energized and empowered to preach the Gospel to the world; which in every way must inform the shape of His Church at present.
The Eternal Church
Our divine work in participating with the Lord Jesus Christ in inbreaking His Kingdom must be centered and focused on the form of His Eternal Church.
In the past six decades or so, we have been known as the Victoria Chinese Pentecostal Church.
No matter how we manifest the Power of God to the world, our name frames our ministry; and likewise, we would find that every expression of ministry will ultimately be aligned to our name.
In short, what we call ourselves categorically defines the extent of our call and ministry.
Our name is the first impression that frames all our relationships, old and new;
Our name identifies us and frames our mandate – summing up everything our church is about, what we do, and who we must reach out to; and
Our name represents God’s Unique Manifestation and Expression through us on the World and the Wider body of Believers.
So, who are we?
We are a Spirit-anointed, Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered and Spirit-led Pentecostal Church.
It is a distinction that we must cherish; for it is a distinction not only to the world, but also, to the Church at large.
I am utterly convinced that the Pentecostal church serves to exhort our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ amongst the Evangelical churches that the Holy Spirit is actively and powerfully at work through those who desire to be daily baptized in His Power in order to be effective as Witnesses for Christ.
To this, it is imperative that our name accurately represents our fullest participation in Christ’s Commission with the goal of becoming part of His Eternal Church.
We must start to become more biblical and missional in our identity for us to become accurate and more effective in the divine work that Christ has invited us to participate in.
No longer should we be a Chinese church in a multicultural society.
Our name is critical especially at this juncture of our history; and you can each be part of this change that restores our church towards being a Biblically accurate church that is actively preaching His Gospel to the world, and aligned to His revelation of the Eternal Church.
What does the Lord reveal to us about the form of His Eternal Church?
Revelation 5:9-10 reveals whom the Lord desires to save:“And they sang a new song, saying:“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your Blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Bold emphasis mine)
Revelation 14:6 reveals to whom the Eternal Gospel must be proclaimed to – the divine work of the church: “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people.” (Bold emphasis mine)
And Revelation 7:9-10 reveals the ultimate form of the Eternal Church – to which we must aspire and strive towards even today: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Bold emphasis mine)
In the face of the mounting depravity that pervades the world today, there is a great urgency for the People of God to maintain our vision utterly on the eternal form of the Church of God – filled with true worshipers and disciples of Christ from every nation, tribe, people and language.
That we may be resolute in declaring,
“Come what may, we will embrace God’s Kingdom Work and participate with the Holy Spirit in building His Present Church “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, grant that I may truly know Your Heart; and yet recognise that Your Ways are infinitely higher than mine –just “as the heavens are higher than the earth.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
I recognize that only through Christ is there consecration; for apart from Christ, there is only condemnation – for indeed, You hate the wicked and those who love violence “with a passion.” (Psalm 11:5)
Thank You for forgiving all my sins and transgressions against You, Lord; and I ask that my desire is to know You more and live daily in the Power of Your Resurrection.
Thank You for the Revelation of Your Love and Salvation through Christ Jesus; and for Your Commission over my life to “go make disciples of all Nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
Holy Spirit, fill me with Your Presence and Power – that my life may consistently and conscientiously be sent into the world to bear witness to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ – thus, daily participating in Your Work of inbreaking the Kingdom of God. (Ref: John 20:21, Acts 1:8)
Grant that my every endeavour and enterprise – and even my every impulse – be focused on working for, and serving You, Lord Jesus. (Ref: Colossians 3:23-24)
Forgive me, Lord, for every moment of my wickedness when I failed to fulfill Your Commission over my life.
I declare that my allegiance and devotion is Yours and Yours alone!
Grant that I may sense Your Holy Presence as I embrace Your Work in the world today!
Holy Spirit, energize and empower me to preach the Gospel to the world that Your church would be filled with true worshipers who worship the Living God in Spirit and Truth from “persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:10, Ref: Revelation 14:6)
Yes, Lord!
Prepare us, change and transform us – that our church may aspire and strive towards being supernatural and active in preaching Your Gospel to the world; and fully aligned to Your Revelation of the Eternal Church.
That we may be resolute in declaring, “Come what may, we will embrace God’s Kingdom Work and participate with the Holy Spirit in building His Present Church “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
To embrace the Work of God is to know His Heart.
Like everything about God, the ways of His Heart are infinitely higher than ours – just “as the heavens are higher than the earth.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
John 3:16-17 tells us:
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Though He loves the world immensely, those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will undoubtedly perish.
We have heard it said that “God hates sin, but loves the sinner.”
This understanding is incomplete.
This misinformation has made the church complacent, confused and complicit to the many transgressions of the world; and even allowed wickedness to leach into the body of Christ.
God hates sin, and hates the sinner.
Even in John 3:16-17 is found both consecration – for those who believe in Christ; resulting in eternal life; and condemnation – for those who refuse to believe; resulting in the second and final death.
It is certainly true that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
And that: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
However, we must understand this clearly.
God loves us so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified on the Cross for the atonement of our sins; but the fact remains that He hates both the sin and the sinner.
Psalm 11:5 is unmistakable when it comes to the things that God hates:
“The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion.”
It is clear.
God hates the wicked with a passion.
Even so, in the knowledge that God’s love transcends our understanding, our lives must consistently and conscientiously bear witness to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Ref: Acts 1:8)
“Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
For not only are we personally sent by Christ, our every endeavour and enterprise must be working for, and serving the Lord.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Christ’s Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:14-20) is the divine call to every true disciple to participate in His Work of inbreaking the Kingdom of God.
Disobedience to the great Commission contradicts the state of a true disciple; and exposes the disciple as false – in which case, they are outright unbelievers whose allegiance remain earthbound -destined for the second death. (Ref: Revelation 21:8)
In fact, there’s more to this wickedness.
Our Lord Jesus actually promised His Presence with us as we participate in His Kingdom Work.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20)
The failure to embrace the Work of God – to participate in God’s Kingdom Inbreaking Work - is really a rejection of Christ, and thus, the mark of the defiant - which is, abhorrently wicked in His Sight.
The Apostle Paul exemplifies our attitude towards Kingdom Work in 1 Corinthians 9:16: “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
As true recipients of His Grace, we would feel compelled, energized and empowered to preach the Gospel to the world; which in every way must inform the shape of His Church at present.
The Eternal Church
Our divine work in participating with the Lord Jesus Christ in inbreaking His Kingdom must be centered and focused on the form of His Eternal Church.
In the past six decades or so, we have been known as the Victoria Chinese Pentecostal Church.
No matter how we manifest the Power of God to the world, our name frames our ministry; and likewise, we would find that every expression of ministry will ultimately be aligned to our name.
In short, what we call ourselves categorically defines the extent of our call and ministry.
Our name is the first impression that frames all our relationships, old and new;
Our name identifies us and frames our mandate – summing up everything our church is about, what we do, and who we must reach out to; and
Our name represents God’s Unique Manifestation and Expression through us on the World and the Wider body of Believers.
So, who are we?
We are a Spirit-anointed, Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered and Spirit-led Pentecostal Church.
It is a distinction that we must cherish; for it is a distinction not only to the world, but also, to the Church at large.
I am utterly convinced that the Pentecostal church serves to exhort our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ amongst the Evangelical churches that the Holy Spirit is actively and powerfully at work through those who desire to be daily baptized in His Power in order to be effective as Witnesses for Christ.
To this, it is imperative that our name accurately represents our fullest participation in Christ’s Commission with the goal of becoming part of His Eternal Church.
We must start to become more biblical and missional in our identity for us to become accurate and more effective in the divine work that Christ has invited us to participate in.
No longer should we be a Chinese church in a multicultural society.
Our name is critical especially at this juncture of our history; and you can each be part of this change that restores our church towards being a Biblically accurate church that is actively preaching His Gospel to the world, and aligned to His revelation of the Eternal Church.
What does the Lord reveal to us about the form of His Eternal Church?
Revelation 5:9-10 reveals whom the Lord desires to save:“And they sang a new song, saying:“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your Blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Bold emphasis mine)
Revelation 14:6 reveals to whom the Eternal Gospel must be proclaimed to – the divine work of the church: “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people.” (Bold emphasis mine)
And Revelation 7:9-10 reveals the ultimate form of the Eternal Church – to which we must aspire and strive towards even today: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Bold emphasis mine)
In the face of the mounting depravity that pervades the world today, there is a great urgency for the People of God to maintain our vision utterly on the eternal form of the Church of God – filled with true worshipers and disciples of Christ from every nation, tribe, people and language.
That we may be resolute in declaring,
“Come what may, we will embrace God’s Kingdom Work and participate with the Holy Spirit in building His Present Church “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, grant that I may truly know Your Heart; and yet recognise that Your Ways are infinitely higher than mine –just “as the heavens are higher than the earth.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
I recognize that only through Christ is there consecration; for apart from Christ, there is only condemnation – for indeed, You hate the wicked and those who love violence “with a passion.” (Psalm 11:5)
Thank You for forgiving all my sins and transgressions against You, Lord; and I ask that my desire is to know You more and live daily in the Power of Your Resurrection.
Thank You for the Revelation of Your Love and Salvation through Christ Jesus; and for Your Commission over my life to “go make disciples of all Nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
Holy Spirit, fill me with Your Presence and Power – that my life may consistently and conscientiously be sent into the world to bear witness to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ – thus, daily participating in Your Work of inbreaking the Kingdom of God. (Ref: John 20:21, Acts 1:8)
Grant that my every endeavour and enterprise – and even my every impulse – be focused on working for, and serving You, Lord Jesus. (Ref: Colossians 3:23-24)
Forgive me, Lord, for every moment of my wickedness when I failed to fulfill Your Commission over my life.
I declare that my allegiance and devotion is Yours and Yours alone!
Grant that I may sense Your Holy Presence as I embrace Your Work in the world today!
Holy Spirit, energize and empower me to preach the Gospel to the world that Your church would be filled with true worshipers who worship the Living God in Spirit and Truth from “persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:10, Ref: Revelation 14:6)
Yes, Lord!
Prepare us, change and transform us – that our church may aspire and strive towards being supernatural and active in preaching Your Gospel to the world; and fully aligned to Your Revelation of the Eternal Church.
That we may be resolute in declaring, “Come what may, we will embrace God’s Kingdom Work and participate with the Holy Spirit in building His Present Church “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.