“When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." (Acts 16:7; NIV). What a strange prohibition! These men were going into Bithynia just to do Christ's work, and the door is shut against them by Christ's own Spirit. Have you experienced this in your life? It was hard at such times to leave one's work undone when one believed that work to be the service of the Spirit. As I have preached on October 2, the Christian life is not just characterized by action but waiting also. It is a divine plan for the good of us as well as those who are served by us. Rom 8:28 bears the important promise: in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
I'm sure you could think of dozens of reasons for your action or waiting in the Lord. The crucial question here is: Are we led by Spirit? I certainly could not give you a simple or even any answer at all. I Cor. 2:11 reminds us that no one knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man and no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Indeed, only the Holy Spirit is truly qualified to be our spiritual director and counselor. The practical implication of this teaching drives us back to God's breathed Word – the Bible. Yes, we must study the Bible with due diligence and practice a prayerful life in order to understand and to master a Spirit-led life.
"When I cannot understand my Father's leading,
And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate,
I Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading,
God is working, God is faithful, ONLY WAIT." --George Matheson
(inspired by Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman; Sept. 24th)
Friday, May 26, 2006
He Lives
In my sermon on October 2, we conclude that love motivates and compels Franciszek Gajowniczek, a Polish Jew to tell people about Maximilian Kolbe, his redeemer in the Auschwitz camp, as long as he has breath in his lungs. Our Lord is right to point out that (Jn. 15:13): Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Thank God, Jesus Christ not only died but have resurrected for us! I do believe that it is the reason and drive behind Kolbe’s martyrdom as well as other similar sacrifices by faithful believers in Christ. As Christians, we all look forward to the Great Day when we shall meet our loved ones and friends in our heavenly home and become resurrected after Christ's likeness. This is also the backbone for the answer by Alfred H. Ackley (an author and composer 1887-1960) when he was questioned by a student as to why we should worship a dead Jew. Ackley firmly replied, "He lives! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.” The scriptural evidence, Ackley's own heart and the testimony of history matched the glorious experience of an innumerable cloud of witnesses that Jesus lives.
Beloved, are you still asking a similar question about our Lord's resurrection or everlasting life? The answer again lies in the Bible as God-breathed words, your own experience and our collective testimony as a holy and loving family in Christ. Should you still have some kind of hesitation, I urge you to try seeking our Lord with love and faith for then the peace and hope therefrom would show you the way. Amen.
Thank God, Jesus Christ not only died but have resurrected for us! I do believe that it is the reason and drive behind Kolbe’s martyrdom as well as other similar sacrifices by faithful believers in Christ. As Christians, we all look forward to the Great Day when we shall meet our loved ones and friends in our heavenly home and become resurrected after Christ's likeness. This is also the backbone for the answer by Alfred H. Ackley (an author and composer 1887-1960) when he was questioned by a student as to why we should worship a dead Jew. Ackley firmly replied, "He lives! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.” The scriptural evidence, Ackley's own heart and the testimony of history matched the glorious experience of an innumerable cloud of witnesses that Jesus lives.
Beloved, are you still asking a similar question about our Lord's resurrection or everlasting life? The answer again lies in the Bible as God-breathed words, your own experience and our collective testimony as a holy and loving family in Christ. Should you still have some kind of hesitation, I urge you to try seeking our Lord with love and faith for then the peace and hope therefrom would show you the way. Amen.
Love makes the difference
Everyone one of us loves to be loved. You might have heard stories about mothers who sacrificed their own fortune and even lives just to ensure their children's survival. However, the Bible talks about an even greater love: But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Indeed, who is willing to sacrifice his/her life for a stranger or even an unworthy person?
The example of Jesus Christ's sacrifice has triggered similar selfless heroic deeds among his followers. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest is among one of those followers during the second world war (WWII). The location of Kolbe's martyrdom was at the death camp Auschwitz, the killing centre during WWII where the largest numbers of European Jews were murdered by the Nazis. Besides a true hero, Kolbe was a saint who practiced what he preached: total love toward God and man. Kolbe’s martyrdom was triggered by a prisoner's escape from the camp in July 1941. The Nazis selected 10 others to be killed in reprisal for the escape. Franciszek Gajowniczek, one of the scapegoats, began to cry, "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this point, Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place. Amazingly, his request was granted by the merciless Nazi commandant. He was later executed with an injection of a lethal dose on August 14, 1941 at the age of 47.
Gajowniczek died on March 13, 1995 in Poland, 95 years old - and 53 years after Kolbe had saved him. He never forgot the ragged monk. After his release from Auschwitz, Gajowniczek spent the next five decades paying homage to Father Kolbe. When he was 94 years old, he visited St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church of Houston. He told his translator on that trip that as long as he had breath in his lungs, he would consider it his duty to tell people about the heroic act of love by Maximilian Kolbe. Why was he obligated to tell people about Kolbe’s sacrifice? We all know the answer – it is Love! Yes, love really makes the difference.
(Kolbe's story)
The example of Jesus Christ's sacrifice has triggered similar selfless heroic deeds among his followers. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest is among one of those followers during the second world war (WWII). The location of Kolbe's martyrdom was at the death camp Auschwitz, the killing centre during WWII where the largest numbers of European Jews were murdered by the Nazis. Besides a true hero, Kolbe was a saint who practiced what he preached: total love toward God and man. Kolbe’s martyrdom was triggered by a prisoner's escape from the camp in July 1941. The Nazis selected 10 others to be killed in reprisal for the escape. Franciszek Gajowniczek, one of the scapegoats, began to cry, "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this point, Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place. Amazingly, his request was granted by the merciless Nazi commandant. He was later executed with an injection of a lethal dose on August 14, 1941 at the age of 47.
Gajowniczek died on March 13, 1995 in Poland, 95 years old - and 53 years after Kolbe had saved him. He never forgot the ragged monk. After his release from Auschwitz, Gajowniczek spent the next five decades paying homage to Father Kolbe. When he was 94 years old, he visited St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church of Houston. He told his translator on that trip that as long as he had breath in his lungs, he would consider it his duty to tell people about the heroic act of love by Maximilian Kolbe. Why was he obligated to tell people about Kolbe’s sacrifice? We all know the answer – it is Love! Yes, love really makes the difference.
(Kolbe's story)
Love is …
Have you ever thought about what is love? I think our experiences and insight of love are rather individual and diversified. Indeed, love is profound and far-reaching. I wish to recommend to you a devotional movie (Love Is) which provides a wonderful narration of love. For instance, it is said that love is:
Being happy for the other person when they are happy,
Being sad for the person when they are sad,
…………….
being honest with yourself at all times
and being honest with the other person at all times,
……………………..
Love is the source of reality,
……………………
the freedom to pursue your own desire
while sharing your experiences together with the other person,
the growth of an individual alongside of
and together with the growth of another individual,
……………………….
Giving and taking in a daily situation
being patient with each other’s needs and desires,
Love is the source of sharing.
……………
Love is the source of life.
They are wonderful description of love, aren't they? Yes, they are. However, description is only the prelude to love for love really is in deeds rather than in words. I've been talking about faith and hope recently while Joanne highlights on our mission to help as many people as possible to know, love, and serve God in her Sunday article. Besides preaching the gospel, the best help to bring people to Christ is to love them so as to stir up their love for Jesus – the ultimate example of Love. Brothers and sisters, let's prepare our hearts and live a life of love.
Being happy for the other person when they are happy,
Being sad for the person when they are sad,
…………….
being honest with yourself at all times
and being honest with the other person at all times,
……………………..
Love is the source of reality,
……………………
the freedom to pursue your own desire
while sharing your experiences together with the other person,
the growth of an individual alongside of
and together with the growth of another individual,
……………………….
Giving and taking in a daily situation
being patient with each other’s needs and desires,
Love is the source of sharing.
……………
Love is the source of life.
They are wonderful description of love, aren't they? Yes, they are. However, description is only the prelude to love for love really is in deeds rather than in words. I've been talking about faith and hope recently while Joanne highlights on our mission to help as many people as possible to know, love, and serve God in her Sunday article. Besides preaching the gospel, the best help to bring people to Christ is to love them so as to stir up their love for Jesus – the ultimate example of Love. Brothers and sisters, let's prepare our hearts and live a life of love.
Is It a Joke?
A man dies and goes to heaven. The Apostle Peter meets him at the pearly gates. Peter says, "Tell me all the good things you've done, and I'll give you the credit points for them. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. Understand?" "Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." Peter says, "Wonderful, that's worth 3 points!"
"3 points?" the man says, "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service." "Terrific!" says Peter, "that's certainly worth a point." The man responds, "One point? Golly! How about this: I started a soup kitchen and worked in a shelter for homeless people." Peter than gives him another 2 points. The man cries, "TWO POINTS!! At this rate the only way I can get into heaven is by the grace of God!" Peter says, "That's right! Now you have got it!"
You may think the above story is rather humorous. Indeed, it is a basic tenet in our Christian belief expressed in a comedian tone. Ephesian 2: 8-9 tells us: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God ─ not because of works, lest any man should boast. It is by grace also that Joanne and I were given the opportunity to serve you as part-time ministers because none of us could boast of our work or calibre before the Lord’s saving grace. So, brothers and sisters, let's work together in partnership to propagate the gospel for the purposes and benefit of our church. (Please feel free to call Joanne or Howard on matters related to you or our church).
(100 Points)
"3 points?" the man says, "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service." "Terrific!" says Peter, "that's certainly worth a point." The man responds, "One point? Golly! How about this: I started a soup kitchen and worked in a shelter for homeless people." Peter than gives him another 2 points. The man cries, "TWO POINTS!! At this rate the only way I can get into heaven is by the grace of God!" Peter says, "That's right! Now you have got it!"
You may think the above story is rather humorous. Indeed, it is a basic tenet in our Christian belief expressed in a comedian tone. Ephesian 2: 8-9 tells us: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God ─ not because of works, lest any man should boast. It is by grace also that Joanne and I were given the opportunity to serve you as part-time ministers because none of us could boast of our work or calibre before the Lord’s saving grace. So, brothers and sisters, let's work together in partnership to propagate the gospel for the purposes and benefit of our church. (Please feel free to call Joanne or Howard on matters related to you or our church).
(100 Points)
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