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Pray for Peace & Salvation in Israel & Palestine

9 October 2023 blogpastor Leave a comment

“Oh dear! This is tragic. This is serious. It is going to be disastrous for all peace-loving people on both sides of the conflict. There will be an invasion. There will be great loss of lives on both sides. This conflict is going to be headline news for a few weeks. It is going to take attention away from Russia-Ukraine war. This conflict will not be settled at the negotiation table.” This was what I was thinking, feeling when I heard over the weekend about Hamas attacks in Israel and the declaration of war by the Prime Minister of Israel, and the calling of the reserves into action.

Interestingly, just this Sunday the pastor preached from Isaiah chapter 7 about a Syrian-Israel (northern kingdom) alliance that threatened to invade Judah (southern kingdom). King Ahaz of Judah and the nation heard the news and trembled like leaves shaken by a strong wind. God in his mercy sent Isaiah to encourage king Ahaz to trust in the covenant God of the house of David. Ahaz preferred to trust in his strategy instead of putting his trust in God. He sought the help of Assyria. Assyria then decimated Syria, and then Israel (northern kingdom) and finally turned on Judah (southern kingdom). The prophets saw this as God’s judgment on his chosen people because of their idolatry. Instead of worshipping God and God alone, they worshipped idols. This idolatry led to all kinds of injustice, oppression of the weak, unrighteousness and the breaking of God’s laws. It led to the judgment of God on his chosen people.

Modern Israel is no different from the people of God in the times of king Ahaz. They too are an idolatrous people that love things more than God. Hedonism, materialism, relativism, secularism. humanism, rationalism and all other kinds of worldviews reigns. The people have rejected God from the pre-eminent place in their society. These are modern day idols, the golden calf among the chosen people. There is no denying it. Pew Research Center in 2016 stated that 7.3% are Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox); 18.8% are Dati (religious); 24.3% are Masorti (traditional); and 33.1% are Hiloni (secular). Only 1.9% are Christians. A Gallup survey in 2015 determined that 65% of Israelis say they are either “not religious” or “convinced atheists”, while 30% say they are “religious” (Wikipedia “Religion in Israel”). These statistics may give us clues about how God may want to deal with the nation of Israel, and how we can pray and intercede.

Let “supplications, prayers, intercessions” be made for all peoples, both Israelis and Palestinians, and for those in authority and high positions, so that permanent peace may be established in the Middle East and innocent people can live a peaceful and safe and dignified life, and that people will come to a knowledge of the truth.
Pray for good sense, peace and reconciliation to prevail, and all invaders to be removed, the kidnapped rescued, and innocent civilians be safe and protected.
Pray and feel for all who have suffered and are now grieving, in fear, anxiety, and danger.
Pray that all foreign powers that are involved be frustrated in their self-interests and purposes, but those that are true peacemakers to succeed in their aims.
Pray for the Christian churches and believers to be available to help the innocent civilian victims of war and aid them. Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit upon the Christians in both nations to empower them to help the needy and preach Jesus Christ. Pray for a good harvest of souls into God’s kingdom.
Pray the people of Israel will have an awakening to their need of Jesus, the Prince of Peace who alone can give them the interior peace that matters most.
The best way is to intercede in tongues so that we pray according to God’s will. That is if you have the gift of tongues.

My SDFP Coursemates

6 October 2023 blogpastor Leave a comment

It was a joy to get to know and interact with these people who are passionate about knowing God more intimately and helping others move toward God. You cannot help but feel a sense of belonging with them. They were companions and fellow-pilgrims along the same journey.

The SDFP curriculum included a compulsory faith-sharing component where we share about the ups and downs of lives, listen to each other without judgment, honing our listening and discernment skills. Of course, we do small talk too, of current cost of living, Presidential election, our spiritual directors’ style, and the program ahead. My faith sharing group meets at Agape Village at Toa Payoh so we typically have a meal together at the hawker center before our meeting. We met monthly and with the sharing of life we gradually build trust and a safe space. It is probably the same with the other faith-sharing groups.

I decided to put up the groups in my blog to jog my memory should I meet them again. Remembering names seems to be getting harder. I face a person, knows him quite well, but the CPU unit in my brain is slow to bring up the name. Having this blogpost will help me for sure because after the program it may be some time before I see many of them.

Big pic L to R: Caroline, Amelia, Chin Meng, Joanna.

L to R: Andrina, Kenny, Teresa, Margaret.

L to R: Eileen, Seng Chor, Dorothy, Dawn.

L to R: Sr Clara, Malcolm, Juliana, Corinne.

L to R: Serene, Fabiola, Brian, Sr Bernadetha, Lisa.

You may be curious about how ecumenical my course mates are. Most are Roman Catholics with two religious. Among the Protestants are a Pentecostal (that’s me), one Anglican, two Methodists, two Evangelical Free Church members, and three Presbyterians. Five of the Protestants were or are currently in full-time vocational pastoral work.

While we have graduated from the program, we were encouraged to continue with our faith-sharing groups, and to continue receiving spiritual direction and supervision, as we embark on this ministry of accompanying others.

Christ’s Finished Work: Resurrection of Believers

5 October 2023 blogpastor Leave a comment

The death and resurrection of Christ is a foundational truth upon which our life depends. Every blessing and benefit we receive from God and experience in our lives has its basis in the finished work of Christ. The living waters flow out of the fountainhead of Christ’s victory through the holy cross and the empty tomb. We often talk about the death of Christ but it is equally important that we grasp the fruit of the resurrection of Christ.

Sin is defeated completely

First, Christ’s resurrection confirms that his death was effectually substitutionary. In other words, he suffered death on our behalf and for our sins, so that we can receive his gift of righteousness. If Christ was not raised from the dead, we would remain under the condemnation of our sins. In Romans 4:25, the apostle Paul states that Christ “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification”. Christ’s resurrection secures the effect that Christ’s death was purposed to achieve: the cancellation of the penalty for our sins, and the imputing of his righteousness to us. His resurrection justifies us of all guilt.

After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were in despair and confusion. They were mourning. However, the good news soon arrived, “Jesus is alive”, and they recalled what Jesus had told them about his resurrection. The resurrection gave them great reassurance and faith in the promises of God. It should have the same effect of assuring us that our sins are forgiven and we stand righteous before God.

Powers of a new life

Second, Christ’s resurrection empowers our new life. Paul declares in Colossians 2:12 that “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” In other words, because of our union with Christ, we experienced a spiritual resurrection equivalent to regeneration, the impartation of God’s life that enlivens us spiritually and morally. He states the same thought elsewhere: “even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved”(Ephesians 2:5). Christ’s resurrection made it possible for the spiritually dead to experience a spiritual resurrection that enables believers to live in “newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

This was my personal experience of a spiritual resurrection. A friend invited me to a Saturday afternoon youth meeting in a terrace house and after the sermon, I went forward to ask Jesus into my life. From then on I attended church regularly and prayed together every night with other youths on fire for Jesus. A period of repentance and cleansing followed and I was also baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit. My heart was bursting with love for God, peace from the forgiveness of sins, and joy from being baptised with the Holy Spirit. My desires and goals were completely changed from self-gratification to wanting to spend time with God in prayer, Bible study and other spiritual things. My family and friends all noticed the changes in my life. I have been made new. It is like my old life passed away and the newness of life has replaced it. Where once I did not know God, I became spiritually alive to his person and presence.

The hope of a future resurrection

Third, our resurrection is guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection. This is a future physical resurrection. If Christ was not raised from the dead, then no one will be raised to life. However, we know from the witnesses in the gospel record that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead. Since this is so, it also proves that God’s promises that the dead in Christ will be raised from the dead to share eternal bliss with God in his new world will be fulfilled in the future. Apostle Peter puts it this way: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”(1 Peter 1:3-5)

Christ’s resurrection gives us a living hope that one day in the future we will receive an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us, a salvation that will be revealed at the end of this age. This gives us an undying, unfading hope. It takes away the fear of death. Death will be put in a coffin and sealed securely for all eternity, unable to harm us ever again.

Prayer

Father in heaven, you raised Jesus from the dead, so that my sins are dealt with and I can have right standing before you. Thank you that the resurrection also meant my new life is powered not by my willpower but by your Spirit. I also put my hope of eternal life in you for just as you raised Jesus from the dead, you will do the same for me at the end of this age. What a comprehensive victory you have made available for me! Amen.

This is part of a planned series of writings on the topic, “The A to Z of Christ’s Finished Work”. I am writing it alphabet by alphabet. Thus far the others that I have written can be found HERE.