Gethsemane B-P Church Camp 2006: A Fortaste of Heaven

A glorious time of Christian fellowship! A foretaste of the joyous heavenly gathering of the saints of Christ! At the end of five days (27, Nov – 01 Dec), when all the spiritual joys and blessings are considered, the feeling was like it was all over a within a day. But there were enough things to remind us that we are still on earth. Some of the campers have fallen sick with stomach discomforts and fever. There were also weaknesses and immature actions of Christians, which were patiently overcome by the matured believers. We have much thanksgiving for the Camp Committee that laboured hard to make the camp a blessed experience. All in all, this years’ church camp was a very blessed camp, where the glory of Christ was clearly visible through the preaching of the Word of God and Christian unity.

I am thankful that the Lord has send Rev.& Mrs. Errol Stone (Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church - Perth, Australia) to minister God’s Word in our church camp. Rev. Stone expounded on the theme “Pre-occupation with Christ’s Glory,” while I preached on “The Glory of Christ.” Mrs. Stone and Sis. Ejigayehu taught the children.

We have the honour of having Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Timothy Tow with 146 that attended the camp. Though Rev. Tow was weak after the recent bout of illness, he was able to rest and be refreshed during the camp. It was really a joy to have both of them with us in the Gethsemane’s camp.
All glory be to God for a joyous camp, where we as a church had a good opportunity to study the topic, “Behold the Glory of Christ.”

I will be ministering God’s Word on the Lord’s Day (3 Dec, 06) in Calvary Jaya Bible-Presbyterian Church, KL Malaysia; and then the following day I will join the Berith B-P Church from Singapore for their church camp, which is held in the Holiday Villa, Subang, Malaysia. I am also thankful that my wife and three children can also join me in all these camps that we may as a family enjoy the study of God’s Word and the fellowship of the saints.

Let us pray for Rev. Lee Kim Shong (Pastor of Calvary Jaya B-P Fellowship) and Dr. Jeffrey Khoo who are in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) to teach in the Bible Colleges and churches.

Posted from Calvary Jaya B-P Church's Guest Room, (Petaling Jaya, KL, Malaysia)

My Sermon Outline (19 Nov, 2006)

Rejection, Redemption, Restoration
Romans 10:19-21

Introduction

Preceding Context (cf. Romans 10:12-18):

• The Word of God is to be preached everywhere that those who hear might believe and be saved.


• It is the duty of the church to send preachers everywhere to sound forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Present Concern:

A concern was raised about the rejection of the Gospel by the nation of Israel, while it is accepted increasingly by the Gentiles.

v.19 - “But I say, Did not Israel know?”

• Why is it that while people from all nations are turning to Christ, Israel, as a nation, shows no knowledge of Christ?


• Israel’s present ignorance of Christ and Gentiles acceptance of Christ are not because the Gospel was not preached to Israel, while it is preached elsewhere.


• Jesus was born in the midst of Israel. He lived, ministered, died, resurrected and ascended to heaven from their midst. Jesus said in Matthew 15:24, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”


• The apostolic ministry of the Gospel began in Jerusalem of Israel. Peter told the Jews in Acts 3:25-26, “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”


• So Israel had the witnesses of:

Christ who lived in their midst
The early apostlic preaching ministry
The early Christians
The testimony of John the Baptist
The covenants & promises in the Old Testament that pointed to Christ
The prophets who testified of Christ

• Why are they still ignorant of Christ?

Rejection (v.19b)

• It was the rejection of Christ, even though all of those testimonies were before them, that made them ignorant of their Saviour.


• To prove this is the case, Paul cited the words of Old Testament prophet, Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21.


• Paul cited in verse 19b the last part of Deuteronomy 32:21, “First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”


• The larger context of Deuteronomy 32:21 – “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”


• Through Moses God has prophesied that when Israel would go after other gods, He would provoke them by leaving them for foolish nations who knew Him not.


• Paul cites a very early prophet as Moses to show how early God has warned against their rejection of Christ.


• A two-fold rejection – When Israel rejected Christ, God rejected Israel.
  

Redemption (v.20)

• Israel rejection of Christ has turned God to the Gentiles that He might redeemed them through the Gospel of Christ.


• To prove this is the case, Paul cited another prophet other than Moses, even Isaiah.


• In verse 20, Paul cited Isaiah 65:1, "But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me."


• Here Isaiah boldy told a proud Israel that God will turn toward a people, who never sought Him in worship or prayer, even the Gentiles, that He may become their God.


• Let us take note that it is not the goodness of Gentiles that moved God to save them.


• It was His own gracious decision that brought salvation to us, who are non-Israleites.


• It is man’s duty to “Seek and find.” But we failed.


• So God revealed Himself to them who never sought Him that He may be found of them.


• He dispenses His grace at His good pleasure to whom He chose. Thus he manifested himself to the Gentiles, by sending the light of the gospel among them.


• So let us not become proud because we are now favoured at the expense of Israel and become like Israel who rejected God and His Word in their pride.


• Paul warns us in Romans 11:19-22 – “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

Restoration (v.21)
“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” This is a citation of Isaiah 65:2.

• The Lord is patient to His people. He yearns over Israel all day long.


• Though He left them for now, He still awaits their returning with stretched hands.


• So Paul pleaded that they would believe on the Lord

Conclusion

• Let us return to Him, from all our backsliding. He will receive us with open arms.


• Let us echo the message of Romans 10:19-21 by singing Fanny J. Crosby’s famous hymn, “Jesus is calling”. Encourage ourselves and others around us to be restored to Christ from all our backsliding.
  

Jesus is tenderly calling thee home
Calling today, Calling today
Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam
Farther and Farther away

Chorus: Calling today, Calling today,
Jesus is calling,
Is tenderly calling today

Jesus is calling the weary to rest
Calling today, Calling today
Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt be blest
He will not turn thee away . . . . chorus

Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now
Waiting today, Waiting today
Come with thy sins at His feet lowly bow
Come and no longer delay . . . . chorus

Jesus is pleading, O list to His voice
Hear Him today, Hear Him today
They who believe on His name shall rejoice
Quickly arise and away . . . . chorus

My Sermon Outline (12 Nov 06)

Sending Preachers
Romans 10:12-18

Introduction

• The church’s greatest duty on earth is to send preachers.
• Church is God’s only institution on earth that is given the task of preaching the Gospel of salvation everywhere.
• So the Apostle Paul instructs the church in Rome, its duty of sending preachers.

Reasons for Church’s Commitment to Send Preachers
1. We are entrusted with a message (v.15c)
“preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (v.15c)

• “Gospel of peace”: The good news that offers peace. (cf. Ephesians 6:15)
– It is the word of reconciliation between God and man. “On earth peace” (Luke 2:14).
– Romans 5:1 - “. . . Peace with God through Jesus Christ”

• “Glad tidings of good things!”:
– 2 Thessalonians 2:16 – “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”
– Romans 10:12b-13 - “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

• “is rich” (Greek – plouteo): It indicates that God is affluent in resources so that He can give blessings of salvation to all.
• What a joyous news is that God will manifest His grace and salvation abundantly to all those who would trust Him.

• The Apostle Paul has described the message of the Gospel also as

– “Gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27)
– “Gospel of salvation” (Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thess 3:2; 2 Thess 1:8)
– “Glorious Gospel” (1 Timothy 1:11)

2. We are entrusted with a mandate (vv.14-15a)

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
• Faith comes by hearing, so they must hear the message. How will they hear?
• A messenger must go to them with the message.
• But this means that the messenger must be sent.
• The preachers ought to be sent to every people, indiscriminately. It is God’s commandment to His Church.

– Romans 10:12-13 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
– Matthew 28:18-20

Role of the Church in Sending Preachers
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (v.15a)
• Preparing Preachers
– 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
• Providing for Preachers
– Philippians 4:10-19
• Pray for preachers
– We must pray for more labourers to do the work of evangelism. - Matthew 9:37-38
– We must pray for the protection of those who preach the Gospel - Romans 15:30-31
– We must pray that God would grant us more opportunities to preach the Gospel. - Colossians 4:2-3
– We ought to pray that the preachers of the Gospel would have the grace to expound the truth clearly to the hearers. - Colossians 4:3-4
– We must pray God that He would grant us boldness in preaching - Ephesians 6:19, 20

Responses to the Church’s Sending of Preachers
• Some will turn to the Lord
– Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• Some will reject the Lord
– Romans 10:16 – “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

Results of the Church’s Sending of Preachers
• Divine commendation
– Romans 10:15b - “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace”
• Many will turn to Christ by faith
– Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• World evangelization is accomplished
– Romans 10:18 - “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
We will be able to fulfil our part in God’s plan concerning the Global preaching of the Gospel.
– Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”