Pursue A Lowliness Of Mind!

Pursue A Lowliness of Mind!

let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philippians 2:3

“Lowliness of mind” basically is “humility” as it is so translated elsewhere in the New Testament. The Christian idea behind this word is: lowliness of mind must become those who are “called.” And those who are called must show it visibly in their lives.

The opposite is pride. And pride is a big bad sin! How bad is it? Let me let Thomas Brooks (1655) answer. In his book The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Brooks wrote a little poem about pride. Here are two stanzas of it:

Pride sets itself against the honour, being, and sovereignty of God. Other sins strike at the word of God, the people of God, and the creatures of God – but pride strikes directly at the very being of God. He bears a special hatred against pride.

Humility makes a man like to angels – and pride makes an angel a devil. Pride is worse than the devil, for the devil cannot hurt you until pride has possessed you.

Is it really that bad? You might be tempted to think. Well, don’t! Don’t even entertain the idea. The clear warning is set in Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

Pride is the mother of all sins. For a Christian, it corrupts and spoils everything. Thus, the humble mind is the root of all other graces and virtues. There can be no real love without humility. Love, says Paul, does not boast and is not proud (see 1 Cor 13:4).

Humility is absolutely required before you can begin to serve God honourably. It is the only pathway to “riches, honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4). That’s why, Micah 6:8tells you the first requirement is “to walk humbly” with Him, without which, you can’t even be in His presence (Isaiah 57:15).

Jesus not only strongly impressed on His disciples the need of humility, but was in Himself its supreme example. He described Himself as “meek and lowly in heart” (Matt 11:29). Hence, the apostle Paul makes an earnest appeal to Christians (Phil 2:1-11) that they should have the same mind as was in Christ.

God knows the proud “from afar” (Ps 138:6) and has regard only for those who in “lowliness of mind” esteem others better than themselves.

Let us all beware! Unless we make the increase of humility our goal we may not have the presence of God with us.

In Him,
Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. Pr Mathews Abraham brings the message to our 1st and 2nd Worship Services today.

2. Moriah CNY Evangelism Project: Give the Gift of True Prosperity to your loved ones this Chinese New year! Pick up your CNY Goodie Bag (5 Tracts and 5 Ang Paos) this Sunday at our e-Festive Booth.

3. CNY Neighborhood Outreach: Join the e-team (English) as they visit our neighbors in Simei on 3rd and 10th February 2008, 1~2:30pm. Interested parties please visit us at the e-Festive booth or contact Dn Gideon at 97700773 or Cherie at 90889242.

4. Sunday Bible Classes begin the study of Genesis today! (9:45am and 11:15am). If you missed signing up and wish to join a class today, please see Elder Handson Fu, Mrs Yayin Fu or Mr Ho Zhiwei.

5. Unlocking the Mystery of Life - A DVD screening of this documentary will be held at Life BP Church at 9 Gilstead Rd on 16 February 2008 from 7~9pm. For more details please see Notice Boards. Go watch this fascinating documentary that will revolutionize your understanding of life and unlock the mystery of its origin. All are Welcome.

6. Church Counselling Service
Members are reminded that, as part of our Church ministry, the Pastoral Team headed by Rev. Robert Chew is available throughout the week for prayer, help and advice on individual personal and family matters when needed, whether by phone, email or for consultation in person at a convenient time and venue.

To enhance our services under our Family Life Ministry, we are grateful to the Lord for the availability of Mr Gn Chiang Tat to augment the Team particularly in the area of family counselling. Mr. Gn is a regular worshipper at Moriah, together with his wife Lily. He has been rendering counselling service for some 15 years in various Christian organizations. He serves with a youth organization which also takes him abroad on regular mission visits, and is a regular speaker at various churches.

Any one who needs counselling should, in the first instance, communicate with Rev. Robert Chew who will be in a position either to render assistance himself or to arrange for another appropriate counsellor from the team to be available.

Following Him (Matt 4:18~22)

Title: Following Him (Matt 4:18~22)
Speaker: Pr Mathews Abraham

News & Annoucnements

1. Rev Robert Chew brings the message to our 1st and 2nd Worship Services today.

2. Sunday Bible Class Students’ Orientation Day - All students who have signed up for this year’s study of Genesis, and others who wish to join, are to attend a Students’ Orientation Meeting today at either 9:45am (Choir Room) or at 11:15am (Mandarin Sanctuary).

3. Hiring @ Moriah Child Care: Moriah Child Care and Student Care is keenly looking for passionate, dedicated and qualified teachers with or without experience to join their team. Applicants must be Singapore residents, preferably Christian. Those interested please contact Elder Gary Tay at 96369432 or email at c13104@email.mot.com

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LIFE’S SEASONS

When we are young, we can’t wait to grow up. When we are old, we look back longingly to former days. But God intends that we joyfully take each season of life as it comes. Whatever our age, He imparts what we need to be all that we can be. He asks us to commit our way to Him and accept the struggles He allows and the strength He provides.

Are you in life’s springtime? Trust God’s timing to fulfil your dreams. Are you in life’s summer or autumn? Face your daily challenges head-on. And if you feel winter’s chill, draw close to the Lord. His presence can make every season of life one of strength and beauty.

- Dennis De Haan

Seeking Meekness

Seeking Meekness

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may by ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.
Zephaniah 2:3

“Lowliness,” “meekness,” and “longsuffering” are the three “graces” that the apostle Paul mentioned in Ephesians 4:1 – 7 as ways in which we can walk worthy of our calling as Christians. Last week, we considered lowliness; this week we will look at “meekness.”

In the Old Testament “meekness” comes from a root word carrying the ideas of “suffering,” “oppression,” and “affliction.” These ideas denote the spirit produced under such experiences. In the New Testament, “meekness” is viewed as a Christian “grace”; it is one of the “fruits of the Spirit.” It was the spirit of the Saviour Himself: “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt 11:29). Hence, the gospel idea of meekness presupposes humility; flows from it, and finds expression in moderation. In this respect, one specific Christian behavioural characteristic is: “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:2)

Meekness is a grace that we are to “put on” together with kindness and patience (see Col 3:12) and to show to all: “Let your moderation be known unto all men” (Phil 4:5). To those who embrace and cultivate this grace, God promises great blessings. “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live forever” (Ps 22:26) and “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Ps 25:9) are two examples.

A.W. Tozer once wrote that the meek man is one “who has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels.”

What are some of the characteristics of meekness? A cursory survey of the gospel’s teachings on meekness points out at least four, they are:

1) The ability to relingquish one’s rights. A meek person is a wise person who can judge what is right, and is capable of standing up for his rights. If however, there are matters in which he may yield, then he would rather do so than to gain that which is his ultimate right by fighting for it.

2) The willingness to endure injustice. A meek person neither wishes to get even nor to avenge himself - even if he were able to do so.

3) The willingness to forgive injustice. Forgiveness does not merely consist in a refraining from taking vengeance while harbouring animosity and hatred in the heart. Instead, it consists in not holding the offender accountable and in loving him no less than before.

4) The ability to reward evil with good. Someone once said: “To render evil for evil is carnal, to reward good with eveil is devilish, but to reward evil with good is Christian.” The later is true of the meek person.

Beloved, this is the path of wisdom. And if you were to embark upon it, do what the apostle James tells you to do: “show it ... by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13 niv)

  In Him,
Rev Robert Chew

Being A Model Christian (Col 3:1~17)

Title: Being A Model Christian (Col 3:1~17)
Speaker: Rev Robert

Potter And The Clay (Jeremiah 18:1~16)

Title: Potter And The Clay (Jeremiah 18:1~6)
Speaker: Rev Goh Seng Fong

With All Lowliness

With All Lowliness

“But He Giveth more Grace...unto the Humble”
James 4:6

Last week I introduced you to our theme of the year – walk worthily – with the weekly bulletin article and a sermon of the same title taken from Ephesians 4:1 – 7. Three Christian graces were mentioned, “lowliness,” “meekness,” and “longsuffering,” as some of the particulars of how to walk worthily. Over the next three weeks I would like to examine with you in greater depth each of these graces with the hope and prayer that you will pursue their further development in your lives and in your walk with the Lord.

“Lowliness” is basically humility, and is a prominent Christian grace. It is a state of mind, which in the sight of God is “of great price” (1 Pet 3:4). It preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps 69:32), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22).

It is a great paradox, but unsurprisingly in Christianity, this hard-to-have virtue is the avenue to glory. The greatest promises are made to the humble (for example, see Ps 147:6), and it is absolutely necessary to the service of God. Micah 6:8 tells us, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to ... walk humbly with thy God.” Christians who want to be worthy are to “be clothed” with it (1 Pet 5:5).

So necessary is this grace in the life of the child of God that He would send afflictions on them in order to produce it. Deuteronomy 8:3, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna ... that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (esv).

On this point, a Puritan theologian and author wrote, “Man is naturally a proud, selfish creature. Morality may teach him the badness of such a character, but can never produce in him any principle of renovation ... It is only when the divine Spirit puts forth his new-creating power, through the instrumentality of the everlasting Gospel, that the proud selfish sinner becomes the lowly follower of the Lamb.”

Therefore, beloved, we see that humility is the work of grace. Without it, there can be no salvation; for God resists the proud, and sends them away empty.The sweet grace of humility is sent from heaven, and the man who, humbly by faith, receives it will be enabled and made ready for every good work.

Lowliness or humility is a state of mind into which God, by His grace can bring us to. In this state, there is no room for pride. Pride is not made for man, and yet it is in all men. And it is the chief cause of human problems, simply because pride is sin (Prov 21:4)

Without lowliness or humility, you cannot walk worthily; let it be seen by others in your life and conduct, it is your duty. When it is evident it will have a good and positive influence over your interactions with others, and it will render your character and manners loving and amiable.
 
In Him,
Rev Robert Chew

News & Announcements

1. We welcome Rev Goh Seng Fong of Hope Baptist Church as the Lord’s messenger to our 1st and 2nd worship services today.

2. SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS: Have You registered yet? 2008 Programme: The Book of Genesis - A study of God’s purpose and plan for His creation. Enquiries/Sign-up Forms are at the Sunday Bible Class booth on Ground Floor today. 2007 students are also required to sign-up.

3. SBC Teachers - Please attend today’s meeting at 9:30am/11:15am at the Library, 2nd fl.

4. Sunday Bible Class Students’ Orientation Day - All students who have signed up for this year’s study of Genesis and all others who are interested in doing so must attend a Students’ orientation Meeting next week, 20th Jan at either 9:45am (Choir Room) or at 11:15am (Mandarin Sanctuary).

5. Gentle Reminders For Our Sunday Worship:
1) Come early for the worship service and spend some time praying in silence preparing your heart for the service. Reverence must be maintained at all times during worship. All cell phones must be turned off or put into silent mode during services.

2) Dress appropriately. One’s attire should always be neat, clean, presentable and not posed a distraction to others.

3) Parents should be aware of their children’s activities at all times. Children must not be allowed to run around in the church at any time. The cry room is reserved for parents and their babies only.

4) Congregation must make every effort to keep the church and premises clean and tidy at all times. Refrain from bringing and consuming food, drinks and sweets in the sanctuary. Please help tidy up our church by disposing of the used cups, plates, sweet wrappers in the dustbin.

5) The books and cassette tapes in the library must be signed for when checking out. Borrowed books and tapes must be returned by the due date. They must also be kept in good condition.

6) Musical instruments such as piano and organ, audio and visual equipments such as copying machine, fax machine, projector, computer, etc. are to be used solely for the purposes of the church work.

6. Hiring @ Moriah Child Care: Moriah Child Care and Student Care is keenly looking for passionate, dedicated and qualified teachers with or without experience to join their team. Applicants must be Singapore residents, preferably Christian. Those interested applicants please contact Elder Gary Tay @ 96369432 or email @ c13104@email.mot.com

News & Announcements

1. Rev Robert Chew brings the message to our 1st and 2nd Worship Services today.

2. SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS for 2008 is now open for registration. 2008 Programme: The Book of Genesis - A study of God’s purpose and plan for His creation. Enquiries/Sign-up Forms are at the Sunday Bible Class booth on Ground Floor today. 2007 students are also required to sign-up.

3. Sunday Bible Class for students in Sec 1 (2008) commences today at 9:45am in the room next to Choir Room. The teacher in charge is Mr. William Ong.


4. SBC Teachers - You are required to attend the Teacher’s Training session next Sunday at 9:30am or 11:15am at the Library, 2nd floor.

5. Moriah Audlt Choir practice will resume on the 3 Feb 2008 at 1pm in the Choir Room, 3rd Fl.

Walk Worthily!

Walk Worthily!

“Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”
Mark 12:34

Walk Worthily! We have chosen this as our theme for the year. And here is why...

In Mark 12: 28 – 34, the evangelist narrates an exchange between a scribe and Jesus. The topic of that conversation is the “greatest commandment.” The scribe, the most learned man of Jewish law and religion in ancient Israel, wants to know what it is.

Jesus told him it is: love God and love men. The scribe agrees and adds that to obey this commandment is “more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:33). Hearing this wise answer, Jesus said to him, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”

To me those are very frightening words. “Not far” means that the scribe, the most knowledgeable man in Israel, is not in the kingdom! Why is he not “in?” The answer is simple: the scribe is full of knowledge but has no faith. He knows of, and perhaps does all the ritual sacrifices but there is no obedience in his heart.

One famous Christian author and professor of spiritual theology says that today “we have too much Bible study and too little Bible living.”

Think about it. Too much Bible study and too little Bible living! You read your Bible; you know your Bible (at least that’s what I hope of you)...but do you live your Bible? Do you...really?

In 1 Samuel 15:22, the prophet told Saul, the first king of Israel, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Beloved, as we begin this new year, let us examine our position. Are we like the scribe, “not far” from the kingdom? Or are we really in the kingdom? To be “in” means we really have to walk as children of the kingdom. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul asks us earnestly to “walk worthy” of our calling. He repeats this call three times in Ephesians: “walk in love” (5:2); “walk as children of light” (5:8); “walk … not as fools but as wise” (5:15). We have here a fundamental truth for a Christian. Christianity is a way to walk.

In Colossians 1:10, we have Paul’s prayer that Christians “might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Here Paul is talking about holiness, a holiness that is personal and social. The person who would walk worthy of the Lord boldly orders his life in obedience to God, seeking what is pleasing to God, thus doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with the Lord (Micah 6:8).

In the New Testament obedience is greatly emphasized. Christ Himself is its one great illustration of obedience. He ‘humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross” (Phi 2:8). By obedience to Him we are through Him made partakers of His salvation (Heb 5:9). Peter designates believers in Christ as “obedient children” (1 Pet 1:14). The bond of union with Christ is obedience through faith. By this we are identified with Him; and it is by this that we become true disciples.

So let us walk worthily - that’s the only way to bring Him honour and glory.
 

In Him,
Rev Robert Chew

Walk Worthily (Eph 4:1~7)

Title: Walk Worthily (Eph 4:1~7)
Speaker: Rev Robert Chew