Just attended my 4th Young Methodist Leaders Conference (YMLC) 2013, 13-15 Sep at Holiday Inn Batam this year. And it seems not too long ago, that I attended my first ever YMLC in 2007 as a young 18 year old youth leader just starting out in ministry. Yet again it has been another amazing time encountering God, interacting with so many passionate leaders & pastors from the different Methodist churches in Singapore! And with the privilege to be blessed by 2 anointer teacher & preacher of the word, Ps Benny Ho & Rev Malcom Tan as they each shared a series of heartfelt message that just convicted my heart, which led to the Holy Spirit breaking me down not once, twice but in almost all the sessions! Just reflecting back this last 3 days, it has yet again affirmed my call into ministry & would totally agree with what Ps Benny Ho shared with us at the end, that there’s hope for the Methodist Church in Singapore & the World!
Notes from YMLC 2013, 4 plenary sessions by Ps Benny Ho, 2 plenary Session by Rev Malcom Tan. (Feel free to share this plenary notes)
YMLC 2013 Plenary Notes:
YMLC 2013 (13-15 Sep 2013)- Internal Affairs
What's in it for Me?
Matthew 19:27-20:16
God looks at the condition of our heart
Conditions of our heart drives what we do.
If we serve and expect something , we will end up with nothing...
Our motivation for service most be from our love for God & not rewards
What must I do to inherit eternal life?
- Jesus after sharing abt the law, he said sell everything one have & follow Jesus
Mark 10:22
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
- who then can be saved?
27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
- through the cross man can be saved
- The man's pride kept him from heaven
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
What's the attitude that it has done
Why do we do what we do?
Why do we serve ?Why do we lead?
That's the internal affair.. That's our heart attitude in service
Parable of the workers in the vineyard.
The last workers get paid first ...
1 Cor 3:8
The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.
1) Towards God:
Don't be calculative
Matt 20:2
He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
V.4
He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.'
The first group have a covenant mentality.
The second group have a contract mentality.
John 12:6
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Why do we do what we do?
It's better to Trust in God's grace & mercy than justice & fairness
We serve our God of the how much more!
We have an extravagant God!
The creator of this test took this test on our behalf...
We are A+ in the sight of God!
2) Towards others:
Don't be competitive
- comparing leads to competition
- competition leads to coveting
- coveting leads to complaining
Comparing leads to envy &jealousy or pride & arrogance
We should be secure in what I'm called to do!
I am what I am by the grace of God, you are who you are by the grace of God
Not compare but corporate!
John 21, Jesus hinted to him that he will be martyr
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
23 Because of this, the rumour spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
3) Towards self:
Don't be conceited
Matthew 20:10-12
So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'
God will bury his workman but He will carry on His work
No one is indispensable, we are all adaptable
It's a privilege to serve
Take God more seriously and take ourselves less seriously
James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
If God is against you who than will be for you!
The PROBLEM is Self effort
Currency of the kingdom is God's grace & not self effort
Only service rendered with the attitude of gratitude would be reward in eternity
We serve a God of great generosity! Who is such a big hearted God!
We love because He first love us!
We serve because He first serve us!
Behind the scene there are people praying for you. The story of a wheelchair boundlady who was praying for Edmund chan & Benny Ho behind the scene. These are why God engineer behind the scenes! It's not the outward of our ministry is those behind!
Plenary 2
When temptations comes like a flood
James 1:13-18
God tests as to bring up the best in us. To cause us to grow.
Satan tempts as to bring up the worst of us. To cause us to Sin.
How do we overcome temptation?
1) Temptations Destroy Us
(V.13-15)
13 When tempted, no-one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Desire- The bait I dropped
Deception- The bait is taken
Disobedience
Death- The first is booked & cooked
Genesis 3:4
The bait was drop
Genesis 3:6
The deception came
The bait was taken
Genesis 3:7
They were hooked and cooked!
2. Trust Defends Us
(V16-17)
16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
(Image use in James 1:17 is of a sundial)
The immutable God, the unchanging God
"All that God is He has always been, and all that he has been and is He will ever be." -AW Tozer (The knowledge of the Holy)
At high noon there's no shadow...
So when God is reigning every area of our life no temptation or evil can touch one
The battle with temptation boils down to a battle of FAITH.
Total submission total protection, partial submission partial protection...
So let God have total submission!
Who do we trust?
3) Truth Delivers Us
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Truth - Received
Spirit - Union
Faith
Life- Birth
If you listening with your spirit,Faith arises and life is being deposited.
John 1:13
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Truth (Word of God) have no effect until it has union with our spirit...
Truth is what deliver us!
3 practical application:
1) FLEE from temptation
1 Cor 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
1 Cor 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
2 Tim 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Appearance of evil
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Avoid every kind of evil.
Job 31:1
1 "I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a girl.
Proverbs 4:25
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Fix out eyes on the prize! Which is in heaven!
Hebrew 12:1-2
2) FIGHT The Devil
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Eph 6:13
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
3) FOCUS on God!
Psalms 119:9-11
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Keep the Word of God inside your heart!
Scripture memory is to defend ourselves!
The blood of Jesus cleanse us from committed sins, Word of God helps us to resist sinning!
2 Peter 1:5-8
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Everything begins in Faith...
...Hope...
Final virtue is Love...
In the middle of 2 Peter 1:5-8
is Self-control ...
The greatest of thing is Love!
Anything that one is addicted too... Self control is the key against it!
Regain control!
No one is exempted from temptation
Plenary 3
When lies seems overwhelming
Psalms 46:1-11
Psalms 46 was written out of great stress.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble
"Trouble" - "tsarah" - distress. But it comes from a root word "tsar" which means "narrow" or "tight" .
So the word "trouble" actually means "to be restricted, to be tied up in a narrow, tight place"
"Refuge" - "machaceh" which means "shelter".
The word "Strength" is the Hebrew word "oz" which is referring to God as our firm, secured and fortified tower that provides protection.
3 Godly Responses:
When we are threatened (v2-3)
- We will not fear but TRUST
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
In the presence of God is the safest place to be... Story of soldier who waited to move until 3pm when he knows his mom is praying for him
2) When we are a attached we will ng be shaken but STAND FIRM
(V4-7)
-Not because of nature but human nature
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
James 4:1-3
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
We fight because of that desires in us.
"Desires" is the Greek word "hedonon" from where we get the word "hedonism"
A lot of times , We fight to protect our own ego.
Misunderstanding can cause bad things to happen
Psalms 91:1
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
3) When we face trouble , we will not strive but will REST
8 Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
- when we are in trouble, we try to pin the blame on something. We try to fix it to have a better outcome. We response by "How do we get out of this mess?"
Take time to reflect what is The Lord teaching us in times of trouble. We don't let it sink in.
Take time to let the stillness of God sink in.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
"Drop thy stillness of quietness till all my strings cease take form my life The strain & stress and let my ordered life confess the beauty of thy peace."- John Whitter
The word still is the word "raphah" which literally means to "sink down", "To let drop" ,"to let go" or "to relax"
Difference between striving or a rest...
Is like one who has a confirm ticket at the airport , or someone who has a standby ticket.
3 Key lesson:
1) We will not fear but trust
2) We will not be shaken but stand firm
3) We will not strive but rest in Him
In the middle of the psalms a theological message
V.4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
We have the river in us now!
The story of faith like a mustard seed...
His using 2 idioms to make one point
- is not about increasing the faith but having the RIGHT kind of Faith!
- It's the essence of that Faith!
- small faith in a BIG God can accomplished big things
- even a small right kind of mustard of Faith
- it's not faith in faith
- It's the Faith in God
- If we see we have a Big God leads to small problem, if we see we have a small God, than we have a Big problem.
"It doesn't matter how great the pressure is. What really matter is where the pressure lies. Whether outcomes stems comes between me nearer His heart."- Hudson Taylor
What do you think is the fundamental proper of the church?
Christ-likeness - is the fundamental priority of the church
John stott final message...
" I want to share with you here my mind has come to rest as I approach the end of my pilgrimage on earth and it is - God wants His people to become like Christ. Christlikeness is his will of God for his people...."
What God will look at us at the end of the day... Are we Christ like?
Warren Wrisbee,
"Before God Change our circumstances. He wants to change our hearts. If our circumstances change for the better but we remain the same then we will become worse. God's purpose in providence is not to make us comfortable- "conformed to the image of His Son."- Christ-likeness is divine goal for each of His Children.
Plenary 4
Breakthrough brokenness
Luke 22:54-62
Could Fear cause him to deny Jesus?
- Could that denier of Christ a demonic attack?
- v.31 there seem to be a transaction at the spiritual realm that satan was to sift him as wheat.
- what gave an open door for satan to attack him?
- after the last supper, there was an argument who will be the greatest among them.
- Peter cld have make that claim for that honour. That pride was the open door for satan to come in...( Luke 22:24-33)
Learning Point 1:
The very area of our strength can become an entry point for Satan's attack in our life.
- Peter is the confident one, first one to open his mouth.
- the danger of pride it feeds our strength
Proverbs 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
We have different perception of ourselves
- we either think to highly or too lowly as ourselves.
"A strength that is not surrendered can become a weakness!"
E.g if we think we are discipline we out down others who are not as discipline ...
We end up hurting others than building each other.
Our strength is like a piece of brick.
We can either use it to build the House or we can use it to break a window!
Surrender our strengths to God so we can build the House!
Learning point 2:
Satan can gain access to an area of darkness in our lives if we do not uncover it and put it under the blood!
Spirit of brokenness
Anything that we bring into light, loses its power over us
True fellowship happens when one bring out the darkness into the light. That brings about cleansing.
When lightness is turn on, darkness is gone.
Greatest defence is to maintain a honest heart before God & man
1 John 1:7- is prevention
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:9 - is cure
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
- The basis of what Jesus has done on the cross!
- The power is not in the words that we utter but is to trust that forgiveness that has been done.
Learning point 3:
When there is an area of darkness in our lives, out of His grace (not judgement), God will allow us to be "shifted like wheat"
Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Discipline is an act of grace than punishment.
It's a redemptive purpose!
Hebrews 12:26-29
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
Story of the pride of the bullfighter
Pali, this bull has killed me." So said Jose Cubero, one of Spain's most brilliant matadors, before he lost consciousness and died.
Only 21 years old, he had been enjoying a spectacular career. However, in this l958 bullfight, Jose made a tragic mistake. He thrust his sword a final time into a bleeding, delirious bull, which then collapsed. Considering the struggle finished, Jose turned to the crowd to acknowledge the applause. The bull, however, was not dead. It rose and lunged at the unsuspecting matador, its horn piercing his back and puncturing his heart.
Just when we think we've finished off pride, just when we turn to accept the congratulations of the crowd, pride stabs us in the back. We should never consider pride dead before we are.
Our pride can kill us if we turn around & it can come behind us
Never consider pride dead...
Jesus said to Peter do you "agape" me...
Agape- "unconditional love"
Peter responded I "philo" you...
Philo- brotherly love
Peter couldn't respond back agape anymore...
Feed my sheep... Peter was promoted
Brokenness comes before breakthrough
Pride give way to humility
If we no longer strive for greatness. God may then entrust upon you.
John 3:27
27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
Jesus claimed that John the Baptist could have been the greatest man to have been born.
We can strive from our own efforts or receive that grace from His favour.
Be that certain kind of leader!
3 movements of Peter:
"I'm the greatest" to "I'm not good enough" to "I am greater in Him!"
Journey towards brokenness that we should take...
Minister out of our brokenness
Brokenness brings Breakthrough!
Story of the Three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.
“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.
But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”
Many, many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.
But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
“I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered.
The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.
And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.
We live that surrendered lives to Him! We can be everything that what God has install for us! Take this church forward!
The best is yet to be!
Plenary 5- Rev Malcom Tan
Strangely warmed Hearts
Eph 3:14-21
4 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen
You with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Paul was passionate about Jesus Christ!
1) Christianity is more than a religion
The experience of Jesus Christ is a trinitarian experience ...
Kneel before the FATHER
The power of the HOLY SPIRIT
CHRIST dwell in your hearts
-Christ in you the hope of glory!
-Experience the living Christ we experience the Godhead!
-Christianity has a real spiritual power!
It's all about Jesus!
How to explain the trinity?
Human experience of God...
- There's someone above watching you & how we live & are doing
(The God above)
- In life theres a Deep assurance that God is with me... (Jesus Christ, Emmanuel God with us)
- Look within you! In your heart! God is living in me as well! (The Holy Spirit in us)
We have experience the fullness of Jesus Christ!
2) Freedom in the Spirit
2 Cor 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- The Lord removed the veil...
- A life changing encounter changes us!
- Freedom in spirit is to be set free
- From glory to glory God is changing me!
- This life transformation should always be increasing to be more and more like Christ
2 Cor 6:2
2 For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."
I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation.
Today is the day of Salvation!
When Jesus comes again, the door will close!
So do the right thing at the right time!!!!
Now is the day to do it!
3) Principle of the Sabbath rest
Hebrew 4:9-11
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no-one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
- Committed to do what God want you to do.
- Start doing 'God's thing'
Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
- The 2nd rest is the commitment to full surrender!
- The realisation that my life is no longer my own!
- A consecrated life!
- To be what God wants me to be!
4) The Warnings in the book of Hebrew
Hebrew 3
11 So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' "
12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
- Perseverance!
- Holding fast to the end! That Saving Faith!
- Evangelism brings forth the gospel
- The pastor to keep one in the faith, challenges one to continue to stay faithful in Jesus Christ
- Is Christ calling me to be a sherperd for his Flock
5) To be make perfect in this life
1 John 4:16-19
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
V.17 - Made perfect in love in this life time
- That perfect love that drive our fear! To live in that perfect love of God!
- love is made complete among us! In this world we are like Jesus!
- His love is perfected in Christ!
- A life without fear!
- The early wesleyans prayed for the love to pour out his love among us! That this kind of perfect love comes to our hearts!
- Full salvation! The outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Full sanctification!
-after 300 years the love feast continue but the overnight prayer have ended today
6) The witness of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:16
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
- the blessed assurance!
- Experience that assurance of salvation
- A great peace that transcends all understanding
We should sing ...
- psalms , hymns & spiritual songs
Pray for that blessed assurance!
- that joy unspeakable that will come!
- a strong witness of that sprit! When one know that Jesus is our friend!
- it's a deep spiritual experience
7) John Wesley experience at Aldersgate
" In the evening I went very unwilling to a society in Aldersgate street, where one was reading luther's preface to the epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: And assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine , and saved me from the law of sin & death. I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despite fully used me and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there, what I now first felt in my heart."
Journal , wednesday, May 24, 1938
- John Wesley talk alot more after that experience!
It was John Wesley evangelical experience!
The spiritual DNA of Methodism was birth through here!
Flashback before his Aldersgate experience...
The Holy Club!
The method of holiness have 3 points!
- stay away from sin
- daily prayer, bible study
- visiting the poor
The journey to Georgia
- to be Chaplin in the colony of Georgia
- in the ship
- John Wesley was afraid of death in the storm
- Met this group of German Moravians who was worshipping God with all their hearts in the midst of their storm.
- when he ask them how come they not afraid to die?
- the Moravian pastor say ... " do you know Jesus as your saviour?"
- He knew him as the saviour of the world, but not as his saviour.
- John Wesley will not serve someone who did not notify if they are here for mid week communion.
- bcoz the act of not notifying is like not preparing ones heart
- he stopped this girl who he was going out of not taking holy communion
- he got sued by the girls dad , he immediately sailed back to America the next day, and than to reach out to the indians and but he hope that someone will saved him
After Aldersgate...
- He prayed for his enemies
- He had assurance of His Salvation
- Good to know reasons of Christ but also to experience the reality of Christ
Rev Samuel Wesley said to his son on his death bed!
The witness of the Holy Spirit that is the infallible truth of Christianity!
In your heart you will know the gospel is true! - Pascal
- Experience of satisfaction
Plenary 6
The Call!
Always keep The Lord's day Holy!
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1) The priesthood of all believers
- It's for all believers!
- NT priesthood applies to 2 groups
- Jesus Christ he great high priest
- And to all believers of Christ are priesthood
- the priesthood of all believers, we can all lead others to Christ
The Methodist church is a
Clergy driven laity church
We have a dual engine ministry both clergy & laity with the power of the Holy Spirit!
Be a believer priest!
You are not just called to salvation you are called to service!
2) You can lead in worship without the clergy
- Not like the Coptic Egyptian church
3) The call for all Christians
Calling to...
A) salvation
B) sanctification
C) service
Revelations 22:17
17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
This call is for every Christian!
1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Do not belittle & look down on Holiness....
Be careful not to be so worldly... We need to learn from the mega churches to be relevant but we also need to be careful that we don't go overboard that they do not need to denominational churches
There's a call to service!
Matthew 25:37-40
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you
Sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
When we allow the grace to flow to others, there's this joy that affirms our salvation.
Salvation sanctification service!
1 Cor 9:13-14
13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
- Early church had full time ministers too as professional vocation
1 Tim 5:17-22
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
- These elders are full time ministers who teach & preach!
- Timothy was like the bishop who overseas these elders govern by a rule & order.
1 Peter 5:1-4
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
- Role of a presbyter
- this is a professional vocation who is called
Every born again christian is already a full time Christian!
If you didn't get called into full time ministry, assume you didn't get called...
The most exciting times are those who just became Christians...
There's a need for God's light in the
Market place & the neighbourhood!
"The role of the clergy is to equipped others to bring the light out there!"
- There are some set apart to be part of a preaching order & to sherperd the flock
What it means to be a Methodist pastor?
- Order (accountable to one another)
- Word (To reach & preach the word of God)
- Sacrament (Practice of breaking bread with authority!)
Don't give up on your church! We may not be a perfect church but others are not perfect as well
It takes the whole body of Christ to reach the whole world!
