Wesley YM Camp 2013: Journey of Faith is the 9th YM Camp that I've attended in my own Journey of Faith, since my milestone, first life transforming YM Camp in 2005! Coming back again to serve as a mentor after a 6months hiatus from YM has certainly brought back many wonderful memories of why this youth ministry is still very close to my heart.
I believe it was yet another milestone camp for many of this youths in Wesley, hearing the testimonies, seeing so many young youths stepping up to serve, seeing lives being touch, transformed & even hearing a couple of them who got their call into full time ministry! Such stories always brings a Joy in my heart to know that at least we are not off the race that is marked out for us!
Besides that, this the first time Wesley YM have explored having our youth camp overseas too. And I was so excited to be part of this camp as the Camp Theme verse has been one of my personal life mottos especially for an avid runner like me!
Hebrews 12:1-21 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Enjoyed the 4 days spent getting to know this amazing youths from HOT AIR BALLOON! Interacting and playing the cross-trainer games with them and especially the last night when we spent 2hrs 30 mins during the love feast to edify one another by sharing & hearing everyone's testimony of their own Journey of Faith!)
(Celebrated the love feast liturgy for the first time at the last night of YM camp! As we had a time of worship, Holy Communion, prayer, followed by a meal together, as my camp group spent that dinner edifying one another with their testimonies & journey of faith with The Lord. :)
YM Camp 2013 Sermon Notes
(Permission from Ps Shih Ming to share this notes that i've taken with you all)
(Our very own PIC of Wesley MC, Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming, key note speaker for YM Camp 2013)
Session 1- Training for the race
1 Cor 9:24-25
- Goes into strict training
A lot of us compartmentalise our life... Spiritual, mental, physical, relational...
We are Spiritual beings embodied by a physical person:
Mental
Physically
Relational
1) Mental training
1 Tim 4:6-7
- the truth of the faith
- good teachings
- godless myths & old wives tales
Be a faithful & fruitful Christian!
You are to bear fruit!
How to have right thinking:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Constantly fill your mind with God's truth everyday!
Memorise God's word!
2) Physical training
Romans 7:15
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
James 3:2
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
1 Tim 4:8
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Train our appetites
- The discipline of fasting
3) Relational Training
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Romans 15:6
That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 4:11
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
Galatians 6:1-2
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Concluding remarks:
- Train everyday (e.g. Get into the gospel everyday, have honest conversations with one another)
- Keep your eyes on the prize
- Be specific in your training
Set goals how you want to grow in Christ the following year!
The spiritual life is not about training harder, it is training wisely!
Jesus has already finished that work!
We don't have to try! We just train wisely...
Session 2- Running the race
THROW OFF
- the sin that so easily entangles
Romans 7:15, 17-18
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
All this struggle with bad habits despite good intentions lead us.
- confusion
- frustration
- discouragement
The secret of throwing of your sin
John 8:32
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
LIE.
Behind every self defeating act is a lie I believe in...
What is truth?
Truth is a person! Truth is what God says!
How do you set free from the sin that a easily entangles
Sin is playing God, doing something when I take control! When we are on the throne of our own life!
1 John 1:8
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
John 8:34
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
A) We need to acknowledge the root of the problem!
B) believe that Christ can change us!
C) Confess our sins to one another
D) Dedicate myself completely to Christ
Change in our life is not a method, it's Jesus Christ!
Romans 7:24b-25a
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 8:2
For the new spiritual principle of life in Jesus Christ lifts me out of be old vicious cycle
Romans 6:12-13
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
A) Admitting that u have been trying to at God
B) Admitting that you can't change on my own.
C) Giving Jesus Christ total ownership of our life
"Don't be a committed Christian, Be a surrendered follow of Christ!"
It's not about just commiting, but it's total surrender!
Throw off...
The good things that hinders ...
The hidden wounds that hinder ...
1) Reveal my hurts...(Psalms 32:3)
2) Release those who have hurt me (Romans 12:17&19,Psalm 56:8, Hebrews 12:15)
3) Replace old files with God's truth
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Psychologist has said that what is that most important person in your life say about you is the most impactful to one.
So Make Jesus the most important person in your life!
4) Refocus on the future on the future
5) Reach out to help others!
2 Corinthians 1:4
4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Session 3- Finishing the race!
1 Corinthians 9:27
27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
- The race marked our for us!
-We need to run the right race, that God has plan for us to run!
Hebrews 11
The bible hall of faith!
Hebrews 11:23-27
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
1) Be who God created you to be!
- Moses was clear of his identity (v.24)
2) Accept responsibility of your own life
-To select, to decide
- what you choose today will determined your tomorrow
- your character is determined by the choices you make in this life
3) Established a value system for your life
- Moses considered God's will of greater value than of Egypt. V.26
- if not others will establish values for your life
The World standard
- pleasure (I want to feel good)
- possessions (I want to be rich)
- power (I want to be popular)
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- God's purpose is more important than popularity
- People are more valuable than pleasure (v.25)
- God's peace us more valuable than possessions (v.26)
4) Never take your eyes of the goal
Story of the box:
What's in your box?
➕ or
Everyone longs to know what's our purpose in our life!
Proverbs 16:4
The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
General purpose!
E.g. We are to give our best in everything that we do that points others to Christ!
Focus on the goal & not the problem
2 Cor 4:17-18
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
5) Never Give Up
- Moses persevered (v.27)
"My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race." - John Stephen Akhwari, 1968 Summer Olympic
How long can you wait?
These clouds of witnesses are telling us that we can run this race just like them!
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith
Jesus finished the race, & is waiting for us to finish it as well!
Keep your eyes on the goal!
For Jesus, the goal is to be seated on the right hand of God.
For us, our goal is our master happiness!
Mathews 25:21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCAwXb9n7EY
2 Tim 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Day 4
Towards the Goal- Ps Jeremy
What's next?
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- Keep our eyes on the finishing line!
1) We have not yet arrived
2) Have to forget our past failures
3) We have to press on
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