Faithful Fathers

by | Jun 16, 2024 | Joey Hong, • Timely Word •

Faithful Fathers

For fathers that call upon the Lord, it is our hearts’ desire that our children honour God and want to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Fathers will need to look at God’s way of calling, loving, connecting and disciplining the children entrusted to them. The father’s heart is one that would always be kind, loving and faithful which is a reflection of God’s character (Psalm 51:1; John 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:3) even when our children might respond otherwise.​

I used to think that if my wife and I obey the Lord as best as we can and love Him, the Lord will grant us children that will also walk in this way as promised in Scripture (Deuteronomy 7:9). However, life is not as simple as that. In 2 Timothy 3: 1–5, we see how people will behave in the end times. Through my own shortcomings and sinful nature, I have seen my own limitations, but God’s faithfulness has always been extended to me. He also wants me to emulate this faithfulness that I have experienced from Him and to pass on to my family.  It is through these circumstances that God continues to mould me to reflect Him, and in that process, take on and develop the values of God Himself within me.​

In situations where my expectations are met, it is easy to celebrate and be happy. The difficulties arise when my expectations are unmet and the emotions of anger, disappointment and even betrayal surface. How does a father reflect God’s faithfulness in these circumstances? I guess in my own journey of fatherhood, I have come to​ realise my own unworthiness in receiving God’s abundant grace and through the circumstances He allows me to go through, He gives me a glimpse into His own heart – a heart of His gentleness and faithfulness. A heart that communicates a Father’s selfless love which constantly invites me to drink deeply into His fellowship so that I can also try to portray these qualities too as a father. As my trust and relationship with God grow, I also begin to understand in new ways that His concern for my family always exceeds mine. As I partake in desiring to obey Him, He enables me to see His faithfulness to my family, sometimes in ways that I have yet to comprehend. Through these experiences, God is developing in me a heart of gratitude towards Him. This gratitude does not only take place when things go smoothly and everything is fine. This gratitude also occurs when things are difficult and knowing deep within my heart that God is in control and His reasons for allowing these issues into my life are for His higher purposes. How I respond and process these thoughts in my life is important and I need to guard my heart so that no bitter root grows up which can defile many (Hebrew 12:15).​

Some of us might be going through a good season as a father and it is a joyous time, while some of us are having a rough patch trying to understand where God is at the moment. We must continue to trust that our faithful God is drawing us to Himself in the situations He allows us to experience. Sometimes there can be no answers and through the process of unanswered questions, deepen our own faith in Him by causing us to seek Him (Hebrews 11:1, 6) in a deeper way. ​

May our fatherhood journey reflect the heart of our heavenly Father.​

Blessed Father’s Day!  ​

By Elder Joey Hong​

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Looking Toward God For The Impossible Task Ahead

by | Jul 14, 2023 | Joey Hong, • Timely Word •

Often times, when there are tasks ahead that seem impossible to accomplish, I grit my teeth, weigh the pros and cons and still find myself in two minds. While I try to strategize to manage the situation, part of me also feels like avoiding it. My internal dialogue can, at different times, sway between self-demeaning and self-motivating. ​

However, when I am able to catch myself and ask the question, “What is God teaching me?”, it enables me to channel my thoughts and emotions towards God. When this is done, I find my will aligned to His. Only then, by faith, can I continue the journey on which He has called me to.​

During my Devotional time, I came across an interesting character named Ebed-Melech (Jeremiah 38-39) who was an important court official in Jerusalem. He was a foreigner, an Ethiopian. ​

In Jeremiah 38, four court officials obtained the king’s permission to kill Jeremiah by casting him into a cistern because Jeremiah kept prophesying that Jerusalem would fall into the hands of the Babylonians. Upon hearing this, Ebed-melech, rushed to the palace to speak to the king about saving Jeremiah. The king agreed to Ebed-melech’s request and Jeremiah’s life was spared. By going against the decision of the other four officials, Ebed-melech was actually defying them and because of that, he and his family’s life would be in danger and possibly be the next target for these court officials. 

Even though the odds were against Ebed-melech, he chose to believe that whatever God said through Jeremiah would come true. By saving Jeremiah, he was also stating that he was on Jeremiah’s side. So God promised Ebed-melech, “…but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jer 39:17-18 NLT)​

It is worth nothing though that these words of assurance only came a few years after Jeremiah was cast into the cistern; with Jerusalem falling under the siege of the cruel Babylonians (Jer 39:1-19). Ebed-melech’s belief that God would work for the betterment of those who trusted in Him held fast, even when the situation seemed impossible. ​

As I consider Ebed-melech’s life, I find myself asking if there are situations in my life where I can respond in similar ways – believing that God is in control, no matter how impossible the situation seems to be. I pray that all of us would be able to have a faith like that of Ebed-melech.​

Habakkuk (a contemporary of Jeremiah who also foretold the impending Babylonian invasion) wrote, “but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (Hab 2:4b). “Faithfulness” can also mean firmness,  steadfastness, fidelity — to keep faith. ​

It meant that that people of Jerusalem would live if they continued to keep their faith in God, even though God’s judgement was going to be carried out through the Babylonians (David Pawson’s exposition of Habakkuk). ​

May all of us continue persevering in our faith journey as we keep our eyes on Christ to see the impossible become a possibility.​

By Elder Joey Hong​

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Discipling The Home: Family Discipleship

by | Oct 9, 2022 | Joey Hong, • Sermon •

SCRIPTURE:

Topical

SERIES:

Mission Month

SPEAKER:

Joey Hong

68th Church Anniversary

by | Sep 30, 2022 | Joey Hong, • Timely Word •

Anniversaries are events that we put a pin in the calendar to remind ourselves about something that matters to us. As I flipped through the pages of “The Brethren Story” by Tong Suit Chee which depicts the 150 years of Brethren history in Singapore, I wanted to refresh my memory about how YCKC started and to see how God has been directing us as a church.

The assembly at Yio Chu Kang began in 1954 when Christians living in the surrounding district met together to break bread for the first time. In the journey of Yio Chu Kang Chapel, many people have been involved at various stages to shape it to what we see today. God has used numerous people to further His purposes in this local church since then. He is still working out His plans through us today, using different individuals to carry out His purposes. As I consider the different ways in which God is reminding us of what really matters, what comes to mind are the eternal things:

God’s Word (1 Peter 1: 24 – 25 – “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was preached to you.”)

The comparison made by Peter, taken from Isaiah 40:6-8, is between people and their achievements versus God’s eternal Word given to us. This precious and enduring Word transforms believers who are born again into God’s imperishable Kingdom and purifies those who seek to obey it. We are transformed into Christ’s image more and more as we seek to obey His eternal Word.

The souls of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”)

King Solomon, in his wisdom when penning down his thoughts about having a time for everything and a season for every activity, wrote about this secret element of time that God slipped into the hearts of men. As one is able to observe the appropriateness of responding towards different situations in life, the ability to fully understand the existence of life beyond death remains a mystery. The Architect of life who sets eternity in our hearts desires to spend the rest of eternity with us. God has provided the solution through Christ and calls us to join Him in the battle for the souls of others.

As we continue to live our lives coming out of the pandemic, may the choices we make as Christ’s body centre around the eternal, as we continue to build our love for God’s Word and the souls of people. May our own personal anniversaries reflect things that truly matter, as we ourselves align our wills to God’s – as seen through the actions made by pioneer YCKC members, in the past, till today, and beyond.

May our 68th Church Anniversary be a time of thanksgiving and realigning ourselves to God’s Will. Happy Anniversary!

By brother Joey Hong

Worship

by | Aug 5, 2022 | Joey Hong, • Timely Word •

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

The word “therefore” is based on what Paul wrote to the church in Rome in the preceding chapters of the book of Romans in chapters 1 to 11. Paul explains that we were all slaves to sin but Christ’s sacrifice caused us to be justified. This righteousness we have is through faith in Christ and not by our own works. We all inherited sin from Adam but Christ has made us spiritually alive. We died and rose with Christ and have become slaves to righteousness. We were released from the Law and bound to Christ and are sanctified through the Holy Spirit. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. God has grafted the Gentiles into His plan for Israel. God is in supreme control over everything. God has a plan for Israel. Based on all these things that Paul has written, he urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. When this is done properly, it is a true and proper means of worship.

What is a “living sacrifice” then? I remember an incident when I was about 8 years old. When I went to my neighbour’s home one day, I remember seeing my neighbour’s grandfather slaughtering a chicken. As he finished slicing off the neck of the chicken, it managed to struggle and escape. It was literally   the scene of a headless chicken running around the backyard.

I do not think I stayed for long at my friend’s house that day. The chicken was definitely not a willing sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 instructs us to willingly offer ourselves as a “living sacrifice”. The mental model that stays with me is a picture of being willing to stand at the altar of God and not run away as I present myself to Him. It is interesting that Paul uses the words “living sacrifice” which is a paradox because a sacrifice is usually something that is dead. This “living sacrifice” which is an act of worship is Christ’s call for each of us to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him. The idea of a living sacrifice is to live not to please ourselves but to live a life to please God in every aspect because our whole lives are placed on God’s altar, not just some aspects of it. Only when we do this, it is considered true and proper worship. It is a worship that is holy and pleases God.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Worshipping God comes from a place that requires our minds to be transformed and renewed according to God’s values. How is this done? Through the influence of God’s Word and being willing to be obedient to it. We cannot conform to the world’s pattern although the world calls to us loudly to  follow it.

Only when our lives are lived in true and proper worship by being renewed and transformed according to God’s Word, then can we test and approve God’s will in our lives – His will that is always good, pleasing and perfect.

By Elder Joey Hong

Growing in Godliness

by | May 4, 2022 | Joey Hong, • Sermon •

SCRIPTURE:

2 Peter 1:1-15

SERIES:

1 & 2 Peter

SPEAKER:

Joey Hong