by Admin | Jan 26, 2020 | Lee Ee Foo, • Timely Word •
Why is it so hard to share the Gospel? What makes us tremble at the thought of sharing Christ? What are some things that hold us back from speaking about Jesus?
Just last week, on our return flight from Taipei, my wife and I were seated beside a young man who was going home for the Chinese New Year holiday. I decided to strike up a conversation with him and found out that he was studying at the local university in Taipei to become a funeral director, and part of his course centered on religious rites.
Even though I knew I could have shared my Christian faith, I was hesitant to continue the conversation. I was fearful of rejection, even though I knew how to share the Gospel. We arrived at Changi Airport, bid farewell and went our separate ways.
There are a few possible reasons why we find it hard to share the Gospel:
Fear of Rejection – The fear of being rejected is the most common barrier people experience when they share the Gospel. We tend to overanalyze the situation and subconsciously assume that the person will reject us even before we begin. However, the work of conviction does not lie with us, we are only the conduit or mouthpiece that God uses. Neither of us is responsible for the conversion that takes place in the heart. The Holy Spirit is solely responsible. John 16:8 tells us that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin, righteousness and judgment. Thus, we should speak in faith and trust that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of the hearers.
Spiritual Apathy – In this busy society we live in, people are more concerned about themselves. We do not care enough about the people around us and we can become too comfortable with our clique of church friends that we make little or no effort to reach out to our non-Christian friends and loved ones. How can we overcome this spiritual apathy that is so prevalent in our lives?
An article from the Gospel Coalition entitled “Diagnosing Evangelistic Apathy” states that:
“when we diagnose our evangelism perhaps it would be helpful to diagnose our sanctification. Do we believe the gospel? Do we have it? Does it have us? If the answer is “no”, then there is a need to pause. Evangelistic apathy is neither healthy nor right. It requires our attention. Take some prayerful, quiet, reflective time before the foot of the cross. Ask God to grip your heart with its preciousness. Ask him to renew in you a deep sense of gratitude and joy in God that comes from knowing that God has adopted and forgiven you in Christ. This may take some time. It may be uncomfortable. But it may change your life. And, it may also change those around you!”
As we enjoy Chinese New Year, and all the food and fellowship it brings, let us be on the lookout for an opportunity to share Christ with our friends and loved ones. Let us be bold to share His message of love!
By Lee Ee Foo, Pastoral Staff (YCKC Bulletin 26 January 2020)
by Admin | Jan 19, 2019 | Lee Ee Foo, • Timely Word •
I have always admired Pastor Daniel Foo of BBTC who quotes scripture on the fly! So In 2018, at the start of the year, I began an attempt to memorize God’s Word. I decided to memorize the entire Romans chapter 8 which spans thirty-three verses. I was doing well in the beginning and was able to memorize the first 10 verses. But as work and life got busier, I was thrown off course in my daily reviewing of the verses I memorized. I struggled to get back into the rhythm of memorizing scripture and eventually discontinued my scripture memory endeavour. On retrospection, I learned some important lessons from it.
The mind is like a muscle, and like any muscle, it loses its strength when not exercised. We use our memory in our daily lives, like remembering phone numbers, addresses and important information like our identity card number. However, as we become overly reliant on smartphones and gadgets, our ability to memorise and retain information over time weakens. Memorizing scripture is much like bringing the mind to the gym and getting a good workout. Here are some tips to help us kickstart our scripture memory:
- Start small, don’t be overly ambitious!
One mistake that I made in my scripture memory attempt was being overly ambitious in wanting to conquer a new verse every day. Instead of trying to memorise a new verse each day, I should have made it a point to review daily what I have memorized. Regular review is the key to long term retention. Start memorising a verse but do daily reviews to commit it to long term memory.
- Use tools to help you memorize!
When I was a youth, I used Navigator’s Topical Memory System to help me memorise scripture. Bible verses came printed in a small pack of cards which was handy to carry around. I would review verses on the bus and journey home. Nowadays, there are many mobile apps that help users memorise scripture. The Bible Memory App and Fighter Verses App are two apps that I am currently using to memorise scriptures. There are topical verse collections regarding e.g. anxiety, depression, temptation or anger, that users can choose from and start memorising.
- Find a friend/colleague/SG member to do it with.
Find an accountability partner to memorize scripture with. It is easy to lose motivation and momentum in memorizing scriptures alone so it helps to have someone come alongside and journey with. Mutual encouragement will make memorizing scripture less arduous and more pleasant! If you need someone to do scripture memory with, you can find me! I will be more than glad to do it with you!
Psalms 1:2 exhorts us to delight in and meditate on God’s Word day and night. Scripture memory is an important and intentional way of depositing God’s Word into our hearts and minds. It is by storing up God’s Word in our hearts that we can fight sin and resist the enemy!
One of the greatest benefits of scripture memory is being able to pray and stand on God’s promises! As we commit our minds to remember God’s Word, we can confidently pray and believe His promises for our lives! I highly encourage you to embark on the journey of scripture memor
By Lee Ee Foo, Pastoral Staff (YCKC Bulletin 19&20 January 2019)
by Admin | Dec 1, 2018 | Lee Ee Foo, • Timely Word •
During a recent staff devotion, I shared on the life of King Asa and what I learned from the story of his life.
Starting Well doesn’t mean Finishing Well
King Asa at the beginning of his rule, did what was good and right in the eyes of God. He tore down all the altars and high places that were dedicated to foreign idols. He even removed his own mother from being the queen as she was an idol worshipper of Asherah. He fortified the cities in Judah and God blessed the land with peace for 10 years. Even when threatened by the invasion of the Ethiopians, King Asa prayed fervently and sought after God. It resulted in a great victory! However, at his 36th-year rule, King Asa did something that betrayed God. He took silver and gold from the temple of God to bribe the King of Syria to war against the King of Israel. Shortly King Asa fell ill and his sickness became severe. Sadly he did not seek the Lord but relied on his physicians. He died soon after.
Two lessons I learned from his life:
1.Continue seeking God even when you are doing well
Even in the good times of our lives, we should not forget to seek after God. Our constant devotional life is important, reading His Word and praying daily help us to remain close to Him. Our journey on earth is like a marathon race, it is only by depending on God daily, that we can make it to the finish line!
2.Learn to humble ourselves and depend on God always
“A humble person is not one who thinks little of himself, hangs his head and says, “I’m nothing.” Rather, he is one who depends wholly on the Lord for everything, in every circumstance.” — David Wilkerson
Instead of depending on our own abilities, our past successes to guide us in our life forward, we ought to learn to humble ourselves and depend on God. King Asa humbled and prayed to God in his early reign and depended on God to deliver his nation from being conquered but sadly as he grew older, he became self-dependent which resulted in his downfall. Even on his death bed, King Asa refused to humble and seek the Lord. He chose to depend on his physicians.
We pray that we will finish well by learning to walk closely with God daily, seeking him and learning to be humble and be willing to depend on God.
By Lee Ee Foo, Pastoral Staff (YCKC Bulletin 1&2 December 2018)
by Admin | Apr 28, 2018 | Lee Ee Foo, • Timely Word •
In the parable of the sower recorded in the book of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus highlights the four responses that he received when the gospel is preached. The seed represents the gospel that is preached, while the soil depicts the condition of the heart of the hearer. The seed that fell on the footpath represents someone who is hardened by sin; he hears but does not understand the Word, and Satan steals the message away. The seed that fell among rocks, pictures a man who professes delight with the Word; however, his heart is not changed, and when trouble arises, his so-called faith quickly disappears. The seed that fell among the thorns depicts one, who seems to receive the Word, but whose heart is full of riches, pleasures, and lusts; the things of this world take his time and attention away from the Word, and he ends up having no time for it. The fertile soil portrays the one who hears, understands, and receives the Word — and then allows the Word to accomplish its result in his life.
Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Lessons we can learn from the parable:
1. We have the responsibility to proclaim the message of the kingdom and to know how to present it clearly and in an effective way. In the Great Commission, Jesus our Lord passes the role of the sower to us. We are commissioned by God to be His ambassador, and each of us is to tell of the good news to the people we come into contact with. It’s our job to be in the world sowing the seed of the gospel. If we want to make disciples, we have to be mindful of the various kinds of soil. If we desire to grow a bountiful crop, we need to spread as much seed as we possibly can, knowing that a lot of it isn’t going to take root.
2.Not everyone that we share with will believe and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict. Our duty is to be faithful in sharing the good news.
3.Those who believe the good news and receive it by faith and actively live it out will see the righteousness of God in their lives. The evidence of saving faith is a growing spiritual life.
4.Spiritual growth does not occur instantly, but will take time. Even the disciples, do not get what Jesus is saying and needs time to absorb the truth. However, the Holy Spirit will illuminate their understanding in the Word of God daily.
By Lee Ee Foo, Pastoral Staff (YCKC Bulletin 28&29 April 2018)
by Admin | Oct 14, 2017 | Lee Ee Foo, • Timely Word •
One of my favourite hero from the Bible is a young man who lived in the turmoil times of his country. He was part of the entourage of abled-bodied young men who were sent to Babylon after Israel fell to King Nebuchadnezzar and his army. He had to go through a name change from “God is my judge” to Belteshazzar which meant “Beltis protect the king”. He is none other than Daniel the prophet who spend almost 70 years in captivity.
As a young man, Daniel went through many trials and testing during his life in Babylon. In Daniel 1, He showed his resolve to be faithful to God as he chose to abstain from foods given by the King which would likely have been offered to idols. The agenda of the Babylonian empire is simple, that is, to eliminate Daniel’s identity as a follower of God and inculcate in him the values of their culture and gods. However, throughout his life in Babylon, Daniel did not waiver in his faith but chose to put God at the centre of his life. What can we learn from and apply with regards to the secret of Daniel in resisting the influence of the Babylonian empire? First of all, Daniel was a man of prayer (Dan 6). He intentionally set aside time to pray. He prays three times a day even though it resulted his political enemies throwing him into a den of lions. Daniel was such a man of God that he would rather obey God than compromise his faith.
The world that we lived in is no different from the Babylonian empire. Every day we are bombarded by worldly values that seek to soften and corrupt our Christian identity and values. Instead of putting God at the centre of our lives, we try to juggle God, church, work, and family life, hoping that ultimately everything will turn out well. This was not the case with Daniel and it should not be the case for us in our Christian journey today. God should be the fundamental and most important part of our lives, with everything else centred around Him.
As I approached my third year of service in YCKC, one of the important lesson that God is still teaching me during my time here, is being intentional in my devotion to Christ. There are many times when I would try to deceive myself that I am walking close with God when I was merely going through the ritualistic motion of reading the Bible and praying. Intentionally choosing to set aside time to pray and read God’s Word should not be a chore but rather a delight to our soul as we get to know more intimately our beloved Father in Heaven, who has so graciously lavished His love upon us His children. In God’s living Word, we get to hear God speaking to us and we have the privilege of conversing with God as we respond to Him in prayer. I am thankful for how prayer reorients and brings new perspective, diminishes my fears and gets rid of destructive emotions. Therefore I pray that we too may be like the Daniel of this generation, resolved to remain true and devoted to God everyday of our lives. Let us seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and let Christ to reign and rule in our hearts. May we all act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with the Lord our God.
By Lee Ee Foo (YCKC Bulletin 14&15 October 2017)
by Admin | Apr 1, 2017 | Lee Ee Foo, • Timely Word •
At the beginning of this year, we were challenged by Ps Rick Toh to spend time to plan for another year of Joyful devotion to Christ, to His Body and His Mandate. The Disciple’s Handbook was given out to everyone. Small Groups were specially asked to focus a few meetings in the early part of the year on this and to have members share and form an accountability relationship in our discipleship journey.
To grow in my Joyful Devotion to Christ, I set out to commit scripture to memory. I believe that memorizing God’s Word is a fundamental discipline to a healthy spiritual life. Psalms 119:9-11 say, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word. With my whole heart, I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.“ These verses reminded me to arm myself daily with the “sword of the Spirit” that is the Word of God, to triumph over sin.
I had started memorizing from Romans Chapter 8, and to date, I have committed 11 verses to memory. Besides scripture memory, I have endeavoured to devote more time for “interrupted” prayer and reflection. I have set aside my lunch time every Friday to pray for my unsaved family members, the members of my Small Group and the different ministries I am serving in.
With regards to nurturing Joyful Devotion to His Body, I made a note in my Disciple’s Handbook that this year, I would want to actively walk alongside a younger brother-in-Christ. I am grateful to God for the opportunity to walk alongside a young man who newly joined our church about six months ago.
We have completed going through the follow-up booklets and we are continuing to meet up every fortnight to read a book to encourage spiritual growth, discuss the practical applications, and spend time in prayer. God has also graciously provided me a mentor who meets with me monthly to study God’s Word and pray together.
To develop a Joyful Devotion to His Mandate, I am challenging myself to reach out to my siblings who are not yet Christians or have moved away from Christ. I have started to build bridges by texting them and making a point to engage them in conversation during family gatherings. Even though I do not see any outward signs that they are more keen to listen to me share my faith, I believe that God will continue to work in their hearts as I try my best to interact with them.
Besides my siblings, I am reaching out to my Buddhist friend whom I got to know in my early twenties. We lost touch for a while and recently we reconnected and have met up for a meal. I hope we will continue to meet up and that God will provide further opportunities for spiritual interactions and dialogue about our faith.
I pray that God will enable me to keep to the commitments I made to Him at the beginning of the year. In fact, He has given me much joy to pursue my growth in these three areas, as I can see His hands upon me and His grace enabling me when there were days I grew a bit weary. I know that my part is to be faithful and God’s part is to bring about growth.
It is my prayer that you too will find joy in your discipleship walk with the Lord this year.
By Lee Ee Foo, Pastoral Staff (YCKC Bulletin 1&2 April 2017)
