Receive, Be, Do

by | Feb 4, 2024 | Lim Han Soon, • Timely Word •

Receive, Be, Do

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1:8 (ESV)]​

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority  in heaven and on earth has been given to me.​

19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)]​

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Before we go and make disciple of all nations, we need to first receive power from the Holy Spirit and be Christ’s witnesses. In short, we need to receive and be before we go.​

How do we receive the power of the Holy Spirit?​

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). When we surrender our lives to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide and lead us (obey His prompting), we will be empowered to do what God wants us to do. We will also be empowered to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Christ in humility, submission, obedience and sacrifice. We will be bold and courageous to share the Gospel and make disciples for Christ.

How could we be Christ’s witnesses?​

“You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). As believers, we are commanded to live out the Great Commandment and witness to Christ’s resurrection in our lives. He is alive in us today. People must see Him in us. Hence, we are to be the salt of the earth and light of the world — reflecting the image of Christ, living holy and godly lives, being in the world but not of the world, not conforming to the pattern of this world, etc.​

How do we go and make disciples of all nations?​

“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). As believers, we are commanded to fulfil the Great Commission.​

Hence, we are to live out the Gospel as a disciple of Christ (bear the fruit of Christlikeness) daily and seize every opportunity to share it with people. We are therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, reconciling people to God. We are also to be disciple-makers for Christ. We are to teach, coach and mentor new believers so that they will, in turn, be able to disciple others (2 Timothy 2:2).​

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So, let us receive, be and go for Christ. May the Lord continue to transform us unto His likeness and grant us His compassion for lost souls. May He open our eyes to see the opportunities to testify for Him, grant us boldness and courage to share the Gospel, and grant us patience, perseverance and stamina to make disciples for His joy and glory. Amen.​

By Brother Lim Han Soon​

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Our Glorious Hope In Christ

by | Mar 29, 2023 | Lim Han Soon, • Timely Word •

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, let us reflect on the hope to which God has called us.

“ 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” (Ephesians 1:17-18 NASB)

One of the saddest things in life is to have no hope for the future. Today, many people are so caught up with the things of this world that they do not think much about eternity. The Bible tells us that there is life after our physical death on Earth and the Gospel is primarily about everlasting life. Everlasting life begins when we truly believe and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord here on Earth and it goes on forever – in the new heaven and new earth. Everlasting life is more than just having a never-ending life. It is spending our life with God, and enjoying Him and His immeasurable blessings forever. This is the glorious hope that the Apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 1:17-18.

This glorious hope of ours does not come cheap. It cost Jesus Christ, the Incarnate God, the Son, His life to save us on that first Good Friday. He rose from the dead on the third day and soon after that, ascended to heaven. One day, He will return to judge the living and the dead. We believers are now blessed with this glorious hope that keeps us going when our journey  on this earth gets rough and tough. When we suffer hardship, pain, grief, persecution etc. for Christ and His Gospel, we fix our eyes on Him and the hope He has given us.

But we must not keep this hope to ourselves. We are commanded to share it with the world. So, let us do it. “How?”, you may ask. At YCK Chapel, we have just embarked on the initiative: “One For Jesus” [OFJ]. It encourages us to intentionally identify at least one non-believer we know, befriend him/her and, as and when led by the Holy Spirit, to share the Gospel with him/her within a 10-year period.

“One person in 10 years? That is easy.”, some of us may say. But is it? Just ask ourselves: “How many non-believers have we reached for Christ and shared the Gospel with in the last 10 years?” In any case, if we think it is easy, then we should do it! Our Small Group Church [SGC] could help by reminding, encouraging and helping us do it individually or collectively. It could also create opportunities for us to bring our non-Christian relatives or friends to its fellowship meals or outings. Our SGC could also provide an opportunity for us to account to one another, the progress we have made in reaching out to the lost.

We thank God for this blessed hope in Christ Jesus, and pray that He will help and empower us to reach the world for Christ, by words and deeds, for His joy and glory. Maranatha!

By brother Lim Han Soon

Are We Being Authentic With God?

by | Feb 11, 2022 | Lim Han Soon, • Timely Word •

At YCK Chapel, we are encouraged to be authentic believers. We are told we do not need not wear masks in the Church. We all have our struggles with our bad habits, idiosyncrasies, faults and weaknesses. We should confess our sins to one another and encourage one another to grow to be like Jesus. But ultimately, it is God who transforms us. God knows us very well and He, like a Potter, is moulding and shaping us to be more and more like Christ every day.

Last year, I wrote an article in the Church Bulletin, entitled “Am I being authentic with Myself?”. Today, I shall touch on “Are we being authentic with God?” You may be wondering, “How could anyone not be authentic with God?” Psalm 139 tells us that He knows everything about us. True, but in our sinful nature, we still think we can hoodwink God. The following are some examples.

  1. Blaming others

When Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to pass the buck to others. Adam tried to blame Eve, and Eve tried to blame the serpent. Indirectly, they tried to blame God. Instead of humbling ourselves and admitting our sins, we try to blame others or give excuses. Proverbs 21:2 (NLT) says, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.” We cannot hoodwink God.

  1. Hiding sin in our hearts

We try to hide sin in our heart – hoping that God would miss them. Psalm 66:18 (ESV) says, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” We cannot hide anything from God.

  1. Not keeping our promises and vows to God

When in trouble, we promised God that we would do this or that for Him if He would just get us out of trouble When He did get us out of trouble, we pretend not to remember what we had promised Him. In our marriage vow, we promised God that we would be faithful to our spouse until death. Later, some of us commit adultery.

  1. Not honouring our pledges to God

In Acts 5:1-10, we read of Ananias and Sapphira who held back for themselves part of the property proceeds that they had pledged to God. They were struck dead. We make pledges to give to God for His work but we short-change Him. We pledge to serve God in a certain area or ministry but we short-change Him by doing it reluctantly and half-heartedly.

  1. Using God’s Name in vain

We tell God that we love and fear [revere, respect and honour] Him. But we use His Name dishonourably. In Acts 19:11-17, we read that the seven sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus’ Name for their own gain and glory. They suffered for it. When we use God’s Name for our own gain and glory, we are not being authentic with God in our reverence for Him. We tell God we give Him all the glory, but in our heart, we desire glory for ourselves. We seek men’s applause.

  1. Mocking God

Galatians 6:7 (ESV) says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” We mock God when we defy Him or take advantage of Him. We take His holiness and righteousness lightly. We think He will not discipline us when we sin against Him. We say His grace will cover us. We turn His grace into “cheap grace”. We act like spoilt children. We are not being authentic with God in our affection for Him and devotion to Him.

By brother Lim Han Soon

Am I Being Authentic To Myself?

by | Sep 24, 2021 | Lim Han Soon, • Timely Word •

At YCK Chapel, we encourage our members to be authentic believers. We do not need to wear masks in the Church. We all have and struggle with our bad habits, faults and weaknesses. As Christians, we are all still work-in-progress. God knows us very well and He, like a potter, is moulding and shaping us to be more and more like Jesus every day.

As I think of authenticity, another aspect of authenticity comes to mind: “Am I being authentic [truthful] to myself?” Or to put it in another way: “Am I kidding or lying to myself?” Here some ways I can lie to myself:

LiesTruth in God’s Word
“It is alright to say or think of it as long as I do not do it.”In God’s eyes, if I am angry with someone and degrade him, I have already committed murder in my heart. Or if I look at a woman lustfully, I have already committed adultery in my heart. [Matthew 5:22, 28]
“I am born with it and I can’t do anything about it. I can’t help but to indulge in it.”I can do something about it. With God’s help I can overcome it or control it. [Philippians 4:13]
“It’s only a small sin, it’s not as bad as committing a big sin.”Sin is evil in God’s eyes – small or big. There may be different degrees of guilt but still, a sin is a sin. If I break just one commandment, I am guilty of all. [James 2:10]
Many Christians do it, so it must be alright to do it.”I am to follow Jesus, my Lord, and not men, who could be wrong in their judgement. [Psalm 118:8; Proverbs 21:2; Romans 3:23-24]
“I need to be pragmatic in this world. So it’s alright to compromise.”“I am in the world but not of the world.” I should not follow the pattern of this world. [John 17:15-16; Romans 12:1-2]
“My sin is harmless, so it’s alright.”No sin is harmless. My sin affects my relationship with God and it grieves Him. [1 John 3:4; Ephesians 4:29-32]
“My purpose of becoming a Christian is to go to heaven. So, once that is assured, I don’t have to do anything else. I can continue to live my  old life.”My purpose of becoming a Christian is to be a child of God and to have a wonderful relationship with Him. As a child of God, I want to live a life that is pleasing to Him. [1 John 3:1, 6, 9]
“I am an introvert. I feel uncomfortable talking to people. I am no good at witnessing.”My God can transform me and help me come out of my shell. He will give me the thoughts and words to testify and witness for Him. [Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 4:13]
“I am too old and feeble to be of any use to God.”No one is useless to God. He could even use someone who was bed-ridden to testify for Him, be a  prayer warrior or a role-model or a recipient of love. [Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:20]
“I keep committing the same sin over and over again. I am too sinful to be forgiven by God. I can’t even forgive myself.”God remains faithful to Himself and His word even if I am faithless. His love never ceases. Yes, He disciplines me but that is because He loves me as His child. If I repent, God will forgive me. If God can forgive me; I can forgive myself. [Lamentations 3:21-24; 2 Timothy 2:13; 1 John 1:9; 2:-1-2]

If I keep lying to myself, I will not be transformed. I must face the truth and let God renew my mind each day with His word [Romans 12:1-2]. I need to be authentic to myself and humble myself before God. And let Him change me to be more like Jesus every day. [Romans 8:29; Matthew 16:24]

By brother Lim Han Soon

Chinese New Year: Opportunities to be the Salt & Light of the World

by | Feb 14, 2021 | Lim Han Soon, • Timely Word •

Chinese New Year (CNY) is here again! At this time of the year, we visit or catch up with our relatives and friends, some of whom we may interact with only once or twice a year.

CNY also offers great opportunities for us to be the salt and light of the world to those we meet. We could be God’s channels of blessing to the people around us. As salt of the earth, we could bring healing and give a taste of God’s goodness to others. As light of the world, we could reflect God’s beauty and goodness, and bring love, joy, peace and reconciliation to them.

But how can we be the salt and light of the world during CNY? This is how my wife and I do it.

1. We start the day by worshipping, praying and asking God for open doors and opportunities.

2. As we interact with people, we remind ourselves to be gentle and respectful. There could be generational gaps but we need to be patient and responsive. We ask questions to show that we are listening and interested.

3. We listen patiently and attentively. We let the other person talk and share his or her life or family stories, joys, pains, fears, anxieties, etc. with us. He or she may be long-winded and repetitive. But we remind ourselves to be compassionate and kind. We may be the only few people he or she meets who are willing to listen.

4. After listening, we respond positively:

a) We start by showing empathy and understanding.

b) We offer help if we can or refer them to people who are able to help.

c) We give comfort and hope.

d) We help the person to count his or her blessings. We share similar experiences from our own life or from the lives of others, if any. We show how Jesus has helped us or others face and go through similar ordeals or difficult situations.

e) We follow up with prayers, further contact and practical help.

5. If we are in a group, we listen to their conversations. The topics could be health issues, money issues, relationship issues, current events, complaints about Government policies, and gossip. We look for opportunities to help people to see things from God’s goodness and perspective, count their blessings, and to share our testimonies. People like to listen to a good life story. If there are non-believers present, we look for opportunities to share the Gospel in a non-threatening way. We ask life’s basic questions, like “What is our life’s purpose?” or “How happy or contented are we in our lives?” and share life-changing stories or personal testimonies.

6. At the close of the day, we thank God for blessing us with the open doors. We pray for opportunities for follow up. We may not always see results but there have been some positive ones – strained relationships healed, suicidal thoughts cast off, hope gained, life becoming more meaningful and purposeful, etc. Whether we see results or not, it does not matter. We remain faithful and steadfast in our sowing, watering and harvesting of His word, as led by His Spirit. God will bring forth fruit in His way and time – in accordance to His perfect will and purpose. In every case, we thank God for the opportunities to be the salt and light of the world to the people we meet. We are blessed when we bless others. To Him be all the glory!

Have a blessed and joyous Chinese New Year!

By brother Lim Han Soon

Who Do You Say That I Am?

by | Sep 20, 2020 | Lim Han Soon, • Timely Word •

Jesus had been teaching about the kingdom of heaven for some time now and He wanted to know if the people got his message that He was the Messiah who came to this world to reveal God to men and save sinners. He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” His disciples told Him that some said he was like John the Baptist (a forerunner); others said, one of the prophets (a foreteller or forth-teller). They all missed the truth that Jesus was the Messiah. He came to open the door to the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in Him. So, he asked His disciples, who had been with Him for some time, “Who do you say I am?” Peter, prompted by God, answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

For his response to God’s prompting and his courage to say what he said, Peter was the first apostle to be told that he would be commissioned to bring the Gospel to the world. (Read Matthew 18:18, 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Realising that that was not the right time to reveal the truth that He was  the Christ to the world, Jesus asked His disciples to keep the truth to themselves for the time being.

As I reflected on this Scripture, the following thoughts came to my mind:

(1)   “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15 (NIV))

Who is Jesus to me? To me, Jesus is the eternal Son of God sent by the Father to this world to reveal God to men and to save sinners like me from God’s wrath and judgment. I am eternally thankful and grateful to Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God. As a child of  God, I want to please Him daily — by humbling myself before Him, submitting to Him (His will, purpose, ways, timing), obeying Him and carrying my cross for Him (Luke 9:23). My prayer: “O Holy Spirit, please empower me daily to worship and please God and glorify Him.”

(2)   “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” Matthew 16:16 (NIV)

“Yes, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God!” He came to this world to save sinners and give them eternal life if they believe in Him. The time of keeping quiet is over. Out of my love for and deep gratitude to God, I must proclaim Christ and His Gospel to the world by word and life. I am His ambassador! I am the salt and light of the world! I am His witness [He is alive today! I can testify to that!], I am His disciple-maker! My prayer: “O Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of being your disciple and fisher of men!”

(3)  “…for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in  heaven.”  Matthew 16:17 (NIV)

No one can know God’s truth unless God reveals it to him. Hence, when we read God’s word, unless the Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth to us, convicts us and empowers us, our lives would not be transformed toward Christlikeness. We would just be gaining bible knowledge without the power to live it out. My prayer: “O God, please transform me, by your word and your Spirit daily, to be more and more like my Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

By Brother Lim Han Soon (YCKC Bulletin 20 September 2020)