Concentrated Juice!​

by | Apr 14, 2024 | Serin Chng, • Timely Word •

Concentrated Juice!​

When I was younger, I had a fondness for orange juice. Standing in the chilled section of the supermarket, I’d gaze intently at the array of choices available: “100% Juice”, “Peel Fresh”, “Pure Juice”, “Freshly Squeezed”, “Premium”, “No Sugar Added Juice”, “Natural Juice”, “Smooth Orange Juice”, and more. Each bottle promised a certain level of quality and purity, and my decision often hinged on my budget as well as the willingness to spend.​

One particular brand caught my eye with its claim of being a “Natural Home-Squeezed Concentrate.” Excitedly, after months of pondering, I finally made the purchase, only to be disappointed when the taste did not live up to its lofty claims. The glaring gap between the promised “Natural Home-Squeezed Concentrate” and its reality left me feeling let down.​

Reflecting on this experience, I realised that it is parallel to our relationship with God. Just as I had scrutinised labels to authenticate the juice, we must live out our spiritual lives with authenticity and integrity. Are we genuinely seeking a deep connection with the divine or are we content with surface-level appearances? ​

John 15:5-8 reinforces this: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”​

God promises us that if we remain in Him, we are akin to a tap that is connected to the source of the juice that comes from the true vine. When we turn on our tap, what flows forth is the pure essence of Jesus Christ – peeled, freshly squeezed, 100% concentrated, natural juice – that satisfies our soul and spirit. Anyone who encounters us would enjoy the genuine presence of Jesus Christ within us. Just imagine having an endless supply of “freshly peeled concentrated juice”, never running dry or losing its refreshing taste. What a delightful and satisfying experience coupled with the urge to want more.​

​We cannot expect to attract others to Christ if we are either devoid of “juice,” withering and unfruitful, or if our “orange juice” is diluted, tainted with unhealthy additives. We would undoubtedly disappoint both ourselves and others by living such a lacklustre life.​

We must continuously connect our “tap” to God throughout the day, allowing His power to flow through us. Merely settling for a nominal Christian existence will not satisfy the deep hunger of our souls or make any meaningful impact on those around us. ​

As we heed Jesus’ call to remain in Him and bear much fruit, let us strive to always be connected to the source, firmly rooted in His presence and steadfast in our faith. May our lives overflow with His goodness, so that others may witness our deeds and give praise to our Father in heaven.​

Onward “Concentrated Christian”!​

By Assistant Pastor Serin Chng​

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When Facts and Faith Meet

by | Apr 11, 2023 | Serin Chng, • Timely Word •

As Christians, one of our fundamental beliefs is Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. If anyone could prove that any of these were untrue and did not really happen, the foundation of Christianity would collapse and we as Christians would have lived in vain.

Thanks be to God; the truth is as solid as a rock. As such, Jesus Christ’s triumph over death is the most significant gift from God to all mankind. Our questions about His authority, authenticity, and sovereignty were all proven because He has risen! Hallelujah!

One may question His claim as the Creator of the heavens and the earth as there was no one to witness it. One may also have doubts over His authority and power over nature, demons and sickness. Like the wise men and sorcerers of Egypt in Exodus, some may believe that their gods could also replicate it.

However, Jesus’ resurrection and appearance to about 500 men and others, over a period of 40 days is unheard of from any other religious claims. The plan to bribe the Roman guards to give a statement that Jesus’ body was stolen by his disciples was unsustainable (Matthew 28:11–15). There were far too many loopholes in such a theory. Because of the witness of the 500 and others, the living Gospel spread rapidly.

Jesus prophesied His resurrection. He fulfilled His prophesy. The number of witnesses to His resurrection over the 40-day period was so compelling that till this day no one has successfully proven otherwise.

Some might say it was Jesus’ disciples who cleverly orchestrated the plan. In order to do that, the disciples needed to convince a large network of people to be involved to conceive, contain and execute the plan down to the smallest detail.

But Jesus’ disciples had no interest in any such thing. On the contrary – they were so defeated in spirit; they did not believe any eye-witness account of Jesus’ resurrection at first!

The women had the privilege of being the first to discover Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 29:9). The disciples did not accept the women’s claims, perhaps thinking that the women refused to accept Jesus’ death because of their close affection for Him. Refusing to accept the women’s explanation, the disciples ran to the tomb and witnessed it with their own eyes.

Two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus also failed to believe that Jesus had indeed resurrected (Luke 24:13-16), until their eyes were opened to recognize that the person in their home was Christ, the son of God.

The disciples needed to see the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes so that they could accept the truth. Jesus greeted the ten disciples (John 20:19, 20, 24) in a home behind a locked door and showed them the wounds in his hands and body.

Even with the eye-witnesses of his fellow disciples, Thomas refused to accept their testimonies. Jesus in His merciful kindness and grace, then not only showed himself to Thomas, but also asked him to physically touch his wounds (John 20:26 – 28).

How should I respond to such good news about Jesus’ triumph over death?

I can only give thanks unceasingly as it strengthens my belief in Christ. He gives me no excuse or any claims that He is not God.

He is the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth.

He is the First and the Last.

He is the truth, the way and the life.

He is the resurrection and the life.

Facts help me to leap in Faith with confidence.

When facts and faith meet, a new life is birthed.

Because of that, I choose to believe in Him and remain in Him.

How will you respond to this good news?

By Assistant Pastor Serin Chng

One For Jesus

by | Jan 29, 2023 | Serin Chng, • Sermon •

SCRIPTURE:

Topical

SERIES:

ICAMP

SPEAKER:

Serin Chng

The Hospitality Mandate

by | Jul 24, 2022 | Serin Chng, • Sermon •

SCRIPTURE:
SERIES:

Church 2.0

SPEAKER:

Serin Chng

Time for Reflection, Repentance & Realignment

by | Mar 19, 2022 | Serin Chng, • Timely Word •

Psalm 60:1-3

1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry—now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;
mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

What would you do when you are experiencing rejection, brokenness and painful moments?

  • Would you choose to come before God in reflection?
  • Would you choose to walk away from God?
  • Would you turn to God and seek Him in desperation?

Psalm 60 depicts such rejection, brokenness and desperate times the Israelites were experiencing because of their repeated rebellion and adulterous act against the holy God. They chose not to stay on God’s side. Hence, God departed from them. All protective shields were removed. God had walked off and left Israel to fend for herself. They were under God’s wrath. God allowed disasters to fall upon them. No longer could they boast about their superiority.

Suddenly, they realized they were so vulnerable without God’s covering. The Israelites were not able to put an end to the desolation nor did they have the strength to pick up pieces from the ruins. In their desperation, they finally turned to God for restoration.

Like the Israelites, let’s not try to fix our problems or the situation by worldly means but instead come before the holy God in humility to seek his grace and remember His faithfulness and desire to restore us in his righteousness.

God has given us a free access card to come to Him at any time, as long as we identify ourselves as children of God. We see God as our Father. We return to His Kingdom and take up our position firmly as His children. Our Heavenly Father is always on the throne waiting to receive our petition. In His goodness, God will restore our withered spirits and fortify our position as children of God. God can mend all our brokenness.

Jesus paid it all for us to come to God. Jesus redeemed us with His blood. As we receive salvation by faith through grace, He also promises the same resurrection power of Christ in us as we navigate the rejection, brokenness and desperate times of our life if only we humbly return to Him.

Prayer of Repentance and Realignment:

My Heavenly Father,

I REPENT of my lukewarm attitude to You

I REND my heart to You

May You RESTORE my relationship with You

May You REINVIGORATE my love for the lost

May You REKINDLE my heart of compassion for others

May You REVITALISE my help for the needy

May You RAMP up my heart to pray for the persecute

May You REST my heart to rest in You alone.

Oh Lord, grant us help against the foe,

For vain is the salvation of man!

With God we shall do valiantly;

It is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 60:11–12

By sister Serin Chng

Face to Face with God

by | Mar 6, 2021 | Serin Chng, • Timely Word •

Unresolved issues keep us awake. We are busy rehearsing in our minds all the imminent issues coming our way. We are constantly figuring out ways to take control of the situation. But we find none satisfactory. Thus, we choose to go back to sleep. But the more we want to do so, the more wide awake we become.

In Genesis 32, Jacob could not sleep. None of his companions could calm his nerves to face his brother Esau. Fear gripped him when he found out that Esau was coming with four hundred men. He scrambled to come up with ways to appease his brother. Finally, late in the night, he came up with a last-minute plan. He sent his family and all his possessions across the stream. He did not join them. He was left alone to face the inevitable situation. Perhaps his last option was to seek God and pray. But didn’t he pray to God the other day “O God of my father Abraham…Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children” (Gen 32:9-11). However, it seemed that God remained silent despite his plea.

Just then, God met him as a mysterious stranger. He wrestled with Jacob all night. Jacob summarized his wrestling experience “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered” (Gen 32:30). Jacob’s “face” time with God was his turning point. He received blessings and a new name signifying a character change.

Like Jacob, in life we may keep facing intimidating and disheartening times. When relationships get entangled, confidence shaken, sickness recurs, pressures mount, moods swing, etc., instead of escaping or shoving matters aside, we can choose to have ‘face’ time with God.

These are the times, in bleakness, I choose to wrestle with God, jostling with Him on matters that trouble me much. I find myself as if I have entered a wrestling ring, pulling, tugging, rolling over repeatedly on the ground as I intensively intercede and plead to God in my prayer. I sweat through my prayer time with God. In my desperation and tiredness, I remember that I told God that I would not let go. Like a frightened baby clasping onto her mother’s hand in her sleep, I continue to hang on to God until He speaks to me. Many times, God ‘shows’ up by ministering to me and speaking to me through different ways. God lifts my downcast spirit and turns my mourning into dancing. I find that I can sing in my spirit to Him even though the matter might not yet be resolved. Through the face time, God changes my countenance. I find hope and strength while waiting because I feel I am in His courts and in His presence.

God desires our face time with Him. He wants us to wrestle with Him in our prayers. When we are weak, He is strong. We do not need to be intimidated by those unpleasant events. We can walk away from the ring as a winner when we learn to let God’s will prevail in us.  We will confidently trust God and pray that “Father, not my will but Yours be done.”

Meditation:

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Psalms 40:1-3

By Sister Serin Chng