Standing Firm In The Face of Opposition​

by | Aug 25, 2024 | Simon Zhang, • Timely Word •

Standing Firm In The Face of Opposition​

As my SGC was going through the Bible Study “Honour Begins at Home”, we found an inspiring story of resilience and faith in Nehemiah 4:10-14. Nehemiah led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, faced intense opposition from external enemies and internal discouragement from among the Jews. We gleaned the following points from Nehemiah 4:10-14.​

 

1. Recognising the Reality of Opposition​

The first thing to notice was the reality of opposition. Nehemiah’s people were not just facing physical exhaustion, they were also battling fear. The constant threat of attack drained their morale and made the work seem impossible. This is often our experience in life, too. Opposition is almost inevitable when we set out to do God’s work, whether in ministry, our careers, or personal growth. It might come from external challenges, like criticism, financial hardship, spiritual warfare, or internal struggles, such as doubt, fear, and weariness.​

2. Responding with Prayer and Action​

Nehemiah’s response to the opposition was robust. He did not dismiss the people’s fears or minimise the threats. Instead, he took practical steps to address them. He stationed guards at vulnerable points of the wall, ensuring that everyone was armed and prepared. He combined prayer with practical action. He encouraged the people to trust in God’s protection while taking responsible steps to safeguard their work.​

This balance is crucial in our lives. Faith is not ignoring reality but trusting God and using the wisdom and resources He has provided. ​When faced with difficulties, we must pray and seek God’s guidance, but we should also take practical steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones.​​

  1. Remembering God’s Faithfulness​

The most crucial part of Nehemiah’s strategy was his call to remember. He urged the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.” When fear threatens to paralyse us, remembering God’s past faithfulness is a powerful antidote. Nehemiah reminded the people that the same God who had brought them out of exile and provided for them was still with them. This same truth applies to us. The God who has guided us through past challenges will not abandon us in our present struggles.​​

  1. Fighting for What Matters​

Finally, Nehemiah motivated the people by reminding them of what was at stake. They were not just building a wall but fighting for their families, homes, and future. When we face opposition, we must remember what we are fighting for. Whether it is the well-being of our families, the integrity of our faith, or the fulfillment of our calling, the stakes are high. This awareness can give us the strength to persevere in fierce battles.​

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In conclusion, Nehemiah 4:10-14 is a powerful reminder that external or internal opposition is an inevitable part of life. Yet, like Nehemiah, we are called to stand firm, to pray and act, to remember God’s faithfulness, and to fight for what truly matters. As we do, we can trust that God, who is “great and awesome,” will see us through every challenge we face.​

By brother Simon Zhang Xi​

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Experiencing Christ as we journey with one another

by | Sep 23, 2022 | Simon Zhang, • Timely Word •

Discipleship and Mission are not far from us. Reflecting on some of the tools YCKC has adopted to facilitate discipleship and missional outreach, I have found them meaningful and impactful in my life.

  • Life on Life (LOL) Bible study

I‘m going through a LOL Bible study on a New Testament book as well as The Habits of Grace with some brothers. The regular fortnightly LOL meetings draw us closer to His Word and the lives of His   people. We get to know the person and what’s going on in their life better. Besides gaining a deeper understanding of Scripture and its teachings, we  are more aware of what happens to one another and    our families. Be it joys or challenges, we have the opportunity to speak into one another’s lives. It becomes a habit for me to uphold each brother and their family in my daily prayers or whenever I’m thinking of them. It’s thus an easy duty for me to love my church body in Christ.

Accountability is formed as we deliberately set aside a time in our busy schedules for Bible study. Knowing there are others waiting to meet me this evening / morning for a meaningful spiritual time, I won’t easily escape from the session or make it less meaningful. I must make good use of time to study and attend.

Eventually the LOL sessions become significant in our weekly life: They’re the gas stations to top-up our spiritual fuel, besides daily quiet time, Sunday worship and SGC.

On a personal level, these brothers are easily the go-to persons to share our joys and sorrows. It’s a channel for us to support each other as we have Christ in our midst (Matt 18:19-20).

  • Neighbourhood visitation (NV)

NV is a regular event for church members now. But initially I was not motivated. I imagined walking the HDB block floor by floor on a weekend afternoon, when I could have a good nap or movie to chill with; speaking to strangers who either don’t want to open the door or are ready to shut it once I finish my sentence. It’s very uncomfortable for most of us. However I’ve found that as more and more SGC members attend, we’re more organized and intentional to make it a church event. The conversations become more interesting and meaningful when our children  are knocking on the doors and distributing gifts. We’re no longer treated as a “salesperson” but fellow neighbours!

When the door is open, what we share is more than a material blessing but goodwill from the Divine God. We’re merely a channel. Once a friendly relationship is formed as we regularly visit the same folks, the sharing of life and faith is much more natural. Be it successful or not, we’re performing a task required in Matt 28:18-20, and what we experience is profound: Jesus is with us. As our children join us, discipleship is happening too. How we mingle with strangers and how we emphasize the importance of mission at the doorstep, is also moulding our youngsters.

Besides LOL and NV, pre-marriage courses, family life ministry, children ministry and BCS volunteering are many platforms we can join to be blessed and to bless others. May each of us experience Christ as we journey with one another.

by brother Simon Zhang

Give Your Worries to The Lord

by | Sep 10, 2021 | Simon Zhang, • Timely Word •

Different challenges surround us daily. As I try to handle them alone, I am easily overwhelmed and dragged down. Regularly coming to God for help is my best strategy. Here are some godly principles behind each verse relating to ’worry’.​

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1.  Turn worries into opportunities to seek Him daily​

Jesus repeats “do not worry” in Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-32. They emphasize the divine care God shows us, and He expects us to shift our focus – from worries, to seeking His Kingdom and living righteously. And He wants us to focus on living each day, without behind encumbered by the worries of tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). ​

The strategy of seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness seems irrelevant but do consider carefully, Jesus is leading us to focus on what’s achievable each day, while we leave the rest to Him. This means letting him deal with the God-sized issues not meant for us to bear. ​

My small group members from Page 14 know about my recent prayer request on work issues. There was no way I could settle them by my own strength. I pressed on and did my very best as though I was serving Christ regardless of my environment. Thanks, and praise be to God for answering our prayers. God answered it by shifting me into new responsibilities through staff changes. He removed work issues and gave me new job scopes. The new opportunity may be equally or more challenging but I trust He will strengthen me in the coming days.​

I know that God is doing great things in your life too because He cares about every single aspect of you. Tell Him about your every worry and invite our tender Shepherd to soothe your body and soul. ​

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2. Turn worries into thanksgiving​

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)​

​Let us recall our life in the past week, month, year, or even decade. Do we notice His great deeds? How did He lead us out of difficulties? Who did He send to care and help us? What were the outcomes of those choices when we sought after His will?​​

Remembering God’s faithfulness and counting our blessings remind us of how He has led, guided, and protected us thus far. Let us give thanks and sing praises to our Creator. As promised, His peace will guard our hearts and minds regardless of the difficulties we face.

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3. Give control to God​

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (Psalms 55:22)​​

Perhaps you feel like life is out of control right now, but the Bible tells us to proactively relinquish the control to our God. Consider what you are worrying about, which areas you are striving to take control, and ask God to show you how to release it.​​

It takes practice to let go but once we release it, we are putting our feet on His firm foundation. May you learn to present your worries to the Lord and experience His everlasting peace.​

By brother Simon Zhang Xi​

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Like Father Like Son

by | Sep 27, 2020 | Simon Zhang, • Timely Word •

After my son Caleb was born, I began to reconsider the meaning of discipleship in my parenthood journey. I started observing our daily lives – Whenever I spoke to family members in an impatient tone or shouted loudly, my infant boy would stare at me with a confused or fearful expression, he seemed to be asking me, “Did I do something wrong, daddy? Why are you so angry with me?” He would sometimes even start to sob. I realised that Caleb thought I was expressing all my negative emotions towards him. I also realised how I was acting unloving during my communication with others.

It led to deep confession of my sinful behaviours, because when I communicate with my loved ones, I tend to lose my patience easily. I also recognized that parenting starts from the parent, not the child. If making my son a disciple of Jesus and leading him to Christ is what I aim to achieve in his life, I wonder how that will end up if I, the teacher, behave differently from what I hope to teach.

1. Discipleship is to be like the teacher

Jesus spoke to His disciples in Luke 6:40, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (ESV) So when we say we’re Jesus’s disciples, we are to be like Jesus in our daily lives. But am I there?

As I intentionally disciple my son, he will naturally end up like me. I do not wish to see Caleb communicating with his mother and wife similar to how I sometimes do now. And the future him telling me, “But Dad, that is how you speak to your mom and wife!”. That would be horrible, and a family tragedy! Change begins with me, with God’s empowerment.

2. Discipleship is a church thing

Knowing my limitations and sinful nature, I cannot be the only influence on my child. Thankfully, Caleb has a loving mother who balances my parenting skills in many ways. As we are good at different things, it will benefit Caleb. And I believe that there will be many more teachers along the way in a young believer’s discipleship journey.

Just as Paul spoke in Ephesians 4:11-16, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”

The testimonies of many brothers and sisters in YCKC always proves the effectiveness of discipleship in church. For example, I often hear members of the Charis group express thanksgivings toward multiple mentors who invested in the mentee’s lives or journeyed with the mentees in different seasons and ways. It was so heartwarming and fulfils the Bible’s teachings. As believers, we all have a role to play in discipleship.

3. Discipleship starts with love

Our teaching is worthless without love. In “Multiply”, Francis Chan says, “Most of us have to work hard to keep love at the forefront”. I think I need to work even harder, but not by my strength. “We need to be transformed by the Gospel, let God enter our lives, and we are changed from inside out.” Francis Chan summarises it this way “our power to transform hearts and change lives comes from the Holy Spirit (John 6:63), through the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17) and prayer (James 5:16-20).”

It is a training process for both the teacher and the student (parent and child). Our final goal is to end up like Christ. Along the way, God provides and will lead us to accomplish the task. May we all be like the loving Father.

By Brother Simon Zhang (YCKC Bulletin 27 September 2020)