After the LORD provided Abraham a ram for the burnt offering in place of his son, the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time and brought God’s words to him saying, “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Gen 22:17-18).
There are two things to the promise. The first promise is of salvation which includes multitudes who would be saved amongst the faithful in Abraham’s descendants.
The second thing is that Abraham’s descendants would include “all nations of the world” (Gen 22:18, Gal 3:8-9) and therefore those being saved amongst the Gentiles would also be as numerous as “the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.”
Today, an estimated 15% only of residents in the HDB heartlands in our neighbourhood are believers. This means 85% of the residents have yet to know nor have heard about the message of the Cross.
Bless Community Services (BCS) is our social service arm. It is set up jointly with Yio Chu Kang Gospel Hall as a charity to connect with our neighbours by sharing with them the love of God through social services that impact lives.
“Go Out Day” (3 April 2015) is a day both churches have set aside to go out to our neighbourhood to publicize the name and services of BCS amongst our neighbours. This will be the first of a longer term work to connect with our neighbours and reach out to them.
In a recent quiet time, the Lord stumped me with a question asking if I do really believe that the number of believers in the neighbourhood can and will be as numerous as “the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore”?
I confess that I took a while for me to respond.
I pondered and searched my heart, not just for the answer, but more for the reason for my hesitation. I found doubts harbouring in my heart. This was because of typical difficulties, rejections and even oppositions we have faced in outreach efforts. In short, I went into it from a position of defeat, not victory. I confessed and repented before the Lord.
But finally I declared, “Yes, Lord, I believe!” I was able to declare this because the LORD who calls me showed me through His Word that He is the God Elohim, the Creator of all things, Almighty and Sovereign over all things all the time. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And His plans will always be fulfilled!
As we prepare to go out on “Go Out” Day, what is our hearts’ position? Will we go into it from a position of defeat or from a position of victory? Do we believe?
By Sam Tan, Deacon (YCKC Bulletin 28&29 March 2015)