Our gift to God

Finding the perfect gift :-

Jesus is the perfect gift that does not expires like the gift vouchers. 

We trust in Jesus

The Gift of Joy 喜乐的礼物

Topic: The Gift of Joy 喜乐的礼物

22 Dec 2019

Rev Renny Khoo 

Biblical faith offers a unique perspective of joy 基于圣经的信心供独特喜悦的观点。

I) Joy is an attitude God’s people adopt 喜乐是上帝子民所采取的态度

Despite circumstances and not because it is happy event with happy emotions. 

Isrealites while far away from the destination, they were singing for joy. Psalm 131 

Joy of wilderness - joy of believers not dependant on current situations.

They waited with joy, they chose to wait in joy. 

The birth of Jesus was Good news with great joy! 

 1) Not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love. 

 不是因为快乐的处境，乃是因为上帝的爱而有的盼望。

 2) Not determined by the present struggle but by their future destiny. 不让今日的挑战限制自己，而是由未来的命定决定。

II) While they wait, they choose joy to anticipate our future redemption.当他们等待时,他们选择以喜乐来期待未来的救赎。

III) While they acknowledge their pain, they also make a choice to trust Jesus.在承受 

 痛苦时，他们选择信靠耶稣。

QUESTIONS: 思考与分享 

1. What are some of your memories of God’s love to you? What are some of God’s promises to you that you can recall and reaffirm? 在你记忆中上帝如何爱你？你记忆中，上帝给你的应许和肯定是什么？

2. If joy is an attitude, and we have our pains, how do you want your attitude to look like this season? 如果喜乐是一种态度，而我们正经历痛苦，你希望以什么态度面临这季节呢？

The Parable of the Widow and the Judge: How persistent are you ?

Topic: The Parable of the Widow and the Judge ; How persistent are you ?
 寡妇与法官的比喻；你有多坚持？
Text : Luke 路加福音18:1-8
Pr Annie Wong
20 October 2019



Here is a story of persistency pays off!
The inspiring life story of KFC founder Colonel Sanders. He was rejected 1,009 times before finding someone to accept his chicken recipe at the age of 65. The success of KFC is quite a lesson in persistence for all of us.

Introduction 引言:
*The context of the parable - Luke 17:20-37 比喻的上下文—路17:20-37
* “Always to pray and not lose heart” “不住祷告及不灰心”

Disciples were asking when is the coming of God's kingdom and Jesus replied with this parable.

Jesus told this parable in the context of the preceding chapter when the Pharisees asked Him when the kingdom of God would come, to which Jesus replied that it would not come with their careful observation, because the kingdom of God is within them. Jesus knew the disciples would face dark and difficult days ahead. That’s why they ought always to pray and not lose heart. • Always to pray and not lose heart This parable teaches the importance and the necessity of patience, persistence and persevering prayer. Because in our church, in our workplace, in our family and in our nation, “everything rises or falls on prayer!” 

I. The Cry of the Widow (vv.3-5b) 寡妇的呼求
    V3 her demand
    V3 her disadvantage due to her status
    V5b her determination
    V5b her desperation

She countered the reluctant judge with determination until she made a nuisance of herself.

II. The Coldness of the Judge (vv.2-5) 法官的冷漠

     V2 he was corrupt
     V. he was tough, hard and insensitive
     V. 4b-5 he was arrogant and conceit

He gave in on the end, due her persistency.

Source : http://mybiblestoriesblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-unjust-judge.html

Here is in Greek about what it means "Wear me out" :-
Literally, the judge was worried that the widow would give him a black eye. This is the description for what happens inside Fighting Ring.


III. The Contrast with our Father (vv.6-8a) 我们天父的对比

The key to the hard heart of the unrighteous judge was persistent, perpetual pressure Vs. The key to the loving heart of God is persistent, perpetual prayer.

V8 I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.
God's timing is not like ours.
God's delays because His ways are not our ways.
Isaiah 55:8-9
Proverbs 3:8
God's delay is to make us grow

IV. The Challenge to Us (v.1; v.8) 我们的挑战

God is not grudging or hard-headed like the judge that must be bribed into answering prayer. God’s ear is open to the cry of His children: “Before they call I will answer; while they are speaking I will hear.” (ESV) Isaiah 65:24 He honors and handles His people’s persistence and petitions (vv.7b-8a) “Will he delay long over them? 

I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” Sometimes prayer is answered immediately, at other times, the answer is delayed. 

Pr. Annie shared the story of her dishonest and mischievous Muslim maid who left the house on the pretext of wanting to get married, but came back to steal things from the house when no one was at home. God will not delay in answering His children, the chosen ones, when their motives are right. 

The only reason the judge answered and helped the widow was because he was afraid that she would weary him and ruin his reputation with her persistence. He was acting out of his own relief and selfish motive all the way and finally, he granted her request. 

But this is never the reason with our loving Father in heaven. He always act out of self-sacrificing love as seen supremely in the cross of Christ and out of wise concern for the well-being of His people. In our perfect mind, prayers might seem delayed when they are not answered immediately and speedily. But God is always on time. 

Sometimes we worry so much about our timing that we forget about God’s timing. 

“I tell you, He (God) will give justice to them speedily.” (v8) 

What does speedily mean? “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8) 

• God promised to deliver His people from bondage in Egypt but 400 long years went by before He raised up Moses, and that only after Moses spent 40 years in the desert after his failure. Speedily by God’s calendar is not speedily by ours! 

• God’s Delays are not God’s Denials (1) God delays because His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 3:5). (2) God’s delay is to make us grow. The Challenge to Us 

• Be consistent and persistent in prayer (v.1) 

“Ought always to pray and not lose heart”. 

“Ought always to pray” = “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17) 

“Without ceasing” = “no intermission” “Not to lose heart” = “not to faint” (KJV) 

Do you have a problem you have been praying about? Don’t stop praying! Keep praying as God is still working out the answers you’re seeking in His time. God has not given up on you yet! Keep praying and keep trusting despite all the obstacles you face and despite all the signs that say you should just give up. Persevere consistently in prayer like the widow and Hannah. Through your consistence and persistence in prayer, God will answer your prayers and grant you your requests! 

Hannah – Persistent in Prayers (1 Samuel 1) “She kept on praying to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:12) 

Weeping bitterly

1 Samuel 1:12 she kept on praying
1 Samuel 1:13 praying in her heart
V15 poured out her soul
Galations 6:9

Let your consistence and persistence in prayer pay off in God’s time! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) • Be faithful in prayer (v.8) “…… When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (ESV) 

(1) Will not God bring about justice? (v.7) 

(2) Will he delay long over them? (v.7) 

(3) Will the Son of Man find faith on the earth? (v.8) 

Don’t stop praying, never give up, but “always pray and don’t lose heart.” “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, keep sane and sober for your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7) 

• Will he find people expressing themselves to the Father in a warm, loving, trusting faith relationship? 

• Will be find His people persisting in prayer before the Father over the things that really matter? 

• Will you be among God’s people still praying for our church, family, nation? How persistent are you in praying? Will you be the one who is faithfully connecting to God through persistent prayer? 

Let us choose to be in the process where we follow Jesus Christ and obey His commands (by praying persistently and faithfully) hence influencing others to do the same. 

Let’s keep on praying! 

Don’t give up! 

Don’t lose heart! 

Questions: 思考与分享

1. What is the one key lesson you learn from this parable Luke 18:1-8?
Share your experience of being persistence in something you did, be it a
relationship, work or life issue, what was the outcome? Would you think you have a
different outcome had you pressed on or not?
在路18:1-8比喻中，你主要学到的功课是什么？分享你在人际关系上，工作或生活问
题上坚持的经历，结果如何？如果你没有坚持，你认为结果会不同吗？



2. Why is it important for us to pray unceasingly and not lose heart despite the
 outcome. (v.1) 不论结果如何我们仍然要不住祷告，不灰心，为什么这是重要的？



3. How can God’s delay in answering prayers help us in the process of our
 discipleship journey? How will that help deepen our relationship with Him and
 build our trust in Him?
 神延迟回复我们的祈求，这对我们门徒旅程有什么帮助？这如何加深我们与神的关系
 及建立我们对祂的信心？

Source : https://canadianmennonite.org/articles/listen-unjust-judge

References :-

https://joykidsbiblelessons.wordpress.com/tag/parable/

http://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/persistent-widow/

The lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son: who is really the lost one here?

Topic: The lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son: who is really the lost one here? 

Text: Luke 15 

13 Oct 2019 

Rev Renny Khoo 

I have listened to this parable preached many times and there were a few occasions that the preacher would point to a different character (other than the younger son) who is actually the Prodigal. Once, I watched a drama entitled "The Prodigal Father" pointing out that it was the Father who spent so lavishly on his sons because he loves them so much. But this Sunday Sermon pointed to the Elder brother and he was the lost one while sitting at home. This sermon is worth slowing down and pondering about : 

Have I acquire the elder brother syndrome ?

Have I developed "righteous anger", thinking that I have earned the rights to judge other brothers / sisters who are still in sin?

When Rev Renny shared about that "The Prodigal Son" painting by Rembrandt, it just opens a floodgate of devotional materials out there to read and ponder even more.  See links below.

Introduction 

According to the context in the Bible, [Luke 15:1-2], Jesus was seen eating and engaging in fellowship and friendship with the tax collectors and the sinners. However, to the pharisees, Jesus seemed to be out of place mixing with them. So Jesus shared these 3 parables to the pharisees. 

The first parable that Jesus shared was ‘The Lost Sheep’. Then in [v8], the word ‘… or…’ is used to introduce the next parable, ‘The Lost Coin’, and in [v11], the word ‘then…’ in the context introduced the 3rd parable, ‘The Lost Son’. These 3 parables collectively deal with the theme of ‘lostness’. 

1. A series of 3 parables 

In the 1st parable, a shepherd went searching for the one missing sheep and in the second parable, a housewife rejoiced for having found a lost coin. In these stories, both the shepherd and the housewife took appropriate actions. But in the 3rd parable, it is different! 

i. No one searched for the son and he came back by himself. But someone else was not happy and his father had to persuade him to come in to rejoice with the father for the return of his younger brother. 

ii. Even the sound of celebrations did not excite this elder brother and when news of the return of his younger brother was made known, he was very angry at the treatment given to his younger brother. In this parable, someone else is also lost – the elder brother! No one realized it until the father had to persuade the elder brother to come in for the celebration. Thus, many of us can identify with parable 3, but we are saved by God’s grace and He will forgive us because it is God who will pursue us. 

2. Who is the lost one? 

In Rembrandt, ‘The Prodigal Son’ illustrates both the parental welcome and standing next to the prodigal son is the elder brother with a downcast face. 

This painting was the last one done by Rembrandt just before his death, before this, he did many sketches to prepare for it, he poured in all his understandings about life, it was painting about his faith too, how he was once a younger brother and then acquired the elder brother syndrome. Without a doubt, this was one of the most significant painting from his era. 

There are many paintings on "The Prodigal Son", here are some snapshots from Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Prodigal_Son

James Tissot – The Return of the Prodigal Son (Le retour de l'enfant prodigue) – Brooklyn Museum

The Return of the Prodigal Son (1773) by Pompeo Batoni

The Prodigal Son, a 1618 painting by Rubens of the son as a swineherd.

Of all these paintings, the one drawn by Rembrandt got the most comments and even a dedicated Wikipedia page :-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_(Rembrandt)

The reflections made on Henri Nouwen on the paintings by Rembrandt also had many essays written about it.

http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/rembrandt's_prodigal_son.html

https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Prodigal_Son

http://avrotor.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-study-of-rembrandts-return-of.html

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/thinking-anew-mercy-and-the-enduring-story-of-the-prodigal-son-1.2558941

Henry Nouwen, in his reflection, wrote that ‘Rembrandt is as much the elder son of the parable as he is the younger…’ it is clear that the hardest conversion is really the one who stayed home. 

4 other Characters were painted and they were hidden in the dark.

The elder brother is also THE LOST ONE! Are you aware of anyone in our Church who is lost? Do you know who God is? Do you know what God is saying to you? Do you know what must you do now? We should also examine from within ourselves, are we lost like the Elder Brother?

3. God’s attitude and our attitude towards the lost God is still concerned for that one who is lost. 

In these parables, we can have a glimpse of His Love and Grace for the lost. He pursues and is truly concerned for everyone, i.e. those within the family and who doesn’t know Him. This is evident of His sacrifices for us, for God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son. He would welcome us with open arms. 

God is saying, you and I are precious to Him. [John10:14-15] ‘I know my own’ and ‘I lay down my life for my sheep’ How about us? Do we care about others? Do we have a burden for our nation? We need to do whatever it takes to find the ones who are lost. The ones who are lost can be you or the one sitting beside you and we need to reach out to bring them back to God. But the hardest conversion are the ones sitting next to you! Therefore, we need to open our eyes in our families and friends to seek out the lost ones. In the parable, the younger brother and the elder brother are both equally lost! Some of us need to come back to the embrace of God for Him to restore us. All of us are called up to reach out and have a burden to the lost. 

Conclusion 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ must be continued to be proclaimed…‘Come back to the Father, It is our duty to share and rescue.’ And the rest of us should join in the celebration for those who are found. 

Questions: 

1. Read Luke15:1-2. What bothered the Pharisees and teachers of the law about Jesus, and why? What does this reveal about their attitude towards ’tax collectors and sinners’? 

It is the Father Heart of God that none shall be perished and be lost. He would not give up on them. 

2. Instead of concluding the story at v24, Jesus went on to describe the reaction of the older son in vs 24 – 32. What additional points do you think Jesus wanted to make to the audience of the parable, and why? 

The story did not end at V 24 

24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

because Jesus wished to explore the depth of "lostness" through this parable. He wanted to highlight that there was another person who was lost too and he was residing with the father all these time. It was a like a wake-up call to the Jews, the calling to God's children is not just for you but for ALL. 

3. ‘The hardest conversion is the conversion of the one who stayed home’ Are you aware of anyone in this category in our Church or in our respective families? What and how will you reach out to those who have stayed home but are still lost?

I cannot begin to think who are lost in my circle without first examining within myself, the ways that I have been lost, the ways that I "develop righteous angers", the way I judge some Christians. I have to deal with the one who is lost while sitting at the Lord's feet, dining in my Father's House. 

The hardest conversion to go through is the conversion of the one who stayed home ~ A soul-searching question to ask ourselves. 

If I need to share about this lost-ness to someone else whom I think is lost himself, it is better that I do it prayerfully, unless the Lord impresses me to speak up, it is very hard to move in and share directly in this manner, for many will take offence of it.  

Bold Intimacy

I joined the Bold Conference and here is what I have learnt :-

Standing Firm in a hostile world

Topic: Standing Firm in a Hostile World 站稳于充满敌意的世界
Text : Daniel 但以里书 3
Ps Anthony Loke
6 October 2019

Introduction 引言 :
 Living in a hostile world with pressures to conform or give in. 活在充满敌意的
世界带给于我们屈服或服从的压力
 Can we stand firm for our faith and not bow down to pressure? 我们能坚定不
移地坚持自己的信念而不屈服于压力吗？


Story of Daniel’s Three Friends 但以里书与三位朋友的故事
 vv. 1-7节 Description of the Challenge 面临的挑战

 vv. 8-12节 Accusation by the Enemies 敌人的指责

 vv. 13-18节Judgment by the King 王的审判

 vv. 19-23节Consequence of Their Actions 他们行为的后果

 vv. 24-30节Deliverance by God 神的拯救

God delivered three of them and their bodies and clothes no smell of burn.

Application Lessons 学习应用:
1] God’s people will face accusations and persecutions 神的子民将面临指责及逼迫
 John 约15:18-19; John 15:20
2 Timothy 提后3:12

Persecution is a badge of our master and we as followers will be expected to be persecuted.
Do not immigrate just because of the concern of persecution.
Do not think nothing will happen to Christians.
Both mindsets are incorrect.

2] The secret to deliverance 拯救的秘诀
 They knew who their God was; God who gives strength; Their lives were in
God’s hands 他们认识他们的神；神赐力量；他们的生命在神手中

Daniel 3:17-18
Beware of mindset : Cant fight them, join them?
God will decide how our lives will be.

3] There may not be happy endings for some. 一些人可能没有完美的结局
 “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” - Tertullian“
 殉道者的血是教会的种子。”-特图良

Martyrdom is a gift, not for everyone. Every blood from martyr is seed to church planting.

Conclusion

Discussion Questions: 思考与分享 :
1] What type of pressures do we as Christians face today in Malaysia?
 马来西亚基督徒今天面临什么样的压力呢？


2] What can we learn from the life and example of Daniel’s three friends?
 在但以理及朋友身上我们学到什么呢？


3] What if God does not remove the persecution or trials? Are we willing to die for our
 faith and become martyrs for the faith? 如果神不除去逼迫或审判如何？我们愿意成
 为信仰的殉道者吗？

Breakthrough Finance - Ps Daniel Foo

Bold Conference (Finance)
Breakthrough Finance
Ps Daniel Foo
Senior Pastor
Bethesda Church Singapore

Hebrews 4:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Know our Primary Calling -
Influence and impact lives for the Lord

Knowing God as our Jehovah Jireh
Struggles with Providence
I shall not be in want - Jehovah Jireh - Providence WHY?
1. The Lord wants us to fulfil the ________good works______ He pre-ordained for us to do.

God
2 Corinthians 9:8

Ephesians 2:10
Good works are all we do to:
A. ___________________________ into lives.
B. _____________________ lives for 0

Financial abundance
Each of us have different Daily Bread 🥪

Psalm 36:27
The excellence is in the details.

B. Seek God ___first___, His Kingdom and His Righteousness.
Matthew 6:25, 31-34

(1) This is all about making _Jesus the King_____________ of our lives.
It is about:
(A) His __Reign_____ and
(B) His _Rule______ over our lives.
(2) His Kingdom is governed by ___righteouness____________.
(A) Right _standing_______ with God [Justification].
(B) Right _believing_______ in God [The Word and Holy Spirit].
(C) Right __living______ [Obedience].
Romans 5:1-2 Jeremiah 9:24

Right living must lead to right righteousness.

(2) His kingdom is governed by righteousness.

Jeremiah 9:24
Hebrews 6:10


C. Do not ___love the world___________. Deepen your relationship with God.
(1) Be rooted in the ___Father's love___________ to overcome the love of the world.

1 John 2:15-16
Spirit of sonship, that as orphans, we have the love of the Father.

(2A) Hold very __loosely_______ everything of the ________.
(2B) Hold very ___tighly____ to the _______________________________________.
Isaiah 30:1-3, 31:1

(3) Do not give ground-foothold to the evil one.
1 Peter 5:8

John 10:10 a
Luke 11'11

Where to seek GRAE [specific provision]?
Seek GRACE in the ____Word___ of God:
(1) In the __________ of God
(2) In the ______________________ in scriptures.
Know the __promises and principkes________________________ in scripture:
e.g. 1 - About the __Tithe______. Malachi 3:8-11
Tithing is our income,
Showing mercy -

e.g. 2 - About showing __mercy_____. James 2:13
e.g. 3 - About being ___generous__

you may give without loving buy you cannot love without giving.

______. Proverbs 11:25

e.g. 4 - About giving to the _poor______. Proverbs 19:17
God has heart for the poor.
Psalm 112:5-7

e.g. 5 - About the __law of faith_____________. Hebrews 11:6

Pray with faith not pray harder

e.g. 6 - About bread and __seed_______. 2 Corinthians 9:10

Bread is to consume
Tilth is seeds to sow
Ecc 11:1,6
2 Cor 9:6-7

BOTTOM-LINE
The key to the Lord’s Providence is _______________________.John 16:33
(3) Do NOT give ______________________ to the evil one.
Ephesians 4:27 1 Peter 5:8

D. Find the specific ______ for our specific _______.
Hebrews 4:16 Luke 11:11-13
Where to seek GRAE [specific provision]?
Seek GRACE in the _______ of God:
(1) In the __________ of God
(2) In the ______________________ in scriptures.
Know the __________________________ in scripture:
e.g. 1 - About the ________. Malachi 3:8-11
e.g. 2 - About showing _______. James 2:13
e.g. 3 - About being ___________. Proverbs 11:25
e.g. 4 - About giving to the _______. Proverbs 19:17
e.g. 5 - About the _______________. Hebrews 11:6
e.g. 6 - About bread and _________. 2 Corinthians 9:10
BOTTOM-LINE
The key to the Lord’s Providence is _______________________.

Bungee Jump of Faith - Ps Yang Tuck Yoong

Bold Conference (Miracles & Healings)

Bungee Jump of Faith

Ps Yang Tuck Yoong

Senior Pastor

Cornerstone Community Church, Singapore

Ps Yang began with a caution and a disclaimer, that his preaching tonight may offend some people's belief system, may challenge some common thinking. This has been his journey of faith with the Lord in the area of for praying for healing for himself and his people. He recognises that this is not for everybody, not for every pastor.

Here are some of the key thoughts of his teachings on healing :-

1) You will only attain the higher level of Faith after something radical has happened to you in your spiritual journey. It has to be a gradual learning process beginning with yourself. He shared about how God healed him in different occasion, of migraine and asthma (both over 15 -20 years) after prayer and stopping to use the inhaler as the Lord instructed him.

2) When you are sick, the default us to pray, then call for the Elders before seeing doctors (if possible, not to see doctors). This is the protocol for healing. He prays daily with oil anointing himself and others. However it is key to recognise that Prayer of faith that heals, not the oil but it is a practice of faith.So what is the level of faith required to see healing taking place ?

He prompted us to reflect on this : Why is it that people find it easier to receive salvation than receive healing?

3) You made up your mind when you have no Plan B - for those who desires to have a healing ministry. There is a price to be paid. To move into the ministry of healing, one has to arrive at the place of Consecration as required by the Lord. He should be the one who convict us of what to consecrate.

The Place of CONSECRATION

Once, the Lord impressed upon him to study the life of John G. Lake, the faith healer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Lake

Consecration is radical and yet not fanatical. God asked him to consecrate his entire leadership not taking alcohol and for 20 years, all the church leaders of Cornerstone do not take alcohol. For he and his wife, they have given up coffee for 15 years, as a sign of obedience and consecrate to God.

Hosea 4:3

My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge.

Once you have experienced healing, you need to maintain the healing by having communion everyday with the Lord.

Hebrews 5:8

He learned obedience by the things He suffered.

Jeremiah 35

God asked Jeremiah to test the sons of Rekab with alcohol. God gave one of the greatest promise to them.

Jeremiah 35 New International Version (NIV)

The Rekabites

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 “Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”

3 So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites. 4 I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”

6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab[a] son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian[b] and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”

12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. 14 ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

17 “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’”

18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ 19 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’”

4) Is healing a will of God ?

Sometimes, there are Blockages from healing and there is a need for true repentance.

Jeremiah 17:5

2 Chronicles 14:11

It is the will of God to be healed. As it is in heaven, so shall it be on earth. Everyone in heaven are healthy and at the peak of their youths. Jesus healed everyone that came to Him. Sickness is not from God, it is not from Him, not for refining one's faith.

The model about God using sickness as a test or trial to refine our Christian characters came around 15th century church. There are now two models of church stands when it comes to healing.

My take-away thoughts :-

What Ps Yang has shared makes sense to some extent, there is a need to seek the Lord for the individual's readiness, season of life, faith journey, for not all are called into healing ministry. However, when we encounter sickness, what he has shared makes a lot of sense, that we refer to God first and foremost before we run to the doctors.