Running

Today my thought is on running the race in this life. What does it mean to run this race God has destined for me ?

Habakkuk 2:2 (NIV)

Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

The Message Bible

Habakkuk 2:2 (MSG) And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.

Here are 15 Bible Verses from Bible Study Tools about running :-

In biblical times, people would mainly run into battle and from threats of danger. Today, we mostly run for competitive races and maintaining our health. Despite this difference, we can still find inspiration from scripture when seeking motivation to run - whether literally or figuratively the race of life. Let this collection of Bible Verses about running remind you of the importance of endurance and perseverance. God is with you and provides strength for the race ahead!

Today we run for health maintenance, healthy lifestyle balancing and just to get the heartbeat pumping harder. 

Hebrews 12:1

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

2 Timothy 4:7

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Lord, help me remember in this fight I need to keep my faith strong and keep fighting for the truth and not be complacent. 

Galatians 5:7

7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

Lord, too often I got disrupted from obeying the soft prompting of the Holy Spirit, it is easy to overlook the prompting, ignoring it and even harden my heart on such promptings and inking. What can be more important than obeying the truth from God? At the end of this journey, what counts are those moments we have chosen to obey you and live in the truth.

Habakkuk 2:2

2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.

Lord, without vision, I will perish. With vision and Your revelation, it keeps me going on and on. Enlarge my vision, enlarge my tent, so that I could be a blessing to many that you have called me to serve and be their friends. I want to write the vision big and large, on my heart and head, so that I could read it even when I sleep.

Isaiah 40:31

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Lord, the feeble strength of man is no match to your strength. I could only count on you to soar on wings like eagles when the storms in life come. I could only depend on you to run and not grow weary, not giving up, walk the extra miles and not be faith.

James 1:12

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Lord, Help me to stand the test so that I may receive the crown of life that You have promised for your beloved. 

Jeremiah 5:1

1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.

Lord, rise up more righteous people in my city, O Lord ! So that You will forgive this city for our sins are many. Keep the righteous people and make them honest and truthful.

Jeremiah 12:5

5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Lord, I do not think I can run and compete with the horses, I do not think I can survive in unsafe country, my hope is in You to keep me safe.

Joel 2:7

7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course.

Matthew 24:13

13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Psalm 18:29

29 With your help I can advance against a troop ; with my God I can scale a wall.

Psalm 119:32

32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Romans 5:3-4

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

2 Samuel 18:23

23 He said, “Come what may, I want to run.” So Joab said, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.

What is God saying during this Pandemic ?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLn-990Z6vY

Acts Overview

 

Online church service again, today there is no physical church service for at least 2 weeks as we obey the advise of the government.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZwFSBxyL5c&list=RDAMVM-ZwFSBxyL5c

https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/a-mighty-fortress-is-our-god/

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

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtWByJ1pqw

This is my revelation

Christ Jesus crucified

Salvation through repentance

At the cross on which He died

 

Now hear my absolution

Forgiveness for my sin

And I sink beneath the waters

That Christ was buried in

 

[Chorus]

I will rise, I will rise

As Christ was raised to life

Now in Him, now in Him, I live

 

I stand a new creation

Baptized in blood and fire

No fear of condemnation

By faith I'm justified

 

[Chorus]

I will rise, I will rise

As Christ was raised to life

Now in Him, now in Him, I live [x2]

 

I rise as You are risen

Declare Your rule and reign

My life confess Your Lordship

And glorify Your Name

Your Word it stands eternal

Your Kingdom knows no end

Your praise goes on forever

An on and on again

 

No power can stand against You

No curse assault Your throne

No one can steal Your glory

For it is Yours alone

I stand to sing Your praises

I stand to testify

For I was dead in my sin

 

[Chorus]

But now I rise, I will rise

As Christ was raised to life

Now in Him, now in Him, I live

 

I will rise, I will rise

As Christ was raised to life

Now in Him, now in Him, I live

 

SERMON

Singaporean Slang :-

Steady Pom Pipi - A phrase used to describe a person who is able to maintain one’s cool and collected composure while handling a challenging task.

 

Church & Politics

Church & Politics | Bishop Rev. James Wong | 13/09/2020

Speaker: Bishop Rev. James Wong

Speaker: Bishop Rev Dr James Wong

Topic: Church and Politics

Text: Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Come 26th September, we are going to vote to choose a government for Sabah. It is important to know that it is our duty as a citizen of the country to vote. There are many different opinions about this topic. More than 8,000 books in Amazon.com and 615 million sites talk about Church and Politics offering various different view on this topic. Four things we need to know when we address this topic as BCCM church.

1. The Church is Apolitical

The church is politically neutral. Church is not a political party and does not involved in supporting any specific political party. The moment Church make a stand to support a particular party, it will split the church. BCCM church members are given the liberty to vote for the political party of their preference.

However, this doesn’t mean church has nothing to do with politics because the politics simply means he governance of the nation. You may not want anything to do with politics, but politics has everything to do with your life. It will affect you, your religious freedom and everything else in life. June 2019, Hong Kong experienced one of the most difficult times in History simply because of the extradition bill. Riot in Hong Kong begun because the people rejected the law that was being passed. Whatever the pastor said or not say on the pulpit split and divided the church. The whole nation, churches, families and society are divided.

Church must remain neutral, to ensure an environment for families and people of God to come to enjoy the fellowship, to love and care for one another. The church however respects members’ freedom to participate in politics, guided by the following.

1. Those participating in politics must give attention to their identity as a Christian.

2. Those who are active in politics should as far as is possible, avoid taking important

posts in the church, i.e. Pastors, Council Chairperson, Elders, Fellowship Chairpersons,

etc.

3. Believers should avoid bringing political activities, campaigning and disputes into the

church.

2. Politics impact the church

The government of the day has direct impact on the church of the nation. An example of is the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey. It was built in 537 as the largest Christian Church of the eastern Roman Empire, but was later converted into a mosque in 1453. In 1935 under the secular Turkish Republic, it was converted into a museum. 

Recently on 24 July 2020, it was converted into a mosque again and open for Muslim prayers.

In Malaysia, we saw how the political government can affect the religious body too, an example was the freedom to use the word “Allah” to address God for BM speaking Christians in Malaysia. Thus politics has direct impact on church whether one gets involved in politics or not.

3. Respect for Authority (read Romans 13:1-7)

According to Romans 13:1-7, Christians are taught to obey the government as God is the one who put it there. Often, the problem lies not with the law but the people who execute the law. The problem is the execution and non-execution of the law. Christian should project correct teaching about the authorities, not to use it to frighten children thus giving wrong perception about the authority.

BCCM Constitution and By-laws (No. 26)

All church members must, under the principle of freedom of worship, obey the Laws of the

country, follow the instructions of the Government, pay their taxes, and be good citizens.

4. Pray for the government (1 Timothy 2:1-4, Proverbs 21:1)

The instruction given in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 is like a spiritual and moral responsibility as a follower of Christ to pray for the government so that we may live a peaceful and quite lives. It’s important to live in peace and quiet environment. Proverbs 21:1 we know that God is above the kings and He is the ultimate ruler. All the government is just on assignment. If the government is not good God will remove it when the time comes. We pray for our government because we believe that God is the ultimate ruler and He will be siting above our governments.

Who to vote and how to vote? 

The following constitution and by-laws is a good guideline for choosing the government to rule over Malaysia.

BCCM Constitution and By-laws (No. 27)

All church members must uphold fairness and righteousness of the Society, be fervent in public welfare and education services.

Pray first then Vote. Pray that God will give each one of us the passion to fulfil our responsibility as a citizen of this country. Pray for a government that will honour God and do their duty well. We ask God to help us vote for righteous man and woman.

Question for discussion:

1. Share your observation on things that happened in recent years due to the impact from the politics? Do these impacts have direct relation to church or Christian faith?

2. Read Romans 13:1-7, share one insight, truth or challenge you have with this teaching. As believers of Christ, how should we live out the teachings from this truth?

3. Pray and intercede for the election on 26th September, ask for a government who exercise righteousness, fairness and justice in the welfare of the people.

 

Live in Gratitude

Live in Gratitude 

27 September 2020

Rev Dr Lim Siew Pik

Healing leapords

Psalm 136

3 things damage gratitude

Comparisons 

Taking things for granted

Gratitude is forged in our choices. 

Gratitude is easy