Servant Unto All To Gain The More
(Message preached by Pastor on Oct 2, 05 at theessage preached by Pastor on Oct 2, 05 at the True Life Church Second Anniversary Service)
Text: I Cor 9:19-23
The title of our message this Lord’s Day is taken from Paul that though he be free from all men he has made himself servant of all that he might gain the more. If Paul were a salesman he would put it this way: My customer is my master and I always am his servant. In order to have a harmonious church I said in a sermon one Lord’s Day morning You members are always right and I as your pastor am always wrong! Members of the Church, I am sure, including my wife, were quite surprised.
Using his tactics, Paul says, “Unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews”. On his Second Missionary Journey he met young Timothy at Lystra and converted him. As Paul would take him along he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those quarters. For the Jews all knew Timothy’s father was a Greek. Now that Timothy was circumcised he rendered much valuable service in Paul’s Second Missionary, even to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome before he was executed. Paul gained Timothy under the law to great profit, for the sake of winning more souls.
Paul now talks about those that are without the law that he might gain them without the law. In Gal 2:3 he says, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek (opposite to Timothy), was compelled to be circumcised.” Paul gained Titus without the law and in Paul’s epistle to Titus what great work was revealed that he did for the Lord. Take note of the difference between Timothy and Titus. While Timothy’s mother being a Jewess he came under the Law and had to be circumcised. Titus being fully Gentile needed not to be circumcised.
Now in this third category, Paul says, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: that I might by all means save some”. Here we have a testimony from Dr John Sung. John Sung who got his PhD from USA was a Methodist Evangelist. When he was in Manchuria he baptised 200 by sprinkling. He was welcome wherever he went. But when he came to Hong Kong in the south he made no headway. For here was Baptist territory. The Baptists wanted him to practise immersion at least once. Yielding to the Baptists before they opened their territory to his preaching, John Sung immersed some of them. Does not John Sung now become weak that he might gain the weak that he might by all means save some? Outwardly yes but inwardly no. For he being a Methodist remained a Methodist. Chuckled he, “More faith, less water. Less faith, more water.” Why did he jovially hint the Baptists use more water? Less faith! Methodists and Presbyterians having more faith use less water! John Sung when in Singapore preached in a Methodist Church without hindrance – this is my chuckles.
Since we left Life Church two years because my two assistant pastors declared the Bible to contain mistakes against my belief of no mistake and 100% perfect, 300 have stood with me. But yet have I made myself servant unto all that I might gain the more. Preaching the gospel to save their souls is our first emphasis. Then comes Baptism. Jesus says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15, 16). Paul says, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (I Cor 1:17). Paul does not crack a joke here like John Sung but speaks the honest truth no more no less. Amen.
Testimonies
I was a Catholic. I was raised to go to Church every Sunday and to listen to the sermon of the priest. But I do not really realise the usefulness of worship and prayer. I also regularly prayed the Holy Rosary together with my siblings, yet in my heart and mind I did not feel any relationship with the Lord.
I thank the Lord that He gave me a chance to work in Singapore in a Christian family. While working here, I came to know Rev Errol Stone from Perth. He was invited to the Church Camp at Mersing in June 2005. At the parsonage, he shared with me the gospel. He showed me from the Bible these verses, I Tim. 4:1-3 and John 3:16. At Mersing, he continued to share with me God’s Word from Romans 3:10, 3:23, 6:23 and 10:9-10. When we returned from Mersing Camp to Singapore and before he went back to Perth, he came to the parsonage and shared the gospel with me again. Through his sharing, the Lord opened my heart. I realised that I am a sinner and Jesus came to die for me. I am very grateful to God that Jesus came to save me. That very day on 10 June 05, I repented of my sins and received the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart as my personal Lord and Saviour and Rev Errol Stone led me in the sinner’s prayer.
I thank God for saving me. Now I know that the Roman Catholic Religion that I was brought up in cannot save me. Only Jesus saves.
I thank God that my employers bring me to Church and let me attend the Filipina Bible Study that I may know more about God. I know the Lord leads me to work here so that I can come to know Him as my Saviour and change my life. I want to live for Christ all the days of my life and to confess Him now publicly in water baptism. – Marquez Marites
I thank the Lord our God for giving me a Christian employer who always brings me to Church every Sunday and lets me join the Filipina Bible Study and specially allows me to read the Bible at home. Although I was raised as a Catholic, I really respect the Church’s beliefs and teachings. It’s really different from what I believed. With the preaching and teaching in our Filipina Bible Study, slowly and slowly I can see the differences. Although we believe in the same God I am worry about myself and family’s salvation. It is very hard for me because all my family and relatives are Catholics and it’s difficult for them to understand and accept that I change my religion but I know I am a sinner and nobody can save me, only one Person who can save and forgive all my sins and that is Jesus who died on the cross and take away all my sins with His precious blood. I decided to follow Him, no turning back, so I decided to be baptised. He really changed me a lot. Every time I pray I feel closer to Him and have peace.
My favourite verse in the Bible is Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. So I will leave it up to Him, no worries because I know He is always there for me when I pray. Praise the Lord.
– Sheila Marie Navarro
My name is Leong Shu Zhen Ruth, and I am 17 years old. From a young age, I have heard the gospel of God from Bible stories, hymns and church worship. My heart was moved by the gospel of salvation. I believe the gospel is the only hope for me, as I sincerely have no wish to spend eternity in hell. In the book of Acts, the keeper of the prison asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. Likewise, when I was about 6 years old and beginning to comprehend the gospel message, I also believed on the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart. I asked Jesus to forgive me of all my sins.
I believe the Bible is the Word of God. Ps 119:140 tells me that “Thy word is very pure” therefore I see no error and can trust it wholeheartedly – it is the basis of my faith. I read the Bible regularly for it makes me wise unto salvation and it gives me sure hope in the Lord. I am only clay in the potter’s hand. With the master potter working on this lump of clay, my heart has a peace that the world does not have. I trust that the Spirit of God can and will guide, teach and strengthen my faith in Christ.
I pray that Jesus will keep me faithful and true unto him. I also wish to use this opportunity to thank the Sunday school teachers and the church leaders for their efforts in teaching us the Word of God. In particular I wish to thank Rev Jeffrey Khoo for his clear teaching in the New Testament Introduction Class. My faith has strengthened considerably.
In conclusion, I am very happy to be a Christian. – Ruth Leong
My name is Samuel Leong and I am 12 years old. When I was a baby, mother sang many bible songs to me. After hearing the bible songs for many years, I remembered that Jesus saves sinners. Now I believe that Jesus can save me and accepted him as my Saviour. Repentance means stop doing sinful actions and start doing what Jesus wants me to do. I have asked Jesus to forgive me of all the sinful desires and behaviors. I asked God to clean my heart with the precious
blood of Jesus Christ.
I believe in my heart that the Bible is 100% God’s Word without any error. I try to read the Bible faithfully and regularly though some time, I do not have much time with the school work load. I am willing to change my ideas or behaviors according to God’s Word.
I am trusting Jesus Christ in every situation everyday. I pray to Jesus faithfully. Jesus Christ is the Lord and master of my life now. I believe that I am filled with the Spirit of God after I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and my master. I believe that the Spirit of God can guide, teach and strengthen our faith in Christ. I am happy to be a Christian and I am also happy to have a heavenly hope (John 14:1-6). – Samuel Leong
