PASTORAL CHAT
My Dear Readers
Praise the Lord. Over 300 came to our Service last Lord’s Day. I believe some were touched by the message, “Not One Shall Be Lost.” Now I have two important announcements to make:
I
The 3rd Sunday of February which is the 15th, RELC will have to shut down all power from 10.15am. We must therefore begin our worship service by 9.15am. Our Service will last only one hour.
There will be no Adult Sunday School Class, but the Children’s Class will go on.
II
Our Bible Camp was supposed to be held at Mersing, our own Resort with Rev Quek Suan Yew as Speaker. Since he is not available because he has to take part in Calvary Pandan’s own Camp, my brother, Dr. S.H. Tow the Senior Pastor has invited us to join them. It is to be held at Frazer’s Hill, June 7-12. We have accepted their kind invitation, so get ready! Pray that the Lord will bless us both spiritually and physically.
Your affectionate pastor
T T
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Sermons from the Eight-peaked Mountain of Blessing
There are nine Blesseds in Matthew Chapter Five, but the last two deal with the same subject of persecution for righteousness’ sake, so the Chinese have entitled it as stated above. Eight is the
number of perfection for the Chinese.
Then said Jesus unto his me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matt. 16:24). For anyone to become a Christian Jesus promises no easy life but one of hardship, even unto
death. But He also compensates Peter in Matt. 19:29 that he would have everlasting life.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Calvin comments, “We know that it is not only the common crowd, but the philosophers also, who are caught in this error: that happy is the man who, relieved from all troubles, in possession of all he asks, leads a happy and quiet life. So Christ, to accustom His men to bear the cross, corrects the common idea that those are the happy ones, who, according to the flesh, have it all good and prosperous. For clearly it is impossible for them to submit mildly to the yoke when there are pains and insults to be borne, if they assume that endurance is not the way of the life of blessedness. But Christ will mitigate the sharpness of the cross for us.
The poor are those who are afflicted and brought low by adversity. They have learnt humility in the school of the cross. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Thus Paul, in Romans 5:3 says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.”
3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Calvin says, “The calm and quiet ones, who are not easily provoked by wrongs, who do not sulk over offences, but are more ready to endure anything, than pay the wicked the same back.” The meek are not go-getters who advance themselves to the hurt of others. Confucius says of the opposite, “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.” I observe, “People like to do business with a meek man. This is how he gets the blessings of earth.” This applies even to the non-Christians.
4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
These experience a deep desire for personal righteousness which in itself is a proof of their spiritual rebirth. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness (Ps.
107:9).
5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
As we are told in the Lord’s Prayer to forgive others if we want to be forgiven by God so are we to dispense mercy to others if we want God to be merciful to us.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Especially preachers must cultivate a clean heart or else God will not bless him with His Word. A clean heart from pornography and dirty websites, for example.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
This is a contentious world especially in these last days of wars and rumours of wars. Jesus sets us the example of peace. When the enemy of God’s Word wanted to push Jesus down a hill in Nazareth he retreated to set up his headquarters in Capernaum. So have we come over to RELC to worship.
8. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Not only will those outside Christ revile and persecute us but even the leadership in the Church. Have you ever heard that six elders sacked a pastor who brought them up? In the last days not only will false Christs and prophets arise but false brethren. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matt. 24:10-12).
The blessings pronounced by Jesus in this introductory Sermon of the Mount are for Christians who should be salt to preserve the morality of others. In the Holy Land salt can be mined from the
Salt Sea (also called Dead Sea). When the salt from the salt mined is used up only the unsalted substance is left which is cast away. It is then trodden under the feet of man. How sad. Not only are Christians to be salt.We are also to be light which should stand high like a city or be a candlestick lighting up the whole house. A Christian’s good deeds should not glorify himself but the Father in heaven.
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