Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

In all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God – The idea is, that Paul and his fellow-labourers endeavoured to live as became the ministers of God, and so as to commend the ministry to the confidence and affection of men. They endeavoured to live as was appropriate to those who were the ministers of God, and so that the world would be disposed to do honour to the ministry. [Tindal]

The work of the ministry in the life of the Apostle Paul entails much suffering. He has to be in much patience, a spiritual fruit, borne out of the trials of the ministry that was a visible manifestation of God’s work in his life. His walk with God enabled him to fulfil the call of God to the ministry.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

The Apostle Paul puts his ministry under scrutiny explaining that he was careful so as not put a stumbling block (meaning of the word “offence) to his hearers by the inconsistency of his own life with the message that he preaches. Indeed, the Word of God brings conviction to the heart of the preacher so that by him, it can thus reach the hearts and minds of his hearers. He sets the example.

Here from verses 3-10, he will share the sufferings that came upon him in the work of the gospel on behalf of Christ. The reason is that he wants to safeguard the ministry of the gospel that he has received from the Lord.¹ [Hendricksen]

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

While the Lord gives time, let all unsaved repent and receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The Apostle Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ rejection by Israel and the salvation wrought by Christ Jesus upon the cross culminating in His resurrection from the dead.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes, Prayer Meeting Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: RHC 109 Jesus Is All the World to Me; 116 Higher Ground; 358 What a Friend We Have In Jesus

Job 2:11-13

11Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. (Job 2:11-13 KJV)

Who Is a Friend?

OUTLINE

(1) Together Mourn and Comfort (v11)

(2) Together Weep and be Silent (v12-13)

INTRODUCTION

It is easy to live life with God when you are bestowed with everything in life, having every reason to feel secure. It is another thing to when these “comforts” are taken away and life bares before us its harsh side. Does it mean God has forsaken us? Easy to conclude that way. As we look at Job’s life and the trauma that has befallen him as he sits there helpless, destitute and vulnerable, alone! Imagine, God’s perfect man’s predicament, makes us sit straight and take a hard look at life. Today, we shall begin to look at the impact on friends upon a suffering saint.

When we are without friends, life can indeed be very lonely. Friendship played a significant part in the lives of men of God.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

The Apostle Paul emphasized that the gospel team spared no effort to preach the gospel to the Corinthians as Christ’s ambassadors. It is his prayer and earnest hope that the Word will find fertile ground in their hearts. It is his desire that the Corinthians would be established in the faith. The fruitful heart is good ground, good soil. The heart is basically sinful. The heart that is sanctified by God’s grace, produces fruit.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with ,

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The sacrifice of Christ was infinitely great because it accomplishes a task so personal and real and eternally beneficial for each one of His children that it behoves us to a radical change in the way we look at life. Christ was made sin for us so that the righteousness of God may come to us, sinners. The Apostle Paul’s life was radically changed. The guilt of sin gave way to the peace of heart. He was connected in Christ to the Source of life. He was so grateful and he also showed great fear toward God. He understood the power of God to judge evil and he was gloriously delivered from it.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

The benefit of the Christian faith needs to be explained. This is God’s only way of salvation for mankind. William MacDonald said well, “Paul is not here telling the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. They are already believers in the Lord Jesus. But he is telling the Corinthians that this is the message which he preaches to the unsaved wherever he goes.”

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

It is a great privilege that God bestows upon us to share the word of reconciliation in the Gospel of Christ. The Apostle Paul speaks of this privilege.

The late Pastor Dr Martyn Lloyn-Jones made this observation concerning the times. We are living in these last times, the last of the last days, the last hour of human history before Jesus would come as Judge, no more as a Lamb, but the Lion from the tribe of Judah, he said, “There is no more urgent question for this present time than just this: What is Christianity? I say that because the gospel is the only hope in the world today. Everything else has been tried and found wanting. Everything else has failed. You will not find hope with the philosophers or with the statesmen, and you will not find it in the so-called religion. Here is hope and here alone.”

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with , ,

Not the Nearer Route

Exodus 13:17-18 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: 18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

It is interesting to observe how the LORD led Israel through the wilderness of the Red Sea and not through the way of the land of the Philistines. Although the latter route was a shorter route, there was imminent danger. The LORD knew how much His people could endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Apostle Paul gave an important truth concerning how God deals with His people – He will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

It is a great mystery of God’s working to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Realizing how great God is, He orders all things by His wisdom and infinite power to bring to pass the happenings in our lives. The most important is to know Him and to experience His love. He has our interest at heart and fulfils it for His children to see. What infinite wisdom! Incomprehensible, immensely good is He, our God. We are called to count our blessings and share our blessings.

Read more ›