Life Christian Fellowship

Pastor Yao sharing on: GAINING PERSPECTIVE 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2... We all have problems and experienced setbacks. Depending on our perspective, we either get depressed or have hope, get bitter or get on rejoicing. The same difficulty solicits two different responses subject to how we look at the problem on hand. In his ministry, the Apostle Paul has his fair of trials, problems, and tribulations. In Thessalonians 2:1-2, he was narrating his experience in planting churches in the region of Macedonia (Acts 16-17). In acting on the vision he received, he right away encountered some series unimaginable testing and persecution. Humanly speaking, we can say his ministry was a total failure a waste of his time and effort. But Paul confidently declared that his ministry was not a failure. Why so? Because he has a clear perspective. He has a clear grasp of capital R-Reality. He did not dwell on his small r-reality. Paul pointed out that: 1. Suffering does not spell failure 2. Opposition does not mean defeat 3. Problems does not denote it’s the end There are some key features that we see in Paul’s perspective in ministry. 1. He knows the distinction between entitlement vs. grace 2. He knows the definition of real success vs. failure 3. He knows that all that is done for the Lord is never in vain (1 Cor. 15:58) Hence, Paul is more resolved than ever despite the difficult challenges he experienced ad continue to experience. He sees clearly the what is from what appears to be. He thus continues to press on and work even harder. He did not simple look at, he knows how to look through. And that is what we mean by perspective.

Pastor Yao sharing: IN or OUT 1 Thessalonians 1:1... 1 Thessalonians is one of the earliest, if not the earliest letter of Paul. In this letter, he specifies that the church is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The preposition in is very essential for the church. Unless it is in, it’s not a church. It’s just a mere organization, or a club. The church is one that has a vital relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as with the Father. Like the branches is connected with the Vine, where it is in Him and He in them (John 15). Here we see the distinction of mere church-goers and real Christians. Moreover, the Church is an organism that is experiencing grace and peace because of its linkage with Christ. It continues to grow and prosper due to God’s provision of His grace and its outcome, which is peace. Grace (‘charis) is defined as the unsought and unbought saving activity of God extended to the redeemed through Christ. It is unsought because the saving initiative is with God alone. It is unbought because it is free. Human merits are not involved. God’s grace is necessary for our: 1. Salvation 2. Power for Christian living 3. Gifts and the strength/energy to serve Grace is the totality of the blessings which comes from God through Christ. It is the first and last word for any church that belongs to God. The Bible always emphasizes the supremacy of grace, in distinction from all other religions that stresses on works. It is the central and distinctive message of the Gospel (Eph. 2:8-9). Peace (eirene), on the other hand, is the direct result of the operation of God’s grace. It includes both personal (individual) and interpersonal (collective) well-being. When peace is present, there is wholeness, confidence, goodwill, harmony, and repose. Grace and peace. They are the necessary ingredients for every healthy and consistent growth of every Christian and every church. These are God’s gracious provisions we cannot do without. Grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18)live in peace (Eph. 4:3).

Pastor Yao sharing: THE UNLIKELY TRIO 1 Thessalonians 1:1... God’s ways always amazes us. The missionary team that He used to plant churches during the missionary journey of Paul is composed of an unlikely trio. Under normal conditions, especially in a non-Christian setting, the three of them will not and most likely cannot work together. Let’s take a quick glance at these three: 1. Paul (Little): His former name was Saul, after the 1st king of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, of an affluent family background. He grew up under a strict Jewish environment, and was studying to be a Jewish lawyer/judge under the famous rabbi named Gamaliel. He was a member of the sect of the Pharisees, and he counted himself as the Hebrew of Hebrews (Phil. 3:5). Prior to his conversion, he was the arch-enemy of the Church. He eventually became the most committed apostle of the Gospel. 2. Silas (Wood): He was a Jew by birth, Roman by citizenship (Acts 16:37), and Greek by culture as evidenced by his literary prowess. He was a gifted prophet committed to the Gentile conversion. He was appointed to be the emissary of the Jerusalem church to inform the Gentile churches concerning the decree formulated by the Church. In the second missionary journey, he faithfully endured all kinds of persecutions alongside Paul. He later associated himself with Peter and help wrote the letter to the churches in Asia Minor. From what we know of him, he was very much a pro-Gentile who champion their causes. 3. Timothy (Honoring God): He was a mestizo (2 Tim. 1:5) converted under the ministry of Paul during his 1st missionary journey. When he joined the 2nd missionary of Paul, Paul had him circumcised for the sake of expediency. He had his handicaps as a member of the team. He was young (1 Tim. 4:12); he was also timid and did not seemed to show much initiative. Paul and Silas were at the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their values. Paul and Timothy were totally different in their personality. Despite their individual differences, God joined them together as a team, and were mightily used by Him in a special way all by His grace. Our church likewise is composed of unlikely people working together. But that is not what God is concerned about. He wants to use us in such a way that demonstrates His grace as we all commit to Him and to His cause. He then transforms our differences to a cohesive whole that would amaze the world!

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