Pastor Vincent - 25 September 2014
Genuine Confession Of Sin, Denying Self
Today, in our unresolved problems and unhappiness, little do we realise these are actually symptoms of a damaging issue in our lives - Sin. Many think that sin refers to the great crimes such as murdering, stealing or harming others, but actually, from the Word of God, God says that sin is when one does not acknowledge God in his life. Because man is not conscious of God, what ever they do is under the influence of the world, i.e. Satan. As a result, we always live according to our flesh and needs, seeking self-glorification without us knowing. For example, we want to be approved by others in all areas of our lives, we want to feel worthy and thus we work hard to prove something, we care so much about our own feelings rather than paying attention and truly knowing what our Creator says about us. The deceptive pleasure of these sins sometimes cause us to immerse in these fleeting joy so much, causing us to take things into our own hands rather than surrendering our sovereignty to God. When we seek to satisfy our infinite spirit with the tangible finite things, we enter into expectations, unfulfillable enjoyment and eventually being enslaved by the joy we pursue. Therefore, blessed are you who are being touched and awakened by the gospel of God. The gospel reveals the "Big-I" inside us, showing us how powerless and fallen our desires and self-gratification are because we have disregard God in our lives. This is indeed sin. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:5 NIV) Today, if the truth we hear expose the big me inside us, respond to God immediately. Confess your sin and do not remain ignorant, wage wars against the self inside you and offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. A man who is truly repentant will constantly deny self even in his weakness, and seek to walk in the will of God. He will find strength in God to reject and fight the sins.
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Battling Inferiority, Indifference, Lack of Zeal
In this fast-paced society and highly demanding era, we are trapped in a system, both knowingly and unknowingly. What is this system? At first thoughts, this system seems to sound like laws and institutions. Yet if we inquire further, this system is in fact a godless and man-centric mindset, which very quickly develops into a disbelieving culture. As believers of God, we can be easily immobilized by such a systemic culture. We involuntarily subscribe to a certain way of thinking in this system of ours, be it with regards to merits, successes, achievements, problem-solving skills, etc. Such a system hurts the human soul and makes it grow cold. Consider, what happens to the fallouts of this system? They are constantly battling with inferiority (about self), indifference (about life), and lack of zeal (to do what ought to be done). May God open our eyes to this reality so that we can be sensitive to the needs of this era, and with that, relate the Gospel powerfully and relevantly.
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