Rights to Do Right

1 Cor 9:1-18

This passage is connected to Chapter 8, - can we eat food offered to idols? The answer is yes - the idols are not God. They are made of wood, clay and meal. The food offered remains as food, which can still nourish us.  However, not all has this understanding, and if eating food offered to the idols can cause the younger Christians to stumble, then we can give up that right to eat the food, for the sake of our fellow Christians. 

We have rights but we should use it for the benefit of others and for the glory of Christ. Apostle Paul was explaining his rights to question the church of the Corinthians for he founded the church.  

"Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?" 1 Cor 9:3-6. Apostle Paul stated his rights like any other - to eat, drink; to marry; to work. However he chose not to, because he wanted to dedicate his life for Christ and the gospel. This is an example that we need not always exert our rights all the time. 

"If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ." 1 Cor 9:11:12. Apostle Paul stated that he have the right to ask for payment for his ministry. Deuteronomy 18:1-5 also stated how the Levits should be paid by the people. However Apostle Paul was saying that he did not want any payment because he wanted the Gospel to be made freely to all, without obligations for payment. 

"yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Cor 9:18. Apostle Paul will give up all rights to preach the gospel. That's his focus and purpose. We will do well to learn from him. 

Church Camp Message 8 - Doctrine of the End

The signs of end-times, the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:4-19. 

Thank God that He promised to come again. If all prophecies were fulfilled in Christ's first coming, then we can be assured that those of the second coming will also be fulfilled. 

- War and rumours of war: the world is gearing up for war, with terrorism more organized and wide spread. (Verse 6)

- Famine, pestilences and earthquakes: these are more frequent and more intense, signifying that Earth and human kind is not well, repent while we can. (Verse 7)

- False prophets proclaiming they are saviour of human kind. They come to confused, deceive and destroy. (Verse 11)

- The gospel reaching all the corners of the world. With technology, this is already possible and happened many times. Once all the elect has been saved, the end time will come.

Jesus, when He next come, He will descend on Mount of Olives, the same manner that He has left in the first coming. God will fulfil His promise to Israel. Jesus will sit on the throne of David when He comes again - a fulfilment towards the throne of David. For all these to happen, Israel must be back as a country, and that has already happened. The time is ripe for His return, it can be anytime now.

What happens during the end times? 

Wrath - Matt 24:21 - this happens during the Great Tribution. The antichrist will come and set himself as king. This will last for 7 years, known as Jacob's trouble, where Israel will be persecuted greatly from the second half of the period (42 months, Rev 7). The antichrist will break the peace with Israel And persecuted them.  Prior to that, there will be 2 witnesses sent to the people, calling them to repent. They will be carrying out their ministry for 1260 days. 

What happen to the church? We will be caught up in the air with the Lord - I Thess 4:16-17. God will save us from the wrath that is to come during the tribulation.

Reign - Rev 20:4. Christ will reign on earth for for 1,000 years. Rev 5:9-10. This is the Millenium - Isaiah. There will be a judgement of the great white throne of the unbelievers, and will then be castes into the lake of fire. 2 Peter 3:7 - destroying the current earth and heaven. 

Eternity - New heaven and new earth -  Rev 21 - the former things will all pass away and God will create a new heaven and earth, where there will not be any tears and sorrow.

Our affliction now in our lives are but light and brief, compared to the happiness in eternity. It is temporary; we need to set our eyes towards the future and live according to God's doctrine to our final blessings. 

Church Camp Message 7 - Doctrine of the Church

2 Cor 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

The doctrine of separation is the foundation of the church. Christians are different from the the rest of the world by our belief. The church is the temple of God. I Cor 3:16 - we are the church, we are the temple of God, and the spirit of God dwells in us. As such we were called to be separated from unbelievers for we are witnesses of God.  Joshua 24: 22 - God has chosen us to be witnesses for him, called out of the darkness of the world. We are called to be separated and shine for God, a lighthouse for the people in this world. Our testimony is called not just in church, at work and among the rest of the people. 

Christ is the head of the church - Eph 1:22-23, and we are the body of Christ - 1 Cor 12:12. The church has the responsibility to defend the truth - 1 Tim 3:15, all truth and doctrine as written in the word of God. As members of the church, we are the pillar and ground of the truth; a beacon to this world, a light through the darkness. 

Church Camp Message 6 - Doctrine of Salvation

Rom 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ".

Salvation is:

T - Total depravity: by ourselves we cannot save ourselves. We are simply unable to do this, not by any amount of work that can be done. Rom 3:10-12. There is none that doeth good, no, not one. Only God can save us. If He did not choose us, we would be eternality damned.

U - Unconditional election by God - God chose us because He alone decides to do so. There is nothing in us that would make God choose us. John 15:16 - God in His own will chose who to be saved. Eph 1:4-5 - God chose who to be saved before the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of His will. What did we do to deserve the salvation? None, and for that we are privileged to be chosen.

L - Limited atonement - God must atone for our sins before we can be saved, for this is the law of God. 1 John 2:2 - Christ's death is the atonement for our sin. It is limited atonement because the atonement is only for those elected to salvation.

I - Irrisistable Grace - God's grace drews us towards Him, we cannot resist, for God will have His work done. John 6:44. We can never resist His calling to be saved. 

P - Persereverance/preservation of the Saints - we cannot lose our salvation, God will preserve us to the end, so long as we are truly saved. John 10:28. If we are saved in the hands of God, we are truly 100% saved, forever. 

With salvation, we know why we are here, how we are saved and where we are going.

The root of salvation is Justification - to declare someone not guilty. This justification comes by faith through God's grace, it is what saved us from eternal damnation. This is a one time act of God for the elect. 

The fruit of salvation is Sanctification - this is the process of making us more and more holy, like Him after we are saved. We do not become sinlessly perfect like him at the instant of salvation. It is a process over time as we study God's Word and be moulded towards being holy and understanding God. This is a continuous process as we journey with God on this earth. 

Beware of false gospels where anything else but God's grace is required for salvation. False gospel cannot save us, only the gift of God can. Good work cannot save. Good works come only from the being saved as the result of sanctification process of God. 

Church Camp Day 3 Devotion - Vengeance Belongeth

Romans 12:19

Vengeance belongs to the Lord, have we practiced vengeance ourselves and robbed the Lord of His rights? People who take vengeance into their hands tend to be disturbed and troubled spiritually, not recognising their places with respect to God's. They will end up suffering more and hurt others along the way. Let the Lord take His veangeance in His own time for it is His full right. 

Have not the Bible taught us this good doctrine? Have not the church taught their followers well? It all boils down to the application. The doctrine cannot remained as head knowledge but we need to take the words we hear and apply it in our lives, making it alive. As with all doctrine, applying them will internalise it and make it alive for us, that others may know we are different, because we have Christ. 

Church Camp Day 2 Devotion - Huperetes

Luke 1: 1-2

Luke wholeheartedly believed in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, even as it is delivered through to the eye witnesses. He asked that we have perfect understanding of all things and make an order out of the truth given to us. (Verse 3)

Like Luke, we are called to be a huperetes (servant/minister) of the Word, to have perfect understanding of the Word. 1 Cor 4:1 - a minister of Christ. We must be a diakonos (deacon) to the Word, to spread His word and do His Will. 

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant (diakonos) be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." John 22:26. 

May we be a doulos (slave) to God and his Word, forever bonded to His Will and follow Him unto the end. 

Church Camp Message 3 - The Doctrine of Christ

Matthew 7:14- 29

The right doctrine will yield the right fruits. Without the right doctrine, the heart is not right and the works will not be acceptable. It must be God's doctrine and not the doctrine of man with an idea of Christ that is different from God. 

The fear of God makes us walk carefully less we offend Him. First and foremost - we need to confess that Jesus is God himself. John 1:1, 14. Rev 1:8 - the Almighty God. Rev 1:18 - "I am he that liveth." Only Jesus Christ has liveth. He is described as the Almighty, the one and only God. 

Jesus is also 100% man. Col 2:9 - he dwelleth in the fullness of the Godhead bodily. - manifest in the flesh. There is no salvation if we believe only in one but not another. I John 4:3 - the spirit of the antichrist would not confess that God is fully man. 

God called us to be perfect as He is perfect. However, we cannot be perfect even from birth. As such Jesus needs to be our representative to die for our sins (passive obedience) and kept the law (active obedience) perfectly so that he being perfect, can make us perfect through His sacrifice for us. Jesus has done everything for us, we just need to believe Him. 

What kind of believer should we be? Be a believer with gratitude, and be thankful for all the He has done for us. We express our gratitude by worshipping the Lord. We fulfil all righteousness and be obedient to His teachings. Have we demonstrated such qualities in our lives?

Church Camp Message 2 - Doctrine of the Bible

The Saving Power of Doctrine

Christian's fellowship must be centred around God's Word, it will be meaningful and will not be in vain. We humble ourselves and take heed on God's Word, it can save us. God's Word will be with us for eternity. Many who had gone before us had suffered to have the Bible made available to everyone, so that we may have His Word freely. 

Through God's Word there is salvation, joy and happiness, to prepare us to live a life that is truly glorifying to God. 

1. People are willing to die for this book because of its origin - all scriptures is given by inspiration of God. 2 Tim 3:16. God is the author, God's breathe, through faithful servants over the centuries. Example, to understand the last book of Revelation, we need to know the first book of the Bible, to know the background - why man needed to pay the price of sin. This is the verbal plenary inspirations of God, everything single Word of God in the bible. This reflects God's omniscience nature. The accounts in the Bible are transparent, truthful and detailed for the benefits of believers for generations to come. 

2. People are willing to die for this book because of its transmission - the Bible has lasted centuries. The first five books were write about 5,000 years ago; whereas the Gospel nearly 2,000 years ago. The Scriptures were passed down from ages to ages; protected from corruption by God. How do we know? God say so - Psalm 12:6-7. God has preserved His whole Word intact, we draw power from its 100% truth. Mathew 5:18 - God preserve even the last joy and tittle of His Word. This is God's verbal plenary preservation of His Word. There are corrupted manuscripts of the Bible to lead man astray. Our fore fathers had already respected them, as led by God. Take heed to ensure we go back to the right manuscript for the most faithful copy of His Word. 

3. People are willing to die for his book because of its power - Is the Bible the very word of God? Does the Bible contain mistakes? Believe in the plenary preservation & inspiration and we will have the power from the the Word of God. 

Thou art Christ, the Son of God, eternal truth in the past, the present and future. Experience God on our own, through His Word and life lessons, and we will know truely, God is the living God for each one of His believers. 

Church Camp Day 1 Devotion - Fellowship One with Another

Acts 2:41-42

The prayers of all Christians - for all unbelievers to know Christ and receive the gift of salvation and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Background - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the disciplines allow them to speak in tongue. Some saw and said that they were drunk, until they saw Apostle Paul stood up to preach the Gospel. Verse 2:38 - believe, be baptised and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 2:42 - the apostles continue steadfastly, and so should we. 

1. Continue steadfastly in doctrine - there is only one doctrine, unifying all apostles and believers. 

2. Continue steadfastly in fellowship - coming together to encourage one another and do the work of God. Christianity is a communal belief, believers are not meant to be alone. One day, we will all be together in eternity. 

The apostles coming together to share all things in common - verse 2:44. God would be able to provide to all for all needs if He so wished, but it is not His will. The sharing of the possessions of the apostles bring them together to grow spiritually, to love and care for one another. God blessed us, we offer our excess to others.

3. Continue steadfastly in breaking the bread - remembering the death of Christ whose blood washed away our sin. We loved Him our heart and soul.

4. Continue in prayers - encourage one another to pray. It is the desire of God for us to come together to pray. It is the only way for us to speak to God. 

God will always give us the grace to be together to meet our spiritual needs. This is the only way for us to grow spiritually. Our spiritual growth will be affected if we remain alone.