| Previous Sermon | Next Sermon | List of Sermons | Ebooks (v 7.0) | Related links | Download |
There is no greater joy known to the human breast than the joy of sins forgiven and a home assured in heaven. To the penitent thief on the cross, the words of our Lord, “... To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43 ) were the sweetest that ever fell on human ears. The sins of years and the misdeeds of a misspent life were cleansed and cancelled in an instant, washed away by the blood of the Lamb. In an instant, a sinner was made a son of God, by faith in the Saviour of Calvary.
At that moment there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over another sinner that had repented (Lk 15:10 ).
When we speak of missions, we are speaking of the most rewarding and happiest enterprise known to man, and given by God. To us who are saved, who have tasted of the goodness of God — to us is given the “Great Commission” to go into all the world and to be witnesses unto the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, now ascended to Heaven.
Did you know this: you and I can make the angels in heaven happy? Amazing! Our Lord said so.
But the greatest thing about missions is that we can add to heaven’s population by drawing men and women out of everlasting hell fire into God’s glorious Kingdom by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the greatest “business enterprise” known unto men and the most profitable, because every soul saved is worth more than the whole world!
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ” (Mk 8:36,37 ).
Under Dr Sung’s teaching, I learnt to appreciate the worth of a soul and resolved to give my life wholly to God for the winning of souls for His Kingdom. In after years, the urgency of the soul-saving work has gripped me with consuming passion.
When our Lord walked through the Holy Land and saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion, for He saw them as lost souls, groping in the dark, without light, without hope, and without life.
Then He uttered those famous words: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt 9:37,38 ).
“Harvest plenteous, labourers few! ” God’s servant John Sung pleaded from the pulpit. We all prayed, “Lord, send forth labourers into the harvest. ”
“But who will go for the Lord? ” The challenge touched a dozen hearts and mine. The doctor prayed and laid his hands on our heads. The Lord had spoken and we responded. The years have sped by years of joyous reaping of precious souls to the Kingdom of God.
There is joy in serving Jesus! That joy is known only to those who serve.
Years at Life Church, 1950-1970, were preparatory years in God’s “school of missions. ” Under the care of Pastor and Brother Timothy Tow, I learnt the elements of witnessing and soul saving. In Sunday School and Youth Fellowship, precious lessons were learnt. As Deacon and Instructor of the Basic Bible Knowledge Class, I became well grounded in the rudiments of the Christian faith and in the essentials of the Gospel.
Quietly, the Lord was equipping me for missions.
In 1970 a clear call came from the Lord, as unmistakable as the call of the man of Macedonia was to the apostle Paul (Acts 16:9 ). “Go west! ” To the west we went, into the newly opened industrial town of Taman Jurong.
The Lord laid on my heart: no clinic on Friday afternoon. This was for Missions. So for Rev Philip Heng, the Assistant Pastor and me, every Friday afternoon was kept for visiting of members of Mother Life Church, seeking out various of our families, absentee members and new friends.
But the Lord had prepared a man for His own purpose. One unforgettable afternoon, Philip and I decided to call on the Chairman of Jurong Town Corporation, Mr Woon. I had known Mr Woon as a Lecturer in Social Medicine when I was a medical student.
As we walked into his office, Mr Woon was pleasantly surprised. He greeted us with a smile and a warm outstretched hand. “Good to see you, Siang Hwa! What can I do for you? ”
It was a happy meeting appointed by the Lord. We made known the purpose of our mission. Amazing! Mr Woon, without hesitation, took us to a wall map and pointed to an assigned lot, corner of Corporation Drive and Tao Ching Road, marked out for “religious use. ”
“If this piece of land is suitable, you can have it! ”
That launched us into “Home Missions. ” On 24, 500 sq ft of prime land, in the heart of Jurong Town, the Lord enabled us to build “Calvary Bible-Presbyterian Church” with a sanctuary seating four hundred, kindergarten and Sunday School rooms, living quarters, and other ancillary rooms.
The entire project was completed in twenty months, before the stipulated period of two years laid down by the Jurong Town Corporation.
Mr Woon was delighted. He came to our Dedication Service, planted a tree, and remarked, “You BPs keep your word. You finished the job in quick time. You are men of action. ”
The Lord who sent us into Jurong also sent us the needed funds. God’s people gave cheerfully (like preparing for the building of the Temple in David’s time, when king and people brought their gifts in great abundance). The whole project cost four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, fully paid during the construction period 1970-1972.
Praise the Lord for our very first success in missions.
From this first project, we learnt valuable lessons.
a) The Lord must call. Missions belong to Him: He is Head of the Church.
b) The Lord who calls will enable, and we may go with confidence. He assures us: “All power is given unto me... Go ye therefore... I am with you... ” (Matt 28:18-20 ).
c) The pastors and leaders must go in faith, believing that our Lord who began the good work will surely help us to a successful completion.
d) The leader must take the lead in prayer and in giving. Leading by example will provoke unto love and to good works.
The first success was like a “shot in the arm, ” an approval from the Lord.
Then came a confirmation from God’s word: “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Rev 3:8 ).
From then more Gospel opportunities beckoned. As the Apostle said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me... “ ( 1 Cor 16:9 ). As doors opened and God enabled, BP missions spread to all parts of the world: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Saipan, London, Canada, Sri Lanka, Africa.
God’s Word is faithful. To those who are willing to go in faith He says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps 126:5,6 ). Amen.