When we work, we work.
When we pray, God works.
- Patrick Johnstone
- Patrick Johnstone
Greeted me as I entered the sanctuary of Wesley Methodist Church Sibu last night was the quote on the screen. What a comfort. What an assurance. What a way to spend the Holy Week.
Members and friends of Wesley are spending their Holy Week with a renown Bible Scholar, Dr Bobby Sng. Last night, in the first revival meetings of the next consecutive two nights, Dr Sng shared on a new beginning of life.
Speaking on the theme of “Following Jesus in today’s world”, Dr Sng used the story of Levi, the tax collector, systematically gave an insightful account of what it meant to begin a new life in Jesus.
The reading was taken from Luke 5:27-32. The story began with Jesus calling Levi to follow Him. It is really remarkable that Jesus would call a man like Levi. Tax men were very often hated. For the most parts, there were trained extortioners, making living by taxing the people beyond the law demanded.
But Jesus saw something in Levi and knew his heart. Therefore, he called him, and said, "Follow me".
Levi left everything behind and followed Jesus. The nature of Levi's new beginning was leaving behind his unhappy past. He got up, left everything, followed him. (vs 28)
Dr Sng said believing is not enough, we must follow him. Believing is only giving a mental consent to a statement/fact. It's not enough, there must be a following. "Follow" is a dynamic word, an action-packed word.
The next action Levi took was to share with his fellow tax collectors his new found faith. He held a banquet for Jesus at his home, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were invited.
But Levi did not literally leave everything behind. He took with him his talents - he was a well educated writer. He did not leave behind his intellect. He wrote the gospel of Matthew which is rated the most systematic book of the four gospels. The gospel of Matthew was also commended by scholars as a book of great literature value.
"God takes whatever we have and use them and transform them for His glory." Dr Sng said. Trained as a medical doctor from the University of Singapore, Dr Sng said the training allowed him to think systematically, and to look carefully and not jumping to conclusion. These have been assets to him as he preaches and teaches for the Lord.
God has indeed used Dr Sng as a channel of blessings to others in his many years in many parts of Malaysia.
In closing, he shared a thought-provoking quote which he read from a calendar many years ago -
And more questions - Have you had a new beginning in Jesus? Are you still living up this new beginning? Everyday when I wake up, do you make that fresh commitment to Jesus? Can others see by the way you live you have truly a new beginning in His life?
As in many other doctors whose strength also lie in being passionate and intuitive, Dr Sng and his wife, Ivy have served many years in many parts of Malaysia as a preacher, teacher and doctor. He gave up his medical practices later to become full time preacher and teacher. He is presently the President of Bible Society of Singapore and Vice President of The Bible Society of Singapore. He is also speaker and author/editor of over ten books. He was the former General Secretary of the Fellowship of Evangelical Students of which he is now the Vice President.
Dr Sng is also an avid stamp collector. He used his stamps collected over a period of thirty years to tell the stories of Biblical events and published a book "The Greatest Story”. These stamps not only originated from the West but also the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and Pafific islands. The readers not only enjoy the beauty of the stamps but also come to appreciate more fully the great story of God’s love.
Yours truly grabbed hold of one of the two books that he brought along during this trip, and had it autographed!
Dr Sng shall be speaking on “service to others” and “taking up the Cross” in the next two nights.
Speaking on the theme of “Following Jesus in today’s world”, Dr Sng used the story of Levi, the tax collector, systematically gave an insightful account of what it meant to begin a new life in Jesus.
The reading was taken from Luke 5:27-32. The story began with Jesus calling Levi to follow Him. It is really remarkable that Jesus would call a man like Levi. Tax men were very often hated. For the most parts, there were trained extortioners, making living by taxing the people beyond the law demanded.
But Jesus saw something in Levi and knew his heart. Therefore, he called him, and said, "Follow me".
Levi left everything behind and followed Jesus. The nature of Levi's new beginning was leaving behind his unhappy past. He got up, left everything, followed him. (vs 28)
Dr Sng said believing is not enough, we must follow him. Believing is only giving a mental consent to a statement/fact. It's not enough, there must be a following. "Follow" is a dynamic word, an action-packed word.
The next action Levi took was to share with his fellow tax collectors his new found faith. He held a banquet for Jesus at his home, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were invited.
But Levi did not literally leave everything behind. He took with him his talents - he was a well educated writer. He did not leave behind his intellect. He wrote the gospel of Matthew which is rated the most systematic book of the four gospels. The gospel of Matthew was also commended by scholars as a book of great literature value.
"God takes whatever we have and use them and transform them for His glory." Dr Sng said. Trained as a medical doctor from the University of Singapore, Dr Sng said the training allowed him to think systematically, and to look carefully and not jumping to conclusion. These have been assets to him as he preaches and teaches for the Lord.
God has indeed used Dr Sng as a channel of blessings to others in his many years in many parts of Malaysia.
In closing, he shared a thought-provoking quote which he read from a calendar many years ago -
Today is the first day for the rest of your life.
And more questions - Have you had a new beginning in Jesus? Are you still living up this new beginning? Everyday when I wake up, do you make that fresh commitment to Jesus? Can others see by the way you live you have truly a new beginning in His life?
As in many other doctors whose strength also lie in being passionate and intuitive, Dr Sng and his wife, Ivy have served many years in many parts of Malaysia as a preacher, teacher and doctor. He gave up his medical practices later to become full time preacher and teacher. He is presently the President of Bible Society of Singapore and Vice President of The Bible Society of Singapore. He is also speaker and author/editor of over ten books. He was the former General Secretary of the Fellowship of Evangelical Students of which he is now the Vice President.
Dr Sng is also an avid stamp collector. He used his stamps collected over a period of thirty years to tell the stories of Biblical events and published a book "The Greatest Story”. These stamps not only originated from the West but also the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and Pafific islands. The readers not only enjoy the beauty of the stamps but also come to appreciate more fully the great story of God’s love.
Yours truly grabbed hold of one of the two books that he brought along during this trip, and had it autographed!Dr Sng shall be speaking on “service to others” and “taking up the Cross” in the next two nights.
1 comment:
Wesleyans are so blessed!
Amen?
pt
Post a Comment