Food prices have risen 45% in the past nine months, according to the UN. In other parts of the world it has incited social unrest. The World Bank has estimated a doubling of food prices over the past 3 years could push 100 million people further into poverty, and some 33 countries face unrest because of inflation caused by several factors: increased demand due to changing diet in Asia; bad weather; diversion of staples such as corn into biofuels; soaring transportation costs, and trade restrictions on farm produce. Are we seeing the third seal unfolded before our very eyes? “When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed like to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” (Revelation 6: 5,6). Famine, according to the third seal, will become so severe that a laborer’s entire wages will go merely for food. Families will have to buy barley, a lower quality of grain. Oil and wine will be spared perhaps a hint that the well-off will still be able to indulge themselves, like many of us Singaporeans.
I believe the church in Singapore must sit up and do something about this need of fellow-Singaporeans and even more the poor of Asean, and even the world. This may be worse than a tsunammi. In our church, the Chinese service has started the ball rolling with a small but wonderful idea, so we English service folks just piggy-backed on their idea of asking members to bring a packet of rice for the needy. So about 200 packs of rice were collected the Sunday before Labour Day and transported to the storeroom of Marine Parade CDC. These will then go to those who have been assessed as needing such aid. It was a privelege for us to participate in something like this. God would want the church to always look out for the needy. And in these days of unprecedented inflation, such help goes a longer way than we dare to admit. There are very needy people out there, especially outside Singapore. This was a once off project but it will probably take on a life of its own. After all, God has a bias towards the poor.
May 5th, 2008
I. SERMON OUTLINE:
A. WE FAST AND PRAY TO EARNESTLY PLEAD GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY
1. Jonah 3:4,7-9 : an unbelieving nation repents with fasting and averted destruction
2. 2Kings 20:1-6: good king Hezekiah experienced God’s grace with his tears
3.1Kings 21:21,27-29: evil king Ahab repents with fasting and God postponed wrath
4. Exodus 32:10-14: Moses pleaded with God to have mercy on straying Israel
all these incidents seem to show that God changed his mind but it only appears so - God is intent on blessing and having mercy, but their sin brought on them his wrath and only their earnest repentance caused Him to show his mercy: God was acting in uncnanging consitency to his character of grace and mercy(Joel 2:13)
B. WE FAST AND PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING
Daniel sought God in fasting, asking him to give him undertanding of his plans and purposes (Daniel 10:2,3,11,13)
C. WE FAST AND PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSING BEFORE MAJOR UNDERTAKINGS
Ezra fasted and prayed for safe passage to Jerusalem and success (Ezra 8:21-23)
Acts 13:1-3 Antioch leaders fasted and worshipped and prayed before the first missionary journey of Paul
D. WE FAST AND PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL POWER AND BREAKTHROUGHS
Mark 9:28,29 some stubborn demons, bondages, strongholds and addictions can only be overcome by fasting and prayer
PRACTICAL TIPS:
1.Get clearance if you have a medical condition.
2. Take plenty of liquids.
3. Fast in secret unless fasting as a group.
4. Do not expect instant results.
5. Beware of vulnerabilities like irritability and impatience during fast.
6. Beware of self-righteousness.
II. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. List down the benefits of fasting and prayer?
2. Mark 2:19-21 Jesus said when he goes back to heaven it is time for them to fast. Why should Christians fast before the second coming of Christ?
3. What are the different ways people can fast and pray? How can a busy working person best fit fasting and prayer into his schedule?
4. Share your experience of fasting? What was challenging and what was beneficial about it?
5. When should a Christian fast?
May 5th, 2008
Dr Lim Swee Hong lectures at Trinity Theological College on Worship, Liturgy and Music. I attended his lectures on “Contemporary Practices of Christian Worship” and I found them excellent, relevant and very stimulating and mind-stretching. The course helps you grapple with the theology that should undergird all worship services. It also helped me to see what are essentials and what can be changed, and how it can be changed for the common good. The content was interesting and relevant enough for a good book. A smart publisher should follow up on this tip.
Dr Lim was jovial, expansive in his thinking, objective in his assessment of
the church worship scene, and he loved to “push the envelope”, push us to the edge, and move us outside our comfort zones. His way of teaching accomodated a lot of interaction and open-ended discussions and that was good as most of the students were experienced pastors from different countries(click pop-up on right). Dr Lim related superbly with us and everyone felt they could be themselves when they were with him. All this without sacrificing on content! It was time well spent filling up a missing gap for me for as a student in the 1980’s there were no worship courses. Those were done in denominational studies, and there were no such studies for Pentecostals. We pastors just have to be lifelong learners and practitioners.
Dr Lim is married to Maria Ling who was one year my junior in the college. Small world.
May 2nd, 2008
