Build to Last

Recently I have been preaching on building strong foundation. First it was about the need to build depth in one's personal spiritual life rather than merely on the external activities. It is so easy and sometimes fun to focus on activities and programmes. But to build depth requires hard and painful work. It takes too long and people do not have patience to see the long term fruits of the labour. We all want fast results! Then I talked about building the church from the expert builder Paul. In building the church, we must never forget that the foundation that is laid is and should be Jesus Christ alone (1 Cor. 3:11) There is no other foundation in which we can build. All the wisdom of this world cannot build the church of Christ.

Paul was an wise master builder who by the grace of God founded the church in Corinth (read Acts 18:1-18). He preached and testified that Jesus was the Christ under great opposition and abuse. But he persevered for 18 months before leaving. Once the foundation was laid, other people came to help build on it. People like Apollos. The warning he gave these builders was that they ought to build carefully. There was a problem with the way the Corinthian Christians were building the church. They seemed to be trying to build on their own wisdom and philosophy rather than that of Christ and Him crucified. They were not building with the right materials. Materials that are durable (gold, silver & costly stones) and lasting enough to withstand the test of fire. Materials that will be compatible with the foundation.

But how often when we look at the church today we seem to associate it with certain big personalities, big programmes or big buildings. But will the work last beyond what people see? We have already seen for ourselves how buildings can so easily be destroyed overnight. The question is not about size - big or small. It is one about durability whether the work we do will really last and remain on that Day? 
 
Yes, only time will tell. Sometimes in this lifetime but most certainly on that Day. That Day is the Day of Judgement where everyone and everything will eventually be shown for what it truly is. Every work the builders have done in building the church will be tested. There is reward and profit if one passes and loss if one's work gets burned up. The loss is not about one's personal salvation which is by grace and not works. Waiting for that Day may already be too late! Let us build rightly now with the right foundation and materials. What we do must really build the church of Christ. For Christ is the true Head of the Church!

May God's grace and wisdom be upon you.

Ps. Ben

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday (Feb 17) marks the beginning of the season of Lent. This is the period leading to Easter. Traditionally it is a season of prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. This year it has come right after the Chinese New Year. So the dilemma for Christians whether to feast or fast? The feasting is more than just the many dinners that we have to attend. It is also the time we reexamine ourselves and curb the excesses we have been indulging with our senses. You should know what some of them are! The deeper ones the Lord will show you. So the next forty days can be a good time to humble oneself and put some self-control into place. Ask the Lord what He would like you to do more than you are used to. For example, I bought a booklet to read for my meditation during the season. I haven't given much thought yet what else to do. But I would like to spend more time in prayer and fasting! Possibly attend a conference on the Father Heart of God. May I suggest that you intentionally spare some time and thought to do something different or extra for this season. When your soul prospers the work you do will also prosper. What a way then to celebrate the New Year by being a blessing to others as you are blessed yourself!

Shalom.
Ps. Ben

We're Googleable!

We are now present on Google Maps Malaysia. So if you were to search for Grace EFC you can now find our location plus some basic details including our contact. What is even more interesting is that they can also get driving directions from a chosen starting point to our location with suggested routes! But as you can see, it is not 100% accurate! So just try it! The next time someone asks you for directions to the church, just ask them to go to Google Maps.