::Monday, March 08, 2010::
:: A Look at how these people used their time, talents and treasure;) ::

Knowing God's Will and Doing God's Will By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow (Preached at Life BPC, 10.30am service, 7 Nov 1999)

Text: Psalm 40:6-8

In this Psalm David recalls an unhappy event in the early days of King Saul's reign. Saul was instructed of the Lord to fight the Amalekites and to totally exterminate them in just punishment for what they had done to Israel when they left Egypt on the way to the Promised Land. Saul carried out the command of the Lord but he did not fulfil all that was required of him. He exterminated only the "vile and refuse" of the Amalekites but retained "the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and of the lambs, and all that was good" and Agag, king of the Amalekites (I Sam 15:9). Part-obedience is tantamount to rebellion. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel saying, "It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments" (I Sam 15:11 ). So Samuel confronted Saul, "Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Saul knew God's will, but he did not do God's will. He was cast out from being king of Israel .

We have had seven sermons on the Clock of the Sevenfold Will of God. From the directive to the cooperative, the punitive, preceptive, permissive, desiderative to the decretive will of God. We have been instructed in these various aspects of God's will so that we cannot be excused for not knowing His will.

Now the throne is passed from Saul to David, because David was a man after God's own heart. David loved the Lord and he delighted to do His will. Though he fell in the case of Bathsheba, yet he shows us true repentance. Do we delight to obey God, in doing His holy will? Do we love Him, so we will be willing to obey Him? As a little boy, I loved my Mother very much. There was nothing that I would do to displease her. I asked her permission if she would let me go out of the house, even for small things. Are we careful not to go out of God's will?

When we are saved and step out of darkness into His marvellous light, we begin a new life. Old things are passed away, all things are become new (II Cor 5:7). As explained in Rom 14:7,8, "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; . . .whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."

Let us consider whether we will do His Will in our daily life in respect of our time, our talents and our treasure.

As to time. Paul says, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph 5:15 -17). Now, time is a precious commodity. Time is money. A Chinese saying, "An inch of time is an inch of gold" is appropriately stated. Yet, there are the majority of people who have no purpose in life, who find time heavy on their hands. Let us kill time, i.e. fill it with something to take the burden of waiting for time to pass. Hence they go to mahjong parties to while away the time, or to the cinema, to horse racing, to the T.V. set most conveniently at home. In Church work, there are the Lord's servants who have no aim in their work. So, they gather the ladies of the Church to have a " Mahjong Drive for Missions," partly to provide fun for the listless. Rev Hong Han Keng, pastor of Telok Ayer Methodist Church which received John Sung to hold Revival Meetings in his church in 1935 was once a Chinese chess addict. He would play it through day and night. Under the Revival he came to himself and testified how he had a new purpose and vision for the Lord's work. A missionary whom I met in Perth told me that his work was light. He would play tennis on Wednesday and golf on Saturday-to kill time.

If you need something more worthy to pass time let me suggest the Church Prayer Meeting. Sad to say the golden hour is supplanted by some T.V. show that comes on at 8.00 pm . If you will agree with me, one thing we really need is read the whole Bible in a year! My son in America told me how he decided at beginning of year to read the Bible through. He enjoyed reading it so much that he finished by October, ahead of schedule. The reading put fire into his soul, so he began to bring others to Christ. Spend time with the Lord is the best solution.

As to talents. Matthew 25 tells of the Lord giving talents to his three servants to trade and gain. The one who receives five talents and the second two talents both make 100%. The third who receives one talent buries his in the earth. He who does nothing is heavily reprimanded. Let us capitalise on whatever talent God has given us. A Christian doctor who gives free treatment to the Lord's people brings profit to the Lord. If he is bent only on enriching himself, he does nothing to profit God's kingdom. Our sending of two Medical Missions to Cambodia has been most profitable in bringing souls to Christ. So does the Beulah House profit His Church through her ministry of hospitality, not only to Christian workers and missionaries but also to the sick. The tenth Container borne by Bukit Batok NBC will feed and clothe thousands of the poor when it arrives at Christmas, in the Name of Jesus, Saviour of the World.

As to treasure. God loveth a cheerful giver, and God is able to make all grace abound toward you that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work. Do we know how to respond to God's call, to give our money to His Cause? In this matter, I am glad to have a congregation of matured givers. There is no need for me to urge you, for you know your part. Lately, we have paid towards the 4 million baht for the Chiang Mai property and in the last few months $650,000 for the Mersing project. These sums have come in good time because of your happy support.

When we give to God, He will give back to us according to the above promise. I have experienced this truth since the very beginning of my ministry. I began by riding a bicycle for nearly two years and our salaries were just enough to tide us over from month to month. I had many needs settling down as your pastor. One thing I most needed was housing. When man failed to help, God gave me courage to approach the highest authority. I phoned up Mr Carter the Manager of SIT (precursor of HDB). I introduced myself as an American-returned pastor with family of six needing a flat. He replied, "See me tomorrow afternoon." Sure enough, when I called in, he matter-of-factly said, "Come for your key next week." The Lord saved me thousands in my hour of greatest need. "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" (Prov 10:22 ).

Please do not think I'm trying to get your money. If you have faith to receive my word from the Lord, it will work to your success and prosperity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. Let us do God's will in our earthly daily life that he may store up heavenly blessings for us! Those who serve Him lovingly He blesses with far more than material things. He adds years to our life. He gives us good health that is true wealth. He prospers us with a happy home. Amen and amen.

(the ApsiRing OT says: Shocking to me, yet interesting. What about you?-_-)

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