Rich in Christ

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory.

David Livingstone Story of exchanging gifts with native chief of Africa.

Ephesians 1:3-14 in Greek original text is one long sentence. 

The Message version 

 1) Blessings of Election V 4-6

Theocratic election - Isrealites is theocratic nation. God is to use IsreL to bless nations.

Vocational election - God calls people into different tasks.

Salvational election - Salvation begins with God. Even when we were sinners, He died for us.

Motivation is from God

Result is we are elected and chosen

Reason is we are His. 

2) Blessings of Redemption V 6-10

Deliverance by the payment of a price

Greek words :- two types of buying salves in those days.

Agorazo - agora is marketplace - buy out of the marketplace. And into the buyer's salvery. 

Lutroo - to pay a price to free somebody from bondage. No more in salvery, from captivity. This is what the Lord did for us.

Redeemer - The Beloved refers to God's Son

The Redeemed - 

The Redemptive Price - His life

The Redemptive Results - forgiveness

The Redemptive Reason - Salvation and free from bondage 

3)Blessings of Inheritance

Romans 8:16

It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our Spirit that we are children of God. 

Sign of Secutity

Sign of Authenticity - Authentic and genuine

Sign of completed transaction. 

Doxology culminates to the chorus of "to the prIse of His glory" V 6, 12b, 14b

Questions :- 

Scripture says we are rich in Christ. What are the experiences of your life in light of the above statement ? 

Prayer is the progress of positioning oneself to engage in spiritual resources (riches in Christ). What does our prayer life look like ? 

Service like Jesus

Sermon by Rev Augustin

Luther House Chapel 

21 August 2016

This is part of series of Service in the month of Stewardship 

Isaiah 58:9b-14

Hebrews 12:18-29

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."

Psalm 103:3-8

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

John 13:3-17

 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus replied, "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus did before going to the cross to remind us to be special people of His Kingdom

1) He showed what love is, to be a people of love. He showed the extent of His love by washing his disciples' feet. V 3-4 He knew His position and therefore he washed his disciples' feet. 

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 

He expects us to wash one another's feet. To wash, you need to lower yourself to their feet. 

Do we still serve when we are not acknowledged or appreciated ? The disciples did not offer to wash even Jesus' feet as there was no maid around that day. 

Yet Jesus emptied Himself to wash His disciples' feet. 

2) Greeting others - they were told top down to greet customers. 

Jesus told us to be changed from the inside and not just ordered us to do services.

Jesus embraced services. It cannot be forced upon us. It has to come freely from inside.

Butter Cake Sweet Memory of mum

My Dearest Mum,

It is 4th August and two days before my 22nd Wedding anniversary, and ten months since you left us for glory. I must say, I still miss you. I think of you lesser and the heart is not so sad or heavy as before but don't get it wrong, mum, that I have forgotten you or missed you less. Missing a person is like keeping the person in a special place in our hearts, it is like never to let go, although physically it is a separation for we cannot see each other as we want it. But keeping in our hearts is a deeper feeling, we still feel connected deep inside.  It is kind of 

Little things and incidents in life remind us of you, what would mum do ? As events unfold in our life, we still think of you, what would mum say ? Often, your candid and funny jokes and tales still come up at our dining table. Dad would join in with a bit of cheer. He loves to hear your jokes and tales. To hear us, your children still talking about you and what would you do or say in certain situations is assuring for dad, that we have not forgotten you. 

On 1st July, it would have been your 79th birthday on this earth, I was not able to wish you Happy Birthday on facebook or whatsapp. To me, once we miss the opportunity while one is still alive, some opportunities are just gone. I just could not do it, perhaps one day, I will be able to do that. 

I thought of you twice this week, last weekend I baked Butter Cake since 1992 ? Just kidding, I mean since a long time ago, I have been baking Rich Cakes, Sponge Cakes, and all sorts of cakes but not Butter Cake. When I smelled the Butter cake, I remember you as you only baked Butter cakes and you used to bake the yummiest Birthday Cake without icing and brought to our Kindergarten classes to celebrate our birthdays ! We were very proud kids to have home-made birthday cakes. 

Then Andrew talked about visiting Labuan for a short trip and we were talking about duty-free alcohol and chocolate and I mentioned textiles is cheaper too. Then I told them before I got married in 1994, 22 years ago, you and I went for a trip to Labuan in early 1994 to buy textiles for my wedding needs. I bought the entire household curtains (7 large windows) textiles from there and both you and I managed to buy our evening gowns materials, mine was cream colour, mum was maroon red. To both of us, it was excellent deals. 

Mum, you have always been a good sport for us. You were always gamed enough to try something new with short notice and planning, you could just join the band wagan and go along with the no-plan game plans. You enjoyed the delights of little things in life. To me, you were always very resourceful and well connected. In that Labuan trip, we stayed with your long-time friends and saved some money in hotel so that we could shop more. 

Both are sweet memories of our precious time together. I love you, mum. 

Your daughter, 

Tyng-Tyng

xoxo