Kong Hee Podcast
Kong Hee
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Welcome to the Kong Hee Podcast! I want to thank you for joining us on our podcast. I pray that you will be blessed in Christ, encouraged by the Word, and experience an encounter with God. Remember, knowing God and being known by Him is the greatest pursuit of life. Enjoy the message!
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Mar 10, 2022
Apostles' Creed – Descended To The Dead
The fifth statement of the Apostles’ Creed is this: [Jesus] descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again.
Between His death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday, Jesus’ soul was made alive by the Holy Spirit and brought to the realm of the departed dead (1 Pet. 3:18-20). In this video recording, I will share with you about what many church fathers believe concerning why Jesus descended to the dead. More importantly, because the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus form the central truth of the Christian faith, its importance can never be overemphasised – as such, we will also be looking at what the resurrection of Jesus proves and implies.
If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins (1 Cor. 15:17). But praise God, we worship a resurrected Saviour, and because He lives, we can face tomorrow!
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Mar 7, 2022
Apostle's Creed – Suffered Under Pontius Pilate
The fourth statement of the Apostles’ Creed is this: Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea during the first century AD, was the one who presided over Jesus’ trial and gave the order for His crucifixion. Why must He die on the cross? Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Isaiah 53 says that the Saviour will have to suffer physically, psychologically, morally, and spiritually for the sins of all humankind. By being crucified, Jesus really died and was really buried. His work of salvation was completely finished on the cross once and for all. Everything that happened at Calvary authenticated all the claims of Christ. The next time you utter this statement in the Apostles’ Creed, you can do so with the utmost gratitude knowing that if everything Jesus claimed actually happened at Calvary, then you can also be certain that one day, He will return again in power and glory to receive you into His everlasting kingdom, just as He has promised!
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Mar 3, 2022
Apostles' Creed – Who Was Conceieved By The Holy Spirit
The third statement of the Apostles’ Creed is this: Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.
Jesus was conceived by the direct action of God. There was no physical consummation between Joseph and Mary. His was a supernatural conception! In order for Jesus to be our Saviour, three conditions must be fulfilled, and the supernatural virgin birth guaranteed that Jesus fulfilled all three conditions, which I will share with you in this video.
Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, He is fully God. Because Jesus was born of Mary, He is fully human. Without the incarnation, Jesus Christ could not die for us, and the cross would become meaningless. The incarnation shows how much God loves us and has made a way for us to be redeemed through His Son. The next time we recite this statement in the Apostles' Creed, may we be immensely grateful for the great love that the Father has bestowed on us!
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Feb 28, 2022
Apostles' Creed – I Believe in Jesus
The second statement of the Apostles’ Creed is this: "I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the second person of the Trinity. He is not a created being. On the contrary, He is the eternal, unchanging, all-powerful God. But if God did not create Jesus, why then is he called the “Son”, and specifically, the "only" Son? In this video, I will break down this second statement in the Apostles' Creed and explain it to you as succinctly as possible. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is crucial for your salvation, and I hope that the next time you profess "I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord," you will be awestruck by the Saviour and Lord whom we love and believe in!
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Feb 28, 2022
Apostles' Creed – I Believe in God
The first statement of the Apostles’ Creed is this: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth." When we say “I believe,” it speaks of something that is deeply personal. Christianity is a personal faith between you and God. No one can believe in God on your behalf – you must personally believe in him! But who is this “God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth” that Christians believe in? I hope that after watching this short video snippet, every single time you recite this first line of the Apostles’ Creed, you will find yourself being strengthened in your faith as you reaffirm your belief in this one true God.
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Feb 24, 2022
Apostles' Creed – Introduction
Someone once said that if life is a journey, and the 800,000-word Bible is the exhaustive map with everything in it, then the 115-word Apostles’ Creed is its simplified road map. In the next few posts, I will be sharing about the Apostles’ Creed. The word “creed” comes from the Latin word credo, which means “I believe”. As such, the Apostles’ Creed comprises statements that affirm what a Christian believes. I pray that by the end of this series, you will have a revelation of what each statement of the Apostles’ Creed means, and henceforth, you will recite it during every holy communion with utmost faith and conviction!
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Feb 21, 2022
Isn't 1 Cor 14:34-35 Against Women Leadership?
Again, the word here for “women” in the Greek is 𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘦, meaning “wives”. Straightaway, we see that this is not a blanket ban on the female gender speaking in church. Paul was referring only to the married women, and not the single (unmarried) females. Within the biblical structure of a marriage, a wife must submit to her husband. Can a married woman serve in church as a spiritual leader? Absolutely! As long as she is submitted to her husband in the marriage, she is qualified to assume any position of leadership in the church, to which God has called her.
Why were the wives forbidden to speak here in 1 Cor 14? The word “speak” in the Greek is 𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘰. The Liddel & Scott’s Lexicon defines 𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘰 as "chatter" and "babble", which could mean talking continuously in an excited or incomprehensible way, while a service is underway. Paul was correcting these married women of Corinth for their inappropriate or disruptive behaviour in the services, which was distracting both speakers and hearers.
Was Paul disallowing the female gender from having a public ministry, or the spiritual authority to preach, teach, and lead? Absolutely not! The fact that he says in 1 Cor 11:5 that women could pray and prophesy, and in 1 Cor 14 that two or three could prophesy in worship, shows that women are allowed to minister publicly in a service.
In conclusion, both men and women are created in the image of God and are of the same value in God’s sight (Gal 3:28). Though the roles of men and women in a family unit is different, the Bible does not put the emphasis on gender as a requirement for spiritual leadership in the church. The emphasis is first on the character and lifestyle of the person who wants to lead, as well as evidence of a clear divine calling and gifting (Eph 4:7-8; 1 Cor 12:4-5).
In CHC and THN, we fully support women in spiritual leadership, whether they are home CGLs, pastors, preachers, or Bible teachers.
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Feb 21, 2022
Isn't 1 Tim 2:11 Against Women Leadership?
The word used for “woman” here in the Greek is 𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘦, which specifically means “wife”. So, right off the bat, this passage does not apply to single, unmarried women. It was not a blanket ban on the female gender preaching, teaching, and leading in the Church.
Paul does not allow the wife to have authority over the husband in the marriage. The word “to have authority” in the Greek is 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘰̄, which is only used this one time in the entire Bible. It doesn’t mean “to have spiritual leadership”. The old KJV translated it correctly – it means to “usurp authority”, or to be seditious, in a marriage.
In a marriage, there is no question that wives should submit to their husbands (1 Cor 11:3-16; Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; 1 Tim 2:11-15; Tit 2:4-5; 1 Pet 3:1-6). As long as there is genuine marital submission, these married women can still be spiritual leaders in the house of God, and even become top spiritual leaders over God’s people. This was true of Deborah in the OT, Junia in the NT, and many female bishops, archbishops, and general superintendents of major Protestant denominations today.
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Feb 17, 2022
Can Women Be In Church Leadership?
What does the Bible say about women in church leadership? Can a woman be a preacher, a Bible teacher, a pastor or an ordained minister?
There is no denying that the Bible is filled with examples of women leaders. Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Esther had spiritual authority over God’s people. In the Early Church, Priscilla taught Apollos the Word of God. Phoebe was a deacon. Junia was considered an apostle. Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis were Paul's co-workers in his apostolic ministry. Lydia, Mary, Chloe, and Nymphas were house church leaders. Euodia and Syntyche were leaders in the Philippian church.
Church history is filled with many mighty women leaders, like Thecla, Ammia, Perpetua, Felicitas, Syncletica, Marcella, Proba, Paula, Melania, Hilda, Hildegard in Germany, Argula von Grumbach, Katharina Zell, and Teresa of Avila, etc. They were great leaders, Bible teachers, preachers, theologians, writers, disciple-makers, evangelists, miracle-workers, prophetesses, and church-planters.
Today, almost all major Protestant denominations recognise and ordain women pastors and ministers, like the Anglican, Assemblies of God, Church of God, Foursquare, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, The Salvation Army, and even some among the Reformed and Baptist. Many among them have women general superintendents, bishops, and archbishops.
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Feb 17, 2022
Why A Second Coming Before The Millennium?
This is the final instalment on why we (in CHC) are Pentecostals. One distinctive of Pentecostalism is its doctrine concerning the second coming of Christ.
In spite of the advancement of the gospel, this “present evil age” will get ever darker, and lawlessness will abound (Gal 1:4; Mt 24:12). Jesus, however, will come again to end world history, raise the dead, judge the wicked, and usher in a reconstructed universe. This second coming will be preceded by a rapture and a resurrection (1 Thess 4:13-18), and Christ will defeat Satan and his Antichrist, false prophet, and evil forces (Rev 19-20). At His return, Jesus will set up His 1,000-year reign here on earth (Rev 20:1-6). This interval is called the “millennium”. It will be a time when Jesus reigns in righteousness and peace. After that, He will usher in the eternal state of the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21-22). This is the clear and plain teaching of the Bible, as well as the Early Church, in the first five centuries.
Almost all Classical Pentecostals are premillennialists! We reject the theories of idealism and preterism because they don’t interpret the Book of Revelation literally, but only allegorically and symbolically. Preterism believes that all end-time prophecies have already been fulfilled by AD 70, with the fall of Jerusalem. It teaches that the second coming of Jesus has already “taken place” (symbolically), and there is no rapture or 1,000-year reign of Christ. This goes against the clear biblical witness and we can’t accept it.
A quick recap:
(1) As Protestants, we believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
(2) As Evangelicals, we believe in the inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy of the Scripture. We reject liberal theology in all its forms.
(3) As Pentecostals, we believe in (a) the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a second blessing, with tongues as the initial, outward evidence; (b) the appropriateness of speaking in tongues corporately; (c) Arminianism, not Calvinism; and (d) premillennialism, not preterism.
Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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Feb 15, 2022
Why Pentecostals Reject Calvinism?
Almost all Classical Pentecostals are Arminians; we are not Calvinists! We believe that Jesus died for all, and He wants us to share the gospel to all, so that faith will arise in people’s hearts to freely choose to receive Christ as their Saviour. We don’t accept Calvinism’s idea of a “limited” atonement, which believes that Jesus didn’t die for the whole world (He went to the cross only for some).
(1) As Arminians, we believe in the sovereignty of God. The crucial difference here is that God, in His love, chooses to be sovereign even over His own sovereignty. He limits His own power to permit humans to freely choose, even if it means that they might oppose His will. Nothing less than the genuine freedom of choice is required for this love to be real.
(2) As Arminians, we believe in predestination. The crucial difference here is that we don’t believe that God has “predetermined” who will go to heaven and who will go to hell. We stand firmly on Rom 8:29 that says,…
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Feb 15, 2022
Why Is Spirit Baptism Important?
There are three reasons why Jesus wants to baptise us in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5, 8):
(1) Spirit baptism greatly impacts our personal relationship with God (Acts 2:4). At conversion, we have the indwelling of the Spirit. Now, we have the infilling of the Spirit. Jesus fully immerses us into the Spirit of God, until we are filled, thoroughly soaked, saturated, drenched, and overwhelmed by the Spirit.
(2) Spirit baptism greatly impacts our relationship with other believers (1 Cor 12:7-11). We are now empowered to minister and edify one another, especially in the nine supernatural charismatic gifts:
(a) Word of wisdom
(b) Word of knowledge
(c) Gift of faith
(d) Gifts of healings
(e) Workings of miracles
(f) Discerning of spirits
(g) Prophecy
(h) Speaking in tongues
(i) Interpretation of tongues
(3) Spirit baptism greatly impacts our witness of Christ to the world (Acts 1:8).
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Feb 3, 2022
Why We Speak In Tongues In Corporate Worship
"Speaking in tongues is a major distinctive of New Testament Christianity. Jesus Himself says that speaking with new tongues is one of the signs that will mark His followers (Mk 16:17). As a Classical Pentecostal church, we have strong biblical basis to believe that the gift of tongues is for today; it has not ceased (1 Cor 13:8-12).
What’s more, tongues is often used for the spontaneous praise and worship of God at a public Christian gathering (Acts 2:11; 10:44-46; 19:6-7). When tongues is spoken to an audience of one – God Himself in heaven – it is appropriate for all to freely and spontaneously speak to Him in their Spirit-given utterances (Acts 2:4). We see this very clearly in the Book of Acts.
When the words, however, must be understood by others (for the instruction and spiritual strengthening of the congregation), then every tongue must be interpreted (1 Cor 14:26-28). This is because the words are no longer directed to God but to the people.
As such, the consideration…
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Feb 2, 2022
The 7 Blessings Of Tongues
As a Classical Pentecostal church, CHC believes that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the second blessing after conversion, and speaking in tongues is the initial, outward evidence of the Spirit baptism.
There are seven wonderful benefits of praying in tongues.
(1) Tongues helps us in praising God (Acts 2:11).
(2) Tongues helps in spiritual edification (1 Cor 14:4-5; Jude 20).
(3) Tongues helps in prayer (1 Cor 14:2, 13-15; Rom 8:26-27).
(4) Tongues helps in spiritual warfare (Eph 6:18).
(5) Tongues, with interpretation, helps like prophecy (1 Cor 14:3, 5).
(6) Tongues helps as a sign for unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22).
(7) Tongues helps in spiritual rest and refreshing (Is 28:11-12).
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Feb 1, 2022
Why The Baptism In The Holy Spirit?
The main distinctive of us, Classical Pentecostals, is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the promise of the Father, that Jesus will baptise believers in the Holy Spirit, and this is separate and subsequent to regeneration. This is a second blessing or second reception of the Spirit for supernatural empowerment (Acts 1:4-5, 8). So, there are two receptions of the Spirit – one at conversion (for the new birth), the other at Spirit baptism (for empowerment as Jesus’ witnesses). We have very strong and sound biblical basis to believe in this.
To Classical Pentecostals, the initial, outward evidence of the Spirit baptism is speaking in tongues. This explains why the 120 stopped tarrying in the upper room after the Day of Pentecost. The moment they spoke in tongues, they knew that they had received the promise of the Father (Acts 2:1-4). It must be the same for us.
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Jan 31, 2022
The Blessings Of Jesus' Ascension
Happy Ascension Day! Today, all around the world, Christians celebrate Jesus’ bodily departure from earth to heaven, 40 days after His resurrection. Many give attention to His death, burial, and resurrection, but when it comes His ascension, we don’t think much about it. Yet, it plays a very important part in the redemption work of Christ. These are the five ways Jesus’ bodily departure to heaven is an important blessing to us:
(1) The ascension gives us a new position of authority (Eph 1:17-18; 2:6).
(2) The ascension gives us a new confidence in Christ (Heb 4:14, 16).
(3) The ascension gives us a new life in the Spirit (Jn 14:16-17; 16:7).
(4) The ascension gives us a new mindset for living (Col 3:1-2).
(5) The ascension gives us a new pursuit of eternity (Heb 12:1-2).
Meditate on the truth of these blessings! Once again … Happy Ascension Day!
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Jan 30, 2022
Why Are We Pentecostals?
1 in 4 Christians in the world embraces Pentecostalism. By 2025, over 30% of all Christians will be Pentecostal-Charismatics. Some critics scoff Pentecostals as being theologically shallow, and that we are “a mile wide but one-inch thick”. I totally disagree. We embrace the best and soundest of Protestant and Evangelical doctrines–and in much deeper depths–with greater power, experience, illumination, and active obedience, as we live and walk in the Spirit.
The seven distinctives of Classical Pentecostalism are as follows:
(1) Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
(2) Speaking in tongues.
(3) Continuationism.
(4) Worship.
(5) Evangelism and missions.
(6) Arminianism.
(7) Second coming of Christ.
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Jan 29, 2022
Why Is Liberal Theology Dangerous?
Liberal theology is any doctrine or hermeneutics that seeks to redefine or modify traditional doctrines and practices of Christianity, especially those espoused by the earliest believers and the Early Church. The spirit of liberal theology is Gen 3:1 where the serpent said to the woman, “Has God indeed said …?” The heart of it is unbelief and an outright rejection of sound scriptural truths.
Liberal theology has opened the door for many Christians, even the “faithful” ones, to question or reject the most basic Christian doctrines. It is dangerous, and will shipwreck our faith. As biblical Christians, we must be vigilant and watchful, and not allow liberal theology to make inroads into our lives, churches, and cell groups.
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Jan 6, 2022
Why Are We Evangelicals?
John Stott, once ranked by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world (2005), argues that “Evangelical Christianity" is the real Christianity. It is authentic, true, original, and pure. Because the Church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15), our calling is to hold it firm so that it is not moved, and hold it high so that all may see it. However hostile the spirit of this present evil age (Gal 1:4) may be (towards an outspoken statement of biblical truth), the Church has no freedom to reject its God-given task.
Why do we call ourselves “Evangelicals”? Here are the reasons …
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Jan 3, 2022
Why Are We Protestants?
Paul told young Timothy that he must guard the gospel faithfully, spread it actively, and suffer for it bravely (2 Tim 1). Jude, the brother of our Lord, says that we must earnestly contend for the faith, the body of truth concerning Jesus Christ and His teachings, which has been entrusted to us (Jude 3). In a postmodern age when many believe there are no fixed, transcendent moral absolutes, it is especially important for us to know WHAT we believe and WHY we believe. Here in CHC and THN, we are first Protestants, Evangelicals, then Pentecostals, and in this particular order.
Why do we call ourselves “Protestants”? Here are the reasons …
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Dec 30, 2021
Jesus' Prayer Life – Adoration
This is the final instalment to our series on prayer. Jesus teaches that we must saturate our prayers with adoration.
What does it mean to adore God?
How does adoration bring us to a place of inner peace and heavenly joy?
Let me share with you some practical steps of how I spend time in adoring prayers ...
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Dec 27, 2021
Jesus' Prayer Life – Petition
In prayer, Jesus wants us to learn how to ask (Jn 16:24). We mustn’t think that there is no need to ask anything from God because He already knows what we need.
When we pray …
(1) We must ask God according to His will (Jas 4:3; 1 Jn 5:14-15).
(2) We must ask in faith (Mt 21:22).
(3) We must ask persistently (Lk 11:9; Lk 18:1).
However, if we pray for a supernatural miracle, are we resisting the sovereignty of God?
Here is my response …
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Dec 23, 2021
Jesus' Prayer Life – Confession
Jesus is the totally sinless Lamb of God (1 Pet 1:19). While we are legally and positionally righteous in Christ, yet in this lifetime, we will still sin. Therefore, Jesus teaches us that repentance must be a daily lifestyle. When we pray, we must regularly confess our sins to God, who will freely “forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (Lk 11:4, NIV). This is where the Ten Commandments are very useful (Ex 20:3-17; Deut 5:7-21). While they can’t defeat sin, they are very good in detecting them. I often use the Ten Commandments as a “spiritual MRI” to check my heart.
This is how I do it in my prayer life …
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Dec 20, 2021
Jesus' Prayer Life – Conversation
A conversation is a chat between two people. Prayer must be exactly like this – a conversation between a believer and God! He loves to fellowship and commune with us. In prayer, we are sharing our hearts with Him, and He is sharing His heart with us. Only when there is a conversation is there a full spiritual encounter.
This is how conversation usually happens in prayer …
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Dec 16, 2021
Jesus' Prayer Life – Meditation
Jesus was an expert in Bible meditation. He meditated so much on Scripture that He quoted it automatically and instinctively in almost every situation, especially during the critical moments of His life and ministry. Over the years, I have learned that this is the secret to a powerful prayer life. Christian meditation, however, is very different from other forms of meditation. It is, first and foremost, not a breathing exercise.
This is how you do it …
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Dec 15, 2021
Jesus' Prayer Life
In the Gospels, Jesus was constantly in a prayer mode. Why? Because prayer is how we fellowship and unite with God. Prayer tunes us to God.
How did Jesus pray? This is what I have learned …
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Dec 14, 2021
Early Morning Prayer
Why pray early in the morning, especially when so many of us are night owls? Besides, isn’t any time of the day always a good time to pray? Of course, it is! We shouldn’t be rigid and legalistic about the right timing for us to seek God. Yet, many saints of the Bible, including our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, loved waking up early in the morning to pray (e.g., Mk 1:35; Ps 5:3). The Holy Spirit also fell upon the apostles and the earliest Christians in the upper room during an early morning prayer meeting (Acts 2:1-4).
What is so special about praying in the morning? There are some very practical benefits that I have found. Please allow me to share them with you …
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Dec 13, 2021
The Great Exchange (Part 2)
The cross is the focus of the gospel. No matter what your needs or problems may be, God has an answer for you. It is, however, only through the cross alone that you may receive provision for your needs and answers to your problems. In the last post, I talked about the first four aspects of the great exchange. Here are the rest:
(5) Jesus tasted death so that we might have eternal life.
(6) Jesus was wounded so that we might be healed.
(7) Jesus endured poverty so that we might share His abundance.
(8) Jesus was made a curse so that we might enter into the blessing.
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Dec 12, 2021
The Great Exchange (Part 1)
The sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross is the focus of the entire gospel (the good news). Something truly amazing happened during Easter. Martin Luther called it “the wonderful exchange”.
No matter what your need or problem may be, God has an answer for you. But there is only one place that you can find the answer at: the cross on which Jesus died. It is only through the cross (and the cross alone) that you can receive provision for all your needs, and answers to your problems.
Eight powerful things happened in the great exchange.
Let us look at the first four:
(1) Jesus was punished so that we might be forgiven.
(2) Jesus was treated as guilty so that we might be declared righteous.
(3) Jesus bore our shame so that we might share His glory.
(4) Jesus endured rejection so that we might have acceptance with the Father.
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Dec 9, 2021
Easter Terminology (Part 3)
Every Easter, we remember the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.
There are a number of terms used every Easter season, and it is useful that we clearly understand what they actually mean.
We have looked at the definitions of (1) Lent, (2) the Fall, (3) guilt, (4) sin, (5) original sin, (6) total depravity, (7) atonement, (8) propitiation, (9) expiation, (10) penal substitution, and (11) the blood of Jesus.
In this final installment, let us understand the meaning of (12) justification, (13) righteousness, (14) salvation, (15) redemption, (16) passion of Christ, and (17) resurrection.
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Dec 7, 2021
Easter Terminology (Part 2)
During the Easter season, we often hear some words being mentioned. Clarity is the foundation of purpose. Let us be clear about their biblical meanings …
Atonement, propitiation, expiation, penal substitution, and the blood of Jesus!
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Nov 28, 2021
Easter Terminology (Part 1)
Easter is the time we commemorate the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and the reality of His resurrection. In the days leading up to it, we remember His passion (or suffering). On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. But because He is risen on Easter Sunday, it means that His punishment for our sins was accepted by God our Father. The price for our redemption is paid in full. Our sins can now be forgiven and we can have a brand new life as children of God.
There are a number of words that Christians around the world use during every Easter, and it is good for us to clearly understand what they mean. Here are the first few words …
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Nov 25, 2021
Did Jesus Teach A Rejection Of Success & Wealth?
Does Jesus teach a doctrine on the rejection of success and wealth?
Here is my response ...
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Nov 6, 2021
Can Luke 6:38 Be Applied To Financial Giving?
Can Luke 6:38 be quoted to encourage the giving of offerings? Did Jesus teach on the sowing and reaping of finances?
Here is my response ...
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Nov 5, 2021
Unhappiness & Envy At The Loss Of Rewards?
This is my final instalment for this series on eternal rewards in heaven. Some people asked: "What about those who receive lesser rewards in heaven, or worse still, a loss of rewards? Wouldn’t they be eternally unhappy? How can we be fully happy when we see others better or greater than us, or when we have 'lost out' to others? Doesn’t such a reward system in heaven stir up a lot of envy, strife, and rivalry among the saints?"
Here is my response ...
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Nov 4, 2021
Inequality & Eternal Regrets In Heaven?
A few people asked me these questions: "Doesn’t the existence of heavenly rewards suggest inequality among believers in heaven? Shouldn’t all of God’s blessings be equally distributed and shared among all? Think about it: If there are different rewards, doesn’t that mean that those with lesser rewards will have sorrow and regret – for all eternity?"
Here are my answers ...
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Oct 26, 2021
Are Eternal Rewards Necessary In Heaven?
Someone asked me a question recently: "Why is there a need for rewards in heaven? When we get there, shouldn’t we all be equally blessed?"
Here is my response ...
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Oct 25, 2021
How Will Christians Be Rewards At Judgement Seat Of Christ?
We are saved by faith, but rewarded for our works. One day, we will all stand glorified before Christ, without our old sin nature anymore. We will be without guilt because we have been declared righteous. Knowing all these, we must live in such a way we will receive a “full reward” for our lives and service (2 Jn 1:8). We should all long to hear those precious words from Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21).
Under what conditions does God reward us? According to the Bible, God will reward us for these …
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Oct 25, 2021
Why Are Christians Judged In Heaven?
Some have asked me questions concerning the eternal judgment of believers at the end of time. Since we are already righteous in Christ, why must we Christians still appear before the judgment seat of Christ? If we are already righteous, why are we still “judged”?
Here is my response …
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Oct 13, 2021
What Is The Hundredfold Blessing?
What does Jesus mean by “receiving a hundredfold now in this time” (Mk 10:29-30)? Is He promoting greed and materialism? What does it mean to have a hundredfold blessing? Does it mean that God will mathematically multiply our seed 100 times? As biblical Christians, if we truly believe that the Bible is inerrant and infallible, then it is our duty to get the correct view of this subject, lest we be guilty of ignoring God’s Word or distorting it.
Here is my response …
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Oct 10, 2021
What Are The Seeds We Sow?
The Bible refers to "seed" as an embryonic plant, or as life, or tears. Jesus says that the Word of God is like a seed. The kingdom of God and faith are like mustard seeds. Our actions and behaviour, whether in the Spirit or in the flesh, are also like seeds. We will reap what we sow. But does the principle of sowing and reaping extend to our finances as well? If it does, then won’t it promote materialism and greed, making us treat our relationship with God as a transactional one? How do we properly handle this topic?
Here is my response ….
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Oct 9, 2021
Wholehearted In The Holy Spirit, Prayer & Faith?
What does it mean to be “wholehearted” in the things of God? What does it mean to live and walk in the Spirit wholeheartedly? What does it mean to pray and believe with all your heart?
Here is my answer …
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Oct 8, 2021
What Is The "Heart" In The Bible?
When the Scripture talks about the “heart”, what does it mean? Does it refer to our soul? Or is it our mind? Is it the seat of our emotions? What exactly is it?
Here is my answer …
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Oct 7, 2021
Is The Book Of Revelation Vaticinium Ex Eventu?
Is Revelation really a prediction of future events, or is it a postdiction of what had already happened in history? Is it a vaticinium ex eventu, a historical record of what had already happened in AD 70, framed as a yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecy? Is it about the future return of Christ to establish the kingdom of God on earth, or is it actually a series of teachings to teach us moral values and social activism?
Here is my response …
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Oct 6, 2021
Vaticinium Ex Eventu – Prophecy After The Event
Recently, someone asked me about the apocalyptic writings of the Bible, specifically those prophetic texts concerning the end times, like the Book of Revelation. The question is whether these passages are really predictive of the future, or are they merely a record of the past, say AD 70? This theory is called vaticinium ex eventu. Are the prophecies of the Book of Daniel and the visions of Jesus to John in Revelation a prediction of future events, or a postdiction of past historical events? Here is my response ...
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Oct 5, 2021
What Does The Bible Consider "Seed"?
Like most biblical truths, the principle of sowing and reaping has been subjected to much discussion. One, however, cannot dismiss a biblical truth simply because others have abused it. Neither can we ignore clear Bible passages that are incontrovertible. We cannot disregard what the Word of God has explicitly said, that “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest … shall not cease” (Gen 8:22). In the Gospel, even Jesus Himself reiterates this in the very important parable of the sower (Mt 13:18-23). Jesus teaches the need to sow seed on good ground in order to reap a bountiful harvest.
What, however, constitutes a seed? Here are the 9 things the Bible speaks of as seeds.
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Oct 4, 2021
Principle Of Sowing & Reaping
Is the principle of sowing and reaping biblical? Isn’t it just a means of fund-raising and manipulating people to give? Doesn’t it promote greed and materialism, leading to an unhealthy focus on earthly wealth? Doesn’t it promote a “transactional” relationship with God?
Here is the first of my series of responses …
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Oct 4, 2021
Inner Peace
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6), and He has come to give us an inner peace that will enable us not to be tormented by anxiety, fear or conflict.
This is how I have learned to cultivate inner peace …
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Sep 13, 2021
Joy & Heavenly Meditation
In the past few years, I have learned to the secret of tapping into joy through heavenly meditation.
I believe this is the key to finding true happiness …
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Sep 12, 2021
The Pursuit Of Happiness
Survey after survey shows that happiness is possibly the most important thing people are seeking today. Yet, why is it increasingly elusive? Why are we increasingly feeling stressed, anxious and panicky? How can we live in the state of happiness?
This is my spiritual journey on the pursuit of happiness …
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Sep 12, 2021
Paraphrase Translations – GNB, TLB, MSG, TPT, etc.
Some Christians wonder if reading translations like the Message Bible and the Passion Translation is dangerous and detrimental to our spiritual growth.
Here is my reply …
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Aug 30, 2021
What If A Pastor Misquotes A Verse?
There is a need to understand verses and passages of the Bible contextually. A verse taken out of context can be distorted until it means something completely different from its original meaning. You can make the Bible say anything you want if you ignore the context, and that is certainly wrong. Context is very important but it is not always king. If we rigidly insist that context is king, then the apostles, and even Jesus Himself, had wrongfully misquoted Scriptures too.
For example, did the apostle Matthew misquote Hos 11:1 and taken it out of context?
Did Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers in the 19th century, regularly take Scriptures out of context?
What do you do when someone you know (and maybe even respect) quotes a verse out of context, and it disturbs you?
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Aug 30, 2021
Did Jesus Misquote A Verse?
Understanding the context of a Scripture is the most basic rule of biblical hermeneutics (or Bible interpretation). Before we quote a verse, we must study the verses and chapters immediately before and after that verse. We must understand the context or we can end up with very wrong ideas and messages about our Christian faith. We must, however, not be bound so rigidly to every contextual detail that it makes any relevant interpretation and application of that text impossible.
What about Mt 18:18, 20?
Did Jesus himself misquote Scripture by taking Deut 15:11 out of context?
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Aug 23, 2021
Quoting Scripture Out Of Context
What happens when preachers and Christians quote Scriptures out of context? Can Bible promises be personalised?
One of the most basic rules of biblical hermeneutics (or Bible interpretation) is to understand a Scripture contextually. This is important because using a Bible passage out of context can lead to error and misunderstanding.
However, did the apostles and Jesus Himself quote verses out of context?
Can we personalise Rom 8:28 or Phil 4:13 for ourselves, if we are not suffering hardships in prison like Paul?
Can we personalise the following Bible passages as promises for our lives?
Jer 29:11?
Jer 33:3?
Josh 1:9?
Psalm 23?
Num 6:22-2?
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Aug 19, 2021
3 Basic Laws of Hermeneutics
For those who want to understand or teach the Bible well, we need to learn how to be skilful in biblical hermeneutics, or the art of Bible interpretation. The three basic laws of hermeneutics are:
Law #1: As much as possible, Scriptures should be interpreted literally.
Law #2: Scriptures must be interpreted historically, grammatically, and contextually.
Law #3: Scripture is always the best interpreter of Scripture.
Some Christians avoid good hermeneutics because they mistakenly believe that it will prevent them from receiving fresh illumination or prophetic insight from the Holy Spirit. This cannot be so, because the source of every revelation, illumination, and prophecy is the same Spirit of God, and He is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33). The purpose of hermeneutics is to protect us from misapplying or distorting Scripture. Because God is truth and His Word is truth (Deut 32:4; Jn 17:17), we want to know the truth and live in the truth, to the best that we can. This is w…
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Aug 16, 2021
Trinity – Mystery & Practical Impact
In the study of God (theology), what is the difference between a contradiction, a paradox, and a mystery? Why is the Trinity a mystery and not a contradiction?
The doctrine of the Trinity is a crucial ingredient in our Christian faith because it explains who God is, what He is like, how He works, and how He is to be approached. Its truth has profound practical implications for the Christian life:
(1) In the completion of our salvation.
(2) In our worship.
(3) In our prayer.
(4) In our understanding of love and unity.
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Aug 12, 2021
Trinity – 4 Wrong Concepts
We must guard against four wrong concepts concerning the Trinity:
(1) Jesus only became divine at His baptism or resurrection.
(2) God only exists as one person at any given time – water analogy.
(3) The Trinity is really three different Gods – egg analogy.
(4) The Holy Spirit is inferior in essence to Jesus, who in turn is inferior in essence to the Father.
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Aug 9, 2021
The Trinity
Our Christian faith is the belief in the Triune God. In Latin, we say, “one ousia, three hupostaseis” – one “ousia” (essence or substance), yet three “hupostaseis” (persons).
The Father is totally God, the Son is totally God, and the Holy Spirit is totally God. All three are exactly identical in being, but they are separate and distinct persons. This is the glorious mystery of our God Almighty.
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Aug 5, 2021
3 Ways Of Overcoming Satan
The victory of Jesus Christ was total and complete on the cross. Satan is a defeated foe, although he has yet to concede defeat. How do we overcome the devil in our daily lives?
This is how we do it …
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Aug 2, 2021
Faith That Overcomes The World
Does faith always guarantee a miracle? Is our faith faulty when we believe in God, confess His Word, and yet there are no results? Should we still continue to exercise faith? If we persevere in prayer for a miracle, are we coming against the sovereignty of God?
A short while back, a Christian leader said to me, “I have stopped teaching faith because if the healing, blessing, and deliverance doesn’t come, then people may start doubting God. So it’s better if they don’t believe in miracles in the first place, then there is no danger that they will ever experience doubt. I just don’t want to set them up for disappointments.” Is this person’s reasoning biblically correct?
Here is my reply …
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Jul 29, 2021
Jesus' 6 Hours On The Cross Too Short?
When it comes to the penal substitution of Christ, are Jesus’ six hours on the cross commensurate with the eternal punishment of a sinner? Is it enough? Isn’t it way too short? How can it be fair when Jesus only needed to be punished for six hours, while a sinner must be punished for eternity?
This is my answer …
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Jul 28, 2021
Isn't It Immoral For God To Punish An Innocent Jesus?
Isn’t it immoral for God to punish an innocent person, namely Jesus Christ, for our sins? Isn’t the atonement of the cross a form of cosmic child abuse – God the Father violently abusing His Son for something He didn’t do? Doesn’t it violate God’s own rules of justice that He has set up in the universe?
Here is my answer …
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Jul 23, 2021
Is A Christian Still A Sinner?
As Christians, are we still sinners? Or are we already saints? This is the answer …
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Jul 19, 2021
Are All People Children Of God?
Are all human beings God’s children? What does the Bible say, especially Jn 1:12? This is a short but fascinating subject. Enjoy …
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Jul 19, 2021
Honour – Showing Honour To Down-And-Outers
Jesus always showed honour to the down-and-outers. Even when there was nothing to celebrate in their lives and they achieved nothing of worth, 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗱. Even when He was superior over them morally, socially, spiritually, and intellectually, Jesus was always honouring.
We can learn so much through Jesus’s example in honouring Zacchaeus, the Jewish tax collector (Lk 19:1-10). 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲. Like us, Zacchaeus had a deep need and strong desire for recognition, and Jesus met that need. Jesus bothered to ask around and find out more about Zacchaeus. He wasn’t only interested in His own ministry and vision, He also showed interest in this sinful chief tax collector. He was preferring him over Himself (Phil 2:3; Rom 12:10).
Jesus was very friendly with Zacchaeus. Learn to smile when you meet…
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Jul 12, 2021
Honour – Encouraging Those Who Have Fallen From Grace
Jesus is always honouring, especially towards those who have fallen from grace. He will not condone their sins or unrighteousness, but He is always patient and kind to sinners. 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀.
Like Jesus, we honour others when we choose not to listen to gossips about them, and when we choose not to engage in gossip. We honour people when we move in the power of forgiveness, and by openly identifying with them in their shame and humiliation. Don’t cut off your ties with people. Don’t become a “stranger” when a relationship feels like a liability. By “stooping down” to be with people in their seasons of humiliation, we ease their embarrassment.
When we need to speak the truth, as much as possible, we…
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Jul 11, 2021
Honour – Celebrating The Value Of Others
Jesus carries a strong spirit of honour (Is 11:2). Honour gives us access to the power of God – to His blessing and favour. Jesus says that honour is the key to experiencing miracles in our lives. When there was a lack of honour, He couldn’t work miracles (Mk 6:4-6). 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼u𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. Everyone is a person of value and worth to God.
Jesus shows honour by being a very encouraging person. Make it a point to encourage the people you meet every day. The word “encourage” means to “put in courage”. When we believe in people, telling them that they can do whatever God has put in their hearts, we put faith into them. Then, they will start believing in God and in themselves, and ordinary people are transformed into extraordinary ones.
Learn to think the best of ot…
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Jul 5, 2021
Sovereignty of God & Predestination
We have always believed that God is almighty, all-powerful, and that He is totally sovereign. When it comes to the doctrine of predestination, however, we believe that the God of holy love wants a relationship with us that is real and genuine. As such, in His predestination, He allows the following 5 things:
(1) Universal free will
(2) Conditional election
(3) Unlimited atonement
(4) Resistible grace
(5) Conditional perseverance
Here is the explanation why …
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Jul 4, 2021
Sovereignty Of God & Free Will
We believe in the sovereignty and glory of God. We believe that in our total depravity (fallen nature), we cannot save ourselves apart from grace. However, when it comes to the doctrine of predestination, we must be clear. We don’t accept predestination to mean that before we were born, or even before the world was created, God had already predetermined, solely and unilaterally, who will go to heaven and who will go to hell. (And that He doesn’t give us a real, free choice in this matter!)
This is because when we talk about God’s sovereignty, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 (Col 1:13). God is love (1 Jn 4:8). He is not only full of grace to save, He is also full of mercy, compassion and lovingkindness (Ex 34:6). 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 (Jn 3:16). Therefore, although H…
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Jun 28, 2021
Sovereignty Of God & Divine Healing
Sometimes, people ask, “Why do we teach faith and not the sovereignty of God? When we are sick, why do we keep praying for healing? Why can’t we just accept that God sovereignly wants us to be sick? And if people have serious illnesses, we should be preparing them for death. Their dying (from sickness) is also a sovereign act of God’s power meant for His glory!”
Here is my reply …
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Jun 28, 2021
Correct In Private, Honour In Public
In Lk 7, John the Baptist was languishing in prison. He was very discouraged and began to doubt if Jesus was truly the Messiah. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was indeed the Saviour. To be perfectly honest, it was quite an offensive question. Jesus then had a conversation in 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 with the two disciples. He gave a gentle word of correction for them to pass on to John the Baptist. However, not for a moment was Jesus angry or condemning. He had to speak the truth, but He did so with a lot of love, care, tact, and sensitivity.
𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆, Jesus had a gentle word of correction for John the Baptist, but 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆, he was full of honour for John. He praised John for being a man who was strong in his conviction of God’s Word. He honoured him for his life of self-denial and obedience. He praised him for being so specially appointed and anointed by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. Jesus 𝗰𝗼…
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Jun 23, 2021
Focus On The Problem, Not The Person
Part of growing in Christlikeness is learning to be an honouring person. It is, however, hard to be honouring when we are fed up with people, especially when we find them irritating.
Over the years, I have learned to remove “𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀” and “𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿” from my relationship vocabulary. “Always” and “never” are rarely factual. When you use phrases that include “always” or “never,” you are telling others that they cannot do anything right, and that you don’t believe they can ever change! This will only discourage them and make them feel condemned.
Keep the focus on the present situation, and be specific and factual. Learn to 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻. When we do that, we are using the situation as an opportunity to help someone become smarter and wiser, and to be more effective and efficient the next time. But if we get into personal attack…
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Jun 18, 2021
Righteousness – Legal Position vs Moral Transformation
Righteousness (Gr. dikaiosune) is a very major subject in the Bible, and it intersects with the doctrines of justification and sanctification.
In justification, 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱. He declares us righteous, not guilty, and forgiven. We are no longer condemned to be eternally punished in hell. This right standing before God is through the 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, and is completely ours by faith. His righteousness, which is like a pure, clean robe that is put on us, is now legally ours. God sees us as sinless in Christ.
In sanctification, 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻…
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Jun 14, 2021
The "Multivitamins" Of Love
For a marriage to be healthy and happy, every couple must take the “multivitamins of love”. They are the 𝟯 𝗔’𝘀–𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. These feed a relationship from day to day, so we need them daily. This 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 between the husband and wife is a really powerful way to affair-proof your relationship.
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Jun 12, 2021
Justification vs Sanctification
Righteousness is a gift from God received by grace only, through faith only, in Christ only. Righteousness becomes ours through two means – 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – the former an 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁, the latter a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.
In our Protestant faith, justification is a 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 or 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. It is the instantaneous legal act of God, in which He forgives our sins and declares us to be righteous in His sight, on account of Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection. This is the event of conversion when a sinner puts his faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. Justification is a legal declaration, not a moral transformation.
Sanctification is God’s 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of a believer’s whole being, through the work of the Holy Spirit. Every part of t…
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Jun 7, 2021
The Youth Revival Of The 1980s
Someone asked me a question about the revival we had in the late 1980s, when our church was full of young people. He asked, “Pastor Kong, with so many youths, their different cliques, and their many different opinions, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹? Were you very fierce and strict, and did you control the young people tightly with an iron fist?” I thought about it, and this was my answer to him.
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Jun 5, 2021
How Not To Lose Our Love For Others
How do we prevent our love for God (and for people) from becoming cold and mechanical, especially as we serve in our CG and church ministries?
𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. It is the foundation and motivation of our devotion, ethics, and ministry (1 Cor 13:1-3). We need to daily remind ourselves of God’s love for us and meditate on it. At the same time, we need to remove any sin that stands in the way of our relationship with God. The more we receive divine forgiveness, the more we experience the love of God.
If we are feeling dry in our souls, we should slow down and re-examine our personal relationship with God. We should take time to 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆, 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. Sometimes, we may even need to withdraw from leadership for a season to realign ourselves to the Lord and be renewed in…
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May 31, 2021
Can Blessings & Sufferings Coexist?
Many have asked me questions concerning 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴s and 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴s. Aren’t they mutually exclusive? We can only have one or the other? I have always believed that God is a good God who blesses. At the same time, I also believe that a godly life is a life of suffering.
Many Christians can’t handle blessings and sufferings happening at the same time, much like how they struggle with balancing truth and love, faith and the sovereignty of God, or the “already” and “not yet”. They either imagine a life of endless blessings and favour that has no trials, testings or tribulation, or a life of endless sufferings in which there are no supernatural healings, deliverances or provision.
As long as we live in this present age, blessings and sufferings will always go together. If we can’t accept this, we will end up embracing either 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 (only blessing, no suffering) or 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗼…
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May 27, 2021
The Anointing Of The Holy Spirit
It is not enough to be 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, we must also be 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱. Without God’s anointing, at best, all we have are mere words and good intentions. We must fervently seek after God’s anointing. I love meditating on Is 11:2 because it teaches us the 7 anointings of the Holy Spirit that are upon Jesus:
(1) The Spirit of the Lord.
(2) The Spirit of wisdom.
(3) The Spirit of understanding.
(4) The Spirit of counsel.
(5) The Spirit of might.
(6) The Spirit of knowledge.
(7) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord.
The benefits of these 7 anointings are 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹, and 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Without the anointing, our ministry will be dry and dull. There is no demonstration of th…
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May 25, 2021
A Daily Prayer Life of Repentance
As Christians, God considers us righteous in Christ. It doesn’t mean that we’re sinlessly perfect. In and of ourselves, we are still sinners. But by our faith in Jesus, His righteousness is now imputed (or transferred) into our account. This is the heart of the gospel. The Protestant Reformers used the Latin phrase, 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙪𝙡 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙚𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧, which literally means “simultaneously righteous and sinner”. We are both a saint and a sinner at the same time. The good news is that whenever we sin, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9). For this reason, in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to regularly confess our sins to God, who will freely “𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” (Mt 6:12 NLT). 𝗧𝗼 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻…
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May 20, 2021
Doctrine – The Necessary Ingredient Of Church Unity
Someone once said to me, “Love and unity are most important in a church. I don’t care about beliefs”. This really set me thinking. This statement presupposes that having love alone will lead to unity. However, love doesn’t automatically lead to unity, and vice versa. A marriage can be loving, yet have no godly unity because of a difference in belief (2 Cor 6:14). Conversely, the church in Ephesus had (a semblance of) unity but was loveless towards one another (Rev 2:1-7). In short, you can have a form of unity without love, or love without unity.
Love is unconditional. We must love everyone – even our enemies (Mt 5:44). Love is strengthened by unity in beliefs. When we can genuinely agree on our spiritual convictions, our love for one another will greatly increase. On the other hand, 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲. Just because we love one another, th…
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May 17, 2021
The Importance Of Doctrine
Doctrine is a set of beliefs and instructions that the senior leadership and theologians of every church or denomination formulate, based on their best understanding of the Scripture (2 Tim 3:16; cf. Acts 2:42; 15:6-29). Unless they belong to the same denomination or network of churches, the doctrine of one church may not be exactly the same as the doctrine of another church. This is really the reason why there are different denominations in the first place. Although we all read the same Bible, we understand the truths of Scripture differently. While the differences are not about the absolute core essentials (or the first-order doctrines), yet they are significant enough to result in the distinctiveness among different churches and denominations. What we present as truths must be done with special care and wisdom because they will eventually form the worldview through which we govern our lives (1 Tim 4:16). Doctrines are very important for many reasons. In this video, I just want to sh…
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May 13, 2021
7 Waves Of Revival In The Book Of Acts
There are 7 waves of revival in the Book of Acts, and we can identify them by their summary statements (Acts 2:42-47; 6:3-7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:4-5; 19:20; 28:30-31). One constant in all these revivals was the believers’ focus on the 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗢𝗗. The earliest Christians gave themselves to the apostles’ 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘. The spread of God’s Word resulted in the number of disciples greatly multiplying. In spite of the many hardships and crises, wave after wave of revival broke forth. It came to a point in Acts when the writer Luke stops using the word “church” and instead, substitutes it by “word of God”. This is because the Christians were living by the Scripture so much so that the two entities had become synonymous. The Word had become flesh in them. Daily, they were applying their best understanding as the Holy Spirit illuminated the Scripture to them. This is the importance and power of having 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗰…
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May 10, 2021
3 Levels of Doctrine
Doctrine is a set of beliefs and instructions, that the senior leadership and theologians of every church or denomination formulate, based on their best understanding of the Scripture. In Christian theology, there are 3 levels of doctrines.
(1) 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧-𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 are 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 that we must believe in because our salvation hinges on them. A denial of them is to deny Christianity itself. They are 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 which define the core beliefs of the Christian faith. You are not a Christian if you don’t believe them.
(2) 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗-𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 are beliefs that Christians may disagree on. This is why there are different churches and denominations. But they are 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 which significantly impact the overall character and ministry style of a churc…
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May 6, 2021
Scripture, Gospel, Theology & Doctrine
As Christians, there are 4 terms which we often hear about, but we may not be too clear about their meanings:
The first is “𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘”, which means “that which is written”. For Christians, the Scripture is synonymous to the Holy Bible – the Word of God.
The second is “𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟”, which means “good news”. When it is spelled with a capital “G”, it refers to the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When spelled with a small “g”, it refers to the New Testament in its entirety.
The third is “𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬”, which means the “study of God”. Theologians are those whose occupation is to study God.
The fourth is “𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘”, which is the 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 (cf. 2 Ti…
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May 3, 2021
Christlikeness Is The Ability To Balance Truth & Love
A Christian is a follower and lover of truth. After all, Jesus is the truth (Jn 14:6). Truth is very important because it determines the outcome of our lives. Truth determines our growth. But the evidence of our spiritual maturity is 𝗡𝗢𝗧 how much truth we know, but 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 (Eph 4:15). This is the pinnacle of maturity – the climax and highest expression of maturity. This is also how we measure the fullness of Christ in us. When we can be Christlike and speaking the truth in love, we are growing in spiritual maturity.
Jesus says that the way the world will know that we are His disciples is by seeing our loving actions and attitudes. 1 Cor 13:4-7 gives us very clear, observable evidence. Whenever we are having a serious conversation, discussion, or even a debate, do it with as much patience, kindness, humility, politeness,…
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Apr 30, 2021
The 4 Ps & "Oreo Cookie" Approach
The Bible says that we must learn how to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). In a serious discussion, it is not just 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 you say that is important, but 𝗛𝗢𝗪 you say it – meaning that your attitude, disposition, motive, tone, and choice of words, are just as important as the content of your words. You can say something aggressively or graciously. You can say it with a pinch of self-righteousness or with genuine humility. Whether it is sharing the truth of the gospel, discussing a theological doctrine, addressing a wrong (or even a sin), we must all learn to be as loving as we can in the way we speak.
The 4 Ps we need to have (before engaging in a serious conversation) are: a 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡, the 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙, clear 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗘, and we must be 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗗 for the truth.
In any discussion that is uncomfortable, remember the “𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲” or “𝗢𝗿𝗲…
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Apr 26, 2021
The Difference Between Liking & Loving
There is a huge difference between liking and loving someone.
𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 means seeing the 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 of a person and being attracted to him or her. For example, I like the way you look and talk. I like your style and mannerism. I like being around you. It is always easy to be drawn and attracted to the people we like.
On the other hand, 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 means seeing the 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 of a person and still wanting to serve, benefit, and bless him or her. God’s agape love is totally unconditional. Jesus commands us to love those we dislike, or even detest! We are to pray for them, forgive them, and even bless (or speak well of) them. This is never easy, and without the power of the Holy Spirit, it is virtually impossible! Love, however, is the hallmark of the Christian life – it is the clearest evidence that Jesus Christ is living in our hearts. God is love, and the greatest thing in life is love!
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Apr 22, 2021
Talking With A.R. Bernard On The Creativity Of God
In this episode, Dr A.R. Bernard joins me as we talk about the creativity of God. For 600 years, the world’s economy rested on the whaling industry. Whale oil or blubber was the main source of energy for lighting and heating homes. By the mid-1800s, more than 10,000 whales were killed in the North Atlantic, causing a worldwide shortage in whale products. During the same time, experts also predicted that coal supply would be used up by the year 1900, which would signal the end of the industrial revolution. The whole world was gripped with fear: Would this be the end of human civilisation? Then on 27 Aug 1859, Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the world’s first oil well in Pennsylvania, USA, and the petroleum age was started. Because man is made in the image of God, whenever society goes through a crisis, we creatively come up with new ideas and solve problems. Since 1750, world population has increased 8 times, while gross world product has grown exponentially by more than 1,750 times! Ea…
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Apr 19, 2021
A.R. Bernard On COVID & 5 Stages Of Grief
Whenever there is a loss of a job, a dream, a career, an investment, or someone we love dearly (through death, divorce or breakup), we experience grief. There are five stages of grief which are universal, and are experienced by people from all walks of life. We may not experience them all, or go through the stages in the same precise order. Everyone grieves differently – some may express their emotions and grief more outwardly, while others may experience their grief more inwardly. We also spend different lengths of time working through them. Coping with loss is a deeply personal experience. While others can be there for you and help comfort you through this process, the best thing you can do is to allow yourself to feel the grief as it comes. Resisting it will only prolong the process of healing. Let the love and intimate presence of God fill the brokenness and void in your heart and soul. In this podcast, join Dr ARB and I, as we discuss on this topic of coping with grief.
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Apr 15, 2021
Talking With Bill Johnson On God's Supernatural Resources & Power
Jesus says that the kingdom of God is vastly different from the kingdom of this world (Jn 18:36). It is a kingdom filled with the righteous character and dominion of the King (5:20; 6:33; Rom 14:17; cf. Mt 13:47-50). It is a kingdom in which God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit freely rule in their goodness and greatness (Mt 6:9-13). It is a kingdom of tremendous power that heals the terminally ill and sets the physio-psychologically tormented ones free (Mt 12:28; Lk 10:9). It is, however, a kingdom that is reserved only for the repentant and humble (Mt 4:17; 5:3). Only those who are born-again or regenerated by the Holy Spirit can enter in (Jn 3:3, 5). It begins like a tiny mustard seed in the heart of the believer (Mt 13:31; Lk 17:21), and grows and grows until God completely lives, and reigns in his/her life. Seeking to live in and experience more of this spiritual kingdom must be the top priority of every follower of Christ (Mt 6:33). Join Pastor Bill Johnson and I as we discus…
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Apr 12, 2021
Healing: Talk With Bill Johnson On Praying For The Sick
Not only did Jesus come to offer salvation to the lost, He also healed every sick person that came to Him for healing. Everywhere He went, Jesus was “healing 𝗔𝗟𝗟 kinds of sickness and 𝗔𝗟𝗟 kinds of disease among the people”, and when “they brought to Him 𝗔𝗟𝗟 sick people … He healed them” (Mt 4:23-24). On another occasion, the Gospel says that He “healed 𝗔𝗟𝗟 who were sick” (Mt 8:16, see also Mt 9:35). For sure, Jesus didn’t heal every sick person in Israel, but all who came to Him for healing were healed – 𝗔𝗟𝗟! This is the “gold standard” of all Christian ministry – preaching the good news for the inner transformation of the spirit and soul, while healing the body so that we can continue to live as healthily, effectively, and energetically as we can for Christ, and for the gospel. In this podcast, Pastor Bill Johnson joins me to discuss on this topic of healing.
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Apr 8, 2021
Healing (Part 3): Are We Coming Against The Sovereignty Of God?
If healing is God’s will, why aren’t all sick people healed? If we ourselves are not cured of a chronic illness, should we still believe in healing and pray for others who are sick? What about those teachers of healing who themselves are suffering from chronic or terminal diseases – isn’t that a contradiction? If healing is God’s will and is found in the atoning work of Christ, why doesn’t healing happen every single time we pray? If healing is not always guaranteed, should we still pray for it? By persistently praying for the sick, are we coming against God’s sovereignty? Is there any good that comes out of sicknesses and disabilities? How do we properly balance prayer, reality, and the sovereignty of God?
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Apr 5, 2021
Healing (Part 2): How Do Healing & Health Come About?
In this second part, I will try to answer the following questions: If healing is God’s will, why then are there so many believers who are still sickly and unhealthy? Why doesn’t God remove all illnesses, diseases and disabilities from this life? Are we believing in healing and health because we are afraid of death and heaven? If divine healing is biblical, how does it come about? By believing in healing, does it mean that we should leave doctors, medication, nutrition, and exercise out of the equation?
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Apr 1, 2021
Healing (Part 1): Why Do We Believe In Healing?
In recent times, some have asked me the following questions: Should we believe in supernatural, divine healing? Is it God's will to heal us? Does He always heal us? Is healing an important doctrine in the Bible? Should I pray for myself and others when we are battling with sicknesses, diseases, or disabilities? Should we even teach or expect healing in our cell groups and churches? Who should pray for the sick, and how? What about doctors and medication? What about death? Why aren’t some people healed? What about those preachers of healing who are also sick? What happens when there is no healing after prayer? What about the sovereignty of God? Are we coming against God’s sovereignty when we pray for the sick, especially the terminally ill? I will try to answer these questions in this 3-part series.
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Mar 29, 2021
Resurrection Of The Dead
Without a resurrected body like Jesus’, we can’t fully express ourselves, fulfil God’s will and purpose, and reign with Christ in the world to come – the millennium, and the new heaven and new earth. This doctrine is a very important and foundational one (Heb 6:1-2). I hope this answers what many have asked me, “Aren’t we already in heaven with Jesus when we die? So why do we still need to be resurrected again?” or “Why isn’t Lazarus the first resurrected person?”
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Mar 25, 2021
Eight Steps Of Bible Interpretation
How do we properly study and interpret the Bible? Do we really need to read it? Can we just lean on the spiritual promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit without knowing the Bible well? To what degree can I read the Scripture allegorically and symbolically? Will my pets be raptured? These are among the second set of questions which some of you have asked. So here goes – this is how I study my Bible!
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Mar 22, 2021
Relating To Others With Different Doctrinal Views
How do we relate to others who hold a different doctrine from us? Bible doctrines are important precisely because they frame our Christian worldview – how we live and do ministry. CHC has been a church for three decades, and more than ever before, we are now focusing on greater clarity in our understanding of Scripture. During a Bible study on the Book of Revelation, I received many questions, and this is the first category of questions that I want to answer.
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Mar 18, 2021
Spiritual & Eternal Benefits of Suffering
Nobody desires to suffer. It is abnormal to want to suffer, especially if the hardship is intense and relentless. So why does a good God allow suffering in life? How does His love square with the pain and sorrow we have to go through? God is not a sadist. He permits suffering only because there are very real spiritual and eternal benefits to it. Here, I give you 9 of them. Hope it encourages you when you experience difficult times.
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Mar 14, 2021
Already But Not Yet
In this podcast, I highlight one very important point in one of my Easter sermons. It deals with the question: If we are victorious like Jesus is victorious, then why are we often not as successful and happy as we should be? If our prayers for healing and provision are not answered, is it because we are not in faith, or worse still, living in sin? Many stumble over issues like these. They then question the sufficiency of their faith, and sometimes even the very existence of God. I hope this short devotion will answer these questions for you.
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Mar 11, 2021
Why Must Jesus Die On The Cross?
In this episode, I give a quick summary of a message which I shared last Easter, which addresses crucial Christian topics like God's nature, total depravity, penal substitution, propitiation, justification, etc., all of which are vital for us to understand the reason for the cross, and why Good Friday was necessary.
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