Reflection from Sunday's Sermon - The Law of The Spirit Of Life

For a season of time, Say Pin, one of Ps Seng Lee's 12 will be contributing to this blog by writing his reflections and learning from each Sunday's message. As you read each entry, I pray that you will receive from the Holy Spirit new insight and revelation of the Lord's word for you. I have posted the most recent entry first. Look out for the rest to come.


Date: 14 / 10 / 2007
Preacher: Rev Peter Tsukahira
Theme: The Law of The Spirit of Life
Biblical foundations: Exodus 19:3-6

3 Learning Points:
1. Just as a person is no more a leader if he has no followers, a king is no more kingly without his kingdom of followers. The fact that we worship God makes us his subjects in His Kingdom. As His subjects, God has set expectations for us. In Exodus 19:6; we are called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We have to abide by His Laws and does His will, lest we become outlaws and alienate ourselves from God (Matt 7:21).

2. Luke 17:21 tells us that God’s kingdom reigns within each believer. Hence, where we are called to be, location and profession, therein lies the kingdom of God. Being called to be the market-place minister is thus not an exclusive option, but an inclusive mission. Wherever we go, whatever the occasion, we need to uphold His name and allow His name to reign supreme. Read on.

3. In the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus raised the bar to the level that the old Laws are supposed to have uphold. The Laws condemned murder and adultery as sins. Jesus clarified and taught that the roots of both; i.e. anger and lust are enough to disqualify us from righteousness. Humanly speaking, we cannot measure up to Jesus’s standard. That is why we call out for God’s mercy and grace; to spare us from the wrath of God and at the same time, lead us into an everlasting fellowship with Jesus. What this means is that we need to die to ourselves so that it is no longer us that live, but Christ who live within us. (Gal 2:20).


2 reflective questions
1. We were reminded that mercy and justice are inseparable and complementary. If not for mercy, justice will see that the offender receives the necessary punishment. Thus, the significance of one is manifested in the presence of the other. In the same way, God’s grace is magnified as we seek to measure up to the standards set by His Laws.

Was there anything wrong with the Laws set in the first five books of the bible? Essentially, the Laws before the redemption by Christ, demanded strict submission and non-compliance is deemed as sin and hence, required follow-up atonement rituals such as animal sacrifice as an act of atonement.

I believe that is why God sent His Son to fulfill the Laws when it became clear that His chosen people had fallen wayward. When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, His blood was shed for all. God poured out His amazing grace through His sacrifice of His son, so that all who believe in Him can come under the redemptive purpose of Christ’s sacrifice.

In short, there is nothing wrong with the old Laws. Jesus came not to abolish it but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:117). His grace becomes sufficient for us and the Holy Spirit now tutors us as we seek to adhere to the Laws. For one, we will guard against anger and lust, long before we find ourselves at the footstep of murder and adultery. Just as justice brings meaning to mercy, laws magnify the need for grace and calls for the tutelage of the Holy Spirit.

2. Rev Peter Tsukahira challenged us to be the Peter and Caleb of our times. We are to rise up as men and women of faith to claim God’s inheritance and proclaim God’s kingdom wherever we are. Where then, is our promised land where milk and honey flow?

I choose to believe that God places us in a strategic position and location. For us to complain about our colleagues and lament about how life under the previous management or workplace is so much better, is to deny God of establishing His kingdom. We need to stop doubting and start trusting God that where we are, in order for God’s blessing to flow. It is God’s promised land for us. We need to proclaim in supernatural faith and follow up by blessing the people in our marketplace.


1 Application
1. Education has already been redeemed for God. What needs to be done is a cohesive and coordinated effort to allow the fragrance of God to permeate it through us acting as God's instruments of blessing. As a body of Christ, I feel more can be done to harness the possibilities of collaboration and networking. In this way, we can play a more active role in supporting and growing one another.

Whether it is the educational landscape or the school you are in or the workplace that you are at, God has specifically called you there. Will you rise up to be the blessing that God has called you to be? Decide today to do so!

Tan Say Pin