Sunday, 23rd January 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
We are only at the beginning of 2022, and many things had already happened around the world, not only the virus but also the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. The Bible already warned us about the end times, but what is God’s heart for His people?
Haggai 2:6 says, ‘“For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land.’ God wants us to live in a kingdom that can’t be shaken, not on the earth but in heaven. There are a lot of things happening everyday around the world, the earth is unwell and one day everything will end.
‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.’ Hebrews 12:28
How powerful is this good news? That we can enter a kingdom, which cannot be shaken. In the original scripture, it says that when we receive and accept the kingdom of God, the kingdom will be coming, and we will live on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus talked about the same thing, that the kingdom is near.
1. Hold on Grace
Matthew 3:1-2 says ‘In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’
Not only we should accept the kingdom, we also need to repent. God cares about how we bear our fruits in life, it’s not only about us accepting the kingdom of God, but to also bear good fruits for God. And by repentance we can bear good fruits. ‘Therefor bear fruits worthy of repentance.’ John 3:8
We must hold onto the Grace, not just to give thanks. The grace is from the Word of God, only true grace can set us free and help us to understand the truth. When God is with us who can be against us?
2. Serve God
How does we serve God? With reverence and godly fear. We serve God must bring a sincere heart. Jesus knew how to please the Father, to ask for the Father’s Will to be done. Do not limit God, try to experience what God can do through us. It also doesn’t mean that we should restrain our feelings. Jesus showed His true feelings to the Father, and the Bible is to help us how to follow God’s way.
When we express our true feelings to the right people, at the right time, with the right way, then we will not need to worry. David also expressed his feeling to God and through the book of Psalm. When we trust our feelings to God and spend more time with God, then He will reveal more truth to us and show us new perspectives.
We must learn to be connected with God, to repent, pray and serve Him. God’s heart for us is to give us peace. Be humble and hold onto God then we can enter the kingdom that cannot be shaken.