Sunday, 22nd May 2016
Rev. Daniel Poon
This morning Rev Daniel shared with us a very interesting topic – A Slave King. How can a slave become a king and how are these two identities connected? It says in Proverbs 30:21-22 (ESV), “Under three things the earth trembles under four it cannot bear up: a slave when he becomes king.”
As Christians, we take up the identities as princes and princesses of the Heavenly Kingdom. However since we were little, we were taught by this world about the limitations and impossibilities for us to become who we wanted to be. When we grow up, we still live in the cages the world has built for us. Even though we declare ourselves to be the sons and daughters of God, we still see things and take actions the earthly ways, and become the slave kings of this world. This morning Rev Daniel reminded us that by our own strength, we cannot do anything, but through God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, everything is possible!
- Faith (Hebrews 11:24) – in order to live out the identity as the Heavenly Royals, we need to have faith and believe in the unseen; just as how Moses left Pharaoh’s palace as the prince of Egypt, and chose the journey that is more challenging and unpredictable – to lead the Israelites out of Egypt; Moses did not make this decision based on the earthly values, but by his faith in God.
- Attitude (Exodus 2:11-14a) – in the story of Moses, we see that he has the attitude of a prince; even though he left the identity as the prince of Egypt, he still lived in the identity as the child of God; whereas the Hebrew, who had been a slave all his life, could only thought about himself, and had an attitude as a slave.
Rev Daniel encouraged us through Romans 8:14-16, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
As children of God, we are no longer slaves, therefore we should let go of the slavery thinking, which is merely about our survival, our own needs and our desires. If we know our identities, we will also know that God has better and greater plans for our lives, and therefore our eyes will no longer focus on the earthly things, but His greater future!