Sunday, 21st June 2015
Rev. Daniel Poon
Freedom is not to say “yes” to whatever we want, but is to have the faith and courage to say “no” to the thing we don’t want to do. There are lots of temptations around the world, such as the big sales or deals in the shopping mall. It’s hard to resist but if we don’t know how to say “no” to these temptations, one day we will be slaves to debts.
Freedom is not only about saying “no” to physical temptation but also to say “no” in relationships. We often complain about relationship in marriage and separation is often the quicker and easier way to any problem, but we have the freedom to say “no”. We need faith to believe that we can say “no”, and not only to say it but also to handle whatever happens after we say “no”. It’s easy to say “yes” but so hard to say “no”.
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31-32)
Here Jesus says if we hold onto His teaching then we will really be His disciples. Jesus doesn’t want us to follow Him like following pop stars. He wants us to really following His teaching 100%. God created us differently and we all have our individual characters. God respects us and gives us freedom to be ourselves, not anyone else. The world makes us become followers, we follow fashion trends, such as the computer games. Wii was popular a few years ago but now people play with PS4.
Jesus comes to set us free, so we will no longer follow and be controlled by this world, and no longer worry about how others will think of us. So how to have this faith? It is not something we will get when we proclaim.
Rev. Daniel shared that everything we buy comes with instruction and manual, but people tend to throw the manual away before reading it. We often think that we know a lot but we need God. God knows us and give us the instruction – the Bible. The Bible is the book to help us to gain faith. Do we recognise that we need help?
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”” (Romans 1:17)
Real faith is to be willing to learn, to receive a new life and not to follow this world. When we made the decision to follow Christ, we need to have faith from beginning to the end, until the day we see Him.
- The Plus Life – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said (Matthew 4:19)
Jesus wants us to follow the way of freedom in Him. Love can change a person, but controlling can never change anyone. Church gives us freedom. Nobody forces us to stay in the church after we are baptised, but Jesus asks us to follow Him willingly. Gradually, we will find out what’s right and what’s wrong; who really loves us and who only wants to control us.
- God the Deliverer – The Deliverer, The Emancipator, The Saver
He is God only to the FREE. God never wants to control us, He loves us and gives us a choice. As Christians, every day is an adventure. We are not programmed machines but explorers to this life God has given us. Faith is a venture that turns LIFE into an adventure
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
We are all under pressure under life, family, finance, work, relationship and no one can take out this pressure from us. But in Matthew 11:30, Jesus says, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He does not take out our burdens and yoke, but He says it’s easy and light.
Do we want this? Jesus wants to set us free and He can. Let us receive this freedom today.