Sunday, 10th May 2020
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
During the lock-down, we become very passive, everyday we just stay home, waiting for instructions and for people to tell us what to do. However as children of God we should stop being passive, it doesn’t mean that we should do something that is against the low, but to take actions by using the authority God has given to us to fulfill the Great Commission.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9)
We are the chosen ones, just like how God has already planned for the birth of Jesus way before Jesus’ time, for generations since Adam and Eve. We need to know that we exist for a purpose, and in order to fulfil the purpose God has given to each one of us, He will also give us the strength and resources we need that often is out of our imagination.
For example, this lock-down stops us gathering at church, but because of it we had to meet online and we actually have more people joining the morning prayer meetings than before the lock-down! Rev Daniel shared with us three things we can do to stop being passive and to activate our destiny in God.
1. TO PROCLAIM
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1-4)
God has told us that we belong to Him and in Him we don’t need to be afraid. Therefore we should be activated by God, not by anything else on this world. God is our Shepherd and He is greater than anything else.
“And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.” (Genesis 26:18)
Isaac knew the secret. He knew that the blessings of God will pass down from generations to generations, therefore he held onto God’s promise for his father, and seek the blessings from God to his father’s generations. We must proclaim and seek God always because He has already given us this authority to receive the blessings from above!
2. TO PRAY
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
Proclaim God’s blessings, and at the same time, stay awake to pray always. We don’t know our weaknesses as well as God, and by praying He can help us to overcome our weaknesses and challenges before we recognize it.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)
God wants to work in partnership with us. Often we want God’s blessings and protection, but we forgot to pray and work together with God. Only by praying we can see more clearly the direction God is guiding us, and God will reveal His secret to us.
3. TO ARISE AND SHINE
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:15)
This year, repeatedly, God wants us to arise and shine, to win souls, to help others and to bring love to those, who don’t know God. We need to recognize what God has done in our lives and in the lives of our families. Then we will have testimonies to share, to activate the miracles to happen again and again.
This is the time that we should stop being passive, and to activate the destiny God has for us, to be humble, invite God to come to our lives and He will show us the way!