Sunday Bulletin – 14 April 2024

Reverend Wilfred Lim | Apr 14, 2024

“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever” (John 8:35)

Dear worshipers of the Most High,

Do you know of any brethren who used to worship and serve God together with you in some fellowship groups, but today they are no longer in the Church of Jesus Christ?

Be very wary of the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13).

“Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). These are the very words of our Lord Jesus Himself. He emphasised on the certainty of the subject matter with the words “Most assuredly”. “Whoever” means anyone, be it a Christian who attends church or an unbeliever who does not. If this person “commits sin”, he or she is a slave (of sin). And “a slave does not abide in the house forever”.

A sinning Christian can only hide in the church for so long, it will not be forever. The all-seeing and all-knowing God is not in the dark; He is manifesting His attribute of long suffering towards such a Christian – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Are you a Christian, and you lie? “Come on, who does not!” Well, the truth is God’s people do not! “Even so, you mean one will be sentenced to hell just for that – lying?!” That is the truth! The Bible makes it beyond any doubt – “All liars”, be it white lies or black lies and good lies or bad lies. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelations 21:8).

Are you a Christian, and you have been offended and remain unforgiving? “You do not know what he did to me and the children!” or “If only you knew what she said about me at the back!” or “They do not deserve the slightest forgiveness!” An offended person is a person that has been deceived. The devil whispers “justification” of their unforgiveness, thus they felt they have the right to remain offended. However, the righteous Judge has a very strong word on this matter “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15).

Are you a Christian, and you are also living in secret sins? “God will understand.” No, we should understand better! “For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-27). “But God is a good God!” Yes He certainly is, but He is also a righteous Judge. “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22).

Are you a Christian, and you…

Beloved saints of God Most High,

Be very wary of the deceitfulness of sin, because the penalty of sin is eternal damnation. Therefore, let us not hide any more with sins, let us not be deceived any more by the devil and let us not harden our hearts any longer. “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). May we take heed and not take God’s longsuffering as a permission to carry on sinning against Him.

Truly He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Maranatha! King Jesus is coming back soon.

Shalom,
Reverend Wilfred Lim