Lord's Day Sermon (30 September 2012)

Joseph and Excuses
Rev Tan Eng Boo

Joseph could have been angry with God because of all his experiences, sold as a slave and cast into prison, but he wasn't.

On the life of Joseph...
Genesis 37:3 - a favourite child of Jacob, only 17 at that time.

Genesis 37:28 - sold into slavery

Being sold into slavery is not a simple thing, it is a traumatic event. How did Joseph forgive?

In Potiphar's house...
Genesis 39:1 - a slave in Potiphar's house

The word 'officer' means eunuch. Maybe that is why the wife went after Joseph.

v2 - the Lord was with him!

And in v3, even Potiphar could see it. Joseph must have had quite the exemplary Christian.

There is no excuse to compromise for friends.

With Mrs Potiphar...
Genesis 39:7 - 'cast her eyes' has the meaning of lust. Aggressive to even ask Joseph outright.

In v8 - 9, Joseph had 2 principles that he stood by. First, adultery is 'great wickedness'. Second, it is sin against God.

In v10, she persisted. Still Joseph did not fall into sin.

Finally, in v12, he ran from her. Flee temptations!

Joseph was then falsely accused and sent to prison.

In the prison....
Genesis 39:21 - Joseph continued to find favour in God's eyes

Despite doing what is proper for God, Joseph find himself in prison. Yet he did not stop being faithful to God.


Whatever happens, happens for God's purposes...

Genesis 45
Joseph could forgive his brothers because he could see God's good plan (v7) in all that happened.

Genesis 50:15-17 - while Jacob died, Joseph's brothers feared revenge from Joseph.

Yet in v19-20, Joseph saw how God worked everything for good and he forgave his brothers.

We must be clear about how God works in our lives, shaping us for good. Never give up on God.

Lord's Day Sermon (23 September 2012)

John 15:12-13 ESV
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.


The Redemptive Power of Godly Friends
Rev Tan Eng Boo

Key word: GODLY, not just any friends

3 levels of friendship, found in Job 19.
Acquaintances in v13
Familiar friends in v14
Inward friends in v19

There is such a thing as a very, very close friend - Proverbs 18:25.
We need friends because of the support - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

We can build up inward friend friendships and we ought to do so, in a GODLY manner.

The power of Godly friendship... has a redemptive effect, how?

1. In earnest counsel

Proverbs 27:9 ESV
Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Be a counsellor, a GODLY counsellor, to friends. So there is a need to know the Bible well enough to give such advice.

2. Gives trustworthy correction

Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.


Similar to counselling, correction is that necessary counsel given when when we are already on the wrong path.

True, GODLY friends will seek to correct and rebuke, in other to get the wayward friend back on track.

3. Gives consistent comfort

Proverbs 17:17 ESV
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.

At all times! A GODLY friends is always willing to stand with you in a sacrificial manner.

Who is the example of such friendship? Jesus sets the perfect example. (John 15:12-13)


We ought to work towards being GODLY friends, more than acquaintances.

So how can we build our friendships?
Join the Bible class!
Spend time together; like during the after service period, attend vigil services, etc...

Lord's Day Sermon (16 September 2012)

Philippians 2:19-23
Timothy: Paul's Proven Son in the Faith
Rev Paauwe

Philippians is one of the prison epistles.

One of Timothy's attributes
v20 - Genuinely interested in the welfare of the people - "who do you care for?"

What would Paul say about me?

Philippians 2:21
For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

v22 - Proved himself with faithfulness

So Paul sends him, having passed down what he learned from Christ.


Christ-like attributes
Self-giving, sacrificial
Faithfulness

Lord's Day Sermon (9 September 2012)

Job 2:11-13
Friends Beyond Words
By Rev Tan Eng Boo

The need for intimate, close friends even in the Church.

Job's 3 friends were such friends. They didn't just encourage or talk to Job, they actually came down to see him and be with him.

Proverbs 19:6-7 ESV
Many seek the favor of a generous man,
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
All a poor man's brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

Note: Jesus sets the example of the intimate friend. (John 15:13-15)

Job's 3 friends were from distant countries. They made the effort to come down and stand by Job.

So the 3 friends came down to mourn with and comfort Job. (v11) This is what Christians ought to do with one another, see Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2.

In v12, the 3 friends mourned with Job, sharing his sorrows.

Application for us in the Church - take the time to visit those in mourning.

In v13, the 3 friends just accompanied Job through a full week of silence. Job's grief must have been so overwhelming!

Application for us in the Church - there is no need to always say something in periods of grief.

So examine the need for close friends even in the Church.