by Rev Daniel Yaw


Introduction
 
"But you have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God."  (Heb 12 22)
 
When we think of mountains, we normally have a negative idea of them.  Mountain of problems, mountain of trials, mountain of testing, and mountains that must be removed.  While that is true, we realized that there is also a good mountain, a mountain of refuge that we can run to.
The book of Hebrews is about comparing the old and the new.  The greater in Christ and the lesser by the law.
Today, I am led to think of the placement God has put me in.  My joy indeed is not of this world, but to whom I belong and to where I am destined to go.  I know that we all go through times we wish we could avoid.  However, understanding where we are, who we belong to makes a difference.  The case of two mountains is a message as to which mountain I am on.
 
The Mount of Sinai
 
I thought of three characteristics of this mountain. 
 
It is a Temporary Place:  It is here on earth for the time when God would appear to Israel and bring to them the law.  It is only to prepare the people to embrace the salvation and grace of God.  It will fade away.  The law was to prepare their hearts to receive the coming Messiah, that with the realization of man’s sin, we come with a need for forgiveness only found in Jesus and his grace alone.  Likewise, many things that are promised in the future tell me that troubles here are only temporary.
 
 
It is a Terrifying Place:  Even Moses, the most "holy" of the lot, said that he trembled at that place.  It was a place that the people were fearful to hear from the holy God for fear that they would die.  It was not a pleasant place indeed.
 
It was a "Touch-me-not" Place:  The people will not go near that place.  It is unapproachable.  Even a beast, upon touching it, will be stoned.
Then there is the Mount of Zion
 
The Mount of Zion
 
Mount Zion is characterized differently in three ways as well as I thought about it.  There may be more but focussing on these three brings comfort and arouses faith.
 
The Gathering of the Angels - It is a festive place filled with joy, not fear.  It is a place of safety, not danger.  It is a place of celebration because of the goodness therein.  It is sheer GLORY!
 
The Gathering of Saints -  It is a gathering of the saints who were redeemed by God.  We who believed and by faith are His firstborn enrolled in heaven.  Our names are written in the book of life forever.  It is a note of GRACE!
 
Thus, the Grace of God ever present:  It is a place that reminds us that our security lies in the grace of God shown to us - the gift of God that is irrevocable.  Romans 11:29 says, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."  The great news is that we belong to Mount Zion.  We are saved and welcome to this mount merely by the free grace of God and not by our works.
 
Conclusion
 
Let us then look at the right mountain.  Mount Sinai may come before your eyes often, but bring in Mount Zion that will last forever.  Let us walk faithfully with our God.

 

by Pastor Daniel Yaw

Introduction
This month of May is a month of remembering.  We remember mothers in May, being Mother’s Day.  We are also celebrating Hokkien Fellowship’s 15th anniversary this year.  Looking at Deuteronomy 8:2, the Bible says, “And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you.”
I was watching a video clip where two people were talking to each other.  One of them could not quite remember the past.  The other said to him, “You have to move on forward.” To that, he replied, “How can I move on if I cannot remember?”.  Therefore, remembering is a good thing.  It helps us to know how to steer our move forward in the right way.  Let us think about the subject of remembering.
 
The Motivation of Remembering
 
When Moses spoke those words, he reminded them of God’s working in their lives and exhorted them to constantly remember.  Remembering becomes the motivation for us to live our lives.  The motivation lies in the way that we look at the past, remember it, because we will see how the Lord has worked and been faithful.  We therefore remember what the Lord has done in our lives.
If God had done it in the past, he could do it again.  Look at the things we have done or accomplished – and because it was successful, we will have the confidence to do it again.  In the same way, we know what God has done in our lives, and thus, it motivates us to move forward with the presence of God.
Many times, our failure to remember causes us to doubt, and we have our struggles with God.  Life was trying in the wilderness for the people of Israel.  Therefore, Moses exhorted them to remember how the Lord had led them through those years of struggle in the wilderness.  It is in remembering, they could continue to trust God.
 
The Momentum of Remembering
 
And then remembering will push us forward.  As mentioned above, it gives us confidence and it makes us move!  I thought of God’s faithfulness in my life, in my family, and all these years of service; he had never failed to provide for all our needs.  I am confident in God as my provider.  Never a day did I experience a lack in my life struggles? Yes, but never lacking.   Will God continue to take care of me and my family?  Surely, He will!  as He had!  So, in the face of uncertainty, in the face of troubles, in the face of sickness, I know that my LORD will lead me “the whole way”.
When we remember the graciousness of our mothers, we have the momentum to carry on life despite its challenges.  When we remember the goodness of God in the Hokkien fellowship, those serving serve with joy.  When we learn to remember the mercies of God, we learn to move forward because God promises to be with us.
 
The Mindset of Remembering
 
The LORD told us to remember “the whole way THE LORD HAS LED YOU”.  The mindset, meaning the right way of remembering, is to remember the ways of God.  Sadly, sometimes in my life, I choose to remember the wrong things – the injustice, the hurt, the betrayal, the disappointments in life.  The result is a stagnation or even a regression in my life.  Then the LORD led me to think that even in those experiences of life, I can see the work of God in me.  That is the mindset.  Let us remember how the Lord has led us the whole way. 
 
Conclusion
 
Remembering does not come automatically.  We take the effort to do so.  Remembering the right things is also always more difficult compared to remembering the wrong things.  Let us then remember the things that will help to propel us forward and not pull us backward.  God bless you all.

 by Pastor Daniel Yaw

Introduction
As we celebrate Easter this month, the Jews are also looking forward to celebrating the Passover as well.  Though it is surrounding the same thing, there is quite a great difference.  That big difference is in the sacrifice.  The Jews are still looking for the coming Messiah when all the ceremonial offerings will come to an end.  But as we celebrate the Passion week stretching from Palm Sunday when Christ enters the city in peace and then proceeds on to the last supper, the crucifixion, and culminating all in the resurrection, Passover takes on a different meaning altogether.
In Hebrews 10:1-18, we see the sacrifice of Jesus fulfilling all of the Old Testament requirements and fulfilling all that the prophets have spoken.  Jesus is the Real Thing.
"For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified."  (Hebrews 10:14)
Since we know the real thing, what do we do about it?

A Sacrifice once is sufficient
Today we speak a great deal of virtual reality. This will be the next reality - and in a sense it is true.  But beyond this is another reality - the eternal reality.  Jesus as a sacrifice is the real thing.  His sacrifice is made perfect once and for all.  And by that offering, he has perfected for all time those of us who are being saved.
Yes, a sacrifice once and for all and a sanctification "being" perfected.  I may look at my life and others and feel a little dismayed, wishing that I would be more perfect.  However, I am not dismayed because the sacrifice of our Lord is also perfecting in us as a bride that would be presented spotless on the day we appear before Him.  John the apostle spoke of us being like Jesus when we face Him on that day.  Being like Jesus in being perfected by him.  A Sacrifice is indeed more than sufficient.

A Salvation once but ever-secured
The writer spoke about the offerings of the priest that are being done yearly or even daily and yet it does not take away our sins (verse 11).  But Jesus offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice that made our salvation ever secure. 
If it were to be dependent on ourselves - we all know we cannot make it.  If it were to be dependent on the sacrifices we make (animals or our time, etc), we would not quite make it.  However, it is dependent on Jesus and his love and grace - we then rest secured.

A Sharing continually spreads
What do we do with the real thing?  We taste it and then we share it.  Don't we do that all the time?  When we hear something nice, like a delicious food, we will go and try it out and then we will go and tell others about it.
If it happened with food - what about our eternal soul that has tasted the goodness of God?  May we continually spread this wondering love of God.  Remember our theme, “CHOSEN, CHANGED AND CONVEY!”

Conclusion
May we all reiterate this prayer together:
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for the great sacrifice when you gave of yourself.  I rest assured in your love and knowing that I belong to you, I look forward to the day of perfection as well.  Enable me to walk faithfully with you and to share this wonderful news with others.  In Jesus' name, Amen.