St Andrew's Church, Brunei

During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. 12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. When Jewish believers from Cyprus (Europe) and Cyrene (Liby

Is there someone you think is not worthy of blessing from God or lesser than others? That was the case in the time of Jesus. The woman caught in adultery was not worthy to be given a second chance. Yet Jesus loved her, saw her as special and reached out to her. No one could believe it. Overflowing love and grace. Then there was Zacchaeus, a 'BIG' sinner, a big bad wolf, a cheat and traitor. He deserved to have no friend. Yet Jesus intentionally pushed through the crowd to go to him, befriended him, called him by name, entered his house and then pronounced salvation has come to him. No one could believe it either. Overflowing love and grace. In today reading from Acts, the unthinkable happened again. Jesus always surprised us. This time, Jesus accepted the Gentiles ... the non-Jews. What the Jews thought was uniquely theirs is now for all. Imagine for a moment, if this has not happened, you and I who is reading this is not included either. Read again how it happened, the mirac

The events that happened in Acts 10:44 - 48 occurred as part of Peter’s first sermon to the Gentiles. God gave Peter a vision to eat those that were considered unclean under the Jewish Law. This vision was a metaphor for God’s command to expand Christianity to include the Gentiles, who were also considered unclean by the Jews. At the same time, Cornelius had a vision. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing (v2). As a result of that vision, he sent his representatives to see Peter and invite him to teach him and his family. In that meeting, before Peter could finish his sermon, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  Even the Jews who came with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles. This is a sign of God's plan to accept Gentiles into the church without requiring them to convert to the Jewish faith first. Peter immediately saw it as an opportunity to baptize them. History was made when Cornelius and his fami

Since life is short and uncertain and eternity is forever, the most important question one should know is, “How can I be saved?” How can I know for certain that I am right with God? Peter and the other apostles knew that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our good works or efforts. In this passage, Peter’s reiterates that: 1. Salvation is not based on national identity nor is it based on good works. Peter begins his sermon by saying, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (10:34-35). The application for us is that people from any background are on equal footing when it comes to receiving the gospel. God does not show partiality. 2. Salvation centres on the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Bible plainly declares that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). How comforting it is to know that God took our sin and la

Children are curious and inquisitive little beings, very capable of knowing spiritual things  and having spiritual thoughts. They question the meaning of life and ponder on their purpose in the universe they are in, but without the complexity of the human limits. They dream of the impossibilities, even entering into imaginative worlds and universes of possibilities - a type of "heaven". Children receive the concept of God without doubt. He simply exists in their world and somehow is at work in the universe they are living in. They see His wonders. They observe His beauty. Even in the midst of pain and darkness, they remain hopefully as long as God exists in their hearts and minds.  Hence, Jesus was clear to His disciples to never stumble children from their innocence and basal faith, instead to nurture them and direct them to the deeper knowledge of spiritual truths - Jesus Christ, Himself! He adds that they had to be like children to inherit the kingdom of God. To have the c

Today’s devotion is about a Roman Centurion by the name of Cornelius. Luke describes Cornelius as a man who feared God. He also led his household to worship God. Cornelius was also a charitable man who gave generously to poor. Some might say surely this man deserves to be in heaven! But the truth is this, despite his good works, he was not saved yet until he hears and accepts the Gospel.   Maybe some of us know someone who is not a Christian but is generous and considered a good person according to society. There are many people who are charitable that we read in the news who has donated to people in need and this is what we are reading in these verses with Cornelius. The world has a works based mentality and sometimes some may assume that by their good works, God would accept them. This is where we need to turn to Scripture and Scripture tells us that one cannot be saved by their works but by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. Do we know someone like Cornelius who needs to hear th

20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may se

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. Luke states in chapter 8 verse 1, when speaking about Stephen: “And

In these verses, Simon had claimed that he was someone great, but we are not called to proclaim that we are great. We are called to be humble. C.S. Lewis says,” humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” Humble people do not brag about how great they are; instead, they wait for God to exalt them. In Matt 23:12, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Through these verses, we are reminded to be humble. God seeks humility in the hearts of His people, and the results of humility are what we should strive for.  Humility is childlike. What can children teach us? Childlike humility means you don’t try to exalt yourself over others like what Simon did. If you tell them a story about something cool you did, they won't try to outdo you, as an adult might. They'll just stare at you with their eyes wide open, thinking you're really cool. We need to be teachable like children. We need to be pliabl

I find this interesting because I remember listening to Pastor Betty’s message for 2021, and it was on the same Benediction Blessing verses. And today’s Scripture reading is exactly the same, and I am sure the Holy Spirit wants to remind us of “The Blessings of His Name” for 2022. Today, our mobile phones are loaded with New Year wishes, TV and radio personalities wish into microphones and cameras – we hear them from so many different sources. Carefully note what God tells us: “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.’ So, they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:23-27) In this way, God places His all-important NAME on us, His people. A comparison would be that of signing on a cheque. An unsigned check is void and worthless until the owner ‘s “name” has been pl