I.  CELEBRATE THE EXALTATION (OF CHRIST)
Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 4:10; Isa. 52:13

In Christ’s Ascension, we see Him “High and Lifted Up!”
“Easter is incomplete, Pentecost is impeded, and the Second Coming is impossible without the Ascension” (Robert Ramsey)

WHAT THE ASCENSION MEANS: THE MAJESTY AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST

* His Glorification (John 17:5; Acts 7:55; Rev. 1:12-16)
* His Position (Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9; Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:22)
* His Intercession and Protection over His own (John 17:11f; Rom. 8:32f; Heb. 4:14-16)
* His Provision for spiritual power (John 14:25-26; 16:7-10: Luke 24:49f; Acts. 1:8-11)
* His Distribution (Eph. 4:7-11)
* His Preparation (John 14:3,4)
* His Commission (Matt. 28:19f; Luke 24:44f; John 12:32; 14:12; 17:11-23; Mark 16:19-20).

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT, LIKE ISAIAH, WE SEE JESUS EXALTED OR HIGH AND LIFTED UP REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON EARTH.

II.  CELEBRATE THE EMPOWERMENT (OF BELIEVERS)
Acts 1:10,11; Luke 24:50-52

On Christ’s Ascension, we find Purpose and Joy!

“The Ascension is not only a great FACT of the New Testament, but a great FACTOR in the life of Christ and Christians, and no complete view of Christ is possible unless the ascension and its consequences are included”
(Griffith Thomas)

CELEBRATE WITH ASCENSION PURPOSE

CELEBRATE WITH ASCENSION JOY (Luke 24:50-52)

CELEBRATE WITH ASCENSION ATTITUDE

We are celebrating life. Call our church office 79582777 or Ps Michael Tan 0123086162 for more information.

A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 22 April 2012

John 20:20
Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord (KJV) Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord (NET, NASB) The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord (NIV, NLT)

I.   CELEBRATE JESUS!
1.  CELEBRATE HIS VICTORY!
“He is Not Here.” (Mark 16:6)
They plotted the death of Jesus … but as tacticians – they were total failures….Trying to put God in the tomb. Eliminating God – and especially Christ – from the culture has been the sport of man for many years. But Not the religious leaders, not Herod, not Pilate, not the blood-thirsty crowd crying ‘crucify Him’, not the soldiers, not satan – and especially not death – could hold Jesus in the grave. Christ is Risen! Celebrate JESUS!

2.  CELEBRATE WHAT JESUS SAYS!
“Just as He said…” (Mark 16:7)
Jesus is true to His Word. “Thy Word is Truth!”
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away.
Sayings of Jesus – Not the Typical Sayings. Our Faith – Not The Typical Faith. The things that we believe in are not typical.

II.  CELEBRATE LIFE!

1.  WE CAN HAVE A FRESH START!
“Go, tell his disciples and Peter….” (Mark 16:7)
A new day, a new start, a fresh beginning.

2.  WE CAN EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!
“He is not here. He is Risen!” (Mark 16:6)
He is Risen! These three words form the greatest watershed of all time. We can expect amazing things to happen. And that is why everyday is a celebration – even the tough days. The promise of Jesus is not to add years to your life, but to add LIFE to your years!

Because of the Resurrection, Everyday is a Celebration!
CELEBRATE JESUS! CELEBRATE LIFE!

CONFERENCE (by registration only)
15 May (Tue) 9am – 4.45pm
16 May (Wed) 9am – 1pm

REVIVAL SERVICE (open to all)
14-16 May (Mon – Wed) 8.30pm
Key Speakers: Rev Lee Young-Hoon (South Korea), Rev Kong Hee (Singapore), Rev Hetai Machi (Taiwan)

Please take note that Evangelism Explosion (XEE) class is postponed. Please watch out for further details later. Download the timetable and registration form here

Mark 16:8 (NIV)
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.[a]
________________________________________________________________________
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

I. “HE IS NOT HERE. SEE THE PLACE WHERE THEY LAID HIM.” (Mark 16:6)
The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb.
Mark doesn’t want us to see Jesus risen… he wants us to stare into that empty tomb… and decide for ourselves. He wrote it intentionally to leave you answering the question, what happened? Why is the tomb empty? Each person needs to decide for themselves who Christ is.
Do you still need to know how it ends?

II. “GO, TELL …” THEY SAID NOTHING TO ANYONE, BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID. (Mark 16:7a, 8)
ilence ends this Gospel. The world’s best-kept secret – the resurrection of the Lord! The world’s best kept secret – the powers of sin and death have been conquered.
Some do choose to end the story with silence. What will we each do with the unfinished story of Christ’s resurrection in our life. It’s up to us. Rev 12:11
Mark is a master storyteller at work, and he wants us to talk about the continuing story, for the gospel doesn’t end when Mark uses his last full stop. We are the continuing story.

III. “HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU INTO GALILEE” (Mark 16:7)
The Finale – the one thing in Mark’s gospel ending that will help us as we write out the resurrection story in our own lives. That promise: “He will meet you in Galilee.” Jesus will meet us as we live out our lives in the “real” world. What is he doing? What is he saying?
Mark ended his gospel like this because this is not the end of story. We are left to discover the risen Christ for ourselves, but we must go to find Him in our Galilees…The resurrected Jesus invites us on an adventure promising to be with us wherever he leads us.

THE LAST WORD: “GAR”
Mark intended his gospel to end with that little word “gar.” In the Greek the last words in the text are: ephobountoga r- literally “they were afraid for…”
By ending his gospel with that little word gar, Mark is saying to each of us: “Now you write your own conclusion. How does the resurrection story end in your life?” We have to make the choices. We have to provide our own conclusion to the gospel of Jesus.

What is your story?

Date: 3-6 June (Sun-Wed)
Venue: Swiss Garden Golf Resort & Spa Damai Laut

“Year of Celebration” is the theme of our church this year. If you are looking to be rejuvenated in the spirit – our family camp is THE place to begin that journey. Our dynamic speaker, Rev Micheal Puffett, will surely challenge and lead us all into doing life and celebrate life to the fullest for the Lord!

For full details, download the camp program and registration form now!

I.   JESUS VS CAESAR (Mark 1:1-11): Cheers  & Imperial Theology
Jesus entered Jerusalem amidst CHEERS, adulation, clapping, shouting, smiles, and dancing.  They were ready to cheer for Jesus, but they didn’t have a biblical understanding of whom they were cheering for!
The King on a Donkey Zech 9:9

KINGDOM  VS IMPERIAL THEOLOGY

JESUS – Kingdom of God demonstrating its presence in a world dominated by force with its message of peace and meekness …A Cross
CAESAR – Rome demonstrating its imperial power, authority and sovereignty; flexing its military and political muscles  … Pontius Pilate … A Crown

II.  JESUS VS TEMPLE (Religion) Mark 1:12-24 – TEARS  & Temple Theology
Tear: Luke 19: 41-44
The Fruitless Fig Tree: 12-14, 20-21. A prophetic symbolic act to show the destruction of the temple (Jer. 8:11-13)
The Lifeless Temple: (Mk. 11:15-19). Not a cleansing but a prophetic symbolic statement of judgment (Jer. 7:4, 9-11)  cf. Isa. 56:7
Have Faith in God! (: 22-26).  Not the Temple but God of the Temple.

III.  JESUS VS SIN & SATAN (Mark 15:13-20)- JEERS & Theology of the Cross
Thursday – Thursday is a day of Fellowship.  Celebration of the Passover:
“This is my body; this is my blood…”
Friday- Friday is a day of Suffering.  His cheering admirers have become jeering attackers.  CRUCIFY HIM! All this in just 5 days! From Hero to zero in 5 days! From red carpet treatment to red blood shed in 5 days!
He died for my sins. He died to defeat the works of Satan
JESUS WON! The sinless Saviour has Triumphed!

Date: 5-6 April (Thu-Fri)
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Glad Tidings AOG

Also join us for Easter Celebration Service:
7 April (Sat): 5.00pm
8 April (Sun): 8.30am & 11.00am

About the speaker: Dr Ananda Stira
He is the founder of  Ministry of Jesus, India. After a powerful personal healing encounter, Dr Ananda is now using his gifts to teach and minister in the areas of healing, deliverance and the prophetic, many times to crowds of tens of thousands. Through his extensive travels throughout India, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Europe and the US, he has led many to know and believe in the hope and healing power of Jesus.

Download the brochure here

I.   THE WISE INVESTOR:  The Manager God called Shrewd (Luke 16:1-14)

THE WISEST INVESTMENT:

1.  INVEST IN PEOPLE (Lk. 16:9 NLT)

2.  INVEST IN THINGS OF LASTING VALUE (:9)

3.  INVEST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD (:8, 11)

II.  THE FOOLISH INVESTOR – The Man God Called a Fool (Luke 12:13-24)

FOLLIES OF FOOLISH  INVESTMENT :

1. FOOLS ONLY BUILD BIGGER BARNS (:18, 20)

2. FOOLS SAY “GIMME… MORE”  AND “MINE, MINE, MINE” (:13, 19)

3. FOOLS ARE SHORT-SIGHTED AND ARE PRESUMPTUOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE (:19)

4. FOOLS FIND LIFE IN “THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS” (:19-23, 15)

5. FOOLS ARE NOT RICH TOWARDS GOD (:21)

Be “ Rich towards God! ”