Bounce Playgroup

Organised by volunteer moms, Bounce Playgroup meets every Thursday at Zoe House, 9.30am – 11.30am with the purpose of encouraging bonding between moms (and dads!) and their 2 to 4 year olds through Montessori-type materials, songs, music & movement, and creative story-telling. Bounce is also introducing activities to promote the children’s motor and sensory skills. So come and find out more! Contact Kim Ann at 012-210 2264 for further details.

A Weekend with Bob Kilpatrick

Join us for a powerful weekend of worship, humour and an encounter with Jesus!

Saturday, 27-Feb at 5.00pm
Sunday, 28-Feb at 8.30am and 11.00am
Venue: Glad Tidings AOG, Maranatha Auditorium
Admission: Free

Bob Kilpatrick is a musician, song writer, radio personality, husband and father of five. He grew up overseas and he motivates people to get involved in God’s Great Commission. More information here.

Chinese New Year 2010

Glad Tidings wishes a blessed Chinese New Year to everyone! In view of the celebrations, we have combined all English Language weekend services.  We welcome you and your family to join us if you are in town.

* Kindly note that just for this week, the Saturday Young Adult service, Youth and Junior church will be combined as well with the Sunday service.

Sermon: Finding Favor In Tough Times

FINDING FAVOR IN TOUGH TIMES
(Esther 5:1-8)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 7 February 2010

“FAVOR is the special affection of God toward you that releases an influence on you, so that others are inclined to like you, or to cooperate with you.” – Lance Wallnau
FAVOR is different from Grace, although it comes from the same root word. Grace is undeserved—The Bible is full of instruction about how we can obtain FAVOR.
FAVOR is like being dipped in honey so that the blessings of God stick to us.

TOUGH TIMES
The Hamans of this world and all the conflict they stir up can give us a hard time. …. How do you live, much less find favor in such a tough hostile environment?

ESTHER FOUND FAVOR
Esther found FAVOR (2:17) —so much so that the King made her Queen
Esther found FAVOR (5:8) —so much so that the King offered her up to half his kingdom.
Esther found FAVOR (7:3)- so much so that her life and the lives of the Jews were spared
Esther found FAVOR (8:5)—so much so that the King wrote a new law on behalf of the Jews.

How did Esther find favor?

I. FAVOR COMES TO THOSE WHO SEE LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

Esther 4:14 – Mordecai is putting Esther’s life in perspective for her. He pointed out to her that there was a purpose in appointment and her problem!
People who live with God’s perspective believe in the providence of God. They believe that God is up to something big in their life.
The better you know God’s word, the more you’ll begin to see life from God’s viewpoint. (Prov. 3:1-4)

II. FAVOR COMES TO THOSE WHO PRAY AND PREPARE THEMSELVES

King Saul: “… and I have not sought the Lord’s favor…” ( 1 Sam. 13:12)
David: “I entreated Your favor with my whole heart …” (Ps 119:58)

Esther’s Preparation: 3 days of extraordinary Fasting & Prayer.
Esther was in a difficult place, which many would have deemed impossible, but that is when God works best.
Pray Specifically: All you need is favor from the right person (not everybody). Pray specifically … give me favor in the sight of the king / my employer ….
Prayer and fasting helps us understand God’s plan.
The book of Esther is one of the most remarkable books in the entire Bible, because even though it never once mentions the name of God, His presence is always felt behind the scenes. So Pray! And Fast!

III. POWER ACTION ATTRACTS FAVOR

1. FAVOR FOLLOWS THOSE WHO ACT IN FAITH / FAITH IN ACTION.
Esther risks it all, her very life, and acts on what she knows. God moves for us, when we move for Him. James 1:22. Take ACTION on your problem.
Most people think that having “faith” means that we just stand idly by, while God solves all our problems. It’s easier to wait on a miracle than it is to do the difficult thing God wants us to do. If you’re not happy with the way your life is, or your education, or your marriage…or any other big problem you face… God’s given you the power to change it. Be responsible for what you can do.
God wants us to have an “ACTIVE FAITH”. A faith that stretches us out of our comfort zones. In other words, we do everything we possibly can in faith, and then leave what we CAN’T do to God!

2. FAVOR FOLLOWS THOSE WHO ACT FAVORABLY

Appropriate Place. Esther 5:1 Esther positioned herself directly in his line of sight!

Appropriate Dress. Esther put on her royal apparel. Respectful. Dress how you want to be recognized.

Appropriate Words. Esther 5:4-5. Esther chose her time and her words very carefully. Look for God’s divine appointments. The bible says that’s “there’s a time for everything under the sun”

* John Maxwell, in “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” writes “The wrong action at the wrong time leads to disaster. The right action at the wrong time leads to resistance. The wrong action at the right time leads to a mistake. But the right action at the right time leads to success.”

- – And then she came out with the hard truth …..Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman” (Esther 7:6a – cf vv3-7)

Esther 9:22. “turn” – overthrow; overturn; transform (Gen 50:20)

Sermon: The Confidence of Favor

THE CONFIDENCE OF FAVOR
(Luke 4:14-27)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 10 January 2010

I.  FAVOR IS THE CONFIDENCE OF IDENTITY (Luke 4:22)

YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE!

Mt 5:13 – Ye are the salt of the earth:
Mt 5:14 – Ye are the light of the world.
1Co 3:16 – 17 ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.
1Co 6:11 – ye are washed, and ye are sanctified, and ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God
2Co 3:3 – ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ … written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
1Co 10:13 – ye are able to bear any temptation the devil throws at you.
Gal 3:26 – ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 – ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Eph 2:8 – ye are saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
Col 2:10 – ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:12 – You are buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
1Pe 2:9 – ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Jo 2:14 – ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!

II. FAVOR IS THE CONFIDENCE OF PURPOSE (Luke 4:18-19)

III. FAVOR IS THE CONFIDENCE OF DESTINY (Luke 4:18-19)

IV.  3 WAYS  TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND FIND FAVOR

THE WORD: Finding the place where it is written about you (Lk. 4:17)

THE HOLY SPIRIT : Being the Place (Vessel) the Spirit fills and anoints
(Lk. 4:18)

THE CHURCH:  Be at the Place of God’s Favor & Blessing where you can be a blessing (Luke 4:15)