The following article is adapted from Rev Aries Zulkarnain's preaching at City Harvest Church on 9 January 2021.
In the previous week, Rev Dr Kong Hee, Senior Pastor and Founder of City Harvest Church (CHC), shared on CHC's vision for 2021 as we prepare for the next revival with focus on the following:
1. Be Intentional in Cultivating Christ-likeness
2. Be Intentional in Unconditional Love
3. Be Intentional in Marketplace Discipleship
These would require mortification (the progressive killing of sin as it manifests itself in us) and vivification (inculcating and strengthening of Christlike habits in us).
Building on this, Pastor Aries preached on having a fresh vision of Jesus Christ for 2021.This two-prong refreshing revelation consists of seeing what He has done for you and what He has become on your behalf.
1. See what Jesus has become on your behalf
To illustrate this we look at the familiar story of Hannah.
"There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.
Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons? (1 Samuel 1:1-8; NIV).”
From the above account, Hannah was miserable and upset even though she was her husband loves her more than her rival. Things were so bad for her that she refused to eat.
The turning point came in verse 9 when Hannah "stood up" (Heb. to raise herself up). She had had enough of her predicament and resolved to take charge of her life rather than react to her circumstances. Hannah did the most radical thing to turn her life around -- she PRAYED.
"And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:11; NIV)."
Hannah had a revelation that God is enough for her. She regarded Him as "Lord Almighty", shared her true feelings with God, and yielded the desires of her heart to be dedicated to the glory of God.
"Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast (1 Samuel 1:16b)." In having cast her trouble, anguish and grief intentionally unto the Lord, she was led forth with peace. She has set herself free of expectation.
Even though the child in her heart has not been delivered (far from it and impossible at that), she had learnt to let go, let God and let's go. She was no longer hung up about getting what she wanted. If the Sovereign Lord does not open her womb, she will accept it. The Lord Himself had become her happiness and fulfilment.
We need to approach God with a correct understanding of His character so that we align our prayers accordingly. God is not a businessman or a trader who bargains with us. God is a Giver.
For example, when King David decided to build God a house, God sent prophet Nathan to David to let on that He will build David's house and his kingdom and his throne will be established forever -- a promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will come from the lineage of David (2 Samuel 7:16).
In reading David's thanksgiving to God (2 Samuel 7:18-29), we can see how Hannah must have felt when she understood the Sovereignty and character of God. God gives to us out of His Sovereign will and not because of what we can do for Him.
2. Seeing what God has done for you.
Abram was advancing in age and still awaiting for a child to be his heir. He was downcast and could not see beyond himself. God had to direct him to look at the stars. "Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:5-6; NKJV)."
That's the first promise. To demonstrate His faithfulness to keep the second promise of giving land to Abram, God instructed him to prepare some meat for a burnt offering. "And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces (Genesis 14:17; NKJV). Abram had a theophany experience where God appeared in physical form. This also help us see the sacrifice that Jesus has made on the Cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God.
"And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29; NKJV)."
When Abraham received his promised son, he named him Isaac which means laughter. He had had a chain of bad events which turned out good.
"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, (Psalm 30:11; NLT)"
Let 2021 be a year of turnaround and laughter.
