SPEAKER_00 0:14

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the twenty-first chapter of Matthew, beginning at verse 23, and we say, Glory to Christ our Savior. And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority? Jesus answered them, I also will ask you one question. And if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man? And they discuss it among themselves, saying, if we say from heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him? But if we say from man, we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hope that John was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, we do not know. And he said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. What do you think? A man had two sons, and he went to the first and said, Son, go and work in the vineyard today. And he answered, I will not. But afterward, he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said to said the same. And he answered, I go, sir, but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, The first. Please be seated. This morning we have the honor and privilege of having uh Bishop John Chu to preside over this confirmation service and also to bring the word. So I just invite uh Bishop John to bring the word to us this morning.

SPEAKER_02 3:29

I don't know how many of you are aware, I suppose, new members, or even old members, that we were known as a container church. You know what is a container? You don't know. You will know only know the AI and uh keep it, right? Or stop up and down. No, seriously. We were known as a container church. Our first service was at a container outside. You know how many can sing? Of course it cannot be like that. But it's not so much where, how, what song you sing, or even what dance you try to portray. We come to this morning to a very solemn service of confirmation. I don't know whether you thought about it as a journey in life. Before you know how to run, you learn to walk. Right? Before you know how to walk, you want to jump. There's a process that you cannot shortchange, notwithstanding all the technical improvement or research and all that. But in life, you cannot speed up. You can, but it is, you know, uh even the papaya will call uh right on the uh, you know, you you you you hit it to make it quicker. We always come home folks and say until it drops, then the real sweetness is there, right? So this morning as we come here, I appreciate really thank God for all of you. Especially many of you are not so-called, if I may say, not too old, but not too young. And uh in the maybe in the midst of your life, and I'm sure you know what I mean, and from baptism, which you started, because without baptism you don't come for convertible confirmation. So there's a two-stage thing. The entering, but the question is like the parable of two sons, do you go in? And the whole issue today, as we read from the gospel, is a very solemn thing because many of you, I think, are not just parents, but even grandparents. Gone are the days, you say, because I am who I am, you just listen, don't talk. You know what I mean. There's another so-called key word called authority, right? I think a Chinese dialect or our Asian dialect, Tiam, you can't translate into English, no matter how Shakespeare or whatever. Tiam is a philosophy of life. But today it's not like that anymore. The world has changed as we have just seen. We are Singapore is an aging society. The those who are above 40, 60, and 65 proportionally is getting higher. But you have learned to adjust that it's no more your words, okay, meet autumn festival, they come back, new year, but that's uh happy, happy food. You have food afterwards. But the rest of the year, you are just on your own. Even if they are back, it's not up to you to say this is my home, my daughter, my wife, or my husband. You are just staying there. So we have learned to whether we have processed from the first stage of baptism to confirmation, there's a very serious whether you cross over. That's why you go to some many Asians, uh, especially in China, many of those small towns with river meanding, they depend on the bridge to cross from one side to the other. Bridge building is so important. But if you think about this heavy investment, we're not going to waste money, waste time, then you have it down the road. Your problem will come. But those countries which have learned to bite the bullet and build bridges, build railways and all that highways, you see where they are now. But that creates your sense of authority. But it must be done right. So today, this passage from Matthew chapter 22, not that I chose it, it's from a lectionary reading. So don't think that I have a pet subject to pin you. And here you just very short, but I hope you will read it very carefully. Because the word authority, by what authority are you doing these things? It's not just by what. Furthermore, it says, and who gave you this authority? No, in life, if you know, we have a lot of government changing, they take office, they take vows, some swear by the books, uh, whatever book. It's that appointment of office in Singapore. We felt very embarrassed, I feel for him, that man who was taking medicine and the speaker of parliament, he's noted off. Who doesn't? But he has an office, and you expect him to perform. Fit the fit the description. And there's some people who are to say he should have asked his deputy to take over, whatever the case. So you can see now it's your name, who you are, your position gives you or give you the authority. The question is not so much give you. You see many countries, I'm not I'm going to waste time on the West, even in Asia, without naming names, right? You talk about Bangladesh, you talk about Pakistan, you talk about India, North and South, you talk about Myanmar, right? You talk about Indonesia, Philippines. Those who are accorded authority with their very solemn swearing in and office. Are they running the country well? You know, but don't judge. It's a very serious thing. The proper Chinese call chun me, if you don't get your name right, name carries office. Office carries responsibility. Responsibility must be given authority to. But the question is with authority, what do you do with it? I think many of us have seen more than enough, right? That's why you vote not with your heart, you vote with your foot on the ground. Authority, and this is a very big issue. That three times this passage uses the word authority. The challenge say, what authority? It's not that who gave you the authority. But how do you answer? We pray God, we you come, we you know, we believe in the living God. It cuts no ice in the world today. And Jesus, you must give him credit. Caught in that sort of awkward, difficult, impossible situation, how did he answer? In verse 24, it says, Jesus answered by countering another question. I also will ask you one question. If you give me the answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Those of us who are in the so-called, we think by right, by age, by whatever, do you know how to answer? Don't ask questions. You are to be seen but not to be heard, right? We've been through that. Maybe you are doing that also. But so today, as a church, it's not just singing and praising, it's a very serious issue. By what authority? You cannot say, oh, because I live, I go to Ishuan Church. I believe in Jesus. The Indians will say other things, right? The Buddhists will say other things. The non-believers will you go to Bali, they don't know what you're talking. So the question is, how on that Jesus could counter the questions with more than a question? Let me ask you, you this is fair business, right? You have the right, I also have the right, the right of response. But the way Jesus responds is sort of by saying, I'm the Son of God. So this is something that we have to learn, and you have come from baptism to confirmation. You are at a stage from this point onwards. You have to not just hold on to your authority because I say so. Those days are gone. In fact, Christianity in the whole of Asia, even in Singapore, is a minority. I think we have to take that very seriously. It's not numbers. So the question is being questioned and how do you respond? Do you have the ability, in other words, more than just critical thinking, what you thought as primary school, secondary school, or if you are fortunate to go university or research degree? Oh, because I have a doctorate, I have this, I have that. So Jesus turned the table. On the same level, so to speak. Let me also ask you a question. Have you ever exercised that? Or you just simply say my faith tells me so. And his opponent was caught in the quandary. Either way, you lose. If I say this, cannot. If I say that, cannot. So Jesus said, then you then neither will I tell you by what authority. So case close. I think I always feel the our faculty of law always needs to read this this debate in the Bible. Tommy Cole or whoever it is, that we have to learn so much legal wisdom, but confidence. So today, my dear brothers, especially those of you, I see a few younger ones, but you will come to the point. 13 is not too old. But don't think 13 is too young. Because Jesus, when he was 12, in Luke chapter 2, he was at the temple. And after the festival, you know, all the after the Makan and all that, you know, all went home, right? They had to travel distance from Jerusalem, you know, to Galilee, it's quite far. And they found the parents halfway, they found, hey, this little boy is not around. They thought you thought 12 years old, little boy. Then they went back to find. There's no no police call, you know. There's no uh CCTV to tell you where. And he they finally found him where? In the temple, amongst the lawyers, the scribes, the rabbis, asking and listening. A 12-year-old boy. What do you do? Watch your TikTok. Even old parents. Nothing to do but the old Korean pop drama or whatever it is, planning next week, next month, holiday season, we go to this, this and that for home. So much advertisement about travel, right? So our minds are filled with that. And Jesus at 12 years old. How old are you? Today your confirmation is 13, right? At least. But before you're 13, 12, what do you do? Still climbing trees? Other people's during. And you ensure you come back, you feel so proud, right? And he answered his mother, said, Do you not know I should be about my father's business? Now this is Christianity for you. Because this is Jesus Christ. Please don't just get caught up in the contemporary Christianity. Jesus at 12, he said, Do you not know? Because he knows when he comes to 13, your minimum confirmation age is when he has to bear the whole burden of the Mosaic law. Do you think it's easy? Do you not know I should be about my father's business? So I want to share with you authority, just do not come because your age, your qualifications, or even offers. But it is always there because without authority, you are finished, right? A lot of old people get dementia or what. It's because people don't respect them. They don't take their words seriously because it's old head. You know? What they say is the old record playing. No, it's very seriously. Because I am, I can say that because I'm almost come of age. Right? I'm sure I think I'm older than many of you. I know what it means. No one will listen to you to anymore. By what authority? So today is a question I think is very appropriate and specific to us at this confirmation stage. If you do not know, then you miss the point. Because at confirmation, it's just not entering, you can come and take on communion and all that. You can stand for PCC, it's not that. It's come with responsibility. Authority comes with the question is responsibility to whom? So now you know that this, and in verse 23 it says, when he entered the temple, not play play, which we our single say play play, huh? It's not the Pharisees, not the scribes, not the scholars, not those who are in the academic publish, now and then publish one uh one paper. They make a big whole work. Here he says it's the chief priests and elders. The real power that be in any Jewish society. I don't know who's the chief priest. It's not the chief priest because only that is because you have to develop the whole system and the elders. I don't know who are the your equivalent, what the PCC. So it's the chief priest and the elders of the people coming up to him. Now you have you faced a challenge in your life? Us or not ask? And I'd like to suggest to you when you this, your confirmation will require you to begin to think about this issue very seriously. If you are not ready, I think Pastor Daniel will say, okay, never mind, next time you you prepare yourselves first. Because when you take the step and when hands are laid on you, if I may say so, you are given authority of a status. But with that carries responsibility. Are you ready? You see, in this Matthew chapter 21, if you go back and read it, it all started when we call, you know, uh, you know, that uh during the the lantern season and all that, then so you know he'll ride on the donkey triumphant, he said. That they usually say the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem. Who says triumphal? Because we always add word describe it. We, according to our Christian tradition, we like to say that so it comforts us also, you see. He just says in Matthew chapter 21, and it took place to fulfill not his own desire, to fulfill what the prophet, without saying which prophet, saying, Behold, your king is coming to you. Behold, your king is coming to you. But totally unexpected because he comes as a humble mounted on. Now we don't waste time on saying he should have come on a fighting horse, you know, like the Mongols or whatever it is. We talk about the Silk Road, they depend on horses to conquer the Huns and all that. The Western people knows what is called the terror of the Huns. Behold, that's that's a very plain statement. But look at verses 6 to 11, and immediately, very naturally. All sorts of responses. Now I want you therefore to think very carefully. The disciples went and did, as good disciples, listening. So they brought the donkey, don't just sit on the bareback of donkey. The disciples put their cloak on that. They might not have thought that's a very commonsensical thing to do, right? You don't just sit. Now, of course, if we are trained, those in the mountain area on the steep, they ride their horse bareback. But on the in general. And he put on them and Jesus said on them. Jesus didn't refuse. But look at from verse 6 onwards to verse 11. And verse 8 says, And most of the crowd, meaning, I suppose, beyond the immediate disciples, they also spread their croaks. But on the road. And others cut branches, who told them? But that's part of the tradition to welcome the royalty, right? You put up banners, you see? If the MP goes to your this uh your ward, you do what you know what you do, and cut branches and spread them on the road. You see their response, not wrong in itself, but and then and there were in verse 9 said there were clouds that went before him and followed him. Wow, it's all you know he said that basic cannot walk in front, behind, all got blocked, traffic jam. And they were not just passively following before and after, they shouted Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. So verse 9 is tremendous at all. And they dig up from the history what are some of the big most attractive phrases, right? Hosanna. Reflecting their needs, whatever we go in, don't go into that. So obviously, with that sort of like the Chinese president just go to went to USA, right? You look at the motocab, they don't travel in Cadillac, they travel in Hong Chi. Right? Who's better? You you decide. So all we thought is shouting in verse 10, they say, and when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. How we wished our going out, whether in mission or whatever, we have an evangelistic meeting, the whole Singapore city will be stirred up. You just wait. No, seriously. Right? Seriously. You know, years ago now, I think it's toned down so much weather is still that you have the Christmas at Orchard. You know, the whole even the road is closed, you know, all the tentacles were up. But where is it now? I remember I was caught in the involved in that, but now and then the whole city was stirred up. But there's quietly behind, whether it's the cynical or the questioning or the thinking, I don't know. The group said, Who is this? They didn't go along, but they asked, who? Means not in a very good spirit, like critical spirit. Who is this? Shim, you know, wasting our time and all that. And then the crowds themselves who went before they said, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee. They don't know what they were saying, I think. Because Galilee, Nazareth is a Kampong, Kampong boy. Kampong boy, have you no? Palau Tekkong, Palau Brani, we're going to make it a tourist center. Have you been to Palau Brani, Palau Te Kong? Or even no, uh Ishun is already so far out, huh? But Ishun is now nothing compared to, you know, the seaside. And the crowd said, no, this is Jesus, a prophet, no doubt, but from Nazareth. He's not from Jerusalem. He's not the Oxbridge type, he's not the NUS first class. What do you do? All sorts of voices, and you hear them today, right? Can you discern? Without saying right or wrong, but try to understand why they are saying what they are saying before you give your answer. That's come of age, you have to face all this, especially those of you who are confirmed today. I like to put before you, you will hear even before, but the voices today are probably more because last time you say, I have no responsibility. I'm still I've not been confirmed yet. I can do what I like, right? But with this confirmation, the words, the vows, the responses you'll be giving afterwards. Don't take it just like that. It's not simply said. So there are so many voices. Which one do we hear? Today we we know we always go to where the crowd. See the the top chart on the first bestseller list, how how long it has been, right? And then go in the girl to show how many people buy tickets, even from the neighboring regions will fly to Singapore to see this uh whatever, whatever, performing. Many voices. I don't want to say right or wrong, but what do you do? The Americans just have their anniversary on 9-11. I think you have to ask the question, what is your ground zero? That the bottom of the bottom line doesn't mean bottom is not important, it means it cannot go down further, and that's where everything, your crunch comes. I think as Christians, especially who are confirmed to be some children of God, there is a bottom line. Are you aware? There'll be a lot of voices, which is a cacophony of voices. Today you just don't try to watch TikTok, watch this and all that. All sometimes few handphones together. You try to get the best of both all the worst, but you don't get anything. It's just voices and all that. Lightings, right? That's why today technical light technicians are very good business. It's very easy for Jesus to be caught up. I mean, in our singing, in our worship, we are moving that direction. But look, Jesus, what he did did in verse 12. In the midst of all this, this is where we all have to learn. Confirm candidates, including pastors, myself, confirm. Jesus, verse 12 says, entered the temple. That is the core of core. You know, all the all the whatever atom reactor and all is the hard core. Don't touch your die. Too hard. And he entered with all the voices, he didn't stop to say, yeah, go along with you, hallelujah, you know, I'm the son of David, blessed is he. You know, we are. Let's be honest, we we can be carried away. And all new songs are right, new things. You know, but at the end of the day, Jesus entered where? He didn't waste his time, he didn't let these things disturb him or distract him. He just went to the heart of hearts, the temple. Everyone has a temple. If you read Indian culture or religion, they have so many temples. They put us to shame. At every turn of the corner can be worship place. At every crossing of the river, you have to pray to the gods for blessing. After going over, you thank the God, say sorry to disturb you. What is your ground zero? So, in the world today, do you know? Because you are given so many options. Two days ago, the civil generation uh two ladies came because they felt that we have not responded as senior citizens. They were afraid my wife and I maybe something happened. So they came to interview a lot of questions. Why look at that book of pamphlets, the brochures? I don't know. I mean, even the PhD don't know how to go to navigate all these avenues, right? I mean, they are doing their job. You cannot question that. But the question is, what do you really? Where is your core, your core values? It probably needs a few years to do quiet research to say this is the chip that we want to talk about. Jesus entered the temple. It's not the praising, the adoration, and all that in front and after. You enter the temple. And what he found in the temple? Jesus also has his right, righteous anger. Don't think he's a sweet baby. We always think that he's good. He's good means he is also take responsibility. And he went in the first thing he did was to drove out. He drive out. All those who sold and bought in the temple and he overturned the tables. Now we always skip this because we feel uncomfortable how to respond. But you know why Jesus did that? In verse 13, he says, he says to them, it is written, which means referring to the uh the scriptures. My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it into a den of robbers. As we look at the world around the society, all the new developments. How many are in, how many are etched out? So we are worried now what they call the uh jobless growth, right? Because the new new economic growth is replacing a lot of people's work. They don't need you anymore. I can't find a job today. Jesus said, My house, which means my father's house, is to be called a house of prayer. Doesn't mean house of prayer, you don't do anything. There's a time, but when you go out of the house, then what do you do? And he makes it a den of robbers. That's why he chased it out. Because the temple, the house of God, the house of his father, was turned. The very nature has been turned upside down, inside out. As a son, as a confirmed person, son of God, what do you do? It's not that you go and shout or organize demonstrations, but in big ways and small ways, what do you do? Or just say, our Singapore English say, Hela. Siam. Can you translate? You cannot translate siam, right? This is a deep philosophy. You cannot translate it in English. Don't try. Because English is not the world language. No, seriously, you're Hawking, right? Siam. Well, that carries a lot of weight, you know the the the the the accent. Siam. Or you will carry authority, you sayam. Right? Anjim. Don't make noise. My house is called a house of prayer. And because of the clearance, I don't know, a lot of uh homes very sad, right? So the whole garbage, home fire, they can't run. Right? Clear the homes. You can't even walk, but they have got into that sickness. And it's only after that thing is cleared of these robots, this this businessman. In verse 14 it says, and the blind and the lame came to him in the temple. Blind can't see. Today I was my wife keeps on saying, Why am I not using a walking stick? If you expand, you know, let me know. The blind and the lame, you know, these are the souls-called social outcasts, unproductive people. What use do they have anymore? They can't contribute to the GDP. Only when the whole cloud is cleared of garbage, human garbage, then they came only that it's up for time because then the blind can slowly feel their way. The lame can use walking stick, take their time. And what did he say? Jesus healed them. Now the question about challenge about authority comes here. In verse 15, it says, when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things, or mighty things, or signs, whatever you call it, that he did. Not only the lame and the blind, presumably they are not too young. And then on the other hand, the children were singing, crying out, Hosanna to the son of David, just compared to the uh earlier verse in verse 9, when the crowd before and after were saying that, Jesus didn't respond to that. Because it did not really come from the heart, did not come from the mind. But when the children saw what he was doing, they just burst out in praise. Again, that caused the chief priest and all that to anger. And they said to Jesus, do you hear what these are saying? Of course, Jesus was not deaf. Of course he saw. But why did he not respond earlier on when he wrote on the donkey coming in? Because that was not genuine. So they challenge questioned Jesus. So why, by what authority? So we can see the surface language and the real language. And Jesus has good reason. It's not he purposely wants to go organize demonstrations and all that sort of things, you know. But it's the blind, the lame, the children who have nothing to depend on, that who have no standing in society. And Jesus saw them because the house was cleared of the human garbage, and here is where they have their proper place. Whose honor it is in the end? The owner of the house, the temple, is God the Father. So, my brothers and sisters, today is your confirmation Sunday. Now, I don't think we go out of the way to get our status, our authority to be challenged all the time. I'm a Christian here, you know. I think that's, you know, that's very common culture in the church, somewhere somewhere in the world. But we don't go out to find trouble. But there will always be. But you must be aware of the cacophony of voices. It's all very praiseworthy, right? Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes. There will be different voices. How do you listen and how you discern? Where can you make that? It's in the temple. Every year, every government, especially Singapore, we watch where is our GDP? Right? How many are employment and how many are things like that? Now it's more detailed, huh? More scientific. But look at that, Jesus went out of that. It's only when the blind and the lame and the children with all purity, right? Today we are also mixed with reasons already. Cultural reasons, uh, age reasons, we think we are senior, we we know everything. But we have to learn from the children. But sometimes we make the children two children, they never grow up. So go to Sunday school, get out of sight. But children is very important because Jesus said 12. Do you not know I should be at my father's house? So if we go to the Sunday school and ask those twelve, we are so what's what's your sense of? So we just play around, tell stories, yeah, stories. But come to a point you have to learn, you are now to take responsibility. So that's why Jesus was challenged by authority in that temple. I leave it to you. I think you should know by now. How do you, how should you respond? Do you have any question to answer? Do you know how to respond in wisdom? It's not one-to-one, argue here, argue there, mobilize bigger numbers. It's the question. You ask me a question, I you should give me a fair treatment, right? I asked you that. But that question is full of wisdom. So today, I it's not IQ, it's not EQ, whatever Q. It's the word queue. The knowledge about the word of God, the history of God, so that you have that accumulated knowledge. The Bible says what? What is real wisdom? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear is not those timid, you know. It says that the proper place of God. You honor Him, and as uh Philippians reading just now, humble before Him. Don't grab everything. That's the word today. So do you have the confidence, the authority, not as who you are, what you have achieved, but because you are affirmed as a Son of God. Son of God, then you have the responsibility to live out on behalf of the Father. At the heart of heart, there's a temple. Because that's where all the capitalists, you know, every day they will sit and see the see the stocks figure or go up and down. That is their temple. And I won't, I won't, I'm not criticizing, right? Everyone has nothing else. What is the temple? And that's where the core interests. And is it full of human garbage? Or it has to be cleared so that it can become really a house of prayer for all peoples. That takes responsibility, it takes wisdom. And if we don't have that, God help us. And this is what your responsibility is. May the Lord bless you. And so that we can not be arrogant, but be really humble and thankful that the word of God, the things of all, is really powerful in itself. Life in itself with the love of us of you.

SPEAKER_01 43:13

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