Host God Wholeheartedly
The coming weekend will be the last sermon in the “Hospitality” series, and the beginning of Phase 5 of the “Zechariah Church Building project”. From these, I am made aware of the good will and the guidance of our heavenly Father, and His acceptance of us.
Phase 5 of this revival project includes building of the “Garden of Eden” on our purchased land in Cheung Chau, and renovation of the Multimedia Centre at Young Ya Industrial Building. Renovation at Young Ya has taken a long while because we had requested to change the usage of the site, and government approval came only recently. After the long-awaited renovation, the Young Ya site shall give us greater room for development.
After the “Acceptable 2019” preaching series at the beginning of this year, God granted us a piece of land at Cheung Chau. The “Garden of Eden” to be built on it carries great development potential. Upon this fertile terrace, besides high-quality planting and house-building, we shall apply to build a retreat site on part of the land. The “Garden of Eden” shall be open for all our branch churches, and as one of the bases from which we shall plant Trees of Life everywhere. Truly, God accepts us.
Through this terrace, God revealed to us about the ladder where Jacob had encountered God, thus the preaching series, “Acceptable 2019 – Jacob” was brought forth. Then C-Mo and I received from God at the same time that we should start this new “Hospitality” preaching series from Abraham “hosting” God. The “Hospitality” messages remind us that as the head over everything, the Church must arise to receive and pass on the promise of being “father of many nations” (Ge 17:4). When we host God willingly, He will take the initiative to “find” us and establish this everlasting covenant with us.
Last week, C-Mo and I visited branch churches in Taiwan and toured around Renoir Primary School, which has unique educational characteristics. It was an eye-opener for us, and we even brought the principal to Jesus. Unexpectedly, we ran into Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel there, who were members of GA611. Mr Lemuel is medically-trained, but also an agricultural expert – a “modern farmer”! They happened to be with us when we first visited the terrace of “Garden of Eden”. These modern farmers shall respond to the “Garden of Eden” vision and come to Hong Kong, receiving discipleship to be a Tree of Life family and used by God.
As we host God wholeheartedly and generously like Abraham, God will surely speak to us and guide us, and even take us to the nations. God’s thoughts are always higher than ours. I strongly feel His kindness and faithfulness – the leading of the Holy Spirit over us is a sure thing.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us offer our lives to God for His use. We should not only receive, possess and enjoy the richness from God, but also pass on boldly the promise of being the “father of many nations”. May God accept our heart and our offerings. May God Almighty lead you and I into our destiny, making us His vessel for this generation. • [2019.03.17]