Establishing the Word of God as Law, Authority and Truth – Pastor Derek Hong, Pastors’ Appreciation & Anointing Gathering (PAAG), Taiping

Pastor Derek Hong preaching onstage

 

Pastor Derek Hong, Senior Pastor of Church of Our Saviour, Singapore spoke about establishing the Word of God as the law, authority and truth to over 300 pastors and full-time ministers in the 5th annual Pastors’ Appreciation & Anointing Gathering (PAAG) at Emmanuel Christian Assembly, Taiping, held on 25th till 27th of August.

Organized by Rev Dr Bernard Teh (DD), Senior Pastor of FGA Taiping, PAAG was birthed in year 2012 to appreciate, anoint and refresh pastors and full-time ministers. Since its inception, which drew over 160 pastors and full-time ministers, God has been faithfully providing for this expanding ministry ever since. All glory to God!

For a Christian culture to run in the church and nation, the Word of God must be established as the law, authority and truth.

 

Pastor Derek Hong preaching the Word of God
Pastor Derek Hong preaching the Word of God

 

#1 Establishing the Word of God as Law 

God’s people are destroyed because of the ignorance of His law (Hosea 4:6). Yet, without law, we would not know what sin was (Romans 7:7). The greatest miracle in human history occurred because God gave His law (first five books of Bible or Torah) to a group of slaves, turning them into the mighty nation of Israel.

Unlike the kings of other nations who were the law, God gave Israel His unchanging and impartial law. In this law, no one is above the law regardless of rank or heritage. Everyone including God Himself abides with the law.

“We don’t need to be a Christian nation, but we need to be a nation governed by the law,” said Pastor Derek Hong. “Pray for righteous man and woman, regardless of religion and background, to rule. Do not expect Christian politicians to be partial to Christians but they shall rule following justice and truth.”

The law in the Bible cannot save us but it can establish boundaries and create standards that we can function and relate with clarity.

 

Pastor Bernard Teh (2nd from right), founder and chairperson of PAAG, praying for the church leaders

 

#2 Recognize Word of God as Authority

The most serious problem that churches face today is the rejection of the Word of God as the ultimate authority in all subject matters. What is authority? Authority is defined as the delineation of boundaries and limits of freedom and power in regards to what is true or false, good or bad, and right or wrong.

The root of this crisis is that the people of God do not know the Word of God themselves, to exercise this authority. Another root is that the people of God fail to submit to the authority of the Scripture. Instead of accepting 100 per cent of the Scripture as full authority, some of us cherry-pick parts to submit to and deny other parts – this is as good as making our own religion.

 

If God’s Word says we don’t, we dare not do.

If God’s Word says we do, we dare not, not do.

 

For example, unforgiveness is serious in the eyes of God. Scripture says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). It is a command, not an option, to forgive.

 

The church pastors and leaders gathering in PAAG
The church pastors and leaders gathering in PAAG

 

#3 Recognize Word of God as Truth

Truth is the indispensable factor for all progress and success. Hence, all of us need to be passionate about truth. To understand truth, we must firstly be humble enough to understand it.

What is humility? Firstly, humility is not self-abasement or a reason to refuse responsibilities. Humility is not an inferior perception of self. Note that Jesus Christ was humble but He did not have an inferiority complex. Humility is the willingness to acknowledge ignorance and error when pointed out, reveal correct practices when new information challenges cherished positions and traditions and die to vested interest and ambitions especially our ego.

Understanding truth is nothing if we do not apply the truth we know? To exercise truth, we must first know the Word of God especially in addressing current matters. For instance, in regards to LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, we are called to love the sinners but hate the sin.

Hence, removal of the law prohibiting LGBT practices goes against Scripture. While we love the individual, we are not called to support any promotional activity of this sin, much like how we do not support murder and theft.

 

Pastor Derek Hong (3rd from right) and another speaker, Pastor Daniel Ho (2nd from right) praying for the church pastors and leaders of PAAG
Pastor Derek Hong (3rd from right) and another speaker, Pastor Daniel Ho (2nd from right) praying for the church pastors and leaders of PAAG

 

“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”

Winston Churchill

 

“I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”

Harry S Truman

 

Indeed, the truth will set you free but first it makes you angry. As Christians, we are called very plainly to do this: ‘Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God’ (2 Corinthians 4:2).

The law is here to point out our sin, so we can repent. Repentance is important to sensitize our conscience. The shorter we keep our account of sin with God, the more sensitive. A way to sensitize our conscience to God is to wash and sanctify ourselves with the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17). The Word of God provides us all wisdom and discernment to make decision even in the most complex problems. That is why it is so important to read the Bible daily.

 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

 

Datuk Chua Jui Meng ending the sharing with prayer
Datuk Chua Jui Meng ending the sharing with prayer

 

Conclusion

Before we impact our nation on any level, we need to establish the Word of God as law, authority and truth in the Church first. The people of God need to understand and live out the Bible in their lives. Only then peoples’ lives will change.

Nicky Gumbel, developer of the global Alpha Course wrote: The only Bible some people will read is your life. Paul writes to the Corinthians, ‘Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it – not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiselled into stone, but carved into human lives – and we publish it’ (3:1b-3, MSG). Not everyone can or will read books – but everyone you encounter can, and will, read your life.

 

For more information on Pastors’ Appreciation & Anointing Gathering (PAAG) in Taiping, please email Pastor Bernard Teh at fgatpge@gmail.com.

 

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