21 Feb 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-
On 19 February, He is Sovereign (HIS) church held its second Chinese Lunar New Year celebration on 19th February at 8 pm, after their first celebration on a Sunday (17 Feb).
Since their last collaboration ten years ago, Korean Tenor Greg Yoon, one of the most influential dramatic tenors in the music scene industry worked once again with Rev. Raymond Mooi of HIS church in delivering a powerful opera performance. Greg had performed in numerous recitals worldwide including the Russian Bolshoi Hall, Italia Milano, Chapman University, International Music Group, Beijing and Shanghai Music Hall. To date, he has given close to 1000 performances!
The night started off with worship, followed by a hilarious Cantonese cum English comedy video and skit of a familiar Chinese family whose mother was meticulous in following every fengshui detail and superstition believed to usher in the prosperity of New Year.
The audience who were mostly local and also foreign college students, roared with laughter, as the ‘mummy’ of the cast strictly prohibited sweeping the floor but wiping instead to contain the good luck. Not to mention the scene where her daughter received a clock from her friend as a gift during bailin*, deemed as bad luck.
Watch this Chinese New Year video by HIS church!
After the skit, broad-shouldered Greg stood on-stage with his Italianesque thick hair to deliver a powerful opera unto the Lord. The audience rose at their feet in applause for his spectacular performance. Next, Pastor Raymond Mooi stepped on-stage to preach the gospel of salvation.
“It is not by chance but a choice that determines your destiny. Just like tonight, you made a choice to come here today,” said Raymond. “And there’s a reason why all of us are here today.”
Knowing God gives us Wisdom
Indeed, it is the decisions we make in our life that would bring us to where we want to be, whether in our education, career and social standing. Some people deemed getting a second degree as the most important goal, while others prioritize getting a promotion, earning more money and becoming famous as goals in life.
“But I tell you today, whatever goals you have, the most important decision to make in your life is first and foremost know the Lord (Matthew 6:33) because from Him, we can have wisdom (James 1:5) to make the right decision,” said Raymond.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
“And God Almighty knows everything and every part of us. He is everywhere in spirit because nothing in this world can contain Him,” said Raymond.
Knowing God Frees us from Fear
Without God, we may pursue these goals (i.e. fame, favor, beauty, wealth, recognition) in fear. We fear not being able to achieve them despite the time and effort spent. And once acquired, we also fear we may not be able to keep them with us.
“But with God in our life, we do not need to be afraid of being left out or losing out because God will always be here with us as we are (1 John 4:16),” said Raymond. “We do not need to be afraid of being different because perfect love cast out fear (1 John 4:18).”
1 John 4:16
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:18
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
When you have the love of God, you will not be swept away by the differing opinions of people and the changing tides of this world. But you would stand firmly in Christ with confidence and peace from our unchanging Father who will never leave nor forsake us.
Knowing God frees us from Curses
“Some of us (who grew up in the Chinese culture) are familiar with curses given to us in the past such as ‘you’re never going to succeed’, ‘you won’t get married, or ‘you will always be useless’,” said Raymond. “In Christianity, we also believe in curses as well and God take curses seriously.”
Under the law, we are subjected to the curse of the law where by the consequence of sinning is punishment and death (Romans 6:23).
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But God freed us from the curse of the law by sending his only son, Jesus Christ who is without sin, to become a curse of the law for us (Gal 3:13) and sin for us (2 Cor 5:21).
Galations 3:13
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus Christ paid for the curse for us so that we do not need to be punished (2 Cor 5:21). In other words, we are not bound under the law anymore when we accept Christ!
Hence, a life in Christ meant a life of wisdom, freedom and without fear.
After a poignant sharing of the gospel by Raymond, many college students came to the altar call before Greg Yoon marked the finale of the night by delivering a total of six powerful musical pieces that night such as ‘O Sole Mio and I have peace like a river.
What a spectacular Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in the Lord, whether in music by Korean tenor Greg Yoon and words by Rev. Raymond Mooi.
*Bailin means home visiting of relatives and friends, a culture practiced during Chinese New Year in colloquial Cantonese
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