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In a World of Distractions

March 16, 2014 cm-admin News 1

16 March 2014 by Natasha Kim CM –

Pastor Alex Soh, of Puchong Tabernacle Assembly recently preached on the 9^th of March 2014, about being daring enough to aim for a fulfilling life in a world full of distractions. Going to church every Sunday and absorbing the good Word for that day, guides you and gives you inspiration and a renewed hope for the particular week to come. Most importantly, sermons remind a Christian of the things that we must focus in life. “Having life, energy, and a purpose in life is so that we are able to do something great for the glory of God. If you’re not careful the devil will just come and steal your joy away in a matter of seconds. Friend, do not give way to the devil,” shared Alex.

Hearing Gods Voice

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:10-15)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10: 27-28)

All of us are in God’s hands and God wants to help us. We are God’s sheep; He hears us and we can hear Him if only we tune our ears to Heaven. This can be attained by constant prayer and devotion to the Lord in our daily lives. Alex illustrated that, just as parents know when their children are crying, God knows when we are crying out in our hearts to Him. “The hard question is… Do we know God’s voice? The sad thing is, when people say, “I don’t know whether God is speaking or not,” said Alex. He then went on to knowingly assure everyone that God’s voice is always available to both you and I. “His voice is not an alien voice instead it’s a very real voice,” he shared.

Another interesting illustration Alex made was about the different radio channels on the radio, and how people either turn off or tune out from a radio channel when they do not understand it. Similarly, do we know God’s language or God’s voice, or do we just tune it out? “If you want an abundant life, you have to learn to hear the shepherd’s voice,” he said. This is because hearing God’s voice allows you to receive blessings. It allows you to differentiate right from wrong. And it ultimately guides you to the paths that you are to take in life.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Do not lose Eternal Values

Whatever you do has an eternal value, namely the love for God and the love for mankind through blessing one another. “It is important to evaluate your own actions, to see whether it has eternal value. If it has eternal value do more of it, however if it does not have eternal value, reconsider,” he shared. It is a fact that humans are easily distracted by their surroundings. There are so many things that are competing for our attention.

It is important to know that as humans, we tend to be drawn to what we put our focus on, whether it is our desired destination or not. Besides our normal understanding of what sin is, we must also understand that sin can also be an unintentional lack of focus in the things we do. Hence, we must always remember to intentionally and constantly remind ourselves of God so that we do not succumb to the distractions around us and most of all, we do not lose our eternal values.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)