Pastor turned down invitation from TD Jake’s conference. He was supposed to be keynote speaker but turned him down. We have already bought his stuff in this church unlike the conference crowds hahaha. He could have gone to such big attendance conferences to make so much more money if he wanted to, but he chooses not to because that is not why he preaches.
5y ago Pastor went without salary. The board begged him not to coz they wanted his family to be well provided for. Since 2006 he told them he didn’t want a salary. It isn’t easy when u have a good salary to tell your wife you want to sacrifice for the church and go without salary through the leading of the LORD. He didn’t have a successful TV ministry at that point.
The LORD told him he will bless his intellectual property which no one is forced to buy.
It was hard for Wendy to accept no steady income every month. If he really wanted to be really really rich, he could have been. Ps admits he is blessed and indeed he is what some will deem as rich. Nothing to apologise for coz he didn’t steal or cheat anyone to be rich. This is not an apology. Only guilty people need to apologise. There are many pastors who preach and receive salary and intellectual property payments. Not Ps Prince. These 7y he hasn’t received any salary from his broadcast ministry or any royalties from resources promoted by JP ministries.
NCC doesn’t give financial support to the broadcast ministry. It is supported by viewers and partners in America.
Pastor chose not to draw a salary from these various means and he doesn’t want any support from the church at all.
So money made by JPM goes back to buying air time. Doesn’t go to him.
Our pastor has favour and his books are very well received. His books being on the best seller’s list overseas has nothing to do with sales of the books in SG. Praise the LORD. Pastor has nothing to fall back on but his IP.
Pastor reminds other pastors that it is the right of a pastor be salaried. It is stated so in the bible. His situation is unique in that the LORD led him to this decision to be unsalaried so as to be above reproach.
Pastor doesn’t attend any church AGMs or board meetings. Doesn’t want people to say his presence influences people. Does what he can to be above board and to live for the glory of Jesus.
Pastor has had 9-10 big invites for conferences overseas over the past year but he has turned them down just to be here. Pastor is a teh Tarik hawker centre kind of guy. Never asked to be rich or famous.
Focus is the message and not the messenger. NCC is just famous for preaching the gospel. No one is doing anything else. No other gymnastics. Only the LORD can transform lives.
Pastor emphasises no salary is no salary. There isn’t any round tripping involved so that money comes back to him. None of that. Sometimes the church board wants to bless him and his family with a holiday for all that he has done but he says NO. Nothing means nothing. Did not give up big things to be put under scrutiny for small things.
Past 6y even without salary, the focus for his expenditure is the rental of his home. He doesn’t own a property and neither does Wendy. He is embarrassed to disclose but decided to openly share to the church that he has over the years blessed $633,360 to the building of The Star.
Reminds us to focus on the good news and getting the message of grace out. Don’t be bitter towards the ignorant or to fight internet battles over him or the church. In fact he prays always for those who come against him. All things come together for the glory of the LORD.
— sermon starts
Many times, the Word of God says the foolishness of preaching is to save.
Prosperity- the way it is being taught today is dangerous. It is materialistic. God prospers us so we can be a blessing and to send the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Don’t be self centred. Blessings of provision for a purpose. It is Heaven’s delivery system that by the foolishness of preaching to save, to heal, to bless, to preserve those who believe. The ladies in the Hokkaido crash were just behind the driver who died, they were listening to his sermon and hearing the Word can save your life. If you feel like you don’t wanna go, you should go. You will hear something u might otherwise not hear. Even if your kids don’t register any response to the message, be patient because when the turn around, boy will they turn around.
Jesus brought the Law back into its pristine glory. Pharisees brought it down to a lower level where the law is manageable. The LORD brought the law back to its pristine glory- as long as u hate someone, u are guilty of murder. He does it, like a good doctor, to remove the problem. Some people are so strong they don’t see how desperate they are. U can only save a drowning person if he is completely exhausted and not struggling.
Law and grace cannot mix- like oil and water. Law demands. Grace supplies. Under law, unclean touching clean is like Ebola virus- makes the clean unclean. Uncleaness is contagious. Under grace, the LORD touched a leper and the unclean became clean. Now clean-ness is contagious. U can only be under one- either demand or supply. If lead a life of demand, u will burn out. Know that God is supplying u even now. Lead a life of supply.
Num 5:1-2
Every leper or has discharge or a corpse must be put out
A woman came to Jesus as he was otw to heal Jairus daughter. She touched His prayer shawl and was healed. She had discharge and spent all her money on doctors. Poor, sick and broke. Jesus turned to her and said your faith has made u well. Faith is not obedience to the Ten Commandments. That lady broke the Ten Commandments to be where Jesus was. He did not say the law keeping makes u well, but how you see ME makes u well. Jesus raised Jairus from the dead after this.
Resolved all the three issues raised in Numbers 5:1-2 >> through Jesus we are qualified. Healing, health and blessings are contagious.
U don’t smoke, u hang out w smokers. U smell like them.
Same w favour of God. Go where favour of God is.
In Acts 13:38-39>> when u blv in Jesus, u are justified! (just as if I had never sinned)
Why is the devil afraid of the true gospel?
He doesn’t mind Christianity being preached as a religion but minds when we take away the cobwebs of religiosity and preach it the way it shook the world in the beginning. Men becomes creative and draws from the inspiration of the Word. Where the gospel hasn’t touched, there is an oppressive government,
uncivilised. Devil would rather a “don’t come near me” gospel or “do this and do that or else” gospel. Jesus wasn’t like that. As many as touched Him, they were healed. No qualifications needed before they touched Him coz grace will change whatever needs changing.
The devil doesn’t mind Christianity being a religion. It’s all about u and not how lovely Jesus is or how He will leave the 99 sheep to find the single lost sheep. Don’t talk about Jesus. Talk about what must be done or not done. But true holiness is to love Him. U can keep the Ten Commandments- eg no adultery- and have no love for your spouse. Two people can serve in church and one might serve to be seen and another because He loves the LORD. Grace changes from inside out. It isn’t about behaviour modification but inward transformation.
The theme for this sermon- being under grace is about receiving the LORD’s inheritance. Devil doesn’t want the true gospel reach and this is why- Romans 4:13-15
Abraham’s seed is Christ.
Galatians 3:29- if we are Christ’s, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
God wants us to inherit. We are His sons. A son inherits from his father regardless of his merit. Whether he is neat or messy, or what he does, he inherits based on your SONship. Not heir apparent. WE ARE HEIRS. Jesus already died on the Cross and left it all to us. We inherit effortlessly.
Those who are heirs- it isn’t by sweat if labour that they receive. Receive because they are sons.
Romans 4:13-15
How does this promise take effect in our lives?
To be heir of the world- big promise
Big promise always includes the lesser- health, wholeness.
Can u be an heir if always needy and broke? No, u can’t. Not talking about self made men- coz if u produce u must maintain on your own. God doesn’t give then takes it away. Job said that but we read Job- chapt 1 it was Satan who took, who restored? See last chapt of Job. It was God.
God is FOR YOU.
How do u inherit it?
The Son of God came as a man and came as Abraham’s seed. Son of the living God. Born of a virgin to be sinless. Mary’s blood cannot go into the baby. Only gives food and takes away waste.
Grace- humbled himself. Like a COE throwing away his jacket and living as an ant.
One day, Jesus will rule the earth. He saw the Babylonians, Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire… And our time- dominion in Europe. Try to destroy Israel but He will save them.
Meanwhile he wants us to inherit where we are. Peace of mind. Without it, our health goes
Peace of mind, health and wholeness first. God is in the healin business. Those who have seen him have seen the Father. Suffering? Do not give up. Heard testimony of Taiwanese Church 86yo man- the pastor is in our church today.
So our inheritance doesn’t come from religious law keeping but through the righteousness of faith. Many churches are trying to get these blessings by trying to keep the law but the bible says no one can keep the law. Under law, we become guilty right away. Break one, break all. Cursed upon standing on the ground of the law. In grace, we become holy by not on purpose, by accident. So here the bible tells us clearly and Ps has been preaching this for so many years. How come people aren’t reading their bibles? They still say things like if u want God to give you peace of mind, want blessings
Something is wrong when u are harping on obedience all the time.
God called Abraham my friend. Abraham didn’t know the Ten Commandments. Existed 400y before it. He lied about his wife twice even.
So how did he inherit the world?
Romans 4:1-8
V3- the key!
What Abraham found u must find today to enjoy what Abraham had.
Gal 3:8
Jesus took away all our bad and put to our account all that is His.
Righteousness of faith- what is that?
If u work for something, when he gives u ur salary at the end of the month, he can’t say it is given to u out of grace. If he gives u ur salary and throws in a new car- that is grace. Unearned, unmerited favour from God = grace.
Romans 4:5 —> the gospel- u don’t work to get right w God. U rest and believe. Done for u by the Son of God at the Cross.
Rest and believe.
Sometimes it comes rightaway when we take holy comm. Doesn’t? Just keep taking and receiving. Communion is receiving.
Not a matter of saying we are the righteousness of God.
Sometimes we think we still must be godly for Him to justify us. But God justifies the ungodly. Faith is believing He justifies when we are STILL ungodly.
“How can a thrice holy God who hates sin and perfect in holiness, justify and make righteous the ungodly? There must be a righteous ground or foundation to make ungodly righteous. Or else it will put a blot on His holy throne in Heaven!”
Faith righteousness – God justifies the ungodly.
(I had to nurse baby. TBC once I listen to the message CD and take notes but not transcribe)
Faith is believing HE justifies us when we are still ungodly. GOD IS SO GOOD. THANK YOU JESUS BECAUSE YOU ARE BLESSED WE ARE BLESSED!