2 July 2023 Written by Rev Zheng
“…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” Mat 28:19-20
Our church’s first revival camp came with much longing and passed with considerable reluctance. We share Peter’s sentiments on the sacred mountain that morning: Lord, it is pleasant and beautiful for us to be here!
Apart from the strong connection formed over tea and lunch and the walk along the beautiful beach, God feeds and nourishes us spiritually through Ps Jim Yost. Here I use Mrs. Lai’s succinct summary of the camp’s message from the Elderly Fellowship meeting:
“We are not to stay in the church building and wait for people to come. We are to go to the various group of people to proclaim God. However, we are not to do it as preachers do at the pulpit. We are to proclaim God through the visible transformation of our lives, our Shima statements, and what Christ has done for us” Let me share two of the lessons we are to practice.
1. Shima Statement. If we are trying to live for the Lord, there must be something different in our lives that others can notice. Determine some points of distinction that you believe others will inquire about. For example, why do you spend so much time in church? How do you maintain such a positive relationship with your in-laws? Why do you continue to put up with that demanding boss? Make a Shima statement that reflects your faith for each anticipated inquiry. Shima statements should not be theoretical in nature. They should be able to tug at your inquirer’s heartstrings and pique his interest in learning more about God. Pray, write it down, change it till you are satisfied, then memorize it and be ready to offer it at any time and in any place.
2. 3-minute Testimony of your conversion. The 3-minute time limit encourages us to condense our lengthy story into a succinct testimony. State the main points so that you do not lose your audience’s attention. Tell him about your life as a slave to sin in the first minute. Tell him about how Jesus has captivated you in the second minute. In the third minute, explain how your life is now. Pray about it, write it down, tell a brethren about it, and refine it till you are satisfied. Then memorize it and be ready to share it at any time and in any place.
You will practice writing your Shima statements and the 3-minute testimony in your fellowship group. Be courageous to take advantage of every chance that God provides you to use them in your workplace, school, neighborhood, and home.
Dear brothers and sisters, do not expect a flawless score. God will accept your effort if He accepts your heart. Let us not waste the revival message. Let us not receive the revival message in vain, for
“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11
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