Let your light shine brightly for our nation

Our speaker today, Richard Magnus is still actively involved at a home, reaching out to several households in the community of Bukit Arang. It is supported by volunteers of St. Hilda’s church for the past 13 years. On one of his overseas missions trip, he shared on John 3:16. Before he was able to finish his message, a lady ran up the aisle and came up in front of him saying, “You said your God is a God of love. Ask your God to heal my daughter!” Her daughter was 17 years old and was in pain (Halophilities). Before he had even finished his prayer, the girl’s muscles began to move. Suddenly, the girl stood up and she walked backwards and forward! This is the authority, power and love of the living God! This was never seen before in the place. Indeed, ‘Let the Light shine right in for your city and nation!’ Richard Magnus reiterated Matthew 5:5-16. When there is Light, there is darkness, broken lives, dreams, memories and fear – those caught in the past and trying to live the future.

The Lord of lords is looking for us to step up to be a Light to the city. He related another story about Samuel Rodrigues, a president of the churches who was invited at the Washington Monument to bless the city in front of 24 million people. Because of the political correctness of the event, they called upon the presence of a Universalist, an Imman, a Buddhist monk and a Rabbi. All of the religious people invoked the name of whom they worshipped, including the Rabbi who called out a blessing upon the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When it was Samuel’s turn, he prayed ‘I bless you in the Name that is above all other names – Jesus Christ. Again, he reiterated that the One whose Name is above all other names, is looking for us to be His Light in the city and nations. Like the prophet Jeremiah, a young man, who did all sorts of prophetic acts to call people to repentance from their decadent lifestyles (of pleasure and affluence), the moral and spiritual foundation of Israel collapsed and the nation fell.  

In a book written by Francis A. Shaeffer, ‘Death in a City’, the writer described that there will be moral and spiritual deaths when the beauty and culture of a city suffocate. Even the secular historian, Will Durant, writes “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within.” The whole entire nation of Estonia used to be as prosperous as Singapore about 100 years or so ago. However, as the country’s morals were contested. As a result, people started to shift their livelihoods to Antwerp. Today, there is nothing left on this land.

In Jeremiah 20:7, he calls for the survival of the nation. Will our next generation still be here for our SG100? The Lord is looking for the Light. In Matt 6:10, it says the Kingdom has already come. Therefore, we are to shine brightly in our personal, social and political arenas. Richard Magnus gave the following acronyms which represent the places where we are and are His Light :

A : Arts

B : Business

C : Church

D : Distribution (Media)

E : Education

F : Family

G : Government

We need to touch these institutions with the values of the kingdom of God and the church needs to be outward-looking. The church is called to equip God’s people so they can go out to the public square to stand for the values of the Kingdom. 

Jesus exhorts us to be the Light. Wherever we are, we are placed by God at the right place, right time with the right gifting to be like the Light. We are placed where we are and the Lord is looking for us to rise up to be that Light. In Haggai 2:7, the prophet cries with the desire for his nation not to fear but to arise. In 1 Peter 2:11-17, we are to bring the Kingdom of God into the institutions. In the life of Joseph, we see God as the history and change maker. Like Joseph, we need to attempt great things for God – Joseph was gifted as he was able to interpret dreams for Pharaoh. He was also a discerning and wise man (Genesis 41:33). The Spirit of God was with him. When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they became corrupted and they lost their distinctiveness as a people of God. From the story of Joseph, we see the Lord’s plan to preserve his nation even though they were in Egypt. Joseph was despised by his brothers and went through many ups and downs in his life before becoming a trusted official of the Pharaoh. The Spirit of God was with Joseph.

There will be trials and tribulations in life - you ask, ‘Is this really God’s calling for you?’ The One who has called you makes your calling matters! We have a high calling and He has promised that He will be with us. We are crowned so others can see our deeds. Romans 8:28 says when God calls you to shine, do not be surprised that you will be disrupted. He continued to relate his experience as a judge when he learnt a lesson where God told him the court was a Holy Place. Psalms 89:14 says ‘Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne’. The institution we are at is a Holy Place. Our calling is our workplace and it is our pulpit and our colleagues are our congregation.

Discussion Questions

1) Richard Magnus mentioned about the fall of Israel and what can lead to the death of a city. He also shared about how he sought the Lord’s guidance in his work. Share what might be the impact on the larger community when we do not abide with the Lord’s guidance. [10 min]

 

2) Richard Magnus reiterated that ‘Jesus exhorts us to be the Light.’ How can we be like Joseph of the Bible, who persisted and obeyed such a calling at the institutions or marketplace we are at? [15 min]

 

3) Richard Magnus says that our calling is our worship, the workplace is our pulpit and our colleagues are our congregation. Share about some steps you would like to take to make your workplace an altar unto the Lord. [15 min]