▪ Praise and worship : Worship Team
▪ Offertory prayer : Upa T Songzalian
▪ Induction of members : Upa T Thiankhanmuan
▪ Pastoral Prayer &
Sermon : Pastor N Tuang Lang
▪ Benediction : Upa T Gou Khangin
Fatherhood as a blessing to others
The responsibility of a father is pivotal in Christian life, in that he has to become the channel of blessing to his wife, to his kids and to other people around him; it is not the other way round. It is the father in the family through which the genealogy beginning Adam till Jesus Christ was traced and recorded in the Holy Bible, as is done in present times.
Acts 10:1-35 tells the story of Cornelius, the Roman centurion. Although the story is short, it delivers an important and inspiring message to us. Cornelius is considered the first Gentile to become a Christian. Even before becoming a Christian, he and his family believed in God and always prayed. The test of fatherhood begins with the first thing a father chooses to do when waking up each morning. For example, does a father not want to ingrain in the mind of his son or daughter the image of him reading the Bible and praying immediately after getting off the bed each morning? From the book of Job, it is learnt that Job’s regular custom was to sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his seven sons and three daughters, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Cornelius and Job were God-fearing men, but as fathers they were not alone in worshipping the Lord – they did it together with their families. Acts 10:2 says that Cornelius gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Offerings are to be done only for the glory of God and in thanksgiving for His grace and abounding love. Helping out others cannot happen in anticipation of immediate or eventual returns. Jesus said in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Just as Cornelius prayed to God regularly, so should one defend oneself in prayer against the temptations that come one’s way over and over.
