{"id":1135,"date":"2024-07-01T00:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T16:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovesingapore.org.sg\/?p=1135"},"modified":"2024-07-03T01:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:33:45","slug":"2024-day-1-what-is-gods-direction-for-the-church-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovesingapore.org.sg\/en\/2024-day-1-what-is-gods-direction-for-the-church-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 1: What is God\u2019s direction for the Church in Singapore?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Ephesians 5:15-17<\/cite> Be very careful, then, how you live\u2014not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord\u2019s will is.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome to Day 1 of 40.Days \u2022 40.Voices \u2022 40.Prayers.<\/em><\/p>\n

CT Studd said: \u201cOnly one life and soon it will pass, only what\u2019s done for Christ will last.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bible instructs similarly in Ephesians 5:15-17:<\/p>\n

\u201cBe very careful, then, how you live \u2013 not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord\u2019s will is.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

To be careful in how we live is to examine our lives. The Bible instructs us to be mindful of the choices we make.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly one life and soon it will pass, only what\u2019s done for Christ will last.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Bible also encourages us to be wise, making the most of every opportunity. Let us not be foolish, but understand the Lord\u2019s will and purpose for us.<\/p>\n

Let us examine the way we live and let us live for God\u2019s purpose!<\/p>\n

In this season, God has given the Singapore Church three focal points.<\/p>\n

1. Turn Singapore Godward<\/span><\/h2>\n

The percentage of the Christian population in Singapore is cresting. In 2010, the percentage was 18.3%. Then in 2020, it was 18.9%. If we maintain the status quo, we will likely witness a decline by 2030. By God\u2019s grace, we will pray and work to reverse this downward trend and see the number go beyond 20%.<\/p>\n

To do that, we need to witness at least 15,000 new believers annually from the year 2024 to 2030. We pray for 15,000 people to come to faith in Christ and be discipled in the local churches.<\/p>\n

Numbers are tools; numbers are not God. They serve as markers for us to channel our prayers and direct our efforts. Even if we do not reach our goals, we will still be taking one step forward towards Turning Singapore Godward.<\/p>\n

I want to encourage every believer to bring one family member and friend to Christ by the end of this year. God desires to see more people experience His love and grace in this uncertain and dark world.<\/p>\n

2. Win the Youth<\/span><\/h2>\n

This means intentionally reaching out to those who are below 25 years old. We also want to reach out to children, especially the children whose parents are not yet in church.<\/p>\n

Haim Ginott, a schoolteacher and child psychologist, said: \u201cChildren are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.\u201d In other words, youths are malleable.<\/p>\n

Win the youth today, change the world today and tomorrow.<\/p>\n

3. Bless the Nations<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since last year, we have channelled our missions work and church planting to Japan. I am not unaware that some of us are doing missions work in other nations. That is great, keep it going!<\/p>\n

However, if we are not already working on any specific nations, I invite you to be a part of what God is doing in Japan. Let\u2019s move where God is moving!<\/p>\n

Turning Singapore Godward, Winning The Youth, Blessing The Nations. These are the three areas I believe God is asking Singapore churches to focus on.<\/p>\n

Win the youth today, change the world today and tomorrow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most of us, I know, are not hearing this for the first time. Some of us may even remember these three focal points by heart.<\/p>\n

In January, I shared with the leaders of the LoveSingapore churches that God is telling us: \u201cThe Time is Now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The one message that resonates in our spirit is the message of urgency. We must wake up from our spiritual slumber. We can no longer live in a business-as-usual fashion. We must catch God\u2019s heart and know the Kairos timing we are living in.<\/p>\n

For the next 39 days, we will hear from different pastors and leaders on these three focal points. May we have ears that will hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches and the Christ-followers in Singapore.<\/p>\n

Let us pray:<\/p>\n

Dear God, give us ears that will listen, eyes that will see, and hearts that will perceive what You desire to work through Singapore. Unite our hearts in Your love and the purpose that you have given to us.<\/em><\/p>\n

We love You and we thank You for Your amazing grace and goodness in our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n

In Jesus\u2019 Name we pray, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live\u2014not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord\u2019s will is. Welcome to Day 1 of 40.Days \u2022 40.Voices \u2022 40.Prayers. CT Studd said: \u201cOnly one life and soon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[150,151,152],"tags":[34,35,140,158,159,160,161,162,163],"taxonomies":[153],"class_list":["post-1135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-40-day-2024-english","category-40-2024-","category-40-day-2024-family-devotions","tag-missions","tag-youth","tag-singapore","tag-wise","tag-purpose","tag-turn-singapore-godward","tag-win-the-youth","tag-bless-the-nations","tag-the-time-is-now","taxonomies-opening"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDay 1: What is God\u2019s direction for the Church in Singapore? — lovesingapore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lovesingapore.org.sg\/en\/2024-day-1-what-is-gods-direction-for-the-church-in-singapore\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Day 1: What is God\u2019s direction for the Church in Singapore? — lovesingapore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live\u2014not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 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