Spiritual Ephasis Week Again!

Another Spiritual Emphasis Week had again been occasioned at Grace Music Institute (from June 29 to July 2). Upon the invitation of the Principal, Pastor Suum, Pastor Thangsan (Rev. David Mung) spoke there during the event. Here below is given notes of his daily deliveries.
June 29 "Form and Essence" (Ecclesiastes 12:13):
Life without form is void and life without essence also is meaningless. Duty without a sense of responsibility is hollow. The same time, performing duty without proper job-description would be more than disastrous. Like egg-yolks and egg-white, religiousness without proper knowledge of God is hollow and claimed knowledge of God without proper form of religiousness is a lie. What the preacher in Ecclesiastes is calling forth is to have true essence of life--that is true knowledge and fear of God--in every steps of life.
June 30 "God of the Second Chance" (Matthew 9:10-13 ; cf., Luke 23:43; Rm 6:23):
The Bible is full of stories of men and women, who miserably missed the first chance in their lives but sought for the second chance that merciful God would grant to those who seek Him. For instance, Esau and Jacob. Both had failed their first chances in different ways. In case of Esau, he failed his by selling his birthright for a single food. The same way, Jacob had also failed his by lying his old-aged father, Isaac, for his personal gain. He had to flee like a poor captive on-the-run rather. However, when they came to their senses and repented, the God of second chance had shown them mercy. To Esau, he gave land and descendants that mighty kings like Herod the great would come through his line. To Jacob, he brought him back to Canaan to inherit the land as was formerly sold to by Esau. The Bible said that we all had missed our first chance in Eden. However, if someone is willing to seek after God, the second chance, the better one, was provided in Jesus Christ. Therefore, though failing in Eden caused death on all humanity, the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross had wiped away the curse and opened up the door of second chance for us all.
July 1 "By Way of Grace" (Ephesians 2:8-9):
Christianity is not about religion. It is a living relationship of God and man (all humanity). However, this relationship, in difference to various terms and conditions of our modern-day-relationships, is defined by "grace". Grace is God's defining term to make a relationship with us. However, from our part, we have to response Him in faith. Therefore, grace is like God's giving hand and faith is like out receiving hands. Accordingly, Paul gave us a fine calculation that says "Grace + Faith = Salvation". Where God's giving hand and man's receiving hand are met, there's always a result that is "salvation--God's saving act on our behalf." Another reason of this is to prevent everyone of us from boasting. Therefore, for us is just to receive what God provided in Jesus Christ and praise Him. That's all we need.!
July 2 "Change or A New Beginning!" (John 3:1-5):
Jesus asked Nicodemus to make a new start in life less no chance even to see the Kingdom of God. All his previous attempts and good works are meaningless without this new beginning. However, there is no human way or method to make it out happened. How can an old man enter into his mother's womb to be reborn? However, there is God's way for that. It is like the story of Isaac. There were two Isaacs in story of Abraham. The first Isaac is the one he gave birth with Sarah. He is his son, only son, born of human parents. However, there were no guarantee by this human born child to secure God's covenant. Therefore, God had a plan for Abraham to completely redeem his Isaac to His own so that His covenant promise be secured by him. Accordingly, the call came to Abraham early morning to bring his only child, Isaac, to the mountain and give it away to God. On the mountain, God truly met Abraham and made a transaction with a sheep to redeem Isaac for His own. Therefore, Isaac, the one who went up to the mountain with Abraham, and Isaac, the one who went down from the mountain following after Abraham, are different Isaacs. The first Isaac belonged to Abraham and Sarah. But, the second, latter, Isaac is of God, whom God himself redeemed (bought) from Abraham on the mountain. However, this transaction with God will for sure secure God's covenant-promise for Abraham forever. This is the same call of Jesus Christ, to be born of God by receiving the Gospel-call so that God's Holy Spirit will come and renew our life. This is of course a life born of the Spirit and power!