This morning, Ps Gabriel’s message hinges on two words: ‘come’ and ‘go’. Simple imperatives but therein lies the essence of what it means to continue the work of Jesus.

Having heard and responded to more than three quarters of the messages for the entire year, I marvel at the many and creative ways the Holy Spirit has anointed the invited speakers on the annual theme. This morning’s is yet another.

The essence of Ps Gabriel’s message is Jesus’s use of the word ‘Come’ and ‘Go’ and what happens in between.

When Jesus called on his twelve disciples to follow Him, he used words that were not foreign to fisherfolks nor did He ask them to attend courses to be trained nor join any religious group as a prerequisite. It was a simple ‘come’.

The disciples obeyed and were with Jesus sharing a life with Him. In the process they were transformed. Then before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent them out as fishers of men. 

Likewise, we have been called, transformed but have we heeded His call to go? Ps Gabriel asked a most pertinent question of the congregation: are we following Jesus or getting Him to follow us instead? He said if we don’t believe in the spirit of his question just look at the content of our prayers. It is often a list of requests. 

Pa Gabriel was not dismissive with that question but put it very gently to the congregation that if we were to live with someone for a while, wouldn’t we ask what we could do for that person? So why wouldn’t we ask God what we could do for Him after forming a relationship with Him?

Ps Gabriel also touched on what it means to find peace in Him. He mentioned that Singaporeans are not an oppressed people hence when God referred us to find peace in Him, we are doing it out of our day-to-day pressure from work and life in general. He said that from biblical times to present days, people across the ages, other than their day-to-day concerns, were also politically oppressed too. It was a very real ‘laden’ life.

In summary, I feel his last slide captures the essence of his message and I would reproduce the words below. 
Come - To be with Him, to know Him, to follow Him, to be transformed by Him.
Go - To the real world, to live out His truth, to bear witness to His love.
And that is what we must do, to continue the work of Jesus.