SINGAPORE'S GOLDEN JUBILEE

Yesterday on 9 Aug, we celebrated our nation's 50th birthday. Because of this we had a four-day holiday over the weekend. The government has also lined up many activities that offer free entrance over the long weekend. There were free bus and mass rapid transit rides yesterday to commemorate this great day of celebration. Because it was a Sunday, we also went to church. I was telling Heng what a wonderful way to celebrate National Day with brothers and sisters-in-Christ.

It was Pastor Lian who preached yesterday. It was a powerful sermon. Somehow the atmosphere was different during this day. It could be due to the fact that it was our Golden Jubilee, our nation's 50th birthday. It was a momentous time in history. We watched a video clip of how our then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew read out the declaration on Singapore's independence in 1965. We also sang our national anthem. I felt so patriotic while watching the video and I really thanked the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew and many other pioneers who made Singapore to be the nation we are today. We must never take our success for granted.

Pastor Lian also said that God has chosen our nation to be blessed, quoting a prophecy given about our country many years ago. About how Singapore would be the epic centre, the Antioch of Asia. In the bible, Antioch was the city from which Paul and Barnabas were sent out to be missionaries in the region. In like manner, Singapore will be the epic centre where the gospel of grace will go out to the four corners of the world. Isn't this what is happening now with Pastor Prince preaching this gospel of grace to the entire world? 

At one point she mentioned about the significance of Jubilee. About the 50th year of liberation for the Jews, quoting Leviticus 25:8-10. Jubilee is the proclamation that frees you from every bondage. The year of restoration when property is to be returned to you, the year you are set free to return to your family. I find it interesting that our country's jubilee also coincides with the Jews' Jubilee this year (5776). Their Rosh Hashanah will happen on 13 Sep 2015. I was reminded of how the Observer in a science fiction drama 'Fringe' would appear at significant points in history to mark or record them. I mean how often does Jubilee happen? Only once in 50 years.

Leviticus 5:9-10 says 'Then you shall cause the trumpet of Jubilee to sound on the 10th day of the 7th month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the 50th year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.' 

Pastor Lian said Jesus already came to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. He is our Jubilee, our freedom, our restoration. Jubilee starts with a proclamation of freedom. When you shout out your victory, Jubilee happens. Meanwhile you rest until restoration happens in your life. She then talked about how Joshua and the Israelites circled the tower of Jericho for seven days and in the seventh day, after the seventh round, Joshua said 'Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!' At his command, they shouted and saw the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. In those seven days of marching around, they continued to rest in the Lord though nothing was happening in the natural.

She even arranged for someone to blow the ram's horn after her sermon and she urged us to give a loud shout for whatever we have been believing God for. The sounding of the trumpet is a victory call and it also signified the beginning of our Jubilee. There was a testimony from a lady in the earlier service who shouted out her victory and immediately received her manifestation. Praise the Lord! The presence of the Lord was really strong in the church yesterday. It was a significant day for me too.