To the Graduates

(Mt. 28:19-20) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

                     Today, as we have Graduate Service, I would like to challenge all you graduate with three things:

                   First, I want to challenge you to live a purpose-driven life.  

                 What is the purpose of your life?  This is what Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:9 – “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”  Our goal is to please God.  That should be our purpose.  Whatever we do, whether study and/or work, we must do everything to please God.  Then, how can we please God?  We can please Him by obeying His commandments (1 Thess.4:1).  We can please God by walking in faith (Heb.11:6).  We can please God by bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).  We can please God by living our life for His glory.  We must press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).  Knowing and believing that the Lord will fulfill His purpose for us (Ps.138:8a), we must press on toward the goal.

               Second, I want to challenge you to live a mission-driven life.

                Do you know what your mission is?  Do you what our mission is as Christian?  This is what the Lord Christ commands us in Matthew 28:19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  You see, our mission is to ‘Go and make disciple of all nations’.  In order to fulfill this mission, you and I, as Jesus’ disciples, must first believe that God is with us always to the very end of the age.  And then, we must obey everything God commands us.  As we do so, we will be able to fulfill God’s given mission to us.  My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must fulfill this mission that is before us.  The Lord has given this mission to you and I.  And we must fulfill it no matter what.  We must be even willing to sacrifice our life to fulfill this mission because our Master and Lord Jesus Christ did so.  As you and I know that Jesus fulfilled God’s given mission even death on the cross.  And He has commissioned you and I to fulfill His mission that is to go into the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ.  So let us not forget that you and I are missionary to this world who was sent by the Lord to fulfill His mission.

               Third, I want to challenge you to live the Spirit-driven life.

                Is your life driven by your own sinful nature or by the Spirit of God?  This is what the Bible says in Romans 8:5-9a - “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  …”.  You see, the Scripture says that we are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit.  Do you believe that?  If so, then how shall we live?  What does it mean by the Spirit-driven life?  What is it?  First, the Spirit-driven life is the God’s Word-driven life.  So many of us are driven by feeling rather than the fact.  And there is danger in doing so.  If our feeling is not based on the fact, the Word of God, then our feeling can lead us astray.  That’s why we must be lead by the Word of God rather than our emotion.  Second, the Spirit-driven life is God’s love-driven life.  You and I know that the fruit of the Spirit is love.  And Jesus commands us to love God and love our neighbors.  You see, that’s why the Spirit-driven life is God’s love-driven life.  That’s how we shall life.  Lastly, the Spirit-driven life is God’s will-driven life.  Only the Spirit of God enables us to understand God’s will for the Spirit only knows God’s will.  And this is what Romans 8:27b says – “because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will”.  Therefore, as we are controlled by the Spirit, we must live a life according to God’s will.  We must let our will go and let God’s will to be done in and through our life.

As I conclude this message, I want to remind you again that you live the purpose-driven life, mission-driven life and the Spirit-driven life.  May God build all of you up to be Christ-centered visionary leaders to expand the Kingdom of God.  May God bless you and your future!