Welcome to
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Sunday, 29th December 2024

Ps Kathy Poon

“Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.” (John 21:11)

I. The Starting Point of Ascending – Cleansing and Renewal

1. Break Free from Entanglements and Enter Freedom

• A life of entanglement
• Cleansing and breakthrough

To walk in freedom and guard our lives from the enemy’s influence, we must close the four doors that give the devil access to our hearts: fear, lust, unforgiveness, and idol worship.

Fear: Fear is a doorway that undermines our trust in God’s sovereignty and love. It allows doubt to take root, distorting our perspective and causing us to make decisions based on insecurity rather than faith. To shut this door, we must declare God’s promises over our lives and rest in His perfect love, which casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). Trusting Him fully enables us to face challenges with courage, knowing that He is always with us.

Lust: Lust corrupts the purity of our hearts, turning our desires away from God’s perfect design. It enslaves us to worldly passions and erodes our spiritual strength. To overcome lust, we must renew our minds through Scripture, seek accountability, and fill our hearts with the things of God. When we focus on His holiness, we align our desires with His will, walking in purity and righteousness.

Unforgiveness: Unforgiveness creates bitterness and division in our hearts, making it a foothold for the enemy. It keeps us bound to past hurts and blocks us from experiencing God’s healing and peace. To shut this door, we must choose to forgive, even when it feels difficult, trusting that God’s grace is sufficient to heal our wounds. Forgiveness releases us from the chains of resentment and restores our hearts to a place of freedom and joy.

Idol Worship: Idol worship occurs when we place anything—people, possessions, ambitions, or even our own desires—above God in our lives. It shifts our focus away from the Creator to created things, robbing us of the fullness of a life centered on Him. To close this door, we must examine our hearts, surrender anything that has taken God’s rightful place, and commit to worshiping Him alone.

By addressing these four areas—fear, lust, unforgiveness, and idol worship—we protect our hearts and lives from the enemy’s schemes. As we submit fully to God, resist the devil, and draw near to Him (James 4:7-8), we can live in the victory and freedom that Christ has secured for us.

2. Soaring Like an Eagle

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

• The symbol of ascending
• Encountering Jesus

To overcome fear, we must boldly declare and embrace the unfailing love of God. His perfect love casts out all fear, reminding us that we are His beloved and are secure in His hands. When struggling with unforgiveness, we must surrender our anger, pain, and resentment fully to God. Only through His grace can we release the burdens of bitterness and receive the freedom to forgive, as He has forgiven us.

When we choose to ascend with Jesus—aligning our hearts and lives with His purpose—we no longer need to be concerned with how others perceive us. Our identity and worth are rooted in Christ, not in the opinions of people. Standing with Jesus means standing in His authority, love, and power. And as Scripture assures us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). With Jesus by our side, no fear, judgment, or opposition can prevail, because we walk in His victory and are deeply anchored in His love.

II. The Testimony of Ascending – Casting Nets and Reaping Harvest

1. The Revelation of the 153 Fish

The number 153 holds deep symbolism as it is the triangular number of 17 (1+2+…+17=153). The number 17 represents the unity of the law (10) and spiritual perfection (7), signifying the salvation the Gospel brings to all nations. The unbroken net reflects the unity of Gospel work and the capacity of the Church to fulfill its mission. Additionally, 17 symbolises victory, the harmony of law and spiritual perfection, and the abundance found in spreading the Gospel. Through us, God will deliver souls. The net represents the unbreakable connection between brothers and sisters in Christ, and together, we carry the vision to bring nations to God.

2. Fishers of Men and the Inheritance of Mission

• Fishers of men
• The testimony of ascending

We are called to be fishers of men, reaching out to people through the power of Jesus, as we ascend and build the Kingdom of God. By stepping into His abundance, we can trust that we don’t need to fight for our own rights—God will faithfully provide for us. Our hearts should desire not only to receive blessings but also to share them with those around us. A testimony is a reminder that God’s faithfulness is constant—what He has done before, He will do again. As we hear these testimonies, they can become true for us too, but it starts with surrendering ourselves completely to God.