Lately, we have heard a fair bit of information on why September 2015 is a month to behold.

Some speculated that the US dollars will crash in this coming September 13^th, which will send disastrous shockwaves to economies around the world. This will launch the one-world economic system – the beginning of the seven-year tribulation.

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Some believers, upon personal conviction, also believe that this is the day when Jesus will return and whisk them away in rapture, before the world accelerates into turbulence. 

So, how should we respond to all these speculations? First of all, the facts presented by the end-time preachers are reasonable. The fact that Israel was formed in 1948 is a fulfilment of a prophecy (Isa 66:7-8). If we were to read this chapter, the following verses talk about Jesus Christ returning to reign. 

However, this article is not written to convince you on whether Jesus Christ is indeed returning (though I do believe that we will be the generation to see His return).

But coming back to this impending day in September – to imagine that Jesus is coming back so soon – brought anxiety to my heart.

Why am I anxious? Firstly, I am not prepared for His return yet. Many of my family and friends had not know the Lord. Moreover, if I were to go through the seven-year tribulation, I don’t know if I am prepared for it. Hence, I sat down and thought to myself the best thing for me to do.

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What I did was to seek the face of my Father in Heaven. I poured all my anxieties on Him. I told Him, “Father, it is unfair for you to only reveal this to me now if you were to return. I don’t have time to prepare myself. What more others?”

I felt that I have the responsibility to inform in the best yet very limited way to believers on how to prepare on what is coming, if it’s true that the seven-year tribulation would begin.

For no one knows that no one knows that day and hour when Jesus returns. (Matt 24:36) He comes like a thief at night. (Rev 16:15,2 1 Thes 5:1-3) 

And then the answer came: You are always prepared when you are with God.

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If you look at every person in the book of Luke for example – beginning from Mary to the disciples of Jesus Christ – how many of them felt prepared and were prepared? 

Was Mary prepared to carry the Savior of the World into this world? Was Peter prepared to preach the gospel till his own cruxifixion on the cross? Was Gideon prepared to lead only 300 men to war against thousands of men? 

I believe most of them felt unprepared for what God prepared for them. Yet, the funny thing is that God has already prepared them. 

How? They know God. They were only called to follow God one day at a time, moment to moment. And they did only what God says, through dreams, visions, physical manifestations, and His Word. They followed God and God led them into victory and boldness. 

Hence, the most important thing is to draw close to God. Learn to discern His Voice. His Voice never go against His Word. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Cling unto Him. Walk with Him. Pray, pray, and pray. And you have nothing to fear, even if the world enters into tribulation.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:14)

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There are many practical implications of drawing close to God and learning to discern His Voice, which always follows His Word.

In the one-world economic system, currency will be abolished. People will be forced to take the mark of the beast or they cannot trade. When this happens, everything that we can pay by money now – food, cellphones, gas for our car, car maintenance, house rental, hygiene supplies, etc – are lost. We lost all purchasing power.

So, what will happen next? One way to survive is to move into the forest, to plant and to grow our own food, and to communicate without our cell phones. 

Basically, we will be living like the orang asals. Come to think of it, we may be blessings to them now. But who knows if God is preparing them to be a blessing to us. Who else shall we run to for refuge and shelter? 

Now, I am not making any prophecies here but reasonable speculations. Communication will be cut off. How then shall we communicate during these times of turbulence, if we were to lose each other?

Do not fear because we have the Holy Spirit in us. Wow! Can you imagine how amazing is that? If all of us listens to the Holy Spirit who tells us where to meet and at what time individually, we do not need cell phones. When technology dies, we do not need to fear because we have the Holy Spirit in us!

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That is one very practical reason of learning to listen and discern the voice of God. And discernment can only come from knowing His Word, because again His Voice never go against His Word.

Also, Jesus says, “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.” (Matt 24:23-25)

At first, I thought this Scripture was odd because how could people be so gullible to believe that the Messiah is back? But without telecommunication, news will only travel by hearsays and rumors. Furthermore, the distress during the end times will be so great (Matt 24:22) that we would want to believe that Jesus has returned. 

Also, do you know what is most comforting to us as believers in Christ? God has told us what we can expect in the end times. Yes, they are written in the Bible for us. Hence, there is no need to fear.

We have what we need to prepare ourselves, which is His Word.

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And amidst this foretelling suffering, do you know what is the most amazing thing? God’s Word still stands true. His every Word prevails!

What did God say? He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) He says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:30)

The passages above is only a fraction of what He said in the whole Bible. Can you imagine the wealth of promises that we do not know of? All His Promises still stand even during the end times.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb 13:8)

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Hence, let us come as we are before our Father in Heaven. This begins by worshipping and reading the Word of God. When we read enough of God’s Word – which is unchangeable even at the end times – we are able to discern His voice, which never go against His Word.

Reading the Word of God also changes our thinking into new, godly ways of thinking. Hence, we will begin to do what the Word says. And when we do that, we are likened to building our house on the rock.

Jesus says, “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts the into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)

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He went on saying, “But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:49)

At the end times, if we listen to voice of the Holy Spirit and do what He says, we will surely stand in the torrent of flood.

Like how bankers examined the real bank notes to identify the fakes, we are also called to examine the Word of God to identify the lies and deceptions.

The good news is You are always prepared when you are with God. 

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On 4^th of September 2015, Pastor Alan Tan of First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru, Kelantan shared about King Josiah – understanding the season in our lives.

There are four stages in Josiah’s life including the child king, the boy king, and the prophetic king, and the restorer king.

At eight years old, Josiah became child king following the assasination of his father king Amon. (2 Chron 33:24-25) And at 16 years old, he grew into becoming a boy king. (2 Chron 34:3)

Scripture says, “In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.” (2 Chron 34:3)

Why is David referred to as Josiah’s father instead of his biological father Amon? This is because it was David, God made a covenant with, and not the other evil kings such as Amon and Manasseh. God’s eyes were kept on David.

“I became a Christian at sixteen years old. The world philosophies will tell you, ‘Come on man, you are too young to be religious. Why don’t you go and enjoy?’ But scholars told us that David was sixteen when he killed Goliath.

Worship team of First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru, Kelantan

“So, never despise the days of your youth. Timothy was a young man called into the ministry under the mentorship of Paul. Paul says, ‘Be an example in faith, in words, and in deeds. Don’t let them look down on you.’ You are never too young,” said Pastor Alan.

Those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10) And Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom and his righteouesness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) He also says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

“So, when Josiah seek the Lord, guess what happens? He found the Lord. If you seek the Lord, you will find Him. You will find what you seek for, that’s God’s principles.

“If you seek to find fault in each other, you will find fault because no one is perfect – faults in your husband, in your wife, in your church leaders, and in everybody – you will find it because that’s all you are looking for,” said Pastor Alan.

Likewise, if we seek spiritual gifts, we will find them. Paul says, “Eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.” (1 Cor 14:1) Hence, if our church lacks spiritual gifts, that shows that we are not seeking enough.

If we have not found God, we have not seek Him enough. God says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14)

The congregation of First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru, Kelantan

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6) But if we believe in God, He will reward us who seek Him like how He blessed King Josiah.

And seeking Him is not limited to only spiritual matters, but other life affairs as well such as seeking God’s direction at work, seeking a life partner, or seeking the next course in life to take. God is a very practical God.

“This is not all spiritual. If you seek Him and say, ‘You know God, I want to do Your Will, I want to know where I am going, I want to know which path to take.’ He will show you,” said Pastor Alan.

He shared how many people in his church, Harvest Christian Assembly, in Klang were experiencing the financial pinch of sustaining the children’s education overseas. Yet, God has blessed their business beyond what they required for the educational funds.

“Why? This is because they are looking at God. That is why there are so many dissapointments in our nations, because people are looking at what other people can do for them? But people will fail you,” said Pastor Alan. But God will never fail us.

King Josiah started to seek the Lord at 16 years old. Like Josiah, there is always a beginning for everything in our life. We got to start reading the Bible, praying, prophesying, and giving somewhere in our life.

The members of the First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru preparing for Holy Communion

Also, although King Josiah’s father and grandfather (Amon and Manasseh respectively) were evil, he did not blame his family history as a reason to not follow God.

And so, at 20 years old, King Josiah began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, and idols. He tore down the altars of Baals, and he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. It was a huge task because Israel was deeply entrenched in idol-worshipping for more than a hundred years.

What King Josiah did not know is that he was fulfilling a prophesy made of him 350 years ago. A prophet was prophesying as King Jeroboam stood by the altar, saying, “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” (1 Kings 13:1-2)

“You know when I read that, I summarize this: we have to live a prophetic life. We have to a prophetic generation. The church got to be prophetic. That means what we do is a fulfilment of God’s Word. You see, when Josiah did that, he didn’t know that he was fulfilling a prophesy,” said Pastor Alan.

For example, when the Holy Spirit fell during the Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that they were experiencing the fulfilment of a prophesy by prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28-32)

In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

    and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heavens above

    and signs on the earth below,

    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood

    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved.

(Acts 2:17-21)

Sisters-in-Christ coming together during the prayer meeting after church to pray for one another, at First Assembly of God, Kota Bahru

“Peter had the idea when he saw all that was happening. Suddenly, that Scripture came to light, ‘This is what that prophet spoke about, it is the fulfilment of a prophesy.’

“You see, everytime you prophesy, everytime you see a vision, everytime someone calls upon the name of the Lord, everytime someone has a dream, they are prophetic. They are prophetic because it’s a fulfilment of the Word of God about the end time,” said Pastor Alan.

Prophetic gifts are meant to exalt and admonish people, with the goal of edifying and strengthening people. Unfortunately, today we criticize more than we prophesize. We allow the news or people opinions to dictate the way we should live instead of the Word of God.

“A prophetic church is not dictated by the affairs of a nation. A prophetic church looks ahead. A prophetic church is dictated by the Word of God, what God says and not what the world says.

“A prophetic church is led by the Spirit and not led by their emotions. A prophetic people will sometimes say things in contrast to what is happening around them.

“A prophetic people will see things differently. So, they will see, they will speak, they will hear, and they will even live their lives in direct contradiction to what’s happening around them,” said Pastor Alan. Are we a prophetic people living a prophetic lifestyle?

Pastor Alan Tan preaching to the congregation of the First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru, Kelantan

When Martin Luther broke the religious system of the church in Europe, he returned the people to the Word of God. Instead of centering around human rituals, the attention of the people were fixed at the pulpit where the Word of God was shared.

Before Reformation, the altar was central. After the Reformation, the pulpit was central. Now in the 21^st century, the stage is central. But today, the whole stage becomes central to modern worshippers with all the lightings, decor, smoke machine and large LED. We forget that beyond all these accessories, God is looking for worshippers in spirit and in truth.

“The prophetic voices say that we must go back to the time when Christ becomes central. You see when the enemy cannot have you, the enemy will mislead you with a substitution.

“I have been to Vietnam. There was no musical instruments except for one guitar there. Let me tell you: I have never felt such purity in their worship. Why? Because it came from the heart,” said Pastor Alan.

The congregation of First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru worshipping God

Finally, at 26 years old, King Josiah was the restorer king. He began to repair and to restore the temple. (2 Chron 34:8) In the midst of cleaning the temple, he found the Book of the Law. (2 Chron 34:15) And King Josiah took this opportunity to read the law to all in the nation. (2 Chron 34:29-30)

After that, King Josiah celebrated Passover having read the Book of the Law. It was said that the celebration had never been held in such a scale in Israel, since the days of prophet Samuel. (2 Chron 35:18) With God, he restored Israel.

“Have you ever lost things in your life? I have. Lost friends? Lost sleep? Lost valuable things? Lost your love? lost your peace? Josiah restored the temple, the Book of Law, the Passover, and the priesthood,” said Pastor Alan.

Like how God used King Josiah to restore Israel, God will also restore our lives. We have a God of restoration! God restored to Job twice of what he had lost. And as a Father, God is generous in restoring to us what we have lost.

If we were parents, would we only give to our children what they sufficienly need? As parents, we will give our children more than they need, because we want to bless them. Hence if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, what more our perfect Father in Heaven? (Matthew 7:11)

“How many of you believe that God can restore to you everything you have lost? The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But God comes to give life and life abundantly.

Pastor Alan Tan preaching the Word of God at First Assembly of God in Kota Bahru

“The Church has been stolen of her glory, power, and anointing. The believers have been stepped upon and lost their authority and lost their joy. But God is saying, ‘I will restore, I will restore,’” said Pastor Alan.

In conclusion, Josiah knew the seasons in his life. He did what he could at different stages of his life.

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For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12)

When we have a slight accident or when something unexpectedly and suddenly happens that we cannot do anything about, we naturally become exasperated and helpless.

A good example of such a situation is a time when we unknowingly drop a small expensive item of jewelry, as we were walking to the shopping center, and then only to realize our loss some moments afterwards. This happened to us a fortnight ago when I drove my wife to the shopping center.

She was adamant that she still had the pendant on her when we walked from the car park but when we got to the entrance of the super market she suddenly realized that it had fallen off from the chain.

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The two of us anxiously traced through our steps, being very cautious just in case we trample on the pendant! Being shortsighted, I had to stoop low and move my head slowly from side to side. At the same time, I was not aware or had the slightest concern for several people nearby looking quizzically at what I was doing! I sometimes hope that my wife knew at that split second when it fell off (then exclaimed loudly!) so that then I would just have to look only at a small area around her instead of scouring through this vast unknown!

Also, the pendant is so dainty that it could have silently fallen away when it came off the hook without giving us the slightest alarm. I could predict that it could be anywhere between the car and the entrance which measures at least 100 meters in distance! It could also have fallen into a small grassy patch at the edge of the road (God forbid!) or directly onto the gravel road. Whichever the case may be, chances are we have lost the pendant for good.

What do you do when you are totally helpless? What does a child does when he or she is frightened and helpless? The child spontaneously yells out loudly for daddy or mummy! Note that in an uncontrollable and exasperating situation such as this when one would just about to give up in desperation, how people would gasp “Oh God!” (or better still) “Oh help me God!” This is analogous to the child’s cry to his/ her parents for help. Remember, not every one of us believes in God, yet in desperation, our inner self – the real us – would cry out to God for intervention!

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After we walked the route from the car park to the shopping center gate not less than a dozen times looking for the lost pendant unsuccessfully, we came near to the brink of giving up. We needed a miracle so I stopped and prayed! “Help us Father God because we are truly powerless; please help us”. Then Lo and behold, on our final lap back to the car, I spotted a passing flash of sunlight coming from some loose gravel stones as we passed it. As I stopped to inspect closely, I couldn’t believe I have found the pendant! It was propped up on its edge among the loose pebbles and it was well camouflaged if not for its telling glitter. There was an exclamation of joy and relief when I picked the pendant up and brought it back to the elated owner. Thank you Lord, and indeed You have heard and answered my prayer even as soon as it left my lips!

And this dilemma happened to us again and too soon! This time, we were walking with throngs of people also patronizing the stalls of a Sunday Market. We have finished our shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables and were on our way home.

Again my wife gave me that same worried look when she was putting away her reading glasses! There was only one ‘arm’ remaining on the spectacles and the other must have fallen off! She said that it must have dropped off near the cashier of the last shop we visited, as this was where she had put away her glasses after she had paid the shopkeeper.

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We hurried back to the fruit shop and found out that the spectacle ‘arm’ was not there. Not again! I know of the hordes of people moving freely near the shops and chances are they could have walked on it and broke it! We were again facing another frustrating and exasperating situation.

What did I do when we were looking in vain for the lost pendant only last week? Again I humbly prayed to God to intervene. Again, lo and behold, not long afterwards, we saw the spectacle arm hidden beside a tent post near the shop! I picked it up and danced around to the surprise of the people near us. Did he find a jar of gold coins or what, they murmured to one another? Oh, I contended silently that this was even much better than finding gold! It concerned the response of a benevolent God. It involved the blessing of a gracious God to His trusting and faithful servant. If we actually found what we lost just once, we can say that our good luck was all by chance.

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Many people can tell us that they have experienced mishaps of accidently losing especially small and precious belongings and least of all, thought about praying for them to be found and yet they finally found them! They dismiss the whole thing to be a chance of good fortune. Yes, maybe just once. But this good fortune cannot have happened twice in a short succession. The statistician would calculate your chances of finding the two items that you have lost over a short week and tell you that it is 1 chance in 3 million!

But we believe that what happened to us on the two occasions did not occur by chance. Firstly, we lost the pendant and then after trying tediously to find it ourselves, we mentally gave up and prayed to God for help. Secondly, we accidentally dropped the arm of the spectacles because its side screw became loose. This time, when we realized that finding was pretty slim, we did not even attempt to start looking for it but instead we prayed to God for help. And he blessed us for believing in Him again!

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How much more our loving God wants to bless us whenever we experience situations such as these and we openly confess helplessness and express our complete dependence on His providence. In fact I firmly believe that He desire us his loving children, not only to call upon Him in times of desperation and need, but to live our lives daily in full dependence on Him. We are to yield to Him all aspects of our doings and activities. He has shown in His word that He wants us to adopt the role of innocent children especially when we experience distressful and unavoidable happenings. He wants us to confess that we are not able without Him and to cry loudly to Him for help no matter how trivial the matter may be.

In Romans 12:12 His word calls us to always be habitual in prayer under all circumstances.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.

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POSTCRIPT

Even as I was typing my essay, a third mishap happened to me! I had retrieved my old briefcase and filled it with note pads, pens and texts in preparation for my Bible classes for next week. When I closed it, I realized that I couldn’t open it because I had somehow accidentally shifted the set code numbers of the lock when I shut it and now I cannot remember the code numbers to open it again! My mind was a total blank. I tried dialing 0-0-0 (which I often used) but no way. I called my wife to see if she remembered. She said we should pray! Then somehow she said to try 1-8-6. I asked why she picked that number, as it did not ring a bell to me. Somehow, I felt that I have seen 1-8-6 (don’t ask me why) so I dialed 186 and squeezed the lock buttons to open the briefcase. Clicked, the hinges flipped up – it worked! Thank you (again) mighty God!

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“Mari kami siapkan hati kami dulu. Mari kami berdoa. Bapa kami di syurga, kami berterima kasih untuk masa yang Engkau berikan kami. Kami ingin memohon agar berkat-Mu akan berlimpah-limpah ke dalam hidup kami.

“Kami berdoa agar Engkau akan terus berada di sisi kami dan hadirat-Mu akan melinkungi kami setiap masa. Dalam nama Yesus kami berdoa. Amen,” Dr Chew Keng Sheng berdoa di Faith Sanctuary of Glory Church, Kota Bahru, Kelantan pada bulan September hari bulan empat.

Dr Chew ingin berkhutbah tentang tiga rintangan yang dialami oleh Nikodemus sebelum dia percaya bahawa Yesus adalah Tuhan.

Adalah seorang Farisi yang bernama Nikodemus, seorang pemimpin agama Yahudi. Dia datang pada waktu malam kepada Yesus dan berkata: “Rabi, kami tahu, bahawa Engkau datang sebagai guru yang diutus Tuhan; sebab tidak ada seorang pun yang dapat mengadakan tanda-tanda yang Engkau adakan itu, jika Tuhan tidak menyertainya.”

Yesus menjawab, kata-Nya: “Aku berkata kepadamu, sesungguhnya jika seorang tidak dilahirkan kembali, dia tidak dapat melihat Kerajaan Tuhan.”

Kata Nikodemus kepada-Nya: “Bagaimanakah mungkin seorang dilahirkan, kalau dia sudah tua? Dapatkah dia masuk kembali ke dalam rahim ibunya dan dilahirkan lagi?”

Jawab Yesus: “Aku berkata kepadamu, sesungguhnya jika seorang tidak dilahirkan dari air dan Roh, dia tidak dapat masuk ke dalam Kerajaan Tuhan. Apa yang dilahirkan dari daging, adalah daging, dan apa yang dilahirkan dari Roh, adalah roh. Janganlah engkau hairan, kerana Aku berkata kepadamu: Kamu harus dilahirkan kembali.

(Yohanes Bab 3:1-7)

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Apabila kita membaca Yohanes bab tiga dari ayat pertama, kita mengetahui terdapat seorang Farisi bernama Nikodemus datang berjumpa dengan Yesus. Ada dua perkara yang pelik dalam cerita ini. Pertamanya, Nikodemus adalah seorang pemimpin orang beragama Yahudi, iaitu seorang Farisi (kebanyakan orang Farisi ini benci akan Yesus). Keduanya, Nikodemus datang berjumpa dengan Yesus pada waktu malam dan bukan waktu siang.

“Nikodemus datang pada waktu malam supaya orang lain tidak nampak. Dia ingin merahsiakan pertemuannya dengan Yesus. Ini adalah kerana Nikodemus tahu kawan-kawan Farisinya akan mengutuk kunjungannya,” katanya.

Ramai orang Kristian salah faham bahawa kebanyakan orang hanya percaya Yesus dengan serta-merta semasa mereka sedang mengalami krisis hidup yang dramatik. Contohnya, Paulus mengetahui Yesus dalam keadaan yang dramatik. Dalam perjalannya ke Damsyik, tiba-tiba satu cahaya memancar dari langit lalu dia merebah ke tanah dan terdengar suara Tuhan. Itulah cara Paulus bertemu dengan Tuhan pada kali pertama. Namun, bukan semua pertemuan orang dengan Yesus sedramatik Paulus. Sebenarnya, perubahan tersebut memerlukan proses dalam tempoh tertentu dan sangat bergantung kepada tindakbalas hati kita. 

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“Sebenarnya, kepercayaan untuk Yesus ini bukan sahaja disebabkan krisis hidup tetapi ia adalah satu proses yang perlahan dan beransur-ansur, terutamanya untuk orang Asia.

“Kepercayaan ini tidak senang kerana kita mengalami terlalu banyak stigma dari segi sosial, budaya, dan keluarga. Contohnya, apabila saya percaya Yesus, saya mendapat tentangan yang hebat daripada keluarga dan juga masyarakat sekitar saya,” katanya.

Kali kedua Nikodemus disebut dalam buku Yohanes ialah bab ketujuh dan ayat kelima-puluh-satu. Walaupun pemimpin-pemimpin Farisi mahu menangkap Yesus, Nikodemus menegakkan keadilan untuk-Nya. Nikodemus berkata kepada pemimpin-pemimpin Farisi yang benci akan Yesus, “Apakah hukum Taurat (atau Torah) kita menghukum seseorang sebelum dia didengar atau orang mengetahui apa yang dibuatnya?” Kepercayaan Nikodemus dalam hukuman Tauratnya sudah bergoyah pada waktu ini dan dia sudah mula percaya kata-kata Yesus.

Penganut-penganut Kristian di Faith Sanctuary of Glory Church, Kota Bahru, Kelantan

Kali ketiga Nikodemus disebut dalam buku Yohanes ialah bab sembilan-belas, ayat ketiga-sembilan. Pada masa ini, Nikodemus sudah percaya Yesus dan menjadi pengikut-Nya. Apabila Yesus mati di kayu salib, Nikodemus dan Yusuf dari Arimatea menurunkan mayat Yesus dari salib untuk dikebumikan. Malah firman berkata bahawa Nikodemus membawa campuran minyak mur dengan minyak gaharu sebanyak lima puluh kati beratnya untuk pengebumian Yesus.

“Kita boleh melihat proses Nikodemus dalam menemui Yesus. Kepercayaannya terhadap Yesus bukan sekadar krisis hidup yang dramatik tetapi ia mengambil masa yang lama,” tambahnya.

Berapa lamakah masanya untuk Nikodemus ambil untuk percaya Yesus? Yesus melakukan mujizat pertamanya – mengubah air menjadi arak dalam majlis perkahwinan – di bab kedua Yohanes. Dan dalam bab seterusnya, Nikodemus sudah bertemu dengan Yesus. Maka, dari masa Nikodemus mengetahui Yesus dan benar-benar menjadi pengikut-Nya (iaitu apabila Yesus di kayu salib), Nikodemus mengambil kira-kira dua hingga tiga tahun untuk percaya Yesus.

“Oleh itu, apakah aplikasi untuk kita sebagai pengikut Yesus? Saya mahu mendorong kita semua di sini. Jangan kita berputus asa dalam memberi firman untuk kawan-kawan dan ahli keluarga kita. Mungkin ada di kalangan mereka salah faham bahawa ajaran kita adalah ajaran sesat,” lanjutnya lagi.

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Apakah ciri-ciri ajaran Kristian yang sesat atau serong? Ajaran Kristian yang sesat atau serong ialah ajaran yang menafikan pengorbanan Yesus sebagai satu-satunya cara untuk menyelamatkan jiwa kita. Ini adalah kerana kita tahu hanya dengan iman kita terhadap pengorbanan Yesus di kayu salib, jiwa kita telah diselamatkan oleh-Nya selama-lamanya.

Maka, mungkin kawan-kawan atau ahli keluarga kita memerlukan lebih masa untuk memahami konsep-konsep dalam ajaran Kristian. Contohnya, konsep tritunggal Tuhan (yang terdiri daripada Tuhan Bapa, Tuhan Yesus, dan Roh Kudus) mengambil masa yang lama untuk faham dan terima. Lebih-lebih lagi, konsep ini menjadi lebih sukar untuk terima dan faham, tanpa pemikiran dari Tuhan yang dianugerahkan oleh Roh Kudus. Ini adalah kerana kemampuan kita sebagai manusia adalah terhad.

Maka, rintangan kedua yang ramai orang hadapi dalam percaya kepada Yesus ialah rintangan intelek. Contohnya, Nikodemus tidak faham maksud Yesus yang mengatakan seseorang mesti dilahirkan kembali untuk melihat kerajaan Tuhan.

“Tetapi apa yang Yesus maksudkan ialah kelahiran rohani, bukan fizikal. Maka, apabila kamu ada kawan-kawan yang mempunyai rintangan intelek, janganlah kita menjawab mereka terus-menerus tetapi tanya dulu maksud sebenar mereka.

“Contohnya, kalau kawan-kawan kita mengatakan alkitab Kristian adalah tidak benar, tanya balik. Kalau kita tidak tahu masalah atau punca utama, kita tidak boleh meneruskan perbualan kita dengan baik. Bicara dan siasat dulu. Janganlah kita memberi jawapan kita dengan serta-merta,” katanya.

Kanak-kanak sedang belajar alkitab di Faith Sanctuary of Glory Church, Kota Bahru, Kelantan

Selain konsep tritunggal, konsep yang sukar difahami juga ialah kewujudan Tuhan yang melebihi tiga dimensi. Tidak seperti manusia, Tuhan tidak dihadkan oleh dimensi masa. Kerana itulah Tuhan kita adalah Alpha dan Omega. (Wahyu 1:8) Tuhan tahu segala-Nya. Cara dan pemikiran-Nya juga adalah luar biasa.

“Satu gambaran yang baik ialah kita cuba menerangkan rupa tiub kepada seseorang yang tinggal dalam dunia dua dimensi. Walaupun kamu boleh menerangkan bentuk tiub itu, orang dalam dunia dua dimensi tidak akan dapat membayangkan rupanya.

“Oleh itu, Tuhan yang tinggal di dimensi yang melebihi dimensi kita tidak boleh menguraikan segala-galanya untuk kita dengan jelas. Ini adalah kerana manusia sesungguhnya adalah terhad,” lanjutnya.

Rintangan ketiga dialami oleh Nikodemus ialah rintangan kerohanian, iaitu rintangan yang paling sukar untuk diatasi. Untuk masalah kerohanian, satu-satunya cara untuk mengatasi masalah ini ialah kelahiran rohani semula.

“Dalam masalah ini, Roh Kudus Tuhan memainkan peranan yang sangat penting. Ini adalah kerana hanya dengan Roh Kudus, segala rintangan mustahil boleh diatasi. Maka, doalah selalu untuk kawan kamu kerana tiada manusia boleh melakukan perbuatan Roh Kudus dalam hati kawan.

Maka berbicaralah dia, katanya: “Inilah firman TUHAN kepada Zerubabel  bunyinya: Bukan  dengan keperkasaan dan bukan dengan kekuatan, melainkan dengan roh-Ku, firman TUHAN semesta alam. (Zakaria 4:6)

“Jadi, apabila Nikodemus mengalami kuasa Roh Kudus Tuhan, hatinya diubah dan pemikirannya dibuka. Hanya pada masa itulah, Nikodemus mampu untuk memahami Yesus, disebabkan Roh Kudus Tuhan.

“Kalau kita bergantung kepada kepandaian manusia, hasil kita adalah amat kecil. Ini adalah kerana hanya Roh Kudus berkuasa untuk mengubah hati manusia,” tambahnya.

Dr Chew sedang berkhutbah di Faith Sanctuary of Glory Church, Kota Bahru, Kelantan

Akulah pokok anggur dan kamulah ranting-rantingnya. Barangsiapa tinggal di dalam Aku dan Aku di dalam dia, ia berbuah banyak, sebab di luar Aku kamu tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa. (Yohanes 15:5)

pada waktu itu Dia telah menyelamatkan kita, bukan kerana perbuatan baik yang telah kita lakukan, tetapi kerana rahmat-Nya oleh permandian kelahiran kembali dan oleh pembaharuan yang dikerjakan oleh Roh Kudus (Titus 3:5)

Dr Chew juga memerhati bahawa ramai orang tidak menyukai agama Kristian disebabkan masalah emosi juga (walaupun masalah ini tidak ketara dalam Nikodemus). Mereka tidak suka pergi ke gereja atau tidak suka agama Kristian kerana mereka pernah disinggung oleh pengikut-pengikut Yesus.

“Namun, lebih daripada masalah emosi, kerohanian adalah masalah yang terutama kerana dunia kita mempunyai kerajaan roh terang dan kerajaan roh gelap yang tidak boleh dilihat dengan pandangan mata.

kerana perjuangan kita bukanlah melawan darah dan daging, tetapi melawan pemerintah-pemerintah, melawan penguasa-penguasa, melawan penghulu-penghulu dunia yang gelap ini, melawan roh-roh jahat di udara. (Efesus 6:12)

“Maka, setiap kali seseorang percaya Yesus, itu sebenarnya perlawanan dalam roh alam. Dan kerana itulah kita mesti berdoa selalu untuk kawan-kawan kita,” katanya.

Kesimpulannya, seperti Nikodemus, tiga rintangan yang orang tidak percaya alami ialah rintangan sosial dan budaya, rintangan intelek, dan rintangan rohani. Selain itu, mereka juga mengalami masalah emosi untuk percaya Yesus.

Kanak-kanak di Faith Sanctuary of Glory Church, Kota Bahru, Kelantan

“Maka, seperti seorang doktor yang cekap, kita mestilah menyiasat penyakit pesakit kita sebelum memberi ubat. Diagnosis kita mestilah betul. Apakah sebenarnya masalah kawan saya? Adakah kawan saya sedang mengalami masalah budaya, intelek, rohani atau emosi?

“Secara dasarnya, semua masalah adalah masalah rohani. Kadang-kala, kawan kita mungkin ada lebih daripada satu masalah. Dan walaupun seseorang bertanya banyak soalan intelek, masalahnya mungkin bukan masalah intelek tetapi masalah emosi.

“Maka, cara terbaik ialah bertanya dengan Roh Kudus untuk memberi jawapan yang tepat dan benar. Doa kepada Tuhan untuk memberi kita hikmat untuk menjadi bejana-Nya untuk membawa berkat kepada kawan-kawan kita,” lanjutnya.

Dr Chew Keng Sheng mengakhirkan khutbahnya dengan satu doa, “Yesus Tuhan, berilah kami hikmat agar kami boleh terus menjadi bejana-Mu untuk kawan-kawan kami yang masih berada dalam kegelapan seperti Nikodemus.

“Berilah kami satu kesabaran dan kerendahan diri agar hati kami sentiasa dapat diajar, supaya hidup kami sesuai dengan rencana-Mu. Kami mengakui bahawa betapa banyak hikmat atau usaha kami, tanpa kekuasaan Roh Kudus-Mu, adalah mustahil untuk kami membuahkan hasil. Dalam nama Yesus kami berdoa. Amen.”

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Moses only started to lead the Israelites out of Egypt at 80 years old. And at 61 years old now, Pastor Moses Solomon is answering God in his final stretch of life to start operating a church at Kuala Krai, Kelantan, with nothing but faith in God. He learned that God’s work never lack God’s providence.

And so, the church was birthed through registration in year 2012, called the Malaysia Rhema Centre. With contractors and donors sent by God, even favor from nonbelivers in renting out the church premise, Pastor Moses has lived a life of seeing God parting the Red Sea over and over again. God never let him down.

Yet, this faith was not built on the comforts and pleasures of life. At 19 years old, Pastor Moses moved from his hometown in Slim River in Perak to stay with his uncle in Kuala Krai. After eight months of unemployment, God granted him a job in Barlow Bousted Agency in Gua Musang to work as a technician for steaming boilers. 

Pastor Moses (left) standing beside a diesel engine of a ship

In Gua Musang, although he was provided accomodation to stay, Pastor Moses had to be responsible for his own food. Yet, with only RM6 given in his pocket, he was unable to travel to the nearest town to buy food. For close to 20 days, he would only drink water until his feet would swell from malnourishment.

Yet, God was ever faithful. He sustained Pastor Moses by giving him favor through his neighbors who would offer him dinner. At that time, he learned to dine many types of exotic animals including anteaters, wild boars, and deers. It was at this time as well, he drew closer to God by feeding on His spiritual food through the Word.

Finally, after one month of lacking in food and sleeping on hard ground overlaid by newspapers, Pastor Moses received his first pay from the company. God promoted him to enjoy two meals a day at the canteen of his corporate with RM60 per month.

So, looking back, everything he is today came from God who divinely appointed him with many angels in his life. At 26 years old, God gave him the opportunity to obtain a government certificate for fixing steaming boilers and diesel engines (generator set).

The Lord also connected him with a good friend from Taiwan who would teach him the mechanics, formulas, and calculations for heavy machineries. And hence, with the advanced certificates of fixing steaming boilers from Australia and Singapore, Pastor Moses was able to steadily advance in his career later in Sime Darby and in Great Eastern Mills.

While advancing in his career, Pastor Moses also diligently served in the church as the handy-man. Gifted in fixing things, he was given the tasks from buying and setting up musical equipments to fixing the lights in the church. He did everything that was needed, from maintaining the church to leading the prayer group and finally preaching at the pulpit.

Pastor Moses (left) praying for a brother-in-Christ

The Lord was with him every step of the way. There was one time, before he devoted his life to God, he was saved from a fatal accident by the angel of God. Riding his motorcycle in high speed, he collided with a bull that suddenly blocked his path. Although the whole motorcycle was wrecked in pieces, he came out of the hospital the same day he was admitted with only bruises and stitches.

Hence, for more than 30 years Pastor Moses faithfully served in the church, following three prophesies made on him. The first prophesy came from Howard Wickford from United States who pointed at him in the middle of a prayer altar and said, “Son, God wants you to serve Him.” Another two guest speakers also prophesied on him after that.

But it was at the fourth prophecy, Pastor Moses heeded the call, which was when the wife of his Senior Pastor John Ezekiel prayed for him, Hepsiba John. Since then, she actively taught him the Word, fasting and praying, interceding, and everything she knew. When the pastoral family left Kuala Krai on 1984, Pastor Moses was already prepared to do God’s work under the guidance of another senior pastor.

Not only God has equipped him with skills, the Lord has also built Pastor Moses’ and his wife Gnanam’s faith. Through their experience with God, they never lacked and God never let them down.

Gnanam, a headmistress in a Tamil school at Kuala Krai, shared how God was faithful to her during the recent flood in Kelantan. While reading her daily devotional, the Bible verse Isaiah 28:17 stood out to her, which says, “And water will overflow your hiding place.” At that time, she knew in her heart that the rain waters would flood into her place.

Hence, on that night of Christmas Eve at 10 PM, she prepared for the flood by placing the chairs on the table and moved her Christmas tree on the cabinet. She went upstairs to sleep in the bedroom until past midnight when the couple could hear their neighbors shouting for evacuation.

Gnanam (first from left) and Pastor Moses (second from left) with Damien Chua (second from right) and a brother-in-Christ

Coming downstairs in their home, Pastor Moses and Gnanam realized that the water has flooded in and risened to ankle-level. While Pastor Moses quickly drove his car to higher ground, Gnanam found herself at peace packing her bag, as she waddled in knee-length level to the church premise at higher ground. At that time, the water was rising three feet every hour. 

Had God not warn her earlier, she would be shocked to find the flood waters gushing into her immaculately clean house. Yet, because she was faithful in reading the Word of God, God gave her peace to go through the flood.

The flood rose to an unprecedented level beyond their expectation, as it rained for eight days. Standing at their church premise, in full view of his double-storey house that was half immersed in water, Pastor Moses flung his hands up into the sky and asked for God to stop the rain and forgiveness from Him for all his sin. The rain miraculously stopped the next day.

And after the flood, Pastor Moses found strength to clean his house only after three months. The flood has caused demotivation for weeks. But as soon as he decided to fix his house, God provided him so much funds that he could even donate his supplies to other people and churches. Hence, such was the journey of faith that Pastor Moses and his wife Gnanam had.

Although the couple did not earn much since Pastor Moses quit his job to be a pastor, God had faithfully provided for them. The LORD preserved their health, which saved them costly hospital fees. The LORD has also preserved their Honda City of more than 15 years without much fixing fees. This was how God financially blessed Pastor Moses and Gnanam.

And such faith has been exemplified to their son Selwyn. Gnanam recalled how her nine-year-old son would come home crying because his friends would teased him of his small house.

Hence, during their evening walk, Gnanam and his son would faithfully pray to God, for a particular house in an empty developed plot. Little Selwyn would come home every day announcing that he had pray to God for the house, every time he passed by it in his bicycle. And God was faithful to provide them! As promised to God, the house is now dedicated to Him as a place of refuge and rest for the servants of God who are passing by Kuala Krai.

Pastor Moses and his grown-up son Selvyn

Not only their house but the building of the church came from the hands of God. Believers of God came to offer contributions to Pastor Moses’ church including his carpet, signboard, speakers, fans, and even the work in renovating the church. Not only that, God also moved the heart of non-believers to show favor to Pastor Moses in renting the premise at a low rate.

During the church dedication in 2012, Pastor Moses was amazed to see how God filled the church beyond the 60-seat capacity. People even had to stand on the side! Pastor Alan Tan from Klang even flew to dedicate the church. And God was faithful to provide Pastor Moses the means to serve all his guests a sumptuous buffet dinner.

Hence, at 61 years old now, Pastor Moses is seeing the prophesy of God fulfilled in his life. He finally understood why God has placed him in Kuala Krai. It is to be the beacon of light for Him there. The church is now operating with two families and a civil engineer who is willing to serve the community with free tuition. Praise the Lord!

Many of us are afraid to step into what God has called us to, because we lack the faith that God will enable us to fulfill the vision. But God’s vision will never lack God’s resources! We are only called to obey and take the first step. And because Moses took the first step and one step at a time after that, he saw the supernatural hands of God in his life. God’s word became alive!

Hence, having walked with God for over 40 years now, Pastor Moses and his wife Gnanam testified of God’s faithfulness in providing for their needs. God never let them down. In full dependence on God, Pastor Moses Solomon and his wife Gnanam look forward to serve God for the rest of their lives in their Father’s house.

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Introduction

The death of Christ on the cross reveals two important attributes about GOD. It shows GOD’s responsibility for man and Christ’s obedience to the Father, for man.

A Responsible GOD

GOD is responsible. With man’s fall into sin, God did not abandon man. GOD provided man the alternative of being redeemed—but only if man selected that alternative. The alternative was fully secured by GOD. GOD himself paid the price. He sent His son Jesus Christ as the ransom price to save many (Mark 10:45).Christ died as sin in order to deliver us from sin and its power (2 Cor 5:21).

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GOD’s Responsibility before the Foundation of the World

GOD in exercising His responsibility did not do a patchwork redemption, trying to cover up holes here and there. He had, before the foundation of the world chosen us to be in Christ (Eph 1:4).GOD was responsible towards us. GOD remains responsible towards us. The Spirit of GOD dwells in us, and makes us GOD’s temple (1 Cor 3:16). Here again, GOD does not abandon us to our own devices, to grope in the dark for our salvation. The Spirit of GOD guides us in our sanctification.

Christ’s Obedience

Christ’s obedience was to meet GOD’s redemption plan as the sacrifice for sin. Christ had repeatedly made references to His following the will of the Father and not His own will (Luke 22:42; John 4:34; 6:38-40). Even the timing of Christ’s second coming is solely for the Father to decide (Mark 13:32).

The Mind of Christ

If we expect eternal redemption, we should submit totally to the will of GOD, just as Christ did. We commit our will as Christ did to the plan of GOD. St. Paul says that we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). He did not say that we could have the mind of Christ: we HAVE the mind of Christ—every one of us. The Holy Spirit living in us points to Christ’s perspective.

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The Will of GOD

The will of GOD should be our compass. The will of GOD is for all men to come to Christ (1 Tim 2:3-4; 2 Pet 3:9). Everything we say, do or think about, should have GOD’s will as our objective.

Therefore we have, as Paul says, to die daily (1 Cor 15:31). As Christ said, we have to carry our cross (Matthew 16:24).This death and crucifixion is of ourselves to the world. We are in the world–but not of the world (John 17:16).  

Christ said that we are instead the light of the world, the salt of the earth and a city on a hill, to be clearly visible. We are the gospel carriers in our daily roles (Matt 5:13-16). We are not alone in this. Christ is the source of all authority and is with us always to the end of time, to see this through (Matt 28:18 & 20).

Plans and desires are in order ONLY if Christ is foremost in them. Good things end up bad choices if we leave GOD out of them altogether.

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How do we ensure that we are true to the will of GOD?

Three main areas apply in assessing how we meet the will of GOD.

Prayer

Charles Spurgeon (1834-92), the Baptist preacher, maintained that the Lord Himself is the first source of our sustenance (see Spurgeon’s Faith Checkbook, July 4th).Christ comes before bread, Spurgeon says. We relate to GOD through prayer. Prayer is our first and foremost duty. It is not a spare-time activity for a quick fix. Instead, it is a consistent priority. Prayer to GOD is our focus always (1 Thess 5:17), everywhere (1 Tim 2:8), for everything (Phil 4:6).  

A person with little dependence on prayer is like a ship with no rudder: it drifts aimlessly. We need to seriously pray over our concerns to GOD and to listen to GOD: we do not force issues to GOD for endorsement. Are we listening to the guidance from the in-dwelling the Holy Spirit?

Ref: 364daysofthanksgiving

The Word of GOD 

The word of GOD is our spiritual map (Matt 4:4; Eph 6:17; 2 Tim 3:16 &17).We should evaluate what we think, plan to say, or do, in the light of GOD’s word. We should identify if we are breaking any of GOD’s commandments. We should ask if GOD would back us up in what we are exercising. Would Christ be pleased with what we do? Would Christ Himself do this? Did Christ ask us to do this? Is doing it going to give Christ a bad name? How would our actions help the advance of the gospel?

Free from worldly lusts

We do not follow the values of the world. The Bible warns us about lusting for the things in the world and conforming to them. This is because we are not of the world and the things of the world are in contrast to the things of GOD. They do not gel with GOD’s priorities. We should divest our attachments to the world (Jn 17:14; Rom 12:2; James 4:4; 1 Jn 2:15-17; 1 Jn 3:13). 

We should examine the motives for all that we exercise in life. Are we engaged in pursuits just to please others? Do we blindly do things because others engage in them? Are we pursuing something in order to “save our face”? Are we ethical and honest in all that we are involved in? Do we justify misleading or cheating others in order to “bless” the Kingdom of GOD? Are we drawn unduly to something which seems to be terribly irresistible and too good to refuse? Are we doing all things for the glory of GOD (1 Cor 10:31)?

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Conclusion 

The cross of Christ shows us that GOD has never abandoned us. He is within us. We have the mind of Christ to do the will of GOD. We should therefore audit our motives. Our purposes must be blessed by GOD, our motives conformed to His word as well as to Christ’s standards, and our pursuits are not to be rooted in the world.

NOTE: Tony Dibble worships at Endeavour Christian Gathering, in Perth, Western Australia. Prior to this, he was attending the Church of Our Holy Saviour (COHS), in Labuan, East Malaysia. When in Kuala Lumpur, he worships and preaches at Faith Oasis Fellowship (FOF) Subang Jaya, Selangor.

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Josh Yeoh grew up as part of the worship team in FGA Penang, in an environment where prophesying frequently intertwines with worshipping God. He loved worship but not so much prayer. 

“I’m the last person to be leading a house of prayer. God has a cool sense of humour right?” said Josh, the Director of Penang House of Prayer (PENHOP) and speaker for the Harp and Bowl workshop in Kajang AOG on September 19th. 

“He picks the least likely person to do this. But I recognize when we feel like we have a problem with worship or prayer, that is not the problem. The problem is a lack of revelation of God.

“You never have a worship problem; you have a revelation problem. Why? Because worship is actually a response to the revelation of God. That is worship in its essence,” stressed Josh.

Our depth of worship follows our depth of revelation in God. God responds to our heart. Because of that, although we may be average in our musical skills and vocal, heaven comes down when we understand the meaning of the lyrics in our being.

The congregation of KAOG coming to experience the worship model of Harp and Bowl

“It’s when you journey with the Lord and when you build your history with Him, you will worship him authentically. You cannot fake authenticity. You cannot fake intimacy,” said Josh.

He recalled reading about Martha and Mary during the death of Lazarus. When Jesus came, Martha and Mary said to Jesus the same thing, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21; 32) But Jesus only wept over Mary. (John 11:35)

“It has always puzzled me, why Jesus did not cry over Martha? And something struck me. Every time Mary was mentioned, she was sitting at the feet of Jesus,” said Josh.

Unlike a passive position of doing nothing, Mary is waiting for Jesus. Notice that she only went to meet Jesus when she was called, while Martha immediately rose to meet Jesus. Both did the right thing in meeting Jesus. But the difference is timing.

“Have you ever considered timing? Timing is so important,” said Josh.

Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. (Proverbs 25:11)

Josh preaching about the meaning of worship

He shared how his friend Alan received and kept a prophetic Word from God about him, until God directed him to release it at the right time.

“It takes a real man of intimacy with God to keep that Word in, to know that God has shown this, so he has to pray about it until God says, ‘Now, tell Josh,’” he said.

During this time of waiting for God, Alan did not passsively wait but he actively interceded for Josh. And when the time came for Alan to reveal, it came as a confirmation for Josh who personally received this same message from God two days earlier.

“If Alan had been insensitive and told me a few months earlier, I would say, ‘That’s good. Thank you brother.’ But nothing change in my heart. Timing is so crucial,” said Josh.

Mary only went when she was called by Jesus. She had a depth of intimacy with Jesus. Hence, it is not only hearing what the Father is saying. It’s also saying it when the Father wants us to say and how He wants us to say it.

“So, how we communicate the heart of God – the time we do it and the way we do it – they are as important as what we hear the Father is saying,” said Josh.

Mary would posture herself to hear from the Lord. She was active in doing things. But when Jesus showed up, she stopped doing everything. Jesus was number one.

Ref: epicpew

“As we enter into this worship and prayer, a lot of times when we go into the prayer meeting, it’s not all about hitting the right things,” said Josh.

Worship and prayer is about being sensitive to God’s voice and pray according to what we hear. A spiritual warfare is won not through decibels or formula of words, but through an authentic an intimate relationship with God. We need not force His presence to come.

So, what kind of relationship do we have with God? We have a Father-child relationship, like how Jesus has a Father-Son relationship with God. How did Jesus relate to the Father? Jesus did everything He sees His Father is doing. (John 5:19)

Jesus came to die for our sins, not only so that we can go to Heaven, but we can have the same authentic and intimate relationship that Jesus had with God! This is made possible by His Holy Spirit, which dwells in us. (Gal 4:6)

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who call out, “Abba, Father.” (Gal 4:6)

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“So, how else can we accomplish these great works? We can do nothing apart from Him. So, the implication for you and me is when we walk in the same level of intimacy and authority (like Jesus did with God), we can do like Jesus did on earth as well,” said Josh, stirring the audience for authentic kingdom living.

Josh shared that Harp and Bowl is not providing a model to merely copy, but a glimpse of how worship happens from a response to a reality in our heart that grows us into an authentic relationship with God.

Asians in particular are excellent in copying, in which the copied product sometimes turned out to be better than the original product.

“But often, when we take that into Christianity, what we end up doing is copying. We copy what we see in YouTube and what we hear others are doing, But we do not have the authentic, genuine expression within our heart to worship Him.

“So, worship is a response to the revelation of who God is. If you want a better worship, what do you do? Increase your level of revelation of God. You can sing the same song but because you’ve gone deeper and higher with God, all these words hit you in a whole new way,” said Josh.

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For example, he shared how he had a deeper worship in God for the song – How Great is our God – when he had a deeper relevation about Him.

During his university days, he discovered that the thundering sound of the Niagara Falls simultaneously filled up the entire audible wavelengths of a sound machine. Hence, when Jesus says that His Voice is like the roar of rushing waters (Rev 14:2), He is actually saying that His Voice covers all the wavelengths of sound.

“Jesus is saying His Voice covers every spectrum of sound. And sometimes, we will say, ‘How can we hear God?’ How can we not? It’s like going to Niagara Falls, we ask, ‘How do you hear Niagara Falls?’ Jesus says, ‘My sheep hear my voice.’ It’s is harder to not hear God than to hear God,” said Josh.

Jesus also spoke creation into life. (John 1:3) This means every creation contains a resonation of His Voice, and all Creation respond to His Voice!

Not only Jesus returns to earth with a voice like the roar of rushing waters (Rev 14:2), His eyes also blaze with fire (Rev 19:12) and his hair is white like snow (Rev 1:14).

“So, when I sing, ‘The splendor of the king’ (in How Great is Our God), do you see that in your heart already? This is the king who is ‘robed in majesty’! Woah!” he said.

Ref: grahamchurch

The song ‘How Great is Our God’ continues with ‘He wraps Himself with light.” Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). in fact, He is brighter than the sun (Acts 26:13)! Imagine how bright Jesus is! He is so bright that light is only His accessory.

“All of a sudden, even though we play the four chords over and over again, Jesus becomes so real. Did we change the chords? No. Did we change the words? No. Why? But because our hearts are unlocked in worship, our revelation about Him has increased,” said Josh.

So, when we feel that we have a worship problem, it is a revelation problem. And the key to this problem is when Paul says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” (Eph 1:17) The spirit of wisdom is how to apply what we know. The spirit of revelation is knowing what we do not know from God. In other words, Paul is praying, “Help us God to know You.”

Ref: findingourfeet

And for what purpose? Paul says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Eph 1:18)

“Did you know that our generation is one of the most hopeless generation? There’s no hope because their eyes of understanding is not opened. We say what we hope for. But we are only repeating what we hear from Facebook.

“But when your eyes are opened, you begin to see God’s Perspective. What He says He do, He will do. There’s hope in His Calling and the riches of His inheritance for his saints!” said Josh.

Ref: southcongareelighthousebaptistchurch

What is inheritance? Inheritance is God’s most valuable possession placed in His most valuable creation – us, the only creation made in His image. And this possession, God will call it forth from us when the time is right.

“Wow! The inheritance of God is inside you and me. And God has wrapped you with that. So, on this side of eternity – when you say yes to Him, when you come into a place of prayer, when you worship Him, when you agree with Him, when you say, ‘Jesus, do what you want in my life’ – you are actually saying, ‘Jesus, receive your inheritance.’

“Whatever You place in me, the make up You made me – I am a musician, I am a make-up artiste, I am an entrepreneur, I am a businessman, I am a housewife – all these things, the thing that You place in me, belongs to You. They are your inheritance.

“All of a sudden, you don’t take things lightly anymore. When you clean dishes as a mum, you say, ‘This is my inheritance. Jesus is waiting for me to give it to Him.’ It’s powerful, all it takes is for your eyes to be opened,” said Josh.

He continued, “How amazing is that! And that’s just two bible verses. And all of a sudden, you begin to understand more. And you begin to worship God because worship is the response to the revelation of God. And when you worship in response to revelation, something shifts in your heart.”

Josh teaching the Harp and Bowl model to the worshippers of Kajang AOG

Finally, worship is agreeing with who God says He is. God says, “I am a holy God”; worship says, “God, you are a holy God.” God says, “I am your Father”; worship says, “You are my Father.” God says, “I am the righteous judge”; worship says, “You are the righteous judge.” 

“You know what intercession is? Intercession is agreeing with what God says He will do. God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit in Kajang.’ Intercession says, “God, You will pour out your spirit in Kajang.’

“God says, ‘I want your entire family to be saved.’ What intercession says? Intercession says, ‘God, You want my entire family to be saved. Save my family!’ God says, ‘I want the young people to turn from the world, run wholeheartedly after Me.’ What’s the intercession? Interession says, ‘God turn the hearts of the young people to run wholeheartedly after you.’

“And when we come into that understanding of worship and intercession, it suddenly becomes very not mysterious,” said Josh.

Finally, worship is a response to a revelation from God. The deeper the revelation, the deeper our worship is, in God and for God, through an intimate and authentic relationship with Him.

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Sudir, seorang orang asli, berjumpa dengan Tuhan Bapa apabila kakaknya tiba-tiba jatuh sakit dan terlantar di katil selama tiga bulan. Walaupun bapanya ialah seorang ahli mata, tiada jampi atau ubat hospital yang boleh menyembuhkan kakaknya yang sudah terlantar di katil selama tiga bulan. Sampailah satu hari, Tuhan menghantar seorang pendeta Pak Charlie.

Pak Charlie mendapati bahawa kakak Sudir sudah sakit. Maka, selepas meminta keizinan untuk ‘menjampi’ kakaknya, Pak Charlie pun berdoa untuk penyembuhan kakaknya dalam nama Yesus.

Sudir berasa amat hairan kerana tiada pantang-larang dalam hal makanan untuk kakaknya. Namun, Pak Charlie menasihati Sudir supaya membaca beberapa ayat dari firman Tuhan yang ditulis untuknya. Maka, Sudir pun membaca firman Tuhan pada masa kesunyian dan mengakhiri firman tersebut dengan doa kepada Bapa Tuhan.

Ref: wwf

Lama-kelamaan, kakaknya boleh duduk di atas katil, merangkak, dan akhirnya berjalan. Apabila bapa Sudir melihat mujizat tersebut, dia pun menggesa Sudir untuk mencari Pak Charlie, supaya Sudir boleh belajar ilmu sihir daripadanya.

Maka, Sudir mulai mengikuti Pak Charlie ke kampung-kampung dan desa-desa untuk memberitakan Yesus Kristus. Ada orang yang mengganas dengan menunjukkan parang dan membalingkan batu. Tetapi walaupun Sudir ingin membalas dendam dengan pukulan, Pak Charlie menasihatinya supaya berdoa untuk mereka.

Pak Charlie berkata dengannya, “Bagaimana kau nak menerima kuasa, iaitu kuasa kelemah-lembutan dan bukan kuasa kejahatan. Untuk menerima kuasa ini, kau harus menerima Yesus sebagai juru selamat. Dari situlah, Yesus akan memberi kuasa kepadamu. Kalau kau percaya dan berdoa, kau akan diberi kuasa. Itu Roh Kudus Tuhan yang menolongmu. Bukan saya yang memberi kuasa kepadamu. Saya cuma memberitakan tetapi Roh Kudus Tuhan yang akan mengajar kau segalanya.”

Ref: backyardtravel

Dalam pembelajarannya dengan Pak Charlie, kakaknya jatuh sakit lagi dan meninggal dunia. Pada waktu ini, ibu dan adik-beradik Sudir menerima Yesus sebagai juru penyelamat mereka. Maka, mereka amat dibenci oleh orang-orang kampung mereka kerana mereka dianggap pengkhianat adat nenek moyang mereka. Namun, mereka tetap berpegang kepada iman mereka terhadap Yesus Kristus. Upacara pengebumian kakaknya yang sudah menerima Yesus tenang dan sunyi-sepi sekali tanpa bau yang busuk dan bunyi-bunyi yang aneh. Puji Tuhan kerana dalam nama-Nya yang maha kuasa, segala kutukan nenek moyang dipatahkan!

Pada masa inilah juga Sudir merasai satu dorongan yang kuat dari Roh Kudus Tuhan untuk menuntut di pengajian alkitab in Sabah. Sewaktu Sudir menamatkan pengajiannya, dia terus masuk ke dalam pedalaman untuk memberitakan Yesus kepada anak-anak bangsanya. Kadang-kala, Sudir berjalan sehingga lima belas jam sebelum dia sampai ke kampung. Malah, kenderaannya pernah dibakar satu kali dan diceraikan motor tiga kali semasa Sudir masuk ke dalam hutan untuk memberitakan Yesus. Hidupnya sebagai seorang pendeta Yesus Kristus memang tidak kurang daripada cabaran seperti Paulus.

Sudir yang sedang memandang jauh ke masa hadapan yang cerah untuk orang-orang asli Malaysia

Maka, adalah menjadi tabiat untuk Sudir sebagai pendeta untuk menyiapkan dirinya dengan firman Tuhan, doa, dan juga puasa sebelum dia memasuki pedalaman. Kebanyakan orang-orang di suku-suku dan puak-puak lain – walaupun mereka sememangnya anak Tuhan Bapa yang amat disayangi – tidak mesra dengan pemberitaan Yesus, malah ada di kalangan mereka akan menyerang.

Terdapat sebuah kampung di pedalaman yang memasang belantik untuk Sudir dan kawan-kawannya. Tetapi puji Tuhan, kerana Tuhan menghantar seorang lelaki untuk memberi amaran kepada mereka, supaya tidak lalu di tempat tersebut. Namun, selepas berdoa, Sudir dan kawan-kawannya didorong oleh Roh Kudus Tuhan untuk melalui belantik tersebut dengan kerendahan hati. Seperti Musa yang berjalan menerusi lautan yang dibuka, Sudir dan kawan-kawannya juga berjalan menerusi belantik tersebut. Malah lembing-lembing belantik ditolak ke belakang untuk membuka jalan kepada Sudir dan kawan-kawannya. Tiga bulan kemudian, orang-orang di kampung tersebut dibaptiskan dalam nama Yesus yang maha kuasa.

Bukan itu sahaja, Sudir dan kawan-kawannya pernah mengalami serangan sewang, iaitu serangan roh-roh gunung-ganang, air, dan daratan secara sekali gus terhadap kumpulan mereka. Semasa mereka berjalan menuju ke satu kampung, dua orang dari kumpulan Sudir tiba-tiba jatuh pengsan. Tetapi kerana Sudir telah menyiapkan dirinya dalam Roh Kudus Tuhan dengan membaca firman, berdoa, dan berpuasa, dia selamat daripada serangan. Maka, dia pun mencari dan membakar bahan jampian yang ditanam berhampiran mereka. Selepas itu, dia berdoa dengan kawan-kawan yang sudah jatuh pengsan. Tuhan Bapa pun menyedarkan mereka supaya mereka boleh meneruskan perjalanan ke dalam kampung. Tiga bulan kemudian, orang-orang kampung itu juga dibaptiskan dalam nama Yesus! Puji Tuhan!

Ref: febc

Namun, cabarannya belum tamat di kampung ini. Semasa Sudir menjalani perhimpunan penyembahan Tuhan, terdapat orang yang melakukan serangan sewang untuk melawan kuasa Tuhan. Tetapi, oleh sebab darah Yesus yang kudus dan sudah menuntut jiwa mereka sebagai jiwa milik-Nya, maka segala serangan dipatahkan! Semua orang berdiri dengan tegap dan tabah dalam penyembahan Tuhan Bapa, genap dengan kekudusan-Nya.

Maka, dalam setiap cabaran yang Sudir alami, dia mengingati dorongan Tuhan Bapa yang mengatakan kepadanya, “Berbahagialah kamu, jika kerana Aku, kamu dicela dan dianiaya dan kepadamu difitnahkan segala yang jahat. Bersukacita dan bergembiralah, kerana upahmu besar di syurga, sebab demikian juga telah dianiaya nabi-nabi yang sebelum kamu.” (Matius 5:11-12)

Marilah kita semua berdoa untuk keselamatan dan keberkatan pastor Sudir kerana ketaatannya kepada misi yang diberi Tuhan Bapa

Tuhan Bapa yang maha pengasih bukan sahaja mendorong Sudir dengan kata-kata-Nya yang hidup dalam firman, tetapi Dia juga menunjukkan kehadiran-Nya dengan melakukan pelbagai mujizat-mujizat kepada Sudir.

Sudir masih mengingati mujizat kebangkitan mayat, seperti kebangkitan Lazarus oleh Tuhan Yesus. Dalam kunjungannya ke satu kampung, Sudir ternampak seorang mayat pemuda yang sudah mati selama tiga jam. Namun, hatinya berasa sangat terdorong oleh Roh Kudus Tuhan untuk berdoa untuknya. Maka, Sudir pun memegang kepala pemuda tersebut dan berdoa. Sebelum dia mengakhiri doanya dengan mengatakan ‘Amen,’ tiba-tiba pemuda itu membuka matanya, lalu semua orang di sekelilingya pun lari dan terjun dari tingkap. Mereka ingat hantu mayat sudah bangkit.

Ref: deviantart

Maka, hanyalah tinggal Sudir dan pemuda tersebut di rumah itu. Pemuda itu tidak sedar bahawa dia sudah mati tetapi dia memberi kesaksian bahawa satu cahaya yang amat terang memancar dan memukul matanya, lalu membangunkannya. Disebabkan mujizat Lazarus ini, Sudir boleh memberitakan Yesus Kristus yang maha pengasih kepada orang-orang di kampung tersebut. Dan ramai di kalangan orang-orang kampung itu percaya Yesus dan dibaptiskan.

Hati Sudir bukan sahaja berat untuk penyelamatan jiwa puaknya tetapi puak-puak dan suku-suku orang-orang asli yang lain. Apabila dia melihat akta orang asli di Semenanjung Malaysia, hati dia berasa terdorong untuk satu puak yang kecil. Maka, Tuhan Bapa pun menghantar dua orang dari puak tersebut untuk bertemu dengan Sudir semasa kunjungannya ke hospital.

Apabila Sudir mengikuti mereka ke kampung mereka di hutan, dia mendapati seorang kanak-kanak hampir mati akibat cirit-birit selama tujuh hari. Maka, dia pun meminta keizinan dari ibunya untuk berdoa untuknya dan menghantarnya ke hospital. Dalam pelukannya, dia membawa kanak-kanak tersebut ke kereta. Tetapi sewaktu Sudir mahu memulakan perjalanannya, datuknya berteriak dari hutan dan mendekati Sudir. Sambil memegang parang dekat mukanya, datuk itu memarahi Sudir kerana perlanggaran adat untuk membiarkan cucunya untuk mati dengan tenang di atas pokok. Namun, Sudir menjelaskan kepadanya bahawa cucunya masih mempunyai peluang untuk hidup. Dan puji Tuhan kerana Sudir dilepaskan untuk menghantar cucunya ke hospital dan nyawanya pun diselamatkan. Kerana peristiwa tersebut, hati orang-orang kampung terbuka untuk menerima Yesus Kristus sebagai juru selamat yang maha pengasih dan mereka dibaptiskan.

Ref: wp

Dalam menamati kesaksiannya, Sudir mengatakan, “Harapan saya sebenarnya besar. Sementara saya berdoa dan berpuasa, saya mahu Tuhan menunjukkan sesuatu yang baru kepada orang asli supaya orang asli akan bangkit untuk lebih mengenali Tuhan, supaya mereka tidak ketinggalan.

“Hati saya ialah saya mahu berjumpa dengan semua puak-puak dan semua suku-suku orang asli di syurga. Saya tidak mahu mereka di neraka. Walaupun saya tidak sempurna depan Tuhan, tapi saya percaya Tuhan akan mengekalkan segala iman, segala perbuatan, dan segala perkara di muka bumi dan di syurga.

“Saya juga berdoa, bukan saya saja, tapi Tuhan akan membekalkan hamba-hamba yang lain supaya mereka akan memberitakan injil kepada orang asli, supaya mereka akan menemui keselamatan yang sebenar – bukan terdahulu atau sekarang – tetapi selama-lamanya untuk Yesus.”

Tambahnya lagi, “Saya lihat kami yang memegang kunci pertama orang asal yang membuka gerbang Malaysia bagi suku-suku lain untuk membangunkan. Saya percaya bahawa Tuhan akan membuat sesuatu yang baru supaya semua bangsa, bukan orang asli sahaja, tetapi semua orang yang mengenali Yesus, akan dibangkitkan. 

Sudir (sebelah kanan) berharap orang-orang asli akan bangkit dalam Roh Kudus Tuhan

Sudir berasa amat bersyukur juga kerana Tuhan telah menghantarkan anak-anak bangsa lain untuk melayani anak bangsanya. Mungkin sebelum dia mengenali Tuhan, dia berasa terpinggir dan tidak layak untuk berhadapan dengan anak-anak bangsa lain. Tetapi setelah dia mengenali Tuhan, dia berasa amat terdorong untuk melihat penyatuan anak bangsanya dengan anak-anak bangsa lain sebagai satu keluarga yang tulus dan kudus dalam darah Yesus.

Ya, tiada apa-apa yang perlu ditakuti dalam penyatuan umat-umat Yesus Kristus. Dalam penyatuan, ada kekuasaan! Dalam penyatuan, ada harapan! Dalam penyatuan, kita semua akan maju ke depan – bersama-sama, tiada satu yang akan ketinggalan. Maka, marilah ibu-ibu, bapa-bapa, kakak-kakak, abang-abang, dan adik-adik semua – tidak kira apa pun suku, puak, atau bangsa – marilah kita bersama-sama berganding tangan dalam perjalanan iman kita dalam Tuhan Yesus. Kerana tiada yang mustahil kalau kita berjalan bersama-sama! Ya, puji Tuhan! Tiada satu yang ketinggalan. Semua akan diselamatkan! Kita adalah satu keluarga yang besar, dalam darah Yesus Kristus, dengan satu Bapa Tuhan yang sama dan Roh Kudus Tuhan yang tidak berbeza. Puji Tuhan! Berikan semua kemuliaan kepada-Nya!

Ref: tulane

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We need your support! 

LIVING HOPE will be having a Charity Bazaar to raise funds for the children from the poor families. (www.livinghopeglobal.org)

The poor, needy, and marginalized children of Living Hope come from families with income of RM700 and below. They are among the poorest of the poor children of Malaysia, coming from single parent’s family. Without parental support, some are living under the care of their retired grandparents, who are also earning RM700 and below. They are the children from the communities and not from the orphanages. Thus, they have no covering from any non-profit organisations. Food is a scarcity and education is a privilege for them.

Please support us! One hundred percent of the coupon sales go to these children! The organiser and stall owners (from independent restaurant owners and merchandise distributors), are all offering their food and merchandise for free, to raise funds for them.

But our efforts are not complete without the support from patrons like you. We need you to support this charity bazaar by booking your coupons with us. 

It’s RM50 per booklet with a total of RM50 cash amount to buy food or merchandise at the Charity Bazaar. You can collect the coupons on the day itself at the Collection Counter at Jaya One on 8th November, 2015. 

DATE | 8 November 2015, SUNDAY
TIME | 11 AM – 5 PM
VENUE | The School, 
Ground Floor, Jaya One
72 Jalan University 
46200 Petaling Jaya

Please make your booking at LIVING HOPE MAYBANK ACCOUNT NO. 514196635780 and advise us accordingly with your full name and number of tickets bought. 

Living Hope’s children will be taking charge of the stalls on that day, side by side with college students volunteering from International Medical University (IMU), Sunway University, and Taylor’s University. 

A little effort here. A little effort there. If we all put a little here and a little there, we can truly and realistically change the future of these precious little ones. They deserve an opportunity to eat healthily and to receive proper education as well. Please don’t pass them by. Please support them. 

Living HOPE is a non-profit organization that has helped 42,444 poor, needy, and marginalized children living in Malaysia and also for children ages of 3 to 12 years old and 26 indigenous tribes.

LIVING HOPE 
No. 65A, Jalan SS 21/37
47400 Damansara Utama,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Email | dr.pwong@livinghopeglobal.org
susank@livinghopeglobal.org
Tel | (603) 7727 5887 / 7728 0710 or 0126527720
https://www.facebook.com/events/872433072811904/

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NOTE: Christianity Malaysia does not solicit or receive any funds for or from any organisations posted in this article. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (John 14:1-2)

The LORD is calling His children to come home and rest. How many of us, wounded and battered in our spiritual war, are afraid to come home to the Father?

Yes, we once left to war in our shiny armour, shield, and sword. How glorious our future seemed with the many promises of exploits made unto God. We were bold and courageous, filled with energy and expectation to do God’s work!

Ref: buzzerg

But behold, the spiritual war was tougher than we think. We attempted with all our might. We saw no fruit of our sweat and blood. We pushed on even harder. But we met discouragements and disappointments. Our flesh failed us. We failed. We fell. And we cannot let go of our failure.

We run. We hide. Like what our forefathers did. We feel that we have let down God. We have let down those around us whom we encouraged in faith! We feel so embarassed. How can this happen? We cannot go back now. We cannot return to the Father.

But the Father says, “Come home.”

“But I cannot face You, Father. I have done things… and I brought You nothing. I cannot enter Your sanctuary. I cannot come into Your Presence. I cannot come home,” the heart says.

Ref: writerscafe

“I see you at a distance. But you are not far away from Me. The gates for you are opened. A broken spirit and a contrite heart, I will not reject. Come home, my child,” says the Father.

Bruised, scarred, punched, bloodied, and scratched, we stand at a distance looking at our Father’s palace – our home – our sanctuary. We take the first heavy step back home, hanging our head in shame. Warm tears roll down as we mouth under our breath, “Sorry Father for what I have done. Sorry Father for failing You. Sorry LORD. I am so sorry!”

And the Father seeing us at a distance, was filled with compassion and ran to us in His royal robe. He threw His arms around us and kissed us.

Ref: hopeforyourfamily

The heart says, “Father! I have sinned against You! I am no longer worthy to be called your son!”

But the Father says to His servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”

The heart says, “Father, I do not deserve your Favor! I do not deserve your Authority! And I do not deserve to be Your son!”

But the Father says, “My child, are you merely a soldier that you have forgotten your being as my child? Are you merely my servant that I will reject you when you have failed your task?”

Ref: benotweary

“I look not at your exploits or what you have brought to My feet. But I look to you coming back to Me. You are my child. And I am your Father. I desire to see you come back to Me.”

“I am not far away from you. You know the way home, my child. I am here waiting for you. Do not be afraid. I will not reject you. Come home, my child, come home. The gates are opened to you.”

Battered, broken, and contrite, the heart says, “Father, I am coming home… I am coming home…”

Ref: hisamazinggloryministries

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Pada 24 hingga 26 September 2015, satu Perhimpunan Doa Orang Asli (PDOA) yang menggemparkan bumi dan syurga telah diadakan di Grace Convention Centre (GCC), Petaling Jaya.

Penari-penari penyembahan Yeshua Hamashiach melakukan tarian profetik Roh Kudus Tuhan, berserta dengan penyanyi-penyanyi profetik yang turut melaungkan isi hati untuk Yeshua Hamashiach agar turun mengenapi perhimpunan anak-anak kesayangan-Nya.

Apa yang luar biasa dengan perhimpunan ini ialah mereka tidak mempunyai pengkhutbah-pengkhutbah tertentu. Tetapi mereka mempunyai sekumpulan pemimpin rohaniah yang datang bersama untuk mencari hati Bapa Tuhan dan mengikuti pimpinan Roh Kudus dengan spontan.

Dan pada tahun ini, hati penganjur iaitu Family Journey Malaysia (FMJ) didorong untuk mengadakan perhimpunan khas bagi anak-anak sulung Bapa Tuhan – iaitu orang-orang asli Semenanjung Malaysia, orang-orang asal Sarawak, dan anak-anak negeri Sabah – supaya pulang ke pangkuan-Nya.

“Sebagai orang asli dan penjaga pintu gerbang, kita mahu melihat kedaulatan Tuhan Bapa dinyatakan di bumi seperti di syurga. Sebagai orang asli, kita kata ‘tidak’ untuk kuasa kegelapan.

“Kita mahu menyatukan hati dan tubuh kita, untuk melihat wibawa Tuhan di Malaysia. Ini adalah masanya untuk keluarga anak sulung Tuhan Bapa untuk kukuh bersama-sama!” kata seorang pendeta.

Kerana itu, apa yang telah dipersatukan Tuhan, tidak boleh diceraikan manusia. (Markus 10:9)

Bunyi gendang, shofar, dan tangisan keluarga Yeshua Hamaschiah naik ke angkasa. Dengan satu suara dan satu hati (iaitu tema perhimpunan orang asli ini), semua wakil suku-suku melaungkan doa ke syurga untuk setiap orang dalam suku kembali ke pangkuan Tuhan Bapa.

Roh Kudus Tuhan yang sungguh pekat menyeliputi perhimpunan itu, bagaikan kabus pagi yang menghingapi setiap daun dan dahan. Tiada satu orang pun yang ketinggalan dalam merasai kehadiran-Nya.

“Adakah kamu percaya bahawa Tuhan Bapa sedang mengutuskan malaikat-malaikat-Nya untuk mengunjungi keluarga kita? ‘Engkau Tuhan yang maha kuasa! Engkaulah yang memilih puak-puak dan suku-suku di tanah ini sebelum dunia ini dijadikan.’

“’Pada hari ini, kami berdiri di depan-Mu, Tuhan. Kami datang ke hadapan takhta-Mu, ke hadapan ribuan malaikat-Mu, dan ke hadapan Anak Engkau, kami bersetuju dengan doa-Nya yang mengatakan bahawa Tuhan Bapa dan kami semua akan menjadi satu!” tambahnya lagi.

Pemuda-pemudi bahkan orang-orang tua dari semua suku-suku dan puak-puak datang ke hadapan untuk melutut di depan takhta Bapa Tuhan. Pada masa ini, tidak kira mereka dari – puak Chewong, Jah Hut, Jahai, Kensiu, Kintaq, Lanoh, Mah Meri, Mendriq, Orang Kanaq, Orang Seletar, Semai, Semelai, Semaq Beri, Temiar, Temuan, Bateq, Jakun, atau Cheq Wong – mereka datang sebagai satu keluarga.

“Sebelum kita membuat perjanjian dari suku ke suku, kami meminta Tuhan untuk mengampuni dosa kami. Dosa kerana ketidaktaaatan kami. Dosa kerana sembah hala. Dosa kerana tidak mendengar suara Tuhan. Dosa kerana tidak mahu membangunkan diri. Dosa kerana mengeraskan hati.

“Ampuni kami kerana dosa kami, Tuhan! Ampuni kami kerana kesilapan kami! Kami mahu kembali kepada Engkau! Kami mahu mengenal Engkau! Kuduskan kami, Tuhan. Sucikan kami. Pulihkan kami! Kami mahu dibebaskan dari ketakutan. Bertakhtalah Tuhan… Bertakhtalah Tuhan… Bertakthtalah…,” kata seorang pendeta yang lain.

Mereka juga berdoa untuk keberkatan orang-orang asli Semenanjung, orang-orang asal Sarawak, dan anak-anak negeri Sabah.

“Bapa Tuhan, pada malam ini, jadikanlah anak-anak sulung-Mu menjadi satu tembok kekudusan untuk berdiri teguh dalam iman untuk suku-suku mereka. Pada malam ini, biarlah perjanjian kesatuan ini dimeteraikan dalam darah Yesus!

“Jadikanlah mereka terang. Jadikanlah mereka kepala dan bukan ekor. Hari ini, kami meminta Engkau untuk melepaskan kemahiran dan pengetahuan untuk anak-anak-Mu supaya hidup dengan taat dan berjaya!” tambah seorang pendeta yang lain lagi.

Maka, tidak kira puak, suku, atau bangsa, kita semua adalah satu keluarga yang besar dalam nama Yeshua Hamashiach.

Janganlah kita dari bangsa-bangsa lain melupakan budi baik adik-beradik sulung kita yang tidak mengusir dan mengancam nenek moyang kita yang datang untuk mencari rezeki di tanah berkat ini. Malah, sebagai penjaga pintu gerbang di tanah ini, mereka telah mengizinkan semua untuk menetap dan memajukan diri.

Namun, adik-beradik sulung kita pada hari ini hidup dalam kemiskinan dan kepinggiran. Sanggupkah kita membiarkan ahli keluarga kita menderita bersendirian? Tidak. Kalau satu bahagian tubuh menderita, seluruh tubuh menderita. Bukankah kita semua tinggal dalam tubuh yang sama?

Maka, adik-beradik semua – di bandar-bandar, kampung-kampung, hilir-hilir, gunung-ganang, gua-gua – tidak kira di mana kamu berada, ingatlah kita semua adalah satu keluarga. Dalam Yeshua Hamasciah, tiada satu yang akan ketinggalan.

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Ever felt like running away or hiding yourself from the world? While quietly sitting alone in a crowded place, you catch a glimpse of all types of people. The ones that really catch your eye however, are the ones that seem to look so well put together and happy. All you want is a piece of that.

Every so often, people get frustrated and depressed because they tend to compare their lives and their home situation with others and they crave for what seems to be the ideal family life in mind. But the truth is what everyone sees is just the surface of how things appear to be. On the surface, many wear mask in order to disguise their imperfections, their problems, their shame, jealousy and more.

What you observe in your home as imperfect is not new. Family problems have been around for generations. No matter how good it may seem, none of our families are perfect. In one way or another, we all have imperfect families because every one of our families is made up of sinners. None of us are perfect because none of us are sinless.

Ref: gatheredagain

Living in an imperfect family, which you find hard to come into terms with, can make it very difficult to live for God. But not impossible. Through observation of the Scripture, Joseph is the proof that it can be done. Joseph was raised in a home filled with anger, jealousy, and deceit. Yet what separated him from others was his absolute trust in God. Regardless of what happened to him, he still had the ability to put what God gave him (the ability to interpret dreams) to full use. He was faithful to God despite his imperfect family.

Ref: cdnpix

Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Genesis 37: 1-11)

Joseph had his Family Drama too

Joseph’s family was far from perfect. One could liken his life to a television show due to all the drama that was going on within his family. He had three stepmothers, ten step-brothers and a step sister all living in the home at the same time. His father Jacob was the classic passive parent to the extent that when he learned about his daughter Dinah’s rape, he did nothing. When he learned that his sons were guilty of murder, he did nothing. And when he learned that his own son had committed incest, he still did nothing. Joseph’s father is an illustration of a man who was too busy and unconcerned, which meant he was too passive to deal with what was happening in the lives of any of his children. At the same time, Jacob’s wives were jealous, insecure, and unhappy. Joseph’s family was in a state of turmoil.

Ref: thypolarlife

It didn’t make his life any better that Joseph’s brothers despised him and was envious of him. Joseph himself was at the very least naive and possibly a little arrogant. He was known to his brothers as their father’s favourite. Due to this, his older brothers conspired against Joseph and sold him to slave traders, while telling their father that Joseph had been mauled by an animal. Now, Joseph had been given dreams of God’s plan for his life. So, with confidence and strength, he endured all that life threw at him. And time and time again, God proved his presence and protection throughout Joseph’s life.

Ref: nathaliesorensson

Do Not Lose Faith in God, Be Encouraged

Certain situations in life are inevitable. Nevertheless, in order to come into terms with our imperfect family, it is important that we are faithful regardless of our family situation. It can be very easy for us to look at our family background and swim in our own self-pity. Nonetheless, we need to look beyond our excuses and see what we can do for a change. God understands our particular circumstances and He wants to help us rise above the negative influences in our lives. He specializes in changing us and conforming us into His image, no matter what our family background is. All He asks for is that we put our trust in Him. Regardless of our past or our current situation, we can know the love of the Heavenly Father when we surrender to Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Ref: itsalwaysautumn

Perhaps your parents are not perfect. Perhaps your home life is less than ideal. And perhaps you have made the mistake as a teenager or even later in life. But God can help you start over. Learn to look at life in the long term and seize the possibilities God has for your future. You can’t change your past, but the choices you make today will have a tremendous impact on your future by moving forward in deep, abiding trust. Apply God’s principles along the way.

Ref: iwantcovers

The general direction of the world’s morality is headed away from God. But the situation is not hopeless. It can be improved, one person at a time, one family at a time. God wants you to be overwhelmed by His love. He wants you to experience His kind of love in your family relationships.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18)

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References

http://minuteintheword.com/dealing-imperfect-family/

http://christianity.about.com/od/oldtestamentpeople/a/Joseph-In-The-Bible.htm

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4)

Some of us may have experienced losing a loved one or someone who is very dear to us. To cope with the absence of the people we care most in our lives is certainly not an easy process. And some of us may take a longer time than others to accept, cope, and adjust. What do we say to our other loved ones who are also coping with this grief? What do we say to a dear friend who has just gotten the news that his or her loved one has passed away? Words mean so much during this hour of loss. Yet, they are truly hard to come by, when they are needed the most. 

Come, explore, and learn about all the losses in our lives and ways to support one another in times of grief and loss. 

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18)

This is a story of a man who was brought by God – from glory to glory and faith to faith – in his journey with the LORD. Pastor Ezekiel Ravi was called out from his 11-year ministry in the School of Acts to return to his birthplace in Kelantan. And like Joseph, it all started with a dream.

In the dream, Ezekiel saw himself chatting with a passenger in an air flight. While he laughed at the absurdity of his plane crashing due to terrorism, he heard its engine burst. The plane took a dip. He was going to die.

Panicking in tears, he cried out to God for forgiveness of his sins. But while praying, God stopped him and said, “Why are you worrying only about yourself? This is an opportunity for you to share the gospel. Who knows who will give himself to me?”

Ref: catholic

He woke up and saw the clock needle ticking to two’o clock in the morning. “It was only a dream,” he thought. But as he lay down, he saw the plane again, already crashed on the ground. He was not the victim but the rescue warden this time. “Maybe God is telling me something,” he said, shrugging his shoulders without much consideration, before returning to his normal routine.

Seven days passed. He dreamt and saw a house on fire. An old man dashed out of the house, followed by a teenager. But a baby was crying in the house. “I got to save that baby!” he immediately thought. But another voice said to him, “It cannot be me. This is so dangerous. Why do I want to risk myself that way? Someone else can rescue the baby.”

He stood there. The flames devoured the house… and the baby. He did nothing. A friend walked to him. “You know what to. But why didn’t you do anything?” his friend said. Awakened with that statement, he woke up again. The clock needle pointed at 2 o’clock in the morning.

“But why didn’t you do anything?” The voice echoed in his head. It troubled his heart. He had to take leave and seek God. “What are You trying to tell me, Father?” he asked.

Ref: picturequotes

Seven days he seek the God, praying and reading the Bible. God showed him the urgency of every dream. Time was short. People were dying. There was no time to sit down and discuss. Immediate action must be taken.

His brow furrowed as he wondered to himself, “Yeah… people are dying. But what can we do?” Yet, he knew God already said preach the Bible while we are alive in this world.

He tried to shake off the vision that God showed him. “The state of Kelantan…,” he pictured in his mind, bringing back painful memories of him being bullied as a child in that place. 

“But God, am I not already in full-time ministry? Is this not enough? I am not even a pastor,” he bargained with God. It made no sense why he was picked.

A soft but unmistakable voice followed. The Father spoke, “Well, I am giving you the opportunity. You can serve or I can use someone else.” Ezekiel knew his Father meant business. “God, You are the boss. I will obey.”

Ref: pinimg

Another vision immediately followed. He saw the very reason why God wanted to put him there. The family of Christ was breaking there. “God, give me one more year and I will go.”

One year passed. In year 2004, he got connected to a church in Kota Bharu. He would help in their prayer meet. The vision revealed by God was already happening. But alas! He was not there yet! Driving back to the hotel, he knelt down behind doors and cried out to God.

Two years passed still. He helped another church in Kota Bharu, and enrolled in a phonic program to prepare himself. He was traveling back and forth Kuala Lumpur and Kota Bharu. “How do I get to Kota Bharu?” he asked one night, falling into a deep sleep. And God spoke again through his dream.

This time, he saw himself in a forest. Swinging his machete back and forth, he was chopping off the thick foliage to clear the road. Bullets of sweat dripped down from his forehead, as his skin glistened over the fresh red cuts across his arms. It was hard labour.

And again, a gentle and all-too-familiar voice spoke. The Father said to him, “You can choose luxury and comfort. But you will not be in My Presence, because you are not doing what I told you to do. But if you do what I say, I will be with you.”

Ref: llamapacker

The end of year 2006 came. That dream in the forest was tucked in his heart. As he parked his car by the mamak, he looked forward to meeting his ex-colleague since he quit his job in the School of Acts. 

“You know Ezekiel… God cannot bless you,” his friend remarked after a casual exchange of life happenings. “What do you mean? I am already serving full time. I am faithful to God!” he rose to his defense. “You serve God the way you want, not the way He wants,” his friend replied.

Ezekiel gasped at the statement. Anger was restrained in its chains, as truth and all its weight sank into his heart. “He is saying the truth,” he said. “I want to serve God but who is going to support me in Kota Bharu? Who is going to provide?” he retorted. But his friend, anchoring the words even deeper, “That’s not your problem. That is God’s problem. He will take care of it. You do only what he says.” “But – ,” Ezekiel countered. “No but, just obey,” his friend said, concluding the topic.

Ref: blogspot

Driving home, his friends’ words cleared the thick foliage that had wrapped around his heart. It was fear. And only faith can kill fear. “I need to decide. No matter what happens, I got to do this,” Ezekiel decided in his heart. “Whether I have money or not, I will do this.” The next day, he bought a bus ticket to Kota Bharu. Kelantan will be his home.

One week passed. The bus passed by palm oil estates, fields, and small towns, as he finally arrived at his place of childhood. “So, where do I start?” he wondered, as he walked down from the bus.

He wandered around. A sign showed a community talk will be held that day. “Interesting,” he thought. “This would help me know a little about the crime rate here.” He sat in the talk but found nothing spectacular. “Maybe I should talk to the organizer to find out more,” he speculated.

Ref: multiplygoodness

“What brought you here?” the gentleman asked. “I am here to build a church,” Ezekiel explained. “I am actually looking for a house.” The gentleman thought hard and said, “Why don’t you look for a church in Kok Nanas? Kota Bharu already has so many churches.” “What a brilliant idea!” he thought to himself, and thanked the gentleman. The search that day was futile. The houses were old and dirty.

Two weeks passed. He returned to Kok Nanas for a house-hunt. Walking down the peaceful street of Kok Nanas, a rumbling motorcycle was nearing him from behind. A shirtless old man stopped his motorcycle and asked him, “What are you looking for, walking around here?” “Well… I’m looking for a house,” he answered, amused with his friendliness.

“Why don’t you ride on my back? And I’ll bring you around,” said the old man. So, they went on a house-hunt. But again, the houses still looked old and ugly. They rounded the residential area, before moving to a new residential area.

Ref: time4thinkers

An orange-wall house caught his attention. “Strange… I never like orange,” he thought to himself. Yet, he felt drawn. A sign ‘To Rent’ was hung out, with the words, ‘Only for Married Couple.’ He wanted to turn away when the old man stopped him and said, “Why don’t you try calling?” “Why would I want to call when the sign already says for married?” he thought, amused again with the old man’s optimism. He relented and called. But as expected, the owner rejected him because he was still single at that time.

Two weeks passed. His phone rang with an unknown number. “Hello there, did you call me two weeks ago about the house? Are you still interested?” the man asked. They met in the Gombak train station and spoke like old kins. Finally, the man said, “I know that you are a good man. You will take good care of my house.” The man shook his hand to close the deal before drawing him closer. “But… by the way, do you happened to know any black magic?” he asked. “Since I have met you, I have not slept a night.” Ezekiel assured the man, “I know no magic. But I am a Christian.” Praise God for His intervention!

Ref: blogthrudabible

The Father has provided him the house! Praise God! But another matter pressed in his heart. How was he going to get the house deposit? Since God provided him the house, He must provide the deposit. He prayed and waited in faith. Lo and behold! His phone rang. Friends and acquaintances felt led by God to give him enough money to pay for his rental deposit, transportation, and new furniture.

“Now, the only thing I need to do is to get myself there,” he said. His faith rose, seeing God providing his need, time after time. “I got everything done. Now, I only need to get myself there. So it will be you to get me there,” he said, touching his 20-year-old car that had been consistently breaking down during the opportune time of heavy traffic in Kuala Lumpur.

He drove anyway. What a brave soul! And the car continued faithfully on the road for eight hours without breaking down. “God, I know that You are the one who has been protecting me,” he said, thanking God in his heart.

Days passed. The first month in Kota Bharu is drawing to an end. For the past few days, he visited the ATM to see if there was any money deposited into his account. He already quit his job in obedience, and decided to depend on God for providence. Yet… there was nothing.

In frustration, he told the Father, “God, in the first place, I did not want to come here. When I told you about my finance, You said that You will take care of me. Now, who is this person? It’s either You back me up or I will pack my bag and leave.” And God heard his prayer.

Ref: pinimg

The day after, a team came to visit him. A lady spoke, “So, you are the man we had been praying. We did a prayer drive and we saw a vision of a God’s servant – an Indian man – moving into an orange-wall house.” His heart was lifted up. He is the God’s servant she saw in her vision! And through her, God led her to directly give the money to him for his road tax, house rental, and insurance.

“Thank you God! I know now that you will take care of everything. It’s no longer in my control. But I just need to do what You ask me to do,” he said, having strengthened from faith to faith.

Another month passed. He got a call from a friend who knew about his shifting. “Why don’t you attend this course?” his friend offered. He agreed in reluctance. He had just grown accustomed to settling in Kota Bharu.

One week before the course, while sitting in his room, a gentle voice coaxed him,  “Throw away all the pictures of your ex-girlfriend.” He wondered at the strange command, “How strange is this.” But he obeyed. During that course, a beautiful lady from Hong Kong caught his attention. It was there he met his wife Pastor Aurora.

“Thank you Father, You who do not bring me down, but higher and higher,” he said. “The key I know now is obedience and faithfulness.”

Ref: pinimg

So, he began his work of clearing the foliage of darkness in Kok Nanas, by reaching out to a group of Polytechnic college students. Another year passed and God led him to Gua Musang, which only had one stretch of road and one grocery shop at that time. And again, he went through the same process of house-hunting and church-planting.

God sustained his road trips to and fro Gua Musang to Kok Nanas, on an empty tank for 100 kilometres. And that happened not once, but a few times before. 

In building the church in Gua Musang, God sent two missionaries to pay for the premise’s rental deposit. Even the specific place to rent was directed by God. Although the owner initially rejected them, the owner called them again after they have prayed. The Holy Spirit has revealed to Pastor Ezekiel to pray because the enemy has stolen what was already given by God in the heavenly realms. 

After they have rented the church premise for one week, another church in Kuala Lumpur was called to donate all their chairs, drum sets, and carpets to Pastor Ezekiel and Pastor Aurora. Had they come earlier before church rental, they would not have enough space in their home to store them.

Ref: actionchurch

Three years later, the LORD again prompted them to move their church to their current area in Gua Musang. The Youth With A Mission (YWAM) revealed that God will plant a church in that area. True enough, when the third year came, the owner wanted back the building. And the owner of the new building gave them a discounted rental price, having felt a certain kind of warmth engulfing her heart.

Today, Pastor Ezekiel and Pastor Aurora learned that a journey with God is not void of difficulties and challenges. But difficulties and challenges are there not to show how great we are, but who our God is.  Also, without difficulties, there can be no victories.

And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” (Heb 10:38)

Pastor Aurora has also moved by faith – from Hong Kong to Gua Musang, from a mega church to a house church, from discipling leaders to shepherding members – she learned that joy comes not from the applause of a thousand men but from her one Father in Heaven.

Ref: tumblr

Lastly, like all of us, Pastor Ezekiel also struggled in answering his calling by God. But when we start to obey God, He will reveal to us His glorious direction and purpose for our life.

Also, we can see how Pastor Ezekiel went through the hard knocks of discerning God’s strategy in fulfiling His Purpose. Through continual practice, he has learned to sharpen his discernment of God’s voice, what God wants him to do. Hence, for us as well, do not worry about making mistakes in discerning God’s voice. If you make a mistake, do not give up. Surely, all of us can hear and discern our Father in Heaven, in an intimate relationship with him. And an intimate relationship can only come from a daily one-to-one walk and talk with our Father in Heaven.

Pastor Ezekiel (left) and Pastor Aurora

Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

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Come watch Don Moen Live in Kuala Lumpur on 13th of October at Calvary Convention Centre!

For ticket, please visit www.mojolive.com.my/ticketing
For inquiries, email info@mojolive.com.my

Don Moen (born June 29, 1950 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter, worship leader, and producer of Christian worship music.

Moen produced 11 volumes for the Hosanna! Music series of worship albums. His first album under his own name, Worship with Don Moen, was released in 1992. His music has total global sales of over five million units. He worked for Integrity Media for over 20 years, serving as creative director and president of Integrity Music, president of Integrity Label Group, and an executive producer of Integrity Music albums. He left Integrity Media in 2008 to start a new initiative, The Don Moen Company.

Moen received a Dove Award for his work on the musical God with Us in addition to amassing nine nominations for his songs. Moen is also a prolific songwriter, having worked with Claire Cloninger, Paul Overstreet, Martin J. Nystrom, Randy Rothwell, Ron Kenoly, Bob Fitts, Debbye Graafsma, Paul Baloche, Tom Brooks, among many others.

He has also worked with talented musicians, Justo Almario, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuna, and Carl Albrecht. His name is associated with some of the most well-known songs in Contemporary Christian Music. He lives in Nashville, TN, with his wife Laura and their five children.

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Dato’ Sri Michael Chong shared about how Shogun2U – a food and beverage online business – started from nothing to reaping one million sales in three months, by the leading of God. 

The idea Shogun2U came from his intention of wanting to pave a career path for his son. So, he started to learn about online business – a very popular venture especially among the Y-generation. Moreover, many young people who started online enterprises approached Dato’ Sri before with their business proposals for investment, valuing them at multi-million dollars. Bewildered with the extraordinary value, he began to research on online companies such as Zalora, mytaxi, and Lazada, and explore about the online business.

Yet, while he attempted to prepare his son’s career path, God had other plans for Aaron. Exemplifying his father who would encourage him to try all that he thought of, Dato’ Sri also wanted to do the same for his son.

“I tried to be like my dad. Whatever ideas I want to do, he would say, ‘Try lah.’ When I fail, he would say, ‘Never mind, at least you try.’ I think in his mind, he already knew I was going to fail. But he still said, ‘Try,’” said Dato’ Sri Michael.

Hence, the idea was put aside until he thought of diversifying his business from the existing Shogun Express he opened in shopping malls. Online business, he learned, can be scaled up and down. Hence, the idea of Shogun2U is birthed, upon gaining the support of all his staffs.

One of the late night brainstorming sessions for Shogun2U

“I told my son, ‘Since God led you to teach, let your old man try some young man thing,’ to see whether God is telling online business is for the young or for the old,” he said.

By God’s grace, they started Shogun2U within one and a half month, lean and small. Closing some of their Shogun Express, they brought back their staffs to start Shogun2U, which kept their budget within range. The only additional management staff they hired was Ruben, an experienced staff in e-commerce for food delivery due to his background in Room Service and Foodpanda. And to kick start, they hired ten riders for food delivery.

“We were thinking of starting the cooking operation in the existing central kitchen we have, but we realized that we don’t have enough space. So, we were praying and looking for a bigger space.

“I don’t know why but there was one morning, I woke up and there was something in me asking me to call Nickque, my CEO, to ask the Mamak shop, ‘How’s the business?’

“We were already thinking of places (for the cooking operation of Shogun2U) but we cannot find one. I actually didn’t know whether it’s my idea or God’s idea. I always says it’s not from God until it is proven,” he said.

Dato’ Sri Michael Chong (most left) with his wife Rachel and son Aaron

Nickque procrastinated to ask how the Mamak shop is doing, as it sounded awkward. But one day, both Dato’ Sri and Nickque worked late and decided to eat at that Mamak behind that building. They began chatting with one of the staffs there – whom Nickque knew very well – and he told them that he had not receive salary for a few months. Dato’ Sri Michael quickly prompted Nickque to get the phone number of the Mamak owner. The next day, they found out that the staff already quit his job.

“I think it’s God here. If we went to the Mamak one day later, we would not have seen the guy (staff) anymore,” he said.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov 3:6)

They called the Mamak owner. He was so excited that he came over to the office to talk to Nickque. Apparently, the Mamak owner already owned a few businesses, and he had no time to invest in the Mamak shop behind Dato’ Sri’s office. Hence, they got the building owner’s number, called him, and eventually they took over the Mamak shop premise. In the next four days, they cleaned, painted, fixed, and started the cooking and delivery operation of Shogun2U in that premise, right when the website could be launched. The launching was delayed for two weeks. Everything happened at the nick of time.

The chefs and staffs of Shogun2U working for the best recipe | Ref: ytimg

The first week business was bad with only RM400 sales per day, made mostly by church friends. But Dato’ Sri Michael saw it as a blessing because the downtime allowed him to make adjustments to smoothen the operations. After that, the sales doubled through word of mouth of their staffs to their relatives. In the third week, one customer shared Shogun2U in Facebook, raising the sales from RM3000 per day. Finally, when the fourth week came, they were already reaping RM7000 of sales per day.

“My staffs told me that if we did not get this premise, we would be in trouble already,” said Dato Seri Michael Chong. The existing central kitchen would not have the capacity to meet the increasing orders.

Fast forward to three months now, they are already reaping RM20,000 of sales a day and a total of RM1 million sales in three months, way beyond their target of reaching RM15,000 a day in nine months. Praise God for His Ways are higher than our ways, and His Thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

“Today, besides a sharing with the bloggers about Shogun2u, we never did any advertisements. We were hibernating because we were so scared that the windows of Heaven would suddenly open,” he said.

Introducing Shogun2U to the media and bloggers

They wanted to hire a marketing manager but when the third week came, his staffs bind his hands to hire. If the orders continue to increase beyond their capacity of production, they are in big trouble. They do not have enough riders, kitchen staffs, and even ingredients to meet the orders.

“We always say, ‘It’s not the word of mouth but the word of Internet’ now. If God is not in control, do you think Shogun2U will go viral like that?

“God is opening up His window and pouring his blessings down. We always pray for God to help us. Now, we have the walk-in chillers and staffs ready after three months. So, only now, we are starting to launch Shogun2U officially,” he said.

The growth was so phenomenal that it astounded not only him but his staffs as well. His chef, whom he called ‘Chef Loke’ would not refer to Dato Sri’s God as ‘your God’ anymore, but ‘God.’ At one point, Chef Loke also got to know a Full Gospel Business Men fellowship brother-in-Christ, Tan Tek Seng, who would come into the kitchen and talk to him, and hug him.

The dream team with Ruben (Back row, 2nd from right) and Nickque (Back row, 3rd from right)

“Chef Loke told me, ‘At first, I (felt) very geli (awkward). But now, I long for this hug,’” said Dato Seri Michael Chong, chuckling at Chef Loke’s response. Chef Loke shared before that he felt electrocuted by brother Tan during a handshake at one time, as an unexplainable warmth engulfed his body. “Chef Loke now talks about the power of God and he always like to talk about brother Tan.”

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Cor 2:15)

Today, the menu of Shogun2U has grown to more than 100 menus, starting from only four menus. Every dish, down to its component, is made and chosen from their internal ‘Master Chef’ competition amongst the 20 chefs they have. For example, the nasi lemak sambal was chosen from the array of sambals made according to how each individual chef’s version of sambal. That is why their nasi lemak tak lemak with their Japanese rice and special-concoction sambal is one of their best-sellers.

Shogun/Saisaki head chefs, also the master chefs behind Shogun2U

“I always feel that God will make Shogun2U a household name, where everyone can buffet and everyone can tapau (pack food). When you want to tapau, don’t think only of other fastfood outlets but think about us.

“We cook to your order and these are things we follow – they are affordable, chef-prepared meals, and delivered right to your doorsteps – God gave me these things,” he said.

In terms of cost, they could make Japanese food more affordable because they could purchase by bulk from Shogun or Saisaki, hence making it possible for everyone to enjoy home delivery of Japanese food.

“Our corporate social responsibility is also very important to us especially for our riders. I believe that we have changed their lifestyles. I believe if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

“So, we pay them very high. We have changed them from mat rempits to becoming managers. I get very encouraged when my staffs start to relate all these things to God,” said Dato’ Sri Michael Chong who is employing about 30 riders now.

Shogun2U’s beloved riders, transformed into managers

“Maybe the outsiders would say, ‘Nolah, they are trying to polish your shoes.’ I know that’s not true because they didn’t stay here if only it was just for that,” he said, relating to his CEO Nickque who went from Feng Shui to Jesus, and is now worshipping in SIBKL.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

Reminiscing the time when he was young, he added, “Why of all businesses, God brought me to the online business? I think online is a ‘young generation thing.’ I think probably God is using this platform to give me a chance to touch the youth’s life.”

Shogun2U chefs at work with Chef Loke (far left) and Nickque (2nd from left)

He added, “When you’re young, you always think that you’re smart and you can do it all. But when you do it, you fail. I was really flat on the floor. But I learned you got to work hard. I knew there will never be an elevator to success but I got to take the steps.”

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers in food at harvest. (Prov 6:6-8)

He thanked God for the difficult and slow way he learned to acquire his wealth. Had he become a multi-millionaire by the age of 30, he would not have appreciated life and money this much in his life now.

Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Luke 16:10)

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Many of us – especially women – find it challenging to forgive, what more to forget, an emotional or physical hurt afflicted on us. The wound is so deep that we find ourselves replaying the hurtful scene over and over in our heads, imagining others would do the same to us.

We walk around with this hurt – wounded and bruised – that even a light bump or touch makes us scream in pain. We go on life, clamped down and shut up behind our man-made walls.

No one can ever hurt us again. But our hearts have also grown cold because love enters the same way hurt enters. Suppressing our emotional hurt by closing the doors of our heart to desensitize pain is not the way. What God wants for us is to trust Him enough to open the door for Him to heal us.  

Ref: anchorsholme

“Now, all of us carry emotional burdens, whether you’re one kilo overweight or one hundred kilo overweight, don’t ever deny that and say, ‘I have no problem’ when you have the problem,” said Dr Peggy Wong, speaker for an emotional healing workshop called ‘Beauty for Ashes’ in Klang Baptist Church.

It is self denial!

“The minute we deny shows that we actually have problems more than anyone else. Let us humble ourselves before God and say, ‘I have a problem and I need help,’” she added.

She shared how these hurts and wounds are like rocks we carry on our backs. We dragged them up slowly up the hill, but only to quickly tumble down when we can no longer support its heavy weight.

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We carry this invisible rock everywhere we go. And as the rock gets heavier, our back bends more towards the ground. We forget to look up to our Father who wants to heal us.

Dr Peggy shared about the importance and delicateness of balance – the just right, just enough, and just perfect at its equilibrium. The point is most things at its extremism are harmful to us – whether addiction or substance abuse – both are damaging to our well-being.

But the world tells us today another message. Surely, no one would mind too much money. However, one does not realise that equally, if not more important than money, is the resource of time. Whether we are male or female, rich or poor, young or old, time waits for no men. 

When we were young, our days passed by slowly as though we could live forever. But as we grow older, we realize that time is increasingly a rare commodity. In fact, people are using money to buy more time.

Nevertheless, praise God because our beloved Father in Heaven is beyond time! He is the Alpha and the Omega, unlimited and unencumbered by time. Nothing is too late for our God. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Whatever you have lost, He can redeem it all.

Ref: bradleysjohns

Dr Peggy shared how her friend took in her sick and dying husband, having forgiven his affair with another woman. For years, she took care of him, exhausting all her resources. When her husband passed away, the LORD rewarded and redeemed her years by tripling her salary in a new global-traveling job with three amazing and lovely children. Praise God! He is a God of second chances, a God of new beginnings!

And so, life is brief – like a smoke, breath, or mist – is it then worth an ounce of our energy to resist forgiveness and healing, when God has intended us to live a balanced and abundant lives?

What does an abundant life mean? While the world tells us about the five C’s including Cash, Condominium, Car, Carat, and Club, it’s really just one ingredient of a fulfilled life in God’s economy. Collectively, they fall under ‘Finance.’

The congregation of Klang Baptist Church coming to the Beauty for Ashes workshop

But the LORD has revealed to Dr Peggy six more F’s of what characterized a fulfilled balanced life including Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, Fun, and Fruit. In fact, such wisdom from God is shared in a book she wrote, called “A Balanced Life.”

While the healing process appears messy, Dr Peggy shared a simple process on how we can heal from our hurts.

Firstly, we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and blaming other people. To seek God for healing, we need to first sincerely admit that we need healing.

Dr Peggy Wong sharing her pain and healing in her walk with God

And to heal, it is not just God healing us. But we too must take responsibility of our present behavior. It is a partnership with God.

“Always partner with God. If you pray and do nothing, nothing happens. Do our best and God will do the rest. As long as we do our part, He will do His part,” said Dr Peggy. Faith must follow action.

Healing is a painful process, involving the opening of wounds, applying antiseptic, bandaging, and finally allowing time for ourselves to heal. Hence, we need to strongly desire to heal more than our fear of pain.

When we trust God enough to open our wounds, we will begin to see the root, which imprisons us. The answers of healing actually lie in us. To heal, we need to face the truth and accept reality, meaning see things as they are.

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And when we heal, we will also find a divine courage to forgive ourselves and those who hurt us. We are able to love ourselves in the light of our Father, and also to give and receive love from others.

Finally, we need to change our mentality from a victim to a victor, building bridges instead of walls to other people. Through healing, we began to see that we are not the only ones being hurt. But because we live in a fallen world and have hurt others also, we owe each other unceasing forgiveness. Hurting people hurt people.

In conclusion, although we may try many ways to cover and suppress our hurts and wounds, they will always be there, if we do not treat them.

Ref: mgwallpaper

Hence, anytime we find ourselves emotionally responding strongly to something, do not ignore or suppress these emotions. Our strong emotions are actually signs of unsettled issues or hurts lodged in our hearts. Pray and work with the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the root of our hurts.

Like in the words of Robert H. Schuller, the Father wants to ‘turn your hurts inside out, your problem into a project, the enemy into a friend, the hurt into a halo, and the scar into a star.’

We don’t need to wear masks anymore to hide our hurts and pain. Open the doors of our hearts and let the LORD heal us – so that we too can comfort those who suffered like us, with the comfort we received from God. God will give us ‘Beauty for Ashes’ (Isa 61: 1-3). Leave our past behind and move to a glorious and victorious future that God has planned for us. He created us for a purpose-driven life. Don’t let the Enemy destroy us (John 10:10).

Ref: pinimg

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Since the day Pastor Nick Resien was born, he knew the meaning of poverty. His father left him when he was still a baby. Because of this, his mother had to work in the city to raise him and his siblings, under the care of his grandmother.

At that time, he would grow up eating rice mixed with salt or dry shrimps, as a staple household food. During holidays, while his friends would leave the village for a vacation in the city, he would need to find work. At only seven years old, he would collect RM2 for cleaning and also picking up rubbish.

His school bag was a rice sack cloth and his belt was made out of a rope girded around his waist. His one uniform was thin with holes, compared to his peers who have more than three uniforms a year.

Yet, God’s eyes were already on Pastor Nick Resien. He knew Jesus Christ in the Christian Fellowship in school, where he could hear God’s gentle voice saying, “I am your Father.” Since that day onwards, he knew that true love comes from God, the Father.

Pastor Nick Resien praying to God

But the LORD desires for Nicky to experience His love tangibly through the family of the church. Due to his excellent school results, he was selected as a candidate at 15 years old for a student-exchange program from Kuching to Johor Bahru, to complete his final two years there. It was in Johor Bahru that he began to experience the agape love of God.

His church friends loved him so much that they would take turns in bringing him out for lunch. Because of his musical talents, Pastor Nick would also serve as a guitarist in all three services in his Anglican church. And this dedication accompanied with his bright genuine smile, smitten the heart of his pastor so much that he was offered sponsorship for his tuition as well.

Pastor Nick Resien (left front) and his church members

God indeed poured down His love on Nick through the church family. In fact, Nick grew to love the church so much that he would stay in the church premise during the weekends, never minding to clean it, because that was where he felt the presence of God most strongly.

However, excluding church, he hated his life in the Peninsular Malaysia. As soon as he completed his graduation, he waved his beloved church family goodbye and vowed never to step his foot on this land again. Returning to his hometown Kuching, he got himself a good and stable job as a contractual draftsman in Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR). But strangely enough, he never experience peace in his heart – not at work, not at home, and not in the church. He could sense that God wants him to return to the Peninsular Malaysia.

Pastor Nick baptizing his church members

While he struggled with God, the LORD spoke to him through the newspaper, which reported how the Britain royal family was grooming Prince William to take over the throne. He knew in his heart that God wants to prepare him for something bigger in his life. So, he waved goodbye to his job and bought an expensive one-way air ticket from Kuching to Johor Bahru, with only RM50 remaining in his pocket.

Eventually, he moved to Kuala Lumpur, where he steadily ascended to become the trusted second-in-command person in the company. At that time, he was earning RM5000 per month, having married his beloved wife and owning a car. He was also actively serving in Hope Church Kuala Lumpur, leading a vibrant Bahasa service ministry of six cell groups consisting of 40 people each. Everything was set in place for him, so he thought.

In one meeting, his pastor challenged all the leaders for a missionary calling, to which Pastor Nick immediately thought about going to Cameron Highlands due to his interest for the Orang Asli. Yet, God put Kota Bharu in his heart. While he struggled with God for this strange place, he confided in his wife and asked whether she would move to Kota Bharu with him. And to his surprise, his wife immediately agreed to quit her job and ministry to follow him to Kota Bharu.

Hence, together with his four-month pregnant wife at that time, Pastor Nick moved to Kota Bharu, exhausting all of their income in three months. The only job he could find there only pays RM300 per month, allowing them to afford maggi mee every day accompanied with some cheap yellowing vegetables. Coming to the fourth month, Pastor Nick told God that he would return to Kuala Lumpur if He is not going to provide him a job. But now looking back, this is actually a God-designed valley for him to strengthen his faith.

Pastor Nick Resien (back row, middle) with his church members

In the middle of the fourth month, an established architecture firm called Pastor Nick to offer him a project-bases job. With that money, he was able to rent a small apartment with two bedrooms, which would also be the starting base of his home church called Faith Sanctuary of Glory. Suddenly, without him telling anyone of his purpose, students would call him from the universities asking if he will be having a church. Although he humbly told them that his church would be held at his home, all of them did not mind coming.

Hence, every Sunday, Pastor Nick would drive to the universities in Kota Bharu – UMK, USM, and Polytechnic College – to pick them up one by one. The first service had nine students already, worshipping God in their living room without air conditioner, projector, or drums. They had to stick papers on the wall, with written words for the worship service, accompanied only with a guitar. Within three months, the church increased to 20 students and they had to rent a bungalow for the church service. And within one year, the church increased to 40 people already. When the second year came, they had to move to a new premise.

To save cost, Pastor Nick moved into the new premise located on the third floor, with his wife and young daughter. They slept in the dilapidated premise for a period, under a broken ceiling that dripped water during the rainy season. During the Sunday service, Pastor Nick would preach in the heat, drenched in sweat with the congregation, without the air conditioner. However, everyone would still come and passionately worshipped God. Through faithful prayer, the church is now equipped with air conditioners, a good sound system, chairs and also finances for carpeting. Praise God! Today, the church has grown beyond 100 students now although Pastor Nick enjoyed smaller churches more, for the more intimate relationships.

Pastor Nick and the church

Also, since the church began, he did not depend on the church to pay him but the LORD has faithfully provided Pastor Nick the means to work for his own salary at RM4000 per month from his contractual work and also love offering from others, to fulfill his family responsibility. The monthly contribution to church worth RM3000 is used to pay for its rental, electricity bill, water bill, and the pastoral care of the church ministers.

Yet, Pastor Nick experienced temptations of acquiring more wealth for pride and comfort, especially when comparing to his peers. But God has a way of showing him what His calling is for him. In building him for something bigger than himself, God has appointed him to be the shepherd of his church. Hence, when Pastor Nick takes additional projects till it neglects his church responsibilities, he realized the money he earned would be eventually spent in repairing his car or fulfilling a family need.

The congregation of Faith Sanctuary of Glory

Today, Pastor Nick Resien has the brightest smile, with a magnetic aura that attracts people to him. He is honest with his weaknesses and filled with genuine love for people. We can see that truly, he is a product of forgiveness of his father who had left the family to his demise for so many years. Because of the agape love he received from his brothers and sisters-in-Christ, it completely healed him, which allowed him to love others the same.

And this is only part of the unfolding story of Pastor Nick Resien who does not know where God would be bringing him to. His past did not define his future, but he thanked God for the experiences because they molded him to be who he is today. Most importantly, he knows whose he is, he belongs to the Father in Heaven.

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“I give God all the Glory, Honour and Praise! Worshippers Congress and Feast of Tabernacle (FOT) 2015 was successful beyond expectation!” declared Apostle David Tan Suan Chew, Founder of Third Day Glory Ministries, who hosted this event.

The Congress and FOT began on October 2- 4, 2015 has been through many months of preparation, with commitment, perseverance and prayers. With detailed planning by Pastor David, almost singlehandedly, having limited resources, several dedicated volunteers, together with the dancers, shofar blowers, drummers and trumpeters went through numerous rehearsals in preparation to usher in the Glorious Presence of the LORD.

In response to Pastor David’s invitation participants flowed in from about 14 nations and neighbouring lands, like, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Pakistan, Canada, Russia, Australia, Singapore, Brunei including the rainbow nation of Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak inclusive. Numerous participants from these nations were first-timers attended through the support and subsidies provided by Pastor David enabled them to witness and experience the glorious presence of the LORD.

Since the first day, as the Crown was ushered in, the presence of the LORD was felt and many started to sense in awe – the anointing, and some started to cry with tears of joy and gladness, while many experience and marvelled at the active and spontaneous response from different groups in reverence to the LORD. At this point, the congregation comprising various nations blended-in as a family of the LORD is truly a demonstration of manifestation of the spirit of unity amongst men. There were more than 1000 attendees and participants at every worship session and the numbers grew each day each session as the event news spread forth.

Every nation dressed in array of colours has the opportunity to display their expression of praise and worship to usher in the glory manifestation of God, the rest simultaneously merged in together in worship. Countless worshippers testified having experience an awesome and glorious encounter with the LORD for the first time in their Christian lives. Some felt the impact has changed them realising a new dimension of the LORD – He is absolutely REAL. Even though they speak in different languages the worshippers are in unity and one Spirit in worship to the LORD. Not only did women cried, many men cried too because of the great and tangible Presence and Glory of the Lord throughout each worship session. One man said he could not stop crying because he felt the Father’s Heart is moved by the worship and praises of the people in diverse tongues, cultures and languages. Thus, coming together corporately in pray, praise and worship is powerful.

Many felt this Congress is very different from others as the wave of His Glorious Presence is preparing Malaysia to a new level of revival for the nation. The multiple nationals having experience, enjoyed and basked in the glory of the LORD will carry home the wave of glory respectively creating a ripple effect amongst the people of the LORD.

There are numerous testimonies and few are included. Nevertheless many more testimonies are still flowing from Russia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Borneo and other countries as the fire of revival from the Congress continue to touch, transformed lives and spark the fire of the Lord on the worshippers as they go to their respective countries.

On the last day of the Congress, to the surprise of everyone present, Eric and Lisa Foong announced their wedding plan and requested Apostle David to conduct their wedding. This beloved couple is truly blessed to have their wedding ceremony in such an auspicious occasion in the presence of the LORD. The gaiety, the pomp and the splendour; it is truly a Feast fit for the KING of Kings and the LORD of lords with worship, praises, in adoration of the true and living God.

Before the excitement could even come close to an end, the atmosphere continues with a new wave of revival by the Holy Spirit and Apostle David Tan Suan Chew of Third Day Glory Ministries announced “Congress 5777 and Feast of Tabernacle for 2016” shall be held at Spice Arena, Penang with a seating capacity of 10,000 on September 9 – 11, 2016.

As the saying goes a picture can paint a thousand words many pictures are displayed here with videos too. Photos taken included those from Spencer Wing, Masan Photography and Caleb.

Special thanks to Spencer Wing and Masan Photography for kindly consenting the use of their photos taken at the Congress and FOT 2015.

Testimonies:-

“Dear Pastor David, on the first night of the Congress in the midst of worship I saw in the spirit a huge angel hovering on the stage. Its size covering the whole stage. It’s a seraphim with wings span from the top left to the top right corners of the stage. The rest of its wings and body covers the rest of the stage touching the floor stage. Its feathers are of pure gold are well defined shining brightly throughout the whole worship session. The glorious and awesome presence of the Lord is in our midst.” Esther

Many participants witnessed and confirmed the manifestation of gold dust were all over the floor, on and under chairs; and some even on their clothes and hands.

“Dear Pastor David, at the Congress on Saturday night when the Chinese drummers were in session, I saw in the spirit the heavens open and immediately a giant golden bowl appeared containing the incense of worship and praise reaches up to heaven. Suddenly another golden bowl appeared, which is filled with many different types of gifts from the Lord for the worshippers. After that the whole hall turned into the throne room of the Father where the floor is of pure gold. About twenty minutes later Pastor David continued to lead in worship and declared that the Heaven is Open. Indeed this is glorious presence of the Lord.” Caleb Mah

“Ps David, just want to share with you what happened on the last day of congress. When all the pastors were praying for you, i saw a vision that an angel was blowing a trumpet on top of your head. I also saw anointing oil flowing down from above onto you! Yes….it was an open heaven…” Sarah Teoh Chin

“So after Sunday the last day of the congress I had a vision I saw 4 Angels the first single angel blew it’s trumpet and it made one sound and then I saw a second angel blew his Trumpet and made two sounds then I saw the third angel blew his Trumpet and made three sounds and then I saw the fourth angel and he blew his Trumpet and made four sounds and then I saw another angel come behind the first angel and he was holding a Golden Bowl in his hands I saw this angel turn towards the heavens with his arms lifted up he started to Flappy Wings and as he flapped his wings he was holding up the Golden Bowl to the heavens and I saw the smoke they came out of the bowl rise to the heavens as the angels were sounding the trumpets as a single was offering up the offerings of praise I believe it was in praises of unison in one Accord in the spirit and in truth amen god bless” – Acer Tui Luamanu “Yes we have gold dust on our hands. I also saw many on the floor of the auditorium. We are the Glory Generation!” – Ps Rolly Riguis Pondias from Philippines Blessings and Glory be to the LORD Caleb Mah c/o Eagle Christian Fellowship 012-2937981

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Today, I came across a rather relevant article published by Time entitled, “How to Never Get Angry: 3 New Secrets From Neuroscience.”

I don’t know about you but during moments of stress, I feel a bubbling sense of irritation rising in me. It is interesting because I also stand as an observer of my emotions.

At this point, complains and blames would enter my mind. And I began to feel tempted to dwell on these thoughts… because self-righteous anger feels good.

But before my emotions could catch a hold of me, I would hear a small voice saying, “Do not get angry, my child.” I paused and prayed, “God, please help me.”

Ref: elcomfortzone

And when I look at the irritation agent, I start to think of positive things with the help of the Holy Spirit. I start to thank God. And I even start to pray for him or her. A sense of joy and peace came upon me.

For example, I used to get irritated with reckless drivers speeding on the road, swerving from left to right and back. But one day, the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray. And as I pray, love came upon me. My thoughts affected my emotions!

Now, whenever I see a reckless driver, I pray for the person instead of feeling angry. How amazing God is to turn my moments of irritation to praying and blessing.

Ref: mobi

And the best thing about reading this article is how science supports what the Bible tells us to do.

Firstly, a research shows that suppressing anger is rarely a good idea. Instead of feeling less angry, our stress level actually increases. And our amygdala (which is related to emotions) start to work strenuously.

In other words, we are not meant to keep anger.

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph 4:27 NIV)

But we are called to forgive.

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. (Prov 17:9)

A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. (Prov 19:11)

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25)

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So, does that mean we should just release our anger? No, as well. Research shows that punching, yelling, and ranting actually intensifies the emotion. Basically, giving full vent to our anger makes things worse.

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Prov 29:11 NIV)

Then, what shall we do? We can neither bottle nor release our anger.

The answer is to avoid anger altogether by mastering our mind.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil (Psalm 37:8)

Research suggests that our brain has limited resources. If we use our brain to think, we have less resources to feel. That is why angry people do foolish things because they are thinking less.

To avoid anger is simply to choose our thoughts or simply pause and think. This is where things get interesting; because God has much to say about mastering our mind.

Ref: codigonuevo

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom 12:2a NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5 NIV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Eph 4:22 NIV)

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6 NIV)

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” (1 Pet 1:13)

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practicies, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” (Col 3:10)

The greatest battle is won in our mind!

Better than a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. (Prov 16:32)

Ref: favim

So, research says that the best way to avoid anger is to reappraise the situation. So, for example, if someone is screaming at you, imagine that person had a really bad day. And you will start to feel compassion as your anger diminishes.

But for us, whether we appraise the person as “deserving” of our compassion or not, the Bible already said that we shall love even our enemies (Matt 5:44-47) and “keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pet 4:8)

Finally, why do we reappraise? We reappraise because we love. And we love because God loves us first. (1 John 4:19) Hence, the best way to deal with anger is really to avoid anger altogether by thinking about the Word of God, which fuels our love for people, by the grace of God and infilling of the Holy Spirit. 

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