English-Chinese Prayer Service

The combined prayer service with the Chinese speaking congregation last night was rather exciting and fresh. Prayer service should be done 'worship intercession' style like how we did last night. This was the second time that the two churches have come together to pray and I could see that members of both congregations came with a sense of expectancy and excitement. Maybe we should pray about having it on a weekly basis. There was a wonderful sense of unity and the worship team was able to lead songs that are bi-lingual so either congregation was able to enter into the praise and worship without much difficulty. In a vision, Grace saw the Lord giving us all new garments to dance and the Spirit coming to us like a dove. We went into a time of thanksgiving and I represented the church pastors in thanking God for every church member and one of the sisters responded by thanking the Lord for the pastors. I could sense a real sweet presence of the Lord and I felt it was from the spirit of unity in our midst. Yee Onn and I prayed for one another and the night ended with me blessing the two congregations. It was a blessed night.

Thank you Lord.

GOD IS GOING TO BREAK OUR HEARTS TO REVIVE US

This prophetic word is from a sister who heard a series of prophetic messages for New Life Churches as she prayed in one of the grottos on the prayer mountain in Seoul, Korea. The word for the church in Petaling Jaya is:"The Lord is going to break many hearts. Unless their hearts are broken and open to the Lord, the Lord cannot come in to rule. He wants to rule in the hearts. Otherwise you can't see revival. God will break their hearts. The breaking is coming. You shall experience pains, if not, there is no change, no revival. Breaking ... breaking ... breaking."

Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise

GOD HEALED CONTRACTOR'S DAUGHTER OF ASTHMA

A few weeks back, contractor G who is a non-believer visited the church and told me excitedly that since I prayed for his daughter a few months ago, her daughter no longer suffer from any more asthma attacks. He was so thankful and testified to another of our pastors again of God's power.
What was more incredible was that this prayer request for his daughter came from another non-Christian. A few months back, one of church members, Datuk B came looking for me. Apparently he was just talking to the building contractor who told him that his daughter has been suffering from asthmatic attacks very frequently. Datuk wanted me to pray for this man's daughter because he was so certain that God will heal the daughter. I was not sure if the contractor even believed in divine healing but I prayed anyway and praise God, God's touched his daughter and contractor G is now a witness of His power.
The Bible did said, 'To anyone who believe" didn't it? Healing is available to all who believed, isn't it? I think it was Datuk B's faith that released the healing. He believed in the Lord's power to heal.

DRAMA AT THE WEDDING

Jo's wedding at the Selangor Yacht Club was unique and beautiful. It was however a hot day. The groom and I were in suits and ties and before long, my body was dripping sweat inside and outside. To make matters worst, the organizers close the side doors because of the candle lighting ceremony to prevent the wind from extinguishing the fire. Sweat was dripping down the sides of my face and from my forehead into my eyes and the salt from the sweat stung. My right hand was holding the marriage folder and my left, the microphone so I could not reach in to get my handkerchief. In between 'to have and to hold, in sickness and in health', I wondered if I could stop for a few seconds to wipe the sweat off my eyes? I tried desperately to sound calm when it was all storm within. I was glad when I finally finished the ceremony but apparently no one knew what I was going through as the glare from the glass windows behind me has blinded their eyes to all the drama the minister was going through.
My wedding drama did not end there. Because of the heat, most of us who wore suits took off our coats and draped them over the chairs. Unbeknownst to me, I had left my coat next to Ps Chin Ban and when the dinner ceremony began, we took each other's coat by mistake. Ban wore my coat throughout the dinner as he MC the night but apparently our bodies must be quite similar in size and shape as he did not feel any difference. I had his coat draped over my seat throughout the dinner until the end when I discovered that the coat is not mine.

DRAMA OF THE WEEK

Last week, I conducting a wedding, visited three different hospitals (Sunway Medical, Assunta and Damansara Specialist)- one in the emergency ward and two in the ICUs and attended two memorial services. Talk about drama; last week was rather full of it. His grace was truly sufficient for me.
Bill Gothard spoke about crying out to the Lord (as different from praying to the Lord) and I did a lot of crying. Crying out is certainly prayer that is 'fervent' and it is effective as I proved it over and over again this week.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

Today I preached a sermon on 'Happiness'. I struggled with the topic because the words feels so flimsy and superficial...not words like 'Anointing' etc that makes me sound more spiritual. Having preached it, I am glad to be able to correct some misconceptions of Christians who often still live life like those who do not know the Lord. People are not happy because we often live for the future and not savor the life that we have now. There is a feeling of disatisfaction because the ads and the TV are often telling us how far short we have fallen from the Hollywood lifestyle that is bombarding our minds daily. The result is that we feel like failures and that makes us feel unhappy.

A GIFT FOR PASTORS

Here a prophetic word which I believe is a wonderful word for all leaders and pastors to take heed:

Bill Yount: 2007--"A YEAR FOR PASTORS TO UNWRAP THE GIFTS I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM...IN MY PEOPLE!"

UNWRAPPED GIFTS

"My greatest gift to earth came wrapped in 'swaddling' clothes."

In the Spirit, I saw many gifts laying at the feet of many Pastors. These gifts inside of God's House had been hand delivered by the Lord Himself, but were never unwrapped. Many of these unwrapped gifts had dust covering them due to the fact that the gifts had been sitting there for years.
Many priceless gifts were stamped "special delivery" long ago to bless the pastors, but still were never opened. It seemed many pastors never got past what the gift was wrapped in. The unusual and sometimes controversial wrapping of many of these gifts, led them to believe the gift was not that important or needed.
But oh, how I heard Heaven proclaim, "My greatest gift to earth came wrapped in 'swaddling' clothes. Don't let what gifts are wrapped in stop you from opening them. The best gifts to bless you and advance My Church may often come in wrappings that you would never have chosen. But inside are many gifts that will build My Kingdom, and strengthen you as you lay hands on them, affirming and acknowledging them, and releasing them to do the work of the ministry."

FREEDOM FROM BONDAGES

I look forward eagerly to my daily prayer time with the pastors and some intercessors. We usually start at around 10.45 and end about 12.30 or so. This morning I felt that when we come before that Lord, we should not come with an agenda but to just seek the Lord's face and worship Him unconditionally. I think it was right because God is not a santa claus but One who deserve our all. As we worshipped, i was led to proclaim freedom to those who are bound by the works of the devil like sicknesses and anxiety etc. My mind was directed to Is 61 as I declare the freedom that Jesus had accomplished on the cross. Sis May shared later that the Lord showed her in a vision, a letter that He has written to our church and at the top of the letter was written Is 61. It was a wonderful confirmation of what the Lord had led me to do. Ps Jeremiah then laid hands and prayed for me because he saw the Lord giving me a sceptre of authority. In the book of Esther, when the sceptre was extended to Esther, she was given free access to the King. This was also a confirmation of a previous prophetic word from an intercessor from USA.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH WITH THE STAFF

Today, the staff at church had a Christmas lunch together. After lunch we gathered to talk about the memorable experiences working in church during the year. It was good to hear the positive reports from those who shared. Some new staff have really added positive energy to the environment in the church office. Praise the Lord. I talked about how the staff in New Life worked so well together and often helping out each other without distinguishing whether or not we are from the English or the Chinese Church. I encouraged them to continue with this wonderful spirit of unity. After that, Ps J handed out appreciation cards to each one as well as a Christmas gift which turned out to be towels. We then held hands and Ps Lawrence prayed that our staff will have even a better year in 2007. It was a meaningful afternoon.

OLD FRIENDS

Had breakfast at Kana Curryhouse in SS2 last Wednesday, sitting under the trees with some old MBS alumni friends. Patrick Cheng (NECF), Franklin Morais (formerly FGA Rawang and now lecturer with HELP Institute) and Paul Long (SS Gospel Centre) and I worked together in organising some events and grew close as a result. There seems to be a camaraderie among the four of us that enable us to talk and give advice to one another rather freely without the fear of being judged. I guess you could some of you might have experienced this type of kinship with someone before- the friendship, the acceptance and the respect that is there despite each of us coming from different backgrounds. Much have changed since we last met. Franklin have left the pastorage and enjoying his new job as a lecturer, counselor and trainer in the psychology department of HELP Institute. Paul Long has just resigned from his long time position with the church and have taken a pastoring position in Auckland, New Zealand. God speed to him. I think he will do well. I have never seen a more talented man- savvy with the pc, the ferocious reader, a youth worker, a clown and magician, preacher, administrative 'go-to' man and many more skills. I hope they pay you well in NZ since you are such a total package, Paul. Patrick will make a good Christian diplomat and statesman. He is balanced in his views and always reconciliatory and encouraging.
Ever since the news broke about Ted Haggard, Patrick wanted to start a fellowship group among ministers who are going through their mid-lives, those in their 40s (err..I just made it) so that there will be people who could speak into our lives. That breakfast was a good start. I enjoyed the friendship greatly and look forward to the next one. We agreed to meet together again just before Paul flies off to NZ.

GOD HAS ENTERED YOUR LIFE

It's early December and already the malls are being decked out the decorations and Churches everywhere are busy preparing their Christmas programs. I hope that all these will not camouflage the wonderful message of the season- that the King of kings has entered into our lives and brought His Kingdom into our lives.
I liked what I read in the Daily Bread devotion for today-
Peter Larson wrote:"Despite our efforts to keep Him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked, 'No Entrance' and left through a door marked 'No Exit'.
James Edwards echoes this theme in his book The Divine Intruder: “[God] breaks into this world, even when He is unexpected and unwelcome. God joins us in our weakest and worst moments. There is a Divine Intruder among us.”

ALL BELONG TO GOD

A minister friend from Sri Lanka wrote:
We must not think that it is our talent and achievement that have brought us where we are in the Lord’s ministry. He alone chose us, keeps us and prospers us in the thing He pleases. We only need to please Him. Prov 16:3. The fruit of the labour is entirely His by the work of the cross. Is 53:12.

When Gracie, the eight year old daughter of Hudson Taylor died in China , he wrote, “The Gardener has nothing to say, when the Owner of the garden picked a beautiful Rose in half bloom”. It was the Owner’s choice. Gardener acquiesced through pain. If that was his comment about his own daughter, how should we view the fruit of ministry labour?

JE CHRISTIANS

The message that came out of our 'Day to Seek the Lord 2' is for the folks in New Life to go beyond a 'just enough' Christianity.
The world is full of JE Christians. A 'just enough' Christian will only do things out of convenience. He will come for meetings out of obligation and duty. He sits on the sidelines and does not risks getting too involved. You will find him sitting on the back rows of the church even if there are empty rows in front. He is saying, 'Don't expect more commitment from me'. I am busy enough. I love God and He is my priority but if there is danger, or inconvenience or it costs too much- please count me out. I give the 10% because that's in the word but don't expect me to sacrifice anymore. I attend Church but don't expect me to give more of my time. I have done enough to get into heaven . I have walked the first mile- don't force me to go the second mile. This is against the teachings of our Lord who wants us to go the second mile. Be the server and not the served.

MY MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY

"A snot nose reporter asked Mother Teresa:Do you feel like a failure? You have fed hungry people and there are more hungry people today than when you started?You have helped the poor dying people of India, and more people are dying?Do you feel like a failure?

MOTHER TERESA LOOKED THE YOUNG MAN IN THE EYE, AND REPLIED: GOD HAS NOT CALLED ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL, GOD CALLED ME TO BE FAITHFUL. I STAND AT MY POST OF DUTY. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO."

That's my ministry philosophy as well. Success is doing what God has called us to do.

DON'T PUT GOD IN A BOX

My time with the Lord in the morning consist of reading the scriptures and also two devotionals- a periodical 'Everyday with Jesus' by Selwyn Hughes and the other is 'My Utmost for the Highest' by Oswald Chambers.

Today's reading reminds us not to put God in a box. We often think that just because a certain way work for us that we can keep doing it that way. This moves our dependence from the living Lord to our confidence on a certain way or principle.

Oswald Chambers wrote, "Beware of making a fetish consistency to your convictions instead of being devoted to God. There never was a more inconsistent Being on this earth than Our Lord, but He was never inconsistent to His Father. The one consistency of the saint is not to a principle but to the Divine life. It is the Divine life which ocntinually makes more and more discoveries about the Divine mind. It is easier to be a fanantic than a faithful soul, because there is something amazingly humbling, particularly to our religious conceit, in being loyal to God."

LESSONS FROM TED HAGGARD

Ted Haggard's letter to his church http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1326184&secid=1 was one of the most well written confessions I have ever read. He blamed no one except himself and admitted to the dark struggles all through his adult life. He put it well when he said, 'The public person I was wasn’t a lie; it was just incomplete. ' A true pastor, he ended his letter by leaving behind some final advice on how the church to respond to the crisis that he created: advice which I feel all churches can also benefit in going through a difficult situation-

"I appreciate your loving and forgiving nature, and I humbly ask you to do a few things:
1. Please stay faithful to God through service and giving.
2. Please forgive me. I am so embarrassed and ashamed. I caused this and I have no excuse. I am a sinner. I have fallen. I desperately need to be forgiven and healed.
3. Please forgive my accuser. He is revealing the deception and sensuality that was in my life. Those sins, and others, need to be dealt with harshly. So, forgive him and actually, thank God for him. I am trusting that his actions will make me, my wife and family, and ultimately all of you, stronger. He didn’t violate you; I did.
4. Please stay faithful to each other. Perform your functions well. Encourage each other and rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Our church body is a beautiful body, and like every family, our strength is tested and proven in the midst of adversity. Because of the negative publicity I’ve created with my foolishness, we can now demonstrate to the world how our sick and wounded can be healed, and how even disappointed and betrayed church bodies can prosper and rejoice."

I pray that he will be fully restored and run the remainder of his race well.

TOUCHING THE LORD

There is a great difference between thronging Jesus and touching Him. Every week thousands go in and out of our churches, join in the activities, sing the hymns and choruses, listen to the sermon;

they throng Jesus but never touch Him.

We can touch God if we reach out to Him in faith, in need and desperation like the woman who bled for 12 years. Luke 8:40-56. Her touch caused power to flow out from the Lord and made Jesus stopped to give her attention.

JERRY FALWELL

A pastor that I admire is Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Virginia. It is obvious that his ministry is blessed because he is unwavering in his righteous stance that is based on God's word. The guiding principles of his life (taken from one of his sermons) are:

1. We are debtors to God and humanity.
Romans 1:14 "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."

2. We are called to full commitment.
If God's people will see nothing but the goal line, will accept nothing but victory, will pay any price, will suffer any hurt and hardship, will refuse to be discouraged or disheartened, we cannot help but win; because we are charged with the power of God's Holy Spirit.

3. We must be visionaries.
The difference between mediocrity and greatness is vision.

4. We must be men and women of prayer.
Nothing of eternal importance is ever accomplished apart from prayer.

5. We must be people of great faith.
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."If you are going to run this race for God and make a mark on this generation, you must be willing to leap in and, if you lose your life in the doing, lose it for the glory of God!Faith is standing on God's integrity and acting on His promises even if you have to act and stand alone.

6. We must trust God's sovereignty.
God's man is indestructible until he has finished the work God has called him to do.God never promised to keep you out of trouble; but He does promise to be with you through all your troubles.

CHANGE THE WORLD

Evangelist Mordecai Ham conducted a tent meeting campaign many years ago in North Carolina. Two teens named Billy Graham and Grady Wilson were converted to Christ in that meeting. The rest is history. We change the world one soul at a time.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Where have we Christians come up with this idea that we are required to be right and good and perfect before we can be loved? If this is true, then God does not love His children unconditionally. The Bible tells us that nothing can separate us from His love. Not 'badness', imperfections, weaknesses or sin. When we are not unconditionally loved, we will work to be good and right in order to be loved. This is legalistic Christianity. We will hide the parts of ourselves that are sinful and bad and work harder each day to become 'Christian'. Ephesians 1 tells us that we are righteous before Him in love. Before God the Father, we stand in Christ as someone who is righteous and holy. We work so hard to become what we already are- to gain what we already possess.