BRAVE!!? umm....ME?

We had an Italian-Irish couple from London minister at the full-time pastors and staff devotion yesterday morning. Giancarlo and Catherine then prayed for each one of us with a gentle but powerful anointing of the Father's love. He spoke many prophetic words over us but for me but I could only recall that he said...uhh... I am a brave because I do not fear man. He exhorted me to be strong and courageous. I also remembered him prophesying about having the spirit of David. I could sense God's tangible anointing flowing very gently but powerfully from Giancarlo. As I lie on the floor, Catherine told me later, that she saw a very huge angel with its wings over me. Wow!! I always wondered where my angels were and how they looked like.

Raymond, Patrick and I took them out for lunch and since we discovered that they loved durians, we took them to a stall in SS2 and it was so pleasurable to see them enjoying the fruit. I have invited them back again to do a seminar on the 'Father heart of God' and he said that he will try to see if he could get John Arnott from Toronto Blessing for next year. It was a great joy to know this wonderful couple. You sometimes wondered how you can connect so well with certain people through just a chance meeting.

Supervisors' Retreat At Peacehaven

We just returned from an overnight retreat with the Supervisors. Inspite of my high standards, I must say it was a great time of bonding, fellowship, play (badminton and table tennis) and 'light-work'- great ingredients for a wonderful camp. I exhorted the team to make efforts to serve together as friends. I am a strong believer in the Spirit of God being free to move when we do not just engage our minds but we are relaxed enough with one another so that our hearts are being engaged with one another. I have experienced creative ideas being birthed forth because we do our reflection or discussion in the pool or a place where stress is reduced.

Despite the success of seeing New Life group of churches flourished, one regret of the twenty something odd years that JY, LC and I have served together is that we have not grown in our friendships. My family and Lawrence's used to go on holidays together but for some unknown reason, we have drifted apart and our relationship, although still strong, is now based mainly on our work in the church. The three of us have a wonderful working relationship with great mutual respect for one another but we have failed in the aspect of friendship. At the last R n R with the two of them, I suggested that we prioritize this aspect in our future goals. I hope it will birth forth a new generation of pastors who are friends.

F4L#2- YOUR RED SEA

Is your face pressed to the wall today?

Do you face a roadblock and do not know which way to turn?

The Lord God declares. "I will part your Red Sea".

The Red Sea represents any dead end or impossibility in life that stops you from achieving the best

that God has for you.

God wants the best for you.

Speak like God spoke this week,

"I will part your Red Sea".

FAITH FOR LIFE

We have a free sms service to encourage you during the week with spiritual faith food. If you would like a mid-week boost to your faith, send a sms to

F4L ON to 012 6136001.

You will receive weekly prophetic exhortations like these:

F4L#3

Light is not afraid of darkness. The truth is darkness is dispelled by light. You are God's light (Matt 5:14) and wherever you go in Jesus' Name, darkness flees and you triumph over evil. You are an ambassador of God's kingdom to this world.

So arise!

Shine! for God.

GOD OF A BETTER TOMORROW

God is committed to bring us into a better future. One of the most quoted verses in Jer 29:11 tells us that in God is planning for us a better future that is blessed and full of hopes.

Ask Abraham- From barreness to having descendants like the stars in the sky and sand in the seashore;

Ask Joseph- From a slave to a Prime Minister

Ask the Israelites who were in bondage in Egypt- From slavery to a land that is flowing with milk and honey

Ask David- From a rejected shepherd boy to a Giant slayer to being the greatest King of Israel

Ask Paul- From a persecutor, full of hate to an apostle, full of love

Ask Mary Magdalene- From a prostitute to being a follower of Jesus

Ask Peter- From a fisherman to a fisher of man (3000 at his first sermon)

Ask Me

OUR DNA OF SUCCESS

At the Ampang Church today, I preached a message on our 'DNA of Success'. When God created Adam and Eve, He commanded them to be 'fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth and rule over the other creations'. God knew what Adam and Eve are capable of because He is the One who has placed with them the DNA or the capacity to do what they have been commanded to do. Friends, God has placed within us a DNA that destined us for success, for fruitfulness, or impact and for headship. Just as a pen is made to write, we are made for success. We need only to walk in this wonderful calling that God has placed within each of us.

WE ARE THE 'TEN TIMES' PEOPLE

The God who blessed Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah with wisdom and understanding 10 times better than all the 'wise' men (magicians and astrologers)

is OUR God.

God is no respecter of persons and will give this same blessings to those who believe Him. Faith is the substance. This ten times realm can be yours if you believe. Begin today to believe and walk in the realm of the '10 times'-

.

IN FAVOUR,

.

IN GRACE,

.

IN SUCCESS,

.

IN STATURE,

.

IN HEALTH,

.

IN PROSPERITY,

.

IN LOVE,

.

IN HOPE,

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IN JOY

.

AND

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IN ALL

THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

A NEW MALAYSIA?

Folks, the results of the General Election last week was still quite unbelievable to many people. For me, I felt that God was sending a prophetic message to us who have been praying but not believing. We have fasted and we have prayed for 40 days every year for the nation and yet we have not believed the world that God can give birth to a nation in one day.

Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

I am not aligned to either Barisan nor the Opposition but the cry in my heart was for our nation to be freed from racism, corruption and injustice. Looking at how things have remained unchanged for the last 50 years, I must confessed that I have lost hope and stood in the group of the 'ye of little faith'.

The election results was a rebuke for my unbelief, not so much because the Opposition has won but on believing that our national problems are too big for God and for not believing that God could do the impossible. God showed us that He is still in the business of parting the Red Sea.

Folks, I have been reminding the church that come on Wednesdays that we have been given the mandate to govern the nation through prayer and to be a prophetic voice to our nation. We are to be a house of prayer for the nations. Through prayer, we are called to possess the gates of the nations. Last Tuesday at the staff prayer gathering, Sis May felt that the Lord will raise up the church to possess the gates of media, education and business.

The Opposition has won 5 states and it remained to be seen if they can deliver on their promises. However let us not fall into the same trap of unbelief, that whether it is the Opposition or the Barisan who is in charge, it is our miracle-working God who is in control of the destiny of Malaysia.

Let's believe again….

This from Grace, my wife:

The new day has dawned ....
There is a dawning of a new day in the spiritual atmosphere of the land of Malaysia. The racial and religious walls put up by the politics of the past 50 years are coming down. The Malays are smiling with the Chinese, the Chinese are smiling with the Indians and so on. Suspicions are being stripped down. Malaysians has come of age. Malaysians have matured. The new generation of Malaysians want a new world order in Malaysia. This order calls for treating all Malaysians regardless of age, religion and race as one nationality - Giving everyone an opportunity to make an honest decent living without fear or favor. It calls for all the poor and needy to be helped regardless of race or religions. It calls for respect of each other as a unique culture. As we embrace our multicultural strength, Malaysia will hence forth rise to heights of greatness.

Political parties who have been given the mandates, don't disappoint Malaysia. We've given you a huge mandate to correct injustices and oppressions in our land. The impossible has become possible. Be a good steward of what you have been entrusted. Get rid of unrighteous policies, laws, practices and favoritism politics. Bring in the rule of law, plain old honesty, integrity and transparency.

Malaysians are believing again. They are believing that goodness exists - the democratic system we have in this land actually works. The glass celing above us has been cracked open. I believe from this day onwards, we will hear a new sound in Malaysia. Malaysia Boleh is no longer just a mantra, it is an actuality. We will no longer enter games finals only to buckle and lose under pressure because of the "glass ceiling". We will win because the land has seen what was deemed impossible become possible. We want a united land - a free land to live and build a legacy - for our families and for our beloved Malaysia.

The new day has dawned ....

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?