Preparing TOP for the Future

Rev Jasmine Ooi

As I was preparing this message I was asking the Lord if this is the right word to share or it is what the Lord wants me to share to TOP. This morning as I was reading the Daily Bread even though I only read it once in a while and guess what? It's on Small Groups! It just jumped out at me. This is what I wanted to share.

It's about this couple who wanted to open their home for care groups and they were saying that they felt inadequate because their home was too small. And their budget was too tight but when they did it God gave them so there's more than enough.

and the story was about Elijah in 2 Kings 4:44 how there were a hundred people to feed. And somebody brought 20 loaves of bread. And the servant said not enough to feed them. And Elijah said just go ahead. And there was more than enough and even left overs. We have the miracle of the feeding of the hundred in the Old Testament and not just the New Testament.

So I want to encourage the care group host and hostess, for opening up your homes. Pastor Ronald was telling me now dint have to attend already, should take a step back. But I said I want to go. I really enjoy myself. So young people, thank you.  You brought so much joy.

My message today is Preparing TOP for the Future.

Yesterday's Youth Conference was called Glow so I'm still glowing in this bright yellow. You see me so bright and glowing. I'm glad no one said I look like "poh kong" but I've no gold to give you but I've got gold nuggets from the word of God to you.

We are coming to the close of the year. Ps Teh last week said we are moving but not advancing. We do not want to be like that. That's how I want to prepare TOP for the Future.

I want to thank all of you for feeding us so much and for loving us so much. You all have been taking so much care of us and now I have a bit of a problem in making my ends meet. My jacket now cannot button because the left side cannot meet the right side. Thank you. You've really made us feel so welcomed in TOP. And the church board has been so supportive and for sponsoring the Youth to go for the youth conference, to believe in them. I'm so proud of the church, the board members and the pastoral team as well.

So how do you prepare TOP for the Future?

Exodus 13:18 (NKJV)

So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

It's about the children of Israel leaving Egypt and proceeding into the promise land. But I like what the word said. That they were armed for battle. Or prepared for battle.

So when you go into the new year, we want you to be equipped and it will be a year of celebration.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

What is God calling you to be and to do? Before we go into the future, let's take a step back. Where are you now?

When you go to the washroom there is this sign. Does it look familiar to you? Our Objective.

Tabernacle of Praise will know who we are in Christ and be released to do God's will and purpose in Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia and the nations!

Great objective. But do you know who you are? What is God calling TOP to be?there was this church with a big slogan in front of the church. We are a hospital for sinners, not a museum for Saints. That was catchy. The church is not called to collect saints but to transform them. This is supposed to be a life changing place. We get better, we get restored, we get fixed and reach out.

Some may say the church is an army of soldiers like the Israelites.

The Bible says the church is a loaf of bread.

1 Corinthians 10:17 (NKJV)

For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

For we being many are one bread. And one body. That's a symbol of unity. Bread is made from flour which came from wheat. All the wheat seeds come together to make bread. The seeds has to be  harvested and put into the furnace to make bread.

Furnace has friction and gets hot a bit. That's how it's like in the care groups because you rub and gel together and become bread. And it's meant to be eaten. It's to be shared with many.

The church is also stones in God's building "You also, like living stones, are being build into a spiritual house".

The stones come in all shaped and sizes and they are in different positions, some higher some lower but all is important. All of them has a place in God's kingdom. Some may say I'm not important and wants to drop out, and if you drop out you become a stumbling stone. So stay intact he place and role God has given you.

You are many members but one body.

It's speaks of vitality because we are connected to the head. We have diversity, unity and the purpose is that you will grow up, maturity.

Where are you now and where do you want to go?

Grow in the word, Serve with Love, Transform Lives!

Our theme. Have you grown? Are you transformed? And are you serving? We are 39 years now. Where are we, looking at this beautiful slogan. We have all grown and not just laterally.

Many of you have grown and is serving. Let's look at where we can be?

We come in as little lambs. And we eventually have to grow and produce wool. We are producing for the good Shepherd. We want to move you and train you to become a Shepherd. Spiritually the sheep can become a Shepherd. That's what we need in this church. It's the model that God is using.

How do you plan to get there?

Empowerment of leaders and development of people.

How did Jesus do it? Relational Discipleship. Best kind of discipleship to fulfil the great commission and the great commandment. I know that's what all.you you desire to be.

One day, God is going to separate the sheep front he goat. Remember the parable? What's the difference between a sheep and goat. Remember they came to God and God said I don't know you. Only all who obey and follow God are sheep. You are assured. Some of you still have doubts if you'd make it to heaven or not. But if you faithfully wants to obey him, you are his disciples, you are his sheep. You're not a goat.

So what's the difference between a sheep and a goat? A goat has horns to butt each other. So the goat always say but but but. Can you do this  but but but comes in. Every time ask you to do something you say o want to pastor but but but. That's a goat.  We want more sheep.

What's a meta church model. You have talked about mega churches but we want to talk about meta church. TOP can be a meta church. The word meta means change. It's about change. It's the way the church accomplishes the expansion of the kingdom of God. And instead of organising around programmes, a meta church is about relationship and discipleship and intentional shepherding. Through the the care groups. And today is the care group day. Where sheep can be mentored in the faith, identify and use their spiritual gifts in a safe and secure environment and provide care for one another. Each person will feel more cared for. Care giving is shared by many rather than just by the pastor.

Intentional Shepherding.

Best leadership model in the Bible to equip disciples.

Jesus modelled it. Jesus practised it. He did it. He spent much of his time with no fewer than 3 of his 12 disciples. In the New Testament, you find there are those.who day they belong to Peter or they belong to Apollos or they belong to Paul. It's not so much about who you belong to but about group discipleship so that you do not become a clone of any one member.

Like in the case of Paul and Timothy, it's about mentoring leadership and not about base discipleship. The New Testament model about group life discipleship has many advantages.

The New Testament model is one to one relationship for leadership discipleship. 

New Testament models of Leadership

1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV)

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Be Shepherd of God's flick under your care watching over them not because you must but because you are willing. Eager to serve. Be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. How many of you want the crown of glory. Wonderful.

Intentional Shepherds. We are preparing the Care Group leaders to do shepherding. They are consciously discipling members to become the following.

Roles to play. They have compelling vision. Their character. And they are also managing team building because they are not doing it alone. To developed and mentor leaders to also become a Shepherd. That's how we will multiply and we will broaden the base. So that the leaders are not so tired.

What are benefits of having a Shepherd?

Sheep needs to be fed and led to green pastures. In the care groups there is the word and fellowship and that's how we grow.

Sheep may get sick or injured. They are cared for and healed. The Shepherd anoint oil on the sheep to care for them.

Sheep tend to stray and get lost. So they get rescued and restored. Sometimes in our spiritual life we go astray and that's when the good Shepherd looks out for you.

Sheep tends to get frightened easily and they are cared for and encouraged. This is very much the care provided by the care groups. I've seen how the Sungai Nibong Care Group did a marvellous job of handling funeral services in our absence. So that the pastors don't have to be the one having to run around. All these are spread out among the care group members.

Sheep may venture into danger. In care groups you are warned and guided according to God's word.

Sheep are vulnerable to attacks. Here you are guarded and protected.

Disciple process through Care Groups

• Grace - to experience grace in your life and to extend grace to others.
• Growth - to grow spiritually to be like Christ
• Group - to Shepherd one another in loving authentic community
• Gifts - to discover, develop and deploy our gifts to serve
• Good Stewardship - to steward our time and treasures for God's redemptive plan for the world. 

The Church needs a Network of Shepherds

Can the pastoral staff alone provide personal and consistent care? For every member of the church? We want to come together and share the work load.

God calls for a network of Shepherds to do the work of equipping.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Equipping Ministry, is not just teaching ministry but a means of shepherding people.

Equip (Katartizo)

• Doctors - Adjusting a limb/setting a broken bone
• Sailors - preparing a ship for voyage
• Soldiers - equipping army for battle
• Fisherman - mending/repairing of nets (Matt 4:21)

Personal Benefits to the Shepherd

• Personal growth and expansion
• Leaving a legacy - you mentored and multiplied
• He who refresh others will himself be refreshed (Prov 11:25)
• Rewarded with the Crown of Glory

These are the words of declaration given to me by an intercessor whom we've asked to pray along with us. When we told them what we're doing with TOP. And we told then we never done this before.

You now have two bi-vocational pastors. This is new. When we first came in, many of you said can this be done? We've never done that before.

I want to share this with you as it's also the word of you at this season for your life.

You are being tasked with pioneering and launching into the unknown. As you release the sound that is being born deep inside the spirit, the right people will come. God will send the right people as you release the sound. They will be drawn to the sound. They will hear the faith, the power, decree and the hunger God is giving you people. Resources and room to grow. I hear you say it, build it and they will come. It's time to arise and build. History belongs to the brave. Hallelujah.

Conclusion: Declaration

Together we will arise and build TOP to disciple and shepherd people relationally in care groups for the purpose of growing in Christlikeness, loving God and one another contributing to the work of the church and expansion of God's kingdom.

Mission Breakthrough through Abraham’s Journey of Faith

Rev Ezra Chin of Emmanuel Church


Our church is a very unique church started five years ago. I was a corporate man and was a lay pastor. I was asked why I decided to go ministry when I am earning five figure pay. Just the last 2 years I went full time. We have ministry students and some of them are here this morning. It’s a laborious work.


If you have about 50 in the church some 10 of them will answer the call, then our church numbers will go down. God has blessed us with good leaders and that’s how we grew.


I was invited to a youth conference in North Sabah and it talked about the teaching of the Holy Spirit. I availed myself to teach. While walking up to the first floor there were about 80 students gathered there. And God said to me to pray for incest. I was hesitant to  say that but decided to pray for those that were sexually abused like by their fathers and uncles. The pastor was hesitant to allow me too. I said I won’t preach, I just want to pray. Out of 180 students with about 120 being girls, I asked that I wanted to pray for those that were abused.


When I said that in Bahasa those that were raped, some just went hysteria. There were at least 30 of them. Not because they are poor but because they have escaping issues. The population of Christians are reducing drastically. RM1.2 million are being invested in mosques. And many families are converting. We need to be a lighthouse there. What are we to do? If I can save one of them I’ve done my job.


I went full time about two years ago. And we are planting churches now. Why? Because we need to equip the leaders with the word of God. To equip and train and this is called discipleship. To plant more Assembly of God churches. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work there will be revival in Sabah.


Genesis 12:1-9 (NIV)
The Call of Abram
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.


It’s the same mandate that Jesus gave us. Go ye therefore and be a blessing and make disciples. It’s the same calling from Abraham to us now. Mission is about building nations. We are the influencers of the world. To transform the community and it has to start in the church first.


Abraham served the Lord at 75. And in 15 years he made an impact. And he and his descendants inherited the nation that God has promised him. You are never too old to serve God. I’ve got arthritis pastor. So what? You’re an usher. Look for something to serve. God wants the availability of your heart. If you want the favour of God in TOP there must be a ministry and service centric attitude in this church.


The Lord appeared to Abraham and said: to your offspring I will give this land. So he built an altar to the Lord. An altar means a place of worship and a place of sacrifice. Altar means slaughter ya. Like here is the altar where we gather to worship God.


I’ll give you five Cs that will help you in your missions. Mission is not just going or giving. Giving is just part of the mission. Missions is actually growing. To give you nations and increase descendants.


From Isaac to Joseph there was only a handful. From Joseph to Moses is 490 years there were 1.2 million Israelites leaving Egypt. More and more Israelites believe on the Jehovah God. People were attracted to Abraham’s God. These are the Israelites.


1. Crossover from your Comfort zone for your mission breakthrough.


Genesis 12:4 (NIV)
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.


Acts 7:2-4 (NIV)
2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’
4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.


They had a divine encounter with God. When the glory of God appeared to the family and that’s why they moved to Harran. I know it’s tough. That’s why I moved from the corporate world and sacrificed. Not exactly all la because my EPF not yet withdrawn.


We all want to stay in our comfort zone. We cannot stay at Harran. Most of you are first generation from the CA (Christ's Ambassadors). During your teens. We don’t have a second generation. How many of you are at your thirties? We need to reach the people. We cannot stay at our comfort zone and move to a new place and new environment in this period of new ministry. To move from Harran.


While on his journey God increase and multiply them many times. If you continue to be obedient and continue to expand you will be blessed. You have to move out of Harran.


We have a big heart for missions. And we don’t pay our pastors well. RM800 a month. And sometimes that may be a meal’s cost. We have to leave our comfort zone and God will appear. I enjoy serving. It’s not hardship. You may say it’s because I’ve saved enough but no.


2. Courage to build for your mission breakthrough.


Church is not for maintenance. Church is to grow and to plant.


Genesis 12:6-7 (NIV)
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.


He built the altar at Shechem. Courage to built in the place of his aggressors. We have to believe. Many churches are planted by co-partnering. RM2000 a month we can built one church. I believe that we here of about 300 if we just give RM2 we can save a church in Sabah.


We recently just baptised 4 persons in a small settlement. Give God the glory. It’s a settlement where we have squatters and people from surrounding countries. It’s the poorest of the poorest. We start there because the government is trying to build the largest hostels there with islamisation being the agenda. If we can save some of them, praise the Lord. Go to a place like Shechem. Tough.


If we want to see the manifestation of God we need faith with action. Faith alone will not save people. When we go out and share without fear you will see something happen.


I came from a Buddhist family. My father said to me when I wanted to be a Christian. He said when I come back I’ll be blue black. And second he said I will disown you because I want someone to carry my casket. I prayed. In 2007, my mom got baptised at the age of 75. After more than 30 years of prayer one by one my family got saved. If only you believe and take action.


8 years ago I was at a pharmaceutical company. A doctor diagnosed my father with cancer. I went to see three urologist. I challenged my father it’s time to get saved. If you want to be with my mom, you need to get saved so that you all can be together. And I said that I will pray and he will be healed. Now he’s still alive after 8 years. Courage to believe.


30 years ago you say I will. Now you say I pray first.


Haggai 1:2-5 (NIV)
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”
3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.


We have become so complacent. We need to have courage and cross over. 


3. Commitment to Call on the name of the Lord for your mission breakthrough.


Genesis 12:8 (NIV)
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.


He called the name of the Lord in the house of God. The local church is the life giver and the solution to the problem of the world. This is the place where many will find the comfort of God. Abraham never complained but continue to believe and to hope in the Lord. Commitment and hold on for this church. You are the sons and daughters of TOP. Iron sharpens iron in this church. It’s okay. We are family.


Pursue the promise of God with great commitment.


4. Be a Companion-partner of God for your mission breakthrough.


Genesis 13:14-18 (NIV)
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.


I asked why Abraham wanted to go to a high place? Elevated. Abraham said this is my land and he built another altar. It talks about companion to partner with God. Strategic alliances. Every time God wants us to plant a church the resources will appear.


God allows us to make choices. You may see it’s tough but that’s commitment. Pastor Ronald said I’ll die in Sabah and that’s because I love Sabah. I want to plant 20 churches in my lifetime.


5. Ceding of your rights for your missions breakthrough.


Genesis 22:2 (NIV)
Then God said, “Take your son , your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. ”


Genesis 22:13-18 (NIV)
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided. ”
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”


Before Abraham sacrificed his son the Lord provided. Seeding before you reap. There is a comparison on the life of Abraham and the life of the church. Make disciples. We need to go out and extend the kingdom of God.


2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NIV)
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Empty Promises of Resurrection Sunday

Rev Allan Chan

The Crucifix – cruel death; torture; broken,

bruised; punishment; shame.

What is the DIFFERENCE?

I celebrate the empty cross.

It is FINISHED

John 19:17-30 (NIV)

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

19:29, 30pp — Mt 27:48, 50; Mk 15:36, 37; Lk 23:36

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

What was Finished?

Salvation plan of God which began in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:14 & 15):

The LORD God said to the serpent, “ I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

God’s Final Sacrifice for Sin

Isaiah 59:16 – And He saw there was no man …then His own arm brought salvation..” 

Jn.1:29 – "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Heb. 9:22 – without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Heb.10:18-19 – Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer (need for) any offering for sin…we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.

The Empty Cross Speaks of Fullness of God’s Promises

•  Forgiveness & Victory over sin
•  Reconciliation to right relationship with God
•  Restoration of position, status and authority
•  Abundant life now and…
•  Ruling with Christ forever.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

 - 2 Cor.8:9(NKJV)

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed

– 2 Peter 2:24

 For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).

– 2 Cor.5:21 (NKJV)

Jesus EMPTIED Himself that we might be full.  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

- John 10:10

We Celebrate an EMPTY  TOMB

Without an EMPTY TOMB

1 Corinthians 15:14-19

• Our faith is in vain;
• Our preaching is meaningless;
• We are still in our sins

•  There is NO SAVIOUR
•  There is NO SALVATION
•  There is NO HOPE for eternity.

He is not here:  for HE IS RISEN!

Matthew 28:1-6

•  Jesus was seen ALIVE for 40 days before He ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:3).
•  Mary Magdalene met Jesus (Mk.16:9).
•  The Disciples met and fellowshipped with Jesus (Lu.24:36; Jn.20:26; Jn.21:1-4).
•  500 people saw or met Jesus (1 Cor.15:3-8).

The EMPTY TOMB

•  EVIDENCE of the Resurrection of  Jesus Christ
•  PROMISE that we too will be raised to ETERNAL LIFE.
•  DEATH is defeated – no more fear.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

A Celebration Of  EMPTINESS

•  World gives us promises full of emptiness.
•  But God gives us emptiness full of promises.

Notes taken from the PowerPoint presentation.

Courage to Move Forward

Sis Melinda Song

Joshua 1:1-9, NIV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Most, if not all of us, can relate to that exhilarating feeling of anticipation before a major event in life. Often mixed with the feelings of excitement, are other feelings of apprehension and worry concerning what might go wrong. 

Similarly, the Israelites experienced similar feelings of excitement and worry as they camped on the edge of the Promised Land. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they can look across the Jordan River and see the land of milk and honey promised to Abraham and his descendants almost 500 years earlier. They are so close—but would it ever happen?

It is a time of change - a new season, a new chapter, a new beginning. It was a critical transition from living in tents as wandering herdsmen and feeding on manna, to living in a land with large, flourishing cities they did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things they did not provide, wells they did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves they did not plant (Deu. 6:10-11).

In the midst of the excitement and anticipation of this season of change, one of their worst fears was realized. Moses passes away. At this point in the narrative, they had just completed 30 days of mourning for Moses. 

It is time to transition to a new leader and the first thing God said during the commissioning of Joshua was…“Moses my servant is dead”  

Why mention that Moses is dead? 

Because the people could not let go! God took 40 years, a whole generation[MS1] , to take Egypt out of the people and to form a people for himself. God had to raise up a people of faith who are ready to receive the land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years earlier. 

Moses is dead BUT God’s not dead!

What the Israelites were about to learn, and what is so important for us, is that the promises of God do not depend on any individual or on particular circumstances, but only on God. God works through people, yet He is dependent on no one individual to bring about His purposes. 

The fact that Moses was now gone would in no way hinder God’s plans and purposes. The future God promised would still be theirs. On John Wesley’s tombstone is written: “God buries His workmen, but His work goes on.” The people had to learn to release the past and embrace the new thing that God is doing in order to move forward and possess the future.

And all along God had been preparing another man to lead the people into their inheritance. 

“Now then, you…”  

The mantle now falls on Joshua. Imagine the pressure stepping into Moses’ shoes. Not merely the high expectations but also the impossible odds. There are numerous tribes and nations in Canaan. There are heavily fortified cities. There are trained armies with powerful weapons. There are even giants in the hills. 

And Joshua’s army? The Israelites are disorganized, ill-trained and quarrelsome. They won a few battles but they are not prepared to conquer a whole country. The end of this forty year marathon is in sight but the toughest part lies ahead. 

Joshua is clearly overwhelmed. 

Illustration: A sergeant in a parachute regiment was a seasoned jumper and one day he found himself sitting next to a lieutenant in the plane who was fresh from jump school. The Lieutenant looked a bit pale so as they approached their jump zone the sergeant leaned over and said, “Are you scared, sir?”

The lieutenant replied, “No just a bit apprehensive.”

The sergeant asked, “Well, what’s the difference?” 

And the lieutenant replied, “Apprehensive means I’m scared with a university education.” 

Whichever word you want to use, Joshua was it.  

It appears Joshua needed a lot of encouragement. 

·      v. 6 Be strong and courageous

·      v. 7 Be strong and very courageous

·      v. 9 Be strong and courageous

·      In verse 18, the people encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous. 

·      In Deut. 31:7-8, Moses told Joshua the same thing – be strong and courageous. 

There is work to be done that will take blood, sweat and tears. Ownership of the land depended on God’s faithfulness, but occupation of the land depended on Israel’s faithfulness (cf. Deu. 30:20). 

God said, “I will give you every place where you set your foot” (v. 3). God promises them the land, but they must take it for themselves. Joshua and the Israelites had to step out by faith to possess the land. 

Joshua will need courage to trust God and do as God commanded. Look at verse nine: "Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Don’t forget…

2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

We all stand on the brink of the future. We all have things that are looming on the horizon which may seem to us just as important, as overwhelming, as awesome as anything Joshua had to face. We have our career changes, our educational choices, our treatment plans, our financial responsibilities, our relationship issues, our family plans, maybe even our calling into some kind of Christian ministry lying ahead of us. Like Joshua, we are excited by some of the things that might happen, but also like Joshua, we are sacred stiff of what might happen. 

BUT we can be strong and courageous when we know that it is: 

A. GOD’S PLAN

God’s plans always involve a man. Moses was the Law-giver but God’s man for the hour has to be a military leader to lead the invasion of Canaan.

Although groomed by Moses, Joshua did not presume upon the Lord but waited for his specific summons. God’s calling is our sure anchor when the storms of disappointment, frustration and opposition are unleashed at us.

The first time the command to be bold and courageous appears, Joshua is told that the reason for his boldness is that God is going to use him to lead the people into the land he has already promised their ancestors (v. 6). Joshua is standing at a particular point in the history of God’s people. There are things which have led up to this point and there are things will lead on from it. It’s all part of God’s will and if it’s God’s will, it will be accomplished. Joshua and the conquest of Canaan are all part of God’s unfolding plan. 

Joshua and the Israelites could look to the future with confidence not only because of what God had promised them about that future, but also because they had already experienced the ways in which God kept his promises in the past. 

There’s a future to look forward to, more amazing things in store, great plans that God has for us here and we are privileged to be here at this time, a small part in God’s unfolding plan for this church, a smaller part in His plan for this city, a very small part in his plans for the world.

You are part of God’s will, part of His plan. What are the things God has prepared for you to do? When did you last reassess God's call on your life? What are those things that God has given you a passion for?

Your courage will rise when you have confidence in the call of God in your life, and believe that you have a part to play in God’s plan. There are always going to be things that you, and only you, can do – little parts of His great overarching plans for this world that can be furthered by your participation if you’re bold enough to allow that to happen. 

We can be strong and courageous because it is: 

B. GOD’S PROMISE

2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

The reason Joshua could be strong and courageous was because God had bound himself with the promise that He would give the land to the people of Israel. 

Numbers 23:19,NIV

God is not human, that he should lie,

    not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

    Does he promise and not fulfill?

God cannot NOT fulfil his promise. God must engage to give Israel the victory in all the battles that lie ahead; or if not in all the battles, at least in the most important of them, so that victory for Israel was insured, and the land would be gained for them, and they could possess it. However difficult the opposition, God must ensure Joshua's success. And He did!

Joshua 21:45, NIV

Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Joshua 23:14, NIV

You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Where can we find God’s promises? In God’s Word (vv. 7-8): 

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

The Word of God is the secret of being strong and courageous. It is our reliable and constant source for guidance and therefore confidence.

The Hebrew word translated here as “meditate” actually means “mutter”. Joshua and his contemporaries would be constantly reciting bits of Scripture, memorising it, mulling over it. It was to be part of the fabric of their lives. 

Just knowing God’s word is not enough. We ought to also do it. We have to read it and learn it, practice it, weave it into every fibre of your being so that your daily behaviour is entirely influenced by it. 

Fulfilling God’s promises requires us to walk by faith - “every step you set your foot.” God wants us to keep moving with Him. The promises of God may have come from your past, but it is for us claim them today and see them fulfilled in the future. We can't do anything in our own strength. But fear not – we stand upon the promises of God.

We can be strong and courageous because it is: 

A. GOD’S PLAN

B. GOD’S PROMISE

Because it is God’s plan and His promise, we can be assured of:

C. GOD’S PRESENCE

Confidence doesn’t come from looking at what’s inside you; it comes from seeing the One standing beside you. In verse 9, the grace to be strong that is given by the Lord is the assurance of God's presence. "The Lord God will be with you wherever you go." 

The presence of the Lord is not a general concept on the basis of the omnipresence of the Lord, but rather an intimate relationship that marks the believer in Jesus as in a peculiar relationship with his God.

God's presence gives us strength and courage. Think of the way disciples like Peter were transformed by being with Jesus. “How could these simple fisherman speak with such force and power?” the people wondered. Then they remembered they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Being with Jesus changed them. Jesus rubbed off on them. They were scared, they were ignorant, but the presence of Jesus made them bold and gave them the right words to say.

God is no respecter of persons. What He did for them - Moses, Joshua, Daniel - He will do for us. His principles have not changed. He is still in the midst of His people giving victory for every area of life. 

Some two thousand years later, the writer of Hebrews 13:5 quoted Joshua 1: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." We often fail to understand the implication of that statement. 

Illustration: A seminarian once shared with his grandmother that the Greek intensive form of this verse in Hebrews was supposed to be repeated three times to say, "I will not. I will not. I will not." In his excitement, he said, "Look, grandma, at this promise. God is saying, ‘I will not, I will not, I will not leave thee nor forsake thee.’" With a smile on her face she said, "Well, for you seminarians, God may need to say it three times; but for me, once is enough."

It has been said that God plus one is a majority. That had been Israel’s experience throughout the 40 years. In Deuteronomy 32:30 Moses sings: 

How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up? 

God was ever present with the Israelites as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night ... leading, guiding, teaching. As Psalm 46:1 puts it so eloquently, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.”

Just as God was with Moses, He was with Joshua. And, He will be with you and me. Whether we will be courageous and strong totally depends upon us. Yes, God will be with us, but He is there doing His part. We have to do ours.

TOP is also in transition. Next year is our 40th anniversary. Winds of change are going to sweep through TOP in 2017 and 2018. God is doing a new thing. God is on the move but are we prepared to accept the new things God is doing? 

We need a renewed mindset. Don’t box God in. God is sending new wine and new wine skins. With God we have to expect the unexpected. Circumcision at Gilgal just before the battle? The strange strategy for the Battle of Jericho? How would you have responded?

CHANGE in the hand of the CHANGELESS God is safe and positive, and will yield good fruit to those that respond correctly and embrace it.

What do you face today? This week? Whatever is out there, good or bad, we can meet the adventure and challenge of the unknown with courage because we belong to a faithful God. His faithfulness is demonstrated in His Plan, His Promises, and in His Presence. We can depend on His Word, His love, and His everlasting arms holding us through life. 

Joshua 5:13-19, NIV

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

It is not only the people who enter, but it is the Lord Himself who enters leading the people as they go. He is neither friend nor foe. He has not come to fight but to take over. 

The Lord is in the midst of us. I am going to ask you to join me in a prophetic act. We are symbolically going to remove our shoes to acknowledge the presence of the commander of the Lord’s army and invite Him to take over.

Sis Melinda and the young adults praying for Dr Kio who will be leaving for Sandakan this week.