Dawning of a New Season

Rev Wong Yin Ming

Sr Pastor of Subang Jaya Assembly

I'd like to share with you on the topic the dawning of a new season.

I believe we have different seasons in life. And in Malaysia we have only one season, the hot season and the hot season. And in life we also have different seasons and in organisations, they have what they call life cycles. And the church also have life cycles. God can lead a church from one season of growth to the next season of growth.

And the transition period is very important. I've gone though two churches where they merge to become one. The transition period is crucial and determines the success. If the transition went well, there's a lot of excitement, a lot of joy and a lot of unity. But if the transition didn't work out so well, there is going to be a lot of challenges. But even so, when we go through transitions, we believe that it will be good.

I want to bring to you a historical passage that talks about a transition of leadership and also thr transition of the people of a nation.

1. God is in control of every season.

Joshua 1:1-2 (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.

God spoke to Joshua, Moses my servant is dead. And when he talked about Moses being dead, he was talking about the passing of an old era. Moses is dead and God now is bringing forth a new leader. The children of Israel was also going through a transition. They have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and they are about to now enter into the promise land.

The children of Israel was going through a new season after they left the wilderness. There is also a new leader that is coming. The new season is a season for the new leader. Moses has served his time. In the last 40 years, he has served his time. It's not that Moses was no good, it's just that his era is over. 

I believe the Israelites wanted Moses.  But in God's wisdom he did not allow them to find the body of Moses. Joseph was embalmed but not Moses in God's wisdom. If not they will always look back on Moses. God wants them to look at the glory of the new leader.

When a new leader comes in, there will be uncertainty. They would probably prefer Moses to lead them into the promise land because they are familiar with him. To let Moses bring them in then only appoint a new leader. Now there are two transition, a new leader and a new place.

In the midst of uncertainty God is in control of every season.

God told them to get ready to cross over. It signifies the beginning of a new era. Joshua will be the one to bring upon them the plan and purposes of God. God's presence will be with them.

And God told them that he is the same God of Moses that led them out of Egypt and is the same God that will lead them into the promise land. The leader may change but the plan of God has not changed. Moses is not the one that planned the future of Israel but God.

I want to share something personal. The senior pastor of Subang Assembly announced his resignation after 16 years. It was a very unique situation. He resigned and took on our outreach so I became the sole senior pastor. I came before God and said I do not know how to lead this church and I felt the weight of responsibility.

I remembered God used this passage where Jesus spoke to Peter that he will built his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But God spoke to me that I will build my church and the weight just left me. It is he that will build his church, not me and I knew that I will not journey alone and God is in control.

Churches will have good seasons and bad seasons but he is still in control and will lead the church through the seasons of change. Before God can move the church he has to prepare the leader. And equip the leader.

2. God will raise up a new leader for the new season.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (NIV)

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Just as God was with Moses, God was with Joshua.

Deuteronomy 34:9 (NIV)

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

The people listened to Joshua. God himself personally encouraged Joshua. Three times. Be strong and courageous. Joshua is much younger and they have not seen Joshua done any miracles yet. They were not so sure but the leader himself must show courage. If the leader is not courageous the people will be shaken in fear. Just like any army, the General must be strong. They will follow. God is encouraging your new pastors to be strong and courageous.

When the leader had to go like Moses, God will raise new leaders. When Elijah had to go the mantle fell on Elisha. Elisha split the water just like Elijah and when the people saw that they recognised him because he did the same miracle as Elijah. They accept not because Elisha told them about Elijah but because they saw him doing what he was called to do. He did it himself. Then the people recognised.

Pastors come and pastors go but the church will remain. Because the pastor is not the church. The people is the church. Pastors are there to equip the leaders to do the work of the ministry.

God chose Moses to lead the people out of Egypt but God chose Joshua to lead the people into the promise land. Not that Moses is no good. And God did not intended the people to compare. It is God who decides.

I had high respect for the founding pastor of my church. I never speak ill of our founding pastor because he laid the foundation. But all pastors will be different. You cannot please everyone. When I first took over the church we had two pastors. They must be wondering whether these two jokers can do it. He was so relational while I'm tasked oriented. But together we build the church and the church grew. Together we embarked on our first building we called our own.

One of the debate in church is the gender of the leader. The spiritual gift God has given is never based on gender. There were lady judges and pastors. The spiritual gifts are given to the leaders to his pleasure. It has never been gender biased. The gifting and calling has always been there.

How I became a senior pastor was orchestrated by God. I seldom share this story. I've shared only once in Romania because it was a man-led church.

I had no idea that the founding pastor was leaving. We were both BCM lecturers so we helped teach. We were there with the church before we took over the church. We did not get involved with the church ministry and administration. One day when I went to the church, the Sunday morning a clear voice spoke to me, I want you to take over the church. I could not believe what I heard. I was thinking maybe it's the devil. I brushed it aside and buried it at the back of my mind. I thought it's just a crazy thought.

It was months before the pastor announced his resignation. When he announced that thought came back to me. I told God it was not possible. We are in an urban setting and many are professionals. Well educated professionals. This is a man's world. For them to accept a lady senior pastor is something that will not happen. But there was this stirring within me. The search committee started searching and invited some pastors but none was accepted.

They then called Pastor Lim and he approached me and asked why don't you come in and we do it together. There was a lot of uncertainty and praying. The church was searching for one pastor and how to say we have two? The church called an EGM and we were both voted in. Pastor Lim's wife is also a credentialed minister but Pastor Lim called me and not the wife so it has to be God.

We enjoyed our ministry together to build the church. Of course there are differences but it does not split the church. Because we are different but in the end we worked together.

After Pastor Lim left to lead an outreach, we embarked on the second building. Pastor Lim handled the first building because as a man he knew more. I knew nothing about building a building but when it was decided I went ahead. I didn't know what I was getting into but we successfully completed the building and is enjoying it. No one left the church after the new building was completed.

When God affirms you he will also open doors for you. I moved into the EXCO and also the Council.  During our time a lot of Bible students married each other. But it's rare for a pastor to marry a layman. We had to go for counselling but after us now many lady pastors also marry laymen.

We have a Love Pastor Fellowship just like Penang. When the Chairman wanted to leave they were looking for someone and everyone was looking at me. All of them are men pastors except for another lady also from AOG yet they accepted me as chairman. YB Hannah Yeah of Subang Jaya looked at me and said you lah.

The calling and the gifting of God is not gender biased. Bil Hybels who runs one of the top churches in America recently appointed a lead lady pastor and a pastor/teacher for Willow Creek.

I just shared with you my journey and it is over 20 years and I'm still doing it. Whenever people talk about Subang Assembly, people just say it's a church with a lady pastor. The church has to affirm the new leader.

3. God will bring you over to the new season.

The people had to know that this is the new season. The people must not dwell in the past because Moses is dead. To cross over to Jordan the people has to be prepared.

Be prepared.

Be committed.

Be supportive.

Joshua 1:16-18 (NIV)

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous! ”

Now they support and affirm Joshua. And they say what God said to Joshua. Only be strong and courageous. I pray that you all will be likewise. And Joshua led them into the promise land. Do not be like the people of Moses. They complain and murmur. Joshua generation was different. They supported their leader and crossed the Jordan as a united force.

Affirmation and encouragement motivates our leaders. Give them your ultimate support. Not just verbal but practical. Walk alongside. Not support from behind.

New season bring new changes. New pastors will have new approach. We must engage the younger generation and raise them to be part of the team. The church have to change with the times. A new leader can bring about new change. But not just new leaders, but the churches now must engage the younger generation.

My encouragement to you is to engage the younger generation to be in the team. To be a part of the team. The church at large must change and we must change with the times. Help the young generation to embrace the new season by involving them and empowering them. You must trust them and have confidence in them. Allow young leaders to have a say. We have a team of young pastors and assistant pastors. Age 29, 30, 36 and 37. All very young. Our church is in a season where we want to empower younger people.

Our young pastors take turns to preach and conduct communion. They do everything we do. But we also wants to embrace the younger members. Because our pastors are young, they see from the millennial point of view. And we baby boomers are trying hard to understand the millennials. We learn from the younger generation. We learn from them how to reach the young.

I took them to a Hillsong event at Subang Jaya and there they talked about how you prepare the people for the service. From the beginning, the moment the visitor enters into the church, right until the service starts and everything has a checklist. And we went back and walked around our church and I asked what do you all think about our church and they say, it's not warm enough. Because our church is a factory building even though it was renovated. The wall is beige colour and after about 7 years you can see patches, more of a very formal environment.

They say young people don't like these kind of colours. They say we don't have a hospitality lounge and our library is under utilised. So I said okay, I give you all a project, you come up with something new. And do a facelift. So I empowered them. Together with a team of youngsters, they came out with a concept that blew my mind.

Their proposal was that the library was under utilised so get rid of the library. They said move the library elsewhere and they said your books will not attract people but your setting and environment will attract people. So the hospitality lounge will take centre stage and the library and visitor's room which nobody want to go is moved to the side.

So I told the young assistant pastor, I said you come and share the concept with the board and I told the board I empowered the young to do this so don't give them any ideas, because our ideas are old ideas. I said let them tell us what they want. I said I empower them but I am not involved because they have a chat group. All the 3 young pastors are in but I am out.

And these are what they came out with. (PowerPoint slides). This is to show you what young people are capable of doing.

I let the young people make changes to attract the young. Like our library and hospitality lounge. We empower them and they come out with ideas. They come out with ideas and we have to foot the bill. And now our young people are excited. And now they are discussing about a mural wall. Another team of young people are on that. I don't even know. And many of them are only college students. They want to make the place vibrant. If not they said looks like factory. All plain colours, white colours. We empower them but we just have to control their spending.

I am encouraging you that even as your church enters a new season with a new pastor, think of embracing the younger generation. You'll be surprised that with a little bit of guidance, young people can do a better job than us. May the Lord bless you.

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.

Season of Transition

Pastor Teh Yung Huat

I bring this video along to show young people the church is the greatest thing on earth. Let's believe that God will use everyone of us here to do great things.

When God saved you like how the children of Israel in their entry into the promise land, there was a journey they had to go through, the wilderness.

Salvation is only the beginning. The journey is where they really see the nation of Israel and they see God. This is the purpose God saved the nation of Israel and established them as a nation.

For too long we have been looking at salvation as the focus of the church. We are more than being saved. We have to reach out to see the promise land. His Kingdom that he has prepared for us. So the church needs to demonstrate his Kingdom. His Kingdom coming on earth.

Too long we say to people you are saved and going to heaven. God has given you promises individually and as a church. But often we let that dream go off.

Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Deuteronomy 8:15 (NIV)

He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.

When God delivered them from Egypt, he led them through the dessert instead of a shorter way. The Philistines were there and God knew they were not ready to face the Philistines. They were not ready.

Your transitional journey actually depends on you. It's not God's problem. It's your problem. It wasn't God that you are not ready. But it's a journey that you have to take before you enter the promise land.

There will be things that will happen that you did not think of but you have to be ready. To be ready for change. If you're not willing to change, you'll just be like the nation of Israel, stubborn and harden. We have to embrace change. The world is constantly changing but we cannot stay still. Time have moved on. So we need to ask God what is he doing at his moment.

Some people don't like change. They kept looking back at Egypt even through it was not a pleasant place. They were saved there but they were used to the life there.

Change is the norm in transition.

Moses was probably the most powerful leader but Moses could not lead them because they refused to change. Too often we look to leaders but it takes them to change. They blame Moses and the leaders and worst they blamed God. End of the day they have to change.

Even Moses the great man of God failed. Are you shocked? God told him to lead them into the promise land. Did Moses enter the promise land? No.

How did Moses fail? When God wanted to destroy them, Moses said God cannot do that. He said if you want to kill them kill me too. You think Moses has more mercy or grace than God? You're mistaken.

God listened to Moses but eventually Moses knew he should have listened to God if he had wanted to enter the promise land. So the people never entered the promise land. In transition many things will happen but we have to look to God and learn the lesson God wants us to learn.

The transition is a tough time.

We should be in that transition all the time. Because God is changing us from glory to glory so we are constantly in transition. Even if God has used us greatly in the past we have to look at what is now. He's looking at our good and not just our want. They expected instant results, like how they were delivered from Egypt, like salvation. God is looking at our long term success and not just now.

They would have caused havoc in the promise land if they are not ready. If we are going through difficulties, know it is to equip you so that you can inherit what he has for you. It's a journey that we have never been before. Doing things that we've never done before. So transition time is not an easy time. There are dangers like snakes and scorpions. Some will die and God knew.

They were not ready to face the Philistines. God is looking at the long haul. He's preparing you for your promise land. He has better and greater things for us. Don't worry about problems. He led them through the dessert.

Deuteronomy 8:16 (NIV)

He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

In the end it will go well with you. He is taking you step by step so that in the end it will go well with you. God will not take you to a battle that you are not ready or cannot win. God doesn't fight fair. He favours us.

It's something your father had never known. Don't say this is the way we do church. Don't look back to the past how you've done it. Manna was a new experience. Don't have a fix idea how church can be done? Have you seen a church like ours in Tawau? That's God. We're expecting greater things. God wants to lead you into new experiences. Be open. Not like the Jews that are harden. They settled for less because they were not willing to change.

Often instead of facing problems and move forward we stay back. God wants us to experience new experiences. That's exciting. The church today is not the same as the church of yesterday. It's the same God we have so God can do new things here too.

Before it happens you have to remember things will get worst before it gets better.

Numbers 20:4-5 (NIV)

4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink! ”

In this journey there will be times when you ask why. Why? Why? They were now facing difficulties and it seems to be worst than Egypt. Moses, why? There will be times things will get worst before it gets better. For our good. Not because God need to but we need it. There may be things that happens in church and you may say it shouldn't happen because it's in church. But you must know church is under construction. So it's messy and dirty but wait till it's completed and you'll see its beauty.

I don't want to tell you what happened that shouldn't happen but I'll tell you one because my members are not here.

In the midst of the building project, a small group left our church. We never expect it to happen but it happened. They thought if they leave the project will not happen. In our midst, has anyone given you one million before? You should be glad because if you can give one million means you have more. Here someone gave one million and he wanted it back. And if we don't give back he'll take us to court. When you go through transition things happen that you think won't happen in church. There are scorpions.

God sees things for the long term good. Not the immediate. God can handle any problems, just we cannot. So we have to put our hands in his and we're declared a winner but you may have to go through some problems.

Things will get worst before it gets better. It don't have to be but it does. And if you quit you'll miss what God has for you. We have to change our mindset. Look from God's perspective. Don't just moan and complain and miss your promised land.

When God leads you, he will not hand everything to us all at one time.

Deuteronomy 7:22 (NIV)

The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.

Little by little. Sometimes we're impatient because we think God takes such a long time. God wants to establish you before he takes you another step. If not it will collapse when it's tested. God knew. What we need to build. That's why they didn't conquer the nations all at once. How fast depends on us. How ready are we? To face those challenges.

Even if we are impatient, his timing is perfect.

In order to enter into the promise land. You have to fight. Those who refuse to fight will not enter. You've got to fight. There will be obstacles and difficulties and you've to fight. You have to have that warrior spirit. Even Caleb. Sometimes it's not us but because the people are not ready. Caleb and Joshua had to wait. But when the time came for him to enter he had to fight. You want to break through as a church there will be warfare and you'll have to fight.

The enemies occupied the promise land. Fortified cities and giants occupying the promise land. The goings that God is wanting to give you someone else is occupying them. Another kingdom is occupying them that's why you have to fight. Don't be afraid of problems. They're just stepping stones.

Great problems come with great miracles. Seven nations greater and stronger than Israel. So they had to fight. When we have problems and giants, we rise up. We will be giant killers. Like David. We are winners. That's who we are.

Don't just live because you are saved. We're just doing the religious thing. A lot of movement but not advancing. That's the wilderness experience. We aim for the promise land because the wilderness is not our destination.

Because our God is with us. Who would have thought in Tawau a church will build a building like that. A small church doing that. Because we have a great God. The same God is leading you through a new season. So I hope this message will encourage you as you enter a new season. Rising up together with the new leadership fighting to enter the promise land that God has for you.

Ps Teh delivering his sermon.

Sufficient for Ministry

Bro Kenny Song

Over the last 8 months, me and my wife in particular have been undertaking some new journeys. We are really experiencing some stretching and it's all thanks to our Pastor Ronald and Jasmine.

When Pastor Ronald first moot the idea of raising pastors from within TOP, two names just seemed to naturally pop into my mind. Without consulting them, I told Ps Ronald ya, I've got two names. It is very easy to volunteer names you know? I guess you all can guess which two names that was. Pastor Ron was saying that instead of looking for a pastor, we should consider looking for someone in-house.

Personally, I'm a believer of that because I run a business. And when we run a business, rather than bringing in talents, we prefer to nurture talents from within and give them the opportunity to rise up. The reason is because they understand the culture of my company, they already know the people within the company and you have less risks. It made sense to me but strangely I never saw it from the perspective of the church. I saw it in my business but I never considered that there are sons and daughters in this church that can rise up to that role. So I volunteered the two of them and a lot has happened over the last 8 months. When I look back I am really in awe how God led the people involved up till this stage.

I spoke to Bro Koay if this is something he would consider, and he told me he was already being headhunted by the Methodist because they are building a new campus and is looking for Christian lecturers. Because he is going to retire this year. And Bro Koay shared with me that if he had a choice he would of course want to serve at TOP because this is the only church he knew and belongs to. That gave me the confidence that we are on track.

Then my wife. Of course I don't think there's anyone who knows my wife better than me. I've always felt that a day would come when she would serve God in a greater measure, but never in my mid I would have envisioned or seen her as a pastor. It came to a point where both of them had to make a decision. But it was not an easy one. Because it's life-changing. When both of them met Ps Ron, you all heard the story, our bro Koay at that time went through yes, no, no, yes, no and yes! And in the end he said yes!

When my wife also said yes, Pastor Ron called me to ask whether I will release my wife. The first question I ask her was "do you sense the call?" She said yes, and who am I to refuse, I'm going to have to deal with God and believe me, he's the BIG BOSS and you don't mess with the BIG BOSS. So I gave my blessing even though at the back of my mind, she's still very much needed in my business as a key person. I just believe that as we take care of God's business, God will take care of our business.

But once you say yes, the feeling of inadequacy or insufficiency can sometimes dawn on you. Naturally, because it is a life-changing decision, answering the call not to man, or the church but to God.

Which brings me to today's message. I titled it "Sufficient for Ministry". We all often feel inadequate when we look at the tasks before us. I know I sometimes feel like that. But as we look into the word of God, it brings great comfort to know that God is NEVER limited by our insufficiency.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Noticed Paul talks about his personal insufficiency, and yet he balanced it with the fact that his sufficiency is from God. And everyone here in leadership position may find the task at hand overwhelming and you may feel inadequate, just like how Paul did in this passage.

PAUL’S PERSONAL INSUFFICIENCY (v. 5a)

Paul was a confident man. Saul of Tarsus referred to himself as being "of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee. He was a learned man and a persecutor of the church.

Confidence, however, is one thing; claims of self-sufficiency are quite another. So Paul was quick to renounce any measure of self-sufficiency, saying, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us” (v. 5a). Paul was sincere.

By emphasising his insufficiency, Paul consciously relate to Moses’ insistence of his inadequacy when God called him to lead Israel. Remember Moses?

But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my LORD, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the LORD said to him,

“Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”  (Exodus 4:10-12)

Subsequently, Moses proved that in spite of his natural insufficiency, God made him sufficient. This pattern (human insufficiency — divine sufficiency) became the pattern for the calls of the great prophets of Israel.

Gideon’s insufficiency (“Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house,” Judges 6:15), was met with the Lord’s sufficiency (“And the LORD said to him, ‘But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man,’” v. 16).

Isaiah’s insufficiency (“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!,” Isaiah 6:5), was countered by one of the Lord’s seraphim bearing a burning coal with which he touched Isaiah’s mouth (cf. vv. 6, 7).

Jeremiah’s insufficiency (“Ah, LORD GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth,” Jeremiah 1:6) was allayed by the Lord (“But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say "I am only a youth"; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak (v. 7)

God can achieve his purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources. - Oswald Chambers

Grandfather story time. I was playing with Caden one time and he wanted to keep one of his toys on a shelf that was beyond him. He stretched all he can but cannot reach. He tiptoe also cannot reach. And he's not allowed to climb on chairs so he got really frustrated.

So grandpa came to the rescue. I told him to take his toy, then I carried him up and told him to put back the toy himself.

Did I do it for him? No. Did he put back the toy himself? Yes. Could he have done it on his own? No.

Moral of the story? I love my grandson and will of course help him when he can't do it on his own. All he has to do is ask.

So Christ will carry you and all your burdens, if you will let Him.”

There is nothing wrong in having and honing our gifts or abilities. It is just that we should not put our dependence on it instead of reliance in God. Our help comes from the Lord.

PAUL’S GOD-GIVEN SUFFICIENCY (vv. 5b, 6)

Only a man like the Apostle Paul, is humbly aware of his complete weakness can know and prove the total sufficiency of God’s grace. Thus Paul is able to balance his negative declaration, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves,” with the positive counterpoint, “but our sufficiency is from God” (v. 5). And Paul goes on to explain that his sufficiency comes from two things:

1) the sufficiency of the new covenant

2) the sufficiency of the Spirit.

New-covenant sufficiency.

First, the new covenant of Christ was and is a ministry of transformation, whereas the old covenant of Moses did not bring about transformation.

The old covenant began auspiciously, as in Exodus, with the giving of the Ten Commandments (cf. Exodus 19, 20), the reading of the Book of the Covenant (cf. Exodus 20:18 — 23:33), and the people’s unanimous response, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do” (24:3). Following the people’s promise, everything of significance was doused with the blood of the inaugural sacrifices — half the blood on the altar and the other half on the people and the Book of the Covenant (cf. 24:6, 8). The reason for this blood-drenching was to emphasize the seriousness of sin and to teach that the payment for sin is death.

But the weakness of the old covenant became immediately apparent. The people who promised “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do,” and again, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient” couldn’t do it for one day (24:3, 7)! This is because though the old covenant law was good, it was an external ordinance, and the blood of animal sacrifice could not take away sin.

After generations of repeated failure, God promised a new covenant to Jeremiah, recorded in 31:31-34, which prophesied the contours of transformation:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

The promise of internal renewal (the Law within, an intimacy with God, a personal relationship with God, and true forgiveness) all prophesied radical transformation.

Then, when Christ came to the final hours of his life and held up the cup at Passover saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20), it was as if he laid his hand on that passage in Jeremiah and said, “This day this Scripture is fulfilled before your eyes.” Jesus Christ effects the radical transformation of the new covenant by his shed blood. Millions of such transformations have been worked in the lives of men and women for the last 2,000 years, and we ourselves share the same transformation in Christ.

Paul’s point, in respect to himself, is that at the moment of his conversion and calling he had been made a minister of the new covenant. At Paul’s conversion Christ had said:

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles — to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:15-18)

The Paul was thrilled over this. As he later wrote to Timothy, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (1 Timothy 1:12, 13).

Can we imagine Paul's feeling? It was a privileged to be called of God, to serve him.

Sometimes, we feel that we are doing God a favour by serving. Especially when we are gifted in certain natural talents that make it so easy to excel in those areas. We need to be careful. We serve because we love him and we are willing vessels for him to fulfil his kingdom purposes. Nothing else. It's so easy to get carried away when we are praised for doing a good job. Don't get me wrong, encouragement is biblical, taking God's glory is not. We are called to encourage one another, but we need to acknowledge that without God, all we do is just performance.

And herein lay Paul’s adequacy. It was totally of God — “but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant” (3:6). Like Moses and the Old Testament prophets after him, Paul also was made “sufficient in spite of insufficiency by the grace of God”. This universal principle has been the experience of God’s faithful servants.

“God chose me because I was weak enough. God does not do his work by large committees. He trains somebody to be quiet enough, and little enough, and then uses him.” - Hudson Taylor

Paul lived out his ministry with the unlimited sufficiency of the new covenant. The transforming power of the gospel attended all his ministry — transformation in many places including Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and even Rome — always with an inward change of the believer.

Holy Spirit sufficiency.

The corresponding promise to Jeremiah’s prophecy of the new covenant was Ezekiel’s promise of the Spirit:

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26, 27)

We referenced this scripture in Lesson 3 at Care Group Friday night.

And Paul references this promise as we see in verse 6 in its entirety: “who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The problem with the old covenant was that the written Law (here called “the letter”) provided no power to obey it because it was not accompanied by the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.

Last night, at Care Group, we discussed on what is one of the most important function of the Holy Spirit, and as usual, our teacher-pastor Koay said it was "Empowerment".

The Law wasn’t bad. In fact, it was the holy, just, and good expression of God’s will, and innately spiritual (cf. Romans 7:12, 14). And the Law itself did not kill. Rather it was the Law without the Spirit (the Law as “letter”) that killed.

Under the new covenant through Christ, that condition changed for the better by means of the Holy Spirit who writes “not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (v. 3b) and therefore enables the obedience of which Ezekiel prophesied: “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (36:27).

Paul had an tremendous advantage over Moses. Moses was charged to minister the Law to a stiff-necked people who would not obey it, but Paul was called to minister in the transforming power of the Spirit to a people who would be empowered to keep the Law under the new covenant.

I'm sure all Pastors will prefer to be in Paul's shoes rather than Moses. And the good news is that they are!

What a glory it is to proclaim the gospel of the new covenant in Christ’s blood — to proclaim radical transformation (“If any man in Christ, new creation!,” 2 Corinthians 5:17, literal translation) — to proclaim the Spirit’s empowerment to keep God’s statutes — to preach complete forgiveness.

When I was first saved, I had the privilege of going to Billy Graham's crusade in Singapore. So many responded at the altar call with the song "Just as I am…" was sung. He preached a powerful salvation message. Never could I have imagined that someone like Billy Graham could have felt inadequate delivering a sermon.

In August 1955 someone wrote a letter to The Times deploring Billy Graham’s recent invitation to preach at Cambridge University. Billy Graham’s approach, he argued, would be “unthinkable before a university audience . . . it would be laughed out of court.”

Mr Billy, age thirty-six, was experienced, but the thought of speaking at Cambridge weighed heavily upon him. His biographer William Martin notes:

Graham, ever insecure about his lack of advanced theological education, dreaded the meetings and feared that a poor showing might do serious harm to his ministry and affect ‘which way the tide will turn in Britain.’ Had he been able to do so without a complete loss of face, he would have cancelled the meetings or persuaded some better-qualified man to replace him.

40 years later in his biography, he wrote:

I have been deeply concerned and in much thought about our Cambridge mission this autumn.... I do not know that I have ever felt more inadequate and totally unprepared for a mission. As I think over the possibility for messages, I realize how shallow and weak my presentations are. In fact, I was so overwhelmed with my unpreparedness that I almost decided to cancel my appearance, but because plans have gone so far perhaps it is best to go through with it.... However, it is my prayer that I shall come in the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit.

The great evangelist chronicled his weakness and his need of the Spirit’s power. Billy’s arrival in Cambridge was unsettling. The opening night was Sunday, November 6, the day after Guy Fawkes Day, a day of fireworks, bonfires, and general revelry. Billy met with C. S. Lewis, newly arrived in Cambridge, and the conversation went well, though Lewis’s parting remark was unsettling: “You know you have many critics, but I have never met one of your critics who knows you personally.”

Billy Graham preached for three nights, but the results were modest. His sermons were, by his own estimation, too academic. He knew that he was not getting through to the students’ hearts. He felt he was preaching to please his audience rather than the Holy Spirit. So Billy Graham sought the Lord.

On his third sermon, Billy Graham set aside his university-focused sermons and preached to ordinary human souls. Billy Graham’s weakness plus the all-sufficient, transforming gospel of the new covenant plus his dependence upon the Holy Spirit crafted a mighty ministry in Cambridge. Afterward John Stott wrote his praying congregation, “Only eternity will finally reveal, how much was accomplished during that week.” Another great evangelist came to Christ that week, David Watson.

Those whom God uses have always been aware of their insufficiency and weakness, be it Moses or Gideon or Isaiah or Jeremiah or Paul or Peter or John. And it was their insufficiency that invited the sufficiency of God.

God is not looking for gifted people or people who are self-sufficient. He is looking for inadequate people who will give their weakness to him and open themselves to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the transforming grace of the new covenant.

If God is calling you, do not hide behind your weakness. I don’t know what he may be calling you to do — it may be missions, it may be teaching a Sunday school class, it may be ministering to children, it may be to serve wit the worship team, it may be stepping up at work or doing something you sense a call to do. But if he’s calling you, don’t say you cannot — your weakness is the ground for his calling. Follow God, and he will use your weakness as an occasion for his power.

And if you are feeling terrifying stirrings within your soul as he nudges you outside your comfort zone, where you will be out of your depth (but you know that he is calling you), give your weakness to him and accept his sufficiency.

This is the way it was for Moses and for all the prophets and for the apostles and for all who follow in their stead — everyone who serves the Lord. God uses people who are weak because of their unique ability to depend upon him. Remember, there are no failures in the work of God. It's impact can only be measured in eternity.

I just want to say this for our two pastors. They are gifted and they are very different. My wife is a natural leader in the sense that she can plan things and execute them and she's got good administrative skills. Our Pastor Koay is a teacher. He opens his mouth he must teach already. But those are their natural gifting. And I believe God has given those gifts. But one day, they are going to realise it is not about our abilities. It is not about the gifts that we have. It is about God working through us and there will come a point of time when they are going to feel insufficient and that on their own, they cannot do it.

But the comfort is this, they are in the same company as Paul. Take comfort in the fact that as we serve, it is mandatory that we rely upon God to take us through. Amen!