On the Brink of a Miracle

Pastor Melinda Song

The very first Christmas occurred during a very dark time in the life of Israel. God has been silent for 400 years since God had spoken to His people through the prophet Malachi. God is still at work although the people still felt like God had abandoned them. But now, God is going to announce the source of a new hope in quite an unexpected way – by sending his angel to an old priest who had experienced his own sorrow in life because he and his wife were childless.

I have entitled today’s message “On the Brink of a Miracle” and the text is taken from…

Luke 1:5-25, NIV

1 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Of the four Gospel writers, Luke gives us the most detailed account of Jesus’ birth, childhood and development. He begins his Christmas story by introducing us to two people, the parents of John the Baptist, who are “On the Brink of a Miracle”. 

1.     A godly couple (v. 5-6)

1 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Zechariah was one of about 20,000 priests serving the temple who were divided by King David into 24 divisions (1 Chron. 23-24) due to their large number. Each division would serve in the temple one week at a time, twice a year. Thus a priest could only serve once in his lifetime.

Unlike the religious leaders whom Jesus called hypocrites, Zechariah and Elizabeth were a godly couple who pleased God with lives of outward compliance with inward obedience.

2.     BUT (v. 7)

7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Having children was seen as a blessing from God in the Jewish culture – an indication of divine favour. So being childless was a great disappointment to them and a disgrace for Elizabeth (v. 21)

There was little hope of things changing as they were old. The possibility of a touch from God was remote. Do you ever feel that it’s just time to give up? Yet childlessness was a theme repeated throughout the Old Testament, as with Sarah, Rebekah, Manoah’s wife, and Hannah. God can turn around the situation.

TRUST GOD WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND

Some of you, despite being faithful, are disappointed because of unanswered prayers. You don’t understand why things are happening against you and that is where you need faith to trust God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

You may be facing a dead-end situation right now—financial, emotional, or relational, but if you will trust God He will make a way for you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. This is what a walk of faith is about: you trust God even when you do not seem to understand.

A WORD OF CAUTION! Barrenness was considered a sign of God¡¦s disfavour and punishment so this couple lived with shame because there are some who probably suspected them of serious secret sin. Often we look at people and their difficult situation and blame or condemn them. We look at a couple who haven’t had children and wonder what is wrong? We look at families whose children are turning away from God and people condemn them for not being good parents. We look at couples who have separated or divorced and wonder what they’ve done wrong.

It is all too easy to lay blame on people and condemn them, but here is a couple who were God fearing, who were right with God, yet they didn’t have all the “blessings” we think they should have. The lesson? Even righteous people live with disappointments and hurt and instead of making that greater, we need to empathize with them and support them in their pain.

Zacharias could also have gotten rid of Elizabeth and married a younger woman to have children but he didn’t. Instead he honoured the covenant of marriage and committed the situation to God, the one person who could do something about it.

3.    A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (vv. 8-10)

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Each morning lots were cast to decide on the priest who would enter the holy place, bearing burning coals from the bronze altar in the temple court, to burn incense which symbolised the prayers of God’s people rising toward heaven. That day the lot fell to Zechariah

HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

In spite of uncertainties, in spite shame in the society; Zechariah not only believed God but he faithfully went to the temple to perform his duties as a priest.

It is important to have the right perspective/attitude when waiting for your promise. The problem with many of us is that when things don’t work out as we plan, we get discouraged, lose our joy and our spiritual life goes downhill. Such people are no more seen at church.

Zechariah DID NOT GIVE UP. We have to keep doing good despite the bad happening in your life.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”

God is looking for people like this today. You may be facing a hopeless situation, an unanswered prayer but can you praise God in spite of the problem?

God has a set time for your breakthrough, but if you want that victory in God’s time, you need to have the right perspective.

Remember the 12 spies? Just because the majority had the wrong perspective, out of the 2 million people who were camped next door to the Promised Land, only 2 made it to the Promised Land just because of the right perspective. Many times it is our perspective that stops our breakthrough.

You show up (that is faith) and God (your faithful God) will show up!

That day was Zechariah’s day! God was ready to make His move. Had Zechariah given up he would have lost his appointment with God.

4.     An Angel shows up! (vv. 11-13)

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

WAIT FOR GOD

Maybe you are waiting for a breakthrough. God is telling you, “Fear not, your prayers have been answered. Today is the day of your deliverance.” Zechariah trusted God in the impossible, kept the right perspective, continued with his devotions and worship, and God decided to step in.

Some of you are discouraged because your prayers are not answered but what if God showed you His side of the story?

Maybe you are praying for your marriage and God is telling that on January 12, 2018, at 3.00 pm you are going to meet the person of your dreams. You will not be discouraged. You will be all excited and relaxed. Why? You know the big day is coming.

God promises that there are set times in our future, but he does not tell us when they will be. There is a set time for the problem to turn around, a set time for your healing, for your promotion, for your breakthrough.

It maybe tomorrow, next week, or a year from now, but when you understand the time has already been set it takes all the pressure off. Do you trust God when you do not understand. Will you continue to do worship God like Zechariah? That is when God works, so don’t give up. You are on the brink of a miracle!

5.     The Angel’s Prophecy (vv. 14-17)

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Elijah, like John the Baptist, was known for his bold, uncompromising stand for the Word of God—even in the face of a ruthless monarch. The final two verses of the Old Testament (Mal. 4:5-6) had promised the return of Elijah before the Day of the Lord.

GOD HAS A GREATER PURPOSE FOR THE DELAY

John’s birth is not merely a nice story of an old couple having a baby. It is about the fulfillment of prophecy; it is about the special role the child is going to play in the unfolding of God’s eternal plan of redemption for his people and the whole world. God had a greater purpose for Zechariah’s delay.

It would be good for us in the Christmas season to grasp the big picture that our lives fit in to. When we raise the issue of why certain things happen to us – whether good or bad – we fall back on Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We then look for the good thing in the situation.

6.     Zechariah’s lack of faith (v. 18)

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

Zechariah was questioning God’s ability to fulfill His own Word! He totally dismissed the idea that God can enable an old couple to have a baby even though there is certainly precedent for that in the account of what God did for Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:9-15).

Unbelief is the reason that some prayers are not answered. But let this encourage us also: Even blameless people slip up. God is a God of patience and continues to work with us and often despite us.

7.     The result of unbelief (vv. 19-22)

19 "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Zechariah doubted God and a sign of silence was given. When Zechariah came out dumb the people outside realised that something extraordinary had happened to him.

8.    Elizabeth became pregnant (v. 23-25)

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

God is faithful. His promises never fail! The Lord is your glory and the lifter of your head and He shall take away your disgrace.

Conclusion

Advent begins with Zechariah – God remembers.

It begins with Elizabeth – God is my oath, and

it begins with the birth of John – God has been gracious.

They remind us that from the beginning God has been the author of a story that results in bringing hope into the midst of a dark world to those who will call upon the name of our coming Savior – Jesus.

When it might seem like God has forgotten His people, God remembers.

It reminds us that God is faithful to carry out His oath that He made with Adam and Abraham and every generation of His people throughout history to send a Savior, the Messiah, who would bring hope to all.

And it reminds us that God delights in extending His grace to us.

Whatever your disappointment is at the moment, God has a set time for your situation and when He answers, He not only takes care of your need but it will be for a greater purpose.

Are you in the same situation as Zechariah and Elizabeth - literally they had given up the hope? Don’t give up! Nothing is impossible for God.

He can reach down and touch you at the most unexpected time in your life. God’s touch always comes in God’s perfect time. Don’t give up! Today you are standing on the brink of a miracle. Come and we shall stand in prayer with you.

9-to-5 Reality Check!

Bro Kenny Song

Pastor Koay took you all to heaven with his Three Gardens, then back down to earth with his Two Crosses, so I was thinking maybe I should preach on One Fire and take you all down to hell. On second thought, I'll let him do that when he next preach.

I am instead going to talk about something most of us struggle with on a daily basis. I titled my message "Your 9-to-5 Reality Check". 9 to 5 does not mean a fix time but rather your working hours.

How many of you work for a living? How many of you have experienced failure in your work or you labour and labour and don't see results? Not all the time but at least some of the time?

What do you do when you experience fruitlessness or even failure in your work? How do you respond when your hard work yields poor results? 

Whether you’re a businessman who's struggling to make ends meet, a diligent college student with poor grades, or a parent with a prodigal child — all of us experience the frustration of fruitless work.

At times it doesn’t seem fair, but the reality remains: hard work doesn’t always guarantee successful outcomes. I used to tell my team not just to work hard (that's mandatory) but also to work smart. But sometimes projects still fail and deadlines are missed despite our very best efforts.

We live in a performance-driven world, where poor results are usually difficult to accept. We expect immediate results and we can quickly become discouraged when we fall short of our own expectations. 

In times of fruitlessness, we may fall into self pity or blame others for our failures. But what is worst is that in our darkest moments, we can doubt God’s goodness — wondering why he isn’t blessing our work (while conveniently forgetting all the ways in which he already has).

Four Reminders for Seasons of Setback

In these seasons of fruitless despair, I’m often helped by a story from John 21.

John 21:3-6

3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

The disciples went on an all-night fishing expedition, only “they caught nothing” (John 21:3). As dawn breaks, Jesus asks them if they caught any fish. They hadn’t. Jesus then instructs them to “cast the net on the right side of the boat” (John 21:5–6). The result is miraculous. After utterly failing all night, the nets fill with so many fish, they begin to rip. 

This story offers four helpful insights to encourage us during seasons of setbacks. 

1. Fruitless work is a common experience.
 

We would presume that their labour would have been rewarded. After all, they devoted their lives to Jesus, leaving family, homes, and occupations to follow him. Some of them were also experienced fishermen. They seem to have the right credentials: committed Christians and competent professionals. And yet their efforts failed. 

We might not understand why our diligent efforts fail, and be tempted toward exasperation. But we must remember that as Christians we aren’t guaranteed success in our work. In his wisdom, God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Seasons of fruitlessness are simply part and parcel of living in a world cursed by the effects of the fall. Our work in this present world is subject to “thorns and thistles” that impede progress and hinder fruitful outcomes (Genesis 3:18).

There were times when in our business, we seemed to do everything right. We pitched for campaigns and initial outcomes were positive. Then when it reached the table where money is discussed, we hit a snag. They want kickbacks. And we walk away. I've never felt dejected in times like these because we just knew it's not meant for us. I have the peace of God, but it does not negate the fact that many man hours have been invested into the project and we got nothing in return.

My non Christian staff knows our stand and even though some questioned my decision, in the long run, I think they all see why integrity is always more valuable than money. But the fact remains, hard work didn't always pay off. Even when it's honest hard work!

When success seems elusive, it’s important to remember that fruitlessness is a common experience for everyone. Our struggle isn’t evidence of God’s displeasure toward us, but a reminder that the world we live in is still awaiting full redemption (Romans 8:20–21).

Romans 8:20-21

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

2. Jesus will meet us in our failures.

When our labours are met with significant setbacks or failure, God can seem distant to us. We can be tempted to think Jesus cares little for our situation or for the outcomes that seem so important to us — that critical project gone wrong or the struggling business venture. Especially when we see unbelievers doing well under the same circumstances.

In these moments, we must not relegate Jesus to a detached, unfeeling Saviour who neither understands nor cares for our present needs. Rather, as Hebrews 4:15 states, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Remember, Jesus experienced all the limitations of working in a fallen world and he understands our struggle for fruitful outcomes. Most of all, remember he cares.

In this account, Jesus’s care for his disciples was evident in his tender address to them: “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” (John 21:5) After a long night of fruitless labour, Jesus met the disciples at the very point of their need and weakness. 

This is a Savior who draws near to us in times of perplexing trouble. He concerns himself with the ordinary — with fish and nets — to perform the miraculous for the good of his children. When we’re discouraged about our lack of success or progress, we can turn to Christ with confidence that he cares about our struggles.

3. God gives help in times of need.

Too often, I do not seek God’s help when facing obstacles and setbacks. Instead I “lean in” with my own abilities and forget to look to God. In fact, I’ve realized that much of my despair in fruitless seasons stems from my inability to succeed on my own. 

There were times in my business where we see no light at the end of the tunnel. Debts were piling and our OD fully utilised and we even had to sell our Invoices for cash advance (factoring) at a hefty interest. I will of course as usual be my stubborn self and try to juggle our finances out of the woods.

Then a time would come when I'd finally humble myself and asked our cell to pray for us. I've done that more than once and without fail, God would bail us out. Moral of the story, should have asked my cell to pray earlier la. But as usual, always stubborn. Never learn.

The disciples’ empty nets are reminders that we need God to work in ways that are beyond our capacities and resources. The disciples’ experiences and competencies alone weren’t enough to produce a fruitful outcome.

Like the feeding of the 5,000, this situation was designed to reveal the limitations of human power and reveal Jesus’s unlimited power to more than meet human need.

When we encounter obstacles beyond our strength or skill, let us not discount God’s ability to help through providential — sometimes even miraculous — means. God is in the business of displaying his glory in the face of our need. Let us learn to lean into him for help.

4. Jesus is the true prize of our work.

“When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment . . . and threw himself into the sea” (John 21:7). 

This was after Jesus' resurrection and this account was the third time that Jesus appeared. I love Peter’s response. Upon discovering it was Jesus on the shore, he plunged in and swam to him. Weariness from fruitlessly working all night didn’t matter, neither did the huge haul of fish. For Peter, nothing mattered more than the fact that Jesus was present. Fellowship with his risen Savior was incomparably more rewarding than a net bursting with fish. 

To have Peter’s perspective whether our work succeeds or fails! May our (very legitimate) pursuit for good results never obscure the true prize of our labours: to know and treasure Jesus Christ. In fact, it’s often in our struggles, not successes, where we experience the life-giving presence of our Saviour. 

Only when we realize worldly success alone is bankrupt do we rise with hope in our “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for [us]” (1 Peter 1:4). 

Only when we come to the end of our strength do we discover that God’s “grace is sufficient for [us]” and that his “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Only after the discouragement of empty harvests are we able to receive this infusion of divine joy in our souls: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7).

This is the reason why I do not subscribe to what is called the Prosperity Theology. Where they believe you have not because you asked not. Where even tithing is not about obedience but purely the pursuit of material blessings. And being poor means a lack of faith.

But I also do not subscribe to Poverty Theology. Where materialism is seen as a curse and equated to worldliness. This is the other extreme of the spectrum.

Then what theology do we subscribe to when it comes to money? I believe in Stewardship Theology. Where possessions is a privilege and not a right. And we are given the responsibility by God to wisely manage what has been entrusted to us.

Actually, this is another sermon for another time.

I want to relate back to instances where we failed to win an account because of kickbacks. I want to encourage you that at the end of the day, God will never short-change his children. Those worldly loss are not in vain.

I realised this at each of the economic downturn we encountered by refusing kickbacks, we ended up with very good clients who were good paymasters. These are the same ones that will ride through the economic downturn because of their sound principles.

And they become good friends, not just clients. And wherever they go, they will always come back to you and if they ever refer you to another client, you'll know they are birds of the same feathers.

The ones that receives kickbacks will be the first ones to run when trouble brew. Somebody once said this phrase and I never forgot it. Forgive the language - "Don't shit where you eat". The ones that take kickbacks are cheating the very company that feed them and their families. And if we give the kickbacks, we are encouraging them to do so.

But ultimately, as a child of God, it's not about that great quote I mentioned, but rather because we know it's the right thing to do and what honours God and bring glory to God. If we give money under the table, I don't think the other party will ever see Jesus in us and we can never be a good testimony for God. Lets do what is right and trust God for our situation.

Often, our struggles clarify our vision and strengthen our resolve to value eternal good over temporal success. Struggles often succeed in anchoring our hope and identity to Christ, rather than our achievements. 

The ultimate prize of our work isn’t the successful outcomes themselves, but seeing Jesus in our diligent labours. This is true in success or failure, in seasons of fruitfulness or fruitlessness. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I want to end on a positive note. Just like how Peter and the other disciples toiled through the night, you may be in a situation where you think you are getting nowhere. It's like you are running on the treadmill, burning a lot of energy but seemingly going nowhere. No progress. No results. It is frustrating, but let us take comfort in this passage of scripture that we have just examined.

Remember, Jesus is watching, even if he's at the distant shore. And he cares. And he will help you in his time. In Peter's case, it was not at midnight. Not 2 a.m. Not 4 a.m. The bible says it was in the morning. Your morning will come. But more important than the blessing is the blesser. Like Peter, we can only find rest in our soul when we seek Jesus.

So whether your current nets are empty or bursting, if you hope in him, your labour will never be in vain.

The Temporary Necessity

Pastor Peter Seow

Good morning, my name is Peter Seow and I bring you greetings from Canning Methodist Church. I grew up in church, Sunday School, Youth Group, I grew up in Church services and is one of the musician in our band. Thank you musicians for a great job today. We worship God together not just with our voices but also with our instruments.

I came to answer the call for full time ministry and I started with children's ministry, and my wife served the youth. Very good ministry. I pass the children to her youth for her to bring them up. We did that for many years but before that I was a music teacher at Yamaha Music School. But I gave that up and became a full time minister.

At that time I though God, I've gone full time already, I've sacrificed earning lots of money. I have a lot of joy serving in church and I thought that was it. That I will grow old in church and enjoy my retirement in serving God.

But that was not so. When teaching Sunday School one time on Missions Month and I challenged the kids if you hear God's call, don't reject it although you're young, God can still use you. Right after that I heard God speak to my heart, what about you Peter? If I call you will you go? I said no la God, I serve you full time already, my work is here.

Next year, same thing again, Mission's Month, I began to preach and also challenged the children to response to God's call. Then God spoke to me also. At the end I said, if I can preach it, I must live it. And so I said I will do that and I will answer the call.

And I searched for Mission organisations to join. So I joined Wycliffe Bible Translators because I feel that if I should do missions, the Word of God is important and the Word of God is eternal, it would not be destroyed. And at Wycliffe they translate the word of God into the language that the people are speaking.

I have some slides to show my family. When we answered the call to go missions our kids were quite small. Like 2 years old and the eldest was 9. Now they are all quite grown. David is the eldest, he's 22, Daryl is 19 and Hannah is 15. The first 2 have already gone to university and we have Hannah with us at Papua.

History of the Gospel in Papua 

In 1855, two German missionaries - Otto and Geisler, landed on Mansinam Island, Papua.

They knelt, prayed and claimed Papua for God The Gospel spread - first to coastal areas and then to the highlands.

Local believers became evangelists bringing the Good News to the highlands interior.

The Gospel in Danama

We work with a people group called the Walak. They are from the central highlands and about 5,000 strong, not more than 10,000. When the missionaries went to the highlands, the village chief Tenggino who is now about 60 years old, rejected it because he was not sure what kind of news it was. When the local evangelists came he killed some of them.

It was only after years later he heard the gospel and then received it and not only him but the whole village. They burnt all their charms and they turned to the saving love of Jesus Christ.

But because God is not in their own language it's like a foreign religion. So it's preached in Bahasa Indonesia but that's it their language. Their language is Walak. But there's no Scripture or writing system in Walak. That language has sounds that we don't have. It was strange to my ears when I first heard it. And we had to analyse the language and work out a language system for them.

Here I'm with Tenggino and Minagi. Tenggino the village chief was a warrior. He used to fight and kill and conquer other villages and protect his own village. But since the gospel came he has become a very gentle spirited person. But he is very strong. He wants the Bible in his own language. We are keen to bring the word of God to them if not by reading, by hearing. 

Types of Translation Programs 

1. Traditional translation 

You live in the village spend 20 years, learn the language, their writing system and after 20 or 25 years the nNew Testament is published. Not even the Old Testament. That's how long it takes.

2. Mother Tongue Translation

Work with a local speaker where together he does the translation because he understands the language. All you have to do is give him the education and he works on his own and you're the consultant helping him to translate. That's faster, maybe 15 or 10 years.

3. Oral Translation 

This is what we're doing now. We want them to get the word of God as soon as they can. We translate through speech. We record it, put it in the computer and analyse it, checked and work on it and bring it to the village. So they get to hear the word of God.

One Story  

1. A basic set of 25 stories are first drafted in Indonesian so that it can be translated into the local languages that need it.

2. We have 6 languages that come together 4 times a year for a month at a time. 

3. A consultantnt is at hand to check their work.

4. Computers are used to record and input data. Wireless network provide a repository so that all data is saved on local server. 

5. Checks are done and feedback given by consultant. Materials are the corrected and revised.

Revelation 7:9-12 (NKJV)

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,

Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.”

It's amazing verse that shows what it's like at the end of the age. After being there for 12-13 years, I'd like to make a proposition to the church. Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. It's not the main priority. The mission call is to meet a target or goal. Missions is only the vehicle to that goal. What is the ultimate goal? What has God called you to do ultimately. Worshippers.

God wants us to be worshippers.

John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad!

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.”

“Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God….

Like all great works of art like movies or novel, it's the last scene where the lasting impressions happen. It's meant to leave a lasting impression or impact on the people. That's like what we read in the final pages of Revelations 9.

The scene or finale ends with worship. People of all nations and different tribes and tongues all together worshipping God. That's what we will be doing when we get to heaven. This is what happens when Jesus returns. A new heaven and new earth is established. People worshipping God our creator. So why is missions important?

… But worship is also the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish.”

Worship also the fuel to missions.

I led worship in church as a youth for many years. And I can say that it was worship that fuelled me to missions. How can I sing and not be prepared to do what we sang. So we challenged ourselves, Angie and I and we said if we can sing that, we can do that. Worship is the fuel for missions.

How can we preach God if we don't cherish God? I cannot sell an iPhone if I'm using an Android.I sell iPhone but I like Android. Cannot work right? It does not make sense.

Why is missions important?

There are still many tribes and people yet to be represented before the throne of God, that have not been reached. If they can't get the good news, they cannot believe in him and if they cannot believe in him, they cannot call on him and if they cannot call on him, they cannot be saved and if they cannot be saved how can they worship God?

“The story of missions the whole world over shows that the success or failure of missions has always been dependent on whether those brought to Christ had the Scriptures in their own language or not.”  G. Campbell Morgan

If you do missions in China, you will preach in Mandarin. But if you go to a small village that speaks Han you'll need to preach in Han. This kind of thinking. If they cannot read the Scripture on their language how can they hear?

As of September 2016:

• 6,909 living languages (Ethnologue)
• 636 languages with full Bible translated
• 1,442 languages with New Testament translated
• 1,145 Bible portions or stories translated

=> At least some portion of the Bible has been translated into 3,223 languages.

<    50% of the world’s languages.

There's still a lot of work to be done and that's what we are doing at Wycliffe. And many other organisations are doing the he same also.

What is the goal of missions?

The gladness of people in the greatness of God.

The Psalmist proclaims let all the people praise Thee O God. Let the nations be glad and sings for joy. This is a very well used verse. This God that pursued us with his love, loved us so much that he sent his only son who talked to us and crucified on the cross and in doing so he redeemed all of humanity that they may be reconciled back to their creator. This is a very basic message of what we believe in as Christians. It's good to be reminded that there are many others who do not know this fact.

I've been a Christian now for 40 years. Every time and I pause and think and reflect on what God has done for me I'm deeply touched. I remember I was not who I was 40 years ago. I was a sinner. Rotten and dirty. I know I am. I know the thoughts in my heart and mind and I do struggle just like you too. When we got older we forget that we came from that state. We haven't arrived yet, we're still being sanctified and renewed daily. On our own we are helpless.

But God knows that, and it took him to came down to lift us up. We cannot climb up. He stooped down to save us. It was this God that created the heaven and the earth coming down to save us. Isn't that amazing. It's so amazing. That's why we sing that song Amazon Love and the sacrifice that he's given for us. Not everyone knows this fact.

More than half the world's population still need to know about Christ. These people have no one to tell them there is a way out. Will you respond and speak life to this people and bring the good news to them.

How should missions be carried out?

It should come from a point of passion. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching.

I want to end with a story in Papua. Although man does the work of mission, ultimately it is God who does the work.

Mission is supremely the work of God.

This is the story of Stan Dale and Phil Masters.

These two has been serving in Papua for many years back in the 1950s. They have reached the Dani people and they wanted to go to the Yali prople. They are very fierce warriors and they are scary too because they also eat human flesh. They believe if they eat their enemies, they'll gain their power. Their believes turns them to their animalistic side of their spiritual being.

These two families wanted to make contact with the Yali people. The Yali people out of fear conspired to kill these two. They shot him with an arrow and technically should have died but didn't. So they were also very frightened of them because they didn't die and they have white coloured skin.

So as they went back after meeting the people they were ambushed. Stan Dale stayed back to talk to the Yali people and he put his hands up and said don't shoot. But one of the Yali shot him from behind and it hit his armpit and he pulled the arrow out and broke it and threw it away. Then more shot arrows at him but Stan just pulled the arrow out and broke it. They got more panic as he was not dying. They became desperate. At the end of it they counted as many as 50-60 arrows were shot at him Stan knew he won't survive this. At last he dropped and died.

Next was Phil. As the tribe surrounded him he didn't run and just stood there with arms open. They shot him. They were surprised because usually the enemies run. It got them curious. The news got all around the world and more than ever people were praying for the Yali people than ever before.

The missions authorities went in and arrested those people who they heard were the killers. Killed 5 of them and put one in prison. With all these violence, that Valley was closed and that no gospel was going to go through.

God's plan was different from man's plan.

A few months later, a family called the Newmans had a missionary pilot took them to go to Mulia. This was a new Canadian pilot who was a professional and a good pilot. He was new to the place. At that time it was hard to read the Papua terrain. It was bad weather and instead of landing on Mulia it crashed in the same Valley. All died except for one boy Paul. Nine year old Paul Newman knew he was the only one alive. He lost his glasses and couldn't see and wandered in the valley for a few hours.

Then he came across a Yali man called Kusaho. He was one of the few that was against the killing of the missionaries. Kusaho saw this white boy and he said he must protect this white boy. He took him in and protected him for a few days. Here's an amazing story because here is a primitive Yali taking in a white boy.

The rescue mission in helicopter came and they saw that the plane crashed and probably no survivors. Two weeks earlier two expats were killed here so they are keen to quickly leave.  But then as they were preparing to leave, they saw this white boy running towards them, Paul Newman. And they were so surprised and shock that there was a survivor. Then they heard the story of Kusaho and how he protected the boy. A bridge was build from there.

The missionaries convinced the Indonesian government to release that one Yali man because he knew NP matter. Two years later, the Yali people invited the missionaries to visit them. God opened the door that was shut tight. It was God who guided all these things. He managed all these situations. We are just blessed to be called to this mission.

Although Stan is dead his son is there doing pastoral work and translating the Bible. Because God is doing the work there is no failure. We cannot not go just because we fear failure. We just need to be obedient and just work alongside God. He determines the end.

We can enter alongside our Master in this work in different ways:

• We can go to the mission field
• We can give to the missionaries and the mission organisations
• We can pray for the missionaries and for their work

ALL of us can do something.

All of us can do something. Because want to see the nations worship God.