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.   

Rebuilding Your Temple

Rev Tony Phang

Good morning! It is so good to wake up in Penang. I told my wife, any invitation from Penang please don't turn it down. We are so excited to be with you all this morning and to be reunited with Ps Ronald and Sis Jasmine. As you know Ps Ron was our Bible School president and I still remembered the first week he was in Bible school, he summoned every student to go and see him one by one. I was wondering what I did wrong but when I went to see him, he asked me my name, what I do and what are my dreams and what was God calling me to do and he prayed for me. I was so impressed. And the three years in Bible school was a tremendous blessing to me. He was a good example to me and I learnt a lot from him.

He in fact taught me how to preach so this morning if I preach something wrong, please don't come and see me.

2 Chronicles 29:1-5 (NIV)

1 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.

3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side 5 and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.

This morning the title of my message is rebuilding your temple. I'm not talking about a physical temple but I'm talking about a spiritual temple.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV) Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

You yourselves are God's temple. This morning I want to talk about having an intimate relationship with God. Why it is needful. And why it should be the most important thing to do as a believer.

And from the Bible I will show you who you are and what you do and what you have is determined by your relationship and your walk with God. Jesus said in John 15 that without God we can do absolutely nothing. Without connecting to God we cannot bear fruits. In order to bear fruits we must have a relationship with him. A connection with him.

Just like the branch and the vine.

John 15:4 (NKJV) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Your success in life is connected to your relationship with Christ. I'm not talking about you being more religious but rather to have a relationship with a living God. Somebody say amen to that.

Last 2016, in the month of May, I said to my wife I have not seen my girls. My daughters for 18 months. And I said to my wife I miss them. I want to hold them, I want to hug them and I want to go out with them. Can you arrange and buy tickets and help me to get over there. So my wife who couldn't wait to get rid of me bought me a ticket, so my flight to the States will take me to Hong Kong, 31/2 hours, the to Dallas 12 hours and then to Springfield 11/2 hours.

But on the day of my flight, at 4 in the morning, my wife told me that my flight was cancelled because of bad weather. But my clever wife, still couldn't wait to get rid of me found me a replacement ticket. A different route to take me to the States.

The new route would take me to Hong Kong  31/2 hours, plus 10 hours transit. Then to London 13 hours, London Chicago 9 hours and then to Springfield 11/2 hours. So I literally flew around the earth. When I saw the new route I was so discouraged. My wife and my family knows I really don't like flying. But I want to be with my girls. So thinking about it for a while, I said I'm going. I decided I was going to endure the trip because I want to be with my daughters. It's because I love them and my relationship with my daughters is very precious

 and they are important to me. I want to talk to them and I want to hug them.

When Christ was on the cross and when he cried out with a loud voice, it is finished, and yielded out his spirit, and the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. The tearing of the veil was very significant. More than just a miraculous and sovereign act of God, the tearing of the veil was the expression of God's love towards us, so that we are no longer separated to God. He loves us and he longs to be with us. There were no more barriers anymore.

When our daughters were still with us we sometimes go for vacations. I always tell my wife make sure we get connecting doors in the hotel. We have to book two rooms. And once we get to our rooms I'll tell Katherine and Vicky I want them to keep the door slightly open, don't lock it. And they'll protest, dad give us privacy. That's because I love them and I want to be able to hear their voices and their laughter, and to be able to hear them when they call me and to be able to see them anytime I want. Because I love them. We have a relationship. So my daughter can come to me freely.

Now you know why the veil was torn down.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today, we can come and enter boldly and freely into God's presence without any difficulties, or observe any OT religious practices because of what Christ has done on the cross. God sees his relationship with us as something precious, so precious that he was willing to send his only begotten son to die for us so that we can boldly come to him. We are important to him.

The problem today is that some Christians do not share the same sentiments as God. That's why some Christians don't spend time with God or not at all. They think that coming to church once a week is sufficient enough. And they wonder why they are suffering. Or why they are in bondage. Or not bearing fruit. We are just the branch and without the vine we cannot bear fruit. Without connecting to Christ, you and I cannot bear fruit. It is impossible. That's why they are not fruitful. What we do and what we are is dependent on our relationship with God.

Without God it is impossible to bear fruit.

2 Chronicles 29:1 (NKJV) Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah[a] the daughter of Zechariah. 

Hezekiah was a good king. And some Bible historian calls Hezekiah was the second best king of Judah after King David. The Bible said he did what was right in the sight of the Lord during his reign. And under Hezekiah leadership, the Syrians were defeated by him. The economy of Judah grew and prospered. And when he died the Bible said that all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honoured him. The people loved Hezekiah. What was the secret of his success? He inherited a nation that was backslidden. He inherited a nation that was once ruled by evil and irresponsible Kings. He inherited a nation that was once invaded and held captive by their enemies and they're still carrying the scars of slavery. What did he do to turn this mess around?

The Bible says he first opened the doors to the house of the Lord and repaired them. Hezekiah first assignment was not the economy, it was not military or healthcare, or the security of the nation but his first assignment was to restore Judah's spiritual state. He cleaned the temple of its rubbish. It was setting the temple in order.

Why? Because the temple was abandoned for so many years. It was neglected, unkempt and when he became King, he instructed the Levites and the Priests to clean the temple spiritually. Why was the temple so important, because the temple was the spiritual life of Israel. It was in the temple that prayers were offered, sacrifices were offered, the law were read and offerings were given. It was in the temple that Israel worship and commune with God. The temple symbolises Israel's relationship with God. And that was the first thing King Hezekiah did, setting the temple in order.

Now church, let me ask you a question this morning. How is your temple? How is your spiritual life? Is it important to you? Is it in order? Or did you abandoned it. Or did you neglect it? Is your bible covered with dust? If it is, you need to set your temple in order. You need to do some cleaning and get the rubbish out so to speak.

In Revelations chapter 3, Christ chastised the Laodicean church for being lukewarm. He said in verse 20, behold I stand at the door and knock.

Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Christ said he was standing at the door, he was left outside the church waiting and knocking. This is rather strange because isn't Christ the head of the church? If he is the head of the church, why is he outside waiting and knocking, waiting to be invited in? He is the head of the church ma.

If I see Ps Ronald standing outside your church and knocking on the door, hoping somebody would open the door for him, I would ask pastor where is your key? If Jesus cannot enter the church, why? Because he does not have the key.

Let me ask you a question. Who do you usually give your house  keys to if you go on a vacation? Do you give it to a stranger? Or people you hardly know? Or people you just met? You give to your family members or somebody you are close to. Why? Because you have a close relationship with them. It's all about relationship. Jesus was left outside because he doesn't have the key to go in.

The Laodicean church did not give Jesus the keys because they don't have a close relationship with Jesus. They treated him like a stranger. Someone they see only once in a while. Someone they don't have a close relationship with. Many people go to church but in reality, some do not have a close relationship with Jesus Christ.

Some people say this verse is for unbelievers and it's not true.  It's used for Evangelism. It's to the church not unbelievers. Jesus was talking to the Laodicean church.

Revelation 3:22 (NKJV) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Notice that despite not having the keys, Christ still knocks on the door, hoping that someone would hear his voice. Hoping that someone would open the door. Hoping that someone would invite him in. Relationship with God is important to God. Do you have a relationship with God? Is your temple kept unkempt? Is your temple neglected? Do you seek His heart, his will and obey him?

When a lawyer asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus said to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And he also said this is the first and the greatest commandment. Before you love anyone or anything else, you have to love God first. Hezekiah knew and understand that the destiny and the prosperity of Judah was connected and dependent on their relationship with God.

Until today people still ask me and Christine why do we go to Africa? Is it because they pay you well? No. If I tell you how much they pay me you will be shocked, 17 years in Africa no EPF. 17 years. We go there because of a relationship with God. I go there because Christ said I'm going to do a work in Kenya  and I want you to join me. That's why we went.

Do you think I really want to go? Not me. I did not want to go. I even prayed I did not really want to go. But eventually I went because I have a relationship with him, deep enough to trust him that all things will be fine. It's not because of money because there is no money there. I trust him that he will take care of me and my children.

Today my wife and I are very blessed. My children today are studying in the Sates with full scholarship. We don't have to pay a cent. God took care of us. God showed how good he was to us during those17 years. It was not easy. There will be days when there's no water for months and without power for weeks. Here, when there's no power or water, you call right? That water or power will be restored in 2 hours. There you call nobody answers. Security was bad, life was different. Culture was different and it was a huge adjustment for us but we hung in there. There were times the ministry was hard.

One day my wife was so broken she wanted to quit. One of our orphan, a girl at our orphanage, about 12, 13 years old, a beautiful girl, a song leader, has a lot of potential died. Christine received a call, where a leader said this girl died at the village. We were sad but what made us even sadder and angry was that she died because of female circumcision. She was forced to go through that. My wife was so heartbroken, she wants to quit the ministry. I'm not joking.

17 long years we hung in there because of this relationship with Christ. I've met pastors who pastors their church for 20 years that had 10 people. 20 years and I wondered why they still stick in there. Why don't they just quit and go home? Why? Because of this relationship with God. Life is hard. Life is not getting better. This is the truth. Our world is not getting better. Jesus said in this world you will have tribulation.

Didn't Jesus said the wise man builds his house on the rock? Didn't he said the wind and the flood will come, the rain will come and beat on that house? But that house will remain standing, why? It was built on the rock. There was a connection. If you want to survive the trials in this coming storm, you got to have a relationship with Christ. We cannot afford to be casual in our relationship with God. In such a time like this.

The revival that started with Hezekiah began on the inside of the temple first. After the temple was set in order, then the people went out into the city of Judah and broke every sacred pillars of idolatry in every town and every villages and threw down all those altars at high places. It began in the temple then it moved outside. It began with the people then when things changed on the inside, then it changes the outside. Change must begin in your heart.

Church, as a Christian, your outside is a reflection of your inside. And the inside is your heart. For example, If your heart is filled with anger, hatred, jealousy, unforgiveness, pride, you have no ability to change the world. In fact, you are going to add to the problem.

But if your heart, your inside is touched by God because of a relationship and you are full of peace, love, joy, full of mercy, you are going to make a difference in the world. If you want to change Malaysia you have to change first. If you want to bear fruit and change your circumstances you must start by examining what's in your inside, your heart, your temple and your relationship with God.

Let me close with what Hezekiah said. Listen to the words of this prophet.

Haggai 1:5-6 (NIV)

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

It looks like the people of Judah was working so hard but they were not receiving the result from their hard work. They were not getting the returns from their investment. It was obvious that something was not right. Have you gone through this experience? The returns are so little when you work so hard. So what's wrong?

Haggai 1:8 (NIV)

Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, ” says the Lord.

Build the temple. Put God first. Put your relationship with God first. Then you will have enough. God wants you to succeed and prosper. But you have to set things right in your life and family first. Build your temple. And when you put God first other things will fall,I to place perfectly.

Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be added to you. But it has to start with you first. How is your temple? How is your prayer life? How is your Bible reading? It's time to come back and built the temple.

The Fig tree

Bapak Dr Anthony Leong

As a whole the church is supposed to do missions anyway. I believe it's not about the two hundred thousand you need to raise to do external missions. You should come to Indonesia and see my 639 churches that we have. And no church support. I've got two Bible school, I've got tertiary school running like a missionary school. We're doing that. And all because the Lord continues his blessings upon me and my wife.

Ps Ronald and Ps Jasmine know my family for a long time. We were in Glad Tidings together and like he said, once upon a time I don't believe in speaking in tongues. I told him there's no such thing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I argued with him and argued and argued. My wife and me we never argue about woman. We never argue about money. We only argue about the Bible.

I think about 30 years ago the Lord touched me and the Lord touched me in the spirit and spoke to me. And now I'm more a pastor than a lawyer. I was quite happy being in the Brethren church until she woked me up in the spirit and I'm doing healing and speaking in tongues.

This morning I'm not even preaching, I'm just sharing with you. What I want to share is from my heart to your heart. There is a work outside that you and I have got to do. And when the Lord comes back and the Lord ask you what have you done to my kingdom you can't say Lord you gave me 15 children to look after. The Lord wants to touch each and every one of you this morning. Let's look at Mark 11. The way I look at the Bible may be different from other pastors because I'm trained as a lawyer so you can't blame me alright?

Mark 11:12 (NKJV)

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

The Bible clearly says that Jesus was hungry. I would have thought that if Jesus was hungry surely his disciples were also hungry right? Boss don't eat we also don't eat. So Jesus knows and he's setting traps for them. If they're hungry why not just go eat first? So for what purpose it's written? It's written for today.

Mark 11:13 (NKJV)

And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

Let me ask you, when seeing fruit tree from afar, as a lawyer I ask how far is far? It may be far but the journey to the fig tree may be down a ravine. How far and how much longer they have to walk? The journey to there the scriptures didn't tell. We need to read the bible and ask questions. I'm like that.

What is Jesus trying to find? He was hungry so he was looking for fruits.

Jesus already knew whether that tree has fruits or not. He found there was nothing but leaves. Because the time was not the season for fig. There is a reason why Jesus wanted to do that because Jesus already know there is no fruit. Just like you don't look for durians when it's not the season for durians. I know now is the durian season. I mention durians and all your eyes lit up.

Mark 11:14 (NKJV)

In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heard it.

Did the fig tree asked Jesus to come? I don't think the fig tree at that time can talk also. The fig tree probably if can talk would say what wrong have I done? You brought your disciples with you to look for fruit and when you found no fruit you curse me. Why Jesus cursed the fig tree?

Matthew 21:17-19 (NKJV)

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

If you are a fig tree you'd tell Jesus it's not my fault. Not my fault never mind, but now I cannot bear any more fruits. For a tree not to bear fruit is a problem. That means it's generation no more. The fig tree is cursed no more fruits and on that day itself it withered away.

Mark 11:14 (NKJV)

In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heard it.

The disciples heard it. The key thing for us is what's the story for us? I've read this many times but did not really understand until 1996.

My whole family were blessed with a trip to Israel. When I was there the tour leader who was a Jew name Boaz told me this is a fig tree. Then I saw what the fig tree in the Bible was like. In Israel the fig tree at the moment they have leaves will 100% have fruits. Because the fruit comes before the leaves. So if you see leaves you will have fruits. Now you can Google this information but those days we don't have such things.

The moment you as a fig tree put up your hands of leaves, you are saying you have fruits.

When you apply for anything like University or whatever and you put yourself as Christian, you are telling the whole wide world that you have leaves. That means you all have fruits. But when the fig tree has leaves and no fruits it is why it's cursed. Jesus is saying to the fig tree, you say you have leaves, I brought people here but they won't get a chance to eat. That's why I will curse you.

Translated to this church TOP here in Penang, the moment you call yourself a Christian you must bear fruit, not for you to eat but for others to eat. The moment you say you have leaves, you must have fruits.

My parents have 15 children. Before your mind gets gatal ya, it's one father one mother. I remember my mom is always pregnant. We were born in Malacca that's why I speak Malay. 8 boys and 7 girls. You cannot imagine out of the 8 boys 6 of us are lawyers. Those days we don't have money. But I told God I want blessings to be a channel of his blessings. I will not give if I don't have. I don't believe in faith pledge. I will not borrow to give. God bless and I give. God is going to use you to be a channel of blessing.

I'm not talking about money. I'm talking about caring for people. I'm talking about praying for this country. If we talk about missions, it starts here and not elsewhere. The Sabahans and the Indonesians are coming here. We don't want your money. We want your commitment. That's what God wants us to do.

When the Bible says you are to bear much fruit, what does it mean? How many of you have rambutan trees? When you go to a fruit orchard to buy a fruit tree you will go during fruiting season right? And what do you look for? You look for rambutans. If you see 10 rambutans per tree you buy or not? Surely not. You must see more red than green. The Bible says we have to bear much fruits.

John 15:1-2 (NKJV)

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

When God was good to you what did you do for God? Every branch that had no fruit he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes away. That's painful. The pruning will make you bear more fruits. Even when you go through pruning don't worry. When the pruning comes you will bear forth more fruit.

John 15:3-5 (NKJV)

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

If you do not bear much fruits, two things can happen according to the Bible. I can say you are not abiding in Jesus and Jesus is not abiding in you. It's in the word of God. This is a question you have to ask yourself.

Why did Jesus said to some I do not know you? You may say but I cast out demons and perform miracles but Jesus says get out of my face because I do not know you. Why? Because Jesus is not abiding in you. I'm very sorry. I don't want you to be calling yourself sheep but you are a goat.

Everything God has ordained. The worst thing for you to do or the biggest lie the devil can tell you is that he makes you believe that you are a Christian because you are only attending church at the 4th floor of 222D. But you do not bear fruit. Come in and just go out. Like the Bible say, are you a sheep or a goat?

You may say Bapak you are different because you have money. Don't forget when we started all 15 of us no money. But if you give your life to God he will bless you. I'm not preaching prosperity gospel. I always tell God I will never borrow money.

Forget about the church wanting to collect 200 thousand. That's not the problem. I want God to touch your heart. Where is your treasure this morning?

Here is a true story. Every time I go to the Orang Asli village to preach I am very encouraged by an old lady. She sits right in front of the church. Every time when I preach she would say amen. The rest don't say but I don't mind because she always says amen. But one day when I was preaching she never said amen but kept looking behind. She kept looking looking looking back. So after the service I went to ask her why you always look behind. She said she just bought a pair of new shoes. It dawned upon me for where your treasure is…she was afraid someone stole her shoes.

The Bible says for where your treasure is there lies your heart also. Where and what is your treasure? Your grandchildren? Your business? It has to be God's business. God business first. Some put the church before God first. Then you will have lots of trouble. We need to put God first.

Mission Breakthrough through Abraham’s Journey of Faith

Rev Ezra Chin of Emmanuel Church


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


2. Courage to build for your mission breakthrough.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Pursue the promise of God with great commitment.


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


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


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


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


5. Ceding of your rights for your missions breakthrough.


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


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


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


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