Success for 2018

Rev Lawrence Seow

Joshua 1:1-9 

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant gave you. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

MOSES IS DEAD       

Leave the past behind

Israel knew Moses was dead (Deut 34:8)

The Israelites grieved, mourned for Moses 30 days

Many people are still trapped in their past, they cannot lay hold of the future

They have no future because they cannot let go of what happened in the past

Past hurts…relationships…failures…disappointments (we all have them)

Past success…glories and achievements…laurels and reputation…seniority…education and experience

Life can get very complicated and sometimes we become confused and conflicted

Here are a few real-life scenarios:

A woman is in a loveless marriage...it’s a toxic relationship...but she has 2 young children...wants to walk out on the marriage but has to consider the kids

A man suffers a stroke...he was very active before...now immobile...considers ending his life (conflicted)

A husband whose wife is more successful...she is busy...has no time for him...he feels neglected...meets another woman...a young divorcee...begins a relationship

A man with elderly parents...he has failed in life...wants to migrate and start a new life elsewhere...but his duty to his parents holds him back

We are conflicted souls...a bundle of contradictions...a paradox of inconsistencies, even among the very best of us

Conflicting thoughts...emotions...beliefs and passions (full of contradictions)

Psalm 90:10    our years are 70 or 80...the best of them are but trouble and sorrow

Moses is dead!

Break that fixation…paralysis that results from always looking back

This applies also at the church-level…forget the past – people who have come and gone, great times, bad times…highs and lows…what you’ve accomplished OR failed to do

CROSS THIS JORDAN       

Cross Over – A New Start

The River Jordan is below sea level – deep and turbulent during rainy season, but slow and sluggish during the summer

Where Jesus was baptised…

Israel had to cross this river to enter the Promised Land…it was in their way

There will always be obstacles and hurdles in the way of The Promised Land

Giants were waiting for them across the Jordan

There will be daunting challenges ahead, intimidating situations and uphill tasks

The devil will even send roadblocks and distractions your way

God never promised it would be easy or smooth sailing…if you don’t cross this Jordon you’ll never enter the land of Promise

Diamonds are formed after undergoing tremendous heat and pressure...deep under the earth’s crust...carbon material

BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS

Go the distance – boxing parlance for finishing the fight

Do not quit or stop half-way – no matter how tough or bad it gets

Heard it before, and you need to hear it again – the Christian race is not a 100 meter dash; it is a marathon

It’s not how well you start but how you finish that matters

A pastor was preaching one Sunday when he spotted an old friend in the service. He asked a deacon to invite this man (obviously very wealthy and successful) to lunch after the service. During lunch, the man broke down and sobbed. He told the pastor how they had both grown up as teenagers in church, and while the pastor answered God’s call, he had pursued his career and achieved success. But after so many years, he knew deep inside he was not where God wanted him to be. And all his secular success and accomplishments could not make up for it.

Sad truth is many Christians start out well but they relax along the way…get complacent and stop pressing on

Story of the man who found an eagle’s egg

This is why we need God’s Word – meditate on it day and night, keep us focussed and strong (read text again)

Your mind is the control tower

When we think God’s thoughts we think the most powerful thoughts

Sermon notes courtesy of Rev Lawrence Seow

Season of Transition

Pastor Teh Yung Huat

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

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

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

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

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

Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)

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

Deuteronomy 8:15 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

Change is the norm in transition.

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

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

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

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

The transition is a tough time.

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

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

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

Deuteronomy 8:16 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

Numbers 20:4-5 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deuteronomy 7:22 (NIV)

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

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

Even if we are impatient, his timing is perfect.

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

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

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

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

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

Ps Teh delivering his sermon.

Courage to Move Forward

Sis Melinda Song

Joshua 1:1-9, NIV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why mention that Moses is dead? 

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

Moses is dead BUT God’s not dead!

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

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

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

“Now then, you…”  

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

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

Joshua is clearly overwhelmed. 

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

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

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

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

Whichever word you want to use, Joshua was it.  

It appears Joshua needed a lot of encouragement. 

·      v. 6 Be strong and courageous

·      v. 7 Be strong and very courageous

·      v. 9 Be strong and courageous

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

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

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

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

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

2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV

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

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

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

A. GOD’S PLAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We can be strong and courageous because it is: 

B. GOD’S PROMISE

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

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

Numbers 23:19,NIV

God is not human, that he should lie,

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

Does he speak and then not act?

    Does he promise and not fulfill?

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

Joshua 21:45, NIV

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

Joshua 23:14, NIV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We can be strong and courageous because it is: 

A. GOD’S PLAN

B. GOD’S PROMISE

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

C. GOD’S PRESENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joshua 5:13-19, NIV

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excel in the Grace of Giving

Rev Ronald Ooi

It's good to bounce back after Chinese New Year. After all that eating and visiting. We are still in the midst of shifting. We have been in that house for the last 10 years, and when you first moved in to an empty house and after 10 years you wonder where all the things comes from. We try to give it away, clear it as we can't bring too many things with us to Penang.

I must thank the intercessors for praying because my grandson came with my daughter and son-in-law just for two days and when they landed in Penang airport my grandson got really sick. He has never been so sick before. He is normally a cheerful young boy but he was so sick they had to carry him out of the plane. His temperature was rising and we brought him to see our family doctor Dr. Sybil, our doctor for the last 30 over years. She used to see my children when they were 2 to 3 years old and now I'm bringing my grandson who is about 4 years old.

She checked and she thought there is something wrong with his stomach and suspected appendicitis and she said we better take him straight to the specialist. We took him straight to Island Hospital and we had to wait again because there were so many tourists from other countries lining up to see the doctor. My little grandson was so exhausted and was just sleeping. In the meantime I just WhatsApp Sis Felicia for the intercessors to pray for little Isaac.

And when the doctors checked him, the doctor said I can't find anything wrong with him. No appendicitis, no firmness and so no medicine. He said no need any medicine. And we took him out for lunch and after lunch, he said I'm ready to go for a swim. That was really quick. And you know what, I really thank God, ,that's why I believe so much in prayer. I really do. God has shown us again and again and again that prayer work.

Now I thank God for all the doctors in this world. Including my son who is a researcher. I thank God for all the doctors but there is a great physician. Amen?

A very happy Chinese New Year to all those who celebrates Chinese New Year. In Penang everyone celebrates Chinese New Year. And the island gets congested. I live to celebrate Chinese New Year because that's when our families come together. We are made to be a community so families are very important. We miss our families when we don't see them after a while.

Why do we miss them?  Is there a scientific explanation? It is because we are created to be a community. God created man and woman so that we become a community. Before governments came into being. Before politics came into being. Before the economy came into being, the family is the first Institution God has brought it into being so that we are connected with one another.

We receive Ang Pow at Chinese New Year when we are young. I am very young because I received an Ang Pow from the youth. We had a wonderful time with the youth and we are going to have the young adults come to our place. We are going to have a fun time with the young adults. Make me feel so young. When we are young we are dependent on others. More so when we grow up to become teenagers. My teenage son at one time became very nice to mom and dad. I know something is up with him. Very nice to us. So we ask him what he wants. He wants money because he is not working so he is dependent on us, the older ones, the mature ones, for his finances.

It is the same in the Christina world, in the church. We look to the elders and leaders when we first come to know the Lord for help and soon we too become independent and when we become independent, we begin to give. But it does not stop there. We think we can do what we want to after we become independent but it's not the end. We learn to be interdependent. We complement each other and find our strength in each other.

We miss the fullness of life when we live with only ourselves. As we do life together, I know it will be an exciting year. I'm bringing a preaching and teaching team to plan for the year. I'm forming a team to lead you so that we can grow, serve and be transformed together.

His plans and purposes is better than ours. His will is better than our will. I enjoyed sister Melinda and Bro Koay's sermon. I may not be here but I'm here.

God has a better way to live. Not only his plans but his purposes. A more meaningful way. Your life and my life will never be the same. One of the ways I want to talk about is the way of giving. A few weeks ago I talked about the YES key. Today I want to talk about the GRACE key. It will unlock the many blessings God has for us.

It is called "Excel in the Grace of Giving". It's to prepare us for the Harvest Mission we are collecting next week. I know we are a little late, supposed to be January but I am inviting Bro Terence who is a young man together with Debra and you will love them. They sat under our pre-marital counselling. And they have been to Cambodia to do missionary work there, then in Sabah, a brilliant young man willing to just let go everything together with their two children now to do mission work. I could have invited somebody older but I love to give the opportunity to the young missionaries to tell us what they're doing these days. You'll enjoy them and you'll enjoy the church camp. I've invited Pastor Eric Lau who is a bi-vocational pastor who will be here to minister together with his wife for the children's church. I consider him one of my sons in the faith. I'm looking forward to a new season, a new outpouring of God's spirit upon TOP.

Let's look at the passage of 2 Corinthians 8:1-6 as I want to set the tone for this month as we are collecting for Harvest Missions. And it is very close to my heart when it comes to missions.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2

1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

Take note of the superlatives used here. Paul is trying to form a picture with his words. This was a church who was rich in their heart even though they were poor materially.

2 Corinthians 8:3-6

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

Giving is an act of grace. Grace and giving is connected. Mission is the heartbeat of God. Giving is a character of God. We know this in John 3:16. That God so loved. But that word love is not that love in the air, the love that makes the world go round, you know we all hear songs about love. And the world is trying to figure out this word love in a sentimental soft manner. Nothing wrong with that. But the bible is so clear in bringing to us the understanding of what this love is all about. Because the bible says for God so loved the world, he gave. He gave. It is accompanied by giving.

I once invited a preacher to talk about faith promise and he said to the congregation, brothers and sisters, I will not be talking about giving and smiles came upon the faces of the people. Then he said, I'm not going to talk about giving, I'm going to talk about sacrifice. And when you look at what God did in John 3:16, that love is accompanied with a sacrifice.

He gave his only son. That we would not perish but have everlasting life. A sacrifice. When we say I love you, there's always a because. But when God gave his son, it was unconditional, he gave sacrificially. We are made like him, so we are to speak like him and we are to love like him and we are to give like him. He is our model.

Bob Pierce who founded World Vision, a big organisation saw for himself in South Korea war torn children. And he wrote these words in his Bible. Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God. After that the rest is history as World Vision impacted the world.

We can't make a law to make people love you. It is impossible to carry out a love relationship based on the law. It is a divine revelation that he loves us so much that he gave his son. That is his amazing love for us that can only be experienced. It comes and overwhelms you. And you will do for God because you want to and not because you have to.

It comes out from a heart that is responding to the grace of God.

When I went to Thailand I saw for myself first time in Thailand a refugee camp at the border of Laos. Several thousand refugees that had crossed over Mekong river and ran away from the communist troops. Their parents have been killed. And for the first time I saw what Bob Pierce had seen. War torn children with just pants and no shirts running about. I saw it. Mission is something you can't talk about. You got to go out there and see it for yourself. Go out there and see what the Orang Asli is like. The tribal villages of Sabah and Sarawak. You just have to go out there and see for yourselves.

I want to encourage you, every one of us, sometime in your Christian life, can you tithes 10% of your year to go out for missions. You need to go out there and see what God sees and feel what God feels and you will be changed. You will be able to align your life with the will of God. 10% of your year, that’s 36.5 days. If 10% is a bit hard then 5% la. In Malaysia we can negotiate. There's no negotiation between you and me. It's between you and God.

We get to apply the principles of love in mission giving. The Bible teaches us to give in love. We do not give out of pity. It is different from philanthropy. Not out of charity but because it is a biblical mandate. Go back to the scripture. We align with God's heart for humanity. It is God that is concerned for the poor and those in need.

It will make your life different. You will not only become rich in wealth but you will become rich in heart.

1.  Giving is an Act of Grace.

2 Corinthians 8:2-4

2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

As much as they are spiritually gifted, Paul is telling them to excel in the act of giving. Grace was mentioned 4 times. Jerusalem was like a mother church. There was a famine at that time and Paul is telling them it is their turn now to help their mother church and the churches in Jerusalem. Like we must not forget our parents and older folks and the young adults say?

Let's look at what the Macedonian church did. They became a biblical model. Poor as it may seem, they became a model for physical giving. Wow. God was not looking at the rich to be a model. God was looking at the poor as a model for giving.

The generous act of favour given to the church of Macedonia. I love this phrase, grace be upon you. When we learn to give lovingly, or when we give even when our needs are more than those that are in need, God's grace will be extended to you the giver. God's grace will be extended to you. Because you are giving wisely based on what the Holy Spirit tells you.

That's why it's called Faith Promise. It's not like going to the bank where you give a 10 dollars you expect God to give you 1000. Though there is a principle here in giving, I have moved away from that kind of thinking. It is God's grace that you will receive. Grace is unmerited favour. It is a very powerful principle.

They gave out of their most severe trials. I love the use of superlatives by Paul.  They were going through a difficult time. Not just severe drought but most severe drought. Extreme poverty. Not just poverty but extreme poverty. But when they gave they gave with overflowing joy. And they gave from a heart that is wanting to give. At the end of the day, it was not how much they gave but it was about their heart wanting to give. It's the heart. It demonstrated their sincerity and willingness to sacrifice.

Remember the story of the boy and the crowd following Jesus that was hungry. I can imagine when this boy told the mother he was going to see Jesus, the mother probably said to him to make sure he don't go hungry. Make sure you have enough food. And the mother gave him 5 loaves of bread. Ah, not five loaves of bread but five small loves of bread and 2 small fishes. We sometimes miss the word small.

The disciples said there is not enough food to feed the 5,000. And the disciple said there is this boy with 5 small loaves of bread and 2 small fishes. And Jesus probably said give me your small loaves and small fishes. And maybe we would have said but so small how to feed the people. Maybe only feed 3 or 4 persons. But Jesus  took them, prayed and multiplied it. Not only did Jesus multiplied them, when he went home, he went home with 12 basketful so I can imagine the mother asking him where did all that food, did he steal it from somebody? And the young man probably said, no mommy, Jesus did it. I gave him so much he gave me much more.

This is called the grace key and I've experienced it again and again and again.

When we got married, it was Saturday and the next day we must go to church. I think in the 70's, you have to go to church. No honeymoon yet. Before our wedding we didn't have much but after our wedding dinner, we suddenly became rich. Wow! Not bad huh. We can get rich just by getting married. We were smiling and we were so happy. My mind was thinking how I can make our home comfortable for my wife.

And that Sunday morning there was a call to give in church and we looked at each other and we just gave. We didn't even said a word. We gave almost all but we had enough to honeymoon at Gentings. No gambling though. And we forgot about it. And we came to Penang as a young couple. I was still driving a motorcycle and she was pregnant with our first child. But we carried on serving God.

And before we knew it, a missionary was leaving the country and he sold everything but his car he couldn't sell. And the day came he passed me the key. He said it was worth more than 22,000 but he couldn't sell it and the Lord told him to pass it to me. You can never out give God. There is that key of grace. I can share with you more, but the story didn't end there. After giving me the key to our first car, the Volvo 122, it's like a tank, he came and drove in another better Volvo, the Volvo 747 and he got it for 1US dollar. He gave us his Volvo, he got a better Volvo.

Your heart, even when you are in need don't just think about self. If Jesus  thought about self. He would have stayed in heaven and not shed a single drop of blood. If we live for self we will not find the real joy of living.

I love to give Ang Pows but now my wife does it and it gives me joy to see their smiling faces. And Jesus is God's biggest Ang Pow to us. If you didn't get any Ang Pows this year, never mind, Jesus is your biggest Ang Pow.

2. Giving is an Outflow of our Intimate Relationship with God.

2 Corinthians 8:5-9

5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

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.

The Macedonians was giving because they first gave themselves first to the Lord.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give". - Duane Hulse

So you have to make a choice. Do you want to make a living or do you wan tot make a life with the life that you have. Giving is not a one time thing but a lifestyle.

"It is now how many years we live, but what we do with them". - Evangeline Booth

What do you do with the years God gives you? You can choose a life of keeping or a life of giving. What do you chose? I'm giving away my books this morning. I wrote and printed 10,000 copies which cost me 10,000 ringgit. And when the bill came, it was FOC. And I said God, I'm not selling this book, I'm giving it away. I've given away 17,000 copies. I don't sell them and with my heart, though it's a small book, but with appreciation for what God has done for my son. For God's favour upon his life.

And I've given it to churches and there's no obligation to pay but the money that we got I gave it away to orphanages and children's homes. On my record, I've given away 19,000 ringgit for this one little book. And I've learnt that the more I give back the more I receive.

When it comes to giving to the kingdom of God, it will always come back to you more so let's give our best.

3. Giving is an Act of Excellence.

2 Corinthians 8:7

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

When we grow up, we are told to do well in your studies. Do well in your sports. In everything do well, do well, do well. When it comes to church, do we excel? When we do something for God we do it well. It's not a law, no pressure but when we are serving God, we do it well for his namesake. Let's excel for Jesus. No more just que sera sera, no we do well. We prepare well, we teach well, we preach well. We do well for God with a good heart.

"Missionaries are never beggars. They are ambassadors who give us an opportunity to become partners by giving our dollars while they give their lives". - Harry Ironside.

You have been supporting missions and we are going to support a lot of people in these next six months. And the next six months. Some of these I know them personally. Theresa Chye is one of them. You have been supporting her. When I came here I didn't realise her name is there. Guess what, I knew her when she was in Sunday School. And she went to Bangladesh. 8 years as a missionary. 8 years as a single lady. Some of us can't even survive one week there. I'll invite her to come sometime in October.

I want to encourage you that where your money go it will go a long way in the kingdom of God.

"Many of us cannot reach the mission fields on our feet but we can reach them on our knees". - TJ Bach.

We are partners and participate with them and we will go a long way. Your life will be different. Pray for those that are in the mission fields.

Prayer:

• Dear Lord, thank you for loving me.
• I love you too and I give myself first to you today.
• Thank you for your grace that is sufficient at all times as I learn to give to others.
• With the help of your Holy Spirit, I will excel and complete the act of giving for the work of your kingdom.
• I trust you will open the windows of heaven and flood my life with your blessings.
• In Jesus Name.