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.

A Story of Three Gardens

Ps Koay Kheng Hin

Today I'm quite excited because I've not been up here for quite a while. It's like when I make announcements I don't want to give away the Mic. I have an old fashioned sermon to share. I was telling Bro Andrew that I sometimes think that now that I'm officially part of the pastoral team, what comes to mind is the movie the Last Samurai. Tom Cruise and Ken Wanatabe in the last scene, shows the Samurai charging at guns and canons with their blade and that's why it's called the Last Samurai. All die.

I have an old fashion sermon and I only have the Word of God to offer you. I've had the opportunity to hear sermons and I realised that my messages are very old fashion.

There are a lot of fresh messages that is available online but I also believe that the insights into the Word of God is eternal and there are always fresh insights into the word. I noticed that most of my books are old old books. About 90% of my books.

The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan is one of those old classics. How a young Christian when he searches for God and he uses a lot of analogy. It talks about the word itself drawn from Peter 1 that we are all pilgrims of this earth as we journey through life, God will keep us progressing.

What I can impart to you is my journey with the Lord. My task is to draw men and women into an intimacy with the Lord. What about missions you say? My task is to draw you into communion with God and it is God's task to call you to the commission.

When we talk about TOP as a church, it's you and me. If you are doing well spiritually, TOP will do well spiritually. When I say spiritually, I'm talking about the temperature of your spiritual life. Are you excited when we talk about the things of God? That is the spiritual gauge of your spiritual temperature.

The first garden is the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:8-9 (NIV)

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

It tells us two things. One, God did not create Adam in the garden. He was created outside the garden. God put him in the garden. The second is that the word Eden appeared. We sometimes use the word paradise. A garden of paradise. Delight and pleasure. It's a good garden.

A lot of trees there but there are two important trees. The tree of life and the tree of knowledge.

Genesis 2:15-16 (NIV)

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

There are two trees. The tree that comes.to the foreground is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In the background was the tree of life. They took the fruit of the tree and that disobedience caused death to come to the human race.

Adam and Eve were created with the capacity for immortality. To live forever. There was a tree of life where they would not have seen death. But towards the tree of life was the tree of knowledge and at that tree they stumbled.

Adam and Eve were offered two trees. To get to the tree of life they had to get through the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They failed miserably.

The book of the Bible begins here but it became the lost paradise. It represented disobedience.

Genesis 2:17 (NIV)

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Death became the norm for the human race. It is this death that came over the human race that marks every man and every woman. Now when you talk about paradise and heaven to people they will say I am on earth and still young, why talk about heaven. They do not have any hope beyond what they have now.

But many of these people, when they reach the end of their life, they search. People who have near death experience, they'll say they see clouds and if you read some books like "Heaven is so Real", you think it sounds a little far fetched to believe.

I only believe what the Bible writes. I really don't know about any other experiences written in other books. I only believe what is written in the Word of God.

As children of God, there are two things that we should not be doing.

We should not be putting paradise and heaven aside. Why? Because your awareness and experience of it now will affect your spiritual life on earth. What is the relevance of your heavenly hope in relation to your life on earth? Or should we right from the beginning in our Christian life be excited about heaven.

When you look into the Bible there is a strong connection and it no accident that the Bible begins and ends with paradise. At Revelations it describes the glorified garden.

The second garden is the Glorified Garden.

Revelation 22:1-5

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Before I interpret these few verses, let's look at the apostle Paul. He was thinking about the glory after death. He said to live is Christ and to die is gain. He had the consciousness that he was on a journey and his final destination is the glorified paradise.

Peter, he wrote that we are pilgrims and strangers on this earth and one day he will meet the Lord in glory.

And John wrote that he who testifies to these things he said come Lord Jesus. He was looking unto the glory of being with him in the glorified paradise.

There are a few things in this glorified paradise that would come true. There would be no more night. Where is this light from? You cannot trust Tenaga but you can trust God. The city of the New Jerusalem gets light from the glory of God. The glory of God lights up the glorified paradise.

Adam and Eve lost that covering of the glory of God when they took the fruit from the tree of knowledge. In the glorified paradise you have the second garden where salvation finally found its perfection. Fully manifested and the glory of God is everywhere.

In verse 4, it is written they will see his face. You will see Jesus face to face. In the lost paradise Adam and Eve lost the presence of God. Here you will see the Lamb of God on the throne.

Verse 3 says no more curse. No longer. The righteousness and truth and the perfection and full rest of the soul is found in paradise. Would we one day want to find a place where we can lay down all our burdens and all our anxieties are put away. Where the presence of God is seen and experienced forever. A place marked not by death but by life.

There was a movie called Shangri-La where a place of beauty, pleasure and life exists. Science uses the word Eutopia. Nobody wants to die. Even a man up to the very end will always have the hope of another day longer. Very few I've met who say why today cannot die, must wait until tomorrow?

Where is this second garden? The garden of the glorified paradise. Is it in heaven now or existing now, the answer is no. Revelations 21 tells us that it awaits a new heaven and a new earth.

There will come a time when there is a new heaven and a new earth. It will come down onto earth. The glorified paradise will still be on earth, a new earth. This is the hope of every sons and daughters of God. That one day we will be with our Lord Jesus experiencing the fullness of God.

The world is in the lost paradise trying to find the glorified paradise and they'll fail.

In Jonathan Edward's Christian Pilgrim, he wrote that we should not rest in the world and its desires but we should be desiring heaven. We should want to be with God and to be with Jesus Christ. We want to be in heaven not because it has more beautiful beaches than Batu Ferringhi or that it has more beautiful gardens than Hawaii but because Jesus is there.

He tells us to enjoy whatever God has given you. So don't go and sell your house because I say you look to heaven.

What is our heavenly hope in God? Now we look at the third garden.

The third garden is the Garden of Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:36-39

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

This third garden answers this question. The verse that stands out is this. My father if it's possible let this cup pass by me. But finally he says not as I will but as you will.

The first garden was a struggle between God's will and Adam and Eve's will. The devil pushed them - your will be done or God's will be done. Finally Eve decided my will be done. But Jesus said as God's will. The lost paradise represented the permissive will of God. Here it showed Jesus bowing to the will of the Father. It's the prescriptive will of God. God's will be done, the full providential will of God. We are all here on earth.

Every day we face this question. Is it my will or God's will be done. We are daily as a Christian in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The day we become a Christian we enter our Garden of Gethsemane. Everyday you will face this challenge, my will be done or his will be done.

Men and women who have captured the essence of that heavenly hope that whatever decision they make now will have eternal value. They will be able to say thy will be done. They have this hope of glory of Christ in them.

Many years ago even after becoming a Christian, I didn't really find rest in God. Until one fine day, I found two words. Strife and surrender. In these two words, I got the breakthrough as God illuminated it. God's will is about surrender. Eve did not do so, she had to use her hand to take it. It's strife. Everyday, are you going to strife to lay hold of things or will you surrender?

For us to surrender our finances, our career, our children, those things that are dear to us is easier said than done. It's a journey.

Many years ago, I'm a science teacher so I went through a period if I've surrendered my finances to God? My career to God? I ticked a list. Some things I stopped like chess because it's held on Sundays. So I ticked no. To surrender my wife to God. Don't want to say much. Tick la. That time Esther was two years old and Rebecca was seven. When it came to my children, I couldn't tick.

The tick means if God calls me back can I release them. Sometimes your life changes with just a little tick. Finally I ticked. You have to release. It does not mean your children is no longer with  you. It means surrender. Your will be done.

If we know there is a better life ahead of us, a heavenly hope, it gives you strength and the rest of the soul and it will be a barometer of your spiritual health.

Every single day of our life is the Garden of Gethsemane. Looking at the glorified paradise will give us strength and hope.

You have eternal life as children of God. But the more important is to have a victorious Christian life. The question is are you experiencing eternity in your life. If you are saying yes, then I want to encourage all of you that tomorrow as you wake up you will have that glorified paradise coming down to earth I to your life.

I end with this. The Bible has a poetic coherence to it. When God ordained that when you enter the tree of life, God maintains that principle that to enter the tree of glorified paradise is the tree in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a prelude to Golgotha or Calvary. It's a tree of curse, shame and suffering and Jesus bored that. We now enter it through the tree of shame, it's our shame our suffering and our curse borne by Jesus.

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.   

Is Divine Healing for Today?

 

Rev Allan Chan

HEALING IN THE BIBLE

In the Old Testament:

• Gen 20:17-18  “Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech” and his household for they had been barren.
• 1 Kings 17:17-24  Elijah raised widow’s son.
• 2 Kings 5:1-14  Naaman healed by Elisha.
• Numbers 21:19  Moses lifts the brazen serpent.

1 Kings 17:17-24  Elijah raised widow’s son.

Vs.21 -“Then he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.”  

Vs.22 - And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

2 Kings 5:1-14  Naaman healed by Elisha.

Vs.9 - So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 

Vss.10  - And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

Numbers 21:9  Moses lifts the brazen serpent.

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

In the New Testament

(i) Jesus’ healing ministry & miracles

Mt. 4:23 “Jesus was teaching and proclaiming the gospel and

healing every kind of disease

and every kind of sickness

among the people.”

(ii) Apostles and early believers’ preaching was validated by signs and miracles.

Jesus promised: “..he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will also do..” (Jn.14:12).

So, “And they went out and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” (Mk.16:20).

Acts 8:6  “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.”

Philip was:

• One of 7 deacons selected to serve widows and the poor;
• Not an apostle but a lay leader;
• Preached and did miracles in Samaria;
• Baptised Ethiopian eunuch.

(ii) Healing is integral to the Great Commission.

Mk. 16:15 – 20  “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel .. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will  pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 

Vs.20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

JESUS said:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”  -  John 14:12

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

With His blood He has saved us,

With His power He has raised us:

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

Who Killed Jesus

Good Friday Healing & Miracle Rally

Rev Allan Chan

And why it matters that we know?

Introduction

John 18:1-8 (NIV)
Jesus Arrested
18:3-11pp — Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-50; Lk 22:47-53
1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

• Who was really responsible for the arrest, unlawful trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
• Did Jesus have to die in such a cruel manner?
• Is anti-Semitism a justifiable movement?

JEWS as a People/Nation?

• Jesus upset Jewish leaders who plotted to kill Him (Jn.8:59; 10:31; 11:8; 11:53)
• Jesus was arrested by Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:3,4 & 47); brought Him to Romans to be killed (Mt. 27: 1 & 2)
• It was the Jewish religious leaders who were jealous, felt threatened, and instigated the people (Mt.27:20)
• Peter (Acts 2:22 & 23); & Paul blamed Jewish people (1 Thes.2:14-15)

Gentile ROMANS?

• Only Roman authority had power to sentence death (Jn.18:31)
• Roman soldiers scourged and mocked Jesus (Mt. 27: 1 & 2); nailed Him to the cross (Jn. 19:16 – 23)
• But, we can’t blame the whole Roman Empire for acts of Pilate & soldiers in Judea, much less all gentiles.

Annas & Caiaphas?

• High Priest was Caiaphas, but Annas was father-in-law (former corrupt High Priest) illegally questioned Jesus (Jn.18:12 - 24)
• They feared Jesus for reasons of political power, prestige and popularity (Jn.18:19)
• Their focus was on Jesus’ following, His disciples before His teachings.

Pontius PILATE?

• He was Roman Governor of Judea and allowed self-government by Jews, so long as imperial authority maintained and taxes collected (Jn.18:31; 19:4)
• He believed Jesus was innocent (Jn.19:4; Mt.2723) and could have set Him free, but wanted nothing to do with Jesus’ fate (Mt.27:19 & 24)
•  Pilate tried to absolve himself of the responsibility but yielded to mob demand and gave the order for crucifixion.

Answering Anti-Semitism

• Anti-Semitism based on Mt.27:25 “His blood be upon us and on our children”
• Interpreted as a multi-generational indictment on all Jews throughout time
•  In Acts 2:38 & 39, Peter used same words to offer salvation and Holy Spirit to all who would repent – he was referring to the  1st century generation then Peter added Vs. 39.
• Jews just as eligible for salvation thru Jesus as anyone else.

YOU  and  ME?!

• Rom.5:8 & 9 – “…while we were sinners, Christ died for us… justified by His blood”
• I Cor 15:3 – “Christ died for our sins”
• 2 Cor 5:15 – “He died for all…that we should live unto Him who died for us”
• Heb 2:9 – “…that Jesus should taste  death as a man for every man”
• 2 Cor 5:20 – He…became sin that we might be the righteousness of God.”

ABOVE ALL

GOD’S Sovereign Will

• Rev.13:8 – It was God’s plan from the start (Gen.3:15; Acts2:23: 2Tim.1:9; Tit.1:2)
• Mt.26:42; Jn.18:11, 37 – Jesus chose to submit to God’s will (Lu.22:42)
• Phil. 2:8 – Jesus was obedient unto death of the cross
• Jn.10:17 & 18; Mt.26:53 & 54 – Jesus had power to save Himself, but…
• “IT IS FINISHED”.

OUR  RESPONSE

• How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (Heb. 2:3)
• You are bought with a price, you are not your own; so glorify God in body and spirit (1 Cor 6:20)
• We are God’s “workmanship”, created and called unto works He has ordained (Eph 2:10)
• Continue what Jesus began until completion (2 Cor 5:18 & 19)

These are notes compiled from the Powerpoint presentation by Rev Allan Chan.

Rev Allan Chan praying for those that needs healing or a miracle.