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.

In the World, but Not of the World

At Youth Impact Service

On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus prays to his Father in John 17:14–19,

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Let me illustrate what this means.

Let's say you put water and oil into a bottle. Do the water and oil mix? They are both in the bottle and yet, they are separated. Now when we shake the bottle vigorously, you will find the water and the oil seems to mix. But once you let the bottle stand for a while, the two liquid separates again.

That is what it's like for us. The bottle is like the world we live in. Both oil and water, is in the bottle just like both believers and unbelievers are in the world. Yet, the bible says we are not of the world even though we are in it.

How are we NOT of the world?

1. The Wisdom of the World
2. The Values of the World

I want to briefly touch on the Wisdom of the World and turn my focus to the Values of the World which I think is something most of you will find challenging.

The Wisdom of the World

1 Corinthians 1:25

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

There is nothing wrong with acquiring knowledge. That's why you go to school, then to college and finally a university. But knowledge and wisdom are different. The wisdom of the world is based on the knowledge they acquired and it is temporal in nature. But the wisdom that comes from God has eternal significance.

The building of the Tower of Babel seemed like a good idea.

Gen 11:4 “Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

Where does such wisdom come from? It's an earthly wisdom driven by the ambition of man to make a name for themselves. You know why the Petronas Twin Tower was built? So Malaysia can boast to have the tallest building in the world…once. I wonder why it looks like an "M"? Maybe it symbolises Malaysia. ;)

So any knowledge that contradicts the Word of God is of this world. Like the Theory of Evolution. It's a theory but the world will have you believe that you came from a monkey as truth. So as children of God, we need to know and discern that the wisdom of this world cannot lead us to life eternal because it's of temporal value.

The scientists can tell you exactly what a blade of grass is made of. But they'll never be able to explain to you how it's living and it grow. The wisdom of this world is still discovering the wonders of creation which we term as intelligent design. Things didn't just fall into place over millions of years to exists in an order that we see around us today.

The Values of the World

The world system is committed to at least four major objectives, which I can summarize in four words: fortune, fame, power, pleasure.

First is Fortune, money. The world system is driven by money; it feeds on materialism.

Second: Fame. That is another word for popularity. Fame is the longing to be known, to be somebody in someone else's eyes.

Third: Power. This is having influence, maintaining control over individuals or groups or companies or whatever. It is the desire to manipulate and manoeuvre others to do something for one's own benefit.

Fourth: Pleasure. At its basic level, pleasure has to do with fulfilling one's desires. It's the same mindset that's behind the slogan: "If it feels good, do it." 

I want to focus on only two because Fame and Power usually only sets in when you get older, like me :)

Let's talk MONEY. The Big M.

There is nothing wrong with money on its own. It's the love of money that is the problem. We allow money to influence our decisions, often compromising our integrity for gain.

But I want to look at just one particular area about money for you guys. When you go for an interview. Salary becomes a criteria but I want to stress that salary should never be the main reason for making a decision.

After you graduate, do not delay getting into employment because you are looking for that perfect job that pays well. Interviewers get uncomfortable if the candidate have not found a job too long after graduating. Either you are not good enough or you are choosy. Either way it works against you.

More important is the culture of the company, the opportunities for growth and the job description that fits your ambition. The money should never be your main concern. If you are good, you will be promoted and rewarded.

There are too many who hop between jobs to get increased salary. They don't stay long enough to learn what's needed. Give at least 2 to 3 years wherever you are before considering a move. It is better for your resume and for your learning.

The second thing I want to look at is PLEASURE.

We live in a world where self gratification is paramount. We do what feels nice, looks good and seems popular. The bible says we are children of the light and what has light to do with darkness.

Please let me qualify what I mean. I am not saying we are good people and the non Christians are bad people. We are just a redeemed people, forgiven and is being sanctified because God's spirit works within us to change us from inside out. I know a lot of non Christians who good people, but we know our good is never enough before a holy God.

It does not mean we shy away from non Christians. We can have friendship but not fellowship. When we walk our life pleasing to God, we will be seen differently because we abstain from some things that your friends may engage in.

It does not mean it is right because everyone is doing it. That is how we are different. But that does not mean we judge what they do. They are just blind to truths that you and I see.

It was not easy to be a Christian and be in business. Especially the advertising industry. When I started, I had a lot of jeans client. Do you know all the best jeans are made in Penang? Levi's, Wrangler, Lois, Lee Cooper, Texan etc

Nowadays you have UNIQLO and H&M. So I used to spend a lot of time with the jeans maker bosses. These people in apparels are streetwise people. I'm surprised how I survived back then. God is merciful.

In meetings, there would be like 6 to 8 people in the room and I'm the only non smoker, but I get smoked. And when they meet after work to discuss business always must have alcohol.

Once, they had a big Company Dinner at Shangri-La and me and auntie Melinda was seated at the VIP table. Then they had some games on stage and there were three tables with cloth covering something that looked like a small pyramid.

My name together with two other guests were called to participate and when they removed the cloth, I almost fainted. It was stacks of canned beer and we were supposed to drink all of it as fast as possible. The boss quickly asked one of the staff who knows I don't drink to step up and volunteer to take my place and he won! When you make your stand, God grants you favour. I became good friends with them but I did not fellowship with them. And they know why.

I also made sales trip with them outstation so that I could understand their business. And one time 5 of them in a car and went to a pub and each of them were accompanied by pretty hostess there. I was left in the hotel lobby with a cold drink. But each of them took turns to accompany me at the hotel lobby because they know I won't go in. I shared Christ with them while I chat with them because they wanted to know why I wouldn’t join them. Because of business and fear that I'll offend my clients, I could have joined them but I chose not to. We always have a choice so when you are caught in a situation like this, remember what I said today. Choose wisely.

In the world but not of the world. When we grow up, leave home and go into the world, we need to know what we're up against. Different values. Different ideologies. Different activities.

We need to be their friends but set apart. We build bridges yet there are boundaries. You'll be surprised how God can use you out there in the marketplace when we are not ashamed to call ourselves Christians and walk the talk.

Live your life in such a way that those who don't believe can see that there is something you have that is good and wonderful—something different, something they'll be curious about, something they'll want for themselves, too.

When your friends go through a bad patch or crisis, often they turn to you because you have something they don't. Be the salt and light of the world, in it, but apart from it because we know our destination is not this earth, we are just passing by, so make your time here count for God.

9-to-5 Reality Check!

Bro Kenny Song

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four Reminders for Seasons of Setback

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

John 21:3-6

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

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

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

“No,” they answered.

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

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

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

1. Fruitless work is a common experience.
 

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

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

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

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

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

Romans 8:20-21

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

2. Jesus will meet us in our failures.

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

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

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

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

3. God gives help in times of need.

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Jesus is the true prize of our work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Actually, this is another sermon for another time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Corinthians 15:58

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

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

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

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

Emotional Healing

Pastor Yoong Ying Wah

It's a pleasure to be here this morning. A little bit of introduction. I'm married with one wife, that's important to know nowadays and two children and two grandchildren. My grandson is already 6 years old and my granddaughter is 3 plus. I've been living in Melbourne for the last 28 years.

Some churches bring me in for one whole week where I may do three sessions of counselling a day. And some churches have been bringing me in for the last 14 years. I've not come out to Penang for years and years except for the last few months I come about two times. I come not only for individual counselling but also for special meetings and weekend meetings. They also have different cell groups taking me out for breakfast, lunch and dinner and when you minister to one person, you bless everybody in the group because everybody knows that person.

An example was 2 years ago, I flew to KK after transit in KL so I told them tomorrow please no counselling because I was too tired. Just take me out for the 3 meals. So one pastor brought 3 ladies to come along and before I could start on my Char Koay Teow in KK, I felt God asking me to talk to a lady on my right.

I asked her why do you worry about money when God has given you so much money? Money should be the last thing you're worried about. Wah…she panicked and said I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't be worried about money. I think I took up my mother's habit. Blame the mother. The mother was not there to defend herself. So when I wanted to start on my Koay Teow again, I saw something in my spirit and I asked why you keep scolding your husband. He's the nicest man you can ever find in this world. Wah, she almost burst into tears.

Had it been somebody I'm church telling her that she'd probably say you go and mind your own business. But I don’t know her. She said ya, I keep worrying about money so I take out my stress all on him. I spoke to one person, 4 people repented. Sometimes we think counselling we just sit down but this just saved me two hours of counselling because God just cut I'm like that.

And she had to be a very brave woman not to change after that. Sometimes we have very set ideas, so I told God I want to be creative. You'll never know what hits you. God is creative. We are the one that make God so boring. Some people go up to the pulpit and we say aiyah we know what he's going to talk about. I hope I'm not one of them.

Sometimes we have very set ideas but God is a creative God. Through the years, over 20 years, I've counselled many emotional healing on individual cases. You can't imagine the pain I come across. All kinds of depression, suicidal cases and those sexually abused people.

Then drop there I went into severe marriages issues. I've never met somebody who married to torture the other person. But a good marriage is more than just good intentions. You must know how to make it work. So a lot of people do not know sad to say but they don't ask for help. Most of the cases that comes to me already ICU cases. Incentive care. Terminal. The pulse is already about to become straight line. They try to fix it themselves so they medicate. So instead of helping themselves they poison themselves. So they end up in ICU. By the time I come in to find out what poison have they been taking and all the he wrong ways of dealing with each other.

Last few year I've also been doing ladies seminars. It's very interesting because a lot of things I don't plan. Now I'm moving into the youths too.

The youth ministry to really reset the thinking of young people. Yesterday I spoke about what it means by falling in love. What is chemistry? Examine and remove all these myth about chemistry and so on and so forth. And to give them the biblical standards of proper understanding. This world has a lot of voices for the young people. God has open the door for me to speak to the youth to readjust them. So instead of just looking at the pure beauty of a girl we should be looking at the inner beauty. The world tune the mind at the outside beauty. I always say guys, you can get the most beautiful dog in the world but if it keeps biting you, don't care how beautiful you'll still kick it away.

I never wanted to write books, but in the last few years I wrote books mainly for ladies. About emotional meltdown and how to change your husband without nagging and how to forget the past and so on. We always tell people to forget the past but how?

Two years ago one Singaporean bought my book and wanted to meet me with her husband. When I landed from KL, I saw on the cover of the Business Times was a full page of them and their family fortune. I am a simple man and don't have that kind of air. I have nothing tangible to offer them. They actually wanted intangible wealth. They realised that their tangible wealth can cover only a certain distance. God has been teaching me to lay hold of intangible wealth. Look for gems in the darkness. I was wondering what God was leading me to.

Last year in PJ, an American came to stay in a house I was staying in. He was there for 2 weeks. One night his host cannot have him so my host had him on board. And while fellowshipping he asked me about my life story. And he told me to write everything into a book and he said if I've nobody to edit for me he said to send to him and he'd pay for it to be edited. I was so shocked he was so keen on my life story.

He's a professor of missions for 36 years in charge of a doctorate programme at a seminary. Little did he know I started writing 6 months ago but halfway I stopped because I was not sure and had no bearing. It was God who sent this man for one night to come to the he house to tell me to finish it. So I told God I'll finish it. But I hated writing books because so much details.

Two days later in a cell group I asked one person if he knew anyone who could edit my book for me and he said he's a book publisher. Give it to me. I almost cried at Starbucks but men don't cry publicly. We only cry in the shower.

For many years as I counsel people one on one, some people can just fall asleep. I was offended because someone is talking and they find it boring. Then I realised that everyone who fall asleep are demonised or demon possessed. The demon would knock off their conscious mind. Because when I speak the word, it cuts like a surgical knife. When I counsel I cut like a surgical knife. I am a spiritual surgeon. I cut line upon line. Their conscious mind were knocked off so they cannot hear the words that is coming out. I don't look for demons. They will appear and knock off that person's conscious mind.

So this morning anyone feeling sleepy? Too early to do any deliverance. I always tell people when I speak nobody fall asleep. It's not that I'm very good, it's just that people dare not fall asleep.

Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

To do the work of God you need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A man of the word is made at the Bible College. But the man of God is made in the wilderness. In the wilderness God destroys you. You come out depending on the Holy Spirit. But the man of God and depend on the theology. Nothing wrong with that. But too often some of us take our brain and our knowledge as God. We treat out knowledge and our mind as though it's God. No. What is bigger than your mind and all the experience that you have gone through?

 As a young boy, I grew up in Kuala Lumpur and once in a whole I'll followed my father to Stadium Negara.
At about 6.30 in the morning, when the air once upon a time still fresh. Up there I saw all these old men doing Tai Chi. As a curious young man I was wondering what they were doing. They say it's good for blood circulation as you move your arms and legs. Also it is good for self defence when your enemy attack you take his force and pushbutton away. And you are left unharmed.

We Christians may not do physical Tai Chi. But a lot of us do spiritual Tai Chi. When the word of God come from the he pulpit to you, you say that word is for this fellow, so accurate and you hope he's paying attention. What you did was when you got the word of God you pushbutton away to someone else. They will say this word is for you. This is not for me. And when they leave the service they wonder why God never speak to me.

God does not gossip to you about somebody else problem. If he speaks he speaks to you not about someone else. He loves you and wants to help you change. So tardy every word is meant for you, not for your neighbour.

How many of you come to the church to torture or intentionally give your pastor problems? How many of you decided not to grow spiritually for the next ten years? It is illogical. Nobody intentionally do all of that. We never come to church to do it intentionally. But what is the reality? Some goes from church to church and criticise. After criticising, then go to another one.

It is important to know how to administer emotional healing. Nobody intentionally want to hurt another.

There's this man who had cheese on his beard. He went to the room and he said the room smells funny. Then he went on to the kitchen and he said his kitchen also smelled funny. Then he went into the living room and even the living room smelled funny. Looks like the whole house smelled funny. So he said he better go get some fresh air. He went out to the verandah, sniff sniff sniff and he said the whole world stinks. To him the whole world stinks. It's not because the whole world stinks but it's because he did not remove it from himself. Often we have something we are to deal with and we did not remove it in our life.

What you know about yourself consciously may not not necessarily be the truth about yourself. You may not be who you think you are. In counselling I realised 95% of those who think that that's the problem is actually not the actual problem.

One time I spoke to a church at Sungai Buluh In Selangor. It's a place where leprosy is treated. Leprosy is where you do not have feeling so when you scrape yourself you don't feel it. The same with many churches. They are so wounded they don't feel anymore. They built walls and say they don't want to feel anymore. So that they can't be hurt but at the same time can't be loved. In that state they can't feel other people so when they step on other people's toes they don't even know. They are shocked and said I did not hurt you. What's wrong with you? That's because they have emotional leprosy. Who's the real you and real me?

Computer. What's the real computer? The real computer is not just the screen. It's the screen and the CPU but many think it's just the screen.

If knowing the truth brings freedom then why are Christians who is more than qualified still struggling?

Two days ago I was supposed to fly in to Singapore to help a couple. One of them the in-law asked me to go down to help their son-in-law and daughter. That son-in-law speaks in 150 countries. A big Christian organisation. And he also speaks in all the churches in Singapore. A strings of qualifications, Masters in Psychology and counselling. To him, he said he tried to fix his marriage and he said if he can't nobody can. He wanted to divorce his wife actually. He trusted his knowledge but it's more than that.

One time, God showdown me the pictures of a horse. There was this horse that was galloping on the spot. And the people asked the horse why are you running on the spot? The horse was tied by a thick rope to a stake. All Christians want to advance but because of unresolved issues, you keep galloping on the spot. Cut off the rope for people and you'll see them move forward.

Head knowledge does not change how you live life. It just change how you think about yourself. Many decisions we make is because of our unconscious mind.

Many think they think it's what they know because they read the bible. Moments of discovery comes when it expose what you know in your conscious mind and what your unconscious mind does.

Otherwise it's just head knowledge. They you just know it but you are not it. You know of it but you can't do it. You talk it but you don't walk it. Many Christians are in this kind of state. The devil is a better theologian than many of us. He has been around and even used the word against Jesus. Although he knows the word of God he's still the devil. You may know the word of God but you may not change.

You make me so angry. You make me angry when I'm a nice man. We blame others for our actions. I had this man who came to talk to me and asked me to talk to his wife so that he does not have to beat her. He blamed his aggressiveness on his wife. I was wondering and asked him why she is so powerful  can make him beat her but cannot make him love her? It is obviously not in her hands. He's blaming her for beating her.

It's the example of a tiger cage. No matter how I rattle the tiger cage, you won't hear a tiger roar if there's no tiger in there. Too many of you already have a tiger in there. God send somebody to rattle that tiger cage of yours to have you deal with that tiger in there. But we ended up blaming the messenger from God.

What is your unconscious thought? It was once your conscious thought. It was pushed aside and became unconscious thought because it was suppressed. And as Christians as you grow in the word of God that became alive in us, but so are your past issues. The main reasons why Christians failed to progress is that they often blame the devil. Too often we blame it on the devil. Because of the emotional mess in us we self destruct. Most Christians self destruct because of emotional problems never dealt with. Your wounded self.

One day a lady came to see me because she had a new found love in Melbourne. She was having an affair with a colleague. She didn't want a divorce because of a bad name to her family. But she still wants to enjoy this new found love. As I talked to her I realised she was not intending to give him up. So I had to tell her God said if you repent I will restore you but if you insists on going your way I'll let you go. All of us Christians have the hand of God covering us. The anger of God is not coming to slap your backside but to let you go. My grace and mercy kept you but it's not a license to live in sin. To sin deliberately. If you continue I'll let you go.

That lady who committed adultery suddenly called the church to complain about me. The moment God let you go, you're no longer under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

In another case a wife really hate the husband. He could not understand because he took her for a holiday and even bought her a new car. She insisted on sleeping in another room. She went to a lawyer and wanted to divorce her husband. The lawyer brought her to Christ and found her someone to guide her on what a good Christian wife should do to her husband. She learnt all those things and still hate the husband. This time worst. Now you know what you're supposed to do and you can't do it. So she became suicidal. It was tormenting.

She could not even stand the husband touching her at all. We happened to know the person who was following her up so typical of me I just asked if you've heard of any lady who doesn't want her husband to touch her. She jumped up when she realised this was a divine appointment.

So I met her and I asked why do you hate your husband? She said I hate my husband because he asked me to do banking and to drive here and there in the hot sun. I asked if I can pray for her.

Holy Spirit come and search her heart. After a while she said yes I remembered 5 years ago he did this to me so I hate him. So I prayed Holy Spirit search deeper. I remember now, 10 years a go he did this to me. Holy Spirit search deeper. And then suddenly, she just cried out.

17 or 18 years ago when they were still boyfriend and girlfriend he imposed himself on her sexually. And she said when that feeling came out it felt like it just happened seconds ago. The feeling is so real and the anger she had on him as a boyfriend then is still very much alive. So much so that even though the husband has changed to be a better person what had locked up in the unconscious she couldn't forgive him. And it came out finally.

I asked if she wants to forgive her husband and she said she always wanted to forgive him but I didn't know what it was. Now I know. So I prayed for her. She went home told the husband come back to the room. That night, Tarzan met Jane. Imagine that. But don't imagine too hard alright.

A marriage about to be destroyed because of one thing that happened a long long time ago was saved. The root was not dealt with.

Some things that hold us are personal secrets. One of the worst is sexual mistakes. You normally cannot pray it away. You need someone else to pray with you. Especially for young girls. For the young man it's enjoyment but for the girls it'll mess you up.

What you don't talk out you will act out. External things don't help you. It is important you seek help and deal with it.

Many people are corrupt in their mind. That's why they cannot get rid of it until somebody talk and pray with them.

If you wonder why you can't move forward seek help. Talk to God and God will arrange a suitable person for you.

Pastor Yoong Ying Wah praying for the congregation.