Dawning of a New Season

Rev Wong Yin Ming

Sr Pastor of Subang Jaya Assembly

I'd like to share with you on the topic the dawning of a new season.

I believe we have different seasons in life. And in Malaysia we have only one season, the hot season and the hot season. And in life we also have different seasons and in organisations, they have what they call life cycles. And the church also have life cycles. God can lead a church from one season of growth to the next season of growth.

And the transition period is very important. I've gone though two churches where they merge to become one. The transition period is crucial and determines the success. If the transition went well, there's a lot of excitement, a lot of joy and a lot of unity. But if the transition didn't work out so well, there is going to be a lot of challenges. But even so, when we go through transitions, we believe that it will be good.

I want to bring to you a historical passage that talks about a transition of leadership and also thr transition of the people of a nation.

1. God is in control of every season.

Joshua 1:1-2 (NIV)

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them —to the Israelites.

God spoke to Joshua, Moses my servant is dead. And when he talked about Moses being dead, he was talking about the passing of an old era. Moses is dead and God now is bringing forth a new leader. The children of Israel was also going through a transition. They have been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and they are about to now enter into the promise land.

The children of Israel was going through a new season after they left the wilderness. There is also a new leader that is coming. The new season is a season for the new leader. Moses has served his time. In the last 40 years, he has served his time. It's not that Moses was no good, it's just that his era is over. 

I believe the Israelites wanted Moses.  But in God's wisdom he did not allow them to find the body of Moses. Joseph was embalmed but not Moses in God's wisdom. If not they will always look back on Moses. God wants them to look at the glory of the new leader.

When a new leader comes in, there will be uncertainty. They would probably prefer Moses to lead them into the promise land because they are familiar with him. To let Moses bring them in then only appoint a new leader. Now there are two transition, a new leader and a new place.

In the midst of uncertainty God is in control of every season.

God told them to get ready to cross over. It signifies the beginning of a new era. Joshua will be the one to bring upon them the plan and purposes of God. God's presence will be with them.

And God told them that he is the same God of Moses that led them out of Egypt and is the same God that will lead them into the promise land. The leader may change but the plan of God has not changed. Moses is not the one that planned the future of Israel but God.

I want to share something personal. The senior pastor of Subang Assembly announced his resignation after 16 years. It was a very unique situation. He resigned and took on our outreach so I became the sole senior pastor. I came before God and said I do not know how to lead this church and I felt the weight of responsibility.

I remembered God used this passage where Jesus spoke to Peter that he will built his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But God spoke to me that I will build my church and the weight just left me. It is he that will build his church, not me and I knew that I will not journey alone and God is in control.

Churches will have good seasons and bad seasons but he is still in control and will lead the church through the seasons of change. Before God can move the church he has to prepare the leader. And equip the leader.

2. God will raise up a new leader for the new season.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (NIV)

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Just as God was with Moses, God was with Joshua.

Deuteronomy 34:9 (NIV)

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

The people listened to Joshua. God himself personally encouraged Joshua. Three times. Be strong and courageous. Joshua is much younger and they have not seen Joshua done any miracles yet. They were not so sure but the leader himself must show courage. If the leader is not courageous the people will be shaken in fear. Just like any army, the General must be strong. They will follow. God is encouraging your new pastors to be strong and courageous.

When the leader had to go like Moses, God will raise new leaders. When Elijah had to go the mantle fell on Elisha. Elisha split the water just like Elijah and when the people saw that they recognised him because he did the same miracle as Elijah. They accept not because Elisha told them about Elijah but because they saw him doing what he was called to do. He did it himself. Then the people recognised.

Pastors come and pastors go but the church will remain. Because the pastor is not the church. The people is the church. Pastors are there to equip the leaders to do the work of the ministry.

God chose Moses to lead the people out of Egypt but God chose Joshua to lead the people into the promise land. Not that Moses is no good. And God did not intended the people to compare. It is God who decides.

I had high respect for the founding pastor of my church. I never speak ill of our founding pastor because he laid the foundation. But all pastors will be different. You cannot please everyone. When I first took over the church we had two pastors. They must be wondering whether these two jokers can do it. He was so relational while I'm tasked oriented. But together we build the church and the church grew. Together we embarked on our first building we called our own.

One of the debate in church is the gender of the leader. The spiritual gift God has given is never based on gender. There were lady judges and pastors. The spiritual gifts are given to the leaders to his pleasure. It has never been gender biased. The gifting and calling has always been there.

How I became a senior pastor was orchestrated by God. I seldom share this story. I've shared only once in Romania because it was a man-led church.

I had no idea that the founding pastor was leaving. We were both BCM lecturers so we helped teach. We were there with the church before we took over the church. We did not get involved with the church ministry and administration. One day when I went to the church, the Sunday morning a clear voice spoke to me, I want you to take over the church. I could not believe what I heard. I was thinking maybe it's the devil. I brushed it aside and buried it at the back of my mind. I thought it's just a crazy thought.

It was months before the pastor announced his resignation. When he announced that thought came back to me. I told God it was not possible. We are in an urban setting and many are professionals. Well educated professionals. This is a man's world. For them to accept a lady senior pastor is something that will not happen. But there was this stirring within me. The search committee started searching and invited some pastors but none was accepted.

They then called Pastor Lim and he approached me and asked why don't you come in and we do it together. There was a lot of uncertainty and praying. The church was searching for one pastor and how to say we have two? The church called an EGM and we were both voted in. Pastor Lim's wife is also a credentialed minister but Pastor Lim called me and not the wife so it has to be God.

We enjoyed our ministry together to build the church. Of course there are differences but it does not split the church. Because we are different but in the end we worked together.

After Pastor Lim left to lead an outreach, we embarked on the second building. Pastor Lim handled the first building because as a man he knew more. I knew nothing about building a building but when it was decided I went ahead. I didn't know what I was getting into but we successfully completed the building and is enjoying it. No one left the church after the new building was completed.

When God affirms you he will also open doors for you. I moved into the EXCO and also the Council.  During our time a lot of Bible students married each other. But it's rare for a pastor to marry a layman. We had to go for counselling but after us now many lady pastors also marry laymen.

We have a Love Pastor Fellowship just like Penang. When the Chairman wanted to leave they were looking for someone and everyone was looking at me. All of them are men pastors except for another lady also from AOG yet they accepted me as chairman. YB Hannah Yeah of Subang Jaya looked at me and said you lah.

The calling and the gifting of God is not gender biased. Bil Hybels who runs one of the top churches in America recently appointed a lead lady pastor and a pastor/teacher for Willow Creek.

I just shared with you my journey and it is over 20 years and I'm still doing it. Whenever people talk about Subang Assembly, people just say it's a church with a lady pastor. The church has to affirm the new leader.

3. God will bring you over to the new season.

The people had to know that this is the new season. The people must not dwell in the past because Moses is dead. To cross over to Jordan the people has to be prepared.

Be prepared.

Be committed.

Be supportive.

Joshua 1:16-18 (NIV)

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous! ”

Now they support and affirm Joshua. And they say what God said to Joshua. Only be strong and courageous. I pray that you all will be likewise. And Joshua led them into the promise land. Do not be like the people of Moses. They complain and murmur. Joshua generation was different. They supported their leader and crossed the Jordan as a united force.

Affirmation and encouragement motivates our leaders. Give them your ultimate support. Not just verbal but practical. Walk alongside. Not support from behind.

New season bring new changes. New pastors will have new approach. We must engage the younger generation and raise them to be part of the team. The church have to change with the times. A new leader can bring about new change. But not just new leaders, but the churches now must engage the younger generation.

My encouragement to you is to engage the younger generation to be in the team. To be a part of the team. The church at large must change and we must change with the times. Help the young generation to embrace the new season by involving them and empowering them. You must trust them and have confidence in them. Allow young leaders to have a say. We have a team of young pastors and assistant pastors. Age 29, 30, 36 and 37. All very young. Our church is in a season where we want to empower younger people.

Our young pastors take turns to preach and conduct communion. They do everything we do. But we also wants to embrace the younger members. Because our pastors are young, they see from the millennial point of view. And we baby boomers are trying hard to understand the millennials. We learn from the younger generation. We learn from them how to reach the young.

I took them to a Hillsong event at Subang Jaya and there they talked about how you prepare the people for the service. From the beginning, the moment the visitor enters into the church, right until the service starts and everything has a checklist. And we went back and walked around our church and I asked what do you all think about our church and they say, it's not warm enough. Because our church is a factory building even though it was renovated. The wall is beige colour and after about 7 years you can see patches, more of a very formal environment.

They say young people don't like these kind of colours. They say we don't have a hospitality lounge and our library is under utilised. So I said okay, I give you all a project, you come up with something new. And do a facelift. So I empowered them. Together with a team of youngsters, they came out with a concept that blew my mind.

Their proposal was that the library was under utilised so get rid of the library. They said move the library elsewhere and they said your books will not attract people but your setting and environment will attract people. So the hospitality lounge will take centre stage and the library and visitor's room which nobody want to go is moved to the side.

So I told the young assistant pastor, I said you come and share the concept with the board and I told the board I empowered the young to do this so don't give them any ideas, because our ideas are old ideas. I said let them tell us what they want. I said I empower them but I am not involved because they have a chat group. All the 3 young pastors are in but I am out.

And these are what they came out with. (PowerPoint slides). This is to show you what young people are capable of doing.

I let the young people make changes to attract the young. Like our library and hospitality lounge. We empower them and they come out with ideas. They come out with ideas and we have to foot the bill. And now our young people are excited. And now they are discussing about a mural wall. Another team of young people are on that. I don't even know. And many of them are only college students. They want to make the place vibrant. If not they said looks like factory. All plain colours, white colours. We empower them but we just have to control their spending.

I am encouraging you that even as your church enters a new season with a new pastor, think of embracing the younger generation. You'll be surprised that with a little bit of guidance, young people can do a better job than us. May the Lord bless you.

Understanding the Times and Seasons of God

Rev Ronald Ooi

I want to share with you the journey that we have taken with the Lord. It's not about doing God's work. Not about being positioned in ministry or career. At the end of the day, Jesus said go and make disciples.

I'm starting to understand that my walk with God is to be a disciple and to make disciples. To coach and multiply for others to be disciples of Jesus. At the end of the day just one word. That's obedience and to be at the centre of his will.

Sometimes sentiments come in the way and that's wonderful because we are people of emotions. But Jesus said to pick up your cross and follow me. Sentiments can be a major stumbling block to the will of God. I'm not saying we relinquish our responsibility as parents or children but to have a serious walk with God, we come to a place of true discipleship and that's obedience.

More than just coming to church and serving God we want to be his disciples. To flow with God. Take it in with positively when I say to jump in the river. Don't be afraid. Don't just wade in but to jump on.

Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

“As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never cease.”

Life on earth is made up of cycles of seasons. As long as the sun and the earth remains, there will be sun, there will be rain, there will be seed, there will be harvest, there will be birth, there will be death, he sets it in cycles. In fact there are more than 800 mentions in the bible that He is concerned with the cycles and the seasons of life. And it's not just astronomical information but it is a revelation of the purposes and the workings of God through these cycles of seasons and times.

There is a place in which the pastors and teachers are to take care of the people but also there are the apostolic that bring into the body of Christ the times and seasons of God and to govern the church with a structure that is biblical and there is a wisdom that the prophets and apostles bring into the body of Christ at large. These are gifting that God has given and prophetic elements of 2018 and so forth and that the year coming forth will be a year of balance.

We will see things happening around the world that will impact us here in Malaysia. It is all interconnected. We need to know the mind of God and understand his purposes. Not just information but revelations.

It is important because it will help you to make right decisions that will be aligned with God's will and purposes. How many of us make wrong decisions in life and we suffer because of it. It will take time for us to be back into a position of stability.

We sometimes don't learn from them making the same mistakes because we didn't understand the times and seasons of God.

Sometimes when things don't go right, perhaps it's not the devil but God that is stopping you. Generally there are three cycles.

One is the weather. We are familiar with it. Day or night. Summer and Winter. Hot and cold. Seed times and harvest times. These are seasons and it also affects the crops throughout the world. We are only familiar in Penang with the durian season. I already put in my calendar 2018 June July maybe November December. I only put in my calendar, I didn't say I'm coming alright.

Then there's the biological cycle. Which is birth, a baby is born and then become a young child, youth, adulthood and then senior age. And I hope everyone of us know which season we are in. Which season you are in determines what you wear. It also determines how you live your life. If you are a married person you are no longer a bachelor. Some married people still think they are bachelors. You adjust your priorities. You still love your friends but you love your wife more.

Then there are challenges in every season. Finance is a challenge, sickness is a challenge. Pain is a challenge.

How do we navigate through all these season? Without becoming a victim. Without being destroyed. This is where we find God in every season. Not just God but also God's people. I'm thankful for all these years not just for God but also for God's people. Sometimes we miss the revelation of God in this season. We miss it when he's trying to show us because we are overwhelmed by our own pain and mistakes and believe system that we cannot see the workings of God in our midst.

1. Season of Revelation - A Season to Know

It is a season to know God. This is a time when God appears to you. He is near you. He brings people to your side. He shows you his care and providence. Recently we had the floods and we are working on a system for care relief. On a social level we think we are helping people but I see God is working in reaching these people. More than just a social effort we carry with us the image of God and the Holy Spirit in us and they can see there is a God that is alive that's working through his people.

For some reason sometimes we don't see it. This is the problem with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They knew the scriptures and very knowledgeable about it.

Matthew 16:1 (NIV)

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’

He is already a sign from heaven and yet they are looking for the sign. They can read the weather but they can't see him who came from heaven. They could interpret the signs but not the seasons for God. They interpret the physical but not the spiritual.

Read Ecclesiastical and you see there is a time and season for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

But they could not see Jesus for who he is. It took a fisherman to see that.

Matthew 16:16 (NIV)

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

He knew God's timing and could recognise him. But Peter was not too mature then and tried to stop Jesus from being killed. It's like us. We can't see the times and seasons of God.

I was the first in my family to accept Jesus. I want to be faithful and not convert. That was my stand at that time but when I went to church one day the scales fell off. I had heard scriptures and attended Sunday School but that day the revelation came. It is something spiritual and a supernatural work of God.

I grew as a believer and realised that the church is also the work of God. We are all the work of God. I was placed in a Bible School to set up the structure and systems. It's not about the money but our love for God. I always ask God to open my eyes so that I can see the workings of God.

Yesterday at lunch someone said to me she cannot believe that in 10 months God gave us two pastors. She said she never imagined that. This is the first time in one church you have two because usually we try to get one pastor. Can you see God working? It is not just information but to have our spiritual eyes open.

There is such a positive atmosphere here, it has to be God. I just spoke to someone that everyone's name is under a Care Group whether you are attending or not. One pastor told me it's impossible and I told him we did it at TOP. We want you to be in a Care Group.

It is such a tremendous experience when we learn to do life together. Your life will be that much richer. It is so vital that we see God working and we do not want to miss it. What do we do? Just flow with it and we jump into the river. Don't hold back. Just jump into the river because it is God's river. You will not drown. You will grow in it. Look at the workings of God and flow with it. It took me a while to learn this. Now we just flow with God's work. We don't want to be left behind.

When he work we recognise what he is doing. Then we anticipate his miracles and provision. His increasing anointing in your life and his favour. Not by your own work but by him.

Our grandchildren were running in our empty house. It's just a small house but we are anticipating to be there. To be there to give to Australia not to take from Australia. We are sons of Abraham and it's meant to be a blessing to be the nations.

Relax, don't struggle with God. Just jump in. Break out from your own insecurities and comfort zone.

2. Season of Assignment - A Season the Sow

A season to know and a season to sow. When we know the seasons of God we will do the right things and do the things right.

1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)

from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do —200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

1 Chronicles 12:38 (NIV)

All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king.

Was it God's season to make David King? All of us will come to a place where God put us in a position of influence. We must understand that time. Too many leaders don't understand the times and don't want to fade over for someone else to take over and overtake us. The work is more important than the worker itself.

They knew that was the time for David to be the leader. When it's the time it's time to flow with it. Don’t wait to give your support to Pr Melinda and Pr Koay. We need the support of the Ministry leaders and the Care Group leaders.

Esther 4:14-16 (NIV)

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Who would imagine it's a pheasant girl. She said if she die she die. But she didn't die. It's the enemy that perished. Thank God I answered God's call. I have no regrets although there is pain and back stabbings and politics and disunity but I'm here to serve God. We will stick with it all my life.

TOP, you sown from January with lots of prayer. Now it comes the time for celebration. What season of assignment you are in. Do you know your signs of the times? Like my time is over soon and we will move on and we will plunge into the next assignment.

One of my favourite games with my grandchildren is to go to the wall of a fence and close my eyes like that. Then they'll ask me what is the time Mr Wolf. Then I said 1 O'clock and they'll take one step closer to me. And then I'll said suddenly it's dinner time and they'll run. I can't catch them now. The only one I can catch is their grandma.

We all need to know what is the spiritual seasons of our time. Coming out to Penang 30 years ago wasn't my time. But it was God's time. When I walk into the church they'll ask me is this my first time here. BCM also wasn't my time. I was ready to give my whole life to Penang. But there was this need and they needed someone with a Masters to be the president. But it was God's time. I've no regrets.

Coming back to Penang wasn't my time but it was God's time. It is not our time but God's time is always the best time. Don't fall behind in his time, don't go ahead of his time be right in the centre of his time.

3. Season of Multiplication - A Season to Grow

Once the seed has been sown the time for harvest will come. You sow right seeds in the right season. You don't sow seeds in summer. You need to sow seeds in spring when the ground is still a little bit soft. Then it will sprout. You don't sow seeds in winter too. It's too wet. And this is the time TOP. You are in a season of sowing. Sow into the young adults the children, the youth. And in due time you will bear the fruits of multiplication. When it grows, it's a time of celebration. My season now is a time of celebration. I'm just sitting back and enjoying the seeds I've sown. In my family, in the church and young pastors. They have overtaken me in so many ways with information but the old man still has got revelation. And so I celebrate.

I'm glad my son called me this morning and wished me happy birthday. I said thank you Josh and that I'm just sitting back and enjoying the fruits of my labour. His photograph just came out in Monash University. The only Asian face among all the other four Australian scientists. I better stop now before I'm thought to boast about my son but all glory to God.

We are not perfect. We are all still learning. Jasmine just told me in Australia we have to unlearn because it's a different culture. We have to relearn. At 63 years old, I'm still unlearning and relearning. Because I want to know God's timing and God's way of doing life on planet earth.

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.