Rebuilding Your Temple

Rev Tony Phang

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

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

2 Chronicles 29:1-5 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just like the branch and the vine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now you know why the veil was torn down.

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

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

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

Without God it is impossible to bear fruit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haggai 1:5-6 (NIV)

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

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

Haggai 1:8 (NIV)

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

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

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

The Mercy, Grace, Blessing and Favour of The Lord

Bro Kenny Wong

It is wonderful to be in the house of the Lord. My purpose is to give glory to the Lord. What happened actually happened. What you will hear is the truth. Ps Ronald told me to come and share and I say why not. I want to give all the glory to him.

I grew up in PJ as a very naughty young boy. I hardly listen to my parents. I'm not from a rich family and I'm the youngest of 6. I used to wash plates and clean tables at a coffee shop after school. I was paid 50 cents per night. It's not the 50 cents that I wanted but that I'd pack back unfinished food so that my family can eat.

In 1972, a person in the coffee shop once asked if I want to work at the racecourse when I was 12. He'd pay me RM15 a day, and 2 days a week that's RM120 a month which was a lot of money then. He was an illegal bookie so I'd be asked to run errands  for all the police officers there. This corporal would tell the guard that I am his friend and to let me in, though I was just 12 years old.

Then at 14 someone asked me if I want to run errands for a group of friends. To just buy breakfast, lunch and dinner. And he'd pay me RM10 or RM20 per trip. But slowly from buying breakfast, lunch and dinner, it came to buying heroine. At the age of 14. They don't buy by the tubes but by packets. Later I came to know these group of people were not simple people but very very big time gangsters.

In 1974, at the age of 14 I became addicted to heroine. Guns and money were under their pillow. This went on and my life was all messed up. I did not have to worry about money.

In 1976 on April 5, they robbed Poh Kong, a big goldsmith shop at Paramount Garden. And they went back to their hideout just 200 meters away from the goldsmith shop. House No. 20, 20/7 Paramount Garden. Imagine that. 4 of them were shot dead at that house. The 5th at OUG. In 1980 the last of them was caught  in Penang in 1980 and was hung in 1981. They all come from Jalan Dato Keramat. All has sparrow tattoos on their chest and thighs. They were called the Luku gang. After Botak Chin was caught in February these group of gangsters were shot dead by the police.

My world came apart. No more money or drugs. Don't ask me how I get money to survive from 1976 to July 28 1978. I do not wan to go into the details.

In 1978 I got admitted into a drug rehab centre called Joe's Corner. God has been so merciful to me. I left school at the age of 14. I can't read and I can't write. But God was merciful and I got admitted into Joe's Corner.

I ran away three times and the pastor said if you run away again give your place to someone else. I saw Ps Ronald in a room doing his assignments. He was a Bible school student then. When I was undergoing withdrawal they don't give you medicine. They just pray for you. They just lay hands on you and say Lord, heal him! Heal him! Cold turkey. They bath you in cold water and very fast you come out of withdrawals.

If I had a mobile phone back then I'd probably not be here today. God was merciful because that morning on April 5th, I was so high I couldn't answer the house  phone to go to the house. I was supposed to go and get their passports and foreign currency so they can go over to Penang. These are big time gangsters that have committed murder and robbery. If not I'd have been shot too. By the time I got there, the place was surrounded by police.

I want to thank God for not allowing me to go to that house that morning and for placing me in Joe's Corner. That's the mercy of God.

Now I want to talk about the grace of God. In the programme, they give assignments on Mondays but I couldn't read or write. Ps Ronald would also give assignments but I don't understand what it was all about. I was uneducated. Form 1 and Form 2 I didn't go to school for 108 days.  I messed up my life because I did not listen to my parents. I had to look at the dictionaries for all those words. Obtain, I don't know what it's about. Get I know.

I used to con people during my drug addiction. My father died many times. This mind is a very corrupted mind because I keep telling people my father died to get money. But at Joe's Corner they give you memory verse and it cleanse and renew our mind. It's so powerful. As an 18 year old boy I had so many memory verses.

The government cannot help the drug addicts. It's the word of God that helped so many of us.

We appreciate those pastors because they gave their life for us. Today if you ask for money for old folks home, or children's home or the disabled, they will give but if you said it's for drug rehab, 90% of them will not because they said they deserved it. It's these pastors that gave their life for us. They are paid only RM30. That's why if he invites me I'd immediately say yes, to give glory to God. These are people that gave the most ungrateful people a chance.

I took a part time job because I was uneducated. In 1980, I went for an interview at Hope Computer. Before even the interview, the person asked me if I'm an ex-Joe. And he immediately gave me the job. I was so happy because the biggest challenge I faced was rejection by society and family. And I cannot blame them. It is so difficult to be set free and if society rejects us, so many went back to drugs. I went through a lot of these rejections in my life. Society don't give us a second chance but Christians gave me chance.

I promised the Lord that I will promise to be faithful to God because I got a job. To be honest. I was paid RM250. I managed to save RM10 to save into the bank. But the Lord reminded me to pay back all those that I have cheated. To pay back everyone of them. I never compromised on tithing to the Lord. RM25 I gave to Lord. I never go hungry. I buy boxes of Maggie mee then. They say you'll lose your hair if you eat too much Maggi Mee but look at my head now. Still full of hair.

It was not easy for my wife to marry me. It's not easy for a parent to give their daughter to an ex drug addict. We just celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary and we are blessed with four children. My wife educated me to read and write. Reading the Bible helped me improve my English. I have a lot of dictionaries everywhere. My wife was a very smart girl and she educated me. A wonderful wife. In 1983,I went to a sister's house called Audrey to ask her to pray for me because I was going for an interview at Carnation. I only have Form 2 education yet I got the job. Sister Audrey's son-in-law's brother interviewed me. It was the grace of God. I continue to tithe to the Lord. I tithe gross not nett. That's the grace of God upon my life. In 1985, Nestlé bought Carnation. I went through the back door because Nestlé's minimum qualification is Form 5 Grade 2. That's the blessings of God.

I've worked in this company and I've received 8 promotions. I was given a manager position. Minimum a degree. A lot of people didn't want this position I didn't know. I asked Ps Richard to pray for me as it's a high position job. I was offered head of sales for ice cream. When I changed job they gave me a farewell, someone shook my hand and said I've got guts. Because he said many refused the job.

I knew I was in trouble. I'll never forget 1990. I told the Lord I will work hard and trust in you. People think we will collapse as it was very difficult. In 2009 it was still not easy but from 2010, it has been growing every year. The Lord bless us a hundred fold. My wife said what you're getting is mind boggling. Until today I'm still just Form 2. Now when I told them no one believe. If it's not God and his blessings and favour you would not believe.

In 2010 they sent me to Switzerland to study a course. Everyone was told to speak and all of them has qualifications including PhDs. I told them I don't have a master but I have a master up there. That's the favour of God.

I want to wrap up by touching on a few scriptures.

I grew up as a rebellious boy.

Exodus 20:12 (NIV)

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV)

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

You ask your parents so many questions when growing up and they answer all your question. Now when you ask your children questions they don't answer. I grew up with problems because I thought I know better.

Psalms 46:1 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

You trust the Lord and the Lord will provide for you. We should tithe with a joyful heart. Don't compromise.

We serve a merciful God. God is always gracious to us in times of trouble. His blessings and favour are always upon those that put their trust in him.

The Mercy, Grace, Favour and Blessings of the Lord has been real in my life. 

The Fig tree

Bapak Dr Anthony Leong

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

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

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

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

Mark 11:12 (NKJV)

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

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

Mark 11:13 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

Mark 11:14 (NKJV)

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

And His disciples heard it.

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

Matthew 21:17-19 (NKJV)

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

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

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

Mark 11:14 (NKJV)

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

And His disciples heard it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John 15:1-2 (NKJV)

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

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

John 15:3-5 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baptism and the Holy Spirit

By Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Describe the distinctive Pentecostal understanding of the doctrine of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Your description should include a systematic argument from the Bible on the said doctrine.

The doctrine of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a doctrine drawn from the interpretation of specific passages in the Bible. The first instance of the mention of said baptism occurs in the gospels. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11). John the Baptist was speaking to many of the Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to observe him baptizing the people.

John’s baptism (water baptism) presupposes repentance, and he would not baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees because they failed to give any evidence of repentance (vv. 7-8). It is of utmost importance that John mentions another type of baptism (Baptism in the Holy Spirit) and contrasts it with water baptism. Further John identifies that it is Jesus who would  be the one baptizing in the Holy Spirit. The use of the word baptize suggest a full immersion, so, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit takes the meaning of being fully immersed, saturated with or totally enveloped in the Holy Spirit. The three other gospels record this same prophecy of John (Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 and John 1:33). 

From the gospels we move into the book of Acts “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5).

Here Jesus was speaking to the apostles before the ascension. He asked them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. God the father is the One who would send the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost came ten days later, when the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred and the 120 disciples were baptized in the in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4). 

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”(Acts 2:4).

It must be noted that all 120 of the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. As applied to us  today, we can expect that every believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit (baptized in the  Holy Spirit). As the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak with other tongues. This is the only sign of the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in other tongues were also a supernatural enablement by the Holy Spirit. They spoke not from their mind nor their thinking faculties. The words that they spoke came from the Holy Spirit.

Speaking in other tongues, therefore, is the initial, physical sign(evidence) of a person being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

What is meant by other tongues? To answer this question we will have to look at Acts 2:5-8 “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?”

There are two misinterpretations of these few verses. The first misinterpretation is to ascribe the miracle of speaking in other tongues not as a miracle of speaking but that of hearing. According to this understanding, the disciples were all speaking in their native Aramaic. The miracle was not demonstrated by their speaking but it was the people who were gathered there who heard the spoken Aramaic in their own languages. The miracle therefore, lay in the hearing of the people.

The second misinterpretation is to take the other tongues as unknown tongues which the Spirit then interprets in the ears of each of the hearers in their own language. However, a plain reading of the text clearly tells us that the other tongues were the languages of the diverse people who were gathered there. 

What then was the content of the speech in other tongues? 

Acts 2:11 “……-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” gives us the answer. It was not preaching nor teaching content. Rather it was the wonderful works (the mighty, magnificent, sublime deeds) of God. It was some form of praise and worship, giving honor and glory to God for who he is and what he has done.

As Peter addressed the crowd at Pentecost, he began by explaining to them that what they had seen and heard in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers and the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues was indeed the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy as spoken by the prophet Joel.

“In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people

your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is therefore the fulfilment of the promises to pour out the Spirit as prophesied in the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah affirms the prophecy by Joel.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3)

Then Peter shares the message of the gospel to the crowd. At the end of his sermon, the people were cut to the heart and asked Peter what they should do. 

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ forthe forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).

Peter’s call then was for them first to repent which meant turning from unbelief to faith. Through their faith they received forgiveness. Water baptism declared their identification with Christ in His death (Romans 6:3). After water baptism, they will then be able to receive the gift of (baptism in) the Holy Spirit. It must be emphasized that the conversion experience referring to regeneration symbolized by water baptism is distinct from the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a subsequent experience that follows the conversion experience.

There are three more clear instances where the baptism in the Holy Spirit is affirmed in the book of Acts.

The first instance is the passage from Acts 8 concerning Philip’s ministry in Samaria. 

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12).

“When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, … ” (Acts 8:15-18).

Acts 8 records the scattering of the church from Jerusalem as it experienced a great persecution. Philip had gone down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. Verse 12 states that those in the city who had come to believe in the name of Jesus Christ had already undergone water baptism. In verse 16, Luke states very clearly that even though these people had been baptized in water, they still had not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Verse 17 records that Peter and John placed hands on these people who had already been water-baptized and they subsequently received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Even though it is not mentioned that these people spoke in tongues, it was clear that there was evidence that could be seen that they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Read with Acts 10:46, it becomes clear that what could be seen was the people speaking in tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The second instance is the record of the conversion of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10.

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep the people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” (Acts 10:44-47).

Peter had gone to witness to Cornelius and his household after God had shown him a vision three times. What happened in Acts 2 was experienced by Cornelius and his household. They were baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. The act of speaking in tongues were the convincing evidence that they had indeed received the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this instance, there was no long period of time between the conversion experience and the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. However these two experiences remain distinct events just as in Acts 2 where the disciples who were baptized in the Holy Spirit were then already believers.

The third instance is Acts 19 when Paul went to minister to a group of young believers.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” ….. (Acts 19:2)

“On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:5-6).

The question asked by Paul in verse 2 is asked of believers. They had already believed so Paul’s question is not a question about conversion.  Paul’s question therefore was about the subsequent receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit after they had become believers. Verse 6 records their being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Now we come to the purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).

Acts 1:8 was spoken by Jesus to his disciples before his ascension. The baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers a believer to be an effective witness of Jesus Christ for he receives the Spirit’s power to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, in the performing of signs and 

wonders, in the effective proclamation of the gospel and in growing unto spiritual maturity.

                                                                        5

In conclusion, the distinctive Pentecostal understanding of the doctrine of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, as drawn from the Bible, is a doctrine that is a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. It refers to an immersion or saturation in the Holy Spirit. It is also an experience that is distinct from the conversion experience and is necessarily after it. It is meant for all believers for empowerment for not only ministry but also growth in spiritual maturity. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is regularly accompanied by the initial, physical sign of speaking in other tongues, understood as other languages, as the Spirit of God gives utterance. From the moment of being baptized in the Holy Spirit the believer can experience subsequent fillings of the Holy Spirit throughout his life.

References

1. Horton, Stanley. What the Bible says about the Holy Spirit
2. A History of the Assemblies of God in Singapore, Malaysia and the USA

  

Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His work? Include biblical references to support your description.

The Person of the Holy Spirit is often misunderstood and neglected in our Christian faith. It is a sad reflection of the state of the church if the church endeavors to fulfill her mission without an emphasis and a proper understanding that the transformation of livesand the expansion of the kingdom of God cannot be accomplished without the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the consciousness of the reality of the Holy Spirit is the necessary ingredient that gives us a sense of the supernatural workings of God as we read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible informs us of the Trinitarian nature of the Godhead. In the First Person of the Godhead we have God the Father, in the Second Person we have our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit then is the Third Person of the Godhead.

A common misconception is the wrong understanding that the Holy Spirit is merely a form of divine energy or divine influence. Such an understanding is most likely sourced from a pantheistic worldview of eastern religions rather than the theistic framework of the Christian faith. It must be affirmed, first and foremost, that the Holy Spirit is not a mere force or energy but He is a Person with a personality. Both explicitly and implicitly the Bible treats the Holy Spirit as a distinct Person. 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, …(Romans 8:26-27).

Verses 26-27 drawn from Romans 8 explicitly mentions the Holy Spirit as a Person who helps us, intercedes for us and searches our hearts. 

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Eph 1:17)

Here, the Holy Spirit is revealed as a Person who acts with intelligence and wisdom.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30).

The Holy Spirit can be grieved by our actions and behavior. He is a Person with a personality.

Establishing the Personhood of the Holy Spirit leads us to the next question of his status in relation to the Godhead. The Bible informs us that the Holy Spirit is God.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19).

This verse puts the Holy Spirit on an equal level with the Father and the Son. He Himself is, therefore, God.

“Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit………... You have not lied to men but to God.”(Acts 5:3-4).

Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, had sold a piece of property and kept back some of the money for himself without informing the apostles. Peter rebukes Ananias and tells him that he has lied to the Holy Spirit in verse 3. In the next verse Peter affirms that Ananias has indeed, lied to God. Put together these two verses tell us that the Holy Spirit is God.

“Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths,

You are there.” (Psalm 139:7-8) 

This passage attributes the divine characteristic of omnipresence to the Holy Spirit. David is equating God’s Spirit with God’s presence. The Holy Spirit is God.

“……The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men know the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

Paul attributes the divine omniscience to the Holy Spirit. Further Paul identifies God with His Spirit and states that there is an intrinsic relation between the two of them. 

Having established the understanding of who the Holy Spirit is, we must now move on to consider His work as the Third Person of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit has been active from the beginning of creation and there is a continuing work of the Holy Spirit until the present and into the future. This description of the work of the Holy Spirit is not exhaustive.

It is meant to permit us to have an overview of the work of the Holy Spirit from the Old 

Testament right to the New Testament.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2).

The Holy Spirit was active in creation. He is associated with God’s creative activity in the creation of the heavens and the earth.

“and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-“ (Exodus 31:3)

God spoke to Moses concerning the building of the tabernacle. He told Moses that He had chosen Bezalel and filled him with the Holy Spirit so that he would be supernaturally empowered with the skills and knowledge of exceptional craftsmanship.

“The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands….” (Judges 14:6)

Samson was on his way to Timnah when suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Holy Spirit came upon him in power and endued Samson with superhuman strength.

“But as for me, I am filled with power, 

with the Spirit of the Lord, 

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression, 

to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8)

In the midst of a corrupt society, God filled Micah with His Spirit so he could see what was right before God and what was wrong. Then the Spirit gave him the power, courage and strength to proclaim to the leaders and people what should be done in order that they could walk right with God.

“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)

In this vision, the angel encouraged Zerubbabel to complete the rebuilding of the temple and assured him of the Spirit’s enablement. “By my Spirit” is a fundamental principle that all fellow laborers in the Lord must keep in mind. 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

(Luke 4:18-19)

The ministry of Jesus in preaching and healing was done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Verse 18 states very clearly that the Spirit of the Lord was on Jesus to empower Him for ministry. We must remember that while Jesus walked on earth He was the GOD-Man Jesus Christ; the perfect God and at the same time the perfect Man. In the aspect of His perfect Manhood He received His power through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit’s power working in Him and through Him.

“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:5-6)

When Nicodemus asked Jesus how a person can be born again, Jesus answered that it is only the Holy Spirit that can bring new spiritual life to anyone. It is the Holy Spirit that grants regeneration to those who are spiritually dead so that they can become spiritually alive.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit will teach the disciples all things and bring into remembrance all the teachings of Jesus to them. In time the Holy Spirit would guide and lead them into the writing of the New Testament in the same way He had inspired the Old Testament prophets to write the Old Testament centuries before the Coming of Jesus.  

“When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and 

righteousness and judgment …..” (John 16:8)

The work of the Holy Spirit regarding the world of unbelievers involves bringing conviction of their sin of unbelief and rebellion, their lack of awareness of the perfect righteousness of God that is required of them and the reality of future judgment for all those who reject the gospel message. 

“He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” (John 16:14)

The Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“When the day of Pentecost came, ….. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)

Acts 2:1-4 is a fulfillment of Acts 1:8. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that the disciples became effective witnesses of Jesus. From the Day of Pentecost on we see the Holy Spirit active in the life of the church- in teaching, in miracles, in further fillings of the Spirit, in new baptizing, and above all, in the work of spreading the gospel and establishing the Church. The Holy Spirit was the real Teacher bringing conviction of spiritual truth in believers’ lives. There was a spiritual unity among believers brought about by the Holy Spirit. 

There was also a supernatural faith and zeal planted in the hearts of believers for the establishment of the kingdom of God. 

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful 

nature” (Galatians 5:16).

Living by the promptings and power of the Spirit is the key to conquering sinful desires.

                                                                     

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Christian character is produced by the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit produces Christian virtues in a believer’s life. This is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that empowers a believer to grow unto a Christ-like character. 

“To one is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended to build up the Church. These gifts are given to every believer and they are to be exercised in a spirit of unity and humility. It is through the Holy Spirit that miracles and healing are performed, prophecies and words of knowledge is given, speaking in tongues is effected and deliverance from spirits is performed.

In conclusion, the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity and in this dispensation it is the Holy Spirit that we must depend upon for personal growth in holiness and it is through His power that the Church can be firmly established and expand unto the ends of the earth both spiritually and numerically. 

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”(Zechariah 4:6)

Reference

1. Horton, Stanley, What the Bible says about the Holy Spirit
2. A History of the Assemblies of God in Singapore, Malaysia and the USA