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.

Stand Firm

Pastor Daniel Loh

This is where we desire to worship him with all our heart and I believe as we leave this place we will be inspired and be glad we attended this service.

This is not a farewell sermon even though Ps Ronald has done much in Malaysia and going down under. But I believe he is not finished in terms of ministry.

You heard I mentioned two words, complete and finish. It's different. Let me give you an example. When you married the right woman, you are complete. And all the women say? Amen.  When you marry the wrong woman, you are finished. See the difference now? When your wife catches you with another woman, you are completely finished. Now all the young guys better listen. But when your wife loves going shopping all the time, you are finished completely. I thank God that my wife and I have been in ministry together and often we conduct workshops. I work she shops.

I want to look at the last chapter of Nehemiah and the key word is stand firm.

Nehemiah 13:4-12 (NIV)

4 Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, 5 and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.

6 But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission 7 and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. 8 I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9 I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.

10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

12 All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.

Nehemiah 13:15 (NIV)

In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.

Nehemiah 13:17-18 (NIV)

17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”

Nehemiah 13:23-25 (NIV)

23 Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah. 25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.

Nehemiah 13:29-31 (NIV)

29 Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

30 So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. 31 I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favor, my God.

Nehemiah himself is a first rank character study. A man of prayer. A man of faith. A man of courage and action. You realise that his heart is always for God and the nation of Israel. He wanted to rebuild the temple of God. The Book of Nehemiah falls into two sections, Reconstruction and Reinstruction. The theme of this Book talks about God's security, protection and strength. When you study this book of 13 chapters, first chapter talks about concern, second to third chapter talks about construction, fourth to six talks about conflict, seventh to twelve talks about consecration and now coming to the end of chapter thirteen, it's about cleansing.

After Nehemiah completed the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, he kept his promise to the king and returned to Babylon where he resumed his duty as the king's cup bearer.

Twelve years have passed. He found that in his absence many things have changed. Not for the better but for the worst. Like this country many who may have left the country and came back expecting the country to be better but it was worst.

He came back and saw the people were sinning once again. Once again. It is not just to the people of Israel, but it can also happen to us. If we are not moving forward we are sliding backwards. I call it spiritual decay. Temptations are increasing and everything is more difficult. It's tougher following Jesus Christ everyday.

I tell my children at home that as a disciple of Jesus Christ we must fly high and aim high. Fly high last long. We may start off very well and fly high but how long can you last? All of us are on the same team. We fly high and last long. Then we meet Jesus at the end of the day, he will say well done my faithful servant.

In the midst of internal and external circumstances Nehemiah was a man who stood firm. He dealt with the difficulties. We may be like Nehemiah. Where we want to turn the community and believers back to God.

1. Stand firm when you are in the danger of compromise. V1-9

Compromises was happening within Israel. They have defiled and forsaken the temple of God. They allowed an Ammonite into the temple of God. Tobiah who was an evil man against Nehemiah is now given a room in the temple of God. Imagine how Nehemiah felt when he returned after twelve years. To find his enemy staying in the temple. He acted immediately and threw Tobiah out of the temple and cleansed the temple. Compromise.

Christianity Today magazine has pastors and elders of the church as subscribers. And the statistics were bad and discipline of church members are low. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to keep our purity.

Compromise is a very dangerous evil. If we allow the Tobiahs to stay in our heart.

2. Stand firm when you face the anger of selfishness v10-14

He rebuked the leaders for the lack of faithfulness in giving. They stopped maintaining the temple and teaching the people. They stopped giving to God. A misuse of finance and selfishness and found its way into the people. He acted immediately.

He made sure that the rulers were paid. Imagine the lead pastors and leaders are not paid. Because the people of God are not giving they have no choice but to stop and go out to find work to support their families. This was what happened during those times.

Giving tithes to the church was no longer their responsibility. God has his way to run his organisation. And we have to look into Scripture and stay responsible in terms of the duty that we have. I have been thought during early days of my life about tithing. If you go online there are many articles that do not believe in tithing. I believe tithing is a matter of the heart. It is not about blessing. That is not the idea. If we think God bless us back by monetary wise then we will put all our money into church.

Many wants to be a millionaire by 30 but what is wealth without health? Work so hard that they neglected their health and they put all their money back to the hospital. We have to be responsible and pay our tithes. If we stay to the principles of tithing we do not need to raise funds for building.

Here the people of God has been so called poisoned in their minds that they neglected the house of God. Our finances speak volumes about our relationship with God. When our heart is not there we find it difficult to support the work of God. This morning we have to ask ourselves this question. Are we a giver or are we a receiver? Are we generous or selfish? Just a poem to remind us to not let money be our God.

Money will buy you a bed but not sleep.

Food but not appetite.

A house but not a home.

Medicine but not good health.

Luxury but not culture.

Entertainment but not happiness.

Religion but not salvation.

A Visa to anywhere on planet earth, but not heaven.

Friends, always remember that the only way to be free of the tyranny of money is to give back to God. Obey God's principles of tithing and be generous in offerings. I pray your whole Christmas tree will be overflowing with ribbons. Stay free from the danger of selfishness.

3. Stand firm when you face the danger of conveniences v 15-22

They did not observe the Sabbath. A time of rest and the Israelites focused on God instead of other things. That was the day of the Lord. Many no longer practice the Sabbath but instead compromised by doing all kinds of business wanting to make more money.

They had plenty of excuses like all of us. They were making knowingly and unknowingly wealth their idols. Nehemiah handled this promptly. He stopped working on Sabbath and banned the merchants from bringing their products on Sabbath.

Convenient Christianity. Well if it's convenient I'll come to church. If it's convenient I'll let my children come for special services. If it's convenient I'll come to prayer meeting. If it's not convenient I'll not come to church. It's not convenient for me to come because God has blessed us with a big house by the sea but it's not so convenient because it's now far away.

A parent ask a young girl do you want to go to church? So young girl of 12 say she's tired so don't go to church. We cannot ask a young girl whether to come to church. We cannot give them that choice. Young teenagers are at a time where they want to rebel and when you tell them to come to church they ask why? Church is boring. Convenient Christianity have creeped into the church. I'm glad all my church families and their children come and serve in church.

A lot of Christians today come to church to want to be blessed. When they see they are not blessed they hop to another church because they were not blessed. We should instead ask what can we do to bless the church. This is the church God has placed you here.

I pastor a church where there is so much pressure. I started to pastor a church with only 30 people. I'm not competing with another church because it's his church. I was associate pastor in a big church doing everything. Worship pastor, youth pastor and I grew there. I did everything in that church. I love going and serving in church.

Sad that today there is this convenient Christianity. Spiritual decay of if I feel like coming I'll come. How is your daily and weekly commitment to church? Are you busy making money God is blessing you but you neglect your commitment to church.

4. Stand firm when you face the danger of wrong relationships v 23-31

There were mixed marriages then. I'm not talking of inter-racial marriages. The Israelites compromised by marrying pagan women. It was so bad that many of the children of Israel couldn't even speak Hebrew. If they cannot speak Hebrew the next generation and generation to come will not be able to read Scripture and learn from the teachers and  Levites.

He called for curses to come upon them and beat some of them up and pulled out their hair. Can you imagine the lead pastor do that to us today?

Because of inter-marriages, many gods entered into the lives of the Israelites. That was the reason he was so angry. Paul talked about being unequally yolk with an unbeliever. How many think that when they fall in love with an unbeliever thinking that later they can become a believer. I can say that many of those end up no longer going to church. Or no longer a Christian.

They were so committed in church but the parents ask them whether there are any in church. If not they'll ask why not look for someone outside of church. And they even recommend someone from outside. He look like a Christian, sound like a Christian but is not a Christian. After a while, they stopped coming to church.

This is where many out of desperation decided to venture in that direction. Sad. But that's the reality of the situation nowadays. Getting married is not the best thing in the world. Being single can also be God's will.

There are three things for a good marriage. First is physical attraction. That's true. Even though you see some marriages and you see their physical appearance so far apart yet they love one another. You ask what do you see in the person, but it's only the person knows. Second is emotional compatibility. The third to me is most important and that's spiritual unity. It's so important to have the same faith. Husband and wife cannot pray together. Nehemiah saw this and immediately handled this situation. It affects us and the people around us.

We are most affected by the books we read and the friends we have. Wrong relationships can spiritually damage us. Do they draw you closer to God or do they draw you away from God? This is where Nehemiah say stand firm when you stand in danger of being lured away.

We can learn from this man Nehemiah. He had nothing in his heart but his love for God and his desire to please God.

That's why he ended with this prayer. Remember me with favour, my God. Have you ever prayed that kind of prayer? God will remember us. Why? Because he loves you. But to pray for God's favour, be willing to come back. To remember us with favour. He desires us to draw near to him and to stand firm. He is ever ready to guide and lead you. And you can stand and declare yourself a child of God to fly high and last long.

Preparing TOP for the Future

Rev Jasmine Ooi

As I was preparing this message I was asking the Lord if this is the right word to share or it is what the Lord wants me to share to TOP. This morning as I was reading the Daily Bread even though I only read it once in a while and guess what? It's on Small Groups! It just jumped out at me. This is what I wanted to share.

It's about this couple who wanted to open their home for care groups and they were saying that they felt inadequate because their home was too small. And their budget was too tight but when they did it God gave them so there's more than enough.

and the story was about Elijah in 2 Kings 4:44 how there were a hundred people to feed. And somebody brought 20 loaves of bread. And the servant said not enough to feed them. And Elijah said just go ahead. And there was more than enough and even left overs. We have the miracle of the feeding of the hundred in the Old Testament and not just the New Testament.

So I want to encourage the care group host and hostess, for opening up your homes. Pastor Ronald was telling me now dint have to attend already, should take a step back. But I said I want to go. I really enjoy myself. So young people, thank you.  You brought so much joy.

My message today is Preparing TOP for the Future.

Yesterday's Youth Conference was called Glow so I'm still glowing in this bright yellow. You see me so bright and glowing. I'm glad no one said I look like "poh kong" but I've no gold to give you but I've got gold nuggets from the word of God to you.

We are coming to the close of the year. Ps Teh last week said we are moving but not advancing. We do not want to be like that. That's how I want to prepare TOP for the Future.

I want to thank all of you for feeding us so much and for loving us so much. You all have been taking so much care of us and now I have a bit of a problem in making my ends meet. My jacket now cannot button because the left side cannot meet the right side. Thank you. You've really made us feel so welcomed in TOP. And the church board has been so supportive and for sponsoring the Youth to go for the youth conference, to believe in them. I'm so proud of the church, the board members and the pastoral team as well.

So how do you prepare TOP for the Future?

Exodus 13:18 (NKJV)

So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

It's about the children of Israel leaving Egypt and proceeding into the promise land. But I like what the word said. That they were armed for battle. Or prepared for battle.

So when you go into the new year, we want you to be equipped and it will be a year of celebration.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

What is God calling you to be and to do? Before we go into the future, let's take a step back. Where are you now?

When you go to the washroom there is this sign. Does it look familiar to you? Our Objective.

Tabernacle of Praise will know who we are in Christ and be released to do God's will and purpose in Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia and the nations!

Great objective. But do you know who you are? What is God calling TOP to be?there was this church with a big slogan in front of the church. We are a hospital for sinners, not a museum for Saints. That was catchy. The church is not called to collect saints but to transform them. This is supposed to be a life changing place. We get better, we get restored, we get fixed and reach out.

Some may say the church is an army of soldiers like the Israelites.

The Bible says the church is a loaf of bread.

1 Corinthians 10:17 (NKJV)

For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

For we being many are one bread. And one body. That's a symbol of unity. Bread is made from flour which came from wheat. All the wheat seeds come together to make bread. The seeds has to be  harvested and put into the furnace to make bread.

Furnace has friction and gets hot a bit. That's how it's like in the care groups because you rub and gel together and become bread. And it's meant to be eaten. It's to be shared with many.

The church is also stones in God's building "You also, like living stones, are being build into a spiritual house".

The stones come in all shaped and sizes and they are in different positions, some higher some lower but all is important. All of them has a place in God's kingdom. Some may say I'm not important and wants to drop out, and if you drop out you become a stumbling stone. So stay intact he place and role God has given you.

You are many members but one body.

It's speaks of vitality because we are connected to the head. We have diversity, unity and the purpose is that you will grow up, maturity.

Where are you now and where do you want to go?

Grow in the word, Serve with Love, Transform Lives!

Our theme. Have you grown? Are you transformed? And are you serving? We are 39 years now. Where are we, looking at this beautiful slogan. We have all grown and not just laterally.

Many of you have grown and is serving. Let's look at where we can be?

We come in as little lambs. And we eventually have to grow and produce wool. We are producing for the good Shepherd. We want to move you and train you to become a Shepherd. Spiritually the sheep can become a Shepherd. That's what we need in this church. It's the model that God is using.

How do you plan to get there?

Empowerment of leaders and development of people.

How did Jesus do it? Relational Discipleship. Best kind of discipleship to fulfil the great commission and the great commandment. I know that's what all.you you desire to be.

One day, God is going to separate the sheep front he goat. Remember the parable? What's the difference between a sheep and goat. Remember they came to God and God said I don't know you. Only all who obey and follow God are sheep. You are assured. Some of you still have doubts if you'd make it to heaven or not. But if you faithfully wants to obey him, you are his disciples, you are his sheep. You're not a goat.

So what's the difference between a sheep and a goat? A goat has horns to butt each other. So the goat always say but but but. Can you do this  but but but comes in. Every time ask you to do something you say o want to pastor but but but. That's a goat.  We want more sheep.

What's a meta church model. You have talked about mega churches but we want to talk about meta church. TOP can be a meta church. The word meta means change. It's about change. It's the way the church accomplishes the expansion of the kingdom of God. And instead of organising around programmes, a meta church is about relationship and discipleship and intentional shepherding. Through the the care groups. And today is the care group day. Where sheep can be mentored in the faith, identify and use their spiritual gifts in a safe and secure environment and provide care for one another. Each person will feel more cared for. Care giving is shared by many rather than just by the pastor.

Intentional Shepherding.

Best leadership model in the Bible to equip disciples.

Jesus modelled it. Jesus practised it. He did it. He spent much of his time with no fewer than 3 of his 12 disciples. In the New Testament, you find there are those.who day they belong to Peter or they belong to Apollos or they belong to Paul. It's not so much about who you belong to but about group discipleship so that you do not become a clone of any one member.

Like in the case of Paul and Timothy, it's about mentoring leadership and not about base discipleship. The New Testament model about group life discipleship has many advantages.

The New Testament model is one to one relationship for leadership discipleship. 

New Testament models of Leadership

1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV)

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Be Shepherd of God's flick under your care watching over them not because you must but because you are willing. Eager to serve. Be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. How many of you want the crown of glory. Wonderful.

Intentional Shepherds. We are preparing the Care Group leaders to do shepherding. They are consciously discipling members to become the following.

Roles to play. They have compelling vision. Their character. And they are also managing team building because they are not doing it alone. To developed and mentor leaders to also become a Shepherd. That's how we will multiply and we will broaden the base. So that the leaders are not so tired.

What are benefits of having a Shepherd?

Sheep needs to be fed and led to green pastures. In the care groups there is the word and fellowship and that's how we grow.

Sheep may get sick or injured. They are cared for and healed. The Shepherd anoint oil on the sheep to care for them.

Sheep tend to stray and get lost. So they get rescued and restored. Sometimes in our spiritual life we go astray and that's when the good Shepherd looks out for you.

Sheep tends to get frightened easily and they are cared for and encouraged. This is very much the care provided by the care groups. I've seen how the Sungai Nibong Care Group did a marvellous job of handling funeral services in our absence. So that the pastors don't have to be the one having to run around. All these are spread out among the care group members.

Sheep may venture into danger. In care groups you are warned and guided according to God's word.

Sheep are vulnerable to attacks. Here you are guarded and protected.

Disciple process through Care Groups

• Grace - to experience grace in your life and to extend grace to others.
• Growth - to grow spiritually to be like Christ
• Group - to Shepherd one another in loving authentic community
• Gifts - to discover, develop and deploy our gifts to serve
• Good Stewardship - to steward our time and treasures for God's redemptive plan for the world. 

The Church needs a Network of Shepherds

Can the pastoral staff alone provide personal and consistent care? For every member of the church? We want to come together and share the work load.

God calls for a network of Shepherds to do the work of equipping.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Equipping Ministry, is not just teaching ministry but a means of shepherding people.

Equip (Katartizo)

• Doctors - Adjusting a limb/setting a broken bone
• Sailors - preparing a ship for voyage
• Soldiers - equipping army for battle
• Fisherman - mending/repairing of nets (Matt 4:21)

Personal Benefits to the Shepherd

• Personal growth and expansion
• Leaving a legacy - you mentored and multiplied
• He who refresh others will himself be refreshed (Prov 11:25)
• Rewarded with the Crown of Glory

These are the words of declaration given to me by an intercessor whom we've asked to pray along with us. When we told them what we're doing with TOP. And we told then we never done this before.

You now have two bi-vocational pastors. This is new. When we first came in, many of you said can this be done? We've never done that before.

I want to share this with you as it's also the word of you at this season for your life.

You are being tasked with pioneering and launching into the unknown. As you release the sound that is being born deep inside the spirit, the right people will come. God will send the right people as you release the sound. They will be drawn to the sound. They will hear the faith, the power, decree and the hunger God is giving you people. Resources and room to grow. I hear you say it, build it and they will come. It's time to arise and build. History belongs to the brave. Hallelujah.

Conclusion: Declaration

Together we will arise and build TOP to disciple and shepherd people relationally in care groups for the purpose of growing in Christlikeness, loving God and one another contributing to the work of the church and expansion of God's kingdom.

A Tale of Two Crosses

Pastor Koay Kheng Hin

Today I'm talking about the story of two crosses. We hear messages of one cross, that's the cross of Calvary but today I want to introduce to you the second cross.

I ended at the Garden of Gethsemane and it leads to Calvary and it's at the cross where Jesus was crucified. It is the preparation for that cross of Calvary. It symbolises a tree of shame where our sins are being nailed. It's a tree where Jesus bore our shame and God's wrath was poured onto that tree of shame.

When Jesus hung on the cross we find that it's the gateway through which every single one of us enter into sonship. 24 years ago I was led to that cross. When I came before that cross I had to make a decision. It applies to each and every one of us. We were led to that cross as an unbeliever.

At that time I was the child of the devil. It's very direct and what the Bible teaches. It's not a case of the devil on the left and God on the right and I'm  in the middle. It's not like that. It's not three kingdoms. In God there's only two kingdom.

24 years ago I'm not in God's kingdom. I was in the kingdom of the evil one. And the Bible described that I'm no son of God and not a child of God. But when I go through that cross I gained sonship and became a child of God.

After I go through that what happens? That's the other cross I want to talk about. When we find Jesus we find him in love. That day, you found what the Bible say is your first love. That's your first love encounter when you were first saved. That is what we actually experience when we become a Christian.

Romans say God demonstrates his love in that while we were yet sinners he died for us. A love relationship with Jesus. What's the other cross?

Luke 9:23-24

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

This is the other cross. Not the cross of Calvary but our own cross. What's the difference between this two crosses. Calvary happened only once. But in this verse this cross is a cross that is daily. That's the first difference.

The second difference is the one who was taking up the cross of Calvary. You are asked to take up your own cross. It's a very important difference. The cross that we carry resembles the cross of Calvary but it is not the cross of Calvary. The cross of Calvary requires you to be nailed to the cross and die. It's not about you crucifying yourself. Some religious sect does that where they literally crucify themselves.

When I was preparing this message I asked myself if the people wants to hear this. We are generally in an emerging economy or a developed nation and is generally having a good life. When we have a message about a cross, do people really want to listen to this? I thought about preparing another message but I decided my message is not to preach what people want to hear. If I were to preach about prosperity without  a cross I think in some places I may have a bigger crowd. But if I preached a message on carrying the cross daily there may be few people that will ask me to preach.

But I'm to preach the full gospel of Christ and it's much more than prosperity or healing. Through the viewpoint of these two crosses. If we preached only the cross of Calvary we will have half the gospel and cannot grow into spiritual maturity. We call it liberal Christianity. We preach the capital "C" and not the small "c". The other extreme would be legalistic Christianity.

What's the difference? We would be preaching a diluted gospel and not one that would mature you and you will remain a spiritual baby. We all have children who are cute but if at 15 they still behave like a baby it's wrong.

If we preach the small "c" without the cross of Calvary then we become like a Pharisee and Christianity becomes a burden. I want to strike a balance. Let us have a loving Christianity.

The big "C" is a cross of love. And when we are asked to carry our "c" daily we are carrying a cross of love. It's a matter of direction. The Calvary cross is a cross of input. Your cross is a cross of output. Calvary cross is a cross of God's love poured out to you. Your cross is you pouring out that love to others. The cross that you carry resembles the cross of Calvary but it is not the cross of Calvary.

You are carrying it to people whom God brings to your midst. You are expressing the love of God. They will sense the love of God in you and through you. That is what's meant by carrying your cross daily.

It's a nice cross. A cross of love.

He must deny himself says verse 23. What does it mean? To remove self centeredness from us. This love is only possible on humbled ground. A self centred man only loves himself.

You must let go of that self centeredness and then follow Christ. From self centeredness we have willingness to lose our life.  From self centeredness to God centeredness. It is the cross of the glory of God. When you pick up the cross you are saying this is the day the Lord has made. Not for me to spend time to get rich or for people to honour me. It is a cross to say that today I want to glorify God with my life.

It ties in with where I stopped at the Garden of Gethsemane. He said not my will but your will be done.

I want to spend 5 minutes on God's will. There is your will and the will of God. The Bible says it's a concurrent thing. God's will is good and your will end like what happened at the Garden of Eden. Your will ends in self glory while the other ends with the glory given to God. When we talk about these two wills, it's about dancing with God. It's like tango where they cannot do their own thing. They have to synchronise. Everyday we as the children of God we are dancing with God like a tango. We hold his hand and he is the lead. When he pulls we go towards him. Then we live in the prescriptive will of God.

We see God as the lead dancer and surrendering and synchronising with him.

On the other hand if God pulls and you resists you will fall. And God wants to lift you up and you resists you will fall flat on your face.

It is a cross for the glory of God.

It is a cross of sacrifice. The cross is identified with suffering. When Jesus said to pick up the cross there will be a time of sacrifice and suffering. Love is a sacrifice so we can relate. The issue is the cross of suffering. People misunderstand this suffering. It's not about you falling sick or business not doing well. This suffering is related to persecution.

What does persecution means? When people became Christians on the first century they were thrown into prison because of their faith. Many Christians goes through their lives without being thrown into prison. What about being martyred for their faith? Even less.

You do not need to worry about that at this present moment. When the time comes the Lord will empower you to go through it.

It's a cross of love and for the glory of God. And it's a cross of sacrifice. What makes it an intimidating view, then it becomes burdensome. Meaning dilutes suffering. If love is the basis and not the law, you will joyfully carry that cross.

Do you know if your husband after hearing this message and decides to carry that cross of love and glory and sacrifice, by the time he walks out you will have a more wonderful husband.

If your wife makes this decision, when they walk out they will look much prettier today. It's an inner beauty.

If you walk past that cross of Calvary, carry your own cross you will be less easily offended, more patient, more sacrificial and live a life you are meant to live. The world is full of self centred people.

Mother Theresa said a life lived not for others is not a life. God created us to relate with him for his glory and we are supposed to relate to others for their blessings. This is what is meant by carrying the cross daily. If it's in love it will not be burdensome.

Like when a parent sacrifice for their children, they will say it's not burdensome because you love them. Love is something that enables us to rise above our circumstances because it becomes a joy. When love comes in then everything becomes light and with it an element of joy.

Carrying such a cross for God is only possible and make sense to you if you have a heavenly home. Verse 25 and 26 are about that heavenly glory.

We must hold this balance or we become so heavenly that we are of no earthly use. How does it impact us? When we met Jesus we met him in love. Our whole faith is love. The spiritual dynamics is actually love. We often try to break it down and define love. Philosophers also try that. Psychologists too. And scientists. They are the worst. They say it's a reaction of chemical compounds. Today I do not want to define love. But we can define love through action.

Let's look at Jesus. When I skimmed through the 24 chapters of Luke, I noticed that Jesus was always with people. He was with the Pharisees, he ate with people. Always with people. He's either with his disciples or with multitudes or with the Pharisees in their homes. Jesus Loves these people and he wants to be with them.

Let us not define the love of God but express it. We should be interested in people's lives. He was interested in the tax collector's life. The Samaritan woman's life. The prostitute's life. Even God himself weeps in the shortest verse of the Bible when Lazarus died. It's an expression of love, the heart of your Lord.

I believe God will anoint and empowers us and he will begin with the leaders. The first requirements is to be interested in people's lives. We as leaders can take some time to be interested in people's lives. Then we will start to realise who they are is more important than what they can do for us.

I've had Christians who say they love God but they cannot love people. Whether a person love God or not we cannot know because we cannot see a person's heart. But how much you love God can be seen from how you love people. The extend to which you love people is the extend to which you love God. I said leaders but it is meant for all of us.

When you love people, as much as it is sacrificial, you will be the first one to be blessed more than the person you bless. There will be a certain joy and fulfilment that will come to you. When we look at Jesus we see how much time he spent time with people.

Look at the apostle Paul. Concerning the Ephesian church.

Acts 20:26-27

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:33-37

33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,

This is the picture that we have of the great apostle Paul. He has touched so many lives. When they thought they won't see him again, they wept.

As a leader whether as a CEO or a headmistress of a school or a pastor of a church, the mark of successful leadership is this. It's all about people. The day will come when you have to move on you will see who are there for you. The mark of successful spiritual leadership when you are leaving, it will be like in verse 27 where they wept. It's about identifying with people.

The word pastor is that of a shepherd. It's the pastoral care that a leader must give. This is the same church that Paul ministered to and this was their fault.

Revelation 2:4

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

They were actually a strong church if you look at the verses before this. A classic example of a church who put their hands to the kingdom but have lost their first love.

Why I say this? We will do what verse 2 and 3 and put our hands to the plough but we want to keep verse 4 and not forsake our first love.

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.