Is Divine Healing for Today?

 

Rev Allan Chan

HEALING IN THE BIBLE

In the Old Testament:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Numbers 21:9  Moses lifts the brazen serpent.

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

In the New Testament

(i) Jesus’ healing ministry & miracles

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

healing every kind of disease

and every kind of sickness

among the people.”

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

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

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

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

Philip was:

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

(ii) Healing is integral to the Great Commission.

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

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

JESUS said:

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

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

With His blood He has saved us,

With His power He has raised us:

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

Overcoming Setbacks in Our Life

Rev Gideon Lee

1. God is our only way - seek him
2. God's way is different from ours - submit to him
3. God's way is faith - trust him

2 Kings 5:1-15

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

Imagine you have just graduated with first class honours. You're intelligent and soon to be employed by a big and famous company. You did well and became the CEO of the company. Then you made a name for yourself. You are smart, famous and rich. But one day you discovered a pain in your back and you went to see a doctor to be told you have a terminal disease. You are devastated. You have everything but nothing can help you. All your fame and riches are of no use. That is the situation of Naaman. He was second only to the king. He had everything going for him. He was never defeated in battle before because God granted him victories. He was famous. The Bible said "but" he was a leper.

It is a disease that is considered unclean. You're like an outcast. It's like someone with aids today. It was a disfiguring disease. Naaman was a leper and it's a black spot on his otherwise sterling life.

One day there was this little girl captured and serving Naaman's wife. A captive. She could have just let him die since he has taken away her family. But this little girl told the mistress that there is a prophet the healed their master from leprosy. She offered a solution. Naaman was desperate enough to listen to this little girl.

The king of Israel responded by tearing his robe. And Naaman asked why. Naaman went to see this prophet. But Elisha didn't even meet him but sent a servant. And he told Naaman to dip in the Jordan river seven times. It's double insult. And river Jordan was dirty. And not one time but seven times. Naaman was upset. But God's way is not our way. The issue is not us but our heart.

Naaman said no way. He was going back. But another servant came and advised him to do it. Naaman in the end hearkened to his servant and did it and he came up with skin like a baby's.

Is your life like Naaman's. Your are at the prime of your life but there is a but. A setback that is too big for you and you need a miracle. Sometimes when things are well you have no time for God. Naaman is likewise. He was at his prime when he suddenly had a need for God.

God wants us to be close to him all the time and not just when we have a problem. Let's be honest, when things are fine, we don't need God. When things are not fine like Naaman, God is his only way and he needed to seek him. God uses crisis in life to show us what we really need in life. Without his crisis Naaman would have never known God. That's why he said at the end "now I know there is no other God in the world but the God of Israel".

Jesus said what good if a man gains the whole world but yet loses his soul.

The word crisis is where "Christ Is". Are you going through a crisis this morning? Take courage and be of good cheer because God is your only way. Seek him with all your  heart. Sometimes you may ask God why make it so difficult? This leads me to my second point. God's way is not our way. That is the challenge of faith.

Very often we expect God to do things the way we think it should be done. But guess what, just sometimes his ways are different than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. He is interested in solving the problem from the root which is the issue of the heart.

Naaman thought he needed healing but what he needed was to know God. God is not just interested in our problems but in us. He wants to heal us spiritually and not just physically. It was not just a physical healing that Naaman needed but a healing of his soul.

God's concern for us is to receive the giver and not just the gift. We sometimes treat God like a vending machine. We come to God with that kind of mentality. That our prayers will be granted if we say that the right amount of hallelujahs and amens.

Even if Naaman went and obeyed and dipped himself five times, there'll still be no healing. God wants complete obedience.

Sometimes we bargain with God when God told us to do something. Naaman asked, no better river? God wants him to be obedient. Your solution is in God. You may have a financial problem but God also see the spiritual problem and you have to do it God's way. We have to learn how to submit to him. Seven times means seven times. Not more, not less.

I thank God that Naaman didn't leave that day. He went down and dipped himself seven times. He listened to his servant. And the little girl. That's why we need friends. Without the two of them encouraging, Naaman would not have made it. Love your enemies, that's what the little girl did. We need brothers and sisters like that in our life.

Last but not least, God's way is always a way of faith. You still need to do your part by stepping out of the boat. We need to take that step of faith. No faith no grow. Naaman had to step into the river and dipped himself seven times. You want to walk on water you have to step out of the boat. If he stayed in his boat nothing would have happened. How many of you have walked on water? Before Jesus , Peter was the only one. Naaman was also mentioned in the NT.

Luke 4:27

And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

Where was the prophet from? Israel. Yet non was healed except this outsider, a Syrian was healed. God always ask us to take that step of faith. Until Naaman was willing to take that step of faith, nothing would have happened.

What's your hopeless situation? Will you trust God to see you through? Would you take that step of faith? What was Naaman's response after being healed? He said there is no other God in the world and note that when Naaman brought gifts, it did not mention that Elisha took the gifts. His way is a way of faith. We can never bribe God to do things for us. Or buy our healing. Or arm twist God to give to us. It has to be by faith.

We must all come to this conviction that there is no other God except the God of Israel.

Something to Say and Something to Show

Rev. John Lim

City of Light Family Church, Klang

Your pastor is right when he said the cell group is very important. Especially for a growing church. How do you maintain relationships? The cell is key. How do church members feel the pulse of the church? If it's all central in the church those further away may not connect. Cell group is a must for our church members. Sometimes I asked our members how many of you won a soul this year. No one. Then I asked if they attend cell? Sing as loud as you can at cell. Your singing may touch a seeker or a backslider. Sing and the community will feel your presence. You may not know how you can touch someone. 

Today's text is from 2 Kings. I'm going to talk about a mad man, a miracle worker and the mighty God. 

2 Kings 5:1-15

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

​1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.”

A Christian and all of you here is someone who has something to say and show. Jesus is a great example of the Christian movement. He said the spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach the good news to the poor. The word preach and proclaim is that Jesus has something to say. And that he cast out demon is saying he has something to show. 

Did it only happened to Jesus and Jesus alone? Jesus commanded the disciples to go and preach the gospel and signs and wonders will follow. When you preach the gospel you must have something to say. And when he said it will be followed by signs and wonders, it says there is something to show. A Christian is someone who has something to say and something to show. 

Substance of something that changes a person and something to show like miracles. Then they will say these are the Christians. Christians should not be only those that go to church. 

In these passage you will find 5 characters. 

1. The Man

This man is Naaman. Who is he? Scripture tells us he was a valiant soldier. He is well liked by the king and the people. But he was a leper. You may say this is the curse of his life and it is a fact. It has to do with one word with three letters. It's called BUT. He was all that BUT he had leprosy. It is not about your description of the person, it is the but after that that defines the person. For example you may say he is a successful businessman BUT he is a crook. Or you may say he is a handsome man BUT he is a "hum sup lo" (or a playboy). Or a housewife who look so efficient BUT is a husband beater our perception of the person just vanishes. The but will stay longer in our mind than all the credentials. 

The question was what comes after the BUT that the scripture was addressing. This man has a serious problem. It vanishes all his other credentials. He has nothing to say or nothing to show. The leprosy just negates him. 

2. The Messenger

Why is it so important for the bible to describe her. It is relevant to us right now as in then that's why it is in the scripture. She was sold as a slave to Naaman's wife. What kind of encouragement can you get from this girl? What testimony or good can come of her being captured and sold as a slave? It's not a success story. But the scripture mentioned her. Why? Her name is not mentioned but her works was mentioned. Why did scripture held her in high esteem? She's a slave in the household of her enemies. 

Her future and situation seemed bleak. She did not complain to God because she has something to say and something to show. She said if my master will go and see the prophet in Samaria he would cure him of his leprosy. She has something to say. What she said brought about a response from Naaman. She's a slave girl. Think. To the eyes of the household she's worth nothing but dust. But Naaman and even the king responded. Would you have something to say that the whole of Penang government will listen to you? Or your neighbour. Or your colleagues. Jesus had something to say. The apostles had something to say and something to show. No wonder the church grew daily. 

3. The Mad Man

Why? Who? What did he do? Why was he mentioned. The bible did not say a mad man or a bad man but what he did something seem bad to me. He was King of Israel. He was given the honour to heal Naaman's leprosy. Many thought it was the king that will heal him. Because at that time the people look to the king as a demi-god so he can do miracles. He also had priestly duties back then. There was nothing wrong with the prayer request but a lot was wrong from the response. The king responded by tearing his robe. He desecrated his position. Then the king could have called to God Jehovah. The least he could do is called upon God but he tore his robe instead. He complained and criticised. That this man bothered him with the request. 

This is about a man who has nothing to say and nothing to show in spite of the power accorded to this king. The same can be said of us. We have been given the power and authority to say and do in his name. We can talk but do we have something to say. Like some politician, talk talk talk talk like a chicken. But do we have something to say or to show? If we don't the people won't receive anything from God. Then we are like this mad man. Challenge yourself with this. The fundamentals that makes a Christian. Like, I can do all things through Christ Jesus that strengthens me. That means we cannot say cannot. When pastor say come to cell you say cannot? That is because your priorities supersedes the cell. Not because cannot.  

I am not a mandarin speaking pastor. I didn't learn mandarin in school but I am pastor to a mandarin church. I can do all thing through Christ Jesus. Amen? In Klang you cannot transfer Christians. You have to go to the streets to get them. 

4. The Miracle Worker

He is Elisha the prophet. When Elisha heard what the king did news travelled fast without Facebook or Twitter. He told the king to bring the man over to him. Bring Naaman over to me. Elisha is a person who had something to say. Now you go to the river Jordan. But what he said was not just gibberish but is also an offender to the hearer. That means when you say the person may get offended. They may want to reject it. 

There was once I did a miracle rally and this man has eczema and he wore long sleeve because he tried to hide them but he was a modal Christian. No pastor will want to let him go. He had low self esteem. He had such a thick layer of red skin. I know him and my team was told what to do and he knew what were his responsibility. Then I noticed that this guy still had his eczema but he never went for prayer. He was ministering at the altar and when I walked past him I said to him you can go back with your eczema. You may say wah, your words will hurt him. I may hurt him for a moment but his eczema hurt him all his life. 

The meeting ended and we went to our hotel and I was tired. Then this man bang on my door and he literally cried. He cried I want to be healed. I said oh, why you didn't say earlier. So I took him in because he looked so pitiful. So I prayed for him and he went home and within three weeks his eczema all dropped. Then he testified and it was even in our magazine. After 3 months he didn't come back to church. Because he eczema reappeared and he disappeared. I went to get him and he cried "my eczema!".

So I looked at what to say. So I thought of Lazarus. Where is Lazarus? He died and Jesus raised him from the dead, but Lazarus later died. I asked him did God healed you? He said yes. Then I told him give God the glory and you can ask God for new miracles. I believe the Lazarus example hit him hard. We must be Christ centred then the miracles has sustainability. When Peter walked on water, he sank when he took his eyes off Jesus. Praise God, today his eczema has completely left him. Praise the Lord. 

5. The Mighty God 

Ultimately we will display the might of God when we have something to say and something to show. God say you will do my wonders. Ask in his name and God will show his wonders and the people of this world will response. 

Now he has something for us. All that needs to be said has been discharge. Will you be the Christian who says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me? Not by might but by power thus  saith the Lord. Or like Isaiah who says I am here, send me.

Rev. John Lim taking the pulpit

The Bad Tenants - World Communion Sunday

Rev Gideon Lee

There is such a thing as World Communion Sunday and today is the day. So I want to talk a little bit about communion. 

Matthew 21:33-46

"The Parable of the Tenants

21:33-46pp – Mk 12:1-12; Lk 20:9-19

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: 

“ ‘The stone the builders rejected

has become the capstone;

the Lord has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?

43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet."

This is Jesus telling about a second parable. So there was another parable before this. 

This landowner had a plan. He built a wall and watchtower to protect his wineyard. He spent a lot of money and time towards this wineyard. 

Jesus asked what do they think the landowner will do to the tenants for their evil deeds? They answered reasonably and Jesus told them this is what the scriptures said and they realised that Jesus was talking about them. 

This was the last week of Jesus' life as he entered Jerusalem. The Pharisees asked Jesus by what authority was Jesus doing all these things. Jesus in response to that told them two parables. The first parable was found in verse 28. The parable of the two sons and that of the tenants are related. 

The parable of the two sons had two scenarios. The first son said no but changed his heart and went to do as his father asked. The second son said yes but did not go. Jesus asked who was the son that did what the father wanted, and they answered it was the first son. And Jesus told them the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of heaven before them. They were like the second son. Jesus is telling them to wake up. 

This morning I pray we will not be so religious that we miss what God is doing. We who are supposed to be called the children of God, who has the keys to the kingdom may miss out. 

Then he spoke about the second parable. The landowner invested a lot into his property. He rented it out to some farmers. Same like some landowners at Balik Pulau who then harvest durian trees and pay a portion to the landowner. This was what happened. He sent his servants to collect rental. Not only did he not get his rental, his servants was beaten up and one even killed. 

So the landowner sent a larger team and it happened again with some of them killed. He did not protest or made a report against them. So he sent his sons and hopefully they will know and see his authority. Instead they saw the sons as an heir and killed the sons to take their inheritance. These are terrible people. 

So Jesus asked the self righteous Pharisees what would you do? They said they should get what they deserve, take back the land and rent it to others who will pay rent. This was what they answered but actually they were talking about themselves. They killed John the Baptist by beheading him. They didn't listened to the person God sent. So God sent his only son and they didn't listened either. They plotted how to kill Jesus. Jesus was at the prime of his life when he gave his life for us. As we observe communion today we need to see the significance of Jesus' death. 

Jesus was at the prime of his life where he can do so much but he chose to die for you and me. He was in control of his life. In the garden of Gethsemane, he asked that this cup pass him by but he chose to die for us to fulfil the Father's will. At any age we are at, we can choose to live for Jesus. What was Jesus's motivation when he went to the cross for us? His motivation was because he love us. For God so loved the world. He made a choice. 

I read a story about Mother Theresa. Everytime I see her picture, she was wearing as a nun. They asked what is the special feature of Mother Theresa. She was a small sized woman and nothing I would qualify as exceptional outwardly. Was it her smile or kind eyes? And this journalist remembered he once saw Mother Theresa without her shoes and he saw that her feet was deformed. Like in China where they bind the girl's feet. And it was a painful thing for them. He asked why her feet was deformed and one of the nuns explained that when people donate shoes for the orphanage there would always be one pair that nobody wants or a few pair left and those are the shoes that Mother Theresa would wear. And because it was ill fitting, it caused her feet to be deformed. She should have been first in line to pick the shoes she like but she chose to serve with humbleness and esteem others above herself. 

How are you marked when you serve God? Maybe a little inconvenience and we don't want to serve God. Jesus went to the cross because he loved you and me. And he was marked by the stripes he took and the nails on him. What did he do it for? Because he loved you and me. 

There was this story of the Korean and Japanese. They hated one another. The Koreans hated the Japanese and there was this animosity. There was this young Korean who went to Japan to study. One day as he was going to the university, he was going in the subway and there was this drunk Japanese who fell from the platform onto the rails. The Korean boy jumped in to try safe the Japanese but unfortunately both of them died. 

It came out in the papers and the Japanese cannot understand why this Korean boy will try to save a Japanese. And it was found out that the father of this boy was a prisoner of war to the Japanese. The emperor of Japan attended this boy's funeral because he demonstrated such love for another Japanese. 

I want to say a few things before we take this morning's communion. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

"23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. 

And when I come I will give further directions."

Our motive must be right. We are not here to eat because we are hungry. Or to fulfil a religious responsibility. These emblems have no magical powers. We do it in remembrance of Jesus. Some people say we take holy communion because we get healed. What did Jesus accomplished by going to the cross for us? He received 40 lashes and by his stripes we are healed. He can heal us through his work on the cross. Can he heal us without the communion? Yes he can. Can he heal us when we take the communion? Of course he can. We are his children and his death on the cross can do all these for us. The emblem has no power in itself. 

There was this one time I was serving communion in my old church. I'd go to individuals and serve the emblem and call them by name. It's just the way I do it. On one Sunday someone I knew refused to take communion so after service I went to talk to the person and asked if anything was wrong because he didn't take communion. He said he didn't take because he was angry as he had an argument with his wife that morning. Holy Communion is not about excluding you but to include you. He should have examined himself and settle it with the person and with God and come to the table. It is not meant to exclude you from taking the Holy Communion. 

Get it right with God and take the Holy Communion. Don't have the wrong theology. If you are a non Christian, it's not to exclude you. All you have to do is ask Jesus into your heart and that you accept Jesus as Lord and saviour. 

Have Mercy on Me

Rev Dr. Jameson Yeo

I do not know why I am shivering. Do pray for me right now. I have read what I prepared many many times but still I need your prayer. That God will use me to share with you only his words. And you pray for yourself that you will have the insight to understand his words and boldness to do it. If you need to repent, repent!

Luke 18:35-43

A Blind Man Receives His Sight

35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God

This is not a parable but an event that has taken place. The same thing that has happened to the individual must happen to you. Jesus says it must happen to you according to your faith. 

How did he respond when he heard it was Jesus. He cried out: Jesus of Nazareth, have mercy on me. He cried out loud and clear so that everyone can hear. v37, it was mentioned Jesus of Nazareth but in v38, he cried Jesus Son of David. 

The crowd told him to be quiet but he shouted even louder. This will happen to you. The crowd tells you to keep quiet. Did he keep quiet? No, he shouted even louder. And Jesus asked him to come near. 

What did Jesus say to him? What do you want me to do for you?  "Me" refers to Jesus the Son of David. 

What was the mercy the man wanted? He wanted his sight. This man knows his theology. First he called Jesus of Nazareth, then the Son of David and finally Lord. He wanted that mercy to be his sight so that he can see. 

Jesus responded, your faith (what you dare to believe) that is what I have for you. Your faith has made you whole and immediately he received his sight. This is an account that happened maybe 2,000 years ago and more. 

This must happen again. It is continuous tense. Technically yes, it should be was but not here. I'll tell you why. We are not dealing with someone who had died and is buried. History. You and I are serving a living God. Right? Wrong. We are serving "the" Living God. The one and only one. 

That is why we felt his presence when we worshiped him just know. This is the living God that you and I are serving today. So if you act upon that faith or believe, then whatsoever thing you want or need, he can do for you according to your faith. 

You may have walked into this place with plenty of problems. In the church there are also problems. You may say how can? We have enemies who are here to destroy the foundation of the church. Using who? Someone who is not in tune with God. Be careful, he can use you to become the Judas Iscariot. 

What kind of pastor do you want? A pastor who is caring and responsible and takes care of troublesome people, then pray for him. 

This blind man knew Jesus as a carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. He also attributed Jesus as the son of David. A reference, a title and a designation. He is to the devout Jew the long awaited Messiah. Our deliverer. He declared his theology. He also know he is his Messiah, his Lord. 

Many knows Jesus as saviour, but many do not accept him as Lord and Master. Nonsense. When he is your saviour he is also your Lord and Master. 

If you want to enjoy his mercy and grace, then he must be your Saviour, Lord and Master. That is why sometimes we pray so hard and nothing happens, because your theology is wrong. 

When he is your Lord and Master, then he is ready to answer your prayer. Pastor, if your Lord ask you what you want, what will you say? Don't answer me, I will answer for you. The church has smart people and smart people are difficult people. So what will you ask from God? Ask for his wisdom and knowledge. Don't pray for pay raise. 

God gave to Solomon wisdom and knowledge. Not just wisdom. Just wisdom is useless. Knowledge is the know how. Wisdom is the know how to know how. So that you do the right things at the right time. That will be the answer to the problems. 

This man asked for mercy. Mercy here is not pity. It is the combination of love and action which equals compassion. Mercy is understanding the difficulty. And you give yourself to solve the problem. That is compassion. He said remember me now. This mercy is compassion. Take my case and help me now. That is what the word mercy means. Love me with action and do it right now as I cannot bear it any longer. You are desperate and need help right now. And you call him Lord. I depend on you. 

He acknowledge his weakness. He acknowledges that he cannot do anything. He just needs God's mercy. You can then present anything to him and he says according to your faith. 

Your faith based on who he is and what he claims to be. And he is the living God. 

Very strange. When I read this passage. You will noticed it says you do not ask. That he may do for you. That is what you ask and that is what you get. Ask specifically. According to what you ask. When you ask be serious. Our prayer is the privilege, is the power and is the authority that God has given you. 

How did this man use his faith? He used that faith where he is. Right now. Though he has little faith he did what he had and of what he can. All he can do is shout. 

Start from where you are, use what you have and do what you can and you will stop Jesus where he is. It is not just for physical healing, but for everything. 

He was blind and he needed others for help. Now he can see, he can work. God answered not just his present need but also into the future. So that you can glorify and honour God. 

Rev Gideon praying for new parents Darren and Esther at baby Gabrilyn's dedication.

Rev Jameson praying for those that responded to his altar call.

Good Friday, a day of Glorious Faith

Rev Stephen Thomas

This is the most important day in earth's history. This day Jesus allowed his life to come to an end. And by so doing he finalised his claim to hold all power and all authority over the earth. 

That day the power of satan ceased. Satan never heard Jesus' words. Satan thought he won. What did Jesus say? I will rise again. And that is the victory. The end of the old and the beginning of the new. 

These words accentuated the faith he holds in our life. This is the faith, the same life that he provides for us. Paul says from glory to glory he changes me, from earthly to the heavenly. 

So today is the day for us to be certain of our faith. Through Jesus' life, through death and the resurrection our life is made everlasting. 

It is by faith that Jesus took hold of all our problems. Jesus heals all of our unrighteous thoughts. He gave his life to pave our way. And he generously heals us of all our ruins. 

He does heal our wounds. I've had 32 surgeries. And I'm still walking and talking and singing and dancing. He will heal our wounds. He will take the mars of our soul and give us life. 

I'll tell you about a man that thought me faith. He understood the good value of Good Friday. His name is doctor Fitts. He knew me when I was a baby. I sat on his lap when he read the bible to me Mandarin. 

The last time I met him he was 96 years old. He was pastoring a country church. He was a man of faith. As a young doctor he came to Shanghai to practise medicine. During World War Two the Japanese made him go home. In 1946 he went back to China again. But he was forced out under Mao Tze Tung's regime. But this did not alter his faith. All through his life, I would see him read his bible in Mandarin. I love music. Here is a good hymn. It is of value to my life and doctor Fitts life. 

We celebrate Good Friday as a day of glorious faith. Let me ask you. On this day of victory how do we connect with our Heavenly Father? How do we stand firm that Jesus is the only Son of God? How are we sure that he saved us? How are we positive that he leads us on this pathway to perfection? How do we relate our faith to Good Friday?

Isaiah 53:1-5

Who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 9:4-7

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle

and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

There are two major thoughts to recall. 

Jesus was wounded for our sins. 

This is his act of faith towards us. 

Each who are called by his name are healed by the stripes that hit him. 

This is the truth of the authenticity of our faith. 

Our faith had found a resting place in Jesus as the Lord of our lives. We have faith and he thought us how to believe in a gracious and loving Father. He demonstrate this through the miracle of salvation. Faith is the key to victorious spiritual living. Faith which is believing on the wounded one is the pathway to the joy of salvation. Faith is accepting that Jesus is the Son of God. In fact he is the son of the great physician. 

Another good friend is my earthly father. He preached his first sermon when he was 15. On March 30th, he will be 97 years. He has preached God's words for 82 years. And he says I'm the plodding one. 

He is a man of faith. I used to listen to him. And I'll watch him sing. We walked every Sunday morning two and a half miles to church. And he'll sing. Dad would sing this with tears running down his face and his eyes is full of joy. So dad is now older than doctor Fitts. He just like dad proclaims his faith and love for Jesus. And Jesus is indeed our physical and spiritual doctor. 

On this Good Friday, how does this relate to what we are doing in Thailand? I would like to testify that God has been merciful to my life. Twice I faced death. The first time was in Afghanistan. The other time is in Thailand. In fact, the Thailand accident which God saved me by faith, was so real that an American government called America to ask my mother "where do we send your sons body when he dies." That was 42 years ago and I am not dead yet. 32 surgeries. I had to deal with epilepsy. And it's easy to get tired. And when your are over 60 like I am it is even easier to get tired. 

God called us to South Thailand. I have been living there for 45 years now. And he is assisting me to show them the pathway to salvation. Jesus says that he can take our wounds on himself shows his great love. No greater love has any man than this, that he lays down his life for a friend. This is the act of God in faith. 

Jesus' faith was foretold in Isaiah. By his stripes we are healed. His greatness makes our faith great. If Jesus have faith in me should I not have faith in him? If God can put up with me, he can put up with anybody. I must admit sometimes I think of quitting. But God says not yet. 

I said two things. He bears the weight of our sin. And he leads us to the pathway of life. 

17 years ago we were in Thailand and we met Hudson Lee. He asked us to help at WIN. And we intended to by faith. But back then we had a daughter and needed to take her back to America. I also met a young man called Kitty. We came back to Thailand and met this Kitty who had no idea we were coming. And he said "I thought I'll never see you again". He asked if I remembered WIN and pastor Hudson and he said I have a job to do. 

The miracle of Good Friday has become a gateway of what we are doing at WIN. WIN is now redeemed because of Hudson's faith. Because of Kitty's faith. Because of doctor Fitts' faith. Because of my father's faith. 

WIN is now healthy. We now sell fish. It's a beginning. All this because we live in the faith that he was wounded for our transgression and by his stripes we are healed. 

Jesus is the one whose government will never end. He brings peace that surpasses all understanding. This began at Easter. When Jesus did what he told Satan what he will do. That he will rise again. And Jesus rose again. 

I like this word in the bible called zeal. In Thailand we have work to do for the kingdom. In Penang you have work to do for the kingdom. All over the world we believers needs to get the job done. Let's announce his saving grace. Let those who have ears hear. 

The words of my father sang the works of the physician draws near. He is the sweetest name that was ever known. Jesus is the source of our faith. He was wounded for us to prove his faith. And he is the blessed one that heals. Jesus makes us strong in a world so devastated by sin. Jesus gives us faith. Good Friday is the last day of an old era. And Easter is the first day of a new era. Jesus' government has begun. The government rest on his shoulders. His judgement is sound. I guarantee it. We even with all the confusion created by Satan knows that Easter is real. The battle is done. The victory is won. 

Jesus is a wonderful saviour. The world may be on fire but from the flames Jesus will remove us and keep us in the rock of ages protected. 

Jesus carries us through. Each day is a saved day. His presence in our life is a resurrected life. And it began Easter morning. 

May I ask you? Do you have faith? Are you living in faith? Is your foundation in faith? He accepted the wounds so that you could be healed. Without a doubt know that God has faith in you. 

I am going to make a quick ending. As we left Hatyai and was standing in line for our visa, there stood a man and his daughter. I spoke to him with greetings. We asked where we were each from. He asked are you a Christian. My respond was the Koran says that Jesus is higher than Mohammed. And he said I am a Muslim Christian. Your faith makes the Penang church grow. And our faith will make WIN in Thailand grow. 

Two things. Do you have faith? And will you pray for WIN in Thailand? We are very tired as there is much to do. When your team comes we have much for you to do. Thank you for you coming by faith. Thank you pastor Gideon for having faith in us. 

Rev Stephen Thomas

Rev Gideon praying for Kelvin Voon who is leaving for the Philippines.

Easter presentation by TOP's young adults.

Good Friday presentation video