Jesus is in the House

Rev Gideon Lee

Mark 2:1-12
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “ Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”— He said to the paralytic, 11 “ I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

As we just read this portion of scripture, it says Jesus has just entered the city. He has entered this city before. He is coming again so he is no stranger to this place.

He entered this house which is unusual. He usually moved around doing ministry. Usually He go to the places where the people are gathered, the synagogues or the marketplace. So it's unusual He went to a home instead.

But news of Him arriving went out and people came from every corner. There was just no room and the place was filled. Jesus did one very important thing. He preached the word of God.

There was this bedridden man brought by his friends to see Jesus. He could not get in and so often many would just give up. But they went the extra mile and was creative about it. They went to the roof, which was flat at those times and they made a hole wide enough to lower the man.

Lo and behold a man was lowered down right in front of Jesus. Jesus saw this man and was amazed at the faith of his friends. And the bible says Jesus forgave the sins of this man.

There is a trend that is happening today in church. During my father's time, the church had no aircon and the pews were hard. Yet, Sunday after Sunday, the church was packed. Today many people may not come to church if there is no technology comforts. Good sound system. Comfortable chairs.

That would be a real tragedy. I am not against technology, in fact we are renovating our church soon.

My question today is what do we do when Jesus shows up?

When Jesus show up please don't keep that a secret. 

We need to tell people that in TOP God is present. We see so many empty seats when we are wanting to enlarge our sanctuary. We need to tell people Jesus is present and has power in this church.

When in cell and the leader ask if there are any testimonies, all goes quiet. Why? We need to tell people what Jesus has done. And how do we know Jesus is present in this place? The bible says where two or three is gathered in this place, He will be there. Then why others don't know Jesus is here? We need to tell people.

How many of you have a favourite Char Koay Teow stall? We can be very kiam siap. We don't want to tell others so that we don't have to wait and the price won't go up. How many of you have a favourite stall and not tell me. Sometimes that's what we do with the gospel.

You may say pastor, I am not good at sharing the gospel. But you can share your testimonies. Don't keep Him a secret. Make sure our church is packed. How I wish the car park is packed, the lift lobby packed and when I enter the sanctuary it's fully packed. I want us to remember our theme. The called out ones. Remember how I said to bring one person to church?

You want our church to grow, then don't keep Jesus a secret. The paralytic man would not have met Jesus if his friends had not brought him.

His friends, four of them took this man to Jesus and they went the extra mile. They could have said the house is full and can't go in. But they dug a hole at the expense of the house owner. They went the extra mile. These are real friends.

Have you been a friend to others? If someone never took the time to invite us to church we would never have known Jesus. I pray we will not keep Jesus a secret. He is not just for us but for everyone. We were all hungry and only Jesus can satisfy us. Our job is to tell another person where to find bread. So will you bring someone next week?

Oh, but that is the pastor's job. Is it? If like that I will be in multi-level marketing. The pastor's job is to equip the saints for the work of the kingdom. Tell that to your neighbour.

Sometimes you may say it's a lot of trouble to being someone. Have to provide transport. Have to maybe buy them lunch after service. But we need to challenge ourselves. Nurture and disciple the person. Lets be spiritual parents.

When God is in the house He speaks.

Jesus did not do a performance. He preached. He preached the word of God. God speaks through His words. The problem is are we listening. Some of us God is speaking to us and it changes our lives.

Look at Moses. God spoke to him though the burning bush. And it changed him. Saul was like that. On the way to Damascus, God spoke to him. Was he the same after that?

God speaks to us when He is present. What is He saying to you today? He is calling sinners, He is asking us to give more, or serve more. Or that we need to be at prayer meeting. Or that we need to give up on a wrong relationship. We don't like to change even if it actually makes us better. He speaks to you and I. What is he saying? Our problem is on hearing. We are so busy with something. Have you heard from God lately. I want to be within the range of God's voice. If we don't hear God, we are in a very dangerous place.

How many of you remember at the CWC, I lost my son. We were all having lunch and suddenly he disappeared. We were frantically looking for Josiah and could not find him. Finally I found him and we told them they cannot leave our presence without telling us. Even if its just to the toilet. And I told them if they leave they still have to be within hearing range.

Many of us like to be outside of God's range. What is God saying to you this morning? You personally.

Last but not least.

When Jesus is present He saves.

Coming back to the story. These four guys lowered his friends but the bible says Your sins are forgiven. Strange. He didn't say he is healed. This man came needing physical healing but Jesus is more interested in his spiritual healing. The Pharisees were all grumbling and says nobody can forgive sin unless God. Jesus perceived what they were saying and Jesus says the son of man has the power to forgive sin. There is salvation where Jesus is. Bring your friends to church, Jesus saves.

People's life are changed. Once their soul is saved, all his other needs can be met. That's why when we do big party we want their sins forgiven. How many of us are willing to do that. When Jesus is in the house, don't keep it a secret.

How many of us has a stall where the seller knows exactly what we want? We should be like that to others where they know we have Jesus. Don't keep Jesus a secret.

Second, what is God saying to you? I'm pretty sure he is speaking to us but are you listening? He is too much of a friend to let you stay where you are.

When Jesus is present He saves. When salvation comes, the healing, the providence, the blessings will all fall in line.

So I ask you how many of you will bring someone to church? You may say I have no friends. You have 2,000 friends on Facebook but none of them are real. (laughs)

May we not keep Jesus a secret from our friends.

Last but not least, when Jesus is in the house, the people leave satisfied. The man came in paralysed but he left praising God.

Earth, Wind and Fire

Rev Gideon Lee

Today is Pentecost Sunday so we want to talk about it. Let's turn to the book of Acts. You cannot talk about Pentecost without looking at the book of Acts.

Acts 2:1-21
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God- fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked:“Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine. ’”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved. ’

Now let us turn to an earlier chapter.

Acts 1:4-8
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them:“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The title of my message is Earth, Wind and Fire. How many of you know where this title came from, if you are old enough.

Originally, Pentecost to the Jews in those days is when they celebrate the law, which Moses brought down from Mount Sinai. It happens 50 days after the Passover.

Today, Pentecost represents the birth of the church, or the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church.

You know the story, Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem. Jesus never told them to wait for how long. If it was me, I would have asked some questions. Like when and how? Jesus told them to wait, so they waited.

They were all in the upper room. And there was a rush of wind, a violent wind that filled the place. And like tongues of fire that fell on them. They were there in one accord, in unity and they were in prayer.

What I want to say is if you are looking for unity in the church it must start with prayer. Events, Programmes and even the pastor cannot bring unity to the church. We need to pray together. So I am going to hammer on our prayer meeting.

If you want the church to be united, we need to be a praying church. Guess what happened when they were together and praying? God sent the Holy Spirit. Something happens when we pray together. Remember, Jesus never told them when. They were just together praying. Something miraculous happened. The disciples were all filled with the Holy Spirit and praying with other tongues.

The people were wondering how come? They were praying in languages they didn't know. There is a reason why God sent the Holy Spirit. There are reasons.

First Reason

The Holy Spirit makes sense of our lives and its purpose.

Life can sometimes be so confusing right? You may be fine one moment and you get a tragic news and your life could be turned upside down in a moment. What do we do? We go into prayer right? Or we read His words. Right?

Sometimes we don't understand God's word but the Holy Spirit actually illuminated God's word. That's what the Holy Spirit does. Without Him we'll have a hard time understanding what He means and wants. He guides us in His words. Sometimes within the same passage we get different meanings because the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into His truth.

God's promises is made alive by the Holy Spirit. He makes it real to us.

Let me give you an illustration.

There was this guy, a great blues master named Jimmy Reed. During the 50's and 60', he would play his harmonica and guitar and had significant impact on such stars as Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. You can often hear if you listened carefully, a woman's voice telling Jimmy the next lyric he has to sing. That voice was his wife. She would whisper to Jimmy the next line of the song.

For us, that's the task of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes in the business of life, we forget Him. He is there to remind and encourage us.

Second reason.

The Holy Spirit will give us the power to accomplish what God has called us to accomplish.

Let me ask you a question. What had God called us to do? What is the great commission?

Do you think that's a big task? Easy? How many of you have gone into the world to preach the gospel baptizing people. Is it a big task? I think it's an impossible task.

But here the bible says you will receive power to do what? Read your bible. Power
to be witnesses. The Holy Spirit empowers us to go out to be a witness, not to just sit comfortably here.

How many of you know what's this. Glove. It looks like a hand right. If I ask the glove to pick up this bottle do you think it's possible? It looks like a hand. No? But what if I do this. (Pastor puts on the glove.) Now can the glove pick up the bottle. Can?

It's the same like the Holy Spirit. We are like the glove. We can only do what we can do if the Holy Spirit is in our life. The Holy Spirit has to fill you up completely. Like the glove, our fingers must fill all of the glove. If not it will not function.

But we sometimes tell the Holy Spirit no entry to parts of our lives. The Holy Spirit works in us but if we don't surrender all to Him, it's near impossible to do what we are suppose to do.

Third reason.

The Holy Spirit helps us to become all God has created us to be.
One of the images used in the scripture is a refining fire. The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood of the trinity. Sometimes we only relate to the Holy Spirit as fire and wind. But the refining fire can help us understand Him better. What does refining fire do? Refine.

How many of you know a silver smith? He will turn molten pieces of silver into jewelry. His job is to prepare the silver to make it into other things.

There were three women who was studying the bible but they could not understand the passage where the Holy Spirit was called a refining fire. So they went to a silver smith to see how it's done.

The silver smith with experience will build a fire and will know how hot based on the colour of the fire. The furnace has to be brought up to a certain temperature. When the fire is at the right temperature, he will quickly put the silver right in the centre of the furnace.

The women asked the silver smith, how do you know when the silver is ready? He said when I put the silver into the fire, it will burn up the impurities. He knows when because if the silver is there too long, it will spoil. He said when I look into the silver and see my reflection, it is ready.

God looks at us and and no longer sees our reflection because of sin. The Holy Spirit is here to work in our lives and get us purified so that God can see His image in us. We must be willing to be put into the refiner's fire.

But the question is this. Going into the fire is painful. The Holy Spirit when working in your life will be painful.

My question is are you ready to let the Holy Spirit work in your life. There are areas in your life He want to work on. He wants to work on you so that you can be an overcomer.

We are Christians, little Christ, so He wants us to be in His image. He wants to work on us so that our life reflect Him. On Pentecost Sunday, when we talk about the Holy Spirit, we want Him to accomplish His purpose in our life and empower us to accomplish His purpose and to be who God intended us to be.

Mothers, is it well with you?

Rev Gideon Lee

Sunday School children singing for all mothers at TOP

Today is Mother's Day and I want to appreciate a few people here. I asked my wife how to appreciate mothers but my wife said in the past it has been boring, like the oldest mother, mothers with the most children etc. But this Mother's Day I want to appreciate Sis Joo Kim. I know today is for mothers but it is also brother Chew's birthday so I give him flowers la (laughs). Yesterday was also my son's birthday 

Josiah. Last but not least I want to appreciate the newest grandmother in church. First time grandmother? Anybody? Sis Melinda, last year? God bless you. Of course I want to appreciate my wife too. (Special bouquet of flowers from pastor Gideon).

Let's turn to our bibles 2 Kings. 

2 Kings 4:8-26

The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life

8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well- to- do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army? ’”

She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”

14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.

Gehazi said, “Well, she has no son and her husband is old.”

15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”

“No, my lord,” she objected. “Don’t mislead your servant, O man of God!”

17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

18 The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. 19 “My head! My head!” he said to his father.

His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

22 She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.”

23 “Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.”

“It’s all right,” she said.

24 She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite! 26 Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right? ’”

“Everything is all right,” she said.

I am going to read a quote to you – “A small child waits with impatience the arrival home of a parent. She wishes to relate some sandbox experience. She is excited to share the thrill that she has known that day. The time comes; the parent arrives. Beaten down by the stresses of the workplace the parent often replies: “Not now, honey, I’m busy, go watch television.” The most often spoken words in the American household today are the words: go watch television. If not now, when? Later. But later never comes for many and the parent fails to communicate at the very earliest of ages. We give her designer clothes and computer toys, but we do not give her what she wants the most, which is our time. Now, she is fifteen and has a glassy look in her eyes. Honey, do we need to sit down and talk? Too late. Love has passed by.


There are many ways to lose children. We can lose them by a tragic death. We can lose them by ignoring them. We can lose them due to broken relationships. And, we can lose them by failing to develop the strength of character in them that they will need to resist evil. In our Scripture reading, Elisha did not know what had happened but he guessed something was not right; otherwise, this mother, this Shunammite woman would not be traveling to find him. Elisha sent his servant out to greet this well-to-do-woman with three questions: Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?


On this Mother's Day 2013, these three questions are as relevant today as they were when they were first spoken almost 3000 years ago. Let us take a look at this story and the three questions it raises.



Elisha was a fearless prophet of the Lord. He spent much of his time wondering the land and proclaiming the Word of God. One place he visited repeatedly was Shunem. Since this small village was located in the center of the country it afforded him a kind of hub from which to conduct his ministry. He was by there so often that one of the couples in the village came to know him and would invite him to dinner. She grew so fond of him, in fact, that she entreated her husband to make a small room for him up on the roof. She even furnished it with a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp. Now listen, this is extravagant. She was really trying to make him feel welcome.



Now, I don’t know about you but if my wife was pushing me to build an extra room for some wondering evangelist so he could pop in unannounced I think I might have her head examined. This was no casual exercise in hospitality. This was going the second mile for a man, who obviously was a prophet of God, but for all intents and purposes was a stranger to them. So lavish was there hospitality that Elisha, moved with gratitude, calls her into his room. And, as she stands in the doorway Elisha says what every barren woman longs to hear: You will hold a son in your arms. You can almost detect the pain of her heart as she responds: Don't mislead your servant, O man of God!



One year passes, the bible says, and just as Elisha had said a boy is born and everyone lives happily ever after. Right? No. Life, unfortunately, is not that way. One day as the young boy is out in the fields with his father he suffers a heat stroke, is taken home to his mother, and there in her lap he dies. You can almost anticipate her words to Elisha: I told you so! I told you not to mislead me!



1. Is It Well With You?



Mothers. Let me ask you. Is it well with you? Considering the enormous task that is placed upon you and the expectations, is it well with you? I have said it often and let me say it here: So go the mothers in a society so goes the society. If the women of a land give in to temptation and let their morals and character slip then it will not be long after that the rest of the land goes with her. William Ross Wallace echoed this truth when he said, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”



In other words kingdoms are not built by the man upon the throne but by the mother from the crib. Children will live out the life they see reflected in their mother’s eyes; they will live out the life they feel given in the touch of their mother’s hand; they will live out the life they hear described in the words of their mother’s lips.



Look at this woman in 2 Kings. She is a well-to-do woman. She obviously has a nurturing disposition. You can see it in the way she treated Elisha. She respected her husband and sought his advice and help on projects around the home. She was faithful to her husband despite their lack of children. She obviously would make a good mother but she had no children. Now I ask you. What is required of a woman to make her a good mother?


A panel of experts was asked to complete some sentences about their moms. What made them experts was the one thing they all had in common. They were all kindergarteners. Even though these are the words of 6 year olds I think the qualities they recognized in their moms are they qualities needed in all mom. Here are the sentences and the answers:



My mom is best at: "feeding the dog," "making my bed," "driving," "cleaning," "running," "riding a two-wheeler," "watering the garden."



If I had enough money, I'd buy her: "flowers," "a car," "a necklace," "a brand-new fan," "a kitten," "a diamond ring," "a big pack of bubble gum."



It makes me feel good inside when Mom says: "I love you," "good job," "dinnertime!" "You look handsome," "I'll buy you something."



My mom is as pretty as a "butterfly," "ballerina," "mouse," "princess," "my brothers," "goose," "gold ring," "a clean horse."



By the way, one of the most memorable comments from the children on Father's Day was: Daddy gets tired out from: "chasing mommy."

There is one word in that list that stands out to me as one of the glaring issues of our time. The child who said it makes me feel good inside when mom says, “Dinnertime!” This child was on to something. I recently saw statistics that showed that a family that eats together at least three times a week, and that can include McDonalds and other fast food places, it doesn’t always have to be at home, but a family that does that has a 45% greater chance that their children will not use drugs. Now don’t miss the point. It is not that there is something mystical that occurs while we eat; it simply suggest that as we eat together we participate in a basic support group. Here is the key. We need to feel secure, a part of a family where there is acceptance.



Moms, you well know, there are no manuals that come with parenting, but it does seem to make common sense that we need to get back to some basics like listening and being there for one another. I don’t care what experience all our 4 children goes through, whether it is a tennis game, spelling B, or church play, they will grow up remembering that Mom and Dad were there and that will make all the difference.



Mother’s is it well with you? I ran across a job description for a mother this week. It was written by Erma Bombeck. Here it is: "Wanted: Woman to raise, educate and entertain child for minimum of 20 years. Be prepared to eat egg if the yolk breaks, receive anything in hand child spits out, and take knots out of wet shoestrings with teeth. Must be expert in making costume for 'bad tooth' in the dental play and picking bathroom locks with shish kebab skewer. Hours: Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays. Comprehensive dental plan, vacation, medical benefits and company car negotiable.”



Moms, the hours are endless, the talents you must have are many, the patience endless, and the financial pay is awful. Is it well with you?



2. Is It Well With Your Husband?



Let me ask you also. Is it well with your husbands? Is your husband living up to his family responsibilities. I make no bones that the Father is the head of the family and must answer one day for his attentiveness to that responsibility but often times it is the mother which must prod the man to take his title seriously.



Did you notice what the father did in this story. Let me read it again. Look at verse 18: The child grew and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. “My head! My head!” The boy said to his father. The father said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”



The father said to a servant? A servant!? Why is he telling a servant to do what obviously is his job? It looks as though the boy had fainted. Verse 20 says the servant had to lift him up. The boy wasn’t simply complaining the boy was seriously ill. Probably a heat stroke and the father keeps right on working harvesting the field while the servant carries the limp body of his son back to his mother. What in God’s name is this man doing?


I can hear so many boys crying out and so many girls calling out for their dads. “Dad, my head! my head! Father, my heart! my heart! Dad, my soul! my soul! And what do the father’s do? They keep right on working. There is a true story about a young man who was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood. He was well acquainted with his father a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, "The Law of Trusts." The judge asked the young man, "Do you remember your father?""I remember him well, your honor," came the reply.

Then trying to probe the offender's conscience, the judge said, "As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?" There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected. "I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, 'Run along, boy; I'm busy!' When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying "Run along, son; this book must be finished!' Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend." The magistrate muttered to himself, "Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!" I ask you Mom. Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? And lastly I ask you is it well with your child?



3. Is It Well With Your Child?



Notice the devotion of this mother. She was not about to let this little boy of hers die without a fight. He had died in her arms and she refused to let him go. I know that some moms can be pretty shrewd when it comes to their children. Children need to be protected and this becomes so engrained in us that we tend to keep protecting them even when they are grown men and women. But at some point we need to let them fend for themselves.



Former president Jimmy Carter spoke at Southern Methodist University and related an incident that occurred after he left the Whitehouse. A woman reporter came to Plains, Georgia, to interview his mother in relation to an article about Mr. Carter and his family. His mother really didn't want to be interviewed, but was being gracious. So when the reporter knocked at her door, Mrs. Carter invited her in. The reporter asked some hard questions and actually was rather aggressive and rude.
"I want to ask you a question," she said. "Your son ran for the presidency on the premise that he would always tell the truth. Has he ever lied?"



Mrs. Carter said, "I think he's truthful; I think you can depend on his word."



The reporter again asked if he had ever lied in his entire life.

His mother said, "Well, I guess maybe he's told a little white lie."



"Ah, see there!" the reporter exclaimed. "He's lied! If he told a white lie, he has lied."



The reporter was still not satisfied and asked, "What is a white lie?" And then Lillian Carter said, "It's like a moment ago when you knocked on the door and I went to the door and said I was glad to see you."



I love that! Mrs. Carter still trying to protect her boy and he was the former president of the United States. Now Mrs. Carter should have said what do you mean has he ever told a lie? He was a boy wasn’t he? Of course, he has told a lie. Mom’s you’ve got to let your children go and let them learn on their own. On the other hand, we all know they never outgrow their need for a mother. It’s an art isn’t it? Deciding when to let them go. How far to let them venture away from you and when to draw them in, hold them, and protect them from danger.



Notice that this mother let her young son go out in the field with his dad. She let him be a big boy. There is risk in that. But there is also risk in coddling them. 



Now, contrast the devotion of this mother with the devotion of this father. In the end I don’t think there was very little devotion on the part of this father. The child is near death and the dad doesn’t even pick the boy up. The servant is told to do it. It’s as if the task is beneath him. And here it is. This is the evil of our age—father’s who believe fatherhood is beneath them. That they have more important thing to do with their lives.

Listen to how the story ends (Read verses 26b-37). I thank God that these two mothers were devoted to their two sons. But more than this, they were both devoted to God. Mothers! There are so many things in this life that cause stress and I know that the demands are great. But remember— Children will live out the life they see reflected in their mother’s eyes; they will live out the life they feel given in the touch of their mother’s hand; they will live out the life they hear described in the words of their mother’s lips.



It’s a pretty tall order isn’t it? Teaching children their heritage. Teaching them the love of God in Christ and helping them grow in that knowledge. It’s, as Erma Bombeck said, a 20 year job and sometimes longer than that but keep telling them about the love of God in Christ. That’s your number one devotion. Mom, is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?

TOP mothers and wives gathers after service

Pastor Gideon praying for all mothers

Youth and Young Adults getting ready to give out Mother's Day gifts

A token of appreciation to all mothers and wives. Getting their gifts from the youths inTOP.

Many thanks to Rev Gideon for passing me his notes so only the beginning was transcribed.

The Peace of God

Rev Gideon Lee

Saturday Night Service at TOP

We are so glad that you can join us at our ceramah (laughs). All the money collected will go to the church.

Before we start I would like to invite auntie Fong to come share her testimony.

Auntie Fong's testimony:

"God healed my grand nephew, who had infection his kidney and the scan showed that he had only one kidney which was frightening. The kidney was swollen and his urethra is also blocked either by a stone or tissue. The blockage caused the infection. So I told Pastor and Bro Vive and SMSs was sent out for our church to pray for him. We prayed that the blockage would go.

I believed that the Lord can disintegrate the stone and clear the blockage. When the scope was done, the doctor couldn't find anything and both passageway was clear and clean. My niece asked where did it go? The doctor said he saw specks of white dots in his bladder and I believe it has disintegrated and was passed out to the bladder.

Our God is great. So I encourage you to seek the Lord if you have any problems. The Lord is good."

Just to let you know I just flew in from KL. I drove down to Klang to do my duty for the election and flew back up for the service. I am reminded I am like Joseph and Mary. Except I didn't come on a donkey and my wife is not pregnant (laughs). My wife said my son Jayden is so popular now. Everyone line up to hug and hold him. That gave me an idea. So I told my wife, here's an idea. Everyone who wants to carry him for five minutes pays RM50.00 and 10 minutes RM100.00 to go to our renovation fund. Since our renovation fund have not been active for the past couple of weeks. Just joking ya.

I am glad you are here and not at a ceramah. Tonight you will hear my ceramah but it is going to be from the word of God.

John 14:23-29
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you. ’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

Verse 27 says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

As I was preparing this message I felt that this is what the Lord wants to say to us. In the last few weeks we have heard so much of the political news. And tomorrow we are going to vote. And maybe some things we read and heard is troubling us.

But I want to say that God says my peace I give to you. He says so not let your heart be troubled. Jesus was talking to His disciples. He was telling them He is going away. And of course His disciples would be kind of afraid. They probably was thinking what is going to happen to them when He goes?

And Jesus sensed their anxiety and told them my peace I give to you. And a peace not as the world gives. And He goes on to talk about the Holy Spirit and where He is going where the Heavenly Father is and that He was coming back for them.

So tonight I want to encourage you. Tomorrow as we do our duty to vote, many of us may feel a little bit troubled. Which government is going to be next? We may have many questions on our mind.

But I want to shift your attention to what is happening. I want to shift your attention to what's in God's word. Our peace is not dependent on the government we have. Or any political party. Our peace is dependent on the prince of peace. Then nothing can change you and you have nothing to worry about.

I sometimes wish I have a magic wand and just wave at you and you can have God's peace. But I don't. I can just point you to the person that has peace everlasting.

Here we see Jesus making a very important statement in verse 27.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

What is the defining word here. It is "not as the world gives". The world can give you a kind of peace. A peace that comes with political stability or a strong economy. But I can say that it is only temporary. It will not last. I know a general who said we will go to war to find peace. It is temporary. Jesus understood that. The disciples understood that. Just look at the history of Israel. One fight after another to find peace. Even here, they are under the Roman Empire.

Sad to say a lot of us place our hope in what we see in this world. He was trying to shift the focus of the disciples and that is what I am doing tonight. Peace not as the world give. Look to Christ.

I am not saying the peace that we have is not good. But at best it is only temporary and we should not depend on it for real peace.

Do you know what kind of peace Jesus gives? It is a peace that surpasses all understanding. A peace that comes with surrender and not strength.

How many of you remember when you gave your life to God? A peace that filled that void in you. Worldly peace, whether it is political or otherwise is only temporary.

I remember when I first gave my life to God, I had the peace of God in my heart even though there was so much trouble out there. The peace can only come when we surrender to Him. God has been so good to me. I look at my life and I see his mercy in my life.

I remember how God led my family to Penang. That kind of peace can only come from surrendering to Him. When I say surrender, I mean obedience. It will only come when you are I have total obedience to him.

I was thinking how I was going to shift from Klang to Penang. Don't know how many lorries. I had extended families, all my fish and tortoises (laughs). It was a big lorry and I didn't even thought whether the 19 footer may not be able to come into my housing area. I had to help the driver reverse in so that he don't bang my neighbour's car.

And to load the stuff was no joke. I lived in Klang all my life so I accumulated lots of rubbish. It took so long to load up. I had so many fishes. I had a 8' x 8' cement tank in my house. So I was wondering how I am going to ship them all up.

But God is so good. Came to Penang and Bro Wilbur's cell came to help us. When I first saw Bro Wilbur, this small Chinese man with his shirt nicely tucked in his shorts, before I knew it, he was up on the lorry moving things and shouting instructions (laughs).

Then another second trip to take my two 5' aquarium and many other smaller tanks. If you look at my circumstances, I'm sure your heart will be troubled. But the difference is when you have the peace of God, you will know all things will work out fine.

Tonight, are you troubled? Many people have a lot of fears. Fear of tomorrow. Fear of death. Fear of the dark. All of us have fears. But the difference is that we have Jesus in our heart. The bible did not say no fear. But it says fear not.

We need the peace of God more and more. And the peace of God can only come when we are in total surrender to God. The bible says "if you obey me."

In one of my sermons, I said you can know how well a person is by how well he follows God. You cannot follow God of you don't obey Him. Is God calling you to do something for Him? Until you obey or surrender to Him, it will be "gangu" you.

He gives you a peace not as the world gives. Whatever happens tomorrow, I pray your peace will be centered on Him. And nothing will shake you. Tomorrow do your duty and go vote. Pray before you go to vote. Tonight we want to spend some time to pray for Malaysia. Before everything happens tomorrow, let us soak our country in prayer.

The Power of the Gospel

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I asked my bible study class to pray for me because these days we are so politically charged, but just to be clear I am not making a ceramah today.

There are two types of ceramah, one that offers free food and one that does not. It is all about political power and the most famous quotes is from Mao Tze-Tung - "Power comes front the barrel of a gun". Of course this man who is anti God got it all wrong. Today, the power lies in the ballot box so let us prayerfully do our duty.

This morning I want to draw you from this political charged atmosphere to a spiritual atmosphere, to draw you to look to Him and be more heavenly focused.

This morning I am talking about power. But not power drawn from human institutions but power that is divine, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:“The righteous will live by faith.”

The Dunamis of the Gospel. That's my title for today's message.

I want you to note that Paul writes that "I am not ashamed of the Gospel". You may wonder why. It is because Paul minsters to people across the board. The gospel is not something natural for all to believe. The Jews slight at Him. How can a person crucified be a messiah? For death is a curse.

When he goes to the Gentiles, of which some are learned, asked, how can a person resurrect from the dead? But Paul knows the power of the gospel is salvation to those who believes. And Paul believes this.

This Dunamis is the inward Dunamis. Why, because there is also an outward Dunamis.

My brother got his diploma from bible school and when I told him there is an inward and outward Dunamis, he asked me biblical or not.

Paul saw the gospel of Jesus dying for the sins of men and women. In this gospel lies the pathway for men and women to come back to God. Paul was first and foremost thinking of a power that can make a person who is spiritually dead become spiritually alive. No other power can do that.

In that gospel God proclaim that He can give spiritual life and that the bones that are dead can become alive, and this is what we call born again.

Whatever power there is on earth is human and can only change events. But only one power can change life and bring life to bones. It is by the Holy Spirit that brings you the new life.

And that is what Paul calls the new man.

There is a Chinese proverbs that says it is easier to change an empire than to change a human character. It is impossible to change a man's character and the Chinese got it right. Paul as an example is not a humble man but he was humbled by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That same power is at work sanctifying you and making you more and more holy. That inner Dunamis is not focusing on the power of human institutions but the power that gives you new spiritual life to free you from the bondage of sin, to help you pursue righteousness.

The work of the Holy Spirit is what caused you to accept him where the gospel became real to you.

John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The gospel lies in this word "Truth". It liberates you. Almost all of us succumb to sin because of lies. Truth allows you to have a life that is free from sin. A life God wants you to have.

This truth mentions the content of the gospel. The objective truth. But that is another element to the truth, where the letter needs to be energised and made alive to you. From logos to rhema.

That truth gives you salvation and new spiritual life which first and foremost gives peace in your life. Peace with God is what the new spiritual life is all about. New spiritual life can totally transforms you. That inward power of the gospel to change you. That power changes the human heart and no other power on earth can do that.

If you hear people who are saved, they often say, once I was like that. Now I am like that. When you have peace with God, you can have the peace of God.

Hebrews 2:3-4
how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The word miracle in the Greek is the same word as Dunamis. It is the divine power of God to work miracles. A miracle is when God breaks into the natural realm and causes wonders, miracles and signs.

This is an outward Dunamis. It is an outward that is the miracle working power of God on you. This is to confirm and testify to the message of the gospel.

John 20:30-31
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
You will find that these miracles were written that you may believe Jesus is a miracle working God. Miracles are always flowing from the compassion of Christ. When He heals you it is not a dis-compassionate work. He wants to heal you.

The most important fact of the healing is to lead you to Jesus Christ. It is not an end but a means to an end. They are a point of contact but not the point of focus. Do not focus on the miracles but the person who perform the miracle.

If our focus is on the healing, He will receive the miracle but not the healer. This is possible, you will realise there are people like that. When not well, they will do anything you ask to get his healing. Even the sinner's prayer. People like these who seek healing and not God will go to other temples to get his healing. That's his focus.

Luke 17:11-17
Ten Healed of Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

This story tells us that 10 received the outward Dunamis of God's miracle. Were they all healed? Yes. But only one came back.

But the inward Dunamis is the one that saves. The outward Dunamis is a means not an end. Spiritual maturity does not depend on the outward Dunamis. It is about a relationship with our Lord. It is striking the balance. The gospel call must emphasise the content of the bible and that you can have new life in Christ.

How does Jesus balances this outward and inward Dunamis?

John 9:5-8
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

This is the outward Dunamis.

John 9:35-39
Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

And here Jesus talked about the working of the inner Dunamis.

John 11:43-45
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

This outward Dunamis though powerful was already being prepared for by Jesus in verse 25.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The greatest miracle is that a man who is spiritually dead can cross over to spiritual life.

I was talking this morning at bible class about the church. And in the Protestant church there is the Pentecostal movement, you find the biggest growth of the church was then. The Pentecostal movement has a very strong outward Dunamis but they also had great emphasis on the inward Dunamis.

On the cross you will receive your biggest miracle. When I became a Christian, the very first question I asked was this. Why nothing happened? Then my brother asked me what did you think will happen. After he prayed for me and said it's finished, I was waiting for something to happen. I read the bible and like Paul, he was blinded by lightning. I was expecting something.

But my brother had wisdom and told me it's not for everyone, you are not Paul. But something did happen, and nothing can compare to that, I became spiritually alive.

Our faith rest in the person of Christ and in that comes the presence of God and in that presence will manifest the power of God. Those who seeks the outer Dunamis often never finds it but those who seeks the inward Dunamis often sees the outward Dunamis being manifested. Seek the Lord. The power that work in you, not just the outward.

To me, many of us do not realise that when you see all the turmoil around the world, you see the outward needs. The outward turmoil does not mean you cannot have inward peace. And there is only one power that can give you peace that surpasses all understanding.

My personal testimony is that I am like you with a lot of problems and obstacles. But I can attest to you that even when things are not well and smooth, you will experience the peace of God in the midst of everything and there you find a rest. That is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is your spiritual heritage. In that salvation, you who are spiritually dead is made alive and that is the life of God in you. And that is something that money cannot buy. And there you will find a wonderful peace and in that you will find the outward Dunamis of God.

You may ask what is all this about? I am just trying to change your focus. If you have been focusing on the miracles that God does, focus instead on God. Focus on the God of miracles, not the miracles of
God you seek.

I conclude that it is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only thing that has eternal value. Its greatest power is when you allow the person of Jesus Christ to be lifted up. The positive power of the gospel must come from above.

Paul actually says this very well. And it is my prayer that all of us can identify with Paul, I'm not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for everyone who believes.

Shepherd and Sheep

Rev Gideon Lee

This is probably a portion of scripture that all of you are familiar with.

John 10:22-30
The Unbelief of the Jews
22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Solomon's Colonnade is a covered pathway in the garden and here is when the Jews asked Jesus a sincere question.

When you ask sincerely, Jesus is more than willing to answer. But Jesus said He has already told them many times but they did not believed.

And Jesus said something very important, that my sheep hear me and follow me. And He said here that God is greater than all. And He finally said He and the Father is one and if you read further, the people became angry and wanted to stone Him.

This morning we are going to talk about shepherds and sheep.

I want to start with a story. A retired man wanted to be a rancher. And they had some sheep and when it came to the sheep giving birth, it was an important event and they have to be on high alert. It's called lambing.

One day he met a friend at the market and his friend asked how is his flock and he said it's a good year with many giving birth. So he asked whether he named his lambs. Normally they don't name so that to sell or slaughter they are not attached to them. But this man named his lambs goodness and mercy. From the scripture "and goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life".

Because lambs normally follow their master and this is the characteristics of sheep. They follow.

Some people say sheep are not very smart since they only follow. That's why there is the term "like sheep going to the slaughter."

But I want to say it takes a lot for a sheep to follow the shepherd. The bible describe us as sheep.

If you look at King David and you read Psalm 23, he described his relationship with God as "The Lord is my Shepherd." He did not say the Lord my Lion or Eagle even though it's a common reference.

Even Isaiah said we were like sheep gone astray. This theme of the shepherd and sheep is throughout the bible including the NT where Jesus is the good shepherd and the lamb being slain.

Sheep are very important in the bible with more than 500 times being mentioned, more than any other animals.

It takes a lot for the sheep to follow the shepherd. He has protection, so I don't think the sheep is stupid. They have safety in a flock.

If you watch National Geographic or Discovery, you'll see the wildebeests or zebras that congregate as a group. And when a predator wants to attack it will target, the weak, the young and the old. But as long as they stay within the safety of the flock, they are okay.

So I want to say you all are clever. You do not stray or you will be exposed. Our predator is the devil. That is what the predator does. He separates the target from the flock and that's when they are vulnerable.

What are the qualities that make a good sheep.

John 10:25,26
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

This tells me that Jesus knows His sheep individually.

The bible says even before you are formed in your mother's womb He already named you.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead He called him by name. That tells me that God cares for me. We are not just a number to God. The bible says many times how He even knows the number of hair on our head.

My children like to play games with me when traveling in the car especially long distances. They'll put their hands on my shoulder and ask who is this? Fortunately they don't put their hands over my eyes or sure accident wan (laughs). But they pakat, like Elena will touch me but Josiah may ask etc. Sometimes I will touch their hands but they sometimes feel the same and I may not recognize whose hand is it. But God is different. He knows you intimately. God knows.

The bible says my sheep listen to my voice.

There was once a case in Australia where a man was accused of stealing sheep. When the defendant was asked why you steal sheep he said no it was my lost sheep which I found. So the judge said "how to know who is right?" So they brought the sheep into the court and they asked the defendant to go outside and call the sheep. And lo and behold, the sheep responded to the call and the judge said case closed. The sheep recognize the shepherd's voice.

The question is do we hear God's voice. Sometimes we talk more than we listen. We have a list of wants for God but have we just listened to what God is saying to us. In order to be a good sheep we need to listen to the voice of our shepherd.

Each shepherd have their own way of calling their sheep. When the sheep from different flocks enter the pen, the shepherds normally sleep across the gate and protect the sheep from predators. The next morning, each shepherd separates the sheep by calling them.

And the bible says the sheep follows the shepherd.

How well we know if it's a good sheep is how well they follow the shepherd. Do we follow Jesus?

If you watch the western movies you'll see the cowboys use dogs to control a herd from behind. But in the Middle East, the shepherd walks in front and calls to his sheep and they follow him. Jesus said no one can snatch His sheep from Him. No one. Not only God loves us but He has the ability to keep us. Our salvation is firm as long as we choose to remain in the flock. Follow God. Nothing can steal you from Him but you can still choose to walk away. Let's be like good sheep to follow Him.

There was one evangelistic or revival speaker that went from town to town. And there was this man who asked the preacher to come to his home to pray for his dying son. So he came and talked to the son. He ask the son, Timothy, so you know how to pray? And the boy said Psalm 24, The Lord is my shepherd. But the preacher said wrong. Read again and with each word count with your finger. The Lord is MY shepherd. When you reach MY, notice it's your ring finger and told him the Lord is YOUR shepherd. Hold on to that. The next trip, he passed by and was sad to see a grave with a cross behind the house. The mother said he passed away just after the preacher left but what's strange was when they found the boy, he was holding his ring finger. The Lord is his shepherd.

When the Lord calls we listen. Stay in the flock. We all want Jesus as our savior but many of us are not willing to let Him be the master. I am also talking about myself. Are we listening to our God. When was the last time you heard God? Let's be good sheep and follow our shepherd.

Looking to God for Victory

Rev Gideon Lee

Welcome to church. Today we will be voting for our church board so let's participate in our AGM. And soon we will be voting for our Government.

Nowadays I feel so sad. Everybody just want to see my son Jayden. Everybody say he's so cute and wants to carry him. Nobody wants to carry your pastor. I feel so left out. (Laughs). If he is on Facebook, he will have more friends than me.

Yesterday in the car park I found a piece of paper on the floor. It was RM50. Wow, I thought this is bonus and I can eat better instead of eating at Batu Lanchang. But then I remembered the topic the cell has been teaching on Personal Integrity. So I thought I better try find the owner.

It could be one of the youth and that would be a lot of money for them. So I texted Bro Vive and told him if anyone lost some money to get it from me. I didn't tell him the amount. And later Bro Vive told me it was one of the youth and he told me the amount and it was RM50.

I want to say it is very good to attend cell. In church it's hi and bye and nobody knows you. But in a cell we can interact and know each other better. So I encourage you to attend cell. Amen?

Turn with me to the Book of Exodus.

Exodus 17:8-16
Victory over the Amalekites
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “ Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses ’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “ Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

I want to give you a little comment before I preach the word of God. The few words before this chapter talked about the Israelites who came to this place but there was no water. This place is called rest but they did not find rest here and the people were beginning to grumble. They said Moses has brought them here to die. They were ready to stone him. But the Lord always have a solution even before our problems occur. God already have a solution. God told Moses to strike the stone and water began to gush out from the rock. God's solution is a supernatural intervention.

If God can do it then, he will do it today. The bible says God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His character remains. Then we came to this portion when the Israelites faced another situation where the enemies were after them. And the Amalekites were no ordinary enemy. They were the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob. And you know what Jacob did right? He stole the birthright of Esau. So do you think they will treat the Israelites nicely? If you read in Deuteronomy, you'll know how sneaky they were. The bible says they have no fear of God. The Amalekites were big trouble. They prey on women and children. They don't care. They had no mercy.

So now that they are attacking the Israelites, they know what they were capable of. Maybe some of us is facing our Amalekites. But today that enemy is the devil. He is not going to play fair with you. He will bully the weak and the innocent. He doesn't care.

From this passage I want you to know we are in a spiritual battle whether we like it or not. The enemy attacks our marriage, our business, and our family. We have an adversary but I have good news for you this morning.

The Amalekites attacked them but Moses told Joshua to choose some men to go fight. They were not soldiers, mainly farmers and shepherd and had no experience fighting. Sure die wan. And Moses said he will go sit on top of a hill to see them. If I were Joshua I'll probably say "What!". You sent me to fight and you just go up there to sit and watch us die?

But Joshua obeyed Moses. And the story says that Moses was carrying the staff of God. It represents the power of God. He first used it when he confronted Pharaoh. The same staff that he used to part the Red Sea. The same staff he used to strike the rock.

You may be under attacked by God and you need God to come in a supernatural way. The bible says the Israelites prevailed. But when Moses got tired and his hands came down, the Amalekites prevailed. Moses had two others with him, Aaron and Hur and when they saw Moses got tired they let Moses sit on a rock and they held up Moses' tired hands. And Israel prevailed and won a great victory that day.

What does this tells me? Maybe some of us is having a difficult time and the only way to win is to lift the name of God up high. Learn to lift Jesus' name up high. The problem is that most of the time we look at our problem and forgot we have a big God.

If today you want God to intervene, lift the name of God high. As long as the staff of God is raised up the Israelites prevailed. Lift the name of God up high. Whatever is your problem, it cannot be as big as God.

As I looked at Moses' problem, friends, I want you to know we cannot go through it without friends. I am talking about good friends, not friends like Job's. Friends who will encourage and pray for you. Everyone needs an Aaron and Hur today. Do you have a friend you can go to to pray and encourage you? If not go and find your Aaron and Hur.

Your pastor also have his Aaron and Hur. Your pastor can also be tired. I need my Aarons and my Hurs. And where can I find them? Where? Everyone of you in this church can be my Aaron and Hur. And when I say pastor, I also say don't forget pastor Grace. And Lin Ken too ya. He needs a lot of prayer. I want you to know when we have each other, victory is on our side.

That day the Israelites got a very big victory. From farmers and shepherd against the Amalekites, it was God who brought about the victory. It was not the hands of Moses that brought the victory that day but it was the staff of God.

After that God told Moses to write it down as a remembrance. Too often we only remember our failures. That's all we think of. That's why the bible tells us to count our blessings one by one. Because they outnumber our failures. We forget the blessings of God sometimes. But when we didn't get what we ask for from God we remember it all our life.

The bible says the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking who to devour. He won't come to you nicely, no. The difference between defeat and victory is the name of Jesus in your life.

As God comes in and bring us that victory, remember to write it down. The bible says God told Moses to write it down as a memorial and Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi, God our banner. Banner means a standard, a military term. How many of you see in Chinese movies where there is this fellow who bears a flag, the standard.

Friends, aren't you glad that God is your standard? He is our Jehovah Nissi. When you go into battle, God has already gone before you. All you have to do is follow Him. Victory is assured. Today there is no such race as the Amalekites. If God is fighting on our behalf we cannot lose.

The problem is, are we following God? When God says go, are we going? God is fighting on our behalf and victory is certain and assured.

Today we are having our 30th AGM. We will celebrate our 35th Anniversary. If Jesus was not our banner, TOP will not be here. So I encourage you to continue to follow God. As we move in God's direction, support us. Victory is assured. Are you following God today? God has the final victory. Just as how Moses raised the staff of God, the staff represented God's power and presence. God gave them a big victory that day.

In the same way God raised His son on the cross. And he gave us victory over sin and gave us life and life abundantly. The cross represents the power of God. He has given us powers over sin. Victory is ours. God is on our side. Let's follow Him, He says left, we go left. He tells us to go right, we go right. He says stop, we stop.

Remember God is your banner, your standard. Whatever He tells you to do, you do and we will have the victory.

TOP's 30th AGM about to commence. We have a quorum.

Group photo of TOP's incoming and outgoing board.