I am raising up the Babylonians

I am raising up the Babylonians

Scripture:

How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Habakkuk 1:2

I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. Habakkuk 1:6

LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? Habakkuk 1:12-13

Observation:

In the book of Habakkuk, it opens with the prophet crying out to God for help because he sees violence, wrongdoing and injustice everywhere in Judah. He has been crying out for a long time but does not seem to receive an answer from the Lord. There are 2 things we can learn about Habakkuk’s prayer here. Firstly, is his honesty. He cries out honestly from his heart what he feels. His words even seem to challenge God at times. When we pray we are to pray honestly to let out what we have in our hearts. The Lord wants us to be honest with Him? Secondly, Habbakuk was persistent in his prayer. He had been praying and calling on God for a long time. This reminds us of the parable of the widow who kept pestering the judge to get justice and the neighbor who kept knocking until he received some bread for his guest. We are to persevere and keep praying for a long time even if we have to.

In the second Scripture, we see God’s answer to Habakkuk, which shocks him greatly. The Lord tells of using the cruel Babylonians to bring judgment across the whole earth. This shows us that God uses peoples and nations to accomplish His purposes, whether they know Him or not. It is God’s prerogative to bring about His plans through men if He wants to. We need to trust in His wisdom that He knows what He is doing. In the book of Revelation, it is written how the kings of the earth will accomplish God’s purpose by agreeing to give their power to rule to the Beast. Even in the end times, when all may seem lost from a human point of view, God is in complete control.

In the third Scripture, Habbakuk pleads with God not to send the Babylonians. They are far worst than those in Judah, and Habakkuk cannot understand why God would allow an even more wicked nation swallow up those more righteous than themselves. When David sinned by counting the fighting men of Israel, the Lord gave him 3 choices, whether to suffer punishment by famine, from men, or from a plague. He chose to suffer punishment from the Lord Himself because His mercy is very great. Such is the nature of men that their cruelty is the worst form of punishment possible. Again, we need to trust in God’s sovereignty that He is indeed in control of everything, even if we face the worst of times.

Application: In prayer, we need to be honest before the Lord and also persevere in persistence. In regard, to world events, we need to continue to trust that God is sovereign and in control. Even when we don’t understand why God allows certain things to happen sometimes, our part is to trust in Him anyway that He knows what He is doing.

Prayer: O Lord You are righteous. You hold the whole world in Your hands and direct the decisions of men and nations. Let my trust always be in You, even when I do not understand. Help me O Lord in my prayer. Teach me to be honest and real before You. Give me strength and perseverance even when I pray and patience to wait for Your answer. In Jesus name, Amen.

God is good all the time

God is good all the time

FGB Jaya One/ 30/3/12/ Brother Michael Chieng,

This Friday, we were privileged to have brother Michael Chieng, a successful businessman and former FGB group coordinator in central region share his testimony with us:-

Quiet time with the Lord is very important. I make it a point to have long quiet times, starting from 6-6.30 in the morning and I only leave for work after 9. Last night, I asked the Lord what I should share here but received no indication. This morning I asked again and I felt the Lord say “just speak”.

From a young age, I went to school at ACS, a Methodist Christian school, but after graduation, I went back to the world. I was young, ambitious and wanted to be rich. Early on, I plotted the steps I would have to take to be a millionaire, despite being from an average family. At age 25, I achieved my dream of earning my first million, driving around in a Mercedes when Nasi Lemak was still ten sen per pack. At age 30, I had already made enough money to retire and money no longer had meaning for me. Since there was no more challenge in that area, I began to seek spiritual life. I tried Kuan Yin, Yoga, Chi Kong, Chakra, Kung Fu and Taoism. I was even the chairman of a temple for 10 years. But Jesus came to look for me. At that time, I went into very deep meditation from 5.30-7.30 in the mornings. One morning, Jesus came into me, and said “I am God”. If you understand meditation up to a high level, you will know when one surrounds himself in a deep mantra, no one can penetrate. However, when Jesus came in, I knew He was God and I said “I know you are God”. After that I still not return to the Lord yet until a few more incidents happened. In the last incident, I experienced our Lord Jesus sitting beside me, talking to me. The Bible says that if you sincerely seek God, He will be found of you. Even in the temple, I did not pray to idols, but I prayed to meet the God out there. When you come to Jesus Christ, you will know He is Master God, and He will guide you. He will always be with you.

Riches and honor come from heaven, from God. One brother asked me how he could have breakthrough. I told him he must walk closely with God and He will guide you. To be successful, you have to be at the right place at the right time. God is good, and He is good all the time. Some people say that God is only good sometimes, but the truth is that He is good all the time when you commit all things to him.

A few years ago, I saw a nice shopping complex and noticed nearby shophouses. I was too late for the launch, but began to claim open doors to purchase a shophouse in that area. Later, a friend called me to tell me of a new launch, and I was surprised to find out it was Phase 2 of the area I had prayed over earlier. Even better, it turned out that the sales manager knew me, and offered me an pre-launch discount. I invited family and friends but they did not want to invest. I decided to invest in 2 units, since I had the peace of the Lord. A short while later, a situation arose where my company needed cash flow to buy more equipment in view of expansion. The logical choice was to sell the properties. The price had risen from RM3.2M to RM3.55M which was a good gain already. I inquired of the Lord but did not receive any answer to my dismay. As you would have it, on the day I was due to sign the sales and purchase, I was doing my quiet time when I read Numbers 9. In that passage, some Israelites asked to join in the celebration of the Passover despite being ceremonially unclean. Moses went to inquire of the Lord and received an answer immediately. My spirit rose up within me to ask God,” If You could answer Moses so easily, why can’t You answer me easily?” Immediately, I received a word “Don’t sell”. I was so agitated as the agent and buyer and lawyers were all coming at 12.30pm. However, despite complaining a bit initially, I surrendered and told God “Your word is my command”. The lawyer refused to take my instructions and I even had to send in a black and white letter stating “abort the deal, return the money”. 3 years later, the shoplots are now worth RM6M.

At that time, I had already studied the life of Moses for 1 year, and had intended to start rereading the Bible from Joshua. However, as fate would have it, my reading fell to Numbers 9, and it made all the difference. After reviewing my financial situation again, I realized I did not need to sell as I had other unencumbered property I could use for financing. You need to be at the right place at the right time and depend on God to guide you.

Praise God that we have a Heavenly Father who is with us even when we face opposition. For the past 6-7 years, I faced a very tough court case. I had sued a government body, starting the legal process just as documents were about to be time-barred. It was very difficult for me. At times it was just me and my lawyer against a big government team. The judge also had previously worked as the legal assistant of a government body. In spite of all this, I knew God was with me as I was totally committed to the Lord. After many years, the time came for 12 days of open trial. I was jittery on the witness stand as both lawyers harassed me. The judge scolded me. All they wanted to hear was yes, no, or I don’t know. I kept remembering Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men. In Chinese the number 1188 (yat yat fat fat) is very auspicious, indicating being prosperous everyday. Psalm 118:8 also happens to be the verse in the centre of the whole Bible. Indeed, what a wonderful truth. Trust God, don’t trust men.

Psalm 118:6-7 is also very precious to me. It says “he LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.” God is here to help me. I need not be afraid. I kept repeating these verses more than a hundred times through this trial, those 12 days.

I did struggle through this experience. There were so many documents that we needed a tray, and my lawyer expected me to know everything in it. I had to be prepared for any question the other lawyers might ask me in court. Psalm 118:19 says “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:19 We can give thanks because in God we are victorious. God is our helper in every way. He is our lawyer, our advocate, our provider. He is our everything. What can go wrong when God is with us? God loves us so much! How can He let us fail?

While preparing for the trial, there was a time last year when my lawyer showed me a certain document which had a lot of false allegations. He said we were likely to lose because of it. I became really down. At that time, we were studying the book of Isaiah for the whole year and Isaiah 54:1 spoke to me. It says “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.” The woman sings and praises God even though she is barren. Even though I was down, I realized I could still praise God. I took my guitar, and at the first strum, I heard the Lord say to me “Celebrate”. I protested “How can I celebrate in this situation?” But as I meditated I realized I could celebrate because God is for me. In celebration, I can rest in Him and not worry. In spite of circumstance, I realized I can celebrate, for God is giving me the victory.

After the court case was concluded, the judge declared that judgment would be made on 22^nd March, 2.30. I marked that date carefully down on my calendar several times. Then Datuk Tony Tiah invited me for a fully-paid holiday in Singapore from 21^st to 23^rd March. His secretary started calling me every 2 hours to persuade me to go. I initially said it was impossible because of the importance of this judgment to me. Nevertheless after a few persistent calls, I decided to ask God, and He reminded me “Celebrate”. I called my lawyer and found out I did not actually have to go as the judgment had already been made and nothing could change that. So I asked my wife to go and bring the children as a learning experience. Incidentally, she was also a director of that company which I had put into dormancy because of this court case. So she was able to make a good representative as another director of the company. On the day, at 2pm, I found myself back in the hotel, and began to pray in tongues pending the decision. At 3pm, I received a SMS from my wife saying “You won”. My hand was trembling and I could not even reply. I cried for a good 5-10 minutes with tears of joy. I had endured so many years of frustration but it was now over. God is good all the time, all the time.

The Lord will restore

The Lord will restore

Scripture:

The LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines.

Nahum 2:2

Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back. Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures! Nahum 2:8-9

Observation:

In the midst of the prophecy against Nineveh, we see a sudden focus on Israel again in the first Scripture. This gives us a deep comfort, for it shows that even when the Lord is handling world events, and overseeing changes in world powers, His eyes are always on His people. The Lord is in control of everything. The Psalms say that He brings down one and exalts another. Governments rise and fall at the Lord’s bidding, but His eyes are always on His own. Psalms 149:4 say “For the Lord takes delight in his people, he crowns the humble with salvation”. When we follow Jesus, we belong to Him, we are part of God’s people and His eyes are upon us.

The first verse speaks of restoration. In the Scripture, when Jacob is used, it is symbolic of Israel going back to her old, carnal self. Jacob was a selfish schemer but once he was changed in that faithful wrestling encounter with God, he was renown Israel, meaning Prince. Our God is a God of restoration. Though we may have sinned, though we may have lived apart from him and lost much as a result, our God is able to restore what was lost, to restore even the years that the locusts have eaten.

The second verse shows us how Nineveh, though so great and mighty and seemingly invincible can in a moment lose everything. All her gold, all her silver, though having seemingly endless supply, is completely plundered. This reminds us not to be proud and not to put our trust in worldly wealth which can disappear overnight. Instead, our trust should always be in the Lord alone. He is our refuge and our portion in the land of the living!

Application:

Praise God that His eyes are upon us, even in the midst of great world events. Praise the Lord and trust in Him for restoration for He is the God who restores. Remember not to put our trust in worldly wealth but instead depend on God alone.

Prayer:

I praise You O Lord that Your eyes are upon me, your child. Restore me O Lord and let Your face shine upon me that I might be saved. Restore O Lord the years that the locusts have eaten. Bring new life and new meaning into me O Lord. Let my trust never be on worldly wealth and treasures but on You alone. Only You are everlasting O Lord. Blessed be Your name. In Jesus name, Amen.

He cares for those who trust in him

He cares for those who trust in him

Scripture:

The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him Nahum 1:7

Observation: The prophet Nahum, like Jonah was sent to preach against the great Assyrian city of Nineveh, warning them to repent or face immediate judgment. However, unlike Jonah’s case, where the Ninevites repented, this time they did not repent, and were annihilated as prophesied.

The first Scripture today tells us that the Lord is slow to anger but great in power. The power of the Lord is seen clearly by us in nature. Imagine a powerful thunderstorm, or a devastating cyclone wreaking havoc in a town. Trees uprooted, roofs flying off, even animals and vehicles caught up in a whirlwind. How powerless men is in the face of the forces of nature. Earthquakes, tsunamis and natural disasters of all kinds are all a general result of God’s judgment on the sin of the world. Yet, the Scripture also says that the Lord is slow to anger. The Lord has tolerated man and his foolish ways for thousands of years. Just as the Lord is slow to anger, we too need to learn to be slow to anger with our fellow man. Our Lord Jesus warns us that he who is angry with his brother is in danger of the fire of hell. There is a place for righteous anger, like when our Lord showed great anger in chasing out the money changers and businessmen who had made God’s temple a den of thieves. However, in general, there is much we would do well to forgive and move on, without bearing grudges.

The second Scripture tells us three things about the Lord. Firstly, the Lord is good! All that is good comes from Him. The natural love parents have for their children, the acts of showing kindness to the needy, all show the godly part of God’s character that remind us that we are made in God’s image. Secondly, the Lord is a refuge in times of trouble. Are we in trouble? Seek the Lord! He is our help, our refuge in times of trouble. Jesus said “No one who comes to me will I turn away”. Whatever trouble we may face, do not give up, but keep hoping in the Lord who is able to help us. Thirdly, the Lord cares for those who trust in Him. For those who are proud and independent and think they don’t need the Lord, the Lord is far away from them. However, the needy and those who depend on Him for help will find the Lord. We must learn to trust God, in any and every circumstance.

Application: Praise God for His great power, and thank Him that He is slow to anger. Confess our sins of being quick to anger. Ask God to help us forgive and be more patient of others. Thank the Lord that He is good, and that He is our refuge in times of trouble. Go to the Lord in prayer, whatever our needs. Always trust in Him, even in the darkest storm. He cares for those who trust in Him.

Prayer: Praise You, Heavenly Father for Your great and mighty power. You are in control of all nature, and all nature declares Your power and strength. Forgive me O Lord, for the times I have been so quick to anger. Help me learn to be more patient and forgiving. Thank You, Lord, that You are so good.  Thank You, Lord Jesus that You are my refuge in times of trouble. I will trust in You O Lord for You care for me. Even in the darkest storm, I will trust in You for salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus, God with us

 

Jesus, God with us

Goshen, brother David, 23/3/12

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Matthew 17:1-8

In a recent meditation, the passage of the transfiguration spoke deeply to brother David and he shared with us several powerful insights that he gained.

Firstly, the transfiguration clearly shows us the deity of Christ. Too often, people think of Jesus as just a man who lived a long time ago and gave good teachings and died. However, Jesus,although fully man was also fully God. Even in our relationship with Jesus, we may focus too much on the Lord who understands us because He was man like us, that we forget He is also our divine God and Creator. The transfiguration shows Jesus as He really is, with the veil hiding His glory removed. In the Old Testament, after Moses spent time with God, he had to wear a veil when he came down as his face shone too brightly from God's radiance. Peter, James and John now personally experienced the beholding of this marvelous radiance of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. The more we know Him, the more we will understand how incredibly pure and holy the Lord is, and how precious His sacrifice is for us – the perfect, holy Lamb of God dying for wretched sinners like us. Compared to Jesus, our righteous acts are truly like filthy rags.

Secondly, the transfiguration reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In a corresponding passage in Luke 9, we read in vs.17 that Jesus spoke with Elijah and Moses concerning His departure which he was to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Some translations define departure as “exodus”. Jesus was speaking with Elijah and Moses about His coming death and resurrection at Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, the Exodus was signified by God coming to save His people through Moses and the Passover in particular was the event whereby a lamb was sacrificed and the people were set free to leave Egypt. This was a shadow of the coming Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus who sacrificed Himself, so that we might be set free from our bondage to sin.

Thirdly, the appearance of the cloud in the transfiguration reminds us that God is with us. Another major event at the transfiguration was the bright cloud covering them and the voice from God from heaven saying “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him.” The phenomenon of God's cloud was seen often in the Old Testament in Israel's travels where God followed them in the desert in a pillar of cloud. The cloud with God's people reminds us of God's presence with us. Emmanuel means “God with us”, and reminds us of God's desire to be with His people. In Exodus 40:35, we read how when the cloud of God settled on the tent of meeting, Moses could not enter it because the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Later in 1 Kings 8:11, when Solomon first consecrated the temple, God's cloud filled the temple, and the priests could no longer perform their service because of the glory of the Lord. In Luke 21:27, Jesus tells us that He will come again in a cloud of glory. How wonderful that whenever we look at the clouds, we can be reminded of God coming to be with us.

This Easter, as we meditate on the Lord's sacrifice, let us truly appreciate His divinity as being full God, marvel with thankfulness for His great sacrifice for our deliverance from sin, and remember that God is with us even on earth!

When are you going to serve Me?

When are you going to serve Me?

FGB Jaya one/Brother Daniel Goh/23/3/12

I spent 3 wonderful years with FGB Jaya One and had a most wonderful time there. Let me first start by sharing a little about the history of FGB Jaya One. This chapter was first started by brother Damien Chua, the son of Datuk Chua Jui Meng. Their whole family has in fact experienced many miracles and Gpd had changed them greatly. Once you are touched by God, you can never be the same. Even in the Bible, people were changed greatly once touched by God whether heroes like Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament or Peter, Paul and Silas in the New Testament.

In 2009, when I first joined FGB Jaya One, I didn’t know what it was. I just figured it was a bunch of business people who had a passion for God. Not long after FGB Jaya One started, a major issue came up when our first host could no longer offer his place. We were praying for a new place to serve, and Damien was familiar with the other occupants of Jaya One. As chance would have it, Damien bumped into Jason Tan at a wedding dinner, and was delighted to find out Jason Tan had an office in Jaya One. As it turned out, Jason Tan was on fire and eager to let God use his office, and so FGB Jaya One found its new home there. It has now been 2 years since FGB Jaya One has met there.

When serving in FGB, it is important to serve without expecting anything in return from God. In God’s time, He will bless us with His favor, but our part is to serve. In November last year, brother Damien approached me to serve as president for FGB Jaya One, but my heart was more on FGB Klang which had also approached me to be president. I felt that it was best for me to serve where my home and business was. My father had an established car business in Klang, and I too carried on for some time in the family business. I prayed over the matter, and felt God give more peace towards taking up the position in Klang. If we serve against God’s will, things somehow won’t seem right. In serving in line with God’s will, we do still face challenges but somehow, God gives us the grace to overcome. So I decided to step out in faith and take over the Klang presidency.

By nature, I tend to prefer to shun the limelight and support from the background. However, when the time comes and God calls, you need to step out and serve. God is more interested in your availability than your ability. When the Lord called Moses in the mountain, he had a lot of excuses. Moses was trained in warfare and had a great education like a prince of Egypt. He said he could not speak well but God sent Aaron to help him. God convinced Moses by showing him miracles. Sometimes, God waits for us.

It was a great challenge for me to take over the Klang Chapter leadership as it was well established historically. There were many older members and businesspeople who knew so much of the world. When I took up the role, I knew I would be one of the youngest Klang Chapter presidents.

Not long after I took up the role, I found a good buyer for a problematic piece of land that I had. It was a 25 acre piece of land that had a river running through. Many buyers asked for exorbitant discounts because of the river. Some even said I could never sell it because of the river which took up too much space. I was so fed up hearing about the river. However, this buyer came and the deal was closed within an hour. God turned the river into a blessing for the buyer wanted that river. He planned to do a business of fish farming which needed the river. When you move out in faith, God will bless you in one way or another, in His good time.           

My eight-year old son is very precious to me. 3 days before he was due to be delivered, my wife called me in a state of panic, saying that she could not feel him moving. She had a miscarriage earlier and this was almost a fully grown baby in her womb. We had always wanted a son to complement our 5-year old daughter. It was a 10 minute trip from my office to SJMC, and I prayed to God on the way. “Let me keep my son, and I will dedicate him to you.” Businessmen like to make deals! I was just a father crying to God for his son. In such moments, there is not much you can do but trust God. I was so nervous during the Caesarian operation, but my son came out healthy and well. Our God is a God who answers prayers!

From very young I have trained my son about Jesus. If you ask him who created the earth, he knows how to say “Jesus”. The family holds hands together when we say grace. I tell him that God is always with him, and even if mummy and daddy are gone, he will still have God.

My father, as in most old traditional families did not have time for the children, always being busy making money. He showed his love by giving us money and providing us an education. However, we were neglected in a way. Though our family was wealthy, I saw that the relationship between father and children in poorer families were much better. I realized that life is not about money, but having a relationship with my children.

While in the family business, I strayed from God for 15 years. I loved the world too much, and naively thought I could go out and conquer the world. I accepted the Lord at 16 or 17, but life soon became all about money. Then in 2004, a tragic accident on the 5^th day of Chinese New Year changed my life. I was having a Ba Ku Teh breakfast in Klang when I received a phone call that something bad had happened. I went to the hospital where my parents-in-law had been involved in a car accident. They had been crushed by a trailer after taking their grandchildren to school. The last 15 years, I had worked hard and earned money and got married. I thought of myself as quite successful, but this incident deeply affected me. I began to reflect on what was the true meaning of life. If money brings you sorrow, it is not the true blessing of God. The blessing of God is when you are happy and have enough to bless others. 2 days ago, I just had a tim sum breakfast with my parents-in-law. Now they were gone all of a sudden and they had not known the Lord. It is so important for us to keep praying for unsaved loved ones. We had no chance to say goodbye. Many times, my friend James had asked me to go back to church, but I said later. I wanted to earn my millions first, to play golf, to enjoy life before coming back to God.

I was like the prodigal son. To God every child is precious. Every soul is precious. For every soul saved, there is great celebration in heaven. In 2004 I came back to the Lord and started going to church, but was just like a zombie, a face in the crowd. Still God began to turn my life around. Sometimes if something becomes too precious to you, it becomes your god. Somehow I was led to quit the car business in 2007, a lucrative Ford dealership. On hindsight, this was the grace of God, as the crisis came and GM and Chrysler went bankrupt in the US. There is no doubt I would be in bad shape if I continued that business.

In 2007, in my master bedroom I was once sleeping alone restlessly due to business struggles when I suddenly woke up and heard the Spirit say to me “When are you going to serve me?” There was no one around. I became fully alert quickly. I asked God “How can I serve you? I am just a businessman”. Faithfully, God led me to FGB in 2009, and I have been serving him in FGB since. FGB ministry is marketplace ministry. The founder of FGB was given a vision by God for this ministry in the 1950s in view of the end times. Today, we really are in the end times and God is shaking the world. Japan is still struggling with its nuclear reactors, and Thailand has floods again. Matthew 24 speaks of wars and natural disasters, and there is also financial meltdown. We are so drunk in the secular world today. The more urgent matter is the second coming of Christ! Every Bible prophesy will come to pass.

Before, you could hardly find a Bible in my house, but now you will find many. Before, Sunday was golf day, but now it is for going to church! I now serve also as a deacon in my church. As a leader, there are many challenges a normal member will never face. We need to learn to be humble, to serve others and to be caring. Pastors are not perfect, but they are approved by the Lord. It is not for us to judge. As a deacon, I always try to help my pastors. Pastors also have their struggles and most pastors are not well paid. Its worst in the rural areas where pastors often have to double up as cleaners and gardeners. They need encouragement from us. 3 of us deacons serve and fear the Lord.

God is truly the God not only of big things but also small things. I have one female Rottweiler, about 7-8 years old, and I was thinking about giving her a mate to reproduce as I felt dogs work better in a team. It was a small prayer but the next day, a male puppy came to the house. Rottweilers are normally very territorial but she seemed fine with this puppy. My wife convinced me to let the puppy go as he had no owner. I did but regretted it as I felt it was God’s answer to my little prayer.

In another incident, my wife had a car accident needing some time at the workshop which caused us a major problem as she needed a car to fetch the children to school and back. Just the next day, my cousin came asking me to sell his red Gen-2 for him. All of a sudden, we had the vehicle we needed while waiting for a suitable buyer. The timing was perfect, on the day the car was sent to the workshop, God provided.

Another time, we experienced God’s truly divine protection. My daughter was in my wife’s car when she forgot to put the gear from reverse to neutral. The car went backwards all the way out and was only stopped by the pillars before the drain. Thank God the car did not fall into the drain and thank God no other car was coming when the car reversed across the road. Hebrews 1 talks of angels as ministering spirits sent to help those who are saved. I can truly testify to that. We must never take for granted God’s provision and protection.

In Klang Chapter, there was a man in bad shape because of cancer and was almost blind in one eye. He often cried as we prayed for him. Although he was a successful businessman, his life had come crashing down because of cancer. At one time, 3 of us FGB brothers went to pray with him in his office and led him through the sinner’s prayer. Amazingly, not long after, he came to our FGB meeting and testified that the Lord had healed him of his tumors. He was so excited. There is something truly meaningful about FGB.

Before, without God, no matter how much money or good food or holidays I had, there was something missing. The feeling of being part of God’s work in healing and salvation has no comparison. Jesus is truly the One who heals!  

I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me

I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me

Scripture: But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.       Micah 7:7-8

Observation: In Micah 7, the first 6 verses paint a terrible picture of the condition of Israel. Farmers go their vineyards to gather fruit but find none. Rulers and judges demand bribes. Everyone lies in wait to take advantage of each other. There is no one anyone can trust. Even family members – father and son, daughter and mother-in-law become enemies. In spite of this dreary backdrop, we see a glimpse of great hope in the words of Micah, which he speaks even on behalf of Israel.

Consider the words “But as for me”. This shows a contrast between the attitude of Micah and the rest of Israel. The people in Israel have lost faith and hope. They take matters into their own hands in a dog eat dog world. It is everyone for himself, and survival of the fittest. But Micah does not turn to evil or selfishness for survival. In this passage, we can learn three powerful things about the actions of Micah.  

Firstly, Micah watches in hope for the Lord. Watching is a powerful word. It speaks of vision. Though there is nothing Micah can see with his physical eyes, he continues to watch in faith that the Lord will come and deliver. In watching, there is an expectancy of salvation and deliverance. As the Scripture tells us, faith is the substance of things not seen yet hoped for. Paul exhorts us to fix our eyes not on things which are seen which is temporary but things which are unseen, which is eternal.

Secondly, Micah waits for God his Savior. Waiting speaks of patience and perseverance. He further exclaims “my God will hear me” which shows us that Micah is waiting as he prays. The discipline of waiting and prayer is not an easy one but yields great rewards. In the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord exhorted his disciples to watch and pray so that they would not fall into temptation, and was disappointed that they fell asleep.

Finally, Micah did not let circumstances discourage him but continued to hope in the future. Though he had fallen, he saw himself rising. Though he was in darkness, he continued to believe that the Lord would become his light.   

Application: Like Micah who watched in hope for the Lord, we too must learn to watch likewise. Sometimes we may lose our vision, and we may need to close our eyes and see with our spiritual eyes, putting our hope in our Lord in Heaven even if we do not see him physically here on earth.

Also, we would do well to cultivate a discipline of waiting and prayer. In this we need great patience and perseverance, but as we do this, our faith will grow stronger, and our confidence that “my God will hear me”.

Finally, we may be facing difficult circumstances and feel like we have fallen into a hole and can only see darkness. Do not lose hope but believe in the Lord – that He will become our light, that He will lift us up in due time.

Prayer: Father Lord, open my eyes that I might see You. Let me not look only at temporary things, but let me learn to look beyond at the things unseen, the eternal things that are of true value. Give me strength and discipline O Lord to learn to spend time in waiting and prayer with You. O Lord, You are my strength, even when I fall. You are my light, even when I walk in darkness. My hope will be in You forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

Remember

Remember

Scripture: “Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD Micah 6:1-5

Observation: In this portion of Scripture we are given an interesting picture of a heavenly courtroom. The LORD is the aggrieved party, taking up a case against His people Israel. The witnesses or perhaps the jury are said to be the mountains, the hills and the everlasting foundations of the earth. The prosecuting lawyer is the prophet Micah. What is the charge? It is basically forsaking the Lord and His ways.

The Lord reminds His people how He brought them out from Egypt and redeemed them from the land of slavery. He reminds them of Moses, Aaron and Miriam, the legendary heroes in Israel’s history who led Israel out of Egypt together. He also reminds them in particular of how He turned Balaam’s curses into great blessings when Balak plotted against them. Next, the Lord reminds them of their journey from Shittim, where they fell into sexual immorality with Moabite women to Gilgal, where the new generation of Israel circumcised themselves before entering and conquering the promised land in Canaan.

Application: The Scripture tells us that the life of the Israelites and the events of the Old Testament occurred as an example for us who are under the new covenant. Just like God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and redeemed them from the land of slavery, God redeemed us from our life of slavery to sin through the sacrifice of His precious Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Why did God save us? He saved us to be set apart for Himself as His people, belonging to Him through Jesus Christ. Many of us, like the Israelites, despite being saved, could have fallen back to old, sinful ways again. We may go to church on Sunday to worship God, and may even serve Him in Cell and various ministries. However, if we do not practice justice, mercy and faithfulness, it is like making sacrifices without living righteous lives that does not please the Lord. In remaining faithful to the Lord, a key word is “Remember”. We need to remember how Jesus died on the cross for us and provided the way for us to be saved. That’s why Holy Communion is so important. It brings us back to our initial point of salvation, when we remember our forgiveness of sins through His great sacrifice and the eternal life He has prepared for us.

The writer of Hebrews warns us gravely that for those who deliberate keep on sinning, there is no sacrifice of sins left. We should not take our salvation for granted, but remember the first generation of Israelites who although saved from Egypt, were not thankful and not faithful to the Lord and perished in the desert, never reaching the promised land.

Prayer:  Father Lord, I thank You and praise You for Your great love to us. Lord Jesus, You have redeemed us from sin and given us eternal life. Let me never take You for granted O Lord, but truly value and appreciate Your great salvation every day. Deliver me from evil and keep me on the path everlasting. Keep my heart from sin, and let me ever seek Your justice, mercy and faithfulness in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

SIBKL/Pastor Lee Choo/17/3/12

The whole season of Easter is the most powerful in the Christian calendar. Sadly, Good Friday is least understood by Christians. Today’s message is based on the word Amazing Grace, and the cross is where amazing grace is. Christianity is not like any other religion because it is about a person, and not just about teachings. The cross is both a historical event and a cosmological event. Before the cross, it is B.C., Before Christ. After Christ, there is A.D. which stands for Anno Domini – in the year of the Lord’s favor.

Christianity is about the death of man, and about how that man conquered death. All other religions teach people to do good. They focus on works, whether Buddhism or Islam or Hinduism. Christianity is about faith in God’s grace alone, without works. Christianity is about salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. It is about what He has done! The word grace or Charis, occurs about 150 times in the Bible. There are 2 main meanings of grace. Firstly, it is goodwill, loving kindness, the favor of God. Secondly, it is the merciful kindness by which God exerts holy influence on souls to turn them to Christ, keeping, strengthening them and helping them in their Christian faith, and kindling them to exercise Christian virtues.

Imagine I have a neighbor that drives into my car, smashing it up. Then, my husband, a merciful man, goes and tells him, “it’s ok, you don’t have to pay for my car, I will repair it myself. You just repair your own car”. That would be amazing. However, imagine, if my husband said, “it’s ok, I will pay for the repairs for both my car and yours”. That would be grace – undeserved, unwarranted, unexpected.

If we really understand God’s amazing grace, we would understand how deep and wonderful is our salvation. We cannot earn grace. We cannot merit grace. We can only receive grace. The grace of God is that He accepted me, not that I accepted Jesus Christ. We must know that we cannot merit grace, and that we can only humbly say “thank you” and receive.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast”. We cannot improve on God’s grace. We are not a Christian because we serve God full time or read through the whole Bible or fast for 40 days. We are Christians because we have received Jesus Christ. Romans 4:25-5:11  reads “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. “

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! When Jesus died on the cross, something happened. After that, it became possible for God to justify us. Now we have the amazing grace of God, and we have access to God. But who are we that God would want to die for us.

The passage shows us 4 things about us long before God sent Jesus to save us. Firstly, we were powerless to save ourselves (vs.6) There is nothing we can do to be saved. Secondly we were ungodly. We were among those who resist God, who hate God, who were opposed to God, who did not want God in our lives. Thirdly, we were sinners, devoted to sin. We even thought that sin was great. Finally, we were enemies of God.

Imagine, if in the previous example, the neighbor who banged my car was a terrible neighbor, who played loud music late into the night, who scattered rubbish on my driveway, who would call DBKL to make complaints against me. Still, my husband decided to pay for his car as well. That would be really amazing grace! We don’t appreciate God or love Him intensely because we have never understood who we are without Jesus Christ. Some of us may even think that although we are saved by grace, it is also partly due to my dedication and good works. We must never forget to appreciate God’s amazing grace which alone saves us.

When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were forgiven. Forgiveness of sins is paramount to having a relationship with God. Sin is falling short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. Sin is the barrier between God and man. When God appears, we will be so aware of our sin. Christ cut off sin and took the penalty of sin. Because He forgave our sins, God can now accept us. Jesus has accepted me because He died on the cross to forgive my sins. Peace comes after we have been forgiven and we can have peace within ourselves. Individually, we don’t have peace because we don’t feel good about ourselves. When Jesus comes in, we feel ok.

The most precious thing to God is Jesus Christ. All of want to make good investments. A bad investment is investing something precious to get back trash, like changing a carat diamond for a stone. When Jesus died on the cross, it was God’s greatest investment and He received in return the souls of men. Because Jesus is of incredible value and He died for us, we are also valuable. We are more valuable than the angels, the oceans.  Jesus not only paid for the penalty of sin, but also gave us power to be free from sin! The penalty of sin is separation of God but His saving grace has given us access to God. And His Empowering grace has delivered us from the power of sin. Romans 6-8 explains is how this is done. How? Firsly, we are united with Jesus, with the nature of Christ. Romans 5:6-8 says “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”. We are not to waste life. Sin destroys human potential. Jesus died to save us from losing our potential. We live to our full potential when we live Christ-like lives.
Reverend Andy Lim shared how he used to smoke, and his pastor told him that if he smoked, Jesus was smoking with him. So he prayed and was able to stop. The desire to sin had gone.
Romans 8:1-2 says “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” In Jesus, we have the power of the Holy Spirit which helps us overcome sin. Praying in tongues is not about loudness. It is about the Holy Spirit taking control of our human man, to let Him take centre place in our spirit. As many are led by the Spirit, as many are sons of God.
1 John 1:9 tells that God forgives us whenever we sin and confess our sins to Him. In our new nature, we will not want to sin, and we can say no to sin. If we do sin, we can come to God and receive His grace and forgiveness. When we agree with God that sin is sin, God is faithful and takes away the root of sin. Romans 8:34 tells us how Jesus is interceding for us!
Is this then license to sin? God forbid. If we really understand sin, we will understand grace. Many Christians do not live victorious life, because they have never really repented. They have not understood that sin means separation from God and living below your potential. Sin just causes people to feel bad about themselves.
In Amazing grace, sin is serious, sin is condemned. However the sinner is forgiven. We have peace with God and peace with ourselves. We are indebted to God’s grace and live to please him. In Cheap grace, sin is trivialized and condoned. The sinner is still condemned. He insults God’s grace and lives to please himself.
If we see sin as just a mistake or a cultural phenomenon, we do not realize the seriousness of sin. When sin is condoned, the sinner is condemned. Some live in condemnation, guilt and shame. If we are not happy, we blame other people. Hebrews tells us that if we keep on sinning, we trample Christ underfoot, and there is no more sacrifice of sins left. The amazing grace of God is such that He loved us even when we did not want to worship Him.
Christianity is about a God who came into our lives, not a  human being who came to God. Amazing grace tells us – I was once a sinner, but now I am a son. The writer of Amazing Grace, John Newton said “I am not the man I ought to be, or wish to be or hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be”.
You may struggle in Christian life but we have a God who does not give up on us. It is His amazing grace that will see us through as we hope in Him.

When we know how to die, we will know how to live

When we know how to die, we will know how to live

SIBKL/Pastor Victor/10/3/12

Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:4-7

As we come near to Good Friday, we have to talk about the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Death is a taboo subject. Yet death statistics are the same in every country. 1 out of 1 will die. It is a sensitive topic. Still, there are a few ministries in SIB that specialize in engaging death with boldness. There is the cancer support ministry. While some are healed instantaneously, and some are healed progressively, some do not get healed. And we want to know why. Even Lazarus passed away but he became a miracle of the Lord. Some who have made their appointment with death but did not have family support found great solace in the Cancer support group. There, they talk about pursuing victory in spite of illness, in spite of death.

Similarly, there is the Diakonia grief support group. People share how they managed death. The group is about learning death management. Everyone has a story to tell.  The death of a spouse, the suicide of a son. In your loneliness, what do you do? This is not a celebrative group. It is the meeting of real people. As a kid, a good friend of mine died at 15. I did not know how to manage my grief. I blamed the Lord for taking his life. I shouted and shouted in the night. Another time, a boy tried to call me but could not get through. He proceeded to jump off a building with a bible in his hand. I blamed myself even though his parents did not.

The Bucket list is a movie about two guys, Carter Chambers, a blue collar mechanic acted by Morgan Freeman, and a billionaire playboy Edward Cole. Both were diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. In the same hospital room, they decided to write their bucket list – a list of things to do before you die. Edward wished to kiss the most beautiful girl, and Carter wished to behold the most magnificent view. They went on a journey together and had their wish fulfilled before they died.

There is an Egyptian legend that says that when you reach heaven, you will be asked 2 questions. Firstly, have you experienced joy? Secondly, have you given joy to somebody? Death has a strange way of bringing meaning back to life.

There was a professor who found out that he would die and wanted to leave a lasting legacy for his 3 children and in his race against time restructured his life so he had much more time to spend with his children before he died.

In the show P.S.I love you, there was a girl called Holly who married a husband who knew he would soon die. In her grief, she often played back the voice of her husband on her phone. On her birthday, she received a tape recorder with the voice of her husband and thought it was a sick joke. However, letters continued to come and led Holly on a journey to finally release him and move on with her life. He had planned all this knowing that he would die, and was able to love his wife even beyond the grave through his plan.

In the Departed, a Japanese movie, it tells the story of a cellist who lost his job and found a strange job as an embalmer. Somehow, he found meaning in ministering to the dead and the grieving family. When his own father died, he confronted his inner pain and in embalming his dead father discovered that his father really loved him.

In the show 7 pounds, a stockbroker impersonated an IRS agent to go out and do kind deeds for 7 people. After that, he committed suicide. Such was the regret in his heart despite his kind deeds.

In Tuesdays with Morrie, it tells the story of a famous sports writer who went to meet a dying professor to write about him. Somehow, he was so touched by the old man, he continued to meet him week after week, for 13 Tuesdays. Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.

Once I attended a funeral of a family which fought a lot. I encouraged them to remember what they promised their mother. Death ends life but not relationships. A few years ago, after reading the book Halftime, I resigned to take stock of my life. Many people said I grew a lot and the secret of this was time.

A beloved Pastor who has since died said “Men are like trees. They are measured when they are lying down.” My former cell group leader who died of colon cancer suffered for 2 years. He was literally reduced to skin and bones. His daughter somehow blamed herself as inexplicably, he cut himself off from his daughter. I used to bring my guitar and sing to him. I told the Lord “I don’t know what to say to this dying man”. Then I felt the Lord tell me to write a book for him. So I told my wife that I needed a few days to write a book, and I poured out my heart in my writing. I wrote everything I wanted to say, what his daughters were feeling now, how he would not see his daughter’s wedding, how I would represent him and walk his daughter down the aisle. I am thankful that after he read the book, his relationship with his wife and children improved. He passed away on my birthday, and thus, I would remember him every year.

In closing, I want to share 10 ways to prepare for death

1) Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior

2) Share Jesus to others

3) Make peace and forgive

4) Settle all your debts

5) Tell your spouse and children that you love them

6) Read your Bible (Basic Information Before Leaving Earth)

7) Invest in eternity – transfer your credit by serving and giving

8) Slow down to appreciate people

9) Plan for your funeral – enjoy life to the last

10) Write your journal, not just your will

Have you planned for your death? Even God Himself planned His death - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Building Church the Jesus way

Building Church the Jesus way

SIBKL/Pastor Lee Choo/26/2/12

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22

How could Jesus build a church so prevailing the gates of hell could not prevail? In just 40 years, the church of Jesus Christ had spread to the whole of the known world from Jerusalem to Spain. What was the structure, the system, the instrument of Jesus’ vision to reach the lost?

Jesus said “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. First we are to come and follow Jesus. Secondly, He will make us fishers of men. Finally, we are to go, as Jesus commanded in His last words before He went to Heaven.

Jesus’ cell consisted of 12 men only. Of these 12 men, Peter, James and John were the core. Why were there only 12? Research has shown that to organize an outing or meeting, 12 is a good number. The core owns the vision and the cell runs with the vision.

The C in CORE stands for Cell Leader’s best friend. The O in CORE stands for Ownership of the cell. R in CORE stands for Responsibility for the cell. E in CORE stands for Empowered as you go.

The disciples of Jesus were an authentic community. They quarreled. They were impatient. Cell is where we can be real. People look for friends in cell. Cell is about real people who struggle together. Cell is where we can say “I had a lousy day”, and the rest of the cell will say “Let’s pray for you!” Cell is where we build disciples, where we learn to be Christlike.

A key purpose of Cell is to have compassion for the lost. The Holy Spirit teaches us compassion. Cell is not just a Bible Study group. It is a Life Group. In cell, we learn how to thank God, how to praise the Lord, how to pray, how to worship. At cell, we pray for each other and study the Word together. Cell groups are wonderful at helping with weddings. Some non-Christian parents of Christians in cell were touched at how helpful and loving their cell members were. At bereavements, when family is sick in hospital, it is the cell group that brings support.

Cell Group is also where we can be accountable to each other. For example, a cell aiming to read through the Old Testament in a year support and encourage each other to complete their goal. Group dynamics are also important. It is hard to pray 1 hour alone, but together with others it is not so hard.

In Matthew 6, when Jesus fed the 5,000, He divided them into groups of 50s and 100s and empowered His disciples to serve them. They all ate and were satisfied! Jesus had compassion on the crowd. His disciples did not. How did Jesus transfer His compassion. He told them “You give them something to eat!” To be effective, we need to break down our church into small groups. Our senior Pastor can’t pray for every single member of the church, but through Cells, every member’s needs can be met.

There are 5 stages that cells naturally go through. Firstly, there is Exploration. The focus is “Do I belong to the group?” The emphasis is on the group. Secondly, there is Transition. The focus is “What can the cell do for me?” The emphasis is on self. Thirdly, there is Community. At this stage, we ask “What can I do for Christ?” The emphasis is on Christ and what I can do for the Cell. Fourthly, there is Outreach. At this stage, we ask “What can I do for the lost?” The focus is on the lost. Finally, there is Multiplication. The question is “What can we do to multiply? The focus is on Growth!

One young cell was told to visit an elderly couple who had no family to take care of them. It took the husband 6 hours to go out and buy lunch. The wife had no choice but to wait patiently, even soaked in urine. This cell continued to minister to the couple for months. They did not just come to share the gospel. They came to bring life! Indeed, if they had not gone, they would not know what it was like to be a helpless old person.

Another cell went for a Mission Trip to Sabah. At the village they went to, the Ketua Kampung was about to give up. The Cell Group had prepared training materials, and released teaching and encouraging to the people. The Village Chief felt God speak to him that he should not give up. The cell suffered, not being able to bathe there, but persevered to serve.

77 cells have gone to Kampung Cempaka now. The Ketua Kampung said he has never seen a people so united. When we serve together and love together, the whole world comes to know we are His disciples.

Basically, cell is where a group of people come together regularly to give thanks to God, to grow and to show Christ’s love to the world. Philippians 1:27 says “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” We are to stand together with one Spirit, one purpose, fighting together for the faith, the good news of Jesus Christ. We are many cells, but with one focus, one vision, to serve Jesus Christ!