Produce fruit in keeping with repentance

Scripture:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Observation:

After introducing John the Baptist and his ministry, Matthew now focuses our attention on some of his famous words. He calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers, and calls them to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. Then John declares that being in the physical genealogy of Abraham is of no use to them and warns them that if they don’t produce good fruit, they will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Then John declares forth his prophecy of the coming Messiah, who is far more powerful than Him, and gives us the image of a farmer at the threshing floor, separating the wheat and the chaff.

There are many lessons even in these few words of John, but we will focus on three. Firstly, consider the words “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”. John preached “repent, for the kingdom of God is near”, and later Jesus said the same thing. What does it mean for the kingdom of God to come near? It is not good news for unrepentant sinners, who can only expect wrath from God. Recognizing this, people went out to John the Baptist and repented (changed their mind) not to continue in sinful ways.

Secondly, John preached that we are to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. What does it mean to keep with repentance? It means to continue in that new direction we have taken, away from sin and towards holiness. As we move that way, we will produce good fruit along the way and bless others. However, there are some who will not keep with repentance but turn back to sinful lives and therein is the warning for them that they risk being thrown into the fire.

Thirdly, John declared that out of the stones, God could raise up children of Abraham. Later, when He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus famously declared  “Even if they (the children) keep quiet, even the stones will cry out (Luke 19). Later in Peter, he likens believers like living stones, being built into a spiritual house. In Galatians, Paul explained that it is not so much those physically descended from Abraham who are children of Abraham but those who have faith like Abraham. In Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26, the prophet prophesies about God removing our hearts of stone and giving us hearts of flesh. When we put our faith in Jesus, our dead hearts of stone become flesh, alive!

Application:

Remember firstly, that we repent because we are fleeing from the coming wrath, which is for unrepentant sinners. Then, check ourselves to see if we are keeping with repentance, walking in the path towards righteousness in the Lord. Faith without works is dead. What are our deeds for God? Are we showing love and kindness to others, or mainly concerned about ourselves? Pray to our Lord, to remove our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh. The condition of our heart is an important thing, whether our heart is open to God or closed because of sin.

Prayer:

Praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your great love for us. You came to save us, that we might escape the wrath due to us for our sins. Help us produce fruit in keeping with repentance, even as we seek to follow You. Remove our hearts of stone, and give us hearts of flesh, living hearts open to You. Forgive our sins O Lord, and lead us in Your righteous ways. In Jesus name, Amen.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus

SIBKL/Paul Estabrooks/13/10/12

The Scripture says that you are blessed when men persecute you, reject you, or exclude you. However, just like Indian curry, where you have mild, medium and hot, persecution can be just the same. People ask me if I get depressed hearing all these sad stories, but when we go to them, we are the ones getting encouraged. There is a saying that Christians are like nails – the harder you hit them, the deeper they go. In China, they say Christians are like bamboo – the faster you cut them down, the faster they grow back. In another country, they are described like rubber balls – the harder you throw them, the higher they bounce. Christians are also like flowers, the more you crush them, the more fragrant their smell. In India, they say Christians are like coffee, - you don’t know how strong they are until they get in hot water. There is much that we benefit from interacting with them.

The letter of Hebrews was written mainly to Jews who had become Christians, turning their back on their old religion, and thus having to endure severe persecution. Some of them were considering giving up and returning to Judaism because of the pressure. The writer of Hebrews wrote to convince them that Jesus is better than any other faith. As said in Hebrews 12:2, because Jesus if the greatest, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. That is the main message of Hebrews.

In Vietnam under the communist regime, there was a pastor who was blind. When authorities arrested him and beat him up, it was all the more difficult because he didn’t know from which directions the blows would come. Years later, the pastor was asked “how do you remain strong?” Incredibly, the blind man replied “I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus”. Hebrews 13:1 says “Keep on loving one another”. Jesus commanded that we should love one another and our joy will be full. Love is not something you do once or outwardly, but repeatedly.

Hebrews 13:2 says “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” What do we do when stranger come into our fellowship, are we kind to them like father Abraham?

North Korea tops the list for persecuted Christians. There was a Christian doctor named Dr.Park who built a hospital near the border, took the North Korean authorities to the hospital and told them he would build one just like that in North Korea. After raising as many funds as he could, he needed just USD 15000 more and time was running out. As he sat in his office, the nurse told him that there was a dirty looking gentlemen waiting to see him. He looked like he had slept in the streets. Dr.Park decided to see him, and to his surprise, the man said “I heard you have a problem”, and when Dr.Park said yes, he handed over an envelope and left. To his great surprise, Dr.Park found exactly USD15,000 in that envelope. Thinking back, he concluded that the dirty looking man had been an angel from God sent to meet his need.

Hebrews 13:3 says “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” None of us wants to go to prison. Yet in prison, a pastor led 95 people to Christ. Brothers and sisters have enough opportunity for witnessing inside as well as outside. What would be your concerns if you were in prison? You would want your family taken care of. You would want people to pray for you.

There is a little country east of Ethopia called Eritrea. The government declared all Protestant churches to be illegal. Orthodox and Catholic churches were allowed but if there was a Protestant gathering, the entire group would be arrested and interrogated until they found out who the leaders were and they were put in prison. Today, there are 2,000 Christians in prison in Eritrea. They could easily get out if they signed a paper saying they will stop going to church and following Jesus.

As they don’t have enough proper Christian cells, so many prisoners are kept in old shipping containers where there is no light and ventilation. Its hot during the day and cold during the night. There are hundreds of our brothers and sisters in these kinds of prisons. All they ask if that we pray for them. The most we can do is to pray for them.

One of them is a young lady, called Helen Berhane who produced a Christian music CD to encourage the young Christian people in her land. She was put in prison and led many people to faith there. In her book, she related how she was summoned to the prison office and questioned why she was preaching to the guards. She said “Jesus wants me to tell the guards too. I am not afraid of you. You can do all that you want to me, but you can never take my spirit”. She finally led so many people to faith in prison that they had to release her.

Iran is the nation with the fastest growing Christian population today, at a rate of 20% every year, but they have to meet in secret. Two Christian women were caught and put in prison where they were interrogated and tortured. They remained in prison for almost the whole year under brutal conditions. Christians all over the world wrote letters to them. They never received any, but they knew because the guards told them. Some of the guards who read the letters were even impacted by the Bible verses written therein.

Christians all over the world who are persecuted endure with courage because they fix their eyes on Jesus. And that is what we also must do.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

A voice of one calling in the wilderness

A voice of one calling in the wilderness

Scripture:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:1-6

Observation:

Right after finishing his brief description of how Jesus was born and came to live in Galilee, Matthew now focuses on John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a great enigma indeed in those days. Living in the wilderness, wearing clothes made out of camel’s hair and a leather belt and sustaining himself on locusts and wild honey, John must have been a strange sight indeed. Yet, people came to him from everywhere for he was seen to be a prophet from God Himself. It was already prophesied about him in Isaiah, that John’s main ministry would be to prepare the way for the Lord and make straight paths for him. John’s main message was for people to repent, for the kingdom of God has come near. Those who repented would confess their sins and be baptized by John in the Jordan River.

In studying this passage, we first look at repentance, confession and John’s baptism. The word “repent” in Greek means to change one’s mind, while in Hebrew, it means to turn around. So we have a picture of a man walking in one direction, changing his mind, turning and walking in the opposite direction. The follow through of repentance was confessing one’s sins. So we have sinners living in sin, stopping, deciding to live instead for righteousness and then going back to pursue that life of righteousness. In the act of baptism of John, the cleansing in water represented the washing away of one’s old sins. 

Secondly, we look at the prophecy and role of John the Baptist. His main role was to prepare the way for Jesus, and John would direct those who came to him to watch out for the Messiah who would come soon. Many of those who were baptized by John became followers of Jesus, most notably, James and John. We too who follow Jesus, have this assignment to prepare the way for the Lord wherever we go. We may not be the one to lead every particular soul to conversion, but we can always plant seeds, by good testimony, encouragement and prayer.

Finally, we learn yet again that we can never judge another by their appearances. At first glance, people would think John the Baptist was a mad man or beggar, but he was the greatest among men born of women as praised by our Lord Jesus Himself.

Application:

In regard to repentance, we need to ask ourselves which way we are facing, towards sin, or towards righteousness in God. Once we realized an area where we are not in conformance with God’s way, we need to confess our sins, and then move in the direction towards God’s righteousness. John’s baptism only prepared the way for the Lord, but it is the baptism in the Lord that symbolizes the death of our old life and the giving of our new life to live for God. 

Just as John the Baptist worked to prepare the way for our Lord, we too should seek to prepare the way for Him by being a good testimony, and helping and blessing others. Also, we must always remember to never judge by appearances, but be open to the Lord’s leading. In entertaining strangers, some have entertained angels.

Prayer:

O Lord, forgive me I pray in the areas where I have sinned. Lead me O Lord to turn towards You, to follow You and obey Your ways. I thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have given me new life, for I have been crucified with you, and the old gone and the new has come. Teach me O Lord to prepare the way for you in the lives of unbelievers who do not know you yet. Open my eyes too not to judge others but be kind to all. In Jesus name, Amen.

I felt someone push me forward

I felt someone push me forward

FGB Jaya One/Brother Charlie Yeo/12/10/12

I was sitting down just like you in FGB Meetings, wondering how I would begin to serve when the Lord opened up an opportunity in 1994. In 1995, I was appointed president of my first Chapter in SS15, just a few months after joining. I asked God for wisdom like Solomon. There were massive problems at first, with people coming and going. 50% of the Chapter consisted of ladies. At one stage, there were only 2 or 3 men, with the rest ladies. However, that too is a good thing because ladies are very vibrant in prayer. Without prayer, nothing happens. Then the SS15 Chapter began to boom. Ladies brought their husbands and boyfriends. Then the ladies left, but the men stayed. We still had problems, but then, every ministry has problems. In fact, when there are problems, the Chapter comes alive. Sometimes people persecuted me, but I committed all the problems to God. If my God is for me, who can be against me? If it had not been for God, I would have given up long ago.

Soon, I started to move in the Lord. I called for meetings and people would come. Everyone responded when I laid hands on them. We founded a committee of up to 10 members and began really working together in the ministry. There would be no ministry if we had no love. I prayed for them. Prayer is so important. Lives began to change. God will increase. There is a real joy in having brothers of different denominations come together to pray.

I was given a mandate to build up 11 chapters.  Some chapters which had been vibrant in the 80s, having 20-30 people, now only had 1 or 2. Even if no one showed up, I would still worship. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are there with us. In time, 1 then 2 then 3 would walk in. It’s a joy. All glory to God. We have to keep on praying and let Him do the work. It is the Holy Spirit who works as we pray.

After 4 years I wanted to step down from my first Chapter. One smart aleck said, since God created the world in 7 days, you can only step down after 7 years. Somehow, I automatically withdrew after 7 years and someone was there to take over. I became a field rep for FGB and told the Lord, I want to go further. You need to be submissive and teachable.

I used to do insurance for 18 years. I accepted Jesus through a Singaporean friend who brought me to Calvary church. I was in the car with him when he asked to stop by his church at Calvary. Instead of waiting in the car, he asked me to follow him and sell some insurance to the church people. And so I did. The next day, I was supposed to fetch him back to Calvary again, but somehow he didn’t show. Still, I found myself going there, and asked myself what I was doing here. From nowhere, my friend suddenly showed up and sat next to me. Reverend Datuk Dr Prince Guneratnam was preaching and at the end asked if there was anyone who wanted to accept Christ. Suddenly, I felt someone push me forward. I heard a second calling, and someone pushed me 2 steps forward. Then it was the final call, and someone pushed me 3 steps forward, right in front of the Reverend. He asked me again and I nodded my head.

Shortly after, I was baptized, and I recall pulling all three pastors down with me as I went down into the water, submerging all of us. As I came out, I found myself saying Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ so that it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. From that day onwards, my life changed. Before, I had been like a gangster, smoking, drinking, womanizing and at the nightclubs almost everyday. Now, I gave up everything. Smoking and whiskey tasted horrible to me. Because of my heavy smoking, I used to cough out black bits, but one day, I started coughing uncontrollably but at the end of it, there was no more black. My lungs were clear. When the doctor examined next, he was amazed how a chain smoker like me could have such clean lungs.

While before I used to be tall, thin and had a moustache, I then put on weight, and became shorter and heavier. When I visited my family in Toronto, my parents did not recognize me at all. At the train station, they saw me but did not recognize me. I decided to play a trick on them, and just sat and observed them. They even asked me once if they saw a man who was tall and thin with a moustache. After an hour, they were so agitated, they decided to go home. Then I called ‘dad’, and the second time, he recognized me and said “you rascal. How did you become like that?” I told them I was a Christian and most of them became Christians too.

FGB requires 4 members to form a chapter. The Head Office gave me 10 prayer groups to revive. When I came the Brickfields Chapter had 1 member and no committee, but now there are 8 committee members. Again, it was the ladies who brought the harvest. This is God’s business. Even if no one comes, and I will still pray. We have to be faithful, available, submissive to God and teachable. We must be FAST men. We must remember that if there is no love, there is no ministry. People like to complain, compare and criticize but let us instead to the 3E’s – Encourage, empower, exhort. 

He will be called a Nazarene

He will be called a Nazarene

Scripture:

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:19-13

Observation:

As we continue to follow the early life of our Lord, we see the angel of the Lord appear to Joseph a third and fourth time, first letting him know that it was time to return to Israel, and then warning him to withdraw from Judea which was then controlled by the son of Herod, Archelaus.

From the passage, one of the first points we note is that God has His perfect timing for everything. If He so chose, God could have removed the evil king Herod earlier, but He allowed Herod to live a further number of years. In any case, once Herod and all who were on the lookout to kill Jesus had died, it was time to return. In our lives too, there are different times for different things. Some seasons, we may have to withdraw for a while from a certain thing or place, and then return later when the time is right. The important thing is to be guided by God as we live life.

We also note from the passage that even from childhood, our Lord had to move from place to place. From Bethlehem to Egypt, back to Israel, and then specifically to Galilee. Later on, the Lord said “Foxes have holes and birds have nests but the son of man has no place to lay his head”. One thing about traveling from place to place is that it reminds us that our home is not here on earth. We are but strangers and pilgrims in this place. Our true home is a far greater one, a heavenly, perfect one. Hence, we should not allow us to be so attached to the temporal things of the here and now, but always have that heavenly vision.

Regarding the prophecy of Jesus being called a Nazarene, there is no obvious Old Testament reference. However, scholars traditionally believe that it is in reference to the place in Isaiah where the coming Messiah was described as the Branch. A Greek reading of the Hebrew word for branch “Net-zer”, would sound like “Nazarene”. Meditating upon Jesus as the Branch, we are reminded of His precious words where He said “I am the vine, you are the branches” and asked His disciples to “Remain in Him, so that He would remain in them.” What does it mean to remain in Jesus? It is to be aware of His presence with us throughout the day through His Holy Spirit. It is to seek to know Him more and more. It is to desire to become more and more like Him.

Application: Thank God that He holds all history in His hands. Even when things don’t seem right, or life seems difficult, trust in God, He has perfect timing for everything. Remember that we are aliens and sojourners on this earth, which is only a temporary place. Desire to adopt a heavenly view as we go about our daily lives. Meditate on Jesus as the Branch, as the Vine from which we derive our being and purpose.

Prayer: Praise You, Father in Heaven, for You hold all history in Your hands. You make all things perfect and beautiful in its time. Let me always trust You, Lord, no matter what the circumstance, no matter what problems I face. Let me always remember Lord that I am only a pilgrim on this earth, and I have a greater, higher destiny beyond this world. Lord Jesus, remain in Me always I pray. Teach my heart to listen to You, to seek You more, and let Your presence dwell more and more richly in me day by day. In Jesus name, Amen.

No shame in flight

No shame in flight

Scripture:

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,   because they are no more. Matthew 2:13-18

Observation:

After the Magi leave, Joseph then receives a second visitation from an angel, giving him an urgent and specific command to escape to Egypt. The small family stay on in Egypt until the death of Herod and then only return, fulfilling the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 “Out of Egypt I called my son”. The wicked king Herod, when realizing the Magi had outwitted him, proceeded to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas who were 2 years old and under. Here Matthew quotes Jeremiah 31:15 in giving us a picture of the tremendous sorrow of the mothers in Bethlehem at that time.

There are several lessons we can learn from this passage. Firstly, if we receive an urgent instruction we know beyond doubt is from the Lord, we must act quickly and without any delay. Joseph took Mary and Jesus and left in the night. There was no waiting until morning.

Secondly, there is a time when we must flee, and there is no shame in that. When the church was persecuted, the Christians fled scattering but spreading the gospel wherever they went. In the end times, Jesus warns those in Jerusalem to flee to the mountains when the Anti-Christ appears. However, when Jesus comes again, it will be all his enemies who will have to flee and take cover.

Thirdly, the role of prophecy in Scripture shows us that God’s hand is in control of all that happens in history, even when the most heinous acts happen. Many may question how a good and merciful God could allow someone like Herod to commit such terrible acts, murdering innocent, young children. However, it is our part to trust that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts. We may not understand everything but we can be assured that God is good, and in the end He will makes all things right. Concerning the death of little children, there is evidence in Scripture, that they go straight to be with Jesus in Paradise. In the Psalms, King David spoke of going to his dead infant son, and Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of Heaven, we need to become like little children.

Application:

If we receive a clear, urgent command from the Lord to leave, then we need to go quickly. The lesson of Lot’s wife is clear reminder to us. Just as there are times for everything, there is also a time to flee, and there is no shame in taking flight when we have to. Thank God for prophecy which confirms our faith and builds our trust in the Lord. Choose to trust that God is good and faithful, even in the midst of the rampant evil in the world today. Seek to come to God like little children, for as Jesus said, we need to become like little children to enter the kingdom of God.

Prayer:

Praise Your great name, O Lord. You hold all things in Your hands. In time to come, if we are so called to leave, help us be ready and vigilant, without being too entangled in the things of the present. Lord, even in dark times, when evil is rampant, and others may doubt, let my faith ever be strong in You. You are good O Lord, in spite of all that happens, and You are faithful. In the end, You will make all things new. Let me learn to come to You like a little child O Lord. Lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus name, Amen.  

Do not let the past rob you of your future

FGB Jaya One/Gus Kirby/5/10/12

Hebrews 10:24-25 says ^“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” God gives us warning to prepare us.

I first joined FGB in Taman Mayang about 6-7 years ago. One of the brothers approached my principal for a room and I felt convicted to join this fellowship. I saw that the group was struggling with the worship so the Lord prompted me to help in the area of worship. Over the years, I found FGB to be a tremendous ministry of testimonies. Before, my perception was limited, but the Holy Spirit convicted me that He accepts people whatever denomination who come to Him. We all comes as children of God. As the verse goes “As many as received him, as many are called children of God. Brothers shared how God rescued them. I too felt compelled to share with those who did not know God. There are those who are discouraged. There are those who need a helping hand. We all need a helping hand and brothers and sisters to come and walk alongside us. We are one body, and Christ is the head of the body. Even one small cut causes the whole body to be in pain. Unless there is agreement with God, no miracles take place. It take men agreeing with God. God gave us choice, free will. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.

I have 4 brothers. For real transformation, there must be 2 in agreement. As the Scripture says, we must try to come together often in the name of Jesus, and He will be there with us. A threefold cord is not easily broken. The devil seeks to bring disunity and discord. We need to keep professing the Lord as Lord of our lives. God will arrange the steps of a righteous man. God does not look at numbers or the outward appearance. He looks at the heart Out of the abundance of the heart are the issues of life.

The Lord knows us by name. He knows the number of every hair on our heads. God is very meticulous, like accounting. You are important and precious to God. When 2 or more pray, bring God in. We must learn to live life lifting up and serving one another. We often think we can do things on our own, that we don’t need others. However, no man is an island. 

I like to watch Animal Planet. The Scripture says that we can learn from the beasts and the birds. My favorite are the big cats, the lions. When the female lions go hunting, they will move to isolate the prey that is weakest from the rest of the herd. When we isolate ourselves, then we become targets.

In my family, we had a reputation of serving in the church. There was peace in the home but my dad had a problem with alcohol and nicotine. It was a bondage he could not get over. My mum prayed constantly for deliverance from these vices. On the outside, people saw us a good family, but we had no conviction, no fear of the Lord. My brothers and I also picked up nicotine and did what the world did.

One of my first jobs in my career was to go to the Middle East, and it was a culture shock for me, but I was very thankful for the Bible my mum gave me. After the 3 years, I came back, but began following the world again, going back to the vices. I went into gambling and when I went to Australia, found even more gambling there. I lost everything and came back bitter and depressed. I was angry especially with friends who deserted me although I had treated them well in my better times.

My Pastor told me “You are the prodigal son, God had his hand on you, but you let go”. I realized that when I came back from the Middle East, I had let go of God. Then I met a friend of 10 years who had a totally transformed life. He had been a worst drinker, and I was so happy to see his life transformed. From that meeting on, he fasted and prayed for me and my family. My pastor says the reason you and I are in the kingdom of God is because someone prayed for us. Another wise saying my Pastor told me was “Don’t let your past rob you of your future”. I finally realized I had to surrender to God, to just come to him like a child.

We must acknowledge the gathering of saints be it in church, in FGB or in a cell group. I realized I must share how God delivered me from my nicotine habit. I began to attend a small fellowship. Our Lord Jesus said that He will build His church.

We must pray for our leaders. The Holy Spirit convicted me not to speak against my leaders. Its easy for us to criticize and complain. There is power in our tongues. The eye gate and the ear gate are also important. The proverbial “see no evil, hear nor evil, speak no evil” is so true. In Christ, he who was a liar lies no more. We must be careful what we speak. God has promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

My mum passed away 5 months ago. She was faithful, always praying for her children. When she was diagnosed with cancer, we went through it together as a family. I am so thankful to the cell members who came alongside us to support us. She did not suffer for too long. We were so touched that even in her pain, she still had the heart of a mother, showing concern for us rather than for herself. The promises of God are Yes and Amen

In closing, I want to leave with you Psalm 50:15, the number to call in times of trouble. I first heard it in a sermon by Reinhardt Boenke. It says “ call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.                

The Lord gave me love for my dad

This was a very touching testimony by brother Jeremy. Reflecting on it, I learned a very meaningful lesson that to love someone is to go into that person’s world and spend time with him, sharing what is important to him.

The Lord gave me love for my dad

FGB Jaya One/Jeremy Lam/28/9/12

FGB Ministry has been a real blessing to my life, where I have met many friends and formed many wonderful relationships. The FGB platform is such that we share from our experiences. Today, I would like to focus on Exodus 20:12 which is quite suitable since the year is 2012. It says “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” I would like to share my testimony about my relationship with my dad.

My dad came down to Malaysia by himself from China, seeking greener pastures, arriving before the Japanese occupation. Somehow, he ended up living in Klang. There is a big age gap between me and my dad, who became a father at age 42. Since I am 55 today, a quick calculation will tell you he is 97 now.

My dad was a simple man, having no commitments and owning only a single storey terrace house in Klang. His last drawn salary was RM1,000 at the age of 87. He worked for a hardware dealer, knowing the prices of the hardware at his fingertips. Every morning, he would wake up at 5am and drink his mug of Horlicks without fail and have 2 slices of bread. Then he would cycle 2.5km to his place of work. He had no major illnesses, just one operation on the prostate, but had a bit of high blood pressure and cholesterol. My dad didn’t have snacks and was very disciplined. After stopping work, my dad would still walk to another housing estate, to have breakfast, buy the papers, and perhaps catch up with some friends. Sometimes, he would walk to his old office to chat with his old colleagues.

One day while I was in Shanghai on business, I received a call from my sister, saying that my dad was missing. There was nothing I could do but just pray. They looked for him in his old office but could not find him. Fortunately, a neighbor’s friend who recognized him brought him home in a van. He had lost his sense of direction and we could not let him go out to walk by himself anymore.

Since I knew he likes to walk, I decided to drive up his house and walk with him. His started 3 years ago, and in the morning, my dad would usually be excited to go walking with me. My dad’s favorite food is fruits. So I often bought cherries, bananas or grapes for him. We would walk about 700m to the shop and quite often we would finish the fruits on the way. I would have 2 bananas, giving him one and taking the other. My father still loved his Horlicks, so I would mix in an egg and some oats, making it a very nutritious drink. Since he could not finish it, he would pour half for me, and we would share the drink. Likewise, of the two pieces of bread he had, he would give me one, and take the other. My dad had some problems swallowing, so I mixed his pills in his food for him. One day, to my amusement, he wanted to share his pills with me, since we were sharing so many things. 

It was only an hour I spent with him from 8-9am, but along the way, I did make some friends. Sometimes, as we walked, people would drive by in the car, stop, and say good, giving the thumbs up. Some standing by would chat with us.

Sadly, dad fell down sometime later in the house, and could not walk any longer. We had to send him to the nursing home, and I still went to visit him. There were some others that who still had sharp faculty of thought. My father had grown senile, and I missed talking to him. The Lord had given me love for my dad. I just want to encourage you to appreciate your parents, as this pleases the Lord.

Malaysia’s Jubilee and beyond.

Malaysia’s Jubilee and beyond.

Pastor Chew Weng Chee/SIBKL/16/9/12

Jubilee is not only today. It is one year. Today is the beginning of 1 year and beyond. Jubilee is not about an event, or one season. It is not a destination. It is about the future of our country. How we enter in this year will affect the future of our nation. This sermon is what Jubilee is all about, to you and to me. We will break down into 4 broad headings – the perspective, the promises, the posture and a precedence. 

Our study of the Jubilee begins in Leviticus 25:1-14. Genesis talks about creation, and the call of Abraham. Exodus speaks of the establishment of God’s people and God’s law. Leviticus sets the standards, sacrifices and festivals of the Israelite nation. In the year of Jubilee, on the day of atonement, trumpets sound everywhere and today, the shofar will sound in churches everywhere throughout Malaysia. 49 years after 16 September 1963, today begins our 50^th year and we are asked to consecrate and proclaim freedom throughout the land. The Scripture says it shall be a jubilee for you. Everyone say “for me”. The Jubilee is for me. This is the perspective we must have.

In the Jubilee, everyone goes back to his family – everyone say Return. Stop exploiting one another, fear your God. Do it because you fear God and you will live safely in your land. God’s blessing will be such that in the 6^th year, the land will yield enough for 3 years. You must provide for the redemption of the land. Revere My sanctuary. Have respect for the house of God. Our portion is to obey. It is God who sends rain in its season. The harvest continues until there is plenty for next season. We will have peace – no one will make you afraid. I will move savage beasts from your land. The sword will not pass through your land. 5 will chase a 100, 100 will chase 10,000. Your enemies will fall one by one. The Jubilee is a cycle. It does not come every year. It is a single opportunity where God really says “I show you favor”.

It begins on the day of atonement, the day the High Priest goes into the holy of holies to confess the sins of the people. 2 goats are used. 1 is sacrificed and the other is set free. This is a prototype of what Jesus would do for us. It is because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross that we have this blessing. Jubilee comes from the word “Yobel”, meaning the sounding of the horn of the ram.

There are 8 blessings mentioned in the year of Jubilee. First is liberty or freedom. It is freedom from oppression, freedom from debt, freedom from our sins. Second is the return of lost possessions. Some had become slaves because of poverty or had their property taken away from them. In the year of Jubilee, they get it back. What have we lost? In the year of Jubilee, God can restore to us the years that the locusts have eaten. Third is the restoration of family relationships. All the splintered brokenness between husband and wife, brothers and sisters, can be restored.  Fourth is increase from the fields, meaning financial increase. The rain from heaven will bring harvest. Fifth is very important – safety. There is a spirit of fear over our nation. But God says I will give you safety. There will be no civil unrest. Any evil person will be exposed. God loves our country.  Peace and harmony will come.

Sixth, our enemies will be defeated, specifically our spiritual enemies. Seventh, there will be a triple blessing from the Lord. The land will produce enough for 3 years. Eighth, your bondages will be broken. The world has an Egyptian mindset of work. I must sacrifice my time and family for work. Bondage from generational churches will be set free. The summary of all these blessings simply put is the favor of God. In Lev 26:9 God says “I will look upon you with favor and increase your numbers. There will be a harvest of souls.

Some might ask – Isn’t this Old Testament stuff? For Israel only? But why is the day of Jubilee started on the day of atonement? In Luke 4:14-21, in the presence of the people, he found the place where it was written  (it was not by accident) - “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners     and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” It was not the season but the year, the Jubilee year.

We must not take Jubilee so lightly. Let it sink in. The key is do we want it? I prayed for a real life Jubilee as an example, and then I remembered this story of Mobile Bay, Alabama, where one particular day fishes and crabs will just come up to shore and people will scoop up fish into baskets. When it happens, a watchman rings a bell shouting Jubilee, Jubilee and all the people will rush down to catch fish. No one really knows why, although scientists have tried to understand this phenomenon.

Do you want this Jubilee? There are 4 postures we need to have to receive. Firstly, we need to Sanctify ourselves. We need to consecrate our lives and come back to God. To be holy is to be cut off and set aside for God. We need to resolve internally to come back to God. This includes repentance of our sins, and a posture of humility. As the scripture goes “If my people will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways and seek My face, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land”. Then we need to Pray. We have to come with a posture of intercession. We cannot just stand in indifference and say bless me. We must revere God’s sanctuary and respect the house of God. Jesus said “My Father’s house shall be called a house of prayer”. Third, we need to obey. We must fear God and obey His laws. Finally, we need to Trust. It was not easy for the children of Israel to leave the land idle and trust God to provide.

Taiwan was founded in 1911, so 2011 was her second Jubilee, and in that year Taiwan saw unprecedented success as a nation even in the face of global economic slowdown. 9^th in the world for innovation, 10^th in higher education, 13^th highest current account balance, 12% of Taipei becoming Christians, no natural disasters throughout the whole year. Immediately preceding the Jubilee, the church of Taiwan had really come together to pray. Even recently on 29/8/12 a newspaper reported how a major Typhoon just skirted past Taiwan, and even though there was some damage, it was ok, as the farmers had already collected most of the harvest. This is not surreal. It is real. Every 50 years, God gives a special opportunity to you and to me. It is for us to come to God and pray and repent, and seek His favor.