Frog in the well

Frog in the well

This Friday, at FGB Jaya One, we were privileged to hear the sharing of brother Goh, a missionary to Hong Kong and China who had a very powerful testimony.

In starting of his sharing, brother Goh pointed our attention to 3 main lessons that was in his heart at the start of this new year of 2011.

The first lesson is in regard to 2011 itself. Looking at the two 1’s next to each other, it is like looking at two perfectly straight lines. God is the first 1, upright, steadfast, perfect in all His ways. We are the second 1, destined to be upright, steadfast and perfect like God, if we walk in His ways. However, quite often, we may think we are straight when we are not. Brother Goh was reminded of his classmate who tried to draw a straight line using her second finger. It may look straight, but then it is not, and one definitely can’t draw a straight line along a finger. Sometimes, we too may be like that, thinking we are straight on our own. However, compared to our perfect and Holy God, we really fall short. If we think too highly of ourselves and our nose is high in the air thinking we are good enough on our own, we are crooked. At the same time, if we think so poorly of ourselves and give up hope because of our imperfections, always looking down, we also cannot be straight. However if we stand up straight and look intently into the face of our Lord Jesus, we become more and more holy and perfect and upright, like Him.

The second lesson is the frog in the well. It is safe in the well, comfortable and secure, and the frog still can see the sky. However, its vision of the sky is small. It can only see as much as the size of the well’s opening. On the other hand, if the frog comes out of the well, it is much more dangerous but wow, it can now see the whole wide beautiful sky. How big is the God that we see? If we stay in our own little world, we can only see a small portion of God, but if we step out, we will see the glory of God. A promising new Asian graduate of a Bible School was quickly offered a post at several churches in America, with guaranteed income, housing, education for his children, and a car and he asked the advise of a matured Pastor. The Pastor advised him “If you stay here, you will be well cared for and comfortable but if you go back to Asia, you will see the glory of God.

The third lesson is that God is interested in yeast, in things that are small. Many of us are not big, but small, like yeast. Our faith may be small, our Bible Knowledge may be weak, but we just need to give what we have to God, and like yeast worked with dough, He can cause to us really grow and multiply incredibly, much more than we could ever hope for or imagine. Jesus also used the metaphor of the corn of wheat. Unless the corn falls to the ground and dies, it is alone, but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. God doesn’t want us to remain small. His desire is for us to increase, to multiply and bear much fruit. The graveyard is said to be the saddest place in all the earth because in it lies so many people who have died without fulfilling their potential in life. However, if we die to our fears, and die to our selfishness, but surrender our lives to the Lord as living sacrifices, there is no telling how much we will grow and see God’s glory in our lives magnified.

Brother Goh then shared his story. Growing up as a farmer boy, he lived as a temple where his parents were mediums and there was a distinct lack of love in the family. A kind teacher shared Jesus’ love with him, and drew his heart. Brother Goh became a Christian to much objection from his parents, but from then on he always had a desire to share Jesus with others, and especially a heart for China. As a young boy he read about how Christians were persecuted in China and how pastors had left Hong Kong and he often prayed for China.

After furthering his studies and working, there was a period of time when brother Goh started to feel the call again to China. A company in Hong Kong offered him a job about that time, further confirming his call towards China. In particular, there was a mission conference that greatly impacted him. The speaker was Hudson Taylor’s great grandson and his main theme was “Yellow skinned people, where are you?” As white men, Hudson Taylor’s family had for generations poured out their lives for China, even dying for them. His call was for Chinese to go back to their forefathers and preach the gospel that would save them. “Your forefathers need you” he said. Chinese are well known for their selfishness but when we receive the Lord, that has to change. Love is about giving rather than getting. Love has to be given out.

Following his calling, brother Goh left for Hong Kong and did not know where to start, but God led him to be an interpreter for an elderly missionary couple. Now, this old missionary’s father had once served in a village where there was a cruel practice of blinding baby girls and abandoning them somewhere so they would never be ever to return home as only boys were wanted. One day, this missionary found a blind baby girl at his doorstep, and he took her in and cared for her. Sure enough, they started finding many blind baby girls at their doorstep, and soon they were running an orphanage. At the place now, brother Goh was amazed to see that these young girls had now become old blind women who were nevertheless filled with joy and thankfulness to the missionary’s family and they could read the Braille Bible and some could sing. Working as an interpreter, brother Goh was touched to really saw how much this elderly White couple loved the Chinese. One seed had indeed touched so many lives. Brother Goh was also amazed at the simple food, and humble living conditions of this old missionary couple. They even ate beetles and snakes.

Jesus continues to call “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Pray for God to send forth more laborers” The work of a laborer is not easy, and that’s why there are few. In the harvest field, the most important thing is feeling or compassion for others. We need feelings. The most difficult offering is said to be compassion, to really feel love for the Chinese, for the beggar, for the sick. Jesus saw others with compassion, and we too must learn to see with the eyes of Jesus.

There was a particular lady in brother Goh’s church which was a simply amazing witness. She could not read the Bible, but single-handedly through  prayer brought her whole family to church. In fact, one third of the church is made up of her family. Her husband, a very angry man used to beat her and desiring for him to be saved, she prayed for him to have a toothache that couldn’t be cured. In despair after all doctors and dentists he went to couldn’t help him, he finally agreed to let his wife take him to church to seek help. In church, he was completely healed, became a Christian, and the change in him was an astonishing testimony to his other family members and led to a revival in his family where most came to the Lord and are now going to the church.

In another testimony, brother Goh shared about how an angry young man who could not go to university because of lack of funds, came to see at the door of one of his meetings. A sister was given a vision of a bowl of noodles, and quickly preparing that brother Goh fed him. He had not eaten for 3 days, and nourished, he accepted the Lord. Soon, brother Goh was led to set up a booth for him providing phone call services and internet connection and from that booth, they brought others to Christ and started a church right there.

In conclusion, brother Goh exhorted us to be like him, a frog in the well who came out and saw the glory of God, a little yeast who surrendered himself to God and saw miracles happen.

May the Lord bless the ministry of brother Goh exceedingly with much fruit and purpose, and may we too, though we are small as yeast, allow God to work in our lives and bring us to bear much fruit for His glory. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Sharing Christ’s Mission on Earth

Sharing Christ’s Mission on Earth

This Sunday at CDC, we were privileged to have Brother Koh Gim Lan give us the message on Sharing Christ’s mission on earth. Brother Koh, as a school teacher, early submitted himself to God and prayed “Give me the nations”. Incredibly, through the years, the Lord has led him to take up an important position of authority for Scripture Union covering wide areas throughout Southeast Asia and Eastern Asia. Together with him, brother Koh, brought SU mission workers from all over Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines and many other countries. Wherever they go, Scripture Union basically aims to make God’s Good News known to children, young people and their families everywhere around the world. It is the ultimate goal of Scripture Union to encourage people of all ages to meet God daily through the Bible and Prayer so that they may come to a personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, growing in Christian maturity and becoming committed church members and servants in a world of need. The key verse that Brother Koh emphasized was from John Chapter 20:21 As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you…

In his message, brother Koh highlighted three important areas where the Father sent Jesus.

Firstly, the Father sent Jesus to do His will! Throughout Jesus’ life, His main focus was to do God’s will. He even said that His food was to do the will of God, to obey God. That is our spiritual nourishment, obedience. When we don’t obey, we are starving our spiritual man, even dying to the ways of God. When we obey God, we become stronger spiritually, and we grow in the Lord. Jesus said that whoever does God’s will is like His mother, brother or sister. We who are in the family of God must do His will.

Brother Koh also gave an interesting illustration on how we can discern God’s will. In school, there is a popular science experiment that teachers often show. Four boards of different sizes are placed in the same line, with each board having a hole in the centre. Only when all the holes are aligned can a ray of light go through. In the same way, there are four main indicators that we can use to discern God’s will. First, there must be a stirring of the Holy Spirit, a desire that rises in our hearts to do something for God. However, that is not enough, sometimes, that desire may be a result of our own fleshly desires. Second, there must be the ministry of the Word. God’s Word must come alive to us in confirming this desire, whether through Speaker or personal Bible Reading. Of course, sometimes, we do “Selective reading”. Third, we must look at circumstances. If it is God’s will, as we pray, He will provide ways and means for us to fulfill His calling. Fourth, there must be confirmation of the church. After praying with church leaders, there must be further confirmation from them that our plan is in line with God’s will.

Secondly, the Father sent Jesus to serve. Jesus came to serve God and serve the human race in complete humility, even unto death. We are also called to be servants, like         Jesus, for this will fulfill God’s will. We need to be especially concerned about the poor, and minister to them in compassionate service. God’s heart is always watching over the poor.

Finally, the Father sent Jesus to destroy the work of the evil one. We are called to be warriors for God, shining forth His light and bringing His victory over darkness that we may encounter wherever we may go. Our weapons are not with flesh and blood, but with Prayer, the Word of God, the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit.

May the Lord truly help us fulfill God’s will in our daily lives, becoming humble servants, and also faithful warriors.

God bless,

Jason

Jesus and the Samaritan Mission

Jesus and the Samaritan Mission

This Sunday’s speaker at CDC was an energetic Baptist pastor called Reverend Ronnie, who had left the pastoral ministry to go full-time into promoting evangelism among the churches. In his small booklet, “Are all religions the same?”, he has written a basic outline of the gospel with a very specific emphasis to the Asian community, and in faith, printed thousands of copies, to be used or given away by Christians all over Malaysia for the spread of the gospel.

Based on the story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman, he outlined an exemplary evangelistic approach demonstrated by Jesus.

1. Firstly, the Lord used a matter of common interest to establish a contact point. (the water in the well)
2. Then, He persistently steered the conversation in the direction which led the woman to recognize her spiritual need, but did not condemn her.
3. He then revealed himself as the Christ who has the answer for her need.
4. The result – a genuine encounter with Christ which led her to become a witness.

Rev Ronnie then explained that he had asked the Lord for a special insight for this amazing ministry he had been called to, and the Spirit revealed to him three important attitudes that a Christian must have to evangelize effectively.

(A)v.10 "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." Our first attitude is to realize what God wants. He wants to save people. It is God’s grand plan and will that as many can be saved as possible. Likewise, we too must desire that as many be saved as possible!

(B)v.32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." By this, Jesus meant that his food was to do the will of God. The top priority in His life, even before eating, was to do God’s will. Likewise, the work of evangelism must be given top priority in our lives. Otherwise, it will have no priority at all.

(C)V.35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. If we focus on evangelism, we will harvest! People are ready everywhere, even in the most unlikely places.

God bless,

Jason

Friendship Evangelism

Friendship Evangelism

Rev Jerry gave an excellent message on Friendship Evangelism on Sunday.

Some useful points:-

(a)    Personal testimony – The best and most effective way of sharing is testifying how good God has been to you. Like the demon-possessed man freed by Jesus, who was told to go home and tell his family what God had done for him and how He had mercy on him.

(b)   Walking the walk – Rev Jerry said its pointless to share if we don’t live the life that we talk. Showing a good example at work or at school is all important in lifestyle evangelism

(c)    Caring – Like churches in Penang who extended care and help to those Tsunami victims in need, without any compulsion or attempt to “evangelize”. Being caring is very important, showing the heart of Jesus

(d)   No frontal assault – The Rev told a story of an old lady condemning the idols of his brother mercilessly, leaving a very bad image of Christians on him. We must remember to share always with “gentleness and respect”.

(e)     Creative sharing, by the Spirit- The Rev spoke of how Jesus and the Apostles never shared in exactly the same way, but according to the circumstance. Likewise, we should pray for creativity, and the help of the Holy Spirit to know what to speak when the time comes.

God bless,

Jason

As the Father has sent me

As the Father has sent me

This Sunday at CDC, we were privileged to have Dr.Alex Matthews from OMF give us the message “As the Father has sent me” based on John Chapter 20:19-23

 19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

 21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

It was the evening of the resurrection, and the disciples were still in great fear, hiding together behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. And then Jesus came…. He did not admonish them for their fear but commissioned them as His ambassadors. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.

Early in His ministry, our Lord Jesus once read from Isaiah :-

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

And he ended, today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus came to preach the good news, to proclaim freedom and to heal, and this ministry He now passed on to his disciples to continue His work until He would return again.

As we celebrate Christmas, we remember that the birth of Jesus brings hope and peace but the world has no idea what God’s peace is. Christmas was a time of great difficulty. Imagine if you were an unwed mother who had to travel so far, and find no room to give birth except for a smelly stable. Imagine if you were one of the three wise men who traveled so far, and then risk death at the hands of a cruel king. Imagine if you were the mother of one of the thousands of children killed by King Herod. Christmas was a time of great suffering and difficulty. It was not a time of celebration in itself, but we celebrate because of our hope in a better future. True Christmas means trials, even today. Jesus did not promise a season of comfort and privilege. The disciples were tortured and killed.

Speaking of the Lord’s disciples, they were not perfect people. In fact, Hudson Taylor once said that all God’s giant had been weak men God being with them. The Lord’s disciples were from the lower echelons of society, a quarrelsome people, but the Lord changed them into spiritual giants and gallant martyrs in His service.

Dr.Alex shared with us in particular three important characteristics of disciples God has used and continues to use.

Firstly, disciples are Obedient. The disciples went where they were told. They did not ask questions, whether it was a lonely desert road or a foreign country. They did not count the cost or the loss of their comfort. Obedience is a hallmark of a disciple. Obedience is not a choice. Obedience is for now.

Secondly, disciples are always Conscious of their dependence on God. They emptied themselves before the Lord. Dr.Alex shared how a missionary in Southern Thailand experienced a miraculous escape from death. Militants had come to kill him and his wife but they had not found them in his home even though they were sleeping peacefully there. Later, he found out that a sister in Canada had been praying for him that night! The greatest hindrance to our work for God is in fact our own imagined strength.

Finally, disciples need to be Open to opportunities. The early disciples saw every event as an opportunity. The aftermath of the Tsunami actually paved the way for a very effective work from those who went to help the survivors. Even though Paul was in chains in a dungeon, he saw himself as an Ambassador of God. He continued to write encouraging letters and testify to the guards. Paul did not pray for food or freedom but to be faithful to the opportunities he saw. To Paul, life was not worth living unless he could complete the task given to him.

Our Lord Jesus saw His meeting with the Samaritan woman as an opportunity, breaking down racial and cultural barriers to reach a lost soul. His disciples came to him, thinking about food,  but He asked them to open their eyes and look at the harvest. The disciples had focus on the immediate problem, but Jesus had fixed His eyes on the long term needs – the needs of the people and the opportunities for them. When the early missionaries to China were chased out of the country, they went to Southeast Asia instead and formed a powerful and lasting work. The Communist government tried to annihilate Christianity from China, but in a few decades, the number of Christians had actually grown from less than a million to 70 million in 1997. The seed grew in very hard ground but the Chinese Christians overlooked their immediate losses and continue to grow.

Each one of us can be missionary in our own lifestyle. Dr.Alex shared how a Chinese lady, A-Cheng in Kuantan came to know the Lord because of the love of a Christian who selflessly cared for her and brought her to church. She said “No one had ever treated me like that”.

In closing, Dr.Alex challenged to look at our prejudices of other people and seek to overcome that. Hudson Taylor talked like a Chinese and acted like a Chinese to reach the Chinese. Dr.Alex concluded by asking “Are we willing to be obedient, and let God do the rest?”

May the Lord help us be obedient to Him, depend on Him for strength, and be vigilant for opportunities for His glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

God bless,

Jason

A Call to Missions: Isaac Yim

A Call to Missions: Isaac Yim

This Sunday at CDC, we were privileged to have Pastor Isaac Yim speak on the topic “A Call to Missions” on Acts 13:1-3. Giving a general overview of the book of Acts, Pastor Isaac explained that Acts 1-8 mainly focused on Peter’s ministry to the Jews while Acts 13-28 focused on Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. This morning’s passage showed us the beginning of Paul’s ministry at Antioch which saw the culminated in the amazing movement of the Gospel to the ends of the known world.

1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3

Basically, this passage and later verses show the main pattern by which missionaries are sent out. Firstly, God calls those whom He chooses. Then the church certifies the call. After that, the church sends out the missionaries, backing them by prayer and support. Finally, the missionaries return to report to the church.

Focusing first on the calling of God, we see that it took place during worship, prayer and fasting. Here, we see the importance of worshipping and praying together as a church, especially among the leaders and pastors. Pastor Isaac highlights the concept Communion as very fundamental in our worship and prayer with God. It is fellowshipping with God, and we should expect God to speak to us too when we worship and pray. Prayer is both communion and union with God.

Pastor Isaac then focused on the term Consecration, which means to Set Apart for a Special Purpose, and this was what happened to Barnabas and Paul, who were set apart to be the first missionaries to the Gentile world. Similarly, missionaries in today’s church are also set apart to be sent out on a special purpose from God.

Being a missionary demands total commitment - an uncompromising loyalty to God’s plan for one’s whole life. It is not easy, but God will certainly rewards His servants, not so much with dollars and cents, but rather with a fulfilled, rich and purposeful life.

Once a church commissions missionaries to another place, the church must support them with prayers and material support. The church should also encourage missionaries by writing to them and exhorting them. In a way, the church is sort of like “holding the line” for them as they go out to spiritual war.

In closing, Pastor Isaac challenged us to seek to hear God speaking to us daily, whether in prayer, Bible Reading or reading Christian books. For the church, Pastor Isaac exhorted us to recognize those who are called and set apart for ministry. As church or individual, we need to learn to discern God’s call and make ourselves available to Him for His service.

God bless,

Jason