We Christians like to blindly jump to 2 Corinthians 6:14 as the go-to verse that those of us who are in Christ are not to marry outside of the faith. However, many of us are ill equipped to respond when further probed to explain why God has commanded us not to wed those who do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior. The temptation to ignore or water down this very serious command has become an increasing trend amongst Christians of marriageable age.

Maureen Gei was not a Christian when she and her husband got married, and did not come to know the Lord until she was in her forties. She then lived through fifteen long years of heartache, struggling with the horrible thoughts that her family may not join her in eternity with God.

Today, her husband and son have come to love the Lord as fervently as she does and she rejoices continually in their salvation. Based on personal experience, however, she has one thing to say to anyone considering marriage to an unbeliever: Don’t do it. Just don’t.

Ref: whatdoesitreallytake.files.wordpress

Maureen’s whole family was agnostic. They had no interest in God and did not have much of an opinion of Him. Life was good. Maureen had always been someone who knew exactly what she wanted and was very much in control of her own life.

It was while she was living in Shanghai that she was touched by the sincere friendship and fellowship of some Christian women from Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong within the expatriate community. A Christian neighbor also persistently invited her to church.

“She was song leading one Sunday and begged me to go,” Maureen said. “I didn’t want to go to church, but I wanted to do something nice for her.” So she went, as a favor to her neighbor, in hopes that she would then leave her alone about going to church.

That Sunday, they sang Amazing Grace and Maureen’s tears started falling. She didn’t know why, and she was upset about it. About a year later, Maureen started reading a Bible that same neighbor had given her. Being a person who loves knowledge and books, she read through the entire Bible from the first page to the last.

However, she did not need to get very far to be convinced of God’s greatness. By the time she arrived at Abraham’s story in Genesis, she already believed. “God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, and then stopped him while providing a substitute. But God sent His own Son as a sacrifice and did not stop Him from dying. The story impacted me so much because I was so amazed that God asked more of Himself than He did of Abraham.”

The ram that God provided for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac.
Ref: biblelessonsite

And so, Maureen became a Christian. Her initial intentions, however, had little to do with actually loving God. “I became a Christian so I could avoid hell,” she stated very frankly. “If hell was a one time thing when I die— I’m buried, and burn in hell into nothingness, I think that would not have disturbed me very much. But the idea of burning in hell forever and ever disturbed me. So I was not in love with Jesus. I was amazed at what God did. But it was more of a fear thing than a love thing.”

Convicted that Jesus really is the only way to escape hell, she shared the Gospel with her family the only way she knew how—by telling them that they were going to hell. Obviously, that did not sit well with them, and so she eventually learned to be silent about her faith.

As she read more of the Bible and got deeper into the Word, she became convicted of her own depravity. “It was very difficult for me because I was already over forty and it felt like I had done everything wrong my whole life. The Bible was convicting me that I had wasted my time. It was terrible!”

Being in China, Maureen had no supplementary Bible study materials. All she had was a plain Bible with no study notes, and her encyclopedia. So whenever she read the Bible, she would check the historical facts in her encyclopedia, and was surprised at how much of it was actually real. “As I got more and more impacted by the Bible, my perspective of life began to change.”

She no longer wanted to hang out much in clubs, go dancing, or drinking. “I did not stop myself, I just wasn’t very interested anymore.” This sometimes disappointed her husband, as dancing was one of their favorite pass times that they did together.

Maureen and her husband then moved to Germany where she finally settled into a church after about half a year of searching. It was around that time that the pain began to set in. “Every time a preacher gleefully talked about the burning fires of hell, all I saw was my family suffer.”

Maureen saw her son, her daughter, and her husband burning. Whenever people would pray for Jesus to come soon, she would say, “No! Not yet.” Her husband travelled a lot, and she would always worry for his safety, anxious that he would die before he accepted Christ.

“It started to be such a painful thing to think about the joys of eternal life. I caught myself, three to four times throughout the day while I was cooking or doing something, just praying that God would do something to get her husband on board.” But nothing happened.

Ref: media4.s-nbcnews

It wasn’t even that her husband disapproved of her faith. In fact he encouraged her and defended her when other people attacked her for believing in God. He would even clear the driveway when it snowed, warm up the car, make her some hot tea, and drive her to church! He was very supportive of her walk with God.

He said she was a “nicer person” whenever she came back from church, and liked the idea that she was a Christian. The Holy Spirit and God’s Word had made her a more submissive and easier wife, and that pleased him. But he just wanted nothing to do with God.

“As I started to fall in love with God more and more, my reason for wanting to go to heaven was to be with God. It wasn’t about escaping hell anymore. But as my love for God and faith in Him grew, my sorrow in his rejection of Jesus also grew.” It was no longer just about her husband going to hell, but about how much he was missing out on.

“There were so many important and beautiful things happening in my life, and I couldn’t share it with him. I felt like I was living a double life. I went to church on Sunday, a prayer meeting, and a Bible study. The rest of the time, I was like a submarine Christian, not wanting to annoy people or step on anybody’s toes.”

While other families would go to church together, go for lunch together, go for outings and church camps together, Maureen never got to do those things, because she chose to go home to her family. Although it hurt, she made it a point not to put her Christian community before her husband, as neglecting him would have been wrong. So she was intentional about spending time with her family, but also had to battle with feelings of resentment and envy of the people around her.

“I felt so jealous when a husband put his arm around his wife during the worship or something. The nice things that Christian families had, hurt me. When a family sat together at a table, I was the odd one out. Everybody was absolutely pleasant to me. When I came back to Malaysia, it was the same thing. Families would go for lunch together. And then there was me, going home to cook, or buying something back. Because my husband was at home. I couldn’t enjoy the community.

Ref: oceanparkbaptist

“If I could divide the spirit from the physical and emotional self, I could kind of handle that he was not a believer. But when it hit me, then it became a physical pain, an emotional pain, and a spiritual pain. And it broke me. It took me a long time to get over.

“In the present day, it was the feeling of being broken, lamed, and separated. And then when I thought of the next life, it was just devastating. I struggled with God, and with my faith. If I did not love God already, I might have thought, ‘I’ll just go to hell with them. This is just too painful.’ But I loved God, and the Holy Spirit kept me in Him.

“Sometimes I felt trapped. And sometimes I was so angry with God. I kept telling God, ‘It’s not my fault! I didn’t ask for this. Can’t you get them on board so that we can all be happy?’

“I could never understand anybody who would choose to have such a life. I suffered in my marriage because I love God and I love my husband, and my husband didn’t want to know God. And the most painful thing of all was the first and second commandment: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. That was a dichotomy I couldn’t get over. The more I loved God, the harder it for me to accept that my husband didn’t. As my love for God grew, the pain for my husband’s lostness also grew.

“My prayer for the salvation of my family was erratic. There were times when I was praying several times a day, crying and pleading, and there were times when I just stopped praying. Not that I gave up, but it was tiring. To pray every day— One year, two years, three years, four years… The first couple of years it was every day. And then it grew less. And then I was praying for everything else except that.”

It was when she was in Melaka that Maureen started praying fervently with a friend who also had a non-believing husband. Together, they would pray, cry, and plead for their husbands. “I had a prayer partner,” Maureen said.

Ref: thechurchofnopeople

Today, both men have come to know the Lord. “I remember my husband coming down the stairs one day saying, ‘I think God spoke to me yesterday.’” God had asked her husband, “How much longer must I wait for you?” He then started attending church and seeker Bible study group. It still took some time after that, but he eventually believed and was baptized. Then, their son also became a Christian.

“Suddenly, my whole world changed. Now it is so amazing because I can go to a church camp! Now, my God-family is at home too. The things I never dreamt I would have, I now have. It’s so amazing. I couldn’t even fathom the wonder of it. We’re serving in church together. We come home, we discuss about the sermon. Now I felt like a whole Christian.

“Reading the Bible together, praying together, going to church together, going for lunch with another family after church… I’m just full of anticipation for what more beauty He is going to show me. It’s so different. Now, I can say now that my cup overflows. It’s just overflowing all the time. Life is full of joy!”  

When it comes to the matter of being unequally yoked, there is so much more to God’s will for His children than that one Bible verse. God does not give us instructions for no reason. More often than not, it is to protect us from the pain and suffering that we are unable to foresee.

Thematically, throughout the Bible, God’s plan and purpose for marriage is to glorify Him and emulate His relationship with the church. Such a sacred union is not possible when one person does not confess Him as Lord.

Of course, redemption is always possible, and God can certainly turn things around for His glory as He did in Maureen’s family. For individuals who are already married to non-believers, God’s grace abounds and there is always hope. Be faithful in prayer for your spouse, and take ownership of that mission field.

However, that does not change the fact that intentionally binding oneself to someone who does not share a common love for Christ remains disobedience, and sets oneself up for many years of emotional and spiritual turmoil. Therefore, those who are not yet married have no business getting themselves into such relationships. Missionary dating is not a thing.

“Don’t even start dating,” Maureen said. “Be friends. Evangelize. But don’t date, because the whole reason for dating is to get married. You are not responsible for his or her soul. I couldn’t take my husband with me to heaven, and I was already married. You are responsible for your life with God. And God loves that person more than you ever could anyway. So don’t play God.”

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Esperanza Ng

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalms 30:5)

There is a season that you and I go through for a certain period but that season will change and will not remain for ever! Every season has a timeline. Every season has a shelf-life.

Ref: wordpress

I like to tell you today no matter what you have been going through, that disappointment, that discouragement, that pain that hurt, there is “a miracle in your storm” and you better get ready receive it. You need to know a secret in God’s economy that is God will only meet you at the level of your FAITH.

Job 23:10 “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Job had great expectation, Job had great faith; that he will not remain in the same situation for ever. Literally he was making an appointment to meet God. 

Don’t ever keep saying, “I am waiting for God to move” because God is saying to you today, unless you take the bold step of faith and make that move first I can’t move my arm to fight the battle for you.

THE INVALID AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA

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John 5:6 (DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?)

There was in Jerusalem near the sheep-gate a pool surrounded by five arches, which has the Hebrew name of Bethzatha (the Pool of Bethesda). Under these arches a great many sick people were in the habit of lying; some of them were blind, some lame, and some had withered limbs. (They used to wait there for the “moving of the water”, for at certain times an angel used to come down into the pool and disturb the water, and then the first person who stepped into the water after the disturbance would be healed of whatever he was suffering from 

One particular man had been there ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there on his back – knowing that he had been like that for a long time, he asked him, 

“Do you want to get well again?”

“Sir,” replied the sick man, “I just haven’t got anybody to put me into the pool when the water is all stirred up. While I’m trying to get there somebody else gets down into it first.”

Jesus asked him a direct and simple question. Instead the man was giving excuses to cover up why he was not healed. Have you ever noticed human nature has a tendency of blaming somebody for their problems? We refuse to look inside us! We refuse to take responsibility for our problems. But we like to keep blaming others, blaming circumstances and sometimes we even blame God for our condition!  

Listen to me! God can never move! God can never perform a miracle in your life as long as you are staying in a place of self-pity and put every blame outside of you. You will never get any breakthrough, believe me!

Let’s see what is happening here? Jesus completely ignores the excuses of this man. 

“Get up,” said Jesus, “pick up your bed and walk!” Jesus gives a command with an authority  In other words Jesus is telling this sick man, “Enough of all your excuses of blaming others. This is the moment for you to change your thinking! Change your mind-set, move into your FAITH in God.”

At once the man recovered, picked up his bed and walked. Can you see something awesome here? The moment he moves his focus from his excuse to God’s command he receives his healing.

Ref: wordpress

Some of you are sitting in the same place for 38 years. God is telling you at this moment. Today is your appointed time to change your thinking. If you want a miracle in your life, you got to change your mind set of blaming others! And take responsibility and listen to what God is saying to today. Jesus is commanding you with authority to GET UP! STOP BLAMING OTHERS! IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO MOVE ON! REMEMBER GOD CANNOT WORK IN YOUR LIFE AS LONG AS YOU SIT THERE BLAMING EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF YOU. IF YOU WANT GOD TO MOVE YOU ON! IF YOU WANT GOD TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE! IF YOU WANT GOD TO HEAL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT TO “GET UP AND PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK.

Despite your disappointing circumstances, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He never changes, it’s we who change!

He took our infirmities and carried our diseases Matt. 8:17

He still opens blind eyes and deaf ears, makes the crippled to walk again, and the dumb to talk again.  Jesus also heals all the modern daily sickness and diseases such as depression, pain, cancer, etc, whatever the devil tries to bring upon you.

Listen! It is not God’s will for you to be sick either physically or emotionally. Neither is His will for you to live far below the standard of life and suffer under the clutches of the enemy. 

In your situation:

ONLY YOUR FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS FOR YOU

Ref: wordpress

I have good news for you today but Jesus heals ONLY those who will believe Him for a miracle irrespective of who you are. All the people who came to Jesus during His ministry for healing received a breakthrough because of their overwhelming FAITH to step in the unfamiliar zone of zero dependence on their own clever mind.

The question is are you ready to believe Jesus for a miracle at the cross roads of your life right now? Can you believe that your FAITH is the KEY to your healing? If you can, you will receive your miracle from the Lord today. 

In Mark 9:23 the father of the epileptic boy begged Jesus in his desperate need to have pity on his boy.  He said to Jesus “if He can please have pity on my boy. And Jesus asked him, “What do you mean if I can?  “If you can only believe! All things are possible 

If you believe.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

In other words the father was saying “I believe but because of my circumstances which have made me so tired, which has drained me out I am compelled to give in to doubt, nevertheless help me to reverse this lack of faith in me right now.

Here is what we need to understand. Faith is not the absence of fear; faith is despite the fear, you are willing to take the risk and move forward in order to breakthrough into your miracle.

Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of   Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is a mission    minded pastor who carries an apostolic anointing who  preaches  and teaches an uncompromising gospel  with  boldness. A member  of ECCM (Malaysia)  Spiritual Adviser &  overseer to various  ministries and churches. An itinerant  speaker.  He is also the  author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time  Clock.’ Currently he  worships  at C3 Subang.

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Rev Dr Jai Kumar

I remember very fondly the polystyrene wordings my wife and I had on the backdrop on our wedding day – “A Promise to Love”.

It was right in front of us as we faced the Minister of the Church who married us and also in front of all 250 guests who were sitting in the pews witnessing the wedding ceremony. It basically conveyed the message that we are promising to each other a lifelong commitment of loving each other and keeping to each other. This promise was made before God and the witnesses present who were our relatives and friends!

This promise is true be it in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer and until death do we part. It is a serious and solemn commitment. It is not committing to each other only when times are good or when all things are running smooth and nice, but also during family challenges and when life’s journey goes through bumps and potholes! In fact, it is often the challenging times that bring us closer to one another and validates our commitment to each other.

The support or ability we provide each other through life’s challenges is like “cement” that binds and strengthens the relationship. We know that our marriage is going to continue with the ups and downs, yet our promise to love will also continue because we know that it is not only a huge help when we have each other during such challenges but also we would grow closer and stronger together!

This article was published with permission from Focus on the Family Malaysia. For more information, please contact:

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY MALAYSIA

6-2 Jalan Bersatu 13/4, 46200 Petaling Jaya

+603-7954 7920

focus@family.org.my

www.family.org.my

Facebook [focusonthefamilymalaysia]

Twitter [familiesMY]

Focus on the Family’s 90-second audio program is aired over TRAXX FM at 8.15 am and 6.45 pm Mondays to Fridays

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Focus on the Family Malaysia

Set aside JUNE 12 and invite your friends to come to hear Dominique Jones. She is a passionate and gifted singer, songwriter and musician from Shreveport Louisiana, nominated for 2 Grammy awards! Catch her live at KLBC (9:30am) during their Sunday Worship Service or Desa ParkCity (7:30pm) for an evening concert.

The second daughter of Dewitt Jones III and Kim Jones of Forever Jones, Dominique is now going solo in her career as a gospel singer. 

Ever since she can recall, Dominique has been surrounded by music. Having developed a love for the piano at a young age, Dominique (nicknamed Doe) spent much of her time watching her uncles and musical family-friend musicians play. While most 12 year olds were being pushed towards sports, Dominique was encouraged by her parents to lead worship at their church. “I remember my parents went out of town, and just before they left they said, ‘Oh yea, and you’re going to lead worship’ and I cried and cried and cried, and begged them to pick someone else. I told them I was too young, and they pretty much turned a deaf ear. However, in hindsight, I can see God’s preparation in every step I was forced to take towards leading worship”. After moving to Shreveport, Dominique became heavily involved in the worship ministry at their church, and soon became the youth worship leader and led for 5 years. In 2010 foreverJONES began their musical journey as signed artists. Even after traveling to multiple cities, and singing on multiple stages across the U.S., Doe has yet to rid herself of pre-show gitters. In a recent interview with journalist KLJ, Doe says, “I kind of feel like the apprehension and nerves are what bring me back to earth before every performance. I realize that I am human and do not want to EVER be on stage without the main attraction, Jesus Christ.”

(http://foreverjones.com/?page_id=5)

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Conference: 09^th – 14^th July 2016

Venue: Methodist Centre, Port Dickson MALAYSIA

Outreach dates:

14^th – 23^rd July 2016 (10 days)

14^th – 30^th July 2016 (17 days)

Outreach locations:

Australia, Cambodia, Far East, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Southeast Asia countries

Ref: favim

Conference Fees:

RM440 (Malaysians)

*Request for twin sharing – RM300 extra

Conference & Outreach Fees:

RM1,360 – RM3,570

CLOSING DATE:

05^th June 2016

Out of the Comfort Zone (OcZ) is a short term mission programme that provides exposure, experience and equips you to take the Good News to Asia. Through a 5-day conference and a 10-17 day life changing journey to your choice of 12 different outreach countries.

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For more information, please Contact: Email: OcZAsia.MY@om.org

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Note: Christianity Malaysia does not solicit any transfer of funds. 

Discover how to enjoy the passionate and intimate marriage relationship that God has promised with Focus on the Family’s popular authors and marriage experts, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, at our upcoming marriage event, THRIVE, on 1 July 2016.

Topics include:

• The Foundation of A Great Marriage
• Why Does A Heart Close?
• What Is Emotional Safety?
• How to Create Safety?

Event Details

This article was published with permission from Focus on the Family Malaysia. For more information, please contact:

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY MALAYSIA

6-2 Jalan Bersatu 13/4, 46200 Petaling Jaya

+603-7954 7920

focus@family.org.my

www.family.org.my

Facebook [focusonthefamilymalaysia]

Twitter [familiesMY]

Focus on the Family’s 90-second audio program is aired over TRAXX FM at 8.15 am and 6.45 pm Mondays to Fridays

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The class bustled with excitement, as over 60 students ranging from 9-year olds to 75-year-olds learned to play piano together. Amidst its diversity, the majority had one thing in common – none had any background in music – yet all could play their self-composed piano song in only one and a half year!

Students who have completed and graduated from the PMI course

Such were the students produced by the Praise Music International (PMI) piano course, downloaded by God to Pastor Irene in 1990. At a junction of giving up her music career, the Lord suddenly came upon her with a powerful anointing.

Without thinking, she began to write down for four hours an unheard concept of teaching music. During then, her baby uncannily also slept through the hours without crying, allowing her to pen down God’s thoughts on paper.

Thus, PMI was born, teaching a new generation of worshippers on how to flow with the Holy Spirit in playing the piano. Instead of only learning to play by notes, which allow no room for improvisation, the course focused on a “touch system” consisting of chords, sol-fa, play-by-ear and notes.

“Chords allow different students to play the same song in different tunes, reflecting their own personalities and also the flow of the Holy Spirit.”

“So for example, if the Holy Spirit wants to lead us into seeking God, then a slower melody would prompt people to flow with the Spirit and enter into the Presence of God.”

Pastor Irene Choon (middle) with her students who have completed and graduated from the PMI course

Built on the basis of continual fellowship with one another, the course is designed to maximize group interaction. Hence, by learning in a group, students can spur each other into improvement and encouragement.

Like a mathematical formula, the Lord has given Pastor Irene this unheard formula to learn piano in the easiest way. Because of this formula, a student mastering one song can play many other songs as well.

Hence, students without background in music can be trained to be a pianist in church or home groups in merely one and a half year! This is a much shorter than the time taken to learn the conventional method of learning notes. For example, an average student who complete ABRSM grade eight will take about eight to 10 years to complete a course. From calculation, a student will need 30 to 40 years to complete all four courses, a much longer period than what PMI offers.

“The Lord gave me the PMI language instead of reading notes. This language helps our students to respond faster from reading the music sheet. Students no longer need to learn to master notes before playing piano, which causes a slower response.”

Pastor Irene believes that the piano, due to its full chord and flexibility in offering varying beats, greatly enhances worship.

“As we play the piano, the melody inspires us to sing more. We get to worship God longer, because even when we lack words, we can still play a melody. We can go deeper with God.”

“Also, because my heart is to train people for worship, we encourage our students to play the piano and sing at the same time.”

Pastor Irene Choon (5th from the right) and her husband, Pastor Steven Choon (6th from right) with the students who have completed and graduated from the PMI course

Through the PMI as well, worshippers without any background of music are encouraged to attend, so that they would understand the timing and feeling of music. Through more than 30 years of teaching, she could see how her students master the style of playing within three months, regardless of background.

“In church, music is part of worship. But if we have no idea for music at all, it is harder to worship. This course helps student to worship more. And at the end of the course, each student would learn to compose a song.”

The course includes attending a once-in-three months (three consecutive evenings) piano seminar and committing to a daily practice of half an hour, with a comprehensive practice guidance.

The PMI schools can now be found in Petaling Jaya, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Sibu. They are also running the PMI course in Perth, Australia.

Pastor Irene Choon (Back row) and her husband, Pastor Steven Choon (Back row) with her younger students who have completed and graduated from the PMI course

“We also hope to train more piano teachers to teach this course, to continue this legacy. Because God gave me this twenty-six years ago, I hope to pass this revelation on to more people, so that more worshippers can be raised.”

From a five-year course now, one can become certified in a total of three years, as a fully qualified pianist after completing all 12 modules. Because of its uniqueness, students had been flying in from Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, England, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, to take the few day PMI course throughout the year.

Would you be interested to learn piano with PMI?

Join a preview session of a PMI lesson by Pastor Irene.

Date | 19 June 2016 | Sunday

Time | 3 PM – 5 PM

Venue | CCM, Ground Floor, No 26, Jalan University

Call to Register | 0168308785 | 0168337631

Join the PMI student’s graduation piano concert to see how they played the piano after one-and-a-half year.

Date | 18 June 2016 | Saturday

Time | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Venue | CCM, Ground Floor, No 26, Jalan University

Call to Register | 0168308785 | 0168337631

Pastor Irene Choon (1st from left) with her husband, Pastor Steven Choon (2nd from left) and their two sons

Testimonies by PMI Students |

“This 18 months course is simple yet comprehensive enough for me to pick up the skills of playing piano. By the first three months, I am surprised to find myself able to play the melody and chords for some simple songs already.”

Sze Yein, Klang Valley

“I thank God for fulfilling my childhood dream of playing the piano. The first thing I wanted to do in the morning was to play the piano and praise God. I never thought I could learn the piano due to my age and its high fees. But PMI offered me an intensive and affordable course. It only took me one and a half year, and now I can start playing in my church.”

Christine Yeow, Ipoh

“Pastor Irene is a highly experienced and professional teacher. I would recommend this course to anyone seeking achievement and enjoyment in playing the piano.”

Yu Ching, Klang Valley

“I have always wanted to play the piano but never had time. But when I retired, I thought I was too old to learn the piano, as I felt my brain is ‘slow’ and my fingers are rusty. Bu after completing PMI, I am amazed with how I can play many different types of songs – both Christian and pop! I would recommend this to anyone, irrespective of age.”

Dennis Wong, Klang Valley

“I feel so proud and accomplished when I can sing and play chords concurrently with PMI.”

Julianer, Klang Valley

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Over the past ten years, One Accord has been quietly expanding—in their numbers, as well as their reach. A Worship and Creative ministry of Every Nation Church Malaysia, which is part of the international Every Nation Movement, One Accord utilizes the many creative minds in their church to bring God’s love to the people around them.

Made up of a multigenerational group that they like to refer to as a single and whole creative generation, One Accord’s strength is in their musical and technical abilities. Although they started out by producing music/worship albums, they have since added film production, stage production, dance, and photography to their areas of expertise.

Photo Credit: One Accord

One Accord believes that creativity and innovation has the power to bring the Gospel to the masses. The harvest is plentiful and the workers may be few, but through the realization of fresh ideas that often go overlooked, a harvest beyond the imagination can be brought in.

The ministry started out with Ps. Kelvin Lim’s vision that God would use creativity to bring change to people’s lives, and to the nations. He began by writing songs and inspiring others (especially the young people) who love music, and slowly involved them in the ministry.

Their tagline in the beginning was “Worship brings change.” “When you worship God, it should change you,” Ps. Kelvin said. “If you worship God and it doesn’t change you, something is wrong. It becomes a religious act.”

Photo Credit: One Accord

As the vision caught on, God brought more and more skilled musicians to them, and their ministry grew. From 2005 to 2015, they produced seven albums, each with its own theme and backstory.

In 2009, One Accord went through a phase where they felt God telling them to realign their focus. Awareness for human trafficking and modern day slavery had surfaced, and they recognized God’s heartbeat for the poor and oppressed.

In response to that, they produced an album called Change, went on tour around Malaysia with the goal of bringing change to people’s hearts for the marginalized, and one year later, produced Change Your World—a live recording album of their tour.

Photo Credit: One Accord

Up until 2015, the other sects of One Accord have also been growing, but the overall concentration has still very much been on the music production. Determined to balance out their ministry, One Accord closed off that season with their latest album, A Decade of Worship.

As they move forward into their next decade of worship as a creative generation that would be all-inclusive of the other teams, they have formed a fresh mission: “Crafting stories about God, people, and justice.”

Photo Credit: One Accord

Still with the same driving factor that creativity has the ability to captivate an audience and bring forth powerful and positive messages while making a stand against injustice, they will be presenting their very own original musical on September 24th this year, so mark your calendars!

With all the different departments pooling together their resources, this production will have it all: music, drama, dance, and media. A story about friendship, this musical will remain true to One Accord’s new tagline and address the importance of loving God, loving people, and loving justice.

Photo Credit: One Accord

Although One Accord has maintained a low profile these past ten years, God has truly blessed their ministry and used their creativity for His kingdom and glory. The One Accord team has had the privilege of traveling to many other countries and have, as they envisioned, brought God’s message of love and hope to the nations through their creative work.

Today, original One Accord songs are known and sung all over the world in various countries, and have gained substantial recognition on iTunes. In fact, their song, Free, ranked #11 on iTunes Malaysia in May 2016, alongside some big names in the secular music industry.

One Accord has also had the honor of having one of their new songs selected as one of twelve songs that will be released at the Every Nation World Conference this year—a gathering of all the Every Nation churches, currently in seventy-five countries.

For more information on One Accord ministries, visit their Facebook page or website at the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/oneaccordministry/?fref=ts

http://www.oneaccord.com.my/

One Accord has also put together a series of five videos in conjunction with A Decade of Worship. These videos, among their other video/film productions, can be found at their YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHhkH4Z09vV4Yq3Kjhu3pyw

|Share The Good News| 

Esperanza Ng

“The Holy Spirit is looking for a friend,” said Pastor Philip Mantofa from Mawar Sharon Church in Indonesia, on 21^st of May in Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre to more than 2100 attendees from 61 churches, of which 90 pastors across denominations also attended.

Called Jesus Festival Malaysia, this annual conference began in 2014 when God gave a vision to Pastor Albert Isaac, Senior Pastor of World Harvest Church in Bandar Sunway, to bring Jesus back as the central focus of His Church in Malaysia. Jesus Festival Malaysia 2017 will be held next year on Saturday, 20^th May 2017.

“The Holy Spirit is not a lonely Spirit. He does not need us because He is with the Father and the Son. But we need God. In fact, we are a losing business. We only take, take, and take. What have we done to deserve God?”

The attendees of Jesus Festival worshipping God

When Pastor Philip knew Jesus in 1993, he began building his personal life by spending time in the morning and evening with God. The appointed evening time was 7 P. M.

“Why is 7 P. M. the best time? If you put an advertisement at 7 P. M., it will cost you millions of dollars. So, I gave Jesus my ‘prime time.’

“And ‘Cinderella’ always need to go home at a certain time. So, I would return home before 7 P. M. and prepare myself to be in the Presence of God. It was a time to hang out together.”

At one time, he forgot his appointment with God. While playing board games with his friends, he felt the Holy Spirit caressing his head, three minutes behind 7 P. M.

“I was a ‘baby Christian’ then but I could feel the Holy Spirit. I wanted to spend time with Him. I could recognize the Shepherd’s voice.

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“So, He said to me, ‘Go out in the backyard, I want to spend time with you.’ I told my friends I needed fresh air cause I didn’t want them to think that I was weird.

“But when I went out, I literally melted on the grass. In the darkness, only shed by the dimming light of the furthest stars, tears came down my cheeks. I felt his manifested Presence – His Shekinah glory.

“But after ten minutes, the Presence left. I said, ‘No! Don’t take this Presence from me.’ And the Spirit asked me to stand up. The moment I did, my friend came.

“But the moment he left, God’s Presence came back! Aha! I got it! There is no third person in intimacy. I sang in awe, ‘Kujatuh tersungkur di bawah kaki-Mu; Ku sembah Kau, Tuhan; Ku sembah Kau.’”

“Then God said, ‘Look up to the sky. As many as the stars, so will be your children.’ Innocently, I thought, ‘Pity anyone who marries me.’ I was a ‘baby’ Christian then. But I just accept and say ‘Yes, amen.’”

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So, the Holy Spirit is looking for a friend. And like what we are looking for in a friend, the Holy Spirit desires for intimacy and faithfulness. It goes both ways. The good news is that all of us can be close to the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Philip shared that the Holy Spirit is often the most misunderstood, under-treated, and under-appreciated person. But do you know that Jesus takes Him seriously? Jesus said, “I need to leave you for you to get the Holy Spirit” (John 16:7), and “You can blaspheme me but not the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 12:31).

“If you don’t understand the Holy Spirit, you will not understand the Father’s heart and the Son’s heart.”

Pastor Philip shared how he had to move around in a wheelchair, due to the tumors on his right knee. He would need to lean on a high chair while preaching onstage.

“The Holy Spirit said to me, ‘Why are you worried? If you stick close to Me, the devil cannot touch you. As long as you are with Me, you got Me, just ask.’”

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In that preaching, he casually swept his finger across the front row, intending to point at a certain person. But to his surprise, the whole front row got slain inadvertently in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit said to Pastor Philip, “You just sit there and tell Me where you go.”

“I tell you: ‘you can take anything from me except my friendship with God!’ Have you treated the Holy Spirit like a special person in your life?”

Pastor Philip shared how he prayed and fasted for her daughter’s husband while she was still in her mother’s womb. He dreaded the time of handing her daughter to her husband. To him, as a father, she is a gift to her husband.

On one occasion, while he (Jesus Christ) was still eating with them (His disciples), he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4)

“It’s a daddy’s nightmare to see his daughter abused by her husband. And that is how much God loves us – He is willing to separate from His Spirit for us! The Holy Spirit is a gift to us.

Jesus is now at the throne in Heaven, praying for us (Romans 8:34). But the Holy Spirit is in us now (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

“So, have you fellowshipped with the Holy Spirit like He is so precious?”

Ref: whicdn

A young man once asked Pastor Philip for the same anointing he has. But the young man did not understand what he was asking. Pastor Philip’s anointing came from a place of brokenness and constant friendship with the Holy Spirit. But the sad thing is that people want the gift, but they do not want the Giver, the Holy Spirit. 

How was Pastor Philip’s friendship with the Holy Spirit? From 1992 till 2004, the Holy Spirit emptied Pastor Philip of his gift in healing, following a vision from God. So, for 12 years, even though he vigorously prayed, he saw no healing miracle. 

“But when God knew that He was my all in all, He returned the healing anointing with interest.”

Pastor Philip Mantofa (3rd from right)

In a 2004 healing rally at a mall, even the people on the streets got healed, because of the strong manifested presence of God within its walls.

People are usually drawn to with signs and wonders. But they have no interest to know the invisible Person behind these visible miracles.

After He (Jesus) said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, a cloud hid Him from their sight. (Act 1:9).

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And till today, a cloud is still hiding Jesus Christ! The world does not see Him or know Him. But the Holy Spirit from Him sees Him, knows Him, and hears from Him. It is only through the Holy Spirit, we will know God’s Will and please God.

“That is why religion doesn’t work in the Kingdom of God. Some people are zealous for God, just like Paul. But when the light of God struck Paul, a voice asked, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’

“You will not have a clue on how to please God, if you don’t fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It’s interesting that the disciples of Jesus were slow learners. Day and night, they were physically with Jesus – for three and a half year!

“Yet they did not get Jesus because they were carnal – the Holy Spirit was not given to them yet. They had a physical relationship, but they did not build a spiritual relationship with Jesus.

“So, they were always one step late, from Jesus. When Jesus talked about the yeast of the Pharisees, they thought it was the bread He was talking about (Matthew 16:6-7).

The volunteers for the Jesus Festival

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus , who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Pastor Philip shared how the angels were perplexed seeing Jesus’ disciples intently watching Him going up to the sky (Acts 1:11). This is because while they were still looking, Jesus was already ahead of them – He was already after the 3000 people in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41-42).

“Why were the disciples always one step late? This is because they operated from the position of sonship. But we need to learn to operate in the position of the bridehood of Jesus, which is better.

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“For example, if you have children, you will realize that they don’t learn very fast and they won’t be able to get to where you are. But my wife is always in step with me.”

Like preparing for a trip, a wife gets up the same time as her husband to pack for supplies. Only after the preparation, the children are awakened and prepared to join the trip. The wife moves with the husband.

“How do you know a man better? Know him through his wife. A man has ego, hidden by a cloud. But when you talk to his wife, she will tell you everything about him.”

Hence, because Jesus is also hidden by the clouds, only the Holy Spirit can help us know Jesus as our Groom. Only through the Holy Spirit, we can become His Bride.

“When you operate in the spirit of bridehood, you will not be one step late. We must not be late with what God does in our life. God is on time. I love my children, but though they can work for me, they cannot do my work.

“But with my wife, when I just look at her, she knows what I want. I can trust my life with my wife completely because she knows me inside out.”

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Pastor Philip also shared how although he was the legal spiritual authority at home, his wife could direct him to any shops in a mall. In other words, although he is the spiritual head, his wife is the legs. She can turn him wherever she wants. A bride can turn her groom wherever she wants, in an interlocking arm-to-arm relationship with him. 

“Moses was so powerful in his partnership with God, that even though he disobeyed God, the rock obeyed his command. But he had to pay the price (Numbers 20:11-12). It is better to know God first than to steer Him. But if we know Him, He will allow us to steer Him.”

Pastor Phiilp also shared about his heart to see revival in Malaysia. Although he loves Malaysia, revival will come from the hands of a Malaysian.

As Malaysians, we are responsible to God for the blood of our people! God loves every person in Malaysia.

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“Malaysia, your flight has been delayed. You should start running now because the gates for Malaysia are closing. Otherwise, Indonesia and Malaysia will have a big gap. Don’t be surprise one day, if there are more Indonesians than Malaysians in Heaven.

“This is not the time to encourage you. You should be sharing the gospel already, it should be old-fashioned. ‘Let’s fill the stadium up to one hundred thousand people?’ Who needs faith for something like that?”

With exhortation and encouragement, revival in Malaysia will only come when the Bride of Christ is ready for the Groom. We can only be the Bride of Jesus Christ, when we walk intimately and closely with the Holy Spirit.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)

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ABOUT JESUS FESTIVAL | Jesus Festival is a celebration of who Jesus is, what He has done and who we are in Him. As the name of Jesus is lifted up, all are drawn to Him through encounters and experiences coming from His presence. In His presence and through the Word revealed, lives are changed, transformed and restored, and we become reflectors of His glory. It’s all about Jesus. 

Jesus Festival began in 2012 in Manila, Philippines. Since then, it is being held once a year in various parts of the world. Three conferences are held yearly in the Philippines in three cities: Manila, Baguio City and Tacloban City. One conference is held yearly in Malaysia and in Hong Kong.

Jesus Festival Malaysia began in 2014 as God spoke to Pastor Albert Isaac, Senior Pastor of World Harvest Church  Malaysia to bring the body of Christ together to celebrate and lift up none other than Jesus alone. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me.”

People responded to the preaching of the Word; healings and salvations took place and God’s glory filled the atmosphere. Jesus Festival is all about Jesus and our desire is for the lives of people to be forever changed by the Gospel and that we become the living demonstration of Jesus in all spheres of society. 

JESUS FESTIVAL SPEAKERS | Jesus Festival speakers are a diverse group of personalities from all over the world with backgrounds touching different aspects of the 5-fold ministry. What they share in common though is a passion to make known the beauty of Jesus Christ and the impact of His presence in people’s lives.

This year we were honoured to have Pastor Paul Chase (New Life, Alabang, Philippines), Pastor Jocel Evangelista (New Life, Alabang, Philippines), Pastor Mylene Evangelista (New Life, Alabang, Philippines), Pastor Lawrence Lim (New Creation Church, Singapore), Pastor Stephanie Isaac (World Harvest Church, Malaysia), Pastor Alvin Dela Pena (New Life, The Fort, Philippines) and Pastor Philip Mantofa (Mawar Sharon Church, Indonesia).

JESUS FESTIVAL MALAYSIA 2017 | Jesus Festival Malaysia 2017 will be held on Saturday, 20th May 2017 | www.jesus-festival.com

Jesus Festival 2016 at Sunway Convention Centre

| Share the Good News |

Prayer is vital and good for the Body of Christ but it can also be a hindrance to the advancement of the Kingdom, shared Pastor Mantofa two weeks ago at SIB Kuala Lumpur. This is not something we usually hear in churches, but as Pr Mantofa shared his message a powerfully lucid vision for the Church of Christ came into full view.

‘We do not want to walk any more in circles,’ he conveyed, ‘we want to walk into our Promised Land. Malaysia is indeed a chosen nation in the Kingdom of God. God’s ways are not mysterious. It has never been and will never be. Eventhough we cannot understand everything, His will is pretty clear for us to know. We must find out, and united, we must walk into the vision of the Church that God wants. Malaysia should not be behind; it should be in the forefront of God’s chosen nation’

The passage that was used to illustrate Pr Philip’s message was taken from Acts 12.  This was the passage about Peter’s miraculous escape from the prison but it came within a challenging set of circumstances.

Pr Philip Mantofa (Credit: SIB KL)

Just before the events of this passage, the evil king Herod had arrested leaders of the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, one of the top leaders of the church, put to the death with the sword. James was a great apostle of Christ, very outspoken, in fact more courageous than even Peter. This made him very dangerous to Herod and the system of the day. It was the reason why Herod laid his hands on James first and now he was intending to do the same with Peter.

Pr Mantofa put this into context; the church needed James’ leadership and anointing so badly and now he was gone. The church had faced a huge loss and the worse thing was that before they could even mourn for James, Peter, their second best leader was arrested, and he was now next in line. And the people prayed desperately.

‘Can you imagine that? Would we even pray in that situation? When our first prayers seem to be unanswered? The church at that time seem to be in a situation of defeat. Would we pray hardly or would we hardly pray? More likely the latter right? See what God is telling us.’

 ‘Looking at this passage of Acts 12, I believe that if I were there I would have been discouraged. I am convinced that they prayed to the depths of their souls for their leaders to be released and yet God seem to be silent. Do you know that if we want to grasp our miracle in a tangible way we have to go beyond praying? Praying alone is not enough.’

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Pr Mantofa shared that this does not mean he does not believe in prayer. For most of his 24 years in the Christian faith, he had made prayer a vital part of his life. The first two months of his life in the faith was spent in deep fasting and prayer. But the problem comes when Christians made prayer into their hiding caves.

‘We all have our setbacks in life but what happens in the past should not stop, dictate, or weaken us to believe in what God can do in the future. God is not done. If we have unanswered prayers in our life, we are going to have questions. I have questions but we should put aside those questions for the moment and believe in what God has in store for us.’ Never let the questions hold us back from believing in God. A defeat only truly becomes a defeat when we acknowledge that we’re defeated.

Pr Philip shared that in his healing rallies not everyone who comes for healing gets healed. ‘I don’t know why some people, when I pray for them, they do not get healed but I thank God that does not stop me. And as a result the next person gets healed you see? You see, a person can easily give up or become half-hearted when they have faced failure. I have questions and I will ask Jesus personally when I get to Heaven but now I am on Earth, let God’s Heaven come!’

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He imparted; ‘When we look at the Scriptures and read about the people praying earnestly, this seem good on the surface but actually if you look deeper it is not. The word earnest here smacks of desperation and not faith. We can see this from the way they reacted to Peter’s miraculous escape from prison. And even Peter himself throughout the time the angel led him out of prison thought he was dreaming.’ Prayer can become the hiding cave of Christians in desperate situations.

What this also means is that prayer can be an excuse for us not to move. Prayer can give us a false sense of piety. ‘Do you know that prayer is supposed to be vice versa and two-directional? Prayer is a form of communication. So as much as we need to pray we also need to learn to listen in our prayer. The church has been in the closet for too long. It’s time for us to get out.

‘Prayer should have a time limit. A prayer that does not have an expiry date, no action-packed goal, is a meaningless prayer. You and I should not pray unless we are prepared to complete our own prayers. When we pray for blessings on our families without ourselves making a commitment to be a blessing to our families, it is meaningless. Prayer should hit the one who is making the prayer first.

‘Prayer is like a detonation in reversed principle. When we pray we become our prayer and our prayer becomes us. If not, then that prayer is superficial. So in order for prayer to be real, we need to act upon our prayer.’

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Pr Mantofa expressed from this that he has always found God’s math to be weird. 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes is not 5 and 2 to God but 5000 and 12. When we take the first step of obedience the rest will follow. God will take us to places we would never expect in our wildest dreams. All we need to do is to obey and God will open nations to us with His glory.

We need to move with God. We need to make a commitment that on this certain day we are going to act on our prayers. And we should never be taken by surprise by God, praying from the present and looking at the future, but from the future and pulling it to the present. When God answers our prayers, we should be already preparing ourselves to move with Him into the greater things.

When Peter knocked on the door of Mary’s house in Acts 12:12-17, the people in the house who had been praying did not believe it. They were trained to pray but they had not believed in God’s answer to their prayers. Many of us are like that today. We are trained to pray but we’re not so well-trained in receiving. We’re good at spirituality but when the answer comes we’re ill-equipped.

Pr Mantofa shared that the outcome of prayer is certain. God always listens to our prayer but very often God is also interested in moving from His promises to fulfilment of those promises. Sometimes God needs us to stop praying and start moving.

In Acts 12:17, we find that Peter got it. He realized the miraculous nature of what he had just went through and after describing everything to the people in Mary’s house, told them to share the news with Jesus’ siblings, and then he left for another place.

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In 1998, when Indonesia went through one of the worse crisis in its history, when the Chinese women there were raped in the streets and the churches destroyed and pastors burned alive, Pr Philip made the decision to sell everything he had and return to Indonesia after 8 years in Canada.

His friends protested that it was a crazy thing to do, but Pr Philip reasoned, “The people are all praying in Canada. Who then is going to meet the actual needs of the people back in Indonesia?” If everyone is praying but no one is going, all of the anointing would be with him as he returned to Indonesia. ‘It was not because there was something special about me,’ he shared, ‘but God did not have many channels.’

He shared that the first few days in Indonesia he prayed for 6 hours daily and he cried and cried before the Lord. But one day the Lord told him to stop praying. At first he couldn’t believe the voice. He thought it was the devil because it never occurred to him that God would ask him to stop praying. Finally the Lord had to reprimand him before he finally recognized the voice as the Lord’s.

The Lord told him; ‘If you stay here in your closet praying, how are you going to answer the needs of the people out there?’ The very moment Pr Philip stepped out of his closet, God took him through his first miraculous salvation and healing of a person. That was the start of his ministry and God would sometimes bring salvation to even the staunchest enemies of the church through this ministry.

Pr Philip Mantofa at SIB KL (Credit: SIB KL)

Through all his experiences, Pr Philip learned one thing; ‘Obedience matters more to God than sacrifices. We will never know the power of God until we give it to those who need it most. We must catch this promise. Don’t just pray for the sake of praying.’

‘God loves the people of Malaysia,’ he conveyed. ‘We should not keep the best and most important message in all existence to ourselves. People out there need to hear of this best message. The church needs to step up to its roles as receivers and bringers of God’s promise for the nation.’ As Malaysian Christians, this is our responsibility.   

NOTE: All pictures of SIB KL credited to SIB KL. This article has not been vetted by Pr Philip Mantofa or SIB KL.

|Share The Good News|

Jason Law

On 26^th of May, the All Malaysian-Golden Gate Revival Convocation (AMGGRC) opened gloriously, painting a vivid picture of how the Bride of Christ would prepare herself before YHWH returns to claim His Bride.

Two men blowing the silver trumpets together to call the assembly together at the opening of AMGGRC

24 Shofarims who were divided into six corners, blew the shofar for seven times followed by a march and a shout of victory ‘Hallelujah!”

As the first ever historic regional convocation, this year saw many international delegates from the Golden Gate region, contending together with Malaysia for this region’s destiny to align and prepare for the way of the King of Glory, Jesus Christ. 

Strategically located at the centre of the world, Jerusalem in its ancient structure has 12 gates. Each gate corresponds to and covers a particular region in the world. Philip Marc, co-founder and overseer of the AMGGRC, shared about the heavy destiny of Malaysia to be the revival catalyst in the Golden Gate nations. Like a wild fire, God has purposed Malaysia to spark revival and spread this fire to the rest of the Golden Gate nations.

Philip Marc sharing about the revival of God’s love spreading over Malaysia

Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). From this verse, we know that the gospel comes from Jerusalem first.

24 Shofarims sounded the shofar while the dancers came onstage behind them

But where is the ‘end of the earth’? If we were to lay the world map across a table, Jerusalem would be smacked at the centre of the world map, which is also mentioned as the throne of the second coming of Jesus (Revelation 21:9). Now, taking Jerusalem as the centre, if we were to stick a pencil through a globe at the point Jerusalem, the tip would appear on the other end at Solomon Island. Hence, the ‘end of the earth’ from Jerusalem would be Solomon island, which the Catholic priests had ministered there in the 1870’s. Located in the northeast of Australia, Solomon Island is located at the Eastern Gate region of the world. In other words, the Eastern Gate region is considered as ‘the ends of the earth’ region, which includes the Golden Gate region, Lion Gate region, and Bethany Gate region. And as Malaysians residing in this exciting region, we can take comfort and pride when the LORD proclaimed to the ‘ends of the earth’ (that means us): “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him’” (Isaiah 62:11)

Pastor Jean Lim proclaiming the Scripture (Rev 5:8, Rev 14:2, Rev 15:2, Rev 5:13, Rev 4:10, 11 and Rev 5:10)

It is also interesting to observe as well that a revival wave is actively spreading in the Eastern Gate region, namely across China, India, and Nepal. A reflection of a vision by Ezekiel, he too saw ‘the glory of the LORD came… by the way of the gate facing toward the east’ (Ezekiel 43:4). In fact, the Bible points out that Jesus will come back from the east; ‘as lightning that comes from east is visible in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27), and Jesus ‘will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem’ (Zechariah 14:4). Could this region be the final lap of revival before Jesus Christ returns from the East?

Crowns were cast to the ground to mirror the book of Revelation

When Jesus returns, He shall take his throne in Jerusalem and establish His Kingdom (Zechariah 14). Through Him, one new humanity will be created from the Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:15). Indeed, ‘there is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28). In fact, as Gentiles, we need to thank the Jewish people, because it is their transgression that causes salvation to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11). Yet, God has purposed us, the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the Jews by arousing them to jealousy (Romans 11:13b) and having the full number enter the Kingdom (Romans 11:25b). God has purposed this so that neither Jews nor Gentiles can boast of their heritage or spiritual prowess, but solely on the mercy of God for their salvation (Romans 11:32).

Dancers from Throneroom Wings Worship International led by Pastor Rowena Pang

Dancers from Throneroom Wings Worship International led by Pastor Rowena Pang

Hence, holding the baton of revival, AMGGRC hopes to ‘light’ the Bride of Christ in Malaysia with the holy fire of purity, passion, and power. May all churches rise together as one Bride of Christ to contend together for Malaysia a revival catalyst in the Golden Gate nations. The destiny of other nations depends on Malaysia rising up to take her place. And so, let us arise and fan the flame of God until ‘the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea’ (Habakkuk 2:14). “As surely as I live,” the LORD says, “Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God” (Romans 14:11).

Dancers bowing down to the Lord of lords and King of kings, Jesus Christ

Dancers from Throneroom Wings Worship International led by Pastor Rowena Pang

The invited speakers for this convocation were Tom and Kate Hess, founder of Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations (JHOPFAN), president of All Nations Convocation (ANCJ), and convening elder of International Council for Elders (ICE); Afeef Halasah, founder of Arabs for the Arabs and core leader of International Council of Elders (ICE) of ANCJ; Suleman Manzoor, founder of Rapha Missions International and ICE elder of ANCJ; Brigitta Grace, prophetic team member of Bethel Church Indonesia in Gatot Subroto, Jakarta, advisor of Jakarta City Shakers Community, co-chair of prayer and strategic intercession track of AsiaEmpowered21, and representative of DR Niko Njotorahardjo in ICE, ANCJ; Henry Pillai, senior pastor of Grace Convention Centre and founder of Grace Ministries Malaysia; Pastor Reggie Lee, founder of Pot Bless Ministries and producer of the “Elephant in the Church” and award-winning “Who are the Chinese?” and Philip Marc Lee, co-founder and overseer of Elim Freedom, YHWH’s Asia House of Prayer for All Nations Prayer Mountain (YAHOPFAN) and All Malaysian-Golden Gate Revival Convocation, and ICE Elder of ANCJ.

Pastor Henry giving a welcome message at the opening of AMGGRC

Introduction and prayer for the speakers of AMGGRC

Pastor Renuka Hegde from India closing the opening night with a powerful prayer while Philip Marc blew the shofar

| Share the Good News |

In the O.T the tabernacle of God was literally referring to a picture of man. The tabernacle had three parts, just like we are made of three parts: BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT.

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Likewise: The tabernacle of God

1) had an outer court that was visible (Just like our human Body)

2) and it had two hidden parts called (a) The holy place  (b) And the most holy place (similar to our soul and spirit which are hidden)

Between the holy place and the most holy place there was a thick veil or curtain made up of 10 different thick curtains joined together separating the two areas, indicating that nobody could enter into the most holy place, into God’s presence.

Here is something we need to understand. God did not dwell in the outer court! God did not dwell in the holy place but He dwelled in the most holy place. The place where nobody could enter. The Shekinah glory of God only manifested in the most holy place. It was sin that separated mankind from a relationship with God. God hated sin so much that we were not allowed into His holy presence in the O.T.

But when Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple that covered the most holy place was torn into two. Making a way for us to enter into the most holy place and once again through the blood of Jesus. That fellowship and communion that was lost in the old was restored once and for all in the new dispensation. Because of that one sacrifice that cancelled sin and that paid it all on the cross for you and me. The spirit that was dead because of sin became born again in us to reconnect us back to God in fellowship with Him once again. Thus we can worship God in spirit and in truth now.

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You need to understand our human body how we are created. Man is body soul and spirit. People worshiping in the O.T were only confined to the body for example 1) they were clapping hands, 2) they were praising with their voices that is body,  3)  they were worshiping with their soul- that is with mind, emotions and feelings.

It all sounded very great in the eyes of the crowd but there is another most important part that touches God’s heart that was missing and that is our born-again Spirit (the heart of worship). Unfortunately they couldn’t worship in Spirit because spiritually they were not connected with God. Spiritually they were not alive with God because the Bible says that sin separated man from God. They were dead in their TRESSPASSES.

Therefore, Worship is an issue of the heart. Worship is touching the heartbeat of God. It’s worshiping in the spirit not just with empty words and mind and emotions and feelings, It’s worshiping in the Spirit. And that is giving God His rightful place. In this new covenant:
Your spirit is the highest form of your personality that is God-conscious (that is receptive to God) and that ONLY THIS PART OF YOUR PERSONALITY CAN BE UNITED WITH GOD.

Ref: wordpress

Your spirit is the only part of your personality that can connect to God, not your soul and not your body. Paul says in 1 Cor.6:17: He that is joined to The Lord is one spirit with Him. The spirit deals with the soul and the soul deals with the body.

To get your whole personality in tune with God and responding to God, we need the spirit in us to work with the soul and the soul in turn to work with the body. So in order to worship God, the spirit needs the cooperation of the soul and the body to worship God.

Ref: discoverworship.com

When you are able to worship God like this you touch the heartbeat of God. That is the heart of worship. Unfortunately a lot of us are deceived and misled in this area of worship and thus we are actually not connecting to God in worship. One of the devil’s tools is to distort the truth. The devil wants to keep you from knowing this truth.

But Jesus said in John 8:32: You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. When you understand the truth correctly about Worship, you are going to see God in a new way.  You are going to see God in new dimension. Your spiritual eye and ears are going to be opened. It’s going to blow your mind off!

Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of   Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is a mission    minded pastor who carries an apostolic anointing who  preaches  and teaches an uncompromising gospel  with  boldness. A member  of ECCM (Malaysia)  Spiritual Adviser &  overseer to various  ministries and churches. An itinerant  speaker.  He is also the  author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time  Clock.’ Currently he  worships  at C3 Subang.

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Rev Dr Jai Kumar

Many psychologists believe that the greatest predictor of a lasting marriage is a commitment to marriage itself. Of course, just knowing this won’t necessarily make your marriage last longer. But the right attitude will ensure that your partnership is a lifelong one. To maintain this attitude, remember that marriage is a relationship, not a possession. Yes, we do say “my wife” or “my husband,” but that simply sets boundaries for others outside your marriage to recognize and respect. Look at your marriage as the longest relationship you’ll ever experience on purpose.

Ref: cloudfront

Then take a measure of your faith. The stronger it is, the more positively your faith will influence the way you cherish each other. Faith produces gracious attitudes and good behaviour. Along the pathway to marital fulfilment, the following tips have also been proven by many couples to be helpful:

1. Go beyond words. Smiles and hugs help your spouse know that your “I love you” is genuine. The warmth of a caring embrace generates a sense of acceptance and worth.

2. Don’t be proud. Deny yourself the satisfaction of gloating. Without fail, it creates resentment. If you do start in that direction, apply the brakes at once and make a U-turn.

3. Drop the sarcasm. Cleverness slides all too easily into sarcasm, which can be deadly to a healthy marriage.

Communication is an area that deserves special attention. Counsellors often hear clients complain, “We just can’t communicate!” Actually, that isn’t the case. We can’t not communicate. We may be negative in the messages we send, but send them we will. Given that fact, you can make strides toward discovering and using helpful signals with your spouse. Take inventory of the messages you’re sending and select the ones that bring happy results. While you’re at it, you can discard the unproductive ones.

Ref: parable.co.za

None of this is complicated. But husbands and wives who’ve made a journey of many years together know that marriage is nothing less than a commitment. 

This article was published with permission from Focus on the Family Malaysia. For more information, please contact:

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY MALAYSIA

6-2 Jalan Bersatu 13/4, 46200 Petaling Jaya

+603-7954 7920

focus@family.org.my

www.family.org.my

Facebook [focusonthefamilymalaysia]

Twitter [familiesMY]

Focus on the Family’s 90-second audio program is aired over TRAXX FM at 8.15 am and 6.45 pm Mondays to Fridays

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Focus on the Family Malaysia

On 21^st of May, Pastor Philip Mantofa from Mawar Sharon Church in Indonesia came to share about Jesus Christ to more than 2100 people at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre from 61 churches across denominations. 

Called Jesus Festival Malaysia, this event was held by the World Harvest Church in Bandar Sunway, to bring Jesus back as the central focus for His Church in Malaysia. It all began when Pastor Albert Isaac, Senior Pastor of World Harvest Church received a vision by God in year 2014 to hold Jesus Festival in Malaysia. The next Jesus Festival Malaysia will be held next year on Saturday, 20^th May 2017.

Pastor Philip Mantofa praying for the attendees

“Whether you believe in Jesus Christ or not, He’s alive and He loves you. I don’t own this bread, who is Jesus Christ. But I am only a consumer of the bread. And I’m telling you that this bread is available. If you open your heart, your life will never the same,” said Pastor Philip Mantofa.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)

Ref: faithmagazine

“I hate public speaking but I did it. Seriously, if you asked my mum and dad, they know me best. I dread speaking to five people, what more one hundred thousand people?

“But I got to speak up; I cannot be selfish. I have to tell people how to find the way to Heaven. Jesus is the way to Heaven.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

“If you are looking for religion, then stay in your religion. But a relationship with God the Father is only possible through the sinless lamb, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is my best friend.”

Jesus Festival 2016

Many people believe that Jesus is only a prophet. Some even throw insults and mock Jesus for dying on the cross. Stripped naked and hung on the cross, Jesus is considered too weak to be a God. Even the criminal hung beside Him, mocked Him during His time of crucifixion.

“Come on people, you need to change. But still, people have not changed. They still mock Jesus. ‘Jesus, if You are so strong, why don’t you come down from the cross and save us? (Matthew 27:40)’

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do you say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he (Jesus) asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh or blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 16:13-17)

Philip Mantofa at Jesus Festival 2016

“Do you know why Jesus had to come? That’s because humans cannot save other humans. You try to save someone? It will be the blind leading the blind, both will fall (Matthew 15:14).

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

“What are you saying? Christian God is weak? So, you want a mighty God? If you meet His Holiness and Majesty, you are going to drop dead in a millionth of a second and be thrown alive into the hell of fire. If a mighty God is all you want, then prepare for hell.

the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:5) | Ref: jrforasteros

“But God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). How can God have a son? In our carnal minds, we perceive that sons can only come from sex and procreation.

“When God says that He has a Son, He is talking about a realm that you and I do not know – the fullness of one God that no philosophy and tradition can contain. If you have not given your life to Christ, even if you claim to be a Christian, your life is like a zombie.”

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness (John 10:10)

Jesus says, “I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture” (John 10:9).

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Would you like to call upon the name of the LORD Jesus Christ today, to have a relationship with God the Father, and eternal life with God in Heaven? 

Jesus Christ, I believe that You have died on the cross for me, so that I will not perish but have eternal life in You. Jesus Christ, I believe that on the third day after You died on the cross, you rose again and is now seated at the right hand side of the Father in Heaven. I ask You to come into my life now and be the Lord over my life. I ask that the Holy Spirit will give me understanding in all things from this day forward. I pray all this in Jesus name. Amen.

The speakers and volunteers for the Jesus Festival 2016

ABOUT JESUS FESTIVAL | Jesus Festival is a celebration of who Jesus is, what He has done and who we are in Him. As the name of Jesus is lifted up, all are drawn to Him through encounters and experiences coming from His presence. In His presence and through the Word revealed, lives are changed, transformed and restored, and we become reflectors of His glory. It’s all about Jesus. 

Jesus Festival began in 2012 in Manila, Philippines. Since then, it is being held once a year in various parts of the world. Three conferences are held yearly in the Philippines in three cities: Manila, Baguio City and Tacloban City. One conference is held yearly in Malaysia and in Hong Kong.

Jesus Festival Malaysia began in 2014 as God spoke to Pastor Albert Isaac, Senior Pastor of World Harvest Church  Malaysia to bring the body of Christ together to celebrate and lift up none other than Jesus alone. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me.”

People responded to the preaching of the Word; healings and salvations took place and God’s glory filled the atmosphere. Jesus Festival is all about Jesus and our desire is for the lives of people to be forever changed by the Gospel and that we become the living demonstration of Jesus in all spheres of society. 

JESUS FESTIVAL SPEAKERS | Jesus Festival speakers are a diverse group of personalities from all over the world with backgrounds touching different aspects of the 5-fold ministry. What they share in common though is a passion to make known the beauty of Jesus Christ and the impact of His presence in people’s lives.

This year we were honoured to have Pastor Paul Chase (New Life, Alabang, Philippines), Pastor Jocel Evangelista (New Life, Alabang, Philippines), Pastor Mylene Evangelista (New Life, Alabang, Philippines), Pastor Lawrence Lim (New Creation Church, Singapore), Pastor Stephanie Isaac (World Harvest Church, Malaysia), Pastor Alvin Dela Pena (New Life, The Fort, Philippines) and Pastor Philip Mantofa (Mawar Sharon Church, Indonesia).

JESUS FESTIVAL MALAYSIA 2017 | Jesus Festival Malaysia 2017 will be held on Saturday, 20th May 2017 | www.jesus-festival.com

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“I believe many of you are here because you want to see revival! We are not satisfied of the church just growing and maintaining, merely defending ourselves.

“You want something from God. What do you want? You want to catch something from the Holy Spirit! The revival season is here, not tomorrow. But now is the time,” said Pastor Steven Choon, on 30^th April at the First Borneo Revival Convention held in Sandakan, Sabah.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law (Galatians 4:4)

Pastor Steven Choon (right) in the First Borneo Revival Convention in Sandakan, Sabah

Everything on earth happens in the fullness of time. And Jesus was born in the fullness of time, even at a time when the Roman empire was established and the people of God were persecuted.

“Even in the time of persecution, God says this is the fullness of time.”

When problems surround us, we may think we are not in God’s Will. Pastor Steven shared how he quit being a quantity surveyor to be a full-time pastor.

“Everyone said to me, ‘This is a bad time for you to quit.’

“In my family’s eyes, it’s a bad time to quit. But in God’s eyes, it’s the fullness of time! Since that day, I never look back. It’s the best time, just like when Jesus was born in the fullness of time.”

Pastor Steven Choon

The worshipers of the First Borneo Revival Convention

After Jesus ascended, the apostles returned to Jerusalem. There are three things that prevail.

Firstly, it was a time of persecution – the disciples gathered behind locked doors, for fear of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19). The people of God were persecuted.

Secondly, it was a time when ‘they all joined together’ (Acts 1:14). A group of 120 people ‘were all together in one place’. The people of God were united.

Thirdly, it was a time when they were ‘constantly in prayer’ (Acts 1:14). The people of God were constantly praying.

It was during the time when the people of God were persecuted, united and constantly praying, that there was a fullness of time – for the Spirit of God to come!

And like never before, we see it is now, the people of God in this country are persecuted, united and praying. Hallelujah! It is time that the Holy Spirit comes visit the Church of Malaysia. Revival is here! It is the fullness of time!

The worshipers of God dancing unto the LORD at the night healing rally of the First Borneo Revival Convention in Sandakan, Sabah

The dancers congregating in the field, lifting their flags and banner up to praise and worship Yahweh

“When it’s time for revival, even though a church and her people are not ready, God will make other churches and people ready.

“If God ask you to move into revival and you say ‘No’ – God will make the next person to you ready. So, choose what you want! Avail yourself to God! Prepare yourself!

“Let me say this to you: when the season is up in Malaysia, even though you are not ready, God will do it anyway. This is because it’s God’s timing and it is the season for revival.

“Jesus was born when the Pharisees were not ready. Though they are supposed to be the most religious people and know the Word of God, they were not ready. So, God made the shepherds ready. I pray that you are not the Pharisees, but you are the shepherds in the field.

“It is God who holds the time of revival. We cannot force God; no amount of prayer can force God for revival – because God knows His time!

“I think God will surprise us. Many people will drop their glasses. Some people say revival will happen here or there. But if you study its history, revival happens at a place where we would not expect! God knows! God has a plan! God is in control! Hallelujah!”

The healing night rally of the First Borneo Revival Convention

Attendees who came to the First Borneo Revival Convention

Jesus says watch the sign of time (Matthew 24). God always tells His Bride before He plans to do something. That is why we are called to watch for His sign. Oh Church, arise, it is time!

Pastor Steven shared how God asked him to leave his established church in Tawau, to rally for revival. But he was not convinced.

“I was preaching about the second coming of Jesus. Suddenly, I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Yes, I am coming!’ I was so afraid. I was preaching but God was preaching to me.”

He obeyed to move at time of stability and comfort. And while he thought he would return to Kuala Lumpur, God directed him to Kota Kinabalu instead, to be in the midst of a coming revival.

A man aided to walk while being prayed over for healing in Jesus name

So, without any relatives or friends in Kota Kinabalu, Pastor Steven spent the first six months visiting the pastors and churches there every Sunday. And he started a prayer group with a few pastors.

“After seventeen years, I am still praying. But as I read the newspaper, the more I pray, the more problems I see. One day, someone told me, ‘Pastor, we have not prayed enough, that’s why so many problems.’

“Initially, I thought that was true. Then God spoke to me one day; that when we pray, more ugly things will be revealed.”

Pastor Steven Choon sharing a message at the night rally of the First Borneo Revival Convention, Sandakan, Sabah

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

(Ephesians 5:11-14)

“Many of you are waiting for tomorrow but revival is here now.”

Like never before, we see churches rising together to pray as one body. In 2012, the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), with the prayer networks of East Malaysia came together forming Prayer United (this is an unprecedented alliance for the church history in Malaysia) to pray for our nation. These are the two signs of the fullness of time: unity and prayer.

Worshipers bowing down before the LORD

Flags lifted high to worship Yahwah at the night healing rally in Sandakan, Sabah

The third sign is the unheard of persecution against churches in Malaysia. Most people had turned to politicians to save this nation. But no human institution can save Malaysia. Only God can.

“As we look at these signs, I am convinced that we have spent so much time praying. God does not ignore our prayer. He hears our heart cry. The season of revival is here, Now is the time.

“But do we want revival because we think that God will deliver us from persecution? The answer is no. Jesus says persecution will continue. I am sorry, this Is bad new for you.”

Worshipers singing unto the LORD in their traditional costumes

The apostles of Jesus Christ were jailed and killed in the season of revival. But in a time of persecution, 3000 people were added to their number in just one day (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18; Acts 7:57-60).

“I believe when revival comes, we will experience God’s glory and presence poured into individuals and churches. Thousands upon thousands of souls will come to know Jesus Christ.

“The fear of God will fill this land; especially for Christians, we will fear the LORD. And God’s Word will be loved. God will influence the spheres of the society through us. The day is coming when the world will be influenced by Christians.”

Pastor Shahzad praying for a lady in a wheelchair

After praying for 17 years for revival, Pastor Steven Choon believes that now is the time for revival. So, what are things we can do now to embrace this revival?

Firstly, we need to embrace the move of God. We must not doubt God anymore and we are in the position to cause a revival. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’ will the revival come (Zechariah 4:6).

Secondly, we need to flow with God. Many of us do not know what to do and how to do. But God knows. The more you cannot, the more God can. God confounds the wise with the fools.

“Let me tell you, when revival comes, God will use the simplest people like me and you – we who do not have much education, we who do not have titles after our names – God says, ‘I want to use you!’”

Thirdly, we need to change the way we speak about God’s plan. We need to say to each other, “Now is the time! The season is here! Malaysia boleh! God loves the people of Malaysia! The church will rise up and take down darkness!”

Everyone praying over our beloved country, Malaysia

“If we don’t do it for this nation, who will? If you don’t take down darkness, who will? Say, ‘I will, God.’”

Lastly, we need to look beyond our circumstances during revival. Persecution may escalate. But we will triumph over persecution. Yes, the gates of hell shall not prevail.

“God is talking to you now because you carry this Spirit of revival. Now is the time! The season of revival is here! National transformation is here! Permanent transformation is here!”

Bride of Christ, rise to take your place. Waste no time anymore. The season of revival is now!

Are you ready?

Open your eyes and you shall see.

Open you ears and you shall hear.

Open your mouth and nations will be given unto you.

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Note: Special thanks to Pastor Sebastian Cheng for the pictures published above.

In an increasingly disconnected world, there is great need for families to come together again in tighter and more interpersonal bond. For Christians, especially, this familial bond is reflected in the very nature of God Himself as a triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Spirit. Throughout Scripture and through our relationship with God, we know Him as the Abba. 

Partners of Family First at the ‘Be a Better Dad Today!’ book launch

Professor Gregory Slayton (center) at the Family First Malaysia Movement Launch.

Recognizing the importance of this area in the Christian life, Family First recently launched its Malaysian initiative at an event held at UCSI’s Le Quadri Hotel. Taking on a mission for building a legacy and a strong family as well as making homes an oasis through strengthening marriages and enhancing parenting skills, the Malaysian chapter of Family First is headed by bro Tan Tek Seng who is also the Deputy Chairman of Family First Asia.

Family First Malaysia was in effect already conceived two years ago, and in April this year, it was officially established after finding the right partners. The event was also graced by representatives from the universal community of Family First, from Indonesia as well as China along with well-wishes from Family First Partners from the USA, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia & the Philippines.

Bro Tan Tek Seng, chairman of Family First Malaysia sharing his message.

Bro Tek Seng with Professor Slayton

In his address bro Tek Seng shared that a family is like a tree whose branches may grow in different directions yet it is rooted to a core root or foundation. One such root is the families that God has given to us. Family First Malaysia was thus founded on a shared vision as a community-focused organisation and is committed to serving the larger community, regardless of ethnicity or religious background or social status. The organisation is built on a goal of supporting parenting led by the fathers and supported by the mums as locomotives to reach the community to build the society towards a strong nation.

A platform that Family First Malaysia is embarking on this year towards that goal is through a fatherhood course guided by Professor Gregory W Slayton’s book, Be a Better Dad Today! 

Professor Slayton has a record of distinguished service in the academic, business and governmental fields. He was the US Ambassador to Bermuda under Presidents Bush and Obama, and he was honoured for his diplomatic work there with a Distinguished Foreign Service Award by the Congressional Black Caucus, the first Republican to receive such an honour.

The launch of the book was graced by Pr Daniel Ho, also an advisor of Family First Malaysia.

Launching of the book.

Professor Slayton has also been on the cover of TIME Magazine and on the board of Google and salesforce.com. He is the successful CEO of four Silicone Valley companies and has served as an executive in McKinsey & Company and Paramount Studios. He graduated with Honours from Dartmouth College and the Harvard Business School and he also earned a Masters in Asian Studies as a Fulbright Scholar. Today Professor Slayton is a distinguished visiting lecturer at Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, as well as Beida University in Beijing.

When it all comes down to the core though, the subject matter that is closest to Dr Slayton’s heart is on strong and wholesome fatherhood. Chairman of the Fellowship of Fathers Foundation, he lives to strengthen fathers, family and faith throughout the world.

Datuk Chua Jui Meng is another advisor to Family First Malaysia.

Worship during the Family First Malaysia Movement.

The Honorable Gregory Slayton did not come from a privileged familial background. When he was a young teenager, his father abandoned the family and threatened them never to come and look for him. He knows what it is to grow up with an absent father and what it can do to a child’s life. He shared that the scar is still with him and that in those difficult years it was a neighbour Christian Chinese family that gave him the experience of growing up in a loving family.

‘At first I thought it was because they were Chinese but I grew to learn that there was something more; that they were Christians and knew a God who loved them and was paying forward that love in return,’ he expressed. Growing up in two different family backgrounds, Dr Slayton learned an important fact of life. In the introduction to his book, he wrote that fatherhood is the most important job a man will ever have.

Through the more than 30 years he had spent studying fathers and fatherhood in widely different societies and cultures around the world he has learned of the impact good or bad fatherhood can do to societies. ‘Being a good father isn’t easy, and there is no instruction manual. It’s pretty much a 24/7 labor of love. Not only does the future of civilization depend on how we collectively do our jobs (as fathers) but also our children’s future and our own future depend on it as well.’

Cover of the Be a Better Dad Today! book.

Professor Slayton’s book Be a Better Dad Today! is very much a joint effort with his wife and it is founded on what the Slaytons call the Noble Family Vision. The Noble Family Vision is a map of the future to which dads and mums are trying to lead their loved ones. It will help fathers to learn and envision the type of father and families they want to become. It will also be especially helpful when the storms of life set in.

The book is not just a collection of advice but is supplemented by 10 tools of fatherhood, each of which are rooted in faith, hope and love, and all of which are timeless and have worked both in the Slaytons’ own personal lives as well as in many of the lives he has observed all over the world. Many of these real-life encouraging stories of hope are shared throughout the book with empathy and in a down-to-earth manner. 

An overview is given for the 10 tools and then each of them is covered in detail in their own chapters. The ten tools are Family First/Family Fun, All-In Marriage, True Moral Compass and True Humility, Heartfelt Love, Empowering Servant Leadership, Relationship Tools That Work, Heaven’s Help, Other Good Dads, Optimistic Never-Surrender Attitude, and Dynamic Whole-Person Support.  Each chapter is closed with questions for reflection and a complete guide on actually putting them to work.       

The book has already sold more than 250,000 copies, every cent of royalty of which go towards family foundations that the Slaytons support, and there are many testimonials about the book’s practicality and helpfulness by many influential and successful fathers.

Family First Malaysia is committed towards helping dads make full use of the material within the book. A course, consisting of guided studies of the book’s chapters as well as interactive activities is being held at the CCM building at Jalan Universiti on the 25^th of June and 2^nd of July 2016 from 9am-5pm. It is being conducted by Yoong Fan-Ngian and Sian-Li who have been married for 44 years and involved in family therapy, mentoring and training students, individuals, couples and groups in marriage and parenting courses nationwide, including 4 years as Family Development Managers of Alpha Malaysia.

Yoong Fan-Ngian (right) and Sian-Li sharing about the course.

Sharing about why they have taken the effort and hours to prepare the course materials, Sian-Li expressed good-humouredly that they didn’t want the book to be bought and left on the shelves, as is typical with most Malaysians. ‘Families really do matter and this program will hopefully produce good seed. We want people to gain value from the effort and heart that Dr Slayton has poured into his book,’ she conveyed.

NOTE: All pictures kindly contributed by Family First and Luxeray Visual. The book ‘Be a Better Dad Today!’ can be found at Canaanland. For Enquiries to the course you can contact Family First at familyfirst.my@gmail.com or call 019-2263824.

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Jason Law

On 26^th of May, the All Malaysian-Golden Gate Revival Convocation (AMGGRC) opened gloriously, painting a vivid picture of how the Bride of Christ would prepare herself before YHWH returns to claim His Bride.

Two people blowing the silver trumpets together to call the assembly together at the opening of AMGGRC

Rehearsal of 24 Shofarims who were divided into four corners and blew the shofar for seven times followed by a march and a shout of victory ‘Hallelujah!’

Philip Marc sharing about the revival of God’s fire of love spreading over Malaysia

As the first ever historic regional convocation in Malaysia, this year saw many international delegates from the Golden Gate region, contending together with Malaysia for this region’s destiny to align and to prepare the way for the King of Glory, Jesus Christ. 

Strategically located at the centre of the world, Jerusalem in its ancient structure has 12 gates. Each gate corresponds to and covers a particular region in the world according to Revelation 21:12-14 and Ezekiel 48:30-35. Philip Marc, co-founder and overseer of the AMGGRC, shared about the heavy destiny of Malaysia to be the revival catalyst of the Golden Gate nations. Like a wild fire, God has purposed Malaysia to spark revival and spread this fire to the rest of the Golden Gate nations.

Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). From this verse, we know that the gospel comes from Jerusalem first.

24 Shofarims sounded the shofar while the dancers came onstage behind them

But where is the ‘end of the earth’? If we were to lay the world map across a table, Jerusalem would be smacked at the centre of the world map and this is verified by Ezekiel 5:5. Jerusalem is called the Throne of the LORD or YHWH (Jeremiah 3:17).

Thus says the Lord God: “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her”. (Ezekiel 5:5)

At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of YHWH, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts. (Jeremiah 3:17)

Now, taking Jerusalem as the center, if we were to stick a pencil through a globe at the point of Jerusalem, the tip would appear on the other end at French Polynesia. Hence, the ‘end of the earth’ from Jerusalem would be French Polynesia, in the Pacific Islands. The last island in the Pacific Islands to receive the Gospel was the Solomon Island in the 1890’s. And since that time, the Gospel of the Kingdom has been making its way from the ends of the earth back to Jerusalem!

Located in the northeast of Australia – French Polynesia, Solomon Island and the rest of the Pacific Islands – are located at the Golden Gate region of the world. In other words, the Golden Gate region is considered as ‘the ends of the earth from Jerusalem.

The Golden Gate nations belong to the Eastern Gates region which includes the Lion’s Gate and Bethany Gate Nations. And as Malaysians residing in this exciting region, we can take comfort and pride when the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth (that means us): “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Salvation has come; see, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him’” (Isaiah 62:11).

Pastor Jean Lim proclaiming the Scriptures (Rev 5:8, Rev 14:2, Rev 15:2, Rev 5:13, Rev 4:10, 11 and Rev 5:10)

It is also interesting to observe as well that a revival wave is actively spreading in the Eastern Gate region, namely across China, India, Indonesia and Nepal. A reflection of a vision by Ezekiel, he too saw ‘the glory of the LORD came… by the way of the gate facing towards the east’ (Ezekiel 43:1-4). In fact, the Bible points out that Jesus will come back from the east; “for just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27). And Jesus ‘will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem’ (Zechariah 14:4). Could this region be the final lap of revival before Jesus Christ returns from the East?

Crowns were cast to the ground to mirror the book of Revelation (Chapter 4)

When Jesus returns, He shall take his throne in Jerusalem and establish His Kingdom (Zechariah 14). Through Him, one new humanity will be created from the Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:15). Indeed, ‘there is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28). In fact, as Gentiles, we need to thank the Jewish people, because it is their transgression that causes salvation to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11).

Yet, God has purposed us, the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the Jews by arousing them to jealousy (Romans 11:11 – 15) and having the full number enter the Kingdom (Romans 11:25). God has purposed this so that neither Jews nor Gentiles can boast of their heritage or spiritual prowess, but solely on the mercy of God for their salvation (Romans 11:32).

Dancers from Throneroom Wings Worship International led by Pastor Rowena Pang and Iis Parang

Dancers from Throneroom Wings Worship International led by Pastor Rowena Pang and Iis Parang

Dancers bowing down to the Lord of lords and King of kings, Jesus Christ

Hence, holding the baton of revival, AMGGRC hopes to ‘light’ the Bride of Messiah in Malaysia with the holy fire of purity, passion, and power. May all churches rise together as one Bride of Christ to contend together for Malaysia to be the revival catalyst of the Golden Gate nations.

The destiny of other nations depends on Malaysia rising up to take her place. And so, let us arise and fan the flame of God until ‘the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea’ (Habakkuk 2:14). “As surely as I live,” YHWH says, “Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God” (Romans 14:11).

Dancers from Throneroom Wings Worship International led by Pastor Rowena Pang and Iis Parang

The invited speakers for this convocation were Tom and Kate Hess, founder of Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations (JHOPFAN), president of All Nations Convocation Jerusalem (ANCJ), and convening elder of International Council for Elders (ICE); Afeef Halasah, founder of Arabs for the Arabs and core elder of International Council of Elders (ICE) of ANCJ; Suleman Manzoor, founder of Rapha Missions International and ICE elder of ANCJ; Brigitta Grace, prophetic team member of Bethel Church Indonesia Gatot Subroto, Jakarta, advisor of Jakarta City Shakers Community, co-chair of prayer and strategic intercession track of AsiaEmpowered21, and representative of DR Niko Njotorahardjo in ICE, ANCJ; Henry Pillai, senior pastor of Grace Convention Centre and founder of Grace Ministries Malaysia; Reggie Lee, founder of Pot Bless Ministries and producer of the “Elephant in the Church” and award-winning “Who are the Chinese?” and Philip Marc Lee, co-founder and overseer of Elim Freedom, YHWH’s Asia House of Prayer for All Nations Prayer Mountain (YAHOPFAN) & All Malaysian-Golden Gate Revival Convocation, and ICE Elder of ANCJ.

Pastor Henry giving a welcome message at the opening of AMGGRC

Introduction and prayer for the speakers of AMGGRC

Pastor Renuka Hegde from India closing the opening night with a powerful prayer while Philip Marc blew the shofar

In conjunction with the biblical calendar, YHWH’s Asia House of Prayer for All Nations (YAHOPFAN) is organizing a Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost Celebration with teachings on this celebration by Philip Marc.

Venue | YAHOPFAN Prayer Mountain, GCC Bentong

Date | 11 June – 12 June, 2016 | SAT – SUN  

Register & Questions |

Deborah Anita | +60133907357

VinSie | +60123087731 (Whassap only)

Info |

• RM 55 for accommodation in GCC dormitories, 3 meals and refreshments after night session including drinking water
• Exclude transport but car-pooling can be arranged (GCC Bentong is about one hour drive away from KL)
• Limited spaces in dormitories
• Limited spaces in chalets (normally reserved for pastors or married couples)

Itinerary |

SAT | 11 June 2016

3:00 – 5:30 PM     | Session 1
5:30 – 6:30 PM     | Rest and check in
6:30 – 7:30 PM     | Dinner 
7:45 – 11:30 PM   | Session 2 | Pentecost/Shavuot Welcoming
11:30 – 12:00 AM | Refreshments
12:00 – 3:00 am   | Harp and Bowl Session

SUN | 12 June 2016

9:00 – 10:00 AM  | Breakfast
10:30 – 2:00 PM  | Session 3
2:00 – 3:00 PM    | Lunch  

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The belief that Jesus was rich lends support to the prosperity gospel. But was Jesus truly rich when He walked upon the earth? 

Recently, someone commented that Jesus must be rich since he received gold, among other things, at his birth. Besides that, he reiterated, Jesus’ garments must be expensive, the ancient equivalent of an Armani suit, since the soldiers did cast lots for it. Well, so much for conjectures.

Ref: limpohann.blogspot

If Jesus was rich, he would have been born in a palace, not in a manger. He probably would have entered Jerusalem in a grand carriage drawn by eight horses, not riding on a borrowed donkey. He would not have needed to take a coin from the mouth of a fish to pay his temple tax. He would not have needed several women to help support him and his team as they carried out their itinerant ministry. He would have a place he could call home; but, as it turned out, he was worse off than foxes and birds which had holes and nests. And he would not have to be laid to rest in a borrowed tomb, courtesy of Joseph of Arimathea.

The trouble with ‘prosperity gospel’ teachers and adherents is that they have already decided what they want to believe. So they twist scripture to support their premise, a practice termed as eisegesis. The correct way of interpreting scripture is to let it speak for itself, exegesis, without our pre-conceived ideas clouding the picture.

Eisegesis occurs when a reader imposes his interpretation onto the text whereas exegesis is the process of drawing out the meaning from a text in accordance with the context and intended meaning of its author.

Ref: limpohann.blogspot

Here’s another instance where scripture is being misinterpreted. Some say Jesus became poor so that we might become rich. They base their reasoning on this verse: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The context of 2 Corinthians 8:9 is this: The apostle Paul was encouraging the believers at Corinth to excel in the area of giving. The context here is the subject of giving, why the ‘haves’ should give to the ‘have nots’. What better example of self-sacrifice is there than Jesus—whom Paul quotes—who set aside His divine glory and power when He came down to earth (Philippians 2:5-7).

The “riches” Jesus set aside is His glory and power. It does not refer to material riches. Consequently, we become spiritually rich when we believe in Jesus for we are saved from the penalty of sin, enjoy a relationship with God and gain access to heaven when we die.

Christ went beyond humbling Himself; He became a curse for us so that we might be blessed: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

In summary, Jesus was certainly not rich in worldly wealth. And this verse, 2 Corinthians 8:9, is not to be interpreted to mean that we will invariably become rich in material wealth when we become followers of Jesus.

Ref: bayshorefellowship

To assert that Jesus is rich in worldly wealth and that we would invariably become materially rich by being followers of Jesus is to align ourselves with the teachings of the ‘prosperity gospel‘.

The true gospel focuses on the cross (self-denial) and things above, not the things of the world.

And Jesus said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

POSTSCRIPT

Balance is needed when we approach the touchy subject of prosperity. We must not think that poverty is a virtue. On the other hand, we must not be mesmerised by money. For the love of money is the root of many evils.

In making a stand against the prosperity gospel, we are not implying that money is evil, God doesn’t bless believers, being poor is good, laziness is a virtue or that ministries can flourish on sunshine alone. What is seriously wrong with the prosperity gospel is the use of stratagems such as ‘seed faith’, ‘name it, claim it’, ‘the more you sow, the more you’ll reap’ for personal gain and lavish lifestyles, often with little accountability. Paul strongly rebuked those who preach Jesus as a means of financial gain, referring to them as men “depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:5).

RELATED POSTS

DOES GOD WANT US TO BE RICH?

What does the Bible say about abundance and riches? What does Jesus actually mean when He says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)?

DID JESUS BECOME POOR SO THAT WE MIGHT BECOME RICH?

Some say Jesus became poor so that we might become rich. Is this true? Those who say so base their reasoning on this verse: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

TRUE GOSPEL VS FALSE GOSPEL

How do we know the difference? The true gospel focuses on the cross (self-denial) but the false gospel emphasises what can God do for me: Prosperity, happiness and comfort.

RELIGION AS A MEANS OF GAIN

There are some ministers today who have all the trimmings and form of religion but inwardly harbour an ambition for the world’s goods. They may have started out well but, along the way, got bedazzled by riches. Their ethos is coloured by material comforts and well-being far above spiritual considerations.


EXTERNAL LINKS

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO STUDY THE BIBLE IN CONTEXT

Popular ministers today quote various isolated verses they have memorized, even though this means that they will usually leave 99% of the Bible’s verses unpreached. The Bible is not a collection of people’s favorite verses with a lot of blank space in between. Using verses out of context one could “prove” almost anything about God or justify almost any kind of behavior–as history testifies.

WAS JESUS RICH?

“Many prosperity preachers today who would like you to believe that Jesus was rich while here on earth and that God wants nothing more than to lavish His children with an abundance of material blessings. After all, a rich Jesus would certainly make it easier for them to persuade their flock that God wants them to be rich, too. However, a materially rich Jesus Christ is utterly incompatible with biblical truth.”

PROSPERITY GOSPEL DEFINED AND REFUTED

Definition: “Believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the ‘sowing of seeds’ through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings.”
For more:

WAS JESUS WEALTHY? IS THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL JUSTIFIED?

HOW TO QUICKLY ACCESS PORRIDGE                         

ABOUT Author: Dr Lim Poh Ann is a medical practitioner. He was the former editor of Asian Beacon magazine (December 2008 – October 2011). He can be reached at his blog, Porridge for the Soul

For a quick overview: http://bit.ly/1ijiXHp     

To access similar articles, type ‘Porridge’ in the search box of http://christianitymalaysia.com/wp/ or type ‘Lim Poh Ann’ in the search box of http://www.asianbeacon.org/

For the source article, go to: http://limpohann.blogspot.my/2016/05/was-jesus-rich-or-poor.html

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“The bride prepares herself before she gets marry. She cleanses herself for the groom,” says Pastor Suleman Manzoor in the First Borneo Revival Convention in Sandakan.

…as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

“We make many preparations in our life. But our main priority is to prepare the way for the King of Glory.”

Life on earth is short (Psalm 144:4). But the life we will live for, is in eternity. So, it’s very important that we prepare for eternity.

Pastor Suleman Manzoor praying for the attendees for the First Borneo Revival Convention, Sandakan, Sabah

Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There is no other way to life. But one way – His name is Jesus Christ.

“It is time for the Bride of Christ to prepare herself.”

The days of preparation began from John the Baptist. Like John, we need to prepare the way for our King. Because without the way, we cannot reach our destiny.

“Prepare your mind and your heart for the King of Glory. How many of you want to see Him? We talk about revival. But until King Jesus comes into your life, there is no revival.”

Pastor Suleman Manzoor praying for the attendees of the First Borneo Revival Convention, Sandakan, Sabah

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

(Revelation 3:20-21)

“The King is ready to intervene in your life. He is ready to manifest Himself because you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

“Without preparation, there will be no revival. The Bride has to prepare herself or the Groom will not come.”

Pastor Suleman Manzoor at the First Borneo Revival Convention, Sandakan, Sabah

Pastor Suleman Manzoor praying for one of the attendees of the First Borneo Healing Convention in Sandakan, Sabah

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

“You know, sometimes, we can be in a spiritual desert. We look nice. We preach well. We sing good. We earn lots. We’ve nice styles. We do lots of things. But still, we can be in a spiritual desert.”

But God works miracles. He can make rivers in the wilderness (Isaiah 43:19) and turn deserts into pools of water (Isaiah 41:18).

“Stop playing ‘religious’ – We want to prepare for God but we don’t prepare ourselves.”

Pastor Suleman Manzoor speaking to the crowd in the night rally of the First Borneo Revival Convention, Sandakan, Sabah

Like Martha, we busily prepare to ‘serve’ God with activities. But Mary chose to sit with King Jesus instead.

“We are so ‘busy’ preparing for so many things. But the King just want to be with us. He wants to seek fellowship.”

“It’s time to get straight! We talk about revival. But are we ready? Have we straighten our lives? Every mountain should be made low, for the LORD to come in.”

Pastor Suleman Manzoor kneeling in honor of Yeshua Hamashiach

Before crossing the river, Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God” (Joshua 3:9). Joshua was speaking to the people of God.

“I am talking now to the people of God. The Word changes everything. Through the Word, God made all things. Jesus is the Word. Listen to the Word. Listen to God.”

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

(John 1:1-4)

Joshua continued saying to the Israelites, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites (Joshua 3:10).”

Pastor Suleman Manzoor praying for an attendee of the First Borneo Revival Convention

Although there were obstacles, God went before them (John 3:11). It is God who removed all the kings of darkness from the land. So, God will too remove every king of darkness before us.

“Even though there is no way, God will make a way for you!”

“He says, ‘Take My Presence in every situation, and I will make a way for you!’”

God conquered the king of Canaanites. The Canaanites represent the Spirit of materialism.

“Before we enter the Promised Land, we need to tear down the King of Materialism.”

Pastor Shahzad Saddique, another speaker of the First Borneo Revival Convention, speaking healing into a man at the night healing rally of the Convention

When a rich ruler came to see Jesus, Jesus asked him to sell everything he had and follow Him. He was religious and trained. Yet, Jesus saw his heart. It was controlled by the spirit of materialism.

“Revival is fire and fire purifies you and me.”

The ruler could be doing all kinds of Bible-reading and fasting. But his heart was not with the Kingdom of God.

“I believe God is preparing the body of Christ when we believe Him. God is raising the Joshua generation who will believe in the Word of God.

“You are the temple of the Holy Spirit! You are the carrier of God’s Glory. Wherever you go, He goes with you. Though you go through the valley of death, you will fear no evil.”

Pastor Suleman Manzoor speaking to the crowd that came to the night rally of the First Borneo Revival Convention

The Church is shrinking nowadays, because she is looking inwardly instead of outwardly. Did Christ come to save the righteous? No. Christ came for the sick and the sinners (Mark 2:17).

Pastor Suleman also shared what the other kings represent: Hittites represent the spirit of fear, Hivites represent the spirit of self-sufficiency, Perrizites represent the spirit of witchcraft, Girgashites represent the spirit of confusion, and Amorites represent the spirit of pride.

Church of Malaysia – Bride of Christ – let us all come together and repent before our God today: every single one of us.

Pastor Suleman Manzoor kneeling before God

Is there any spirits you have kept and lifted higher than God?

If yes, now is the time to capture, tear down, and uproot all these in Jesus name. ‘We (now) take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Let us confess our sin to each other, because ‘if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).

To prepare for Jesus to come, is to first prepare ourselves.

Pastor Suleman Manzoor (most right) with Pastor Augustine Saang (middle) in the First Borneo Revival Convention, Sandakan, Sabah

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Note: Special thanks to Pastor Sebastian Cheng, Sarah-Jane and Pastor Suleman Manzoor for the pictures published above.

Many of us grew up simply accepting the things we were taught in Sunday School. After all, what did we know about critical thinking and logically analyzing the information we were given?

So we learned that God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, and we didn’t question it. We learned that God sent a great big flood to wipe out humanity. We learned that God told Noah to build a very large boat. We learned that Noah took two of every kind of land animal (and seven pairs of clean animals) on board with him. And we didn’t question it.

But then we grew up. And we began to second-guess the Bible. We found ourselves at a loss when other people questioned us about this grand story of creation and a worldwide flood. With our increased exposure to all sorts of skepticism, we begin to consider going along with everyone else who didn’t grow up in Sunday School and think of the Genesis account as totally absurd.

Ref: thechurchninja

Somehow, the idea that God would instruct a man to build a floating zoo just seems too far-fetched to the minds we like to pride as logical. Thanks to years of research in science and theology, Answers in Genesis (www.answersingenesis.org) is an apologetics ministry made up of experts in the relevant scientific and biblical fields, and is able to present us with… well, answers.

On June 1st, Bro. Steve Ham, Senior Director of Outreach for Answers in Genesis, gave a talk at Grace Community Center here in Kuala Lumpur that provided solid scientific evidence for the seemingly unfathomable worldwide flood that Noah and his family survived.

Bro. Steve began by introducing a live sized replica of the ark that is currently being built in Kentucky. The theme park, called Ark Encounter (www.arkencounter.com), will be opening next month, and its purpose is to show people the plausibility of the ark and the flood, and to counter the assumption that the story of Noah is no more than another myth.

Construction of the life-sized replica of the ark
Ref: arkencounter

Just by studying the dimensions of the ark, we are able to see the scientific credibility of Scripture. Unlike other ancient documents that speak of flood accounts, the Bible is the only one that provides the exact specifications for a vessel of maximum stability, strength, and comfort that would be able to house and preserve mankind and land animals in tumultuous waters over a length of time.

One of the most commonly raised questions regarding the ark is how Noah fit all the animals onto the ark. Based on all the different kinds of animals we have today and their variations, scientists have calculated that only about 7000 kinds of animals had to be on board that ark—animals with all the necessary genetic information that would give us the numerous species/breeds we have today—and the average size of these animals were that of a sheep.

The ark was 510 ft. long, and 85 ft. wide. That is the size of about 1½ (American) football fields. So if you do the math, 7000 kinds of animals the size of sheep in a boat that is the size of one and a half football fields and four storeys high would give them plenty of room to pen the animals in and store food.

But what about dinosaurs? And elephants and giraffes? The answer is quite simple, really. All of these animals may grow up to be really huge, but they had to be little at some point. Even a giant T-Rex had to hatch out of an egg. Therefore it is unlikely that Noah took old, fully grown animals that were close to death with him. Instead, he took young, smaller animals that would be able to repopulate the earth!

Not exactly how it was on the ark
Ref: wp.production.patheos

So why is the story of Noah and the flood so vital to our Christian faith? Based on the Biblical genealogical record, Noah’s flood took place about 4,400 years ago and this goes head on against the general assumption that the earth is billions of years old. If the rock layers (which are filled with fossils depicting death and disease) are millions of years old, then there is death before sin in the Garden of Eden. This is not theologically acceptable. More about this later.

Understanding the flood and six days of creation validates the historical reliability of the Bible, and therefore, the Gospel as well. However, if we are not able to even believe the first few chapters of the book we claim to be God’s infallible Word, we may find ourselves going down a slippery slope where we pick and choose what constitutes truth in the Bible.

Some things the Bible says about the flood:

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-27)

“…if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others…” (2 Peter 2:5)

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

Jesus, Peter, and the author of Hebrews all made direct references to the flood as an actual historical event that took place.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.

18 The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. 20 The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits. (Genesis 7:11-12, 18-20)

So here’s the deal. Scientists have found “billions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the earth.” That is the physical evidence the earth has shown us.

Yet, evolutionists explain these rock layers and fossil records to be a result of millions of years of layering because of the assumption of uniformitarianism – where there is no allowance for a catastrophic event (like the global flood). “This is the crux of where the Christian worldview meets the evolutionary worldview,” Bro. Steve said.

We need to understand the effects of a worldwide, catastrophic flood and what it means for us as Christians because if we were to try to reconcile the evolutionary theory with the creation account in Genesis, or if we try to read the verses of Genesis as metaphorical rather than literal, we would come up against several roadblocks:

1. Local vs. Global flood

Think of what happens when you cover something with water. When it gets to the top, it overflows. Can you imagine a local flood that covers the mountains to a depth of 15 cubits above the highest mountain and not flooding over? It would look like this:

Ref: cdn-assets.answersingenesis

2. “Millions of years” do not fit into the genealogy.

If we add up the numbers between Jesus and Adam, it is about 4000 years. We know that it has been 2000 years since Jesus walked the earth, so 2000 years + 4000 years = 6000 years, and we have the beginning of creation.

So where will we insert these fossil records if it is not by a global flood? If we’re talking about millions of years, the only place that we can try to fit it in, is into the pages of Genesis 1.

What we would have to do is to redefine a day as a long period of time and not a normal 24-hour day. But the Hebrew usage of the word “day” in Genesis is a normal day. And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day…

On the seventh day, God rested, and the Jews understood God’s law to rest on the Sabbath according to the creation week. We get all the indications from Scripture that these are normal days (Exodus 20:11).

Well, say we choose to ignore that, and go ahead with the notion that the six days of creation spanned over millions of years. If Adam, the first man, was not created until 6000 years ago, the millions of years would have to fit into the ‘first five days’ of creation. But here’s the thing to consider: If “millions of years” are based on the fossil record, we need to think about what the fossil record actually is: Dead stuff.

In those layers, there are fossilized evidence of brain tumors, cancer, and arthritis. In those layers, there are fossilized thorns and thistles. In those layers, there are fossilized carnivorous activity—of animal bones inside other animals. In those layers are evidences of the consequences of sin—of a cursed world, filled with pain, suffering, and death.

Then came ‘day’ six, and God created man… “And saw that it was very good”? What? How is that possible? By putting thorns and thistles, carnivorous activity, pain, suffering, and death before sin entered into the world, we are putting the consequences before the cause. We cannot have two opposing views at the same time.

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22)

“Jesus had to come and die a physical death and rise again to conquer death,” Bro. Steve said. “Death is a result of sin. And if God said that it was very good, and there had been millions of years of death before that, I’ve got a problem with that. God’s character is perfect. When He said ‘very good,’ He was talking about a reflection of His character.”

Ref: cdn-assets.answersingenesis

As we look at the rocks and fossils, we need to understand that this is the complete opposite of the worldview we have been given by secular scientists who tell us that this earth is billions of years old. Noah’s flood happened about 4400 years ago. When we look at most of the fossil records around the world, we’re really looking at things that formed around that time. Not millions of years.

5 things we can see around the world that can help us to understand the global catastrophic flood:

1. Wide scale deposition.  

Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:23-24)

When the entire earth is covered with water that recedes after 150 days, we should see wide scale deposition of sediments that have continental scope. And we do!

Bro. Steve used the Grand Canyon as an example, as the layers can be seen very clearly. “We will be looking at the lower layers of the Grand Canyon, which are still thousands of feet above sea level,” he said. “Many who believe in an old earth ignore the huge geographical extent of most of the marine fossil-bearing sedimentary layers that require flooding of continents by ocean waters on a massive scale.”

Thousands of feet above sea level, in the middle of Arizona, marine fossils can be found in the sediments. And on the same level across the countries of the world, the same types of layers, made up of the same kinds of sediments can be found. The deposition of fossils and the levels of layering are wide scale.

Ref: travelwest

2. Rapid burial of creatures and plants.

Many fossils are broken and jumbled, indicative of catastrophic burial as a fossil graveyard. 500-800 ft. thick, these fossilized creatures are thrown together in immense layers. Bro. Steve proceeded to show fossils of sea creatures buried next to land plants, of a blossom next to a wasp, and of a toothed whale next to a possum.

All over the world, creatures and plant life that do not normally live in the same habitats are found buried together—insects, fresh water mollusks, fish, birds, and several hundred plant species including nuts and blossoms—all beautifully preserved, showing mass destruction that happened very quickly.

Other fossils that show the rapidity of the burial include big fish in the process of eating smaller fish, and an Ichthyosaurus (marine reptile) giving birth to a live young, and the intricate preservation of a jellyfish (soft tissue)!

A fossil of an ichthyosaurus giving birth
Ref: everythingdinosaur

3. Strata and erosion.

We see evidence of flood in the layers and strata, and aspects of erosion. When we look at the sand stones, the layers are often straight, clear cuts. If there were millions of years between the layers, they wouldn’t be straight lines, and they would be much thicker. The thin, straight layers are evidence of rapid sedimentation. There are also signs of rapid erosion—of water cutting through the rocks very quickly.

If you take a wide view of the Grand Canyon, you can see that the horizontal layers are very straight. If there were millions of years in between them, you would expect to see millions of years of erosion all through it. They wouldn’t be straight.

But what we see are straight segments, in layers, with continental depositions all over the world. Evolutionists have tried to explain this as lots of local floods around the world, around the same time. Why not just believe the Bible that there was a global flood?

We don’t see evidence of long-term erosion (wavy lines), which means that there is no evidence for millions of years. Additionally, some rocks are bent. There are only two ways a rock can be bent without breaking: It was still wet (mud), or if it was under intense heat and pressure. However, heat and pressure that is intense enough to bend the rock would change the composition of the rock, which is not the case.

Studies have claimed that each layer of rock took millions of years to form, over the course of 300 million years. The first layer was formed about 520 million years ago. These studies also claim that the folding only happened about 70 million years ago, 450 million years after the first layer was deposited. But the folding of multiple layers without cracking is impossible, as they would have hardened by then.

Ref: creationscience

4. Evidence exposing faulty dating

While inserting a vent underground in a coalmine in Australia, workers came across a once molten volcanic rock layer that was believed to be millions of years old. Entombed in this layer, they found preserved wood—the remains of a tree.

Scientists used two different methods to calculate the age of the rock and the wood. Through radiometric dating, they measured that the rock was 45 million years old. But the wood, measured through radiocarbon dating was 45 thousand years. So we have 45 thousand year old wood buried under 45 million year old rock. How is that possible?

5. Modern catastrophic examples

There are modern catastrophic examples that show the same sort of things that we see from the flood. Mt St Helens erupted in 1980. It was an explosion of magnificent proportions. The original blast was followed by landslides, volcanic ash, mudflows, steam water… it produced complex sedimentary layers up to 600 ft thick.

In just hours, thousands of individual, varied layers were laid down. In the Yellowstone national park, there are petrified forests that are believed to have formed over millions of years. When Mt St Helens erupted however, the trees that were ripped apart from the explosion sunk to the bottom, upright. Layers of sedimentation settled and petrified these trees, showing that that petrified forests are a result of rapid burial.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens
Ref: oregonlive

All of these things point to a global, catastrophic flood, and we have a historical document that tells us about a global, catastrophic flood. We don’t have to be intimidated by science. We can hold fast to the Word of God. We can believe the history in God’s Word.

We have answers in the history of the Word of God for the physical world in which we live. The history actually corresponds to the physical world. And it tells us something. That we’re a mess. Living in a corrupt world because of our sin. A cursed world. And God judges sin. And is going to judge again. Next time not by flood, but by fire.

All the history of the physical world point to the history of the Gospel in the New Testament! God, because of His great love, came to die on the cross in our place, rise from the dead, conquering death and sin, so that If we repent and believe in Him, we can be saved from the coming judgment. The message of the Gospel is true because the history of Scripture is also true – beginning from the very first verse.

Footnote:

If you require more information on the ministry of Answers in Genesis, you can contact their local representative here in Malaysia – Joseph Tan from Answers Academy. He can be reached at joseph@answersacademy.info. Website: www.answersacademy.info

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Esperanza Ng