12 April 2015 by Esperanza Ng CM-

Are emotions a good thing? So often, the phrase “swept away by emotions” is laden with negative implications, and no wonder. We see people make rash decisions, hurt one another, indulge or engage in strange or immoral behavior and do things that are just plain dumb—all in the name of emotions—and so naturally, we resort to thinking that emotions are shallow, frivolous, and un-intellectual.

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“Think with your head and not your heart!” they say. Then again, imagine what this world would be without emotions. Imagine if God had thought only with His head and not His heart. For God so loved? The world that He gave His only begotten Son… (John 3:16)? What? Why would He do that?

The one thing that I have learned about emotion is that it is two-fold. First, there is emotion. The crazy, happy-go-lucky, passion driven, hormone induced, fluctuating, unstable emotion. This is the kind of emotion that causes girls to giggle and blush, boys to punch each other in the face, and moms to yell at their kids on bad hair days. I see this sort of emotion as flowers on a tree. They bloom, they wilt, they are colorful and vibrant, but they also brown and fall to the ground. It is often unexplainable and illogical, and thought has little to do with it. 

Ref: deviantart

Then, there is emotion. The solemn, deep, heart wrenching, gut clenching, life changing, enduring, solid emotion. This is the kind of emotion that causes a parent to welcome home a rebellious child, a man and woman to say “I do” before a crowd of witnesses, sinners to fall on their knees before a Holy God and receive the gift of forgiveness, and a Holy God to send His Son into a fallen world. I see this sort of emotion as the roots of that same tree. It is deeply rooted, strong, unflinching, and hidden. It is often illogical and unexplainable, but thought has much to do with it.

The difference between emotion and emotion is the thought process that emotion has undergone. The fact of the matter is that emotion and intellect can go hand in hand, and when they do, they result in emotion. The budding flowers on at the top of the tree are mere beginnings of emotions that dig down deep and strong, but the trunk which separates the emotion from emotion represents the intellectual part of who we are. Therefore to make the sweeping statement that emotion is all feeling and no thought would be inaccurate, because the reality is that the strongest of emotions are the ones that truly understand things beyond the intellectual process.

Ref: deviantart

As human beings, we have been created as spiritual, intellectual, and emotional entities. These things make up who we are. Therefore in order for us to truly experience God, we cannot separate one from another. To try to be intellectual without being emotional or spiritual, or to be emotional without being spiritual or intellectual, or to be spiritual without being emotional or intellectual, would be disastrous if not impossible.

Ref: forwallpaper

This being said, emotions are not bad—we just have to be careful not to forget to use our heads as well when we think with our hearts. It is emotion that allows us to enjoy the life we have been given; it is emotion that causes us to want to give back to our Creator and to sing His praises at the top of our lungs.

Without emotion, we might as well be dead. It is because of emotion, we are able to say this and know with absolute certainty (absurd or illogical as it may sound): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John. 3.16)!

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13 Apr 2015 by Stewart Chew -

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (Ref: lib.auburn.edu)

What good is it for man to gain the whole world and yet lose or yet forfeit his very self? – LUKE 9:25

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient.  Gauging from the countless air fights that Vernon Rickenbacker had experienced, one can assume quite correctly that he won some of them easily and some of them through a great deal of danger to his own safety.  I would assume again that during those near-miss air fights that could have easily gone the other way, he would have woken up to a lot of thinking about the value of life that only God could have given him. 

Ref: wikimedia

Every time he lands his plane safely from high up in the sky after he had downed an enemy, he would have knelt and kissed the ground and thank God who had preserved him (again)!  Nothing else matters to him – neither his material possessions nor even his group of supportive and loving pilot friends who were waiting to greet him.  He is alive and what else is more important than that?  The great dangers of his experiences prompted him to write the following quotation:- 

“Let the moment come when nothing is left but life, and you will find that you do not hesitate over the fate of material possessions”. 

Do we ever get tired of all our worldly things?  Do we ever lose interest in what we have worked for all our lives?  The answers to these pertinent questions are – it depends.  It depends on whether one believes in an ever-loving God and accepts the salvation of His only son.  When he does, he discovers that all earthly wealth is for the here and now but it is having a relationship with an eternal loving God that is truly what gives us joy in our lives!  When we do not restrict our visions only to as far as the earthly horizon, but way beyond to an eternal heaven, then worldly things become secondary in our lives and they do not affect the things that we do when we serve a faithful God.

Ref: schirachreport

To prove that this is true, we just have to ask the people whose professions involve their contact with people who are near death – like ambulance officers, nurses and doctors.  They all give similar accounts of the mental attitudes of these people who have not got long to live.  They will all agree that the people they cared for do not give two hoots about what they possess or what food they will be eating or what nice clothes they are wearing!  They have come to this stage to realize that having life is the most important thing so they yearn to get better and to live a little longer. To illustrate this point, let me recall a true story with fictitious names. 

Tony has been by his wife’s bedside for two days without as much as a bite to eat.  Angela had been terminally ill with stomach cancer and her condition had worsened so that the nurses had brought her to the intensive care unit.  Tony had lovingly and carefully held her slender hand, as she lay motionless in her bed.   He had to get very close to her whenever she spoke to be able to hear what she said.  She had been repeatedly asking him, in almost a whisper, about their two children living in Singapore.  “They are on the plane and they will be here soon, darling,” Tony said to comfort Angela. 

Ref: greenpublishing

Tony was talking to her of the many nice things Angela was fond of, and of the delicious meals she loves and that he was going to cook them for her when she comes home.  Tony also spoke about that great holiday he had planned for her to Singapore to visit her folks.  There was also the new company car that he had just taken possession that was parked in view of her window.  He was a little disappointed with her lack of enthusiasm when she did not as much as flicker an eye in response to the seemingly exciting things he had planned for her.  He could not understand her lack of interest in these exciting things that was so important to her before.  All that came from his dying wife was a soft but anguished voice asking again and again why their children were taking such a long time to come. Whilst waiting with her, he must have fallen asleep but not for long because he was abruptly woken up by familiar voices outside their door.  The troubled voices then quickly stopped as the daughters recognized their father sitting by their mother’s bedside.  They came in and hugged their father.  They were restraining their sobs when they saw the pale and slight body of mother and their father quickly responded by taking the box of Kleenex to them.  The younger of the two moved close to her mother and held her hand in her palms and continued crying.  The elder daughter stopped and stood a little distance away from the bed.  The strange sight of her emancipated mother with a tube in her nose, and drips on her arms was perhaps too much for her to accept.  Somehow in the stillness of a final family reunion, the mother seem to sense the presence of her daughters and she moved her hands ever so slightly and slowly turned her head and opened her eyes!  To the great delight and surprise of her family around her, they all came in near to the bed together and hugged her and embraced one another.  There was a moment of peace and joy in Angela’s eyes as she finally saw her daughters.  She lovingly looked at one daughter and then onto the next. She attempted to say something but nothing came out from her lips.  And then, ever so slowly, she closed her eyes for the last time.  It was as if she had deliberately hung on to her life just that little bit longer for this very special moment to say her final goodbye to her family.

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13 Apr 2015 by Rev Dr Jai Kumar -

A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown in the kind of friends he chooses.  – Proverbs 27:19 TLB

The people you associate with will shape your behaviour and conduct. Subsequently your conduct and behaviour will shape your character and eventually your character will shape your destiny.

TESTING TIME

You know what? Some people try to develop character on human values and principles.  Some people try to build their character on human philosophy which apparently does not conform to God’s word and God’s standards.

Ref: southvalleychurch

However, at the end of the day when everything has been said and done,  no one can escape the testings and the trials , the storms and the floods that will ultimately beat against your house.. Only then, the foundation on which you have built your character will prove whether you could withstand the pressures of time. And the Bible gives a dramatic analogy in Matthew 7:24-27 about the man who built his house on the sand and the man who built his house on the rock.

The Wise & the Foolish Builder

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HUMAN PHILOSOPHY

Today the reason why the world has lost all direction to life and it’s in such a mess is because of a lack of integrity and character in people. People are not what they appear to be anymore. They have become so intellectualized that they don’t bother about integrity and character anymore. They say we are cleverer than God. They have rejected God as their very foundation; instead they use their own intellectual philosophy to build their principles and values to run their lives.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death (Prov.14:12).

YOUR THINKING WILL BE SHAPED BY THE PEOPLE YOU HANG AROUND WITH

The bottom line is that, you will be shaped and influenced by the company you keep. You and I carry a powerful anointing in us. We are kingdom representatives.  We are kingdom enforcers. We carry authority and power to rule and subdue this earth. And this anointing is so powerful and contagious that it can literally radiate and transform the immediate environment and atmosphere of our presence. A born-again spirit will carry a Godly atmosphere filled with faith. Similarly an unregenerated person will carry an unbelieving spirit that is worldly in nature and negative in its thoughts.

The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray  – Prov.12:26.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? – 2 Cor 6:14NIV

Paul is not merely warning the Corinthians about a potential danger (“do not start”) but instructing them to stop an action already in progress. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

Ref: blogspot

A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two oxen to each other and to the burden they pull. An “unequally yoked” team has one stronger ox and one weaker, or one taller and one shorter. The weaker or shorter ox would walk slower than the taller, stronger one, causing the load to go around in circles. When oxen are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the task set before them. Instead of working together, they are at odds with one another. There will be no harmony in the performance.

Your identity will be affected and corrupted when you mingle with the wrong person with the wrong spirit. The truth is that when you become yoked with another person you open yourself to the spirit that’s at work in the other person.

Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife – Pro. 6:28-29

On the other hand, you got to watch out for people who are so critical of you.  Insecure people suffer from a spirit of rejection who (1) can steal your individuality,(2) rob you of your creativity and (3) can stop you from pursuing your God-given assignment. The fact of the matter is that insecure people will always criticize you. Because they are threatened by things that do not conform to their way of thinking. On the other hand secure people can allow you to be different individuals, respect your opinions and views because they themselves are secured. They don’t need to blow out your light in order to let their own light shine. They don’t have to bury you in order to leverage themselves.

RIGHT PEOPLE CAN GUIDE YOU TO WALK INTO GOD’S DESTINY

He who walks with the wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed – Prov.13:20

Are you aware that a single conversation with the right person at the right time can turn around your life and get you moving in the right direction? I am talking about a “Rhema Word” that can come out from a person who carries a Godly character! That can regenerate your whole direction in life.

You know what? You need people who will bring out the best in you. You need people who can encourage and challenge you to reach higher in life. You need people who can say to you that you can make it, no matter how discouraging your circumstances may appear.

Ref: wikihow

Here is what you need to know. You need anointed people to be around you who can see things from God’s perspective and can speak His Word into your life and impart to you their knowledge and wisdom.

Listen! Your decisions as to who you allow to get close to you today can bring about a major change in your life.

Ref: emilysquotes.com

You see when you surround yourself with the right kind of people you enter into your God-designed agreement for you. Because the people you associate with carry a powerful anointing that is so contagious that can impact and transform your character. They can help you and lead you into this process and journey into God’s destiny. So take a look at your friends today. They are a picture of where you are heading.

 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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9 April 2015 by Mindy Oon CM-

FGA Ipoh was blessed to have Pastor Dr Frikkie Bekker speak at services throughout the Easter weekend. All the way from South Africa, Pastor Bekker has been called to minister in Asia, giving up two churches, a bible school, and everything that he had in South Africa. And while God asking him to give up everything that he had worked for to serve him in Asia was not what he wanted to hear, Pastor Bekker heeded the call of God and landed in Singapore in 2005. He has also served the Lord in Indonesia for many years.

Pastor Bekker’s message on Good Friday was simple and powerful – that we not only need to pray, but also we need to both pray and watch.

Ref: wallpaperscristaos

In Habakkuk 2:1, the prophet Habakkuk said, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” In this verse, watch refers to prayer, and the ramparts or walls were for the protection of the city. When Habakkuk was on it, he could see both what was happening on the inside and the outside. Likewise, it is only when we watch and wait on the Lord that we will receive an answer.

Ref: jeanjourney

Keeping watch was also one of the last things that Jesus taught his disciples. Matthew 26:36-46 tells us about the time just before Jesus was arrested, Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsamane and asked His disciples to watch with Him.

⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” ⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. ⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Many times, when we do not get our answer to our prayers, we are ‘alright’ with it. We try and make sense of our unanswered prayers by saying, “Maybe it’s not God’s will”, “Maybe it will happen soon, the timing is not right” or “Oh, I do not know why He did not answer my prayers, maybe I am being impatient and the answer is coming soon.”

Ref: st-takla

Jesus gave us the secret to getting answers quickly just before He was arrested. As Christians, many of us are experts at praying. However, though many of us pray, we do not watch after we give our petitions to God. At times, we go on and on and on, but when we finish out prayer, we stand up, and we continue on with our lives. We do not hear the voice of God because we have not learnt how to watch. We know very well how to pray but we have not learnt how to watch. This may sound very basic, but when we do not watch, we will not know what God is saying, simply because we do not give Him the chance to speak. Had the disciples watched with Jesus in Gethsemane instead of falling asleep, it is very likely that God would have revealed to them what was going to happen and how they should react to Jesus’ arrest. Like the disciples, most of us would have fell asleep when we should be waiting on God. Our eyes grow heavy and we tell God, “Oh God, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” However, we need to keep on pressing in, both praying and watching, and watching and praying if we want to know the heart of God.

Dr Frikkie Bekker

God wants to reveal many things to us, and He is longing to do so. Sometimes, we rush to meetings when we know a prophet will be there because we want to know what God wants to speak to us. However, a prophet is there to confirm what God has already revealed to us. When we wait on God and learn to watch, we will be able to get to our God-given destinies quicker because we will be in step with what God wants to do with us, through us and for us. It is never too late to start listening to His voice. And as we do, we will step into what God has for us.

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10 Apr 2015 by Jason Law CM -

Easter is truly significant because it speaks about the gift of Life. Not just in being animate but actually going deeper into the soul and spirit. It is a celebration of hope. The Source of Existence has a heart not of bitterness or superiority, but of humility, compassion, and grace. What’s more, He has not just defeated death, but made it possible for His children to do so through His Name.

How real is all this to us though? What sort of living would result from one who believes genuinely and passionately in this hope?  Last Easter Sunday, Susan Hoover shared in the New Covenant Church (tNCC) about the significance.

The Spirit of God Lives In Us

Earlier, in one of the presentations, the church’s children had shared, with great understanding, the reason why Jesus had to return to the Father. Before He ascended, Jesus explained to the disciples one important detail. God was going to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life Himself, to dwell in His children. This is truly significant and it should change the lives of born-again Christians.

The children’s presentation.

A few factors stand out about Easter.  It demonstrated to us that the cross is not the end. What is important about those 3 days was the fact that Jesus rose again. This is the hope of Christians, just as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 15. ‘We are living in this incredible reality; that God is not just someone impersonal up in the sky somewhere, but that He lives so close to us every day. This reality should make a difference!’ Susan conveyed. 

In Romans 8:11, Paul reminds us that the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us. And just as God raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to our mortal bodies by this same Spirit living in us. ‘There is incredible power here,’ Susan shared. ‘Remember what Jesus had gone through the days before Easter. In the normal world, you can’t get any deader after going through all that. Yet Jesus rose again from the dead. Imagine the power and life that must have taken! And the significance and meaning!

Ref: pjcocrell@wordpress

‘The good news is that Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is the same one living in us today; not just one day when we get to heaven, but today! It is this power that will help us to be like Jesus; to live the same kind of life that He led. The same heart, the same power, the same fullness. Everything that He is.’

Understanding the Gift of Life    

Susan encouraged us to think of a central question; we always speak about the Life, but do we understand it? The Life that comes from Jesus is not just about being a breathing, animate being with a body that is able to do things. That is just one level, and the same thing applies to animals and plants as well. Jesus is the source of not just physical life but also a Spiritual one. As Christians, we have the power to bring life to people around us.

Susan Hoover.

Nothing in history demonstrates a heart of compassion so much as the one Jesus had when He was on the cross. He had just endured hours of humiliation and some of the worst tortures ever recorded. Yet still, even while He was hanging on the cross, the first thing that stood out about Jesus was His concern for people. For His mother (John 19:26-27), for the thief (Luke 23:42), even for the people who were crucifying Him (Luke 23:34).

What does it mean to have a life from Jesus? It means that our life is not just about us anymore. We have the power to change atmospheres and situations for the people around us. If we claim to have life from Jesus, we need to share the same heart of concern that He had. How concerned are we in bringing Christ and His Life into the lives of others?       

Bringing Christ and His Life to Others

‘When God tells you to pray for someone, just do it,’ Susan encouraged. Romans 4:17 speaks of a God who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they were. The context surrounding this was the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.

Ref: rsc.byu.edu

When God promised Abraham that he would be a father of many nations, his wife, Sarah was an old woman. In fact, this promise seemed so absurd to her that she burst out in laughter. Today we see a major part of the world’s population coming from the line of Abraham. Sarah’s womb was twice barren; it was as dead as it could be. And yet God make His promise a reality!

‘Christ had abundant life. Nothing ever deterred Him; He overcame every challenge and test He was put to, every storm of life. He understood His purpose on earth. He had authority above all things even while He was here. This is the sort of life Christians are called to. There is great power in knowing our identity and staying true to our relationship with God. Learn to speak life into the circumstances, environment, and people around us’ Susan encouraged.

Ref: catholic-convert.com

The Book of Acts is a detailed example of this. The day of the Pentecost transformed the disciples. From timid people who were in hiding, they became bold ministers for God, even travelling far afield. On one occasion, Peter came across a lame man at the temple in Jerusalem. Peter had passed this man many times previously. This time, however, Peter’s shadow healed the man. What was the difference? Peter spoke his authority as a follower of God in faith and firmness!

Acts 3:6

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

‘How can we prove to people that the Jesus we are talking about is alive and that God is real? It is by making an impact for Jesus. By taking a risk or a step of faith for God. By doing something in His Name,’ Susan communicated.

The Past is Behind Us

Presentation by the Chinese section of tNCC.

Just as the disciples put their past behind them, we also need to start living according to the fullness of life that Christ has given us. We have the privilege and roles to be culture changers; to be the salt and light of the world. And we are not doing this alone. The Source of Life that is in us is there to guide and cover us. We do not have to receive anything negative. We have a choice; to release the Life out to those around us, or to deal out negativity and fear.     

Links
The Children’s Church Presentation

Susan Hoover’s Message

Note: The New Covenant Church is headed by Pastor Peter Sze and is located at Wisma TA, Damansara Utama. To find out more about the church, you can visit their pages at http://www.tncchurch.org/ or http://www.tncchurch.org/who-we-are/. All pictures and videos from tNCC kindly provided by the church.

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11 April 2015 by Adeline Lum CM-

On April 7^th, Paul Chan came to shed light on the much-debated topic of Grace in the Full Gospel Businessmen (FGB) Fellowship of the Ebenezer Chapter under Steven Toh.

He answered many pertinent questions, of which I requested the permission to expand his review under his scrutiny.

Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?

You can lose your salvation if you renounce Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour deliberately, consistently, and finally, publicly.

Although Jesus said that no one would snatch his believers from His Hand (John 10:28; John 6:37), we have the free will to abandon our faith. And if we choose to renounce God, God will honour our decision. (Matthew 10:32-33) This is also what you call as apostasy.

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Apostasy means the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.

Can a backslidden Christian lose his or her salvation?

The question here is how long do we stay backslidden. Unlike apostasy, Paul shared that a backslidden Christian is not repentant of his or her sin but still believes in Christ.

If the backslidden Christian repents at any point of his or her lifetime to God, then his or her salvation is certain.

And I would say, most of us have undergone the backsliding “state” before, where we refuse to repent to God for certain sins at a certain point in our life.

Though not uncommon, this is a risky state to be in for long. This is because a backslidden Christian who deliberately and continuously sin without repentance can hurt his or her conscience, which is important in helping us to discern right from wrong and truth from lie.

Ref: happylawyersblog

All humans are given a conscience. And the most effective way of purifying our conscience is by frequently meditating the Word of God. But if we neglect chewing God’s Word for too long, the line of a lie from the truth becomes increasingly muddled. 

Left unaddressed, we can face the risk of believing a lie as the truth. This deception can cause us to slowly fall away, risking our salvation. (Heb 6:1-8; Heb 10:24-29; 2 Pet 2;20-22; James 5:19-20)

What if the backslidden Christian consistently refused to repent, making him or her “perpetually” backslidden?

This becomes a paradox because 1 John 3:6 said, “no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”

According to this verse, I would wonder if a “perpetually” backslidden Christian actually seen or known God. And what I meant by “perpetually” refers to very long period of our life, which may even stretch to the rest of our life.

This is because seeing or knowing Christ would inevitably lead us into repentance at a point in our life.

Ref: JoeattaDeviantArt

Scripture also seem to suggest a wholesome type of Christian faith, whereby faith and action must come hand-in-hand, together as one. In other words, we cannot say we believe in something and do something else that does not mirror our belief. 

Without action, faith is dead, making us hypocrites. (James 2:17) And without faith, any action would be displeasing to God, making us mere humanists. (Heb 11:6)

Faith must be wrapped in action. And there seems to be no other way.

For example, if a person says he believes that killing sharks is inhumane. Yet, we find him eating shark fin soup in a restaurant every week. His action does not mirror his belief. It is easy for us to point out that either he is lying about his belief or he is ignorant of his belief, not knowing that huge number of sharks are killed to make shark fin soups. This is the same with our Christian faith. 

Finally, what can we say about Eternal Salvation versus Losing Salvation?

Salvation is such a serious matter that I understand how important this question is for many Christians. It is a good topic to study.

However, in my humble two cents, before we come to the answer, I would also like to ponder about the purpose or motivation behind asking this question. I wonder if this is an important question to ask, if my purpose is to walk closer with God. 

Ref: coffeenapsandbooks

This is because asking on this question only almost seems to me like entering a football game, where the players go back and forth discussing how they can bend the game rules without being fouled. It also seems to me like a husband entering marriage asking how much he can badly behave without getting divorced by his wife.

Asking the questions appears strange, if the goal were to win the game and have a blissful marriage. Perhaps, the more effective questions we could ask ourselves are “How can we win the game?” and “How can I have a blissful marriage?”

Am I suggesting that one should not ask this weighty question about salvation? Of course not. Many respected bible scholars have made a well-researched case about this topic. 

But what I meant is that this should not be the only question I ask about my Christian faith, as if my whole faith rests on this question alone. There are so many other more facets about our faith and really about God Himself to explore, wonder, and admire of his majesty and mystery.

Ref: histreasure

Hence, besides pondering on the question of salvation, I would also ask myself a more pragmatic question such as “How can I know God in a more wholesome and accurate manner?” I can read commentaries and articles written by authors, preachers, scholars, and speakers. But nothing beats understanding these materials from the solid foundation of reading God’s Word myself.

And since I have offered my two cents now, here would be my personal verdict: I believe I can never earn my salvation but I can certainly lose my salvation if I choose to abandon my faith in Christ.

Put in another way, this would be my stance (though not comprehensive): “I cannot earn my salvation, but only through believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected on the third day, I am righteous before God. I am fully accepted as His beloved daughter. And because I am His and He is mine – by the power and the working of the Holy Spirit in me and my free will to constantly submit to God and abide in Him – I am walking in and to the Will of God. I am secure in my salvation, knowing that nothing (except myself) can separate me from the love of God for me.”

Ref: pinimg

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11 April 2015 by Esperanza Ng CM- 

She slumped against the wall with her knees drawn up and tears flowing freely down her cheeks. With no one to confide in, she closed her eyes and cried Heavenward:

When everything was falling into place

And I was spiritually high

I constantly sought Your face

With a smile and a satisfied sigh

But then You brought me here

To a place so unfamiliar

And I thought I so was sure

That my faith would never waver

Needless to say

Trials came my way

Though You provided me with all I needed

You did not give me what I wanted

I know better than to be angry

And that bitterness would only harm me

But this deep hollow ache in my belly

Is enough for me to sometimes doubt Your sovereignty

Lost and almost broken

My mind a muddled confusion

I find I have no choice

But to listen for your voice

Father why do You test me?

Why do others seem to have it so easy?

Father won’t You help me

Not to feel so lonely?

I imagined tons of love and affection

From the people who would be my companions

But it seems that my pure intentions

Always end me up in complicated situations

The fellowship that I long for

And the qualities of true friendship I seek

Slam in my face like a blown shut door

Leaving me bemused and so very bleak

I don’t understand what wrong I have done

To be deprived of silly giggles and fun

I don’t mean to disobey You, dear Lord

But coveting my neighbor has been something I do quite a lot

People call me “lucky”

They think I have everything and that I’m happy

Thus in the midst of my misery and self pity

I can’t help but feel awfully guilty

Am I not blessed?

Have my prayers not been answered?

While many out there are messed up and stressed

I sit around and relax in comfort!

It’s not that I’m not grateful, Lord

I thank You from the pit of my wretched heart

However I’m still very much a girl

And this weight I carry does not feel like a very good start

Won’t You speak to me, Father?

Won’t You show me what You want of me?

Draw me out of this darkness please, Savior

And mold me into the masterpiece You have meant for me to be

And in the quiet stillness of the night, she could almost audibly hear Him say:

My child, I love you more than you can comprehend

My daughter, I want you more than you can understand

You have made people your primary importance

And because of that I must act with utmost significance

I created you for My glory

You were made to adore Me

But you look for fulfillment elsewhere

You base your identity on how much people care

Your attention for Me is wispy and temporary

You’re a slave to the idols you unconsciously worship

But I burn for the devotion and intensity

That you have drained into your other relationships

Like Israel, you have succumbed to distraction

To worldly demands and social expectations

Your restless inconsistency displeases Me

For I settle for no less than all your time and energy

Ground yourself in My Spirit and in My Wisdom

Remember your position in My Heavenly Kingdom

Pore over My Word despite your hectic schedule

Because I matter more than anyone else’s approval

Never forget I am a jealous God, My beloved treasure

And I want to be your complete and permanent desire

Make Me priority

And all you ask for will pale in comparison to My grace and generosity

Deuteronomy 4:23-24

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

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12 April 2015 –

It’s one more day to the No Other Name tour by Hillsong Worship! And the whole band will be coming to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (13^th of April) at 8:15 PM in the Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

Have you secured your seats?

Ticket pricing:

VVIP – RM 488

VIP – RM 388

PS1 – RM 288

PS2 – RM 188

PS3 – RM128

All the pricings listed above include RM 4 processing fee and GST.

Get your tickets via TicketCharge outlets. To book, call ticketing hotline at +603-92228811 or visit www.ticketcharge.com.my.

This is brought to you by Unusual Entertainment and Mega Ultimate.

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14 Apr 2015 -

According to a study by relationship expert Dr. John Gray, more than 70% of surveyed married couples enjoy cooking together and were significantly more satisfied in all areas of their lives than couples who don’t cook together.

We chatted with nutritionists and relationship experts to help you discover how cooking together is the perfect recipe for a stronger marriage, leading to improved physical health, stronger communication and memorable experiences.

Control the ingredients and improve your health

Without the regular practice of making meals at home from scratch, families will be less equipped to make informed food choices. So many deaths are caused from diet-related conditions like heart disease or strokes – a tragic event that can leave a spouse feeling stranded in the wake of their loved one’s passing.

Ref : sojho

To prevent these ailments, we recommend pairing an active lifestyle with a balanced diet, namely one that is low in fat.

Food Network nutrition expert Toby Amidor notes that cooking your own food can help you achieve healthier eating habits, adding that restaurant meals often have more fat and calories than you might expect. “You have more control over the ingredients and dishes when you cook at home,” she says.

Tag-team your meals and strengthen your marriage

Making meals together also teaches you to communicate and work toward a common goal, such as deciding which groceries to buy or who will perform which task in the kitchen. Nutrition coach German Lam, founder of Glam Foods, suggests couples compare kitchen ingredients to the individual gifts each partner brings to the marriage.

Ref: bestclaypotcooking.com

“In marriage, when you join together, what do you have in your ‘kitchen’ that you can make together? Those ingredients include work ethic, substance, pride and quality,” Lam says. “When you’re working together, you’re creating your creation.”

Keep in mind that “working together” can also mean dividing up responsibilities in the kitchen. If you are not interested in cooking, Amidor suggests you keep your spouse company in the kitchen and then offer to wash the dishes after.

Look forward to memorable experiences with your spouse

Relationship experts suggest couples use cooking as a way to invest in the marriage by intentionally spending time together.

“Having a special time to look forward to helps sustain good feelings and promotes positive anticipatory emotions,” says licensed marriage therapist Sharon O’Neill, author of A Short Guide to a Happy Marriage. “Such behaviour shows that the couple is making their relationship a priority.”

Ref: themes4all

For example, research indicates that preparing meals as a couple significantly influences how spouses view their relationship. In Dr. Gray’s survey, 82% of couples who made meals together rated their marriage as excellent, while only 25% of couples who didn’t cook together affirmed their relationship as strongly.

“Since food is part of our everyday life, it becomes an extension of our marriage,” says Laura Cipullo, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, on how the mealtime experience can influence marital life. “Taking time to center and breathe one deep inhale/exhale before meals allows us to develop a positive relationship with food. Taking this approach to our communication with our spouses can be just as rewarding.”

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

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 90-second audio program is aired over TRAXX FM at 8.15 a.m. and 6.45pm every Monday to Friday.

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9 April 2015 –

How good it is to give thanks to the Lord, especially with ten thousands of people in one accord! Come and celebrate together with FGA at Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium on the 12^th April 2015 of their 36^th Anniversary!

With the theme, Moving Forward as One, the celebration is of free admission! Rev Philip Mantofa from Surabaya, Indonesia will be the speaker for this celebration.

FGA 36^th Anniversary Moving Forward as One

Date   |   12^th April 2015 (Sunday)

Time   |   9:30 AM

Venue   |   Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil

Speaker   |   Rev Philip Mantofa

Adding to that, the celebration would not be merrier and fun without a carnival. Close to 100 stalls of game and activity will be awaiting you in the carnival, as soon as the celebration ends. All transactions will be done using coupons.

FGA’s 36^th Anniversary Carnival

Date   |   12^th April 2015 (Sunday)

Time   |   12 PM – 4 PM

Venue   |   Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil

So, what are you waiting for? Come and witness this milestone of FGA with your friends and family!

For more info, please contact 03-7981 4755.

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15 April by Esperanza Ng CM – 

I recently had the opportunity of visiting a special place tucked away in a quaint yet very accessible corner of Melaka. Established in 1998, Wings Melaka is now a haven for children and young adults with learning disabilities. When a group of Christian parents from different churches all over Melaka decided that they were no longer going to sit around and wait for someone to help their children, they got together and started their own center which has since then changed numerous lives.

Recognizing that it is a safe, healthy, and loving place, parents and family members of individuals with special needs are confident about sending their loved ones to Wings, as they can rest assured that anyone who goes through their programmes will be treated with utmost care and respect.

A student working on a writing exercise with his instructor

Beginning with the Early Childhood Intervention Programme, which caters to children from birth to 6 years of age, the staff will work with students to improve the development of their fine and gross motor skills, language, reading, writing, and early number skills, as well as self help and social skills. Before enrolment, every child is assessed to determine his/her level of competency, and an Individualized Education Plan is then custom made to best meet his/her needs.

Early Childhood Intervention Programme: One-on-one session

Those who graduate from the Early Childhood Intervention Programme are then eligible to join the School Aged Programme, which is meant for children ages 7 to 12. This programme prepares students for school, and also acts as a supplement or support to those who have already been enrolled into special needs or mainstream schools.

School aged children working together on an activity that encourages and improves peer interaction

The curriculum at Wings is designed in such a way that it is both fun and practical for the children. From classroom settings with multimedia whiteboards and one-on-one sessions to playing with water and all sorts of games that would aid in their development, these children are able to learn while enjoying their activities.

Children having some fun outside with water activities

Thanks to the local community’s support and generosity, the center is fully equipped with a wide variety of toys and games that can be used as teaching and coaching tools. As a matter of fact, they have been blessed with so many resources that their library of materials is now open to the public for loan.

Resource library that is open to the public to borrow toys/teaching materials

Finally, there is The Young Adults Programme: The newest and most exciting programme at this point! Many of the children who went through the Early Childhood Intervention and School Aged Programmes were left with limited options after they left Wings, and so in 2012, the center started a new programme for young adults from age 18 to 25.

Mrs. Yammy Ang, an advisor for Wings Melaka, interacting with a young adult

The programme focuses on life skills, and aims to bring these young adults to a point of independent/assisted living. After hours of careful experimentation and recording of steps, the instructors have come up with several different step-by-step instructional recipes that these young adults can follow, and cook with minimal supervision.

The young adults carefully following their special recipes

Every day, they make their own lunch, clean up the kitchen, and then sit down together to eat.

Praying together before lunch!

The Young Adults Programme has also started a car wash. People of the public can send their cars in for a full vacuum and wash for a standard price. By teaching and equipping them with practical skills like cooking and cleaning, Wings hopes that these young adults will eventually be able to seek employment outside the safety net of the center.

Even as the programmes continue to take off, Wings is looking into expanding and becoming a self-sustaining organization. With the likely possibility that the Young Adults Programme will continue to do well, Wings is looking into partnerships with other organizations that could result in financial benefit, or to open up an actual café or car wash business so that these young adults are able to not only make a living for themselves, but bring in enough to eventually support the center.

My car getting some first-class treatment

The center is also looking to close up the gap that currently exists, as there is no programme for teenagers from 13 to 17 years of age. One main reason for this is the lack of manpower. While the need is great, the laborers are scarce, and so the staff and committee members have been reaching out to the community in search of committed and passionate individuals who have been called to work with individuals with special needs—either to volunteer or to join their team on a full-time basis.

Some arts and crafts by the school aged children

To say that my time at Wings was a blessing would be an understatement. While I have known about this center since it’s incipience, seeing it for myself was a whole other experience. As the staff continues to live out their vision to reach, empower, and transform, anyone who goes through their programmes will continue to receive the kind of attention and education they deserve. It truly was a joy to see them be productive with their time and energy, and to see them carry out their activities with unmasked smiles on their faces!

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The post Wings Melaka – Rising Up Against the Odds appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

15 April 2015 by Adeline Lum CM-

On 9^th of April, Dr David Yonggi Cho, founder and former pastor of the largest Pentecostal church in South Korea – Yoido Full Gospel Church – came to share about visions and dreams at the Full Gospel Tabernacle (FGT) in Subang Jaya.

Do you have a vision and a dream? The Bible says, “In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17) 

As God’s beloved child, you are meant to have a vision and a dream!

The congregation bowing their heads, in worship of the LORD

Joseph had a vision at 17 years old. But all his brothers wanted to kill him along with his vision. (Gen 37) Yet, he never gave up on his vision through slavery and imprisonment, but kept his vision alive until he met the Pharaoh. Joseph’s vision guided him to become the prime minister of Egypt.

Yonggi also recalled how he first had a vision from God in having a 300-member church in a slum area. Although he had no money, he believed in the vision and set up a tent on the street to teach the gospel to anyone who wanted to hear.

“People would say to me that they pity me because I can never build such a great church in this slum area,” said Yonggi. “But in my heart, I saw that vision.”

The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are poor in Spirit (Matt 5:3). Because Yonggi preached about Jesus Christ bringing hope, many people started coming to church.

The worship team singing, while the people of the church came forward for prayer and healing

“When you come to the Bible, you will find hope for victory in every page. And you cannot receive such tremendous unfading hope from other books,” said Yonggi.

Even when his church members were not many, he would speak in a loud voice, as if he was addressing a large crowd. His mother-in-law, a close ministerial associate, would ask him to speak softly.

“I said, ‘Mother, the people I am speaking to are in the canvas of my heart.’ In my vision and dream, I have 10,000 people in my church. So, I speak to that 10,000 people,” said Yonggi.

God added to his number and his church grew beyond his vision to 500 people. But his dream of having the largest church in the world is still guiding him. So, he went to Seodaemun and built a 1500-seat church.

“I preached the message of God to meet the people’s needs. I casted out demons and gave them divine healing. I spoke that God is good and He will never give us bad things,” said Yonggi.

A pastor praying for a lady at the end of the service, amongst the crowd that gathered at the front for prayer and healing

Through the suffering of Jesus Christ, God gave us the gospel of sanctification, righteousness, divine healing, Abrahamic blessing, and resurrection. Through Jesus Christ, we can have a vision and a dream!

By the year 1973, his church grew to having 10,000 members.

“When the Holy Spirit is present, the reality of God comes to church. When people find that God is leading and not religion, their lives are changed,” said Yonggi. “I am not a good preacher in persuading people but I met my Jesus, and I know my preaching is real.”

At 17 years old, Yonggi found himself with tuberculosis with only six months to live. The doctor told him that his lungs look like a beehive. Resting at home, a Christian friend of his sister would slip into his home during the absence of his parents, to share the gospel and the Bible with him. What amazed him was how Jesus spent two-thirds of his time in the ministry of healing and casting out demons. 

Rev Ron Hee, Senior Pastor of New Life Recreation Centre Petaling Jaya, inviting the congregation to come forward for prayer

“When I was reading the Bible, Jesus is the doctor, and the church is the hospital,” said Yonggi.

He prayed, “Jesus, I know that my family religion will not heal me at all. I can’t receive treatment in the hospital. Will you please heal me? I will do whatever you want me to do. 

He woke up one night and heard someone coming into his room. Dressed in a white robe with a long beard and white hair, this person revealed to Yonggi that He was Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to him, “If you trust me and turn over your life to me, I will not only heal you but manifest my glory in you – not only in Korea but throughout the world.”

Yonggi woke up and told his parents. They cried upon hearing because they thought Yonggi would be dying soon for having hallucinations. But after six months, instead of slowly dying, he fully recovered from his punctured lungs and was drafted into the Korean military service.

“I see Jesus as the solution to our life’s problems. Seek the glory of Jesus Christ. He is the same today, yesterday, and forever,” said Yonggi.

Rev Yonggi Cho sharing the LORD’s work in his life, to bless many others

When his church reached 100,000 people, he wondered if his church would continue growing. But God kept adding to the number, thousands upon thousands, that when he retired from his church, he had more than 800,000 members! Till today, his church remains as the largest church in the world. 

Now, God has called Yonggi to be a traveling evangelist throughout the world. To date, he has travelled around the world 120 times and preached in 51 metropolitan countries in the world.

“As I see the vision and dream, God fulfil them completely. Vision is seeing your future in your heart. And God’s blessings start from your heart. He works from the inside of your heart to your circumstances.

“We can believe that Jesus Christ loves you or He would never die on the cross for you. Jesus Christ has the power on Heaven and on earth. Trust that you have His Power and you can exercise your faith,” said Yonggi. 

Rev Eu Hong Seng, Pastor of Full Gospel Tabernacle Subang Jaya, calling the people of the church to continue trusting and praying to God in faith

God wants us to speak about our faith openly because our words when spoken out from our mouth become an energy that will change our circumstances. 

“If the word stays in your heart, you can control it. But when you release the word, it becomes energy. And energy has creative power,” said Yonggi. 

God created the world through His speaking. Jesus Christ heals, forgives, and raises the dead, by speaking. We have been created in the image of God. So, we can speak like Him, unlike his other creations on earth. We can change our life and circumstances by speaking positive words over our life – words inspired by the Spirit and the Bible. 

“Jesus Christ wants to work through you. But for Him to do that, you must have a positive and a possible kind of thinking. Jesus Christ took away all of your infirmities and curses on the cross, so that you have Abrahamic blessings.

“When you come to the Lord, God wants to work with you if you are ‘soft.’ ‘Soft’ is the place where the Holy Spirit comes and works with you. I always say to the Spirit, ‘Come and let’s go together through positive and possible thinking of the future,’” said Yonggi.

You may have a small church or a small pocket, but you have the power of God’s Word and your words! The westerners are good in blessing each other, but not so with the Korean culture. We must change our words together with the Holy Spirit.

Dr Cho Yonggi

And at this point, all of his dreams and visions had been fulfilled in his life. When he asked God what to do with his life, God said to him, “As you dream, you shall live.”

Yonggi asked God to help him live to a ripe age of 100 years old with a healthy body, so he can continue to preach about Jesus Christ.

“God is not a religious God. He loves you and He sent His only begotten Son to die for you. He took all of your sins, sicknesses, poverties, and failures. You and I are going to enjoy the blessings of Jesus Christ through bold faith.

When you pray, “Jesus, help me draw the canvas of my dream and vision in my heart” and you live by bold faith and not by feeling, Jesus who has the power of Heaven and earth will help you and change your life.

“Tell yourself that you are strong. Tell yourself that you are going to be healed. Tell yourself that you are going to prosper. All things will be done according to your faith. And Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is going to manifest Himself in your life,” said Yonggi.

…so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

(Isa 55:11)

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt 17:20)

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

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The post God wants You to Have a Vision and a Dream! – Dr Yonggi Cho of Yoido Full Gospel Church, Korea appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

16 Apr 2015 by Kim Yung CM -

The world often fills our ears with all kinds of things that drown out the voice of God and push Him far behind. Many things are trying to distract us from placing the Lord first in our lives, be it issues arising from home, work or even in the nation. Through all this you experience, the ending is still the same, for the day will come when only God remains as everything in life will eventually come to pass. Know that God has been with you, is with you, and will always be with you until the very end even when all hope seems lost. God is the sanctifier, not we. He would rather us continuously lean on Him than supposing we have it figured out. There is great advantage in simplicity in living by simple philosophies.  Simplicity gives strength. Complexity confuses and weakens.

Ref: blogspot

“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:19-21)

Ref: pinimg

The verses above tells us that God presented himself and his power through the world and the universe that He created. If you know this, that God is the Creator is able and willing, then you should know instinctively that He will be there for you, despite the voices all around you, and despite the voices in your head that is trying to tell you otherwise. Do not hide or ignore this instinctive inner knowledge that the Creator is seeking to be a part of your life, to help you and guide you to the path He has planned out for you.

¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister^[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”^[b]

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Romans 14:10-12)

Ref: aumethodists

Instead of complicating life, let us step back to the basics of life. First of all, there is no life without the air we breathe and without us learning to take a breath. As complicated as the rest of life gets know when to take deep breaths and to not overthink. Millions of people have the mistaken notion that to become a Christian is so difficult that it is not really worth the effort. Too many people have tried to fashion a human standard of acceptance that distorts the true and simple gospel.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-4)

The Scripture above in Genesis 3:1-4 is an example of how the devil plays around and makes life more complicated than it really is. Instead of simply doing what God told Adam and Eve to do, they allowed their minds to overthink the situation and succumb to the temptations of evil.

Ref: tumblr

We are all guilty of complicating life at times and even complicating our Christian faith, including our relationship with God. As we look around at our world we are left with more questions than answers

Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. (Isaiah 55:3)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. (Titus 2:11)

The Lord wants you to be quiet and listen. This may sound hard, but it is good news. When we get out of the way and stop and listen to what God has to say it is exactly what we need to hear. It is life for our souls. It is a reminder that we have been brought into His eternal covenant because He loves us. Today, let’s not over-complicate our Christian life, and at the same time, let’s not oversimplify life by getting too comfortable. Find your balance and listen to the Creator as He comforts your heart and leads you to where you’re meant to be. So worship, never cease in prayer, and study God’s word. God has called us to grow and mature in our faith. Most of all, let’s not make it complicated.

Ref: blogspot

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Reference

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/it-s-just-complicated-and-very-simple

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The post Let’s Not Make It Complicated appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

16 Apr 2015 by Jason Law CM -

People sometimes tend to divide the Old Testament and New Testament parts of the Bible, as if they’re disparate. Yet we know that God is amazingly consistent. How do we reconcile this, especially when the names and structure of the Bible seem to point that they’re separate?

Pastor Clarance Shashi.

The C3 church in Subang is currently going through a series on the Bible, starting with the Book of Genesis. On 12 April 2015, Pastor Clarance Shashi shared a message from Genesis 6-9, the story of Noah, and how it pointed to the role of Jesus in its future, but in our current day. The Old Testament ties in with the New Testament, and the Bible is a single body of work, not something that is split into two as if the Old Testament has no relevance for us today.

The Book of Genesis

The clues of Genesis’ significance are in its structure itself. In the chronicle of the Creation, we learn about God’s original plan for mankind; a plan which still applies to the present day. In the narrative of the Fall, we learn how sin came into the world and why the world is the way it is today. The Tower of Babel explains the existence of the various tribes, and the life of Abraham explains much that is still going on in the Middle East.   

Ref: tomfurman

In the story of the Flood, we learn of the consequences of sin and the reality of the judgment. However, much as we recognize the story of the Flood as a story of judgment, it is also a story of Grace, embodied in Christ Jesus, 2000 years after it.    

God Feels

Like much else in the book of Genesis, the series of events surrounding Noah is inherently one of the problem of sin. In Genesis 6:5, the Bible tells us that the Lord observed mankind, and He saw that everything they thought was consistently or totally evil. And the Lord felt sorry that He had ever made them. How is it possible for an omniscient God to feel regret?

Pastor Clarance explained; ‘People may wonder; if God is omniscient, how could He feel regret? But it tells us that God feels. Jesus had the power to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet He wept over his death (John 11:23-25; 33-38).’ Christ wept as well over the foredooming of Jerusalem (Luke 13:34; Luke 19:41-44). ‘Knowing something doesn’t take away the emotions we feel in the experience of something. At the center of Christianity and the Gospel is a God who feels.’

Ref: vimoecdn

The fact that God felt regret over what He was obliged and necessary to do, gives clear indication that He took no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). In the Gospels our Lord wept as He looked on man’s misery, and both instances demonstrate our Lord’s (loving) human nature, His compassion for people, and the life He offers to those who believe. When Jesus wept, He showed all these things.

Realities at the Heart of Christianity and the Gospel Message

There are realities in Noah’s account that is still relevant to the heart of Christianity and the Gospel Message today. The first is the problem of sin. In 2 Peter 2:5; we are reminded that Noah was saved by God because he walked rightly with God. Noah was a preacher of righteousness but people were unresponsive. There was such continuous evil in Noah’s day (Genesis 6:5) that God had to wipe the world clean and start again except for Noah and his family. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us that the Last Days will parallel the days of Noah.

Ref:uastudent

Sin and its judgment are real but the story does not end there. Just as God did not wipe out everyone during the Flood but had grace on Noah and his family, God has a plan of grace for us today. We are reminded of this hope again and again throughout the Bible. The wicked are punished for their own wickedness while the righteous will be rewarded (Ezekiel 18:20). God desires no one to perish but all to come to His saving knowledge (1 Timothy 2:3-5; John 3:17).  

‘In Noah’s time, it was the Ark that saved them. In our time, it is the cross. Jesus Christ is our in-between today. He is our salvation,’ Pastor Clarance encouraged.

Parallels between Noah, Christ, and Christians

The kind of life that Noah led also has lessons for us. Noah was perfect in his generation  (Genesis 6:9). Perfect in this context does not mean perfectionism. It meant well-balanced, sound, without blame. Noah was counter-cultural. He made a conscious decision to honor God.

Ref: biblestudyoutlines

As Christians, we are also called to be counter-cultural. Our standards are not of this world but of God. We have roles as God’s thermostats. We have the power to change atmospheres and we carry God’s presence with us. Our presence ought to make a difference, amidst everything around us that are considered acceptable but are in fact dishonoring to God.  

Noah and his whole family were saved because of Noah’s righteousness (Genesis 7:1). ‘Note the Bible did not say that Noah’s family was righteous, it said that Noah was righteous,’ Pastor Clarance pointed out. ‘Noah’s favour with God overflowed into his family. Because of his right behavior, the whole family was saved. They were saved because they belonged to him.’    

Ref: jorgeschulz@wordpress

Today, Christians are heirs of Jesus Christ. Because we belong to Christ, we have salvation. Perfection is not the requirement for salvation. Belonging to God is. ‘Just as Noah’s family inherited their salvation, today it is not about you and I earning our salvation. Jesus Christ walked right with God. He was holy, He was just, He stood rightly with God. Today you and I are called heirs of salvation not because of anything we have done, but because we belong to the One who is perfect, the One who is just. Because He is Holy, grace comes into our lives,’ Pastor Clarance conveyed.

Jesus, Our Ark of Salvation

Pastor Clarance communicated that the story of Noah and the Ark is real. Archaeological discoveries on Mount Ararat in Turkey revealed remnants of an ark, which corresponded remarkably to the measurements recorded in the Bible. There was only one way for Noah and his family to enter into the Ark (Genesis 6:16). For us, that one way has been provided through Christ (John 10:9; John 14:6).

Ref: ldscdn

All the needs of the family were met with in the Ark. When we belong to Christ, it is more than just one day going to heaven. God meets our every need, so much so that we can be an influence to people around us for the glory of His Kingdom (2 Peter 1:3; Phillipians 4:19).

Ref: kezi@wordpress

What’s more, we have security through Christ, and it is sealed by God. When Noah’s family entered the Ark, it was the Lord that shut them in safely. ‘Only God can do so, and every attempt that man makes through their own efforts will only leak,’ Pastor Clarance communicated. Having also believed, we are sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given to us as a pledge of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Ref: crystalinks

Pastor Clarance illustrated; ‘There was a violent storm going on outside the Ark. Noah’s family must have fallen many times inside it, but they fell within it. Though a righteous man falls 7 times he rises again, while the wicked stumble calamitously (Proverbs 24:16). This is God’s promise – He has sealed us under His covering. And unless we deny God, He will never forsake us. Though we may fall seven times, we need to dust ourselves and rise up again and come back to God.’

God’s Grace

Noah and his family were protected in the Ark for 370 days. Today, Christ’s salvation is for eternity. The Ark took the beating of the storm outside so that those inside can be saved. Jesus took the beating and was crucified so that all who come back to God can be saved. There is a remarkable parallel between the story of the Flood and the story of Calvary. God remains constant and unchanging.   

Pastor Clarance praying for the new believers in Christ.

God’s plan of salvation for humanity is not going to be through coercion but through invitation. ‘It is an invitation by God to us,’ Pastor Clarance conveyed. ‘God invited Noah into the Ark (Genesis 7:1). The apostles invited people to come to God (Acts 16:31-32). Jesus Himself extends the invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”’ It is a call of compassion from God, made from a heart of grace and love.

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NOTE: All pictures from C3 Subang taken with the kind assistance of the church.

The post Jesus, Our Ark of Salvation – Pastor Clarance Shashi, C3 Subang appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

16 April 2015 by Adeline Lum CM-

“God is not evil; He is good. God is not hatred; He is love. Nonetheless, God is just. And because he is a Holy God, He cannot let every sin go unpunished. Jesus died such a horrible death on the cross for you and me because there is eternal death. 

“He died in our place because there is eternal punishment for us, sinners. He loves us when He came up to the cross for us. And Jesus is the same today, yesterday, and forevermore. (Heb 13:8) He still loves you,” said Rev Philip.

On 11^th of April, Rev Philip Mantofa of Mawar Sharon Church, Indonesia, shared about his trip to hell in the overflowing Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil of 13,337 people, organized by MforJ and FGA.

The overflowing Putra Stadium Bukit Jalil with 13,337 people gathering to hear the Word from God

If you have gone to Hell and come back, what would you do? Fifteen years ago, God brought Rev Philip’s spirit to Hell to see the eternal death that the Bible talks about. 

“God took me there not for my sins, for my sins have been washed away by the Blood of Jesus. I have been a saved soul for 23 years today. I am the child of God. And I have been born again as the child of Jesus. 

“God took me to Hell not for my sake but for your sake, so that I can live to tell you, so that I can warn you. God must have heard the cry of the rich man. When he was in hell, he cried out to the Almighty,” said Rev Philip.

The worshipers of FGA CYC onstage, leading the people to worship the LORD

Rev Philip was referring to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a poor beggar. Both died. The rich man suffered in torment in Hades, while Lazarus was comforted in Heaven with Abraham. Separated by a great chasm, the rich man saw and begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers who are still alive. But he was rejected in the parable. (Luke 16:19-31)

“If I went to Hell to see what happened, it must have been the mercy of God for sinners to repent and return to Him. The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against believers, but they can for those who do not believe and profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour,” said Rev Philip.

The first part of Hell is the Gates. The second part is Hades. And the third part is the Lake of Fire.

The young people who came to listen to Philip Mantofa’s Trip to Hell

In Hades, the devil is still roaming freely in torturing people. Those poor perishing souls belong to him because Satan is the master of sinners, while Jesus is the master of those who are saved.

The devil is defeated but his doom is not here yet. When Jesus met a man possessed by a group of demons called Legion, the demons begged Jesus to not torture them before their time. As a result, they were sent to the pigs, which perished from drowning. (Matt 8:28-34)

“The devil knows that his time has not come, and he still works today. If you don’t do God’s Will, you follow the devil, not God. If you’re worshiping God’s creation, you’re not worshiping the Creator, you’re worshiping demons and committing idolatry,” said Rev Philip.

The people worshiping Jesus Christ

The final part is the Lake of Fire, which has no souls or spirits thrown into the lake of fire yet, because we are waiting for Jesus to come back for the second time and set up his throne to judge the living and the dead.

“If the devil reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future in the Lake of Fire. Because he knows that he cannot get away from the Lake, he wants to get as many people as he can.

“He is blinding the light, so that people cannot see the gospel of Jesus Christ. To some people, he has successfully convince them that Jesus is a white man religion, that Jesus is a fairy tale figure, and that all religions are the same, which lead to Heaven,” said Rev Philip. 

The spectacular light show at the beginning of the Trip to Hell event

But Rev Philip said that only Jesus is the way to the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) If anyone is not found in the Book of Life, he is thrown into the Lake of Fire. Jesus loves you. Has your name been written in the Book of Life?

“Although I cannot see you, but God can see you one by one. He knows you more than you know yourself. He knows the number of your hair. He sees your heart. And He has set Jesus to die for you.

“Will you accept this offering? Jesus has already risen. He is right here, right now. Although you can see the preacher and translator, it is Jesus talking to you. Some people feel that I am directly talking to you tonight. You need to get saved now,” said Rev Philip.

Pastor Philip Mantofa sharing his message

Rev Philip shared how Jesus woke him up on 1^st of January of year 2000. He shared his journey to Hell, through the Gates and into Hades where he saw hundreds of accounts of how each soul was tortured. He shared three different accounts – a beautiful woman who committed adultery, a man who is a habitual masturbator, and a son and a father who hated each other.

When Rev Philip saw the torture for the first time, he cried and begged Jesus to get him out of the place. But no matter how he shouted, the demons could not hear him. He asked God, “Why did you allow these demons to torture them?”

“Jesus said to me, ‘It is not my choice. It is their choice. Who do you serve? You cannot serve two masters, if you serve one, you will hate the other. (Matt 6:24) I was on their door knocking throughout their lives but they never opened the door. (Rev 3:20) For a man, to live Is once, and then judgment.’ (Heb 9:27) There is no incarnation,” said Rev Philip.

The people coming to repentance before the LORD

The second account he shared was a habitual male masturbator. When the demons shouted, “Masturbate! Masturbate! Masturbate! I dare you to masturbate since you like it so much!” earthly worms burst out from his genitals and consumed him alive. The worms and the man could never die. 

“This man was crying to the emptiness. Jesus was crying behind me. I remembered the shortest verse in the Bible, ‘Jesus wept.’ (John 11:35) He takes no pleasure in the death of sinners and punishments.

“Jesus took the punishment of our sins on His body. But He will never force you to be saved. Bear with me… After this vision, for nine months, I have experienced headaches and vomited very frequently. I was very distressed. My message is done soon. You listen carefully,” said Rev Philip.

A man lifting his hands to praise the LORD

The third account involved a father and a son being forced by thousands of demons to cannibalize each other because they hated each other. The Bible said that if you hate your brother, you have committed murder. 

“This father and son were united in eternal damnation. And the sin of hatred was celebrated that way. Hatred heightened! And they begged for forgiveness. I said to Jesus, ‘No!’ 

“But He said, “If it breaks your heart, it shatters Mine. You have not died for them, I have. They chose their sins over me and not repentance while they are still alive.

A sister-in-Christ earnestly seeking God

“Enough! Your blood will be upon your head! I will be no longer responsible for you. You got to make your choice. You cannot stand neutral. You must take a side. Jesus or Satan? The Cross or the sin? The Kingdom of Heaven or the Spiritual Darkness over your life?” said Rev Philip.

When the people gathered in Jerusalem around Peter and the other disciples, Peter said, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:36) 

When the people hear Peter’s message, they “were cut to the heart” and said, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:36-39)

Everyone praying to the LORD, from heart to Heart

“Let me give you my last attempt. I beg you. Whatever religion you are from, no matter what your sins are, where you are in your life, I beg you for your sake! I don’t want anything from you except for your soul.

“I have never knelt before anybody. Even when I have not eaten, I will not kneel for food or money. But for your soul, that is another story. In order for my Jesus to not weep like that, I will do anything.

“I beg you, for your sake, be baptized! Christ will not only forgive you. But He will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit,” said Rev Philip, kneeling before the masses. 

Rev Philip Mantofa kneeling onstage

The atmosphere was saturated and heavy with God’s presence, as the message of God’s Love pierced through and softened hardened hearts. When Rev Philip called for the altar call, like a flowing river from the mountains, the people flowed down into the arena packing the crowd. They stood before a human barrier and at the cue of Rev Philip breaking the chain of the devil as a symbol, the human barrier broke releasing an outpouring of crowd rushing forward and kneeling before Jesus!

In Acts, about 3000 people accepted Peter’s message. (Acts 2:41) And on this day, 1285 people accepted Christ and 351 people want to be water-baptized, amongst over 5500 people who responded to the altar call. Many also received the gift of tongues on that very night. 

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:3-4) 

“For He touched me. Yes! He touched me! And oh that joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know. He touched me and made me whole,” sang Rev Philip of “He Touched Me” by Elvis Presley.

The LORD Jesus Christ touching the hearts of many

The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against believers in Christ!

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The post The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against Believers in Christ! – Rev Philip Mantofa appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

17 April 2015 by Adeline Lum CM-

“This musical opens our eyes to see that most things we place our hope in, like shifting sands. That was what Peter, the main character of the musical, experienced.

“He tried so hard to find life’s fulfilment and significance, only to fall flat, with stinging failure and regret,” said Rev David Seah, the Publicity Coordinator of the recent Easter musical production, “Mercy Came Running” at Calvary Convention Centre, casted by a 165-strong production team of seven to 75 years old, at the on April 3^rd.

The exuberant dancers of the Easter production in Calvary Convention Centre

Based on the perspective of Peter in following Jesus, he took the audience through the victorious ministry of Jesus on earth till his seemingly hope-shattering crucifixion on the cross. Like all the Jews, they have expected their Messiah to gain political power over the Romans and establish their kingdom. 

But Jesus’ plan of the Kingdom far extends beyond our fleeting mortality, the vain pursuit of power and wealth, and the exclusive salvation to one nation. Instead of focusing on the educated and affluent of God’s laws, Jesus has purposefully spent a lot of his time with sinners. And whenever He was challenged by religion, He focused on relationship.

The crowd who came to watch “Mercy Came Running” casted by Calvary Convention Centre

A scene showed how Jesus Christ defended an adulterous woman from being stoned to death. Instead of prosecuting her, Jesus stooped down to the level of the woman and wrote on the ground. And straightening up, He said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) This scene brought the Bible to live. Jesus physically stooping down showed us His tender mercies and firm protection over her from the religious Pharisees. 

A scene where the religious teachers of law gathered together to stone the adulterous woman, but she was redeemed by Jesus

The scene continued with the adulterous woman singing of her unworthiness, yet she is fully accepted and loved by God. As the story unfolded, we saw Jesus’ healing ministry, including the healing of the lame and the opening eyes of the blind, to the amazement of the villagers! Many people surrounded him, praising him of his miraculous wonders. Yet, this is a stark contrast of His lonely crucifixion at the opening of the production. Brilliantly captured by the clever shadow play on a white backdrop, Jesus was deserted by his followers and disciples, even His own Father in Heaven. 

The brilliant shadow play of Jesus’ crucifixion

Sitting on a chair, Peter, the storyteller, told the audience of how his misplaced hope on overcoming the Romans and his self-dependence were both shattered with Jesus’ crucifixion. A scene showed how Peter denied Jesus not only once, but three times before the cock crowed. Yet, in his most broken self, Jesus appeared to Peter again, redeeming the hope for an everlasting kind of Kingdom. 

The scene where Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed

The scene ended with the disciples and villagers, first in disbelief that Jesus Christ has resurrected, to rejoicing for seeing Jesus face-to-face! Coming together in an angelic chorus, the whole cast production came onstage, almost representing the 500 people and the disciples who saw Jesus face-to-face. Come to think about it, they were the very first people who boldly shared the gospel of Christ around the world, scattering seeds that now grew to 2.18 billion Christians, which is one-third of the of the world’s population.

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Matt 4:30-32)

The ending scene where Jesus was resurrected, to the amazement of His disciples and the villagers. Jesus Christ is alive!

Such is the power of a community of believers who love God and share the gospel of Jesus Christ! Had they not boldly preach the gospel to all men; we would not have heard the Truth with our ears today. God’s mandate for us remains the same today, which is to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations. This is because God never gave up men and He desires for all men to be saved! (1 Tim 2:4)

Lastly, the musical production was beautifully crafted based on the eyewitnesses of Apostle Peter and the villagers, about Jesus Christ. Some say Christ is a prophet, some say He is a great teacher, and still some say that He is not of a sound mind. Jesus asked Peter this question, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15-16)

Peter reminiscing the past of his walk with Jesus Christ

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The post A Story of Jesus by Apostle Peter in the Easter Production “Mercy Came Running” of Calvary Convention Centre appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

April 18 by Esperanza Ng CM –

The FGA Easter and 36th Anniversary celebration started off with great enthusiasm and excitement for God, and ended on an even higher note! Themed “Moving Forward As One,” over 10 thousand FGA members from all over the Klang Valley came together as one church at the Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium on Sunday April 12, to commemorate 36 years of God’s faithfulness and abundant blessings.

The entire FGA body gathered together in the Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium

Over the past 36 years, FGA has grown and expanded into multiple services on Saturdays and Sundays in English, Chinese, and other languages, and has planted satellite churches in Cheras, Serdang, Kepong, Selayang, USJ, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Setapak, Rawang, and Kajang, as well as outreach churches in Sungai Besar, Hutan Melintang, and Sungai Ruan.

Their ministry has touched thousands of lives around Malaysia and is now reaching beyond the borders of our country. There at the stadium to celebrate their 36th Anniversary with them were two representatives from FGA’s most recent addition: An outreach church in Chengdu, China!

The elders and leaders of FGA

“Moving forward as one—Repeat after me!” Elder Ng Soon Gan said in his keynote address. “The theme encapsulates the dreams of our FGA Oversight so that we can move together in unity in the days ahead to make disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ!”

Thousands of FGA members responding to their church’s theme and vision

He then called all the Elders to join him on the stage as they prayed together for the future of their church. “We declare in the name of Jesus that in the years ahead, we shall move forward as one—united in heart, united in spirit, and united in might to be your instrument for the Kingdom of God for a time like this in Malaysia.” Elder Ho Kien Keong prayed. “We shall stand as the body of Christ in FGA to be a light that will not be hidden, salt that will not lose it’s taste, and a people that will be empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Elder Ho Kien Keong praying for FGA

William Thomas then prayed in Tamil, Kenny Low in Malay, and Elder Wong Ah Chiew in Chinese. A special moment followed the keynote address and prayers, in which the co-founder of FGA, Elder Ang Chui Lai, was honored and celebrated in conjunction with his 87th birthday.

Celebrating Elder Ang Chui Lai’s birthday

The official celebration of FGA’s 36th Anniversary then commenced, kicking off with some incredible performances, balloons, confetti, banners, and a video of their theme song, “Moving As One”. Complete with rap solos in Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and English, the song and video captured the vision of their church to move forward as one body in the days and years ahead.

Rejoicing together as one family

Ps. Phillip Mantofa of Mawar Sharon Church then gave a sermon about unity as a church and how important it is that the younger generation is groomed into leadership even now. Hundreds of young people responded to his call to serve the Lord with their lives, and the service ended with an encore from the worship team.

Ps. Phillip Mantofa giving his sermon

After the celebration, everyone was invited to stay back for a carnival that was a combined effort of the collective FGA body. Over 100 stalls circled the stadium. All sorts of delicious foods and drinks were sold, people were able to pamper themselves to blind massages and other services, play games, participate in numerous fun activities, and even do a little bit of shopping!

Dim Sum at the carnival!

Indeed, when God’s children are obedient to Him and give Him all the praise and glory, He will dwell in their house and bless them richly with His grace and mercy. The last 36 years has been quite a journey for FGA and as they press forward with a renewed determination to bring the gospel to those in their communities, we pray along with them that the Lord will use them in mighty ways!

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The post Moving Forward As One – FGA Easter & 36th Anniversary Celebration appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

19 Apr by Jason Law CM -

The unique thing about Christianity is that we are aware that salvation is not due to anything of our own, but because we have an awesome God full of compassion, justice, majesty, mercy, and righteousness. We recognize that God is perfect, and to be good by God’s definition, would require absolute moral perfection. The Law makes us realize this, and Jesus spoke about it in the Sermon on the Mount. According to the New Testament, our moral record could never be good enough to be accepted by God.    

This is why we can only be truly righteous through the declaration of God, and not by man’s standards. Only God can declare us righteous. If we think we are righteous before God because of anything we do, we’re only fooling ourselves.

Ref: god.com

God rescued us from this dilemma and the pains of Hell through His Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ crucifixion, three things took place in the spiritual realm. There was redemption, propitiation, and imputation.

Redemption means deliverance at a cost or release by payment of a price. God redeemed us at the immeasurably great cost of His own Son. God’s wrath against sin was satisfied in Christ’s substitute sacrifice. Our sins were placed on Christ as He suffered for us and God exchanged Christ’s perfect life of obedience for our disobedience. God did everything and people did not even understand it.

Ref: twcdaily@wordpress

God loves and values us so much, and because He values us so much, He calls us His own. As Christians we belong to Him, and we have a new life and identity once we belong to God. But while this is good news, we sometimes struggle in accepting it; the news just seems too good to be true. Knowing the good news and actually claiming and living according to it are two different things. And let me confess upfront, I sometimes struggle too.

We live in a world that looks at numbers instead of substance; where superstars are celebrated while many of those ministering in slums, prisons, and workhouses are doing so faceless and unappreciated. Where people constantly try to squeeze you into their mould rather than God’s; where you are judged by the amount of salary you earn and the stylishness of the clothes you wear and the house you live in.

Ref: imgur

If we’re not standing on solid rock, we will be swept away by the tidal waves of popular opinion and ideology. Being a disciple of Christ is tough and if we try to do it on our own strength, we will not survive. We see this so clearly in the life of Saul.

It is so important to know of the hope we have in God and His Son Jesus Christ. We comprehend this and yet we keep turning our backs on God. And still we charge Him of forsaking us. If we’re honest with ourselves, there are times when we ask this question; ‘why is it so difficult and lonely sometimes?’ The Bible, however, records that many of those declared righteous by God had such moments too.

Elijah in the desert (William Allston – Ref: wikimedia)

David was brutally honest with himself, and he felt this struggle so deeply that he wrote countless Psalms on it. Strong men like Elijah despaired in the desert. Job did not accept his afflictions passively; he finally pleaded for answers from God. Even Jesus went through a period of distress and sweated drops like blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.  One central factor joined them all together; their primary fear was of God leaving them.

The good news in the Gospel is that God does not expect us to be perfect. He knows our weaknesses deeply. What He wants above everything is that we abide in Him. That was the whole purpose of the sacrifice on Calvary. That was also the reason why He sent the Holy Spirit to abide in us. God is jealous not just for the sake of Himself but also for our sakes. His plans for us is not just so that He can be our Master, but rather, factually the best way He designed us to live.    

Ref: aboutcatholics.com

The Holy Spirit lives in us every day, sent by God to sustain and regenerate us. The Holy Spirit gives new life within and helps us to strengthen our spirit against our flesh. Through Him, we can have the power and a new nature that can free us from the dominating power that the flesh has over us. Our flesh becomes crucified and the Holy Spirit provides a new existence and guidance through life challenges and decisions.

We need to recognize that dependency is not always a bad word. We depend on our parents when we were younger just to survive. We depend on the trustworthiness of our friends, and of our bosses in our jobs. We depend on society to function according to the roles assigned to each of its members. We depend on the leadership and responsibility of leaders of nations for the well-being of a country. If we’re drowning, we depend on the lifeguard to save us.

Ref: pinimg

Dependency is sometimes necessary in certain situations. Moreover it involves an important element of trust, and above all, we need to learn how to be dependent on God and trust Him wholeheartedly. We must acknowledge that we are helpless to overcome the temptations of the world apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, we must also grasp rightly the importance of our new identities. Our comprehension of our identities would shape the way we view and handle the world. It would determine our effectiveness as God’s salt and light in this world. For ourselves, it would bring the richness of a life as a follower of Christ.

Ref: insightfuloldman.com

God has provided for this in so many ways. He provided His Word so that we could think and meditate upon it and strengthen our faith. Unlike earthly rulers, He grants complete access to His children and followers to approach Him personally. He provided a way for us to gather together with fellow believers so that we can build each other up, encourage one another, be counseled and discipled, and receive the communication of the Word. And in turn, He has provided ways for us to live out our faith by serving in His Kingdom.

Ref: treasuring-christ.org

Lest I make myself sound perfect and having all the answers, let me confess again that I am not and I do not. Being a disciple of Christ is a life-long thing, and I often take a longer time to grow than many of the people around me. For me, however, sanctification by God is a continual and progressive process, and the most important question we need to constantly ask ourselves is ‘Would I make it to the end?’. Paul’s missive to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7 is so powerful. It is my greatest hope for myself and for Christians of this nation.         

NOTE: This reflection was guided extensively by Kenneth Erisman’s book ‘Grounded in the Faith’.

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The post Declared Righteous by God: Understanding Christian Justification appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.

19 April 2015 by Esperanza Ng CM –  

“Many of us misunderstand what unity is all about,” Ps. Phillip Mantofa said to over 10 Thousand FGA members who were gathered at the Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium last Sunday. “We often think that unity is an event, but it is deeper than that. The true bond of unity is God’s vision to reach the lost.”

In celebration of their 36th Anniversary, FGA themed their event, “Moving Forward As One.” Seeing how God has so richly blessed their church over the past three and a half decades, this theme sums up FGA’s hopes and dreams to continue making disciples for Jesus, together as one body in Christ.

In light of that, Ps. Phillip emphasized two things: evangelism together as a collective whole, and training up the younger generation so that God’s work does not die off with the older generation. “There is no better Scripture to refer to concerning this topic, than Psalm 133,” he said.

How good and pleasant it is

   when God’s people live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,

   running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron’s beard,

   down on the collar of his robe.

It is as if the dew of Hermon

   were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows his blessing,

   even life forevermore.

(Psalm 133)

 

The first thing we need to understand when we talk about unity in a church is that everyone must have the same goal and vision, and the one common denominator that holds all the individuals together is the gospel. “Evangelism does not belong to the evangelists,” Ps. Phillip said. “It belongs to the body of Christ; it belongs to Christians.”

It is difficult to unite the body of Christ when we do not know what we are trying to unite it for! If every department within the church is doing it’s own thing, the majority of the congregation will be left doing nothing. If everybody wants to be a somebody, at the end of the day, everybody will be a nobody.

Ps. Phillip then reminded everyone present that even though we see thousands of people coming to church, attending events, and giving their hearts to Christ, the greater population of people are still not in the church; they are out in the world.

This is because “Not all movement is forward.” The Israelites moved; a lot. However, they moved round and round in circles for 40 years in the desert, never actually getting anywhere.

Ref: s3.amazonaws

In the same way, not all ministries accomplish God’s purpose—even when we attach God’s name to it! Therefore, it is imperative that individuals put aside our personal agendas and seek God’s desire. In order for a church to move forward as one, every wheel in this machine called “church” must work in tandem to preach the gospel to the lost. This is necessary because just as every soul that does not believe in the gospel is a lost soul, every church that does not preach the gospel is a lost church.

Psalm 133 says that unity is like precious oil that is poured on the head. How then, can we receive this precious oil? Ps. Phillip referred to the account of Elisha and the widow whose jar of oil never ran dry (2 Kings 4:1-7). What was so special about this widow that she received precious oil from heaven?

“It is because she goes to her neighbors!” Ps. Phillip exclaimed. When she told Elisha that she had only one jar of oil, Elisha told her to “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.” And so she did.

Ref: gracethrufaith

What she did not realize was that when she went to her neighbors and probably had to explain why she needed empty jars, she was unintentionally being a witness to them. Without even knowing it, the widow stepped out of her comfort zone to testify about God’s goodness to her and her family. “God will send His precious oil to people who are willing,” Ps. Phillip said. “Precious oil is given and poured out when we reach out.

We then read in Psalm 133 that the precious oil flows down on Aarons beard. It flows down from Mount Hermon to Mount Zion. Similarly, as precious oil is given to us, it must flow down and be passed down through the generations. All over the world, the church is aging because the leaders are getting older, and the young ones are leaving the church, but we cannot let this continue. The church must not age! “Precious oil is kept in the church when the church regenerates and reaches out to the younger generation.”

Ref: sqspcdn

Another reason the widow is blessed with precious oil is because she was trying to save the younger generation—she needed to pay off her late husband’s debts so that her two young sons would not be sold into slavery—her heart was for her children. “There will be a new and fresh revelation of Jesus when we believe and raise up the young ones!” Ps. Phillip said.

“Do you have new oil, or is all you have old oil? Has your movement become a monument? It’s not too late yet; the lampstand is still with you. Let us shake our faith once more and turn what is left of the previous movement into a new beginning for a new, greater movement!” David was young when he killed Goliath, but he did not stay young. Instead, he trained up younger warriors to defeat the goliaths of their time.

Finally, Ps. Phillip pointed out that in Israel, Mount Hermon, the highest peak, is also the water source of the entire nation. The snow from Mount Hermon melts and flows down to Mount Zion, then to the Jordan River, and finally settles in the lowest point of the earth: the Dead Sea. What starts out as fresh water in the mountains and flows down to the Jordan River becomes salty when it hits the Dead Sea. In the Dead Sea, everything floats.

Ref: looklex

Likewise, when the wheels unite and precious oil flows down into the beard, down from Mount Hermon, the anointing will be translated as a lifting power that will lift any burden. What starts out as a commitment in the church will be salty out there in the world and pain, suffering, and burdens will be lifted as in the Dead Sea.

Ps. Phillip closed by saying that the anointing will never be whole if there is even one member who thinks that evangelism is not his or her task. When the church unites with the same passion without a crack in the unity, wherever her members go, the anointing will go with them, lifting burdens up! Hundreds of youth responded to his message and committed to love and serve Jesus Christ with their lives.

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20 Apr 2015 by Rev Dr Jai Kumar -

“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” : Phil.4:19

Abraham walked the walk of faith with God and he was blessed in all things. God told Abraham if you will obey Me I will bless you beyond and above. And you will be a blessing to all the nations of the world. Abraham obeyed God and he saw the hand of God rested upon him and brought about the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Ref: covenantboomer@wordpress

God made a covenant with His Old Testament people to bless them and met all their needs if they would keep the law. Similarly God also made a covenant with His New Testament people who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and have been washed and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. This time it was through grace by the expression of our faith. It is a covenant marked by BELIEVING and RECEIVING instead of by EARNING and DESERVING.

Today God’s desire is to bless us too in all things. But we must walk in His righteousness.  We can choose the kind of life we want to live.

Deut.30:19:

I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing: therefore choose life.

Prov.3:33

The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but He blesses the habitation of the righteous.

Jabez cried earnestly and fervently prayed in anguish to the God of Israel, saying….

” Oh that thou would bless me indeed” : 1 Chro. 49:10

Jabez understood God’s laws on blessing and cursing. He chose to be blessed and he sought God diligently and was blessed. Just as Jabez called upon God, you too can call upon Him and be blessed.

Ref: waltbrite@wordpress

Jabez became weary of struggling and lacking in all things. He decided to call upon God.

1 Chronicles 4:9 says that Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. What does it mean by that? That means Jabez lived a life that was pleasing to God.

Prov. 5:21

For the ways of a man are before the Lord; And he ponders all his paths.

Jeremiah  29:12,13 declares

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray unto Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.

God’s desire is to show us many things which we have no knowledge or understanding as yet but we need to earnestly seek that desire to understand rather than take Him for granted.

Joseph was a man favoured by God. It’s interesting to note that God blessed the household of Potiphar because of Joseph’s sake. The Bible says the Lord was with Joseph. (Gen.39:5)

Ref: wikimedia

What is God telling us here? It really pays to be connected to a person favoured by God where God’s rich grace and blessing rests upon the person. If such a person is found to be working in your organization you need to be serious about the favour of God flowing through this person into your business.  Many people fail to realize that the blessings carried by somebody can be so contagious that it can literally impact the expansion and increase of your organization.

Unfortunately many Christians today don’t know how to live Godly lives and walk under God’s favour. We struggle through life and never discover that it is God’s desire, plan and purpose to want to bless us.

Psalm 92:12

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon..

2 Cor.9:8 

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

God does not want you to be limited. God is an unlimited God. So don’t limit God by your lack of faith. Increase your faith level. Start mediating on God’s word day and night. Pray in the spirit.

Ref: ytimg

Remember He told Joshua if he is going to succeed in conquering the Promised Land he has to mediate on the Word of God day and night. The Lord told Joshua the Word must be in your heart and in your mouth. What God was saying to Joshua was that Joshua must be able to speak the Word of Faith, the Promise of God in every situation to release the power of God to work out the successful outcome of everything. (Joshua 1:8) (Psalm 1:2&3)

The hand of God speaks of God’s power to do and accomplish anything. It speaks of His matchless strength and ability.

Ref: cinema.gospelprime

It was the hand of God that was upon David that made him a Great King.  From a humble unknown shepherd boy to the greatest King in Israel. Though David was a great king nevertheless he acknowledged the hand of God that has made him great. No wonder God called him a man after God’s heart. 

Sadly many people suffer failures and tragedies because they are not where God wants them to be. Some of us are involved in something not ordered by God. Eph.5 warns us; do not be unwise but know what the will of the Lord is. The hand of God will not rest upon the things you undertake which is not in His will. When we end up messing around with God’s plan and purpose for our lives, God is not going to bless, prosper or support you in those areas that are not in His agenda.

Despite knowing this, unfortunately many are so stubborn and refuse to face reality. Thus they bring much sorrow, unhappiness, and pain upon themselves. Here is what we need to understand when we try to operate with our own clever idea without God in the picture; He will not throw in a rescue plan or a support system when you are out of order in His will.

  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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The post The Word This Week – IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD’S HAND RESTING ON YOU appeared first on Malaysia’s most comprehensive Christian news website and was launched in September 2012, incorporated with the vision of delivering up-to-date news, information, and commentaries relevant to Christians across denominational lines.