The Joy of Sharing the Gospel

I am especially thrilled that since Sunday night (the last night) in the Philippines I was used by the Lord to share the Gospel to a few precious souls.

On Sunday night we were with Pastor Ally and some of his members in a restaurant overseeing Davao City enjoying a good meal and wonderful fellowship after all the ministry.

There was a binocular nearby and people were taking turns to use it. I went there and waited for my turn. The young man who was using the binocular started asking me questions. Where I am from etc. I then gave him a copy of the

"Four Spiritual Laws". When I have finished using the binocular I saw him standing nearby reading the tract. So I went over and began to share with him the contents of the tract. Amazingly when I asked if he wanted to receive Jesus into his heart, he agreed. Jimmy and I then led him in the sinner's prayer. What joy it was for us!

The next day we flew back to KL. When we got into our taxi from the airport we were surprised that we had a Chinese driver. He asked us where we came from and etc. Jimmy began to share his testimony and soon we were sharing the gospel with him. When he reached our house I asked if I can pray for him and he said yes. After praying a prayer of blessing for him I asked if he wanted to receive Jesus in his heart and he agreed. Praise the Lord! What joy it is to bring precious souls to the Lord.

On Friday night Chin Nee and I were invited with my parents-in-law to a dinner of their relatives. I purposefully took 2 tracts with me. The dinner was good and conversations around the table was meaningful. I had the oppurtunity to share why I believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. The man sitting opposite me seems friendly but quiet. I walked over to him and started to ask about him and then shared that I have something which I believed to be very important and hope that he would read it. He was keen to receive it and promised to read it. I gave him the "Four Spiritual Laws".

The host was a precious 90 year old Puan Sri who is a yet believer. When the dinner ended I took the oppurtunity to thank her for inviting us and I told her I have something to give her that I hope will bless her. I gave her "Steps to peace with God". She took it from me and said that she will read it and then kept it in her pocket. Praise the Lord!

TJILMI 25th Anniversary 2010

TJILMI stands for The Jesus is Lord Ministries International.
My last trip to Digos, Mindanao, Philippines was in 2005 and the Lord has been laying it upon my heart to go again and I decided that in 2010 I will go to Digos. I felt in my heart that the Lord has some wonderful things in store.

And sure enough we (the team of Jimmy Yong, Chin Nee and myself) had a big shock and a pleasant surprise all within a 15 mins period when we were going into the boarding lounge at the Singapore airport. At the gate I discovered I lost my passport and then suddenly I realised that I must have left in on a table that I filled in a form for a contest for fun (beware of distractions). I ran all the way back to the table as fast as I could wondering if I will be able to get to Philippines without my passport. I praise the Lord that a kind elderly man found my passport and left it with the transfer counter. What a relief! When I went back to the boarding gate Chin Nee and Jimmy were waiting anxiously. Then, as we gave our boarding passes to the stewards, they said something strange to Chin Nee. "It's your birthday today!" To that Chin Nee replied, "No, it's not my birhtday." It was only when we sat down to fill in the immigration forms do we realised that we have been ungraded to Business Class. I didn't know how to be glad as I was still trying to get over the shock of possibly loosing my passport. Anyway we enjoy our trip on Business class. We were encouraged by the Lord who was saying to us that we are HIS AMBASSORS going to the Philippines for HIS MISSION.

The ministry in the Philippines was very amazing all the way. We were invited to minister in the 25th Anniversary of TJILMI churches. Some 50 churches under this banner, under the leadership of Bishop Ally Flores came together to celebrate God's favour, goodness, faithfulness, victories and blessings for the past 25 years. Churches came as far as Tigar, about 10 hours journey by bus. A group of 30 members led by Ps Laurence came in a hired truck with almost half of them just standing on the truck throughout the whole journey. The level of excitement, energy and expectation was mountaintop! The praise and worship as always was just awesome. I personally feel that it's more powerful than Hillsongs.

The meetings began with a Youth Revival meeting on Wed night. Some 300 young people gathered to seek the Lord. The Lord used me to challenge the Youth to give their lives to God for God loves them and wants to use them. That night most of them responded to the altar call to be pure for Jesus. Some 25 youth also gave their hearts to Jesus as their Lord and saviour.
On Thur we had a whole day of pastors, leaders and intercessors conference followed by a night revival meeting. A couple from Texas USA. Ps Rodney and kathy were also ministering and we felt such a unity of spirit serving together. The Lord used the ministry time to encouraged and build up the leaders there. A very strong word came to them on the Revival meeting that they are overcomers in Christ! On Fri the men and ladies had separate meetings and it was another day of great blessings from the Lord. Chin Nee was especially blessed because the 30 gifts she bought for the Pastor's wifes were EXACTLY enough.
The Anniversary Celebration on Sat was just a big, joyful, triumphant festival. It began at 8.00 am with a motorcade. In the previous years they have a parade with banners and all. Now they have upgraded themselves to go for a motorcade. A long line of motorcycles, followed by a band playing on a truck and then a long line of cars, jeeps and trucks followed. We journeyed through the town for about 45 minutes. Many people along the streets came out to wave at us. When the motorcade ended the celebration began in the church. The hall was packed with many people sitting in the overflow tent that was pitched just in front of the church. There were dances and songs and praise and worship. The Mayor of the city was there together with government officials to congratulate them. The Lord once again spoke a clear word to the church commending the leaders and encouraging the church to follow the example of the Lord Jesus who humbled Himself to serve and to sacrifice Himself for His sheep. A most moving moment was when Ps Rodney and Kathy proceeded to wash the feet of Ps Ally and sister Marlene. Indeed Jesus was lifted high! After the service a big feast was held. A fews cows were slaughtered for the occassion. Following lunch a 2nd service was held in the afternoon with more praise and worship, the preaching of the word and also presentations from the daughter churches.
It was a most joyful and wonderful celebration.

I praise the Lord for the team of Bro Jimmy, Chin nee and myself. The three of us had morning devotion and prayer everyday. We are so encouraged that the Lord used us to be a blessing. This was Jimmy's first trip and he was a great blessing. Each time he shared, it was the Word from the Lord that blessed the people. He prepared 1 message for the trip but the Lord used him to share a few testimonies, a message to the men and a message in the Sunday service. He is now called Pastor Jimmy in the Philippines.

Overall we know the brethren there has been greatly encouraged and impacted. We are even more encouraged and impacted. More than 50 people responded to the altar call for salvation. Many responded to the Word and gave themselves on the altar of the Lord. We know the Lord has poured out His Spirit, His rain and His fire!

God is calling Youth

We (Jimmy Yong, Chin Nee and myself) came back from a most fruitful and impactful trip to the Philippines. The JILMI (Jesus is Lord Ministries International) churches celebrated their Silver 25th year Anniversary in Digos. Some 50 churches in Mindanao gathered together to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness.
The first night of Revival meeting for Youth was on Wed 24th Nov. There were some 300 youth gathered. The praise and worship was electrifying as the Youth passionately and exuberantly worshipped King Jesus.
The Lord laid in on my heart that HE is calling and using Youth for His purposes and mission.

He is calling and using Youth who are firstly WORSHIPPERS like David. David was chosen and anointed as King when he was just a youth. But as a youth he has a heart of worship for God. David loved and treasured the presence of God more that anything else, in fact more than his life itself.

God is also calling Youth who will keep themselves pure for God like Daniel. Daniel in his youth has already purposed in his heart that he will not defile himself with the sinful food of the world (like sexual lusts, rebellion, uncleanness and violence). Daniel 1:8.

God is calling Youth who will keep themselves righteous like Joseph even though he was all alone in a pagan nation having been betrayed by his own brothers. Joseph experienced that no matter how adversed his conditions may be THE LORD IS FOR him. The Lord is for him despite family members who are against him, despite Potiphar's wife who lusted after him and accused him of raping her and despite the kings' cupbearer who forgot him after he helped him. Joseph had God for him. And Jeseph feared God and would not sin against Him.

God is calling Youth who will be submissive and obedient like Esther. Even though she was an orphan she was submissive to Mordecai who raised her up. Esther became the Queen of the most powerful empire during her time in her youth. She is beautiful, brave and most of all God fearing. She knows how to fast and pray to turn a crisis into a triumph. When we think of her we remember her statement of bold sacrificial faith, "if I perish I perish!"

With that I gave an altar call for Youth to respond to God's call.
Specifically I called for Youth who will keep themselves pure in a dark sinful world so that God can use them. Many responded to the altar call giving themselves to the Lord to be set apart by Him as pure vessels for His use and purpose.

After ministering to these ones I felt the Lord calling for those Youth who have yet to give their hearts to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. To that call some 25 youth came forward to give their lives to Jesus! Praise the Lord!

Meditations from Job

Job is known as a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil. Although he went through so much sufferings he came forth from it as gold!

1:1 I am blameless and upright. I fear God and shun evil

1:10 The Lord has made a hedge around me, around my family, and around all that I have on every side. The Lord has blessed the work of my hands and my possessions have increased in the land.

2:3 I hold fast to my integrity, come what may!

2:10 I will not sin with my lips, come what may!

7:17 You magnify me and You set Your heart on me!

7:18 You visit me every morning and test me every moment!

10:12 You have granted me life and favour, and Your care has preserved my spirit.

16:5 I would speak in a way to help you. I would try to take away your grief.

23:10-12 He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps, I have kept His way and not turn aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips, I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

27:4-6 My lips will never say anything evil, my tongue will never tell a lie. I will never say that you men are right (when you are wrong); I will insist on my innocence to my dying day. I will never give up my claim to be right; my conscience is clear.

29:2 God watches over me. His lamp shone upon my head. By His light I walk through darkness. The friendly counsel of God is over my tent.

29:19 My root is spread out to the waters and the dew lies all night on my branch.

29:20 My glory is fresh within me and my bow is renewed in my hand.

29:22 My speech settled on them as dew, as rain, as the spring rain that quench the thirsty hearts.

31:1 I have covenanted with my eyes that I should not look at fleshly and unclean things.

42:2 I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

42:5 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.

42:10 The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

42:12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of job more than his beginnings.

42:17 So Job died, old and full of days.

Meditations from Daniel

Daniel is known as one who has an excellent spirit, who has the Spirit of God in him and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in him.
We too, in Christ can be blessed like Daniel.

1:8 I purposed in my heart that I will not defile myself with the unclean, worldly and fleshly things of the world.

3:17-18 My God whom I serve is able to deliver me from all dangers. But if not, let it be known that I do not bow to any threats nor serve any idols.

3:28 Blessed be my God who sent His angel and delivered me who trusted in Him. I yielded my body to Him alone and will not serve nor worship any other gods.

5:14 I am known to have the Spirit of God in me, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in me.

6:10 I kneel down on my knees and pray and give thanks before my God as is my custom since early days.

6:23 No injury whatever is found on me because I believe in my God

10:12 From the first day that I set my heart to understand and to humble myself before the Lord, my words were heard.

10:19 Greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you, be strong, yes be strong!

11:32 I know my God, therefore I shall be strong and carry out great exploits. I am of those who understand and shall instruct many. I am wise and I turn many to righteousness and I shall shine like the brightness of the firmanent, like the stars forever!

The Lord is my source of faith

The Lord gave this word to me.
I am the source of your faith.
Look up to me and I will give you faith.

My life in Christ is a life of faith.
(1Jn 5:4) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

Only a life of faith in Christ can be a fruitful and victorious life. Often our faith can run low, or waiver or wane. But remember it is not our faith. It is His faith. He is the source of faith. We can't make it up. We can't produce it. We have to receive it from HIM! He will help me to have faith. He will give me faith to cause me to be victorious.

Psa 121:2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

What should I do knowing that my help comes from HIM? I need His help to give me faith to see me through life's challenges, faith to gain victory in spiritual battles, faith to bring fruitfulness in all my endeavours, faith for everything I do whether for my family, for my ministry, for relationships and for work.

Psa 121:1 I lift up my eyes (TO HIM) to the hills. From where does my help come?

Look at what the Lord promised!

v 3 He will not let my foot be moved; he who keeps me will not slumber.
v 4 He will be on my right hand.
v 7 The LORD will keep me from all evil; he will keep my life.
v 8 The LORD will keep my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Let's keep our eyes and heart on HIM the source of our faith and our everything!

Not Just Doing The Right Things

Haggai 2:10-19

How many of us have been told that we must do the right things?
Yes, that is absolutely true!
We can't be doing the wrong things and expect to be blessed by the Lord.


What are some right things we should be doing?
For men, it is to work.
For students it is to study.

For Christians the right thing to do is to go to church on Sundays, to join a Small Group, to serve etc.
These are all the right things to do.


But how many of us felt that even though we have been doing the right things we are not truly blessed and happy. We don't have the inner peace that we are truly fulfilled.


The truth is that we not only need to do the right things we need to do it with the right heart, with right motives; a heart of purity and love towards God and people.


In Haggai chapter 2, the people of God who have returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity to rebuild the temple of God and the city, were doing the work. They were doing the right things.

BUT there was sin in their hearts. Haggai 2:14

Because of that they were not experiencing the blessings of God. The rain was still withheld and God's blessings were not their experience.



(Psa 24:3) Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
(Psa 24:4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
(Psa 24:5) He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

However God promised them that when they set their hearts right, humbling themselves in confession for cleansing and having a repentant heart, from the very day they do that, from that day forward "I WILL BLESS YOU" even though the seeds are not sown yet and the fruit trees have not yielded its fruits. Haggai 2:19



Conclusion

If you feel that you are doing the right things but you are still not at peace, ask the Lord to search your heart to see if there is any wicked ways, any wrong motives or any sins lurking in it. Then be humble, confess your sins, get cleansed and get right with the Lord. He has promised that He will bless you from this day forward!