|
|
EACH ONE REACH ONE
Dec
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
I’m encouraged about where we’ve been and excited about where we are going. As we come
to the end of the year, I reflect on the past year and it has truly been a whirlwind!
I thought back to the days where we heavily depended on visiting speakers to preach on Lord’s Day Service. But now I am so
encouraged in the Lord as you many brethren, the church, stepped up to the challenge and responded to be God’s willing mouth piece, responsible towards more than half of the allotted yearly slots in the preaching
ministry. “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” (John 10:3)
I thought of our new CG Fellowship meeting in Alam Damai Cheras
since March. Not only the home of Gideon’s provided a tranquil and serene atmosphere, the Chow family’s warmth hospitality and generosity are the ingredients that naturally captured the hearts of every CG members
and friends.
I’ve thought about the new friends we have made and friends we have lost. I’ve thought about the wonderful Full time Worker - our Elder Michael and his capable spouse Jadite and how we have been
blessed through the presence and dedication of his family. It’s truly been exciting times filled with faith, vision, and wonder.
I think about the Assembly Property Development Project (APDP) which is now
entering into the third year since the initiative started in 2005, our plan of extended Annex Hall with class rooms and patio adjoining to the Main Hall, and its potential to bridge the gap within our own community
and the church by providing potential facilities and space to the ever demanding growth of the church ministries.
I also look ahead to 2008 in hopes that it will be even more fulfilling than 2007. I look
forward to the launch of our new Mandarin Morning Service in the Main Hall. I think of all the people that can be reached with the life-changing message of Christ.
Together with the leaders, these are
exciting times to be a part of what God is doing. We wish you a blessed Christmas and blessed New Year. Pray for us as we will pray for you.
In His Service,
WK
|
|
EACH ONE REACH ONE
Nov
There is a story of a pastor and his young son who often went out into the neighbourhood to handout gospel tracts. One rainy Sunday afternoon the father decided that they should
skip the tracting to which the boy replied that ‘rain or shine’ people still going to hell. Although the father chose to stay back he allowed his son to go. So the boy went alone to distribute the tracts. Soon he
was down to his last one. As he found no one around he went to the first home he saw and rang the door bell. No one answered. Despite repeated ringing there was no response. He was about to leave when something
stopped him. He rang again and this time the door opened. There stood an elderly lady. With a smile, the boy apologized for disturbing her but said he just wanted to tell her that Jesus loves her and give her his
last gospel tract. He then left.
At the pulpit the following Sunday, the pastor invited the congregation to share a testimony. An elderly lady came forward and narrated her experience of the previous Sunday.
She felt alone in the world after losing her husband. She was not a Christian and had never been to church. She had reached the point of hopelessness and had decided to end her life. She was about to leap off from a
chair with a rope round her neck when there was a sudden ringing of the doorbell. She thought that whoever rang would go away but the ringing continued. She wondered who it could be as nobody ever visited her. She
untied the rope and started for the door. On opening it she saw a boy with a radiant smile. She described the words that came from his mouth which caused her heart that had long been dead to leap to life. As he
disappeared into the rain she read every word of the tract he gave her. She had come to personally thank God who sent the boy in the nick of time thus sparring he soul from an eternity in hell.
God takes
delight in choosing very ordinary people to do His work to bring about extraordinary results. In the past, the Lord has used a lad with 5 loaves and 2 fishes to help feed 5,000 men (John 6), an Israelite slave girl
who was instrumental in informing Naaman about Elijah leading to his being healed from leprosy (2 Kings 5), and four lepers to save a city in famine (2 Kings 7).
The Lord’s choice of such people or as one
Bible version of 1 Cor 1:28 puts it in today’s language ‘the world’s insignificant, despised people and nobodies’ should encourage us not to dwell on our inadequacies but instead to rest our confidence and faith in
Him.
Indeed in God’s work, the value of the small, the common and the ordinary, whether of people or things, are not to be underestimated – ‘a grain of mustard seed may become a great tree’ (Matt 13:31-32). A
warm smile, like in the story above, simple acts of kindness or words aptly and timely spoken can impact those He wants us to reach with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In His Service,
PBS
|
|
EACH ONE REACH ONE
October
The FEAR of the Lord, is the beginning of WISDOM. Proverbs 9:10
How be it that FEAR can give us WISDOM? It can when it's associated with authority. For example an employee
fears the authority of the employer, a student fears the authority of the teacher, a child fears the authority of the parent. It would certainly be wise not to challenge these authorities that we encounter in our
lifetime, otherwise we might find ourselves being severely punished. And no wise person likes punishment, unless of course if you're wisely insane.
Strange as it seems, but have we ever asked ourselves why do
we fear our employers, our teachers or even our parents more than God? Why do we have this tendency to fear our earthly authorities rather than our heavenly One? The history of men be it the ones recorded in or
outside the Bible reveals to us every time that the weaker man fears the stronger man more than God. Puny Saul feared the giant Goliath, tiny Israel feared the Babylonian empire, kuli me fearing my earthly bosses.
Where do we place God in our top ten most feared list? Proverbs 9:10 clearly states that we should place God at the very top of our most feared list. It is only when we fear the Lord can we truly take our first
steps on the path of wisdom. Therefore for those who do not fear God or do not acknowledge His existence are deemed unwise (mild version) or foolish (ouch version), Psalm 14:1.
So what's the wisdom in fearing
God more than men? Well for starters, the next time we are punished whether justly or unjustly by our earthly authorities may we take comfort that these earthly punishments are nothing compared to the One who can
destroy both our body and soul (Matt 10:28). Or better still, when we are grilled by our bosses or customers take it as a character building exercise (Rom 5:3-4). And best of all, when abuses come our way take it as
God's discipline to draw us closer to Him (Heb 12:5-13).
It's about time we start living our lives as God fearing people. How can we ever share the Gospel with someone when they see us having no fear and
reverence of God at all? Our actions speak louder than our words (Matt 15:8). Our fear and submission to our God reflects the very authenticity of what we believe in (Matt 5:16).
“Whoever is wise, let him
understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” (Hosea 14:9)
In His Service,
JW
|
|
EACH ONE, REACH ONE
September
Many who attended the recent Family Camp in Damai Laut would be able to testify that the journey was rather long and the closure of certain stretch along the highway due to
road works added to the travel time. Imagine the joy of passing through the end of bottle neck and meeting with another just a few kilometers added to the distress to both the drivers and passengers.
During
the camp in one of the session, we were asked to think of one person who is an unbeliever that we would like everyone to pray for. This was easy as we are all surrounded by unbelievers and mostly it was someone who
we are acquainted with or know for a long time like our family members, neighbours or working colleagues.
In our honest opinion, we have hoped for a long time where this person would come to receive Christ as
their personal Lord and Saviour but often we wonder what is taking them forever? We may invite them to come to church, attend a evangelical meeting, listen to the church choir singing. Even if they do, nothing
changed. It could remain just a hope.
Have we sincerely come to the Lord in earnest prayer that we want this person to know Jesus? In one of the session, we identified our Top Ten List of who we will pray
for so that the person will soften his/her heart and come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Let us be faithful to pray to ask for the Lord’s saving grace and intervention. Otherwise, it will just be a
name in a piece of paper in some activity during a church camp and it will surely be a long, long journey for the person you hope for to come to know Christ. Let us remain faithful to pray so that their journey will
be shortened.
Father, we come before You in prayer and in faith, believing. Your Word says that You desire all to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth, so we bring our loved ones before You now.
(2 Peter 3:9)
Father, I ask that You fill them with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and understanding. As we intercede in their behalf, we believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is activated, and
from this moment on, we shall praise and thank You for their salvation. We are confident that You are alert and active, watching over Your Word to perform it. It will not return to You void. It will accomplish that
which You please and prosper in the thing whereto it was sent. (Jeremiah 1:12; Isaiah 55:11)
Therefore, our confession of faith is, "God has begun a good work in their life and He will perform it and
bring it to full completion until the day of Jesus Christ, in Jesus' Name." (Philippians 1:6)
In His Service,
AQ
|
|
EACH ONE REACH ONE
August
The other day my daughter came up to me and said, “Daddy, I learnt to be a COW!” Huh? Then came another day, she said she wants to be TALL. Okay, I guess. She’s already quite
tall now for her age. But what is she really talking about?
Well, C.O.W. stands for Caring, Obedient, Wise and T.A.L.L. stands for Truthful Always, Love the Lord.
Acronyms are wonderful ways to remind
us of God’s truth and our walk and conduct with Him. Here are some other acronyms that you may find helpful:
ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication
ASAP – Always Say A Prayer
BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
CEO – Christians Encouraging Others
FRIEND – Fully Reliable In Each New Difficulty
FROG – Full Rely On God
GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ Expense
PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens
TGIF – Thank God I’m Forgiven
WWJD – What Would Jesus Do
Finally, God really wants us to be FAT. And that stands
for Faithful, Available and Teachable. Sure many of us are faithful in our belief that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. But not many of us are available to help others and many of us are not willing to be
teachable because it means sacrificing our time and taking an effort to learn new ideas and change out of our complacency.
God uses just ordinary people like you and I. Throughout the bible, God had used all
different kinds of people. He had used a coward to lead His people out of slavery, a shepherd boy to rule a nation, a fisherman to build His church. The only thing they have in common is their loved for the Lord and
wanted to serve Him. They were COWS, FROGS and became CEOs.
So are you going to be COWs that are FAT and TALL?
In His Service,
AKC
|
|
EACH ONE, REACH ONE - July 2007
One of the saddest moments for atheists and non-Christians is when they feel appreciative and thankful for a scenery in God’s creation like the “silhouette of swaying palm
trees against the backdrop of a shimmering lake in a moonlight night”, or something else that captures their attention but do not know who to thank. We as God’s children would surely not be in that position. Being
Christians, we are able to offer our thanks to God for His blessings. We are reminded in James 1:17 that every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the
heavenly lights. Therefore to have a heart that traces back to the source of “every good and perfect gift” would invariably bring us to our loving heavenly Father.
In Psalm 92:1, we are told that it is
good to give thanks to our Lord and to sing in honor of our Most High God. To do so, we must first orientate ourselves to the Highest and to cultivate a constant awareness that we maintain our existence on this
earth not as our right or achievement but solely by the Almighty’s favor. Secondly, it helps us to harbor a reverential spirit without which every mortal mind is spiritually deficient. It constantly reminds us of
the Creator God who is in charge of the happenings in our lives.
The author C.S. Lewis once commented: “a moment of gratitude will help us head off from the abyss of abstraction about God”. Thirdly, it offers us a sense of happiness and peace with God, ever conscious of God’s abundant mercies that flow down to us from heaven. Charles H. Spurgeon who was a great preacher of the past said: “it is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of His ancient saints and to observe His goodness in delivering them”.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are in that privileged position but what about those people with whom we exchange greetings and smiles. It is regrettable to say that these people are still living in
the darkness; alienated from the heavenly lights. The apostle Paul in writing to the saints in Rome said: “But how can they call to Him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have
not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?
And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, “How wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring good news!” But not all have accepted the Good News, Isaiah himself said, “Lord, who believed our message?” So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.” (Romans 10:14-17).
Perhaps you and I may be asking ourselves this question: “Who are these messengers who can proclaim the Good News of Christ?” Surely apostle Paul was not referring to renowned evangelists who have to
cross many oceans to bring the good news but ordinary people like you and me to proclaim the Gospel.
When Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth, he told them that he did not use big words and great learning (1 Cor. 2:1b) and his teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom but with convincing proof of the power of God’s Spirit (1 Cor. 2:4).
Finally let us, as each one reach one and others with the Good News of salvation.
In His Service,
MG
|
|
EACH ONE, REACH ONE - June 2007
There have been a lot of controversies lately surrounding a movie that is based on a very popular book of fiction. This movie had stirred people, angered them, make them
thoughtful, and most importantly, it had provoked conversations about spiritual issues that might not have arise.
A well known columnist in our daily newspaper wrote: "While there are many
Christians who are upset about the book and movie, they are countering it with seminars and other educational events to balance what is being said in the book, even if the book is only fiction. There have not been
“Da Vinci Code”-related riots or death thus far, which speaks volumes for the adherents of the faith".
In 2 Peter 2: 1, the Apostle Peter has already warned about false prophets and false teachers
who sought to confuse and distract people from God’s truth: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them ….”
How did we as Christians respond or should respond? How can we respond? May I suggest a few ways: Firstly, we should pray for all those who have
gone to see the movie to want to seek the truth. Secondly, we ought to examine ourselves to see how prepared are we to expound on our faith and what the Bible is actually saying. We cannot just demise people by
saying “the Bible said so”. We need to know the facts. We need to sharpen our faith by deepening our bible knowledge and historical understanding. Thirdly, we should see this as an opening to reach out to those who
want to know who God really is. The opportunity is there everyday. No event or occasion had “allowed” the debate on Christianity and biblical facts to be published in our local papers daily. This is also your time
to act. This is your opportunity to each one reach one.
Nevertheless, as Paul puts it in Philippians 1: 18 “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives
or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
In His Service,
AKC
|
|
EACH ONE REACH ONE - May 2007
George Mueller, an early Plymouth Brethren who ran an orphanage in England during the nineteenth century began praying for five unsaved friends. After five years, one came
to Christ. After ten more years of prayer, two more were converted. Mueller continued praying for the remaining two by name every day. After thirty-five years of prayer, the fourth man was saved. As for the fifth
man, Mueller prayed almost fifty-two years before he was finally saved just after Mueller’s death.
In reaching out to those whom we seek to see saved, it is good to be reminded of the spiritual element
involved in the saving of souls. While the ‘human’ factors involved in bringing someone to the Lord are necessary, whether they are those of a gifted preacher, our exemplary life or personal witness of the gospel,
these but only point to the way.
Ultimately convicting the unsaved is the work of the Holy Spirit. Indeed an intense spiritual battle for the soul is being waged, for our struggle is not against the
flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).
Therefore, like George Mueller, we need to remember to first pray. For when we pray, God works. God works by preparing the
hearts of those we wish to reach by tearing down ‘strongholds’, such as resistance or plain indifference to the gospel, stubbornness, fear or prejudice. Hudson Taylor once said, ‘How important to learn … to move man
through God by prayers alone.’
May we be inspired by the example of George Mueller to not only do all we humanly can to bring unsaved ones to Jesus Christ, but also not be fainthearted but pray
faithfully and with perseverance for their souls.
As we reflect on the above, let us together remember to first speak to God about men before we speak to men about God. Each one, reach one – perhaps
this must first begin on bended knees.
In His Service,
PBS
|
|
Each One, Reach One - April 2007
"It is finished!" cried Jesus, His SIXTH last statement on the cross.
What is finished? His life? His ministry? His service? Obviously Jesus
wasn't talking about His life because He rose from the dead (Rev 1:18).
Jesus wasn't referring to His ministry either for His ministry is still
alive and growing even to this day (Matt 16:18). Nor did He meant His
service for we are told He is mediating to the Father on our behalf (Romans
8:34). So what was finished? It's the PLAN (Eph 1:7-9). God's Salvation Plan
for mankind has finally come to an end ... through the sacrifice of Jesus
for OUR SINS on the cross. IT IS FINISHED! Christ gave HIS life to give us
life.
What is Life? In the very first passages of the Bible we are told that God
gave life to men (Adam and Eve) on the SIXTH day. In Genesis 2:2 God
FINISHED the work He had been doing that is giving life to His creation, and
when He gave life to men He deemed His work done. IT IS FINISHED. Amazing
how centuries later, Christ utters the very same words of what God has done
in Genesis. Christ has come to give men life just as He had given men life
during the time of Genesis. Prior to the fall, men (Adam and Eve) found
their significance, security and acceptance via his Creator who created Him
for His pleasure. Christ came and gave His life in order to restore men back
to their original state of significance, security and acceptance via a
Savior who died for them. Do you now see via the cross the attributes of a
faithful and forgiving God that possesses a love that will never let us go?
In Genesis 2:2, after God had finished giving life to men, He rested. God's
work was done and He rested on the SEVENTH day. In Luke 23:46 Christ uttered
His SEVENTH and final last statement on the cross - "Father, into your hands
I commit my spirit". Christ rested from His agony. He has finished the work
of the Father. The work that He did with the Father since the world began.
Giving men life.
In April we will once again be reminded of Christ's sacrifice on the cross
and His resurrection. Let us not forget to each one reach one person to
share the Good News of Christ. That the Good News is really about how God
gives life to men, and how God the Father keeps on giving life to men even
if it meant sacrificing His only begotten Son.
God Bless,
JW
|
|
EACH ONE, REACH ONE - Mar 2007
We have experienced recently a unique changed of environment of late with unusual floods, warm winter, water shortage, ice melting in the North Pole and it even rained
during Chinese New Year!
World leaders are mounting campaigns on global warming by organizing environment friendly campaigns and companies are changing policies to ensure that they too
adhere to such calls from the country leaders.
Lots of time, efforts and money are being spent in R&D to delay the effects of global warming by making hybrid vehicles, preserving forests and
trees, developing new sources of fuels, reducing water, air and land pollutions and much more. But, can all these prevent “global warming”?
When God create the world and all that is in it, He
blessed them and asked Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and to have dominion over everything in it (Gen 1:28-30). But because of sin and that sin multiplied so extensively that God
had to destroy it with water during Noah’s time, but men have forgotten about the grace of our Heavenly Father.
The word of God can never go wrong and there are so many truths in it and so many
prophesies fulfilled. And in 2 Peter 3:7 says, "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by
fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. Yes, Global Warming is indeed Global Warning. The signs are indeed very clear. It is a warning that we must come into repentance and reconcile with our Lord.
All efforts to delay global warning is only in vain if we do not take note of the Global Warning. May God help us to hasten our efforts to each one reach one unto God’s kingdom for eternity.
In His Service,
AQ
|
|
EACH ONE, REACH ONE - Feb 2007
Very soon, you will be seeing lots of red and gold! You will also hear a lot of people saying “Kung Hei Fatt Choy”; or “Nin Nin Yao Yue”; or “Marn Si Yue Yee”.
Chinese New Year is round the corner and anything that talks about wealth; abundance and prosperity are welcomed. Have you ever wondered what does God have to say about prosperity?
In
Deuteronomy 30:15-20; it clearly shows us that God had given us a choice but He really wants us to choose to prosper. However, in order to prosper as the way God had intended us to prosper, we need to consider the
following things:
I. Love the Lord before anything else
- You need to put God first
II. Keep God’s word close to your heart at all times
- You need to listen closely to God’s word and put it into practice
III. Commit yourself to the Lord completely
- Your every thought and action should be committed to God and seek His guidance
IV. Establish God’s kingdom in your life
- God reminded us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness
God has indeed blessed us with abundance and our true
prosperity is being good stewards of God’s blessings. When we use our talents and gifts for God, we will be certainly blessed.
So, instead of wishing someone lots of prosperity and abundance
this Chinese New Year, why not share something more eternal and share God’s love and His promise of prosperity to all who love and trust Him?
Finally, Beloved, I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2 - NKJ)
Blessed Chinese New Year
In His Service,
AKC
|
|
EACH ONE, REACH ONE - Jan 2007
Once more we cross over the threshold of a new year with renewed hope and aspirations.
To commemorate this new era, Christians and non-Christians prepare themselves to face the challenges and difficulties that lie ahead.
However there is a particular challenge that confronts our
Church of the 21st century.
The challenge is that our society has become fiercely secular to such an alarming extent that this world we live in, cares so little for God. Secularism has spread so rapidly like an eagle gliding across the sky that instead of us bringing the Church into the world, we are bringing the world into the church. If we attempt to speak out our convictions about God and the Bible, we are invariably ridiculed or labeled a fundamentalist. The author, Calvin Miller once commented: “To believe the Bible, has become a kind of grand slur – an antiquated stumbling stone on the path to the brave new liberated world”. It requires heroic courage and self-surrender to hold firmly to a simple faith in Christ and to keep singing the Gospel all the time. Against this backdrop, do we need to search with difficulty for an answer to the psalmist’s question in Psalm 137:4: “How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?” The people sitting and weeping by the rivers of Babylon, as mentioned in the psalm, found it difficult to share the Gospel while completely surrounded by pagan culture. Do we have the boldness to sing the Gospel of our LORD while sitting in our homes, in our offices or even crossing the city streets? If we have the courage to do so, how then should be our approach?
The song we should sing to a God-devoid society is that of the unchanging nature of spiritual truths. Times have changed and generations have passed but God’s Word never changes and never ceases.
The Apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy in 2 Tim 3:14: “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it”. What we have learned from the Scriptures, we are called to share the testimony of our faith in Christ, as commanded in Matt 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…….”
Before we can do so with zeal and courage, we must put the past firmly behind us. The writer to the Hebrews encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith……” – Heb 12:1and 2b. Paul declared to the saints in Philippi that: “he forgets what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. He presses on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenwards in Christ Jesus” – Phil 3:13b-14. What we need to leave behind us and to press forward for Christ, are our pride, our fears for disappointments and our tactlessness. Perhaps there have been instances in the past when our tactlessness has driven people further away from Christ, instead of bringing them to Christ.
As we continue to ascend the rugged mountain of our faith in Christ, let us persevere on together as we ‘each one reach one’ for the Glory of God our Father.
In His Service,
MG
|
|
