I was brought up in a typical heathen Chinese family in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My birth date was 2nd July 1956.

My family gods were idols with quan yin as the main object of worship. In fact i was given as a god-son of quan-yin.

It was total heathen darkness as the song goes

“Heathendom’s millions wait for the light

Wait in their darkness

Lost in the night

They have no gospel

They do not know

Jesus would save them

Still they must die”

At the age of about  8 I got up one Chinese New Year morning. To my surprise I saw at the back of my house a small group of children gathered for a card game. I used to play children games like playing marbles, catching spiders and flying kites. But this time it was different because money is involved. They were gambling. I felt a strange power that drew me as i joined in. And then I got hooked to the gambling habit. For the next eight years until age 16 I was addicted to gambling.

Those were 8 years of total abject slavery to an enslaving habit which I could not shake off. Sometime in year 1970 when I was 14 years of age my family shifted to a 1st floor shop apartment in KL. It was a newly built place. Very strange. One night when i was sleeping i felt a pair of invisible hands on my neck and I also felt a heavy oppression on my chest. I struggled and the “entity” left. I was shocked as this is a new building but “haunted”. And the oppression came back night after night.

And so it continued for the year of 1970 to 1972….for 3 years I was addicted to gambling in the day and felt the continual oppression in the night.

My father would scold me, “Don’t you dare go gambling or else I will chop off your fingers” Fearing that I swore that i will stop gambling. I succeeded for a brief time due to fear. One day I got some money and I was walking

I remember talking to myself, “Where are you going?”

“To gamble”

“Didn’t you swear that you will never again gamble?”

“Yes, I did swear.” And while I was struggling and reasoning with my mind  my feet was walking in the direction to gamble. So i know what was right to do but I could not do it as i made my way to the gambling den

Having lost all I felt very foolish & guilt got hold of  me as i walked home on that very dark day of my life. I was totally miserable.

Then again I got oppressed by evil spirits at night again. Of course I prayed faithfully at 10pm every night to Quan yin for deliverance. But to no avail as the oppression continued till year 1972 when i was 16 years old.

So by day i gambled and by night i got oppressed. This is a very miserable existence indeed.

Driven to despair one midnight I went downstair from the 1st floor apartment I looked up at the night sky and said these words,

“Why do i exist here? Why is my life so full of problems i could not solve?

“Is there a God out there who knows about my problems?.”

“Who are you God?”

If you do hear me out there please reveal yourself and help me as i cried with open eyes looking up at the dark night sky

Weeks passed.

Then one day Jackson Tan Said Meng, my fellow schoolmate visited me.

He said, “I am a Christian” and handed me some tracts. I replied, “Christianity”? That is a Western man religion. Not for us Chinese as we have our own Chinese gods”

“No,” Jackson replied, “Jesus is not from Europe. Jesus founded Christianity in the Middle East”

“Oh i don’t know as i told him i will take a look at his tracts. Among the tracts Jackson gave me was a copy of

“THIS WAS YOUR LIFE” By JACK CHICK

I READ THAT TRACT WITH DEEP CONVICTION. But I was still unconverted

Then one night while sleeping I had a dream. I saw my body filled with diseases as i returned home.

In my home I saw all the furniture were in a shamble. Then I saw a Cross cut into half and dangling (My brother brought home a plastic cross which was hung up since he attended the Methodist School)

AND I SAW JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS! AT THAT I CRIED FOR SALVATION

THEN I GOT UP FROM MY DREAM

It was still dark. Long while before daybreak. I knelt beside my bed and asked Jesus to be my LORD AND SAVIOR

SUDDENLY, I FELT LIKE A 200 POUND BURDEN REMOVED FROM FROM SHOULDER!!

I FELT VERY LIGHT AS A FEATHER

I TOLD MY FAMILY I HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS AS MY LORD AND SAVIOUR

THEY SAID, “YOU HAVE GONE MAD” YOU WILL SOON REVERT BACK JUST AS YOU GAVE UP SCOUTING LAST TIME AS A PASSING FAD

NOW I HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN MORE THAN 46 YEARS ALREADY SINCE 15TH SEPTEMBER 1972

VERY STRANGE THINGS HAPPENED AFTER MY CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY

I HAD TOTALLY LOST MY DESIRE FOR GAMBLING

When Chinese New Year arrived in early 1973 my father told me to be happy

I said, “What do you mean by being happy?” He said, “Today Is Chinese New Year Day. So it is alright to go gamble a little. Be happy as it is an auspicious day. But not other days”

Ha! I HAD ZERO DESIRE OR INTEREST IN GAMBLING. IT WAS AMAZING HOW JESUS COMPLETELY DELIVERED ME FROM THIS BONDAGE. AND FOR 46 YEARS I HAVE NOT ONCE BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET OR GAMBLED IN A CASINO.

JESUS SAID, “IF THE SON HATH MADE YOU FREE YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED”

NOT ONLY I WAS FREED FROM THE GAMBLING HABIT. AT NIGHT WHEN I SLEPT I HAD POWER OVER THE OPPRESSING EVIL SPIRITS THROUGH THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS

 

HALLELUJAH A BILLION TIMES TO JESUS CHRIST MY LORD AND MY SAVIOUR

 

AMEN & AMEN

 

In year 1996 I was given this stanza as a Birthday Wish while kneeling and praying on Gasing Ridge, Petaling Jaya

I need the Presence of His Son;
From world and sin and self to turn.
To live by faith through God’s great grace;
And walk with Him in grateful praise.

Last week while on my way home these words came to me

 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Especially the phrase “I am with you always”

I have always needed the Presence of Jesus all my life. And these words came again with Power

“I AM with you always”

As I pondered deeper my heart started to burn with these words – “I AM” with you

The GREAT “I AM THAT I AM” is with me!!

Exodus 3:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am ( הְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶהאֶ, ’ehyeh ’ăšer ’ehyeh) : and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

John 8:58 King James Version (KJV)

⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

I AM (refers to Jesus) existed even before Abraham was born.

And Jesus mentions himself as the GREAT  “I AM” seven times in the Gospel &  and in Revelation

I AM the way the truth and the life {John 14:6) (Jesus shows me the correct way to go)

I AM the good shepherd (Jesus shepherd watches over me)

I AM the door (Jesus opens doors that no man can close)

I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

I AM the light of the world (Jesus gives me light in a world surrounded by darkness)

I AM the resurrection and the Life (Jesus gives New Life abundantly)

I AM the Vine (John 15) (By Jesus we can bear fruit)

Revelation 1:18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ I AM he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death

WAHAHA!

“I AM” WITH YOU ALWAYS!!

I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOUR WHO IS FOREVER WITH ME AS HE PROMISED

“”and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.””

AMEN AND AMEN!!

 

In year 1977 I was given this Birthday Wish

I need the promised Holy Ghost;
To stir the gift, O LORD of hosts.
Create in me concrete desire;
To be for Thee a flame of fire.

On hindsight after 40 years I think I need this “flame of fire” more now than ever before!

In year 1970 before I became a Christian my classmate lent me a book called “Flame For God in the Far East” By Leslie Lyall

I read it like a fictional story with little feeling.

Then I got saved on Sept 15th 1972. Only then I got to know more and more about the blazing ministry of Dr John Sung through  Rev. Dr, Peter Ng & his wife Tow Siew Mui, And more eye witness of John Sung Revival ministry as I relate here

1. Rev. Dr. Peter Ng

On Mt Faber in Singapore one friday All Night Prayer in the 1970s DR. Ng told how Dr. John Sung picked him up in his hands while still a lad  when Dr. Sung preached in his Pastor father’s methodist Church. And since then he caught the fire from John Sung. In the wee hours of the night I heard those glowing words of how John Sung has been such a tremendous inspiration

2. Mrs Ng (Tow Siew Mui) Wife of Rev Peter NG

She said in those times when she attended John Sung Meetings which were fully packed with people if you want to go to the washroom you must tie a hankerchief to your chair or some one else will take your seat.

3. Dr Chia Boon Leong

Dr. Chia (medical doctor was Rev. Ng’s sunday school teacher) DR. Chia told me how he heard people singing one night. On looking out of his window he saw people on lorries singing gospel choruses by John Sung in Singapore. Dr. Chia also mentioned how he heard God’s voice warning him from danger near a cliff and saved his life.

 

4) One Bible Woman I met in Year 1976

On SBS Bus near Upper Thompson Road I met one Bible Woman in her sixties in white. She mentioned with fervor how she witnessed Dr Sung would swing his arm while illustrating his sermon in the 1930s

So many years have lapsed since Dr Sung visited Singapore and yet she could demonstate how Dr. Sung waved his hands

 

5) Dr. Tow Siang Yew

One night after All Night Prayer in Batu Feringghi in Penang we stayed up for fishing. It was a fruitful time as we caught fish after fish from the incoming tide – mostly gelama & catfish

Then near morning while helping a brother to unhook a catfish he caught I got stung. Then a felt a needle like pain in my finger tip as the poison worked its way.

And the pain moved to the joint of my finger. And it pain proceeded to my wrist and then it moved up to my arm and crept up to my shoulder. Fearing that the poison might move next to my heart I asked for help. And Miss Ang drove me (by now early morning) to Penang City to see DR. TOW SIANG YEW.

SIANG YEW gave me an injection & didn’t charge me any fee. I didn’t know at that time he (a man of few words)  was the one who gave Rev Timothy Tow a push when Dr. John Sung gave his gospel call

 

6) Rev Dr Timothy Tow (Founder of Life Bp Church & Far Eastern Bible College)

Of all John Sung converts in Singapore I think Dr Timothy Tow wrote the most about the Ministry of Dr. John Sung

 

7) Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa (Founder of Calvary Pandan Bp Church)

As I type now before me is a copy of “FOOTPRINTS In The Sands of Time” (autobiography)  given to me by Dr Tow Siang Hwa in year 2009.

On page 240 Dr. Tow mentioned he was saved in John Sung’s meeting at the age of 10. And 4 years later at the age of 14 Dr. Tow responded to John Sung’s call to full time consecration and service in year 1938.

30 years later Dr, Tow resigned from his duty in KK Hospital & founded and started over 20 BP Churches in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Uk, Canada

This was how Dr Tow testified, “The fires of the Holy Spirit revival swept through the country”

 

8) Alice Doo

Last but not least was Alice Doo, the aunt of Rev Timothy Tow & Dr Tow Siang Hwa

One evening in the late 1970s Rev. Matthew Khoo & I paid a visit to Ms Alice Doo in Pandan Valley. There she told us how she had a nasal problem. On being anointed with olive oil and prayed over by Dr, John Sung she is completely healed. That more than 40 years ago.

We also listened to a tape which she recorded the deliverance of a girl possessed by more than 2,000 evil spirits. And the tape was eerie to hear as the evil demons screamed as they were commanded in Jesus’name to leave one by one. Only later, much later I found out she was also called to serve full time under Dr John Sung’s ministry. And she published John Sung Sermons in Chinese which Rev Timothy later translated into English

One day in Penang (circa 1979) I wrote to Alice Doo in Singapore for prayer that I might have power. She wisely replied, “Don’t pray for power. Pray for the Holy Spirit”

Yes, very true indeed”

God’s Word says, “And ye shall receive Power after that the HOLY SPIRIT” is Come Upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me”

AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MADE DR JOHN SUNG A FLAME FOR GOD IN THE FAR EAST IS THE SAME TODAY!

MAY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT LIGHT A FIRE IN OUR SOULS AS FLAMES OF FIRE FOR HIS GLORY!

“Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4)

 

Amen & Amen

 

 

 

 

1. O Master, let me walk with Thee,
   In lowly paths of service free;
   Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
   The strain of toil, the fret of care.
2. Help me the slow of heart to move
   By some clear, winning word of love;
   Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
   And guide them in the homeward way.
3. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
   In closer, dearer, company,
   In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
   In trust that triumphs over wrong.
4. In hope that sends a shining ray
   Far down the future’s broad’ning way,
   In peace that only Thou canst give,
   With Thee, O Master, let me live.

O MASTER LET ME WALK WITH THEE has been one of those blessed hymn that inspired me.

O MASTER, let me walk with Thee

Enoch’s faith stood out because Enoch was with God. At the age of 65 Enoch started walking with God till the age of 365. For 300 long years Enoch walked with God. One evening as Enoch was walking with God and the conversation and friendship grew so deep that God said to Enoch, “Don’t need to go home today. Come Up to My Home!” And God took Enoch to heaven without seeing death.

GOD’s Word says, “ And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

In the beginning of creation God literally walked on earth with men. Till men turned from God in sin and ceased to walk with God. But the most blessed life is lived in communion, fellowship & walking with God.

“In lowly paths of service free;”

After May 1st 1988 after having resigned from KL JSM  I have served God with “free service”  God is a far better paymaster.

1. Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
   The strain of toil, the fret of care.”

God is a revealer of secret. God revealed to Joseph the 7 good years of plenteous harvest followed by 7 years of very severe famine in Egypt.  God also reveal;ed the secret of King Nebuchadnezzar dream to Daniel in Babylon describing the 4 World Empires yet future.

Today the secret of the LORD is still with those who fear God and walk with God.

King James Version (Amos 3:7)
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Knowing God’s plan & secret purpose does not mean an easy or life without burden or responsibily

Read again

1. Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
   The strain of toil, the fret of care.”

Help me bear the strain of toil. Help me bear the fret of care

In toil or labour we strain under physical weight. In care and responsibility we fret emotionally.

See how Enoch endured in his days

 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

¹⁵ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

¹⁶ These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. (Jude 1:14 -16)

We need both physical & emotional strength to do God’s will in a world filled with evil men.

 

1. Help me the slow of heart to move
   By some clear, winning word of love;

Hearts that are hardened and minds that are closed need lots of patience if we want  to win fallen men  over to God’s side.

1. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
   In closer, dearer, company,
   In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
   In trust that triumphs over wrong.

We need even more patience to walk closer and nearer with God as the world turns more and more evil.

We are witnessing the same proliferation of evil in homosexual perversion just like the days of Lot.

We must do God’s bidding to keep our faith sweet & strong. Our trust in the unfailing God will triumph over all wrong

In the world we will face trials & tribulation but in walking & staying close to God we have strong sweet faith

 

1. In hope that sends a shining ray
   Far down the future’s broad’ning way,
   In peace that only Thou canst give,
   With Thee, O Master, let me live.

The final stanza is my favourite

“In hope that sends a shining ray”

In lowly paths of service free. Then it proceeds to “In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,”

Then “In trust that triumphs over wrong.”

Now “In hope that sends a shining ray”

HOPE IS FUTURE

The dictionary describe hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen”.

IT IS HOPE THAT SENDS INTO THE FUTURE A SHINING RAY

HOPE BEARS US ON ITS WINGS THE EXPECTATION OF A BETTER AND BRIGHTER FUTURE YET AHEAD!!

THIS SPURS US ON THROUGH GOOD AND BAD TIMES. THROUGH THICK AND THIN!!  THROUGH IT ALL TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS EVENTUALLY!!  AMEN!

Those early days were misty and not clear. BUT HOPE PIERCES THROUGH THE VEIL TO THE EXPECTATION THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BRIGHT.

“THE FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS THE PROMISES OF GOD”

The verse continues

Far down the future’s broad’ning way,

FAR = FUTURE IS FAR IN TIME! BUT WE WILL ARRIVE THERE ONE DAY. MORE THAN 40 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE I FIRST GOT TO KNOW THIS BLESSED  HYMN

FAR DOWN THE FUTURE’S    B-R-O-A-D-E-N-I-N-G…… WAY

SEE HOW FUTURE EXPANDS!!

HOPE MOVES WITH GREAT EXPECTATION INTO A FUTURE WITH ALL ITS BROAD AND VAST POSSIBILITIES!!

IN THE EIGHTEEN CENTURY JOHN G. PATON ARRIVED ON TANNA ISLAND AS A PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARY TO THE NEW HEBRIDES (VANUATU)

On arrival his wife died and then his son died. To keep their bodies from being dug out and eaten  by savage cannibals he had to guard their bodies even at night. His own life was in danger many time if not for the timely deliverance God intervened. Today after more than 100 years VANUATU is a Christian Nation. And the largest denomination is Presbyterian.

The future for John G. Paton shows God fulfilled His Words faithfully

 

In the early 20th Century James O. Fraser left for China to evangelize the Lisu minority tribe of Yunnan, China. For many years he had not a single convert. Yet he help on to hope & faith.

Today the LIsu are mostly Christians. China has designated Christianity as the Official Religion of the LISU

For me I can humbly say

“GOD IS GOOD THUS FAR”

With Isaac Watts I can only say

O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

OUR HOPE FOR YEARS TO COME

Amen & Amen!

 

PLEASE NOTE:

 

In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

It is better to do any work with less pay and have sweet strong faith than to have work with good or excellent pay with vexation of spirit

So seek a career or calling that help you stay strong in your walk with Almighty God

Remember, God with us and for us is our Top Priority in Life

 

 

Or The Story of How Poem on “LIFE’S DESIRE” Originated

Life’s Desire

 

Fast forward 19 years later in year 1996 I was given the 2nd Stanza on another Birthday

This time kneeling on Gasing Ridge, Petaling Jaya

2.) I need the Presence of His Son;
From world and sin and self to turn.
To live by faith through God’s great grace;
And walk with Him in grateful praise

The 2nd stanza centers around God the Son

 

4 Years later in Year 2000 again on my Birthday God gave me 3 Stanzas in just one hour – standing in SBS (Singapore Bus Service) BUS on the way to Church on Sunday

 

3.) I need my Father’s guiding grace;
To spur me on the upward way.
Show me the path to man’s chief end;
Stay by my side, dear Heavenly Friend.

 

4.) Though weak and weary I fight on;
Till some from this wide world I’ve won.
Averting men from God’s great wrath
And turn them to the heavenly path.

 

5.) The promise of an endless life;
God welcomes you to claim the prize.
A thousand million years and more;
With Christ forever, forever more

 

Stanza 3 talks about God the Father while Stanza 4 talks about saving lost souls

Finally, Stanza 5 speaks of heaven & eternity

When I came to Stanza 5 there were 2 phrases

The promise of an endless life;

“God welcomes you to claim the prize”  and another phrase came to mind

The promise of an endless life;

“God welcome you to claim it Christ”

So there were 2 phrases

“to claim the prize” or “to claim it in Christ”

In the end I was led to include “to claim the prize”

Why?

Answer:

Eternal life is a “gift” so it is a prize to be claimed.

John 3: 16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life”

For God so loved = “HE GAVE”

God gave what?

Answer = HE GAVE EVERLASTING LIFE

 

After so many birthdays have passed with all the intense wishes the poem has finally emerged with the title = “LIFE’S DESIRE”

Amen & Amen.

 

Now after sometime I found to my gladness that the words rythme with the Hymn called “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee”

Fanny Crosby, though blind,  wrote more than 8,000 hymns in her lifetime

Among her very best is JESUS KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

Here it goes

1. Jesus, keep me near the cross,
   There a precious fountain—
   Free to all, a healing stream—
   Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
   • Refrain:
     In the cross, in the cross,
     Be my glory ever;
     Till my raptured soul shall find
     Rest beyond the river.
2. Near the cross, a trembling soul,
   Love and Mercy found me;
   There the bright and morning star
   Sheds its beams around me.
3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
   Bring its scenes before me;
   Help me walk from day to day,
   With its shadows o’er me.
4. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
   Hoping, trusting ever,
   Till I reach the golden strand,
   Just beyond the river.

The Cross is the most important and precious theme of the Bible. And Jesus keeps us near the cross daily.

Everyday we come to Jesus for clensing in His precious Blood. Only through his Blood we have complete clensing & fellowship with God

This fountain filled with blood is “free” to all

So Jesus wants to fellowship with us.

 

Only at the Cross there is Love & Mercy

Moses who gave us THE LAW cannot show any mercy

In the PILGRIM PROGRESS there is a Narration on Moses & I quote

Notes and Commentary on
The Pilgrim’s Progress

by Ken Puls

61. Run in with Moses

Now when I had got about half-way up, I looked behind, and saw one coming after me, swift as the wind; so he overtook me just about the place where the settle stands.

Christian: Just there, said Christian, did I sit down to rest me; but being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out of my bosom.

Faithful: But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow, for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him wherefore he served me so. He said, because of my secret inclining to Adam the First; and with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward; so I lay at his foot as dead as before. So, when I came to myself again, I cried him mercy; but he said, I know not how to show mercy; and with that he knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me, but that one came by, and bid him forbear.

Christian: Who was that that bid him forbear?

Faithful: I did not know him at first, but as he went by, I perceived the holes in his hands and in his side; then I concluded that he was our Lord. So I went up the hill.

Christian: That man that overtook you was Moses. He spares none, neither does he know how to show mercy to those that transgress his law.

Faithful: I know it very well; it was not the first time that he has met with me. It was he that came to me when I dwelt securely at home, and that told me he would burn my house over my head if I stayed there.

Christian: But did you not see the house that stood there on the top of the hill, on the side of which Moses met you?

Faithful: Yes, and the lions too, before I came at it: but for the lions, I think they were asleep, for it was about noon; and because I had so much of the day before me, I passed by the porter, and came down the hill.

Christian: He told me, indeed, that he saw you go by, but I wish you had called at the house, for they would have showed you so many rarities, that you would scarce have forgot them to the day of your death.

Notes and Commentary

Law and Grace

Moses represents the work of the Law “for the law was given through Moses” (John 1:17a). Faithful’s struggle with Moses affirms that we can never achieve or maintain a right standing before God on the basis of our own efforts of obedience. No matter how successful we have been, or how much progress we seem to make, our works can never save us. Our efforts can never satisfy God’s righteousness. Judged by God’s Law they are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We are sinners who have broken God’s Law. We don’t gain God’s favor by our own works, and we can’t keep God’s favor by our own works. Paul asks in Galatians:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:2–3)

The Law brings condemnation and guilt for our sin. The Law beats us down and leaves us for dead. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). But the problem is not with the Law; it is with us.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good (Romans 7:7–12).

The Law of God serves many good purposes. It reveals the holiness and righteousness of God. It tells us what God requires of us as creatures made in Him image. And it warns us of God’s wrath and judgment when we go astray. It was the reproach of the Law that shook Faithful from his ease at home and caused him to flee from Destruction.

 

1. Near the cross, a trembling soul,
   Love and Mercy found me;
   There the bright and morning star
   Sheds its beams around me.

The Old Testament Jewish Law and all the Religions of the World teaches the obedience of the Law for salvation which is impossible as men are fallen creatures.

GOD KNOWING THAT MAN IS TOTALLY HELPLESS AND CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF REACHES DOWN TO US THROUGH THE CROSS

THE CROSS IS THE PLACE WHERE GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE

THE CROSS IS ALSO THE PLACE JESUS DIED FOR US TO OPEN A WAY BACK TO GOD & HEAVEN

IT IS  HERE THAT JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD SHINES HIS SALVATION TO ALL

 

Now the 3rd stanza

3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

 

THE MESSAGE IS GETTING LOUDER

NEAR THE CROSS! With an exclamation mark!

O Lamb of God

Bring its scenes before me

Someone says, “It is the look that saves but the gaze that sanctifies!”

To glorify God with must go beyond looking and gazing. We must be in Total Fixation!!

We must go to the Cross and look, then gaze and totally Fixated On Christ and Christ Himself

In one Great Revival someone asked John, “Did you not see the great crowd?”

John replied, “I saw no one. I only saw Jesus!”

 

If only we live day by day with the Cross as a Living Reality we will draw from its  power to provide, power to cleanse,  power to protect, power to defeat the devil  and the power to save souls for His Kingdom.

The Crowning Power To Bring Glory to His Name who is Worthy!

 

So the Cross strengthens the believer, cleanse the sinner, sanctifies the saint & save lost souls. It shines and shines with the Everlasting Grace & Mercy of God.

 

Amen and Amen

 

 

SEATED 4TH FROM RIGHT IS REV DR WALLY TOW SIANG HWA

FOUNDING PASTOR OF CALVARY PANDAN BP CHURCH

On one anniversary I was given this poem in tribute to him

Dr Tow phoned me & changed it to “In Appreciation”

I used to attend the SUNSET GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP AT PANDAN GARDENS at 6pm Sunday Evenings

Here is the Poem given within 2 days (February 27th, 2011)

Dr. Tow left for his reward on March 8th 2019 (just 2 months after Dr Peter Ng left for glory on 3rd January 2019)

SUNSET GOSPEL BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

Sunset Gospel Bible Fellowship
Could you find a place more sweet?
Pandan Gardens God’s enclave
Thy dear Presence, LORD, I crave.
Sunset without glow so bright
Christ within me burn more bright.

Fourscore years have come and gone.
Man of vision still toil on.
Lasting fruit of yester year;
John Sung’s convert knows no fear
Footprints’ pathway one clear call;
What blest place this hallowed hall.

Eager christian come with haste
Join in hymns of grateful praise.
Heaven’s manna on all fall
Spirit’s power freshen all.
God of comfort guard our hearts
Keep us homeward in Thy path.
-Calvin E.Y.Tan

To be continued… (More about My years with Calvary Jaya Bp Fellowship, PJ)

Today is the mensiversary of Dr. Peter Ng’s home-going.

I first heard about Dr. Peter Ng in year 1973 – 46 years ago when I attended the KL JSM.

ON THE LEFT IS REV DR PETER NG, THE PRINCIPAL OF SCHOOL OF MISSION.

To be continued….(More about my 15 years with Jesus Saves Mission 1973 to 1988 later)

See from his head, his hands his feet. Sorrow and love flowed mingled down

To see is once but to survey is a constant, careful look and look again at the blood flowing down from his head, flowing down from his hands and from his feet – spreading and covering his bruised and broken body…

Until his whole body is covered with his own precious Blood.

4) His dying crimson like a robe

Spread over His body on the tree

Then am I dead to all the globe

And all the globe is dead to me

During the 2nd World War the prisoners of the Thai-Burma Death Railway used toilet paper to write their memoirs. And they used their own blood as ink to write their woes and sufferings.

So God has used the Blood of Christ since the Foundation of the World to write the Greatest Love Story Ever Told (History is actually His Story. There is only one Story in Heaven – The Story of the Lamb Jesus)

Jesus was
” the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev.13:8b)

The Blood of Jesus is typified in the entire Bible running from Genesis to the book of Revelation.

In Genesis he was the “coat of skin” that covered Adam and Eve”

In Exodus he was the Passover Lamb. His Blood protected every home from the death angel.

In Joshua he was the “Scarlet Rope” that saved Rahab & her family.

His Dying Crimson… His Precious Holy Blood was written all over the Bible. “And without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin”

All saints in OT, NT and For forever are saved by the Blood of Jesus.

For those before Christ they kept the passover. Hands were placed on the sacrificial lambs and sins were confessed and passover to a future Saviour – that is Jesus Christ. Today all believers are saved by what Jesus did once and for all in Calvary. The LORD Supper is a remembrance of His Atoning Death on Calvary. So for those Jews who believed their faith is in the Future while Christians have their faith looking back to the past on Calvary

So THE CROSS is The Highest Peak of Divine Revelation – not end times prophecy or even New Heaven & Earth

YES!!

CALVARY. THE CROSS UPLIFTED ON CALVARY IS THE ULTIMATE FOCUS OF DIVINE MANIFESTATION

Here Jesus reconciled back all things & cried “It is finished”

And here is where the line is drawn for all who believed

“Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price”

THEN AM I DEAD TO ALL THE WORLD AND THE WORLD IS DEAD TO ME

So we died with Jesus on the Cross, buried with Jesus & resurrected with Jesus to newness of life by identification.

And as we survey THE WONDROUS CROSS we can exclaim

5) Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life , my all —

Note the words “Were the whole realm of nature mine” It speaks of the all encompassing solar system of nature.

And should it be given as an offering to Christ it is still an offering far too small.

It is a small offering

It is “too small” an offering

It is “far to small” an offering indeed

Because Love SO AMAZING SO DIVINE

IT DEMANDS MY SOUL, MY LIFE, MY ALL

It demands all my internal love, zeal, energy & my entire utmost bodily strength & all that I have and owned – MY ALL IN ALL BE GIVEN TO HIM BOTH NOW AND FOR “FOREVER”

Amen & Amen!

In Isaac Watts immortal hymn he asked 2 question

1. Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
2. Or thorns composed so rich a Crown?

These are 2 Immortal Questions indeed!

When Adam fell the ground was cursed. And up came thorns & thistles.

Now The Son of God is given a wreath of thorns as a Crown by Man. From this Suffering Saviour whose brow is pierced by thorns came 5 Rich Crowns

Jesus Christ bought His Church with His own Blood & also prepared 5 Crowns

Crown of Life (Rev. 2:10) For those who suffer persecution for the Cross

Crown of Righteousness(2 Timothy 4:8) Those who love His 2nd Coming

Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4) For Pastors who shepherd the flocks faithfully.

Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19) Those who win souls for Christ

Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:2) Those who bear the Cross faithfully

What a Wondrous Crown of Thorns Jesus wore for us in exchange that we could get an opportunity to wear these 5 Crowns in His Kingdom when He returns again in Glory, Majesty & Great Power.

May we be faithful to fill up all our days in His most Glorious Service

We are not saved by good works. We are saved to Serve Him in doing good.

And in eternal gratitude to Him who is Worthy we don’t want any crowns in heaven. We only want Christ Jesus Himself

See

¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. {Rev.4:10-11)

Amen & Amen

To be continued….