Inspire To Pray

The year was 1974. The place was the First “Jesus Saves Mission” in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here I attended the Friday All Night Prayer Meeting held from 10pm till next day at 4am – a 6 hour long marathon All Night Prayer.

Most of the Friday Nights were spent in sweet fellowship and prayer. The permeating gracious presence of God enabled us to pray all night – most fridays.

One Friday night. I heard brother Timothy Khoo praying and mumbling inaudible words. After half an hour I heard him repeating the same. So I moved a little nearer to hear his prayers.

To my surprise. He was repeating, “Lord Jesus, forgive me my sins. Lord Jesus, forgive me my sins.”

“It’s all right”, I thought to myself, “he is confessing his sins”.

Another half hour passed. I heard Timothy repeating the same words again and again, “Lord Jesus, forgive me my sins. Lord Jesus, forgive me my sins”.

Baffled and puzzled I asked Timothy, “Why are you confessing your sins non stop for one hour now? Didn’t the Bible says, “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness?”

“Didn’t God forgive you when you confess?”, I questioned Timothy.

He replied, “Yes, when I confessed my sins I know God did forgive me. But I sinned again!”.

“How come you sinned so fast?”, I was getting really concerned by now. “And you are on your knees in an All Night Prayer Meeting. This holy place shouldn’t be the place to sin?”

Timothy revealed, “As fast as I confessed my sins – evil thoughts immediately enters my mind. So I have to confess again, and again, and again, and again!”

I was dumbfounded & speechless! And I had no answer as I was a very young Christian, then.

Timothy Khoo has brought his entire family to Christ. Among them 3 were called to full time Christian Service – Eunice Khoo, Khoo Swee Shiah * & Rev. Matthew Khoo – my fellow Bible College mate. Timothy was therefore, the object of satanic attack. I wish I had the answer then. Not long after Timothy left the Church and no longer worship with us.

One day I attended the Bethel Baptist Church at C4 Koon Lin Court, Pasar Road. To my horror thoughts kept coming to my mind – blasphemous, vile, accusing thoughts kept pouring into my mind like torrents! The look of the Church people there looked menacing (Actually they are nice and gentle people.)

I mistook them for every word which the devil twisted when they spoke to me. It was a total heinous attack of satanic darkness. This continued as I confessed my sins. As fast as I confessed my sins and asked for the washing and cleansing by the Blood of Jesus – as fast as the fiery darts of satanic attacked my mind again and again. And how come I am so filled with evil myself?. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Ha! What Timothy Khoo experienced is now passed on to me? Will I be his next victim? It was my time of anguish and despair. And I had no answer nor deliverance!

Then I read Pilgrim’s Progress. Actually, when Pilgrim passed through the Valley of the shadow of death an evil spirit followed him and whispered blasphemies into his ears. Being in the dark he has no way of knowing whether these heinous thoughts originated from within or from the evil spirit. Then when Pilgrim came out of the Dark Valley into sunshine the demon left him.

So now I see. Then in Revelation 12:10 -11 it says, “And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

And listen to this further, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death”

This is it!

The secret is this

1. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. To overcome Satan we must confess all sins to God in order that the blood of the Lamb can cleanse us.
2.  Then “and by the word of their testimony” What is this? By the word of their testimony. This is an offensive attack against the powers of darkness. We should command Satan and all evil spirits to leave in the Mighty Name of Jesus!
3. And they loved not their lives unto the death. An attitude of total consecration to God. God has 100% dominance of us!

At that satanic powers were defeated and routed!

I was delivered!

Thank Almighty God for His Deliverance!

Amen and Amen!

 

Sometime in the Year 1977 I was serving as a student Missioner in Bukit Ho Swee “Jesus Saves Mission”.

It was my 3rd  year as a student in the School of Mission (SOM) in Singapore. Bukit Ho Swee in Jalan Membina Barat  is located near the very Southern part of  Singapore while the Bible College was located at Admiralty Road East right in the Northern most part of Singapore.

One Sunday as usual I had no money. No. Not even a single cent in my pocket.  Not even money for breakfast or lunch. So I spent that memorial day in fasting and prayer as I walked up to Mt Faber. It was my usual dealing with God in affluent Singapore. I only looked to God, and God Himself alone to provide all my needs.

Here on the hill top of Mt. Faber in Singapore I prayed, “Dear LORD, Please provide me dinner & bus fare  back to SOM in Admiralty Road East this evening”. The School of Mission (SOM) is located   about more than 25 km away or about 1 hour bus ride.

At 4.00pm the Worship Service commenced in Bukit Ho Swee JSM. It was a wonderful time. After the Service was over near 6pm Pastor  Peter Ng said, “Eng Yee, I want to invite you to our HDB Flat in Toa Payoh for dinner”. So I followed him home to Toa Payoh in his Old Volkswagen Beetle.  It was a nice dinner of curry chicken rice with many side dishes prepared by Tow Siew Mui (Mrs. Ng).

Dinner over. Pastor Peter  Ng then fetched me to the Bus Stand near MacRitchie Reservoir, just outside Toa Payoh. “Here, Eng Yee, wait for the SBS Bus to SOM in Admiralty Road East”. And he left me there that night in Singapore. Not knowing whether I had Bus fare or not. He assumed that I must have enough money to take Bus back.

Standing among the crowd in a dark night I pondered. “God, you have provided me a nice dinner. And you have also provided me half the journey from Jalan Membina Barat to Admiralty Road East – now I am stranded in the MacRitchie Roundabout Bus Stand”

In year 1997 MacRitchie was a Roundabout before they cut it up as a traffic light junction.

Does God work by half measure? Only answering half of my prayer? Must I now walk from MacRitchie to SOM in Admiralty Road East – a half hour or more walk back?

Lo! & behold! I suddenly heard the sound of a car horn. Hwee Hwa’s brother was fetching him (a fellow SOMer)  to SOM that night! And to my amazement he could see and picked me out from the crowd of people at the Bus stand!!

In no time I am back in SOM. Ha! God answered the 2nd part of my prayer!

With a very grateful heart I went into the Lecture Hall. Shut the door & knelt before My Heavenly Father to give my heartfelt thanks.

At the same time I took out 4 envelopes which were given to me through the offering bag. In each white envelope is a ten dollar bill.

MY GOD IS SO GOOD!

I only ask for food and journey mercy back to Bible College. I didn’t ask for any money. And GOD did better than that. He gave me extra S$40 which I didn’t ask for.

GOD IS INDEED A GOD OF WONDER! AND WORTHY TO BE SERVED!

This special day is a RED LETTER DAY INDEED. WHICH I WILL REMEMBER THE REST OF MY LIFE HERE AND FOR ALL ETERNITY!!

AMEN! & AMEN!

 

Sometime in the 1980s when I was pastoring the Jesus Saves Mission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I had a dream.

I heard angels singing,

 

“When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea- billows roll.

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul”

Chorus:

It is well.  With my soul. It is well,  it is well with my soul”

 

I have never heard such wonderful, harmonious singing like this on earth! It was very soothing & spiritually uplifting. I felt my spirit lifted up heavenward! It was still dark  just before day break. Early in the morning I told my wife about this strange visitation.

Few hours later I spoke in the Morning Worship Service. About 15 minutes into the sermon the Church phone rang. I saw one Hong sister picked up the phone. Then she joined the Congregation and brought news to her 2 other sisters & also her brother Hong Fun Shun. They all broke in tears. Their mother has just gone home to be with the LORD.

Immediately, I stopped preaching and told them not to be sad as God has already prepared by sending Angels to take her home.

As the singing angels descended a little too early they visited our Mission Church in KL. That’s where I heard them singing & singing.

That was more than 30 years ago today. Yet to this day I still remember the singing vividly.

In heaven singing is the Christian’s chief  employment. And we will sing for ever and ever. Amen & Amen!

From left most is the late Sis Hong Siew Ching, Mrs. Chan & Hong Siew Pun (3 Hong Sisters) (circa 1980s)

“The LORD Our God Is Not Interested In Mega Churches Or Big Catheral. Our LORD says, “When The Son Of Man Cometh, Shall He Find Faith On The Earth?(luke 18:8)”. Our LORD is looking for Faith, Genuine Faith In Him & Him alone.

God found one man in the Old Testament as an example of Tenacious Faith – Faith That Prevails. Recorded in James 5:16b are these potent words, “THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.” Elijah was no different from us for it says, “Elijah was a man subject to similar  passions as we are..”

Elijah went through 3 Examples Of Total Dependance Upon Jehovah God in Divine Protection & Provision.

No.1. FED BY RAVENS

After he obeyed God  in delivering the Message of Judgement to the wicked King Ahab that there will be no rainfall for 3 years and 6 months, he was told by God to hide himself by the  mountain brook called Cherith. God said, “Thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there (1 Kings 17:4)” The ravens as we know are unclean birds. But God chose them to do His work. Why not the eagles or sparrows?

Elijah was a Wanted Man. After one year of drought a desperate warrant for his arrest is issued nationwide.  No man dare to give him protection or provision. So he has to hide by the narrow mountain brook. Eagles’ with a wingspan of 5 to 6 feet cannot enter or leave the cramped space of the narrow brook, so God did not use the eagle. Neither the sparrows, they can’t carry much weight of food for a fully grown man like Elijah. So the All Wise God chose versatile ravens to do the job.

What  humiliation!, a fully  grown man receiving bread and flesh from ravens. Never in his imagination during normal times did he envisioned that  these detestable scavenging birds would one day be his chosen benefactors. Such is the mysterious ways God train his servant. To lay low his pride & put full confidence in God – The Living God Alone!

His Daily Prayer. His Effectual Fervent Prayer Continued Day By Day. And he saw the answer to his prayers. Right before his eyes he saw the brook Cherith shrinking in volume – till  “the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land”.

No.2. FED BY POOR WIDOW WOMAN FACING IMMINENT DEATH.

God knows His servant’s need. He says, “Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”  Not a widow from Israel; but a widow from a heathen country, a Zidonian who worship the goddess Ashtoreth. An unclean bird fed him. Now God commanded a widow woman from an unclean nation to sustain him. It was implicit obedience without questioning God.

Arriving on the scene, Elijah might have thought that this widow had inherited a fortune from her deceased husband. Abundant provision? Did not Full Gospel Doctrine tell us that By believing Jehovah God there will be guaranteed health and wealth? Health & Wealth Teachings Are So Prevalent today? Abject poverty?  This is The Reality!

Oh no Elijah, what you actually witnessed is your God’s Power in Holding Back Rain Even In Distant Land Here. Famine has devastated this poor widow. She is now gathering firewood to bake her last meal. She is actually facing imminent death. Listen to her pathetic words, “I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die 1 Kings 17:12)

Faith, mighty faith welled up from Elijah’s soul as he proclaimed, ‘For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth ( 1 Kg.17:14)

Though faith is like a very small mustard seed – if allowed to grow in suitable condition. Suitable Condition? Not in high sounding, noisy, men entertaining Churches. Not in feasting & merry go lucky ways of the world. Where? In quietness  & in confidence is your strength. In The Meditation Of God’s Word, FOR FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND  HEARING  BY THE WORD OF GOD  (Never By Tongue Speaking  Or Loud Clapping)

FAITH, MIGHT FAITH, LAUGHS AT UNBELIEVE, AND CRY, IT SHALL BE DONE!

Mount Carmel’s Sacrifice Is An Outward Testimony Of Elijah’s Life. The Bullock Represents Elijah’s Total Consecration – Death To His Pride, Death To His Own Will – That He Might Do The Will Of God – And God Alone!

THE FIRE THAT FELL IS A TYPE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

A Revivalist says, “THE FIRE WILL NOT FALL IF THERE IS NO SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR”

IS YOUR ALL ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE LAID?

     YOUR HEART DOES THE SPIRIT CONTROL?

YOU CAN ONLY BE BLEST AND HAVE PEACE AND SWEET REST

     AS YOU YIELD HIM YOUR BODY AND SOUL…

SEE HOW THE FIRE FELL:

IT FELL FROM HEAVEN (Not Worked Up By Emotion Like Ahab’s False Prophets)

IT BURNT UP THE BULLOCK

IT BURNT DOWNWARD THE WOOD

IT BURNT FURTHER DOWN THE BIG STONES

IT BURNT UP THE SOIL ON THE GROUND

IT BURNT & DRIED UP FOUR BARRELS OF WATER!

No.3. FED BY ANGELS

Even with the execution of 850 false prophets & the Conversion Of Thousands From Baal Worship To Jehovah, the wicked queen Jezebel did not bat an eyelid & wanted to kill Elijah.

You see, winning a Mighty  Battle At Mt Carmel does not automaically enable us to win another. Winning Spiritual Battle is Always By God’s Divine Grace & Power. We are only vessels. So Elijah ran for dear life. Elijah did not wait for Instruction. If he did he need not flee at all. He heard God said, “I commanded the ravens to feed thee THERE.” Again, “I have commanded a widow woman THERE to sustain thee (1 Kg. 17:9)  THERE, THERE Elijah Is The Only Place Of Protection & Provision!  YES! THERE IS WHERE THE CENTER OF HIS WILL! And  Inside His Will Is Invinsibility!

Alas! Elijah run ahead of God’s Will. BUT Our God Is The Kind & Compassionate God.

Hungry, tired  & thirsty he laid down under a juniper tree and requested for death. Where? It was a day’s journey in the desert – 22 miles.  No ravens to bring him  flesh?  No poor widow woman to bake him cake? You Shall Not Be Served By Birds Or Man Elijah. You Shall Be Served By Angels. God never fails to take care of His own.

You see, the First miracle involves ravens bringing him food. Is it miraculous? Animals like dog, chimpanzees, dolphins and even birds have been taught to fetch things. Yes, it  is a miracle. But men have trained animals to do wonders, too. So what?

The Second Miracle Of Multiplying Flour & Bread Is True Miracle Because There Is a Creative Act.

The Third Miracle Is Unmistakable! Angel appeared & disappeared out of no where. If you believe God – you will see Greater & Greater Things Of Wonders. Our God Is A God Of Wonders.

Where Is The Place For Prosperity Gospel here? No money at all is mentioned here. Ravens certainly do not use money. Poor widow woman has none.  Neither does the angel. The proponent of propsterity gospel says,”Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a lowly donkey – the equivalent of a Mercedes in his time.” They say  that the soldiers cast lot for his seamless garment because it is of high value. Jesus must be rich.

What did Jesus say? He says, “The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man hath no where to rest his head.” He also says,”Them that wear soft raiment (expensive clothes) are in the king’s palaces”. The lowly donkey is equivalent to the cheapest  Daihatsu Mira In Japan Or Kancil in Malaysia.

Be very careful of these modern day false teachers who are out to make merchandise of you. They do not deny themselves, nor bear any crosses which is a must if we want to be His true disciples.  Ahab has 850 prophets against One Man Elijah. The Majority must by right? No, they were all false. So are the Mega Churches who never preach against sin. There is a missing note of repentance; and therefore the majority are neither born again or have experience the new birth.

God uses natural means to provide for us. But If God Calls You And Wants You To Be His Witness He Will Show You Many Things. You will rise from the lower natural plane to a higher spiritual plane of Divine provision by God Himself.  One of them IS LIVING BY FAITH!

Brethren Pray For Me That I May Have The Liberty & Grace To Share.

On September 25th  2011, we posted an article called “A Little Child’s Thanksgiving.” This is the continuation of the  evening prayer activity;  or you may call it “Part Two Of A Little Child’s Prayer”

After the blessed time of prayer on Gasing Ridge I asked David whether he would  like to have a hamburger for supper.

He nodded in agreement. McDonald was located at Yaohan Shopping Complex in Old Klang Road.  As our car descended the hill it started to drizzle. I told him to pray for a parking space in the Yaohan Building. The prayer was offered in simple child-like faith. As we approached the building the drizzle turns to heavier rain drops. But all the parking lots were full at 1st Floor. So we drove up to the 2nd Floor, and there were no empty parking lots either. Then we proceeded to drive up  to the 3rd Floor; but this is an Open Air Car Park! The sky is now pouring rain in torrent.   And since we didn’t bring  umbrellas we had to turn down to the 2nd Floor again. Lo and behold, as we descended we saw a car just moved off at the same time – or we may call it “perfect timing”. So we got our parking space in answer to prayer. And the burger tasted much better that evening.

FAST FORWARD TWENTY YEARS LATER.

The Gasing Ridge Prayer Time was sometime in 1991 -1992. David was about 3 years old. In 2010, slightly less than 20 years later,   David got his Driving License in Singapore. On the same evening he left with his brother in the family car for supper at Bukit Timah 7 Mile. The place is a 24 Hour Mamak Restaurant – always crowded with diners.  Hardly any parking space available especially at night.  On returning I asked him how he managed to get a parking space and also about any difficulty in parallel parking? He told me in ANSWER TO PRAYER GOD TOUCHED ONE CAR TO LEAVE JUST AS HIS  CAR WAS APPROACHING THE MAMAK RESTAURANT,   AND WONDER OF WONDERS GOD ALSO TOUCHED THE DRIVER OF THE CAR NEXT TO IT TO MOVE OUT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.!!!  Enabling him to park easier.

1) PRAISE GLORIFIES GOD.
AT the First Christmas Night, the angels sang, “Glory to God in The Highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men”.

Again in Psalm 50 it says, “Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth Me.

2) SINGING & HOLY SPIRIT FILLING.

Ephesians  5:18b &19 “Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” Somehow, there is a divine  link between fervent Christian singing & Holy Spirit Infilling.

At the dedication of King Solomon’s Temple, the singers were gathered to praise God in unison. 2 Chronicles 5:13 &14, “It came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.” At the 1st Symphony of Solomon’s Temple in praising God the Holy Spirit came down like a cloud – no one is able to do anything. Everyone is Lost in The Awesome Wonder of The Presence of God The Holy Spirit!

3) REVIVAL DAYS ARE DAYS OF SINGING & PRAISING GOD.

In the Great Moravian Revival of 1727, there were days of Blessed Singing. Many hymn writters originate from the Moravian Church.  Among them is James Montgomery who wrote “According To Thy Gracious Word”.  Among the favourite is ,

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Uttered or unexpressed;

The motion of a hidden fire;

That trembles in the breast.”

Among the converts of The Moravian Movement were John & Charles Wesley, who founded the Methodist Church. Charles Wesley wrote 6,000 hymns. If it takes Charles Wesley each week to compile 4 hymns – 6.000 hymns equals 4 hymns weekly for 28 years!

4}  CONVERSION BY SINGING

During a Christian Camp that I attended long ago, I heard a brother giving his testimony. He said he fell into the drug habit and was  caught and sent to jail. He lamented, “Curiosity Kills; curiosity kills the cat! Curiosity kills the tiger! He took drug out of curiosity. There in the prison – alone and desolate – he heard singing,  singing of Sunday School songs which he learnt as a child. The words in the songs came with convicting power by the Holy Spirit. There and then he accepted Christ as his Lord & Saviour.

5) Homer Rodeheaver – Song Leader In Billy Sunday Crusade.

Billy Sunday was a powerful soul winner during the early 20th century in North America. Mettings were held in tents  and converts would walk down the saw dust trail to receive Christ publicly. However, Billy Sunday was unable to speak as he was delayed by some unforeseen event. So Homer Rodeheaver the Song Leader took over the Entire  Meeting in the singing of many gospel songs. As the singing progressed the Spirit of God descended in great power. The Song Leader was led to give the invitation there and then  & many responded, got up went forward toward the platform to accept Christ as Saviour.

6) GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS (Isaiah61:3)

Perhaps you are feeling down now. Don’t despair, if you feel cold in winter you have to put on winter clothes. You might not feel warm instantly, but after a while with your body heat built  up you will definitely feel warm So put on the garment of praise; start praising God and you, too, will feel the warm of the Holy Spirit enveloping you.

7) SINGING PRAISES TO GOD MORE POWERFUL THAN JUST PRAYING.

When Apostle Peter was in prison, the Church prayed. God sent an angel to deliver him. The chains fell off Peter’s hands and the prison iron gate opened  by itself. But when  Paul & Silas prayed & sang praises to God – ALL THE PRISON DOORS WERE OPENED IMMEDIATELY & ALL THE CHAINS FELL OFF ALL THE PRISONERS’ HANDS!! (Acts 16). So Prayer saved Peter one person while Praising Saved Paul, Silas & All The Other Prisoners!

Note: The iron gate that opened  on its own accord in Acts 12:10 is the First Automatic Gate In The World. Many years later some wise guy invented the Automatic Gate powered by Remote Control & Electricity!  The English word “automatic” is not a translation, it is actually a direct  transliteration from greek “automate”.

8)CONTINUAL FEAST

But a Cheerful heart has A Continual Feast (Proverbs 15:15)

For a period of 10 years I drove weekly from Singapore to KL for work. It was a jouney of 4 hours each way. Looking back at those days  brought gladness to my heart. In the beginning I listened to “HYMNS TRIUMPHANT 1 & 2  by the London Phiharmonic  through music tapes.  Later I could sing almost all the songs by memory It was a continual feast of song after song on my four hour ride back. Happy times passed fast. In no time I reached home.

9)  THE CHIEF EMPLOYMENT OF HEAVEN.

There be three things which are done on earth 1) Preaching  2) Praying  &  3) Singing.

In the Heavenly Kingdom we will no longer be preaching or witnessing.  There is no need to pray as we are already in the Immediate Presence of God. But we will continue to sing and praise God all the time. Revelaion 19:1″ And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto THE LORD OUR GOD.” ALLELUIA means PRAISE YE THE LORD.  ALLELUIA is repeated 3 more times in Rev. 19.

One of the Best Compilation on earth is Handel’s MESSIAH. When the queen of England 1st heard it she stood up in Standing Ovation. JESUS IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS> AMEN & AMEN.

1}  SIGN OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Just as the physical body needs oxygen, the spiritual life begins  with prayer. Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, the Christian’s native air. Jesus, the Ascended LORD said of Paul, “behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9:11)

2} BECAUSE THERE IS A PERSONAL DEVIL

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring  lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)  When I was a very young  convert, more than 40 years ago, I used to go into my room, shut the door and pray. Oh, how Satan wanted to hinder and stop me from praying – suddenly cars would blare their horns, dogs would bark at   cats, baby would cry and all sorts of distractions would come my way to keep me from praying. Thank Almighty God, when I persisted in prayer, resisted the devil – he fled.

3) ABUNDANT PROVISIONS – ONLY ASK

The only legitimate way to receive good things and all things is to ask  God – God is Our Provider.

“Thou art coming to a King;

Large petitions with thee bring.

For His grace and power are such;

That none can ever ask too much.”

4)  SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD

“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings (Psalm17:8}

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Ps 91:1)

5) THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

Disney World and Universal Studio claim to be the happiest place on earth. God’s Word says, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in THY PRESENCE is FULLNESS OF JOY, at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11)

6)  THE PRAYER MEETING IS POWER MEETING

The place of prayer is also the place of power. Leonard Ravenhill says, “When they have prayed the place is shaken but when we have paid the place is taken.”

7) CHRIST LIKENESS

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteoousness: I shall be satisfiedd, when I awake, with thy likeness (Ps 17:15}

If you put a bar of iron in the fire you may say that the iron is in the fire. As the fire permeates and penetrates the iron  we may now say that the fire is in the iron.  As we daily live our lives in the Presence of Christ we will allow the very Presence of Christ to permeate our whole being until the very image and likeness of Christ be formed in us. Oh, that will be glory indeed!

Psalm 18:3  King David said, “I will call upon LORD, who is worthy to be praised…..”

But he did not, due to more pressing needs that diverted his intention. Not until things get from bad to worse that he finally turn to God in verse 5 ” IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UPON THE LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before Him, EVEN INTO HIS EARS.

The Prince of Preachers, Charles Hadden Spurgeon says, “The goal of prayer is the ear of God.”

If our prayers can reach the ear of God – GOD WILL MOVE  HEAVEN, EARTH AND THE SEA (Literally!) FOR US!

THE EARTH

“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved, and were shaken, because He was wroth..v 7

THE HEAVEN

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea,

He did fly upon the wings of the wind..V10″

THE SEA

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of e nostrils v 15

In ancient times God opened  the red sea for the children of Israel to cross over in their escape from the pursuing Egypt armies.  In modern times we witnessed the 2004 tsunami when people have seen the ocean floor when the waves were rolled back

Evangelist Oswald J. Smith says, “When we work we work, but when we pray God works!”

INDEED! Read The Following Verses:-

HE SENT FROM ABOVE

HE TOOK ME

HE DREW ME OUT OF MANY WATERS.

HE DELIVERED ME  FROM MY STRONG ENEMY

HE BROUGHT  ME FORTH ALSO INTO A LARGE PLACE

HE DELIVERED ME

HE DELIGHTED IN ME

HE RECOMPENSED ME. VERSES 16 – 20

Theologians have said that God is a transendent God. After Creation God had left the earth to run by itself and doesn’t bother with the affairs of men anymore. However Jesus says, “My Father worketh hitherto and I work”. 

“Prayer moves the Hand that moves the world,”  J.A. Wallace

Yes The Verdict Is “GOD WORKETH FOR HIM THAT WAITETH FOR HIM” AMEN & AMEN!

After preacing 3 different messages on one Sunday in 1978  I noticed the sentence “Strolled the Tiong Baru Park to-night.” It was a time of Spiritual Revival when the CHURCH is FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Preaching is so easy and a wonderful joy indeed. Only from expereince we understand the words of the Bible, “And every man went unto his own house. Jesus went unto the mount of Olives (John 7:53 – John 8:1)”

Like a Turbo charged engine of a High perfomace car, long after you have turned off the engine and removed the ignition key — the engine continues to run on by itself for quite some time before it finally dies off. The preacher unable to turn off the lingering anointing must find a place to pray and praise God –  speaking to himself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  To speak to himself must seem like madness to those around or beside him. Therefore we read “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives”. And that’s why I had got to go to Tiong Baru Park that night. What transpired was too heavenly to described in the diary. Hallelujah!

Divine Unction in Preaching is extremely important in any Church Worship. The life  giving Presence of the Holy Spirit makes a great difference between the savour of life unto life or savour of death unto death.(2 Corinth. 2:16)  Just as the same sun that melts the wax, it also harden the clay. By our preaching men’s hearts may either melt or harden – depending  on the infusion of grace by the Holy Spirit through us. It was just after the conclusion of the Evangelistic Campaign on 9th September 1978 that I was led to preach for Sunday Worship 4pm 10th September 1978.

Again, allow me to quote verbatim from the journal:-

Last night departed to Rev. Ng’s home (Toa Payoh, Singapore). He asked me to preach since the LORD burdened my heart. ( Preach 3 different messages in 3 Mission Stations on the same day.) But as I waited on the LORD I felt no message. This morning on the last minute spoke on th “Prayer of Faith” at PK Mission, then on “Prayer” at the Craig Road Station. (Both in the morning) Rested some time in the afternoon and prepared again for the afternoon Worship Service.

I was still not prepared when I stepped into the pulpit by faith. The LORD met with us in a miraculous and marvellous way. I WONDERED GREATLY AT THE WAY THE HOLY SPIRIT  BROUGHT TO MY MIND THE WORD OF GOD. It  was too glorious for words. Strolled the Tiong Bahru Park to-night.

Epilogue:-

Many preachers who have experienced Divine Unction know it but cannot explain it. I think the lawyer turned  Preacher Charles G. Finney   gave a clear explanation:

“The subject (of the sermon} would open up to my mind that was surprising to myself, so that I could see with intuitive clearness just what I ought to say, and whole platoons of thoughts, words, and illustrations, came to me as fast as I could deliver them.” Autobiography of Charles G. Finney

My own experience is this, “When the  Comforter is come , he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,  and of judgment (john 16:8) “the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Eph.6:17b) The word Comforter is paraclete in greek. A compound of 2 words

para (along side) caleo (called) it means SOMEONE  CALLED ALONG SIDE or someone called to be by our side to offer help. In our case the Holy Spirit indwells us, take control of our mind, bring all things to our mind in concentration when we preach. Only the All Knowing Holy Spirit know our audience’s darkest sins and secrets. So when He speaks through us  He will reprove sin, show Christ’s righteousness & convict with fear of judgment to come and its consequences.

In the testing of Jesus, Satan  consolidated  all his temptation  in a concentration of time. “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world IN A MOMENT OF TIME (Luke 4:5)” Just as the sinner is irresistibly tempted by the devil  to sin, the Holy Spirit irresistibly convict the sinner of his sinfulness, and turn him to Christ’s righteousness and freedom. Both are done In A Moment of Time,  though in different direction. The word ATONEMENT is a combination of 3 words AT ONE MENT.

In the moment when we have saving faith to see Christ Jesus dying for our sins. That moment we have atonement and are justified. That’s why salvation is instantaneous.

Since divine unction can come ONLY BY PRAYER we must devote MUCH TIME to wait FOR HIM ON OUR KNEES.