Today, I learnt a staggering truth. The truth being that when Paul said in 1 Thess 5:9 "Be joyful always", he was saying it to a persecuted Church, a Church whose believers were undergoing tribulation and even martyrdom.
When he said to the Philippian Church in Phil 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again, Rejoice!" he was speaking to a persecuted Church too.
That makes the exhortation all the more poignant. It is not some platitude to "Rejoice" in the midst of first world problems. It's an exhortation that encourages the believer not just to hold onto God a la Job's "Though he slay me, yet I will trust in Him", but to rejoice in tribulation. It is almost other-worldly.
In the last year, I've seen so many more parallels to the persecuted Church in the world we live, as the days get darker. The Mosul Christians in Iraq for one, had to choose to recant their faith or be tortured or thrown out of their town, with nothing but the shirts on their backs.
So I was really convicted by John Piper's blogpiece on persecution. He says the believer's faith will polarise. It will draw a strong reaction - either conversion from those who see our life and are drawn to it, or revulsion by those who see it and hate us for it.
He says if we haven't drawn that reaction, it is that we are keeping our light under a bushel. "You are keeping the stumbling block of the cross well concealed (Gal 5:11, 6:12-13)."
"You don't let your distinctive values show." But he does go on to say "Neither persecution nor conversion will always happen immediately. In fact, many people are torn inside themselves, partly hating the claims of Christianity in your life, partly attracted by them."
"So we should all examine ourselves to see if we are playing a kind of cowardly Christian incognito. And if so, we should repent and resolve to be more sincere in the expression of who we really are. But we must not assume that, because there is no persecution right now and no conversion right now, the fault must lie with us. The gestation period for new birth may be nearing a happy end. Or the storm may be ready to break against you."
Either way, why can we rejoice?
Because as he reminds us in the Beautitudes, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven." And then "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
For a long time, in the Western world, and Westernised societies, it may have been popular to be a Christian. As we draw nearer to the End Times, I believe the body of Christ will parallel more and more the Thessalonica or Philippian Church, in that there will be increasingly more persecution. Will we be cowardly incognito Christians, hiding our light under the bushel, to avoid tribulation? Or will we be more sincere in the expression of who we really are, and pay the price as believers?
Praying for grace to be a true child of God, who will walk with the Father and our elder brother Jesus, guided and comforted by our best friend the Holy Spirit, until the end. Amen.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Singapore's prophetic destiny
Just concluded three days of the inaugural Singapore Gathering! All I can say is "Wow!" Or more accurately, my spirit says "Wow". My mind still cannot entirely fathom what happened :[ … So when a friend asked me this morning, what exactly is Singapore's prophetic destiny (or Malaysia's, or Japan's for that matter), it really was a good question. For during the Gathering, we prayed for the nations that we would fulfill God's purposes for us.
In all, 24 nations came this year to stand with Singapore, to seek God's face, and to release us to all that is on God's heart for us. During the meeting, we met a Danish young lady, who shared why she came. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband, and their mission is to Danish Jews in Israel. Given the size of their ministry, money is tight for them. If God released the finances, she had intended initially to go for the upcoming Global Gathering in Munich, Germany, because it is nearer to Israel geographically. But then she saw the livestream of Singaporeans on our faces, weeping before the Lord, at the recent Asia Gathering in Hong Kong, and felt that she had to come to Singapore to stand with us. She told her husband about the prompting, and in the end, God released finances just for her to come. So here she was!
Now, I had just chanced upon GoldBell Mansion at Pender Road on Mount Faber a few weeks ago, while searching out the places where Sun Yat Sen stepped foot on when he was here in Singapore between 1900 and 1911. The house used to be owned by Tan Boon Liat, and Sun Yat Sen stayed in it while he was here in Singapore in 1911. Today, the premises is used by the Danish Seaman's Church! I asked them if non-Danish can attend Sunday service, they said, sure! Except that service is in Danish, so language might be a problem! But I was excited to learn about the presence of a Danish community of believers here. So when I met this Danish girl, who exercised faith and obedience to come pray with Singaporeans at our Singapore Gathering, it was very moving. We are really an international city, and the nations make their home with us. So how are we blessing them?
But I digress. Back to the question of Singapore's prophetic destiny. Having attended a number of gatherings since 2010, and hearing David Damien share, these are the little pieces I've gotten:
1. Since the time of the early church, the Gospel has spread, first to Europe, then to US, and now to Asia. It has gone Westwards, and Peter Tsukahira in his book "God's tsunami" explains the path the Gospel took very well. The final lap is to bring the Gospel back to Jerusalem, and we are hearing increasingly that Asia will lead that charge. We are likened to the arrowhead that will make this Westwards push.
2. When Japan is aligned to God, the clash of the kingdoms will start. David Damien believes this happened last year with the first Japan Gathering. Japan holds the key to God's timing.
3. China holds the key to the strength of the End-Time army. The awakening of the Chinese Church is a mighty force in the kingdom of God. And they are a people who have been persecuted so much for their faith in years past, they don't fear persecution or death, which must be the price they are willing to pay if they are to evangelise the Middle East enroute to Israel.
4. The spiritual destinies of Singapore and Malaysia are intertwined. One is a lock and the other is a key. Yesterday, at the Gathering, I heard for the first time that Singapore is called to be an instrument to the sons of Isaac, and Malaysia to the sons of Ishmael. This was shared by Bishop Moses, and to catch his sharing, click here [Go to the 2 hr 2 min mark of the Wednesday 16/9 afternoon session, to watch this very meaningful portion].
5. Singapore is also called to be the Antioch of Asia, and to be a blessing to the nations. I think financing the End-Time work will be one of the practical ways of doing so… Exercising generosity. When I was in Peter Tsukahira's Mt Carmel school some years back, twice, we heard that Singapore had financed a work. The first was to an African couple who was in my school; their trip had been financed by a Singaporean. The second time was when we visited a Palestinian church in Israel. The pastor shared that he built his church on faith, because God told him to do so. He always prayed in the money. When his second installment was due, his banker called him, and asked when he was going to service the loan. He wasn't sure, since he didn't have the money. Then the next day, the banker called again and said, "Oh! Some Singaporean just wired over the money that's due, so it's all been paid for!" When I heard that story, my heart turned all warm and fuzzy. I was so proud to be Singaporean! We are called to bless the nations, and God has prospered us and turned us into a First-World nation in one generation not for ourselves, but for kingdom work!
To catch the full Singapore Gathering, it's all online here.
In all, 24 nations came this year to stand with Singapore, to seek God's face, and to release us to all that is on God's heart for us. During the meeting, we met a Danish young lady, who shared why she came. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband, and their mission is to Danish Jews in Israel. Given the size of their ministry, money is tight for them. If God released the finances, she had intended initially to go for the upcoming Global Gathering in Munich, Germany, because it is nearer to Israel geographically. But then she saw the livestream of Singaporeans on our faces, weeping before the Lord, at the recent Asia Gathering in Hong Kong, and felt that she had to come to Singapore to stand with us. She told her husband about the prompting, and in the end, God released finances just for her to come. So here she was!
Now, I had just chanced upon GoldBell Mansion at Pender Road on Mount Faber a few weeks ago, while searching out the places where Sun Yat Sen stepped foot on when he was here in Singapore between 1900 and 1911. The house used to be owned by Tan Boon Liat, and Sun Yat Sen stayed in it while he was here in Singapore in 1911. Today, the premises is used by the Danish Seaman's Church! I asked them if non-Danish can attend Sunday service, they said, sure! Except that service is in Danish, so language might be a problem! But I was excited to learn about the presence of a Danish community of believers here. So when I met this Danish girl, who exercised faith and obedience to come pray with Singaporeans at our Singapore Gathering, it was very moving. We are really an international city, and the nations make their home with us. So how are we blessing them?
But I digress. Back to the question of Singapore's prophetic destiny. Having attended a number of gatherings since 2010, and hearing David Damien share, these are the little pieces I've gotten:
1. Since the time of the early church, the Gospel has spread, first to Europe, then to US, and now to Asia. It has gone Westwards, and Peter Tsukahira in his book "God's tsunami" explains the path the Gospel took very well. The final lap is to bring the Gospel back to Jerusalem, and we are hearing increasingly that Asia will lead that charge. We are likened to the arrowhead that will make this Westwards push.
2. When Japan is aligned to God, the clash of the kingdoms will start. David Damien believes this happened last year with the first Japan Gathering. Japan holds the key to God's timing.
3. China holds the key to the strength of the End-Time army. The awakening of the Chinese Church is a mighty force in the kingdom of God. And they are a people who have been persecuted so much for their faith in years past, they don't fear persecution or death, which must be the price they are willing to pay if they are to evangelise the Middle East enroute to Israel.
4. The spiritual destinies of Singapore and Malaysia are intertwined. One is a lock and the other is a key. Yesterday, at the Gathering, I heard for the first time that Singapore is called to be an instrument to the sons of Isaac, and Malaysia to the sons of Ishmael. This was shared by Bishop Moses, and to catch his sharing, click here [Go to the 2 hr 2 min mark of the Wednesday 16/9 afternoon session, to watch this very meaningful portion].
5. Singapore is also called to be the Antioch of Asia, and to be a blessing to the nations. I think financing the End-Time work will be one of the practical ways of doing so… Exercising generosity. When I was in Peter Tsukahira's Mt Carmel school some years back, twice, we heard that Singapore had financed a work. The first was to an African couple who was in my school; their trip had been financed by a Singaporean. The second time was when we visited a Palestinian church in Israel. The pastor shared that he built his church on faith, because God told him to do so. He always prayed in the money. When his second installment was due, his banker called him, and asked when he was going to service the loan. He wasn't sure, since he didn't have the money. Then the next day, the banker called again and said, "Oh! Some Singaporean just wired over the money that's due, so it's all been paid for!" When I heard that story, my heart turned all warm and fuzzy. I was so proud to be Singaporean! We are called to bless the nations, and God has prospered us and turned us into a First-World nation in one generation not for ourselves, but for kingdom work!
To catch the full Singapore Gathering, it's all online here.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
ACS clocktower revival prayer meeting (Once more and much more)
"In 1972, the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit upon a group of young boys as they prayed in the ACS clock tower. It was one of the significant events that helped mark the beginnings of the Charismatic Movement in Singapore, the fruit of which has blessed us these 43 years."
These were the words of an invitation that went out recently, to encourage believers in Singapore to once again come together to pray and contend for revival to break out in our nation.
The date of the meeting was exactly 80 years from the day John Sung arrived in Singapore in 1935, which triggered a massive revival among the overseas Chinese.
I felt stirred to attend this meeting at ACS Barker, and when I walked in - woah! The presence of God was so strong in that hall (the Mrs Lee Choon Guan Concert Hall). The water levels were pretty deep!
But what moved me to tears was hearing the under-30s share their heart. One common theme to emerge was just how sold out they are for the Lord. The deep longing of their souls for more of Jesus moved me to tears. Another common theme to emerge was how they longed for spiritual mothers and fathers, spiritual mentors to walk alongside them in their journey. A third theme was that they wanted us (older peeps) to give them the freedom to express themselves and walk out their lives in the way God has called them. They didn't use these words, but the sense that I got was that we cannot try and force-fit them into our pattern, like putting new wine in old wineskins.
Hearing them, I realised that indeed, this younger generation is a different generation. They may be young, but God has given them such a capacity, such an anointing, that they already feel like they are surpassing my generation in terms of hunger for Him, revelation and understanding, and longing for His Kingdom. I felt like my heart was bursting listening to them. I thought I would attend this meeting to pray for yet another clock tower revival in our land, but as one of the speakers said, he believes God will do "once more and much more".
YES indeed! We are digging the wells of revival in our land, and from last night's experience, I know the Lord is near. The time of breakthrough is not far, if we will just press in as one body, across the generations.
These were the words of an invitation that went out recently, to encourage believers in Singapore to once again come together to pray and contend for revival to break out in our nation.
The date of the meeting was exactly 80 years from the day John Sung arrived in Singapore in 1935, which triggered a massive revival among the overseas Chinese.
I felt stirred to attend this meeting at ACS Barker, and when I walked in - woah! The presence of God was so strong in that hall (the Mrs Lee Choon Guan Concert Hall). The water levels were pretty deep!
But what moved me to tears was hearing the under-30s share their heart. One common theme to emerge was just how sold out they are for the Lord. The deep longing of their souls for more of Jesus moved me to tears. Another common theme to emerge was how they longed for spiritual mothers and fathers, spiritual mentors to walk alongside them in their journey. A third theme was that they wanted us (older peeps) to give them the freedom to express themselves and walk out their lives in the way God has called them. They didn't use these words, but the sense that I got was that we cannot try and force-fit them into our pattern, like putting new wine in old wineskins.
Hearing them, I realised that indeed, this younger generation is a different generation. They may be young, but God has given them such a capacity, such an anointing, that they already feel like they are surpassing my generation in terms of hunger for Him, revelation and understanding, and longing for His Kingdom. I felt like my heart was bursting listening to them. I thought I would attend this meeting to pray for yet another clock tower revival in our land, but as one of the speakers said, he believes God will do "once more and much more".
YES indeed! We are digging the wells of revival in our land, and from last night's experience, I know the Lord is near. The time of breakthrough is not far, if we will just press in as one body, across the generations.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Singapore Family Gathering 2015
In December 2010, I had just returned from a prayer retreat in Seoul, a trip I almost didn't make. That December, Pyongyang had threatened to go to war with South Korea. This time, the rhetoric sounded less hollow than before - and amid the sabre-rattling, the US moved a warship into the Yellow Sea. Many people cancelled their trip to Seoul on the concern war might truly break out. I sought the Lord earnestly if I should still proceed; He assured me it would be safe to go, and I did. Whilst there, it struck me that many South Koreans were third generation believers -- how had they gotten Christianised I wonder? I found out later the revival had first started in Pyongyang more than a century ago, and then spread South. Pyongyang! The rogue nation that almost caused me to miss my trip!
This intriguing piece of information caused me to start reading up on the Pyongyang revival. It made me jealous for Singapore to be saved too … for Singapore to experience the revival that swept across Pyongyang, and rippled outwards.
I know many Singaporeans have likewise contended for years for this nation of ours to be a resting place, a dwelling place for the Lord. A place which He is so comfortable with, He will tarry, and stay.
This is why I'm so excited about the Singapore Family Gathering happening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 14-16 September. This gathering is not like other ordinary gatherings - it is a gathering of believers who long for the Spirit to break out over this land. I've attended similar gatherings in Hong Kong, Japan and Israel, and the heart of these gatherings is to give the Holy Spirit complete freedom to move and to direct the programme. A lot of time is centered on worship; and if the Lord wills, whole sessions are given to worship (We do not limit Him!). Lots of emphasis is placed on hearing the voice of God, and moving only when He says move. In past meetings, lots of repentance, reconciliation and restoration also takes place, with the other nations and the global body.
At the recent Jubilee Day of Prayer, I was greatly moved to see 50,000 Singaporeans come together to worship and thank the Lord for all that He has done these 50 years, and to pray that righteousness will be upheld the next 50 years. I saw Singaporeans unite as one to intercede for this little red dot we call home.
The September Family Gathering will be special -- coming on Singapore's 50th year, and coinciding with our founding father Lee Kuan Yew's birthday, as well as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It also coincides with the last of the four blood moons.
Today I heard that Singapore has the Issachar anointing - we are a people who understand the times and seasons we live in. This blogpost is an encouragement to all who love the Lord and who love Singapore to prayerfully consider joining this gathering. Already the ability to secure the venue at the Singapore Indoor Stadium is a divine happening… and I am excited in my Spirit because I know the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon us.
Here a video on the Singapore Gathering:
To find out more about the Singapore Gathering and to register, please click here
This intriguing piece of information caused me to start reading up on the Pyongyang revival. It made me jealous for Singapore to be saved too … for Singapore to experience the revival that swept across Pyongyang, and rippled outwards.
I know many Singaporeans have likewise contended for years for this nation of ours to be a resting place, a dwelling place for the Lord. A place which He is so comfortable with, He will tarry, and stay.
This is why I'm so excited about the Singapore Family Gathering happening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 14-16 September. This gathering is not like other ordinary gatherings - it is a gathering of believers who long for the Spirit to break out over this land. I've attended similar gatherings in Hong Kong, Japan and Israel, and the heart of these gatherings is to give the Holy Spirit complete freedom to move and to direct the programme. A lot of time is centered on worship; and if the Lord wills, whole sessions are given to worship (We do not limit Him!). Lots of emphasis is placed on hearing the voice of God, and moving only when He says move. In past meetings, lots of repentance, reconciliation and restoration also takes place, with the other nations and the global body.
At the recent Jubilee Day of Prayer, I was greatly moved to see 50,000 Singaporeans come together to worship and thank the Lord for all that He has done these 50 years, and to pray that righteousness will be upheld the next 50 years. I saw Singaporeans unite as one to intercede for this little red dot we call home.
The September Family Gathering will be special -- coming on Singapore's 50th year, and coinciding with our founding father Lee Kuan Yew's birthday, as well as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It also coincides with the last of the four blood moons.
Today I heard that Singapore has the Issachar anointing - we are a people who understand the times and seasons we live in. This blogpost is an encouragement to all who love the Lord and who love Singapore to prayerfully consider joining this gathering. Already the ability to secure the venue at the Singapore Indoor Stadium is a divine happening… and I am excited in my Spirit because I know the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon us.
Here a video on the Singapore Gathering:
To find out more about the Singapore Gathering and to register, please click here
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Spiritual sight
In Psalms 119:18-19, the Psalmist prays:
"Open my eyes that I might see
Wonderful things in your law
I am a stranger on earth
Do not hide your commands from me."
In Chinese, this reads:
求你开我的眼睛
使我看出你律法的奇妙
我是在地上寄居的
求你不要向我隐瞒你的命令。
It's interesting these days for me to deconstruct the Chinese language. The Chinese have such an ancient history leading back 2,500 years and they used to serve 上帝，the Most High God. Many of the Chinese characters can be deconstructed to show the Chinese knew stories from the Bible. For example, the word 船，or boat, is made up of three separate characters... A vessel, and eight people. Now we know that Noah and his family (wife, 3 sons and their wives) went into the ark, a total of eight persons.
Back to this passage in Psalms. It is telling that the word hide "隐瞒＂is made up of a few characters. One is 急，or busy, rushed, harried.
The other is 目, or sight.
The others I need to ask my Chinese speaking friends haha.
But it struck me that in the Bible, spiritual sight or revelation/ understanding is so key to the prophetic, especially to the seers.
God said to Amos, "What do you see?"
He said to Jeremiah, "What do you see?"
He said to Zechariah, "What do you see?"
The same is true for Ezekiah and so on and so forth.
What gets in the way of spiritual sight? One hindrance is busyness, a rushing about. In Chinese, the word busy 忙 can be deconstructed to mean 心 (heart) and 亡 (dead). Sobering.
On the other hand, the greatest commandment is to love The Lord with all our hearts (尽心）or to pursue him wholeheartedly or with one heart (一心).
In 2015, am praying that The Lord opens up my spiritual sight that I may see Him and know His heart. Praying that the busyness and hurriedness that all us city dwellers fall prey to will be something I overcome. Seeking The Lord about the rest that is synonymous with the Jubilee here in Singapore.
Without vision, the people perish. May The Lord open our eyes that we may have eyes to see. Amen.
"Open my eyes that I might see
Wonderful things in your law
I am a stranger on earth
Do not hide your commands from me."
In Chinese, this reads:
求你开我的眼睛
使我看出你律法的奇妙
我是在地上寄居的
求你不要向我隐瞒你的命令。
It's interesting these days for me to deconstruct the Chinese language. The Chinese have such an ancient history leading back 2,500 years and they used to serve 上帝，the Most High God. Many of the Chinese characters can be deconstructed to show the Chinese knew stories from the Bible. For example, the word 船，or boat, is made up of three separate characters... A vessel, and eight people. Now we know that Noah and his family (wife, 3 sons and their wives) went into the ark, a total of eight persons.
Back to this passage in Psalms. It is telling that the word hide "隐瞒＂is made up of a few characters. One is 急，or busy, rushed, harried.
The other is 目, or sight.
The others I need to ask my Chinese speaking friends haha.
But it struck me that in the Bible, spiritual sight or revelation/ understanding is so key to the prophetic, especially to the seers.
God said to Amos, "What do you see?"
He said to Jeremiah, "What do you see?"
He said to Zechariah, "What do you see?"
The same is true for Ezekiah and so on and so forth.
What gets in the way of spiritual sight? One hindrance is busyness, a rushing about. In Chinese, the word busy 忙 can be deconstructed to mean 心 (heart) and 亡 (dead). Sobering.
On the other hand, the greatest commandment is to love The Lord with all our hearts (尽心）or to pursue him wholeheartedly or with one heart (一心).
In 2015, am praying that The Lord opens up my spiritual sight that I may see Him and know His heart. Praying that the busyness and hurriedness that all us city dwellers fall prey to will be something I overcome. Seeking The Lord about the rest that is synonymous with the Jubilee here in Singapore.
Without vision, the people perish. May The Lord open our eyes that we may have eyes to see. Amen.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
仍然愛著耶穌
今天在华文教会见证了神在它们当中所做的奇妙事。我是第一次参加华文教会的敬拜，真的很感谢主给我这个机会领受他对我们华人的恩典慈爱。在敬拜的时侯真的是感动的流起泪来。早上唱的两首诗歌对我来说还是第一次听到，可是里头存有很多真理，真是太美妙了。
Prayer in the year of Singapore's Jubilee
As Singapore enters her Jubilee, this song so beautifully captures the prayer of my heart.
May this city be yours, O Lord. We long for your glory, for your presence to be upon this land. This is our prayer, our plea. May this, our prayer for our city, our people, rise as incense before your throne.
May this city be yours, O Lord. We long for your glory, for your presence to be upon this land. This is our prayer, our plea. May this, our prayer for our city, our people, rise as incense before your throne.
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