2019 - International Day of Prayer for Children and Youth

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Announcement

Call: Women's Ministries One Day Conference

Date: 6 April 2019 (Sat)

Venue: Kuala Lumpur Corps

Time: 9am - 3pm

Theme: Living the Royal Life

Details: Kindly see Captain Fiona for transportation arrangement.

Southwest Cell Group

Date: 12 April 2019 (Fri)

Venue: Bro Sunny and Sis Rachel's Home

Time: 8pm (be punctual)

Good Friday Service

Date: 19 April 2019 (Fri)

Venue: Penang Corps - Worship Hall

Time: 8pm

All are welcome.

I provide food for the hungry and justice for the oppressed.

Psalm 146:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,

Our God is good. He has a heart of compassion for the marginalized, the oppressed and all who need His help. As we read in 1 Corinthians 13:6 describing the character and nature of love from the Amplified Bible .. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. (AMP)

It is frustrating to see evil prevail around us. I think God has placed something in the human heart that longs to see justice for the oppressed.  Be encouraged in knowing that this desire comes from God because our Father does not rejoice in evil, but He always rejoices when justice wins out.


Today's promise simply reminds us that our God is for the underdog and the hurting. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29how He has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the strong, the poor of this world over the rich, and the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.

No matter what injustice you are facing today personally or what injustice you see around you, be comforted in knowing that our Father understands and He rejoices when justice wins out.

Thousands may fall around you, but you will not be harmed.

Psalm 91:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.

Psalm 91 is a powerful declaration of the safety and shelter that you and I can live in knowing that we are living under the constant care of Almighty God. In today's promise, the psalmist tells us that we can live in a state of safety in even the most stressful of circumstances.

Can you imagine living in such a place of security and protection that you could feel safe from harm though thousands were falling around you? I personally struggle at the thought of what it would feel like to be surrounded by such distress but yet feel completely protected. However, the psalmist tells us that those who live under the shadow of the Almighty can expect such safety.

While this illustration might be a little extreme for daily life as we know it, try to imagine how this might apply to your every day life situation. Maybe you work in the middle of a busy office filled with loads of anxiety and stress-filled people?

Though others are not coping around you, could you see yourself as being completely and absolutely insulated from the fear and anxiety that others are experiencing simply because you have made God your dwelling place? My prayer for each one of us today is that the answer is ...YES!

Though the world around us may be coming unglued at the seams, may it not come close to us because we have the safety and security of being absolutely convinced that we are loved and protected by the One who created the heavens and the earth.

I will give you My strength to help you stand in high places.

2 Samuel 22:33-34 New International Version (NIV)

33 It is God who arms me with strength[a]
    and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.

In today's promise, we read of King David's declaration of God's faithfulness after he was delivered from the murderous pursuit of his father-in-law, King Saul. He proclaims to everyone who will hear, that God is his strength and power and makes his feet sturdy, like the sure footing of the deer who climb the mountaintops.

The Amplified Bible says 2 Samuel 22:33-34 this way... 33 God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free.34 He makes my feet like the hinds' [firm and able]; He sets me secure and confident upon the heights. (AMP)

With God on our side, we are able to climb to great heights knowing that He will help us stand firm in the highest of places. We have nothing to fear. He is able to keep us from falling. May our God and Father strengthen you and give you the sure footing you need today, no matter what obstacles you face, so you can reach great heights in His loving care. 

If you live in My secret place, you will find rest under My shadow.

Psalm 91:1 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]

The New Living Translation says Psalm 91:1 this way... Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (NLT) For anyone who struggles with fear, I would recommend reading Psalm 91 over and over again. It is a psalm that will bring reassurance to a troubled heart.

Today's promise speaks of a resting place in the heart of God that every believer has access to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It is called the secret place of the most High, the shadow of the Almighty. In this place, we are completely safe and secure. Nothing can harm us there! What a picture of God's protection and His care!

Verse 4 goes on to say that our God will cover us with His feathers and provide shelter for us under His wings. When I think of this picture, I imagine a mother eagle hovering over her little eaglets, sheltering them in their nest from anything that would bring them harm or make them feel distressed.

My prayer today is that each and every one of us would find the secret place of the living God and make our home there all the days of our lives. Can you imagine what life could look like if we could live there every minute of every day?

I believe that this is not a physical location, but rather a posture of our heart. May each one of us enjoy all the tangible benefits of living in the shadow of our Heavenly Dad right now.

My anointing will teach you all you need to know.

1 John 2:27 New International Version (NIV)

27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

In today's promise, the Apostle John tells us that the anointing that comes from God abides in us and will teach us all the things that we need to know. The Greek word used for anointing in this passage is chrisma which is the root word for charisma or charismatic.

The Enhanced Strong's Lexicon describes it as anything smeared on, unguent, ointment. This usually described the ceremony process when a priest was anointed as he was launched into public ministry. It is interesting to think that God has smeared us with His very presence so that we too can live our lives on earth as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6).

This is an amazing truth...We are the temple of His Holy Spirit and the abiding place of God Almighty Himself! God has promised to lead us and guide us in all truth if we will simply have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying.

My prayer today is that you and I would be aware of the anointing that our God and Father has smeared on us that identifies us as His beloved sons and daughters. May each one of us have the confidence to know that we are not walking alone in this life, but the anointing will lead us and teach us everything we need to know.

When you pass through the waters, I will be close to you.

saiah 43:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

We live only a few miles away from the mighty Niagara River. The world renowned Niagara Falls is part of the incredible torrent of water that flows between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario here in Canada. Whenever I get the opportunity to come close to its river bank, I see first hand the incredible power of its rapids. What can possibly withstand such a raging force?

In today's promise, our God tells us that no matter how deep the water we wade in, or how raging the river that comes against us in life, we will not be overwhelmed...for He is with us. His love for us is stronger than anything that would try and come against us and overtake us. The first part of Zephaniah 3:17 says... For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. (NLT)

My prayer today is that each one of us would know how big and how strong our God is. No matter the size of the opposition coming against our lives or those we love, God is bigger. He has promised to be with us when we pass through the waters so that we will not be overwhelmed because that is what good fathers do! May we rest in His loving care today.

I see all your hardships and I care about your suffering.

Psalm 31:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction
    and knew the anguish of my soul.

The English Standard Version of the Psalm 31:7 says this... I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul (ESV) King David, who wrote this psalm, knew a lot about hardship and affliction. He experienced much loss, betrayal, grief and violence in his tumultuous life.

The one thing I have always appreciated about David was his transparency when writing the Psalms. He never tried to cover up his true feelings. He was honest in his communication with God. In today's Bible verse found in Psalm 31:7, we read how David was keenly aware of the steadfast love that God had for him. He was also aware that God understood his suffering and deeply cared for him in the midst of his distress.

No matter what pain you are going through in your life today, God understands. He knows us more than we know ourselves. When He sees our struggles and our suffering, His heart is filled with compassion for us. As David also wrote in Psalm 103:13-14, God has compassion on us just like a good father has compassion on his children.  May you and I be overwhelmed with His steadfast love today in the midst of our suffering. 

Announcement

International Day of Prayer for Children and Youth

Date: 31st Mac 2019 (Sun)
Theme: Dream Big, Pray Like a Child
Details: Please uphold the Children and Youth in our prayer as they take part in leading Sunday Service on this special day.

Northeast Cell Group

Date: 31st Mac 2019 (Sun)
Time: 12:45pm
Venue: Community Hall

Last Call: Women's Ministries One Day Conference
Date: 6 April 2019 (Sat)
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Corps
Time: 9am - 3pm
Theme: Living the Royal Life
Details: Kindly see Captain Fiona for further information.

I will never abandon you.

Hebrews 13:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[a]

In today's Bible verse, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to be content with our lives because our God and Father has promised to never leave us or forsake us. In the knowledge of our Papa's closeness, we can take a deep breath and simply rest in His nearness. We don't have to be anxious about anything. We don't have to covet anything, because we have all that we need in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

If we are not convinced that everything we need can be found in the intimacy and fellowship found in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we will seek other things in order to be satisfied. However, if we truly believe in our heart that God will never leave us or forsake us, we will know that we have indeed found the pearl of great price.

No matter where you go, God goes with you. If you have received the free gift of Jesus' life, then you are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, whether you feel His presence or not. God will NOT abandon you! He is closer to you than you possibly could imagine.

My prayer for each one of us is that we would be convinced more of this promise today than ever before! He will never leave you or forsake you...never!

I am with you and I will help you because I am your God.

Isaiah 41:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Jesus told us in Luke 12:32 to fear not, for it is our Father's good pleasure to give us His kingdom. God doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us rather to live in the safety and security of knowing that He loves us and He is for us (Romans 8:31). The reason why we don't have to be afraid is because He is with us wherever we go.

Since our Dad is the biggest, strongest, most loving Dad in the universe, we can rest in His 24/7 care of every area of our life. In today's Bible verse, God promises to be with us wherever we go. He promises to strengthen us, help us and hold us up with His mighty right hand.

Psalm 27:1... Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? (WEB)

Commit all that you do to Me and your plans will be successful.

Proverbs 16:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3 in the Amplified Bible says this... Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. (AMP) The NIV Bible says that God will establish your plans when you commit all that you do to the Lord.

To commit all that we do to the Lord does require a huge level of trust in Him. Trust that He is looking after our best interests and trust that we do not have to manage our life on our own. When we are convinced that our God and Father is indeed trustworthy, we will have the courage to entrust Him with our lives and rest in the outworking of His plan for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God's heart for us is to give us a hope and a future. He is a good God and Father who gives good gifts to His kids (James 1:17) My prayer today is that you and I would know this through and through and would be able to commit everything we do into His loving care.

As we are able to let go and let God, we will see our plans established in the way that our Heavenly Dad has intended. May we all experience the kind of success that God has planned for us that is measured from a Kingdom perspective.

I have blessed you in Christ with every heavenly blessing.

Ephesians 1:3 New International Version (NIV)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I had the personal privilege of receiving my earthly father's blessing before he died. It was a real honor for me to receive such a blessing from my own dad and I am keenly aware that many people have not shared the same experience with their own earthly fathers. Some may have even felt cheated out of their father's blessing similar to how Esau felt when his brother Jacob cheated him out of the blessing. (You can read the story in Genesis 27).

But the truth is that our God and Father made a way through the cross of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:13-14) for each and every one of us to experience every heavenly blessing there is! Today's promise from Ephesians 1:3 says that you and I have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Every blessing that there is in heaven is yours because of what Jesus did!

We do not have to feel cheated out of any earthly blessing because we have a Heavenly Dad who has more than made up for our lack of blessings on earth, by showering us with His own blessings straight from heaven. We are not orphans, trying to struggle through this life, but we are part of the greatest family ever because God is our Father and Jesus is our Elder Brother. Because of our rich inheritance, we have been blessed in Christ with every heavenly blessing there is! Hallelujah!

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to you.

Romans 8:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[a] his Spirit who lives in you.

It is amazing to me to think that the very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and me. Our bodies are not a dwelling place for a small measure of the Spirit's presence, but we host Him in His entirety!

The same Spirit of the living God that had so much power that He raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that has chosen to reside in your heart. And it is the same Spirit that will give life to your mortal body just as He gave life to Jesus!

The Bible says that we are His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Bible also says that our God and Father sealed us with His promised Holy Spirit as a deposit to guarantee our coming inheritance. (2 Corinthians 5:5) If we try to understand this simple but profound truth in our intellect, we will most likely short circuit because it is too wonderful to comprehend by human standards. That is why we need the Holy Spirit Himself to make this revelation a reality to each one of us. Why not ask Papa God for a deeper revelation of His Holy Spirit today?

Luke 11:11-13
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (WEB)

Your old life is dead and your new life is hid with Christ in Me.

Colossians 3:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

The reality for everyone who has received the free gift of eternal life is that their old life is passed away and everything has become new in Christ. To better appreciate today's promise, I think we should read Colossians 3:1-3 from the English Standard Version...

1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (ESV)

This passage of Scripture clearly tells of the royal position that every believer has in Christ, seated at the right hand of God. I do not believe that this just an idealistic picture that Paul wanted to paint, but it is a spiritual reality right now. Our Elder Brother Jesus, actually sits at the right hand of our Father in heaven, and because we are joined with Jesus, we are seated there too!

Without revelation that comes from the Holy Spirit, the spiritual reality of today's promise is much more than we can comprehend with our natural mind. How can we see ourselves as hid in Christ, seated at the right hand of God with our human understanding? It is far too great a promise for us to grasp without the power of the Holy Spirit to make this real to us!

So my prayer today is that the reality of our spiritual position in Christ would become more real to us than it has ever been before. Holy Spirit, would you come and help us grasp this amazing truth? We want to see with our spiritual eyes today and comprehend every great and precious promise that comes from the throne of our God and Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I delight to reveal My kingdom to those with a childlike heart.

Matthew 11:25-26 New International Version (NIV)

The Father Revealed in the Son

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

In today's promise, we read how Jesus delightfully declares that the mysteries of the kingdom are actually hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed to little children. I especially like how the Amplified Bible translates this passage of Scripture...

Matthew 11:25-26... 25At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled]. (AMP)

To further illustrate this truth, I would encourage you to read Matthew 18:1-4. In this passage of Scripture, the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. I can't imagine how surprised they would have been when Jesus called out a little child as an example of one whom He considered to be great in His kingdom.

Jesus does not call us to be childish, but He does call us to be childlike. Little children live a completely dependent life. They know they are small and they carry within their little bodies a humility that causes them to trust completely in their parents' care. The more that we can see the incredible value in having a childlike heart towards our Heavenly Father, the more we will be able to grasp the mysteries of our Papa's amazing kingdom.

Announcement

Southwest Cell Group

Date: 22nd Mac 2019 (Fri)
Time: 8:00pm (Be punctual)
Venue: Bro John Lee & Sis Shirley Home.

Corps Council Meeting

Date: 23rd Mac 2019 (Sat)
Time: 3:00pm
Venue: Community Hall

International Day of Prayer for Children and Youth
Date: 31st Mac 2019 (Sun)
Theme: Dream Big, Pray Like a Child
Details: Please uphold the Children and Youth in our prayer as they take part in leading Sunday Service on this special day.

Women's Ministries One Day Conference
Date: 6 April 2019 (Sat)
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Corps
Time: 9am - 3pm
Theme: Living the Royal Life
Details: Kindly see Captain Fiona for further information.

I have chosen the weak things of this world to confound the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:27 New International Version (NIV)

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

I don't know how you feel about today's promise, but when I read it, it puts a smile on my face. The thought that God has chosen the weak things of the world is very good news for me.  In the broader excerpt of this passage found in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, we read how God has not only chosen the weak things to confound the strong, He has chosen the poor to confuse the rich and the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.

The reason why I think this promise is such good news is that I believe that most of humanity falls within one of these categories... weak, poor or foolish. Jesus Himself told us that He did not come for the healthy (spiritually) but for the sick. If you take time to read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12, you will read that the gospel is really good news for those who are not naturally considered 'top of the food chain'.

This is not to negate the rich, the strong and the wise, but it is definitely a way where Jesus elevates the poor, the foolish and the weak to the level playing field of the cross. Since we live in an upside down kingdom where the first will be last and the last will be first, let us always be reminded that when we are weak, His strength is perfected in us. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).

I have called you out of darkness into My glorious light.

1 Peter 2:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I love how all of the letters in the New Testament speak of our old life as being in the past tense. We are no longer sinners, but are now sons and daughters. We no longer live in darkness, but we have been called into the glorious light and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In today's Scripture verse, the Apostle Peter reminds us that we are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood set apart by God Himself. We no longer live in darkness for we are children of the light. My question in today's blog is... Do we believe that we are living in the light of God right now?

In Revelation 12:10, John describes the devil as 'the accuser of the brethren'. He is the father of lies and he will do everything he can do try and convince us that we still live in darkness (John 8:44). While we still live in a fallen world filled with darkness, we ourselves are children of the light.  We are a new creation now. The old has passed away and all things are new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

May each and every one of us take our rightful place as sons and daughters to our Heavenly Father, appropriating the shed blood of the Lamb of God so that we can fulfill our destiny as His kids and walk in the light as He is in the light... for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)