Cornerstone Herald I April 2008 by Cornerstone Herald

Heidi Baker at the

open heavens CONFERENCE

CHRISTMAS @KATONG

a tireless sowing event

30CHINA

ALIVE MINISTRY

Celebrating 10 years of God’s Glory

A PUBLICATION OF CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH, APRIL 2008, MICA (P) 017/02/2008

Herald, April 2008

From the Editor

contents

Feature 13 The Just Shall Live by Faith 36 Who Will Be The Antioch Church? Faithful Chronicles 5 Tireless Sowing Abounding Grace 8 Cornerstone Women’s Ministry

The

Open Heavens

Conference with Heidi Baker Pg 27-29

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HERALD*

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In The House 10 Israel Conference 28 Open Heavens Conference International Ministries 20 Project Menorah 22 The Vineyard of The Lord 30 Cross Over & Occupy, Establish & Possess 34 The Formation, Work & DNA of Zion Fellowship, Perth Generations 44 Audacious Youth Camp 2007 46 Ignite Conference 48 Go and Sin No More Let the Children Come 50 Children’s Camp 2007: The Great Commission 53 The Lord’s Army Vacation Camp 2007 Living Testimonies 40 Gabrielle Tan 41 Liena Tan Kevin Tan In the Secret Place 54 Discipleship

From the sub-editor

The last six months

have seen numerous unprecedented events taking place around the world. Capturing the attention of many people would be the ongoing uncertainty in the financial market. The swagger is now gone and everyone from common folks to governments are teetering on paper-thin confidence and treading cautiously. Politically, no less than twelve countries had either a change or major shuffle in government. In Asia alone, we have Taiwan, South Korea, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand and there is also Australia and Russia that have new leaders installed. From a natural perspective, it may seem like a downward spiral of economic instability and political upheaval. Therefore, it is important for us as the people of God to understand and discern the times and seasons that we are in. Analysts and experts will tell us that this is another cycle; this is another repeat of history. But if we will live our lives according to the Word of God, then we know that God is about to do something new in our time and generation. God is preparing the nations for harvest. It is not uncommon that God uses the things in the natural, to speak or prepare a nation for what is to come in the spiritual. Nevertheless, the key is in the response. Recently, a pastor put it this way, “Our blessing is in our obedience.” This is applicable at the personal level, and likewise the same principle works at a national level. God is now calling and stirring His people in many countries to consecrate their lives and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. A famous revivalist once said that for a nation to bow, the Church has to first bend. If the goal is for permanent and effectual change in a nation, then the Church has to be first transformed by the power of God, which really means a transformed you and me. And a transformed life starts with a renewed mind.

What frames our understanding of the intents and purposes of God? It looks like I’m seeing a new season bursting forth, fresh windows of opportunities springing up. It’s beautiful to see the events that have been unfolding in 2008, doors to the nations have opened wider and testimonies of quiet prayers by individuals to want to do more and to effectively serve Him are answered. What a time and season to take hold of God! Sometimes the feelings of frustration and of not understanding the timing of God or feeling like “I’m at a ‘useless’ phase in my life.” can be confusing. You are thrown off balance and cannot arrive at a reasonable answer. And isn’t it at this point that one holds on to the wisdom of God, His faithfulness because our heart is towards Him and not to our own ways. If that is you, this Herald holds many stories and articles with encouraging words you can glean from and you will not be disappointed by His goodness with the richness and diversity of expressions . This is a season for you to believe and to continue to believe in His purposes. Love and grace

pastor daphne yang

He is the God of the nations and He wants His people to share the same passion and vision. Residing in Singapore can sometimes skew our perspective, resulting in a miniscule horizon. I have the privilege of travelling for my work, but I realised being well-travelled does not necessarily mean that I am kingdom-minded when it concerns the nations. The important thing is to understand God’s desire and what He is doing in the nations now, that we may find our part and be involved. Micah 4:2 describes this aptly, “Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.”” As you read the accounts and reports coming from different nations, may you be stirred for His kingdom!

fu ceming

Herald, April 2008, fAITH FU L CH RON ICLES

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

S s o s e w l e i n r i g T

Christmas@Katong/JOO CHIAT By Lin Qiuping

God desires fruitfulness. He expects

it of our lives and in our works for Him. Yet, who can claim that bearing fruit is an easy-going process? It is an ongoing work and in our limited human strength, there will always be moments when we grow tired and weary. In the run-up to Christmas@Katong/Joo Chiat, some could have felt it, especially given the festive mood that was all around at that time of the year. However, the world celebrates Christmas for very different reasons compared to you and I, and this is what gives purpose to what we do. Instead of winding down into the customary holiday season, we were working to end the year on a high - with an outreach to our neighbours, and a celebration of God’s goodness through the year. God desires fruitfulness, and has promised His provision and love to aid us. Being His child entails access to His throne of grace where strength is promised for renewal, where manifold grace is provided for all difficulties (Heb 4:16, Isa 40:31). The season might be tiring, but it caused us to draw near to the Lord for sustenance. His Spirit enables us to run the race and run it well (Zech 4:6). In the midst of the preparation, it was important to remember our purpose - to be a city that shines upon the hill, as a lamp in a place of darkness; a 4

sower of God’s love into souls that would be reaped in His time (Matt 5:13–16). After all, Cornerstone has not been randomly placed in Katong. This is our home ground, where we are to be a blessing to the community. The Bible exhorts us to do good and while doing so, not to be weary and keep on sowing till we reap a harvest for God’s kingdom (2 Thess 3:13, Gal 6:9-10). The three-day carnival was not just “all work and no play”! How enjoyable it was to see the various performances that Cornerstonians – of different ages and ministries – put up. The items performed by other churches, schools and organizations also livened up the fair. Having young children from the kindergarten and old folks from a home made the event even more meaningful. Just wandering around the stalls to check out the knickknacks on sale, with uniquely-coloured orange or purple candy floss in hand was simply great fun in itself. John 15:8 - “By this

My Father is glorified, that

Christmas@Katong/Joo you bear much fruit; so you Chiat 2007 was the third will be My disciples.” edition of this community outreach event and it is a work in progress. It is certainly a labour of faith and love, and I believe that God will honour this work that He has entrusted to us, so that His Name alone will be exalted over the land. Till the next Christmas... God bless! 5

Herald, April 2008, fAITH FU L CH RON ICLES

You can do it ~ recipe with Rosalind Ho

S s o s e w l e i n r i g T We know that prices of virtually everything have gone up. So starting from this issue, Aunty Rosalind, The Olives Cafe’s resident dessert chef, will share her recipes for you to prepare simple but delicious meals. Starting with her ICE-CREAM CAKE recipe below. Why don’t you use this as an opportunity to bond with fellow cell-members and create a culinary sensation?

Christmas@Katong/JOO CHIAT

ICE-CREAM CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

1 ready-made sponge cake (see below for recipe)

• Remove ice-cream from freezer to soften. It should be softened enough to spread but not melted.

1 tub of ice-cream (between 1.5-2litres) 1 tub of Kraft Coolwhip Fruits for decoration

• Slice sponge cake into 3 layers. •

Place the bottom most layer of the sponge cake onto a 20cm cake tin and spread half of the softened ice-cream on top.

• Place another layer of sponge cake on top of the ice-cream layer. •

Spread the remaining ice-cream on top of the sponge cake and layer with the last slice of sponge cake.

• Spread some of the coolwhip onto the top of the cake, keeping aside some for the side.

SPONGE CAKE RECIPE INGREDIENTS: 2 eggs 85g sugar 85g flour METHOD: •

Whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy, leaving a trail when whisk is lifted out of the mixture.

• Freeze ice-cream cake for at least 2-3 hours.

• Fold in flour and pour mixture into a 20cm greased and lined tin.

•

Remove cake from the tin and place on serving dish, spread more coolwhip onto the sides and freeze for another hour.

• When the ice-cream cake is ready to be served, decorate with cut fruits of your choice.

Bake at 200degC for 7-10minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Herald, April 2008 2008, aboun ding g race

Cornerstone Women’s Ministry

“…that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace” Psalm 144:12

The Women’s Bible Coffee Hour was launched in 2002 as a weekly gathering. The purpose was to inspire and equip homemakers to be godly wives, mothers and friends who can impact their communities and the world for Christ. Too often, the mention of “Coffee Hour” has led to a misperception of a group of ladies of leisure, sipping coffee while mulling over the Scriptures and chatting over their day’s work. With that in mind, the Women’s Bible Coffee Hour is now renamed the “Cornerstone Women’s Ministry” to more accurately reflect the intents and purposes of God for this fellowship.

By Pastor Sharon Chong

With Psalm 144:12 as our ministry’s theme verse, “…that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace” - our aim is to help women devote themselves to God and not be distracted by the world; to be undaunted by the storms of life and be relentless in their pursuit of God. For such a time as this, the Lord is equipping, encouraging and building up women to be instruments of revival, to prepare their families for the Kingdom of God. Our hope is to see more women strengthened by the Word of God and maturing in the Body of Christ. The Lord is calling forth the women to be equipped for the end-time harvest.

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall...

...be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations...

We also seek to rebuild what has been torn down by the enemy and to restore that which has been forsaken in the families. An area that we desire to see built up at homes will be the gate of praise and a wall of salvation – to be a repairer of the breach; to bring righteousness, truth and the Light of His salvation to the world.

Here are the seven foundation blocks of the Women’s Ministry: •

To revere Jesus Christ as Lord of my life and pursue an ongoing, personal relationship with Him.

•

To love, honour and respect my husband as the leader of the home.

•

To nurture my children and believe that motherhood is a high calling, with the responsibility of shaping and moulding them as the godly seed of the next generation.

•

To be a disciplined and industrious keeper of the home, who creates a warm and loving environment for my family and friends.

•

To contribute to the financial well-being of my household by being a faithful steward of the time and money God has entrusted to me.

•

To speak with wisdom and faithful instruction as I mentor and supports other women and develop godly friendships.

•

To share the love of Christ by extending my hands to meet the needs of the community.

...of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. (Isa 58:11-12)

We invite you to join us and fulfil God’s purpose for your life. May you be inspired to do greater things for the Kingdom of God and be equipped to live out the high calling of womanhood, being a Christ-like example to those whose lives you touch. In His Service and for His Glory. Amen!

XX 8

XX 9

Herald, April 2008, I N TH E HOUSE

Tree will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. “When we are coming to the completion of God’s purpose to draw out the Gentiles of His people for His name sake, He will turn back to the Jewish people and will melt the hardening in part that has befallen them and will turn their blindness into radiant sight!” These words of Pastor Lance still burns in my spirit to this day.

Israel conference

~Lance Lambert Meeting 10 to12 Oct 2007 By Calvin Ang

We must seek the Lord concerning this mystery and not be ignorant, lest we become wise in our own opinion and think that ‘the Church’ is all about us, the Gentiles. Surely, we are but wild olive branches grafted into the cultivated olive tree (Rom 11:17, 24). And let us not forget that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable; the people that the Bible has described as hardened, lost, fallen, blind and enemies of the gospel are still God’s chosen people. The verse in Rom 11:28 puts it clearly, “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.” As we who were once disobedient to God have obtained mercy through Israel’s disobedience, then certainly the Jewish nation who are now disobedient, will also obtain mercy through the mercy shown to us (Rom 11:30-31). In light of current events, Pastor Lance also warned that we are very near to a great turning point in the history of the Church, as the antiChrist is about to reveal himself. Two significant milestones in the end-time calendar took place in our generation - the recreation of the Israeli State and the return of the whole of Jerusalem to the Jewish people on 7 June 1967. This is an indication that we are getting closer to the return of the Lord. The conference concluded on the last night with an update on Israel and the Middle East situation and what an eye-opener it was! We

Understanding God’s prophetic purpose for Israel is quintessential for us to understand the times and seasons. Yet, much of the body of Christ today is still bleary of what God has done, is doing and will do for Israel. For this reason, I feel that the three-day Prayer Conference for Israel 2007 with Pastor Lance Lambert is one of the most significant and revelatory events of the year. True to his reputation as one of the finest

teachers of our times, Pastor Lance skilfully presented his message with an anointing that uncovered the veil that was over our eyes. Through the series of meetings, it felt like pure white light piercing the darkness as God revealed His heart concerning His chosen people, Israel. The messages have tremendously helped me to understand this phrase that describes our time, “We are living in the days of the fulfilment of the Scriptures”. On the first night, Pastor Lance shared on the “miracle” of Israel. He constantly underscored the event of Israel’s re-creation as a sovereign state to be an absolute miracle, which could only be attributed to the hand of God. With reference to the prophecies by Ezekiel, Pastor Lance first established the point that before the Lord could return, something had to happen to the Jewish land and her people. He vividly described how remarkable it was that Israel could survive the last thousand years despite the Crusades, the Inquisition and the Holocaust. It was Jeremiah who said, “…He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock” (Jer 31:10). God, who scattered Israel into more than 100 countries, has by His own hand gathered them again. The exact fulfilment came on 14 May 1948, when 10

Israel once again became a nation. Since then, God has continued to keep them as Israel fought a total of eight wars in the past 59 years. Pastor Lance also highlighted that it was amazing that the Hebrew language, which had ceased to be spoken for 1700 years, was restored as a spoken language and written mother tongue for the Jews. From the miracle of Israel, Pastor Lance moved on to the “mystery” of Israel on the second night. In speaking of mysteries, he explained that it is only when we are ready to humble ourselves as little children and seek God earnestly, that the Holy Spirit will reveal mysteries to us. God wants us to be stewards of His mysteries and if you belong to Christ, you have the right to know the secrets of His mysteries. However, Jesus is not about to cast pearls before swine, as He taught us so. Concerning this mystery, the Apostle Paul said, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved…” (Rom 11:25-26). So what is the mystery of Israel? It is that ALL of Israel will be saved. This is not necessarily every Jew, but everyone who is in the Olive

got to hear of first-hand information that we would never hear from BBC or CNN. Pastor Lance painstakingly explained the reasons for Israel’s current trials and the danger she faces now. He even described Israel’s current situation as the crisis of all crises. It is the most precarious in all of her last 59 years of statehood. I believe on that night God has placed a burden in many hearts to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And truly there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace Himself returns! I pray that God will cause His Word to burn like fire in our hearts concerning the issue of Israel; that He will enlighten and illumine our understanding by the Holy Spirit. Let us take heed to these messages, so that it will be like seed falling on good ground and bearing a hundredfold fruit that will remain. Shalom!

FEATU RE

B y L ance L ambert

The Just Shall Live

by Faith Habakkuk 2:4 Hebrews 10:35-39

“Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is “Cast not away therefore your not upright in him; but the righteous boldness [confidence], which hath shall live by his faith.” great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, Romans 1:16-17 having done the will of God, ye “For I am not ashamed of the may receive the promise. For yet gospel: for it is the power of God a very little while, He that cometh unto salvation to every one that shall come, and shall not tarry. believeth; to the Jew first, and also But my righteous one shall live by the Greek. For therein is revealed faith: And if he shrink back, my a righteousness of God from faith soul hath no pleasure in him. But unto faith: as it is written, But the we are not of them that shrink righteous shall live by faith.” back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving Galatians 3:11 [gaining] of the soul.”

“Now that no man is justified by Shall we pray: the law before God, is evident: for, “Beloved Lord, we want to thank You that we are gathered here The righteous shall live by faith.” in the name of our Messiah, the Lord Jesus; and we thank You,

beloved Father, that You have made specific provision for us when we come to Your word. We want to tell you, Lord, that apart from You we can do nothing. We can read, we can enunciate truth, we can hear many words; but unless You are here in the power and grace of this whole time, it will amount to nothing. Lord, we come by faith under that anointing for my speaking, for those who translate, and for all of us who hear. Let Your design and purpose in our time be fulfilled, oh Lord, and we shall give You all the praise and all the glory. In the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.”

XX 13

Herald, April 2008, FEATU RE

ur Lord Jesus told a quite remarkable story about a judge who was corrupt (see Luke 18:1-8). There are corrupt judges. Sadly, this is probably true of the United States, as it is certainly true of every part of Asia, from the far east to west Asia, where I live. The judge in this story took gifts on the side. He deferred judgment; he would not in any way give judgment until the gift was commensurate with the judgment that he felt the person wanted to have. In this story that Jesus told, there was a little widow. She had no money, she had no influence, she had no prestige, she had no status. She had the only thing most widows have, and that was a tongue. Being Jewish, she used her tongue to the fullest extent. She went again and again to that judge. In our English version, it says, “I must do something about this lest she wear me out.” But a very interesting word is used in the Greek; it says, “I must do something about this lest she bruise me.” With her tongue, she battered that judge until, finally, in desperation, he decided that he had to do something. So he asked her what she wanted. That is the most remarkable thing! She said, “This and this and this.” He said, “You have it; now go and do not trouble me any more.” Whether he got it in writing, I do not know, but that is the end of the story. Then our Lord said, “If this was true of such a corrupt judge, how much more is it true of the righteous Judge [that is, our Father in heaven].” Then He went on to say that He will avenge the blood of His elect. He said, “Nevertheless, shall the Son of man find faith on the earth when he cometh?” It has been understood by some that this means that there will be no salvation, no living faith, no one who can exercise faith at the very last phase of world history. I do not accept that because the prophet Joel, speaking of the days in which we live and of the very last days of world history, when there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars and pillars of smoke on the earth, said, “And whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So it is my conviction that right up to the very end, the Lord will continue to save those who come to Him through faith. Then what did our Lord mean in telling this story? This is quite an extraordinary story, a very vivid story. Why did He tell it unless He was saying, “When the Son of man comes, will He find overcoming faith on the earth? Will He find enduring faith on the earth? Will He find persevering faith on this earth?” I want you to note that He asked a question; He did not make a statement. He did not say that when the Son of man comes, He will not find such faith on the earth. He said, “And when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith such

as this woman had on this earth?” It is very important that we should understand that the apostle Paul, speaking of these very days in which we live, said, “But we should put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation” (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8). In other words, however dark things get, however much the current flows against us, we are those who can experience, who can know, who can possess a living, working, practical faith right up to the coming of the Lord.

World-wide Unbelief

Himself in the Lord Jesus, and change him into the likeness of the Lord Jesus – if that is not a miracle, what is? Once we admit to a miracle such as that – the miracle of the indwelling of the Lord Jesus, the miracle of His speaking to us, the miracle of Him revealing Himself to us – then we have admitted everything. There is nothing that is impossible; there is nothing the Lord cannot do. But this cynicism, this terrible, intelligent, academic, seemly sophisticated cynicism that lies just beneath the surface, just beneath the skin of so many believers, of so many assemblies and fellowships is an evil heart of unbelief – nothing less and nothing more. It alienates us from the work of the Holy Spirit. It divorces us from the work of the Lord Jesus. It

The Just Shall Live

We are living in days of unbelief. We are living in days of cynicism. We are living, I suppose it would be correct to say, in a neopagan society. It has been called the post-Christian society. It certainly is neo-paganism that is influencing every level of society. You know the battle the United States is in. You know the forces of cynical unbelief that are mounting every weapon that can be mobilized in order to destroy any Biblical principles that might still be operative in the society of this nation. But it is the same all over this world; it is a world-wide phenomenon.

by Faith

This cynicism, this unbelief, this neopaganism that is influencing our whole attitude, our concepts to everything – to life, to behavior, to education, to medicine, to research, is also influencing the believers. This spirit of cynicism, this spirit of unbelief, in many ways, is influencing those who really know the Lord. So we find within Christian circles, just under the surface, a cynicism, a Christian cynicism: “Apparently, the Lord was able to work miracles thousands of years ago, but He does not do it any more.” I am so concerned and grieved by those who stand against any form of miracles in our day, as if it all went out with the canon of the New Testament. If it was an honestly held view, I would respect it; but in the majority of cases I have known, it is cynicism. Such people have never experienced a miracle in their lives. Therefore, their attitude is that there is no such thing as a miracle in our day. But if you and I are born of God, that is the greatest miracle of all. If God can save an unsaved sinner, a sinner without hope; if He can justify that sinner, unite him to

somehow distances us from everything the Lord wants to do in involving us in the fulfillment of His purpose. Therefore, I believe that this matter of faith is vital. Of course, it is linked with revelation and with experience.

Living on the Principle of Faith The greatest need amongst us who love the Lord and are true believers is a genuine, living, working faith; there is no other faith. Real faith is always alive; real faith is always working. There is no other faith. The faith that is in our head is nothing but human intelligence masquerading as Christianity. Real faith unites us to God. Real faith brings us into the will of God. Real faith brings us to the fruit of the Spirit. Real faith brings us into the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Real faith means that you and I are walking with the Lord in a contemporary manner. Four times in the word of God this little phrase is found (quoting the King James version): “The just shall live by faith.” It is in Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38. When anything is repeated in the word of God, it is fundamental, and its significance can never be exaggerated. I believe that alone means that you and I need to wake up. The greatest need those of you who have been born into Christian homes have is to experience for yourself a living, practical, working faith. There is no need for you to be a second generation, living on your parents’ faith, but you need to know for

yourself a faith that is the gift of God that unites you in an original way to the Lord. Notice that the Lord first said this to Habakkuk. Now Habakkuk was a very interesting man. He lived in days very much like our own. He was waiting for judgment. He was waiting for the fulfillment of the word of God concerning the judgment of his nation and the judgment of nations around him. Everything seemed so dark. Nobody listened. It was a day of decline, a day of unbelief, a day of contradiction, a day when people were no longer faithful to the Lord, and in it, the Lord said that He had no pleasure in him who was not straight

The translation of J.N. Darby puts it like this: “The righteous or just shall live on the principle of faith.” In the Hebrew, it says that the righteous shall live by his faith, meaning that it is not just an initial thing. It is something that underlies the whole living of the righteous, of the faithful, of the true believer. In the Greek, the word is from: “The just shall live from his faith.” So J.N. Darby quite correctly translated it, adding a word that is not there in the original: “The just shall live on the principle of faith” – which is exactly right. We have come right to the heart of the matter. If you want to live the Christian life, if you want to live in the fulness of God, if you want to live in the grace of God, in

lamb could you find salvation. Cain very easily could have asked his brother for a lamb, but there must have been some bad feeling between those brothers; otherwise, he would never have murdered his brother. If there was bad feeling, such as jealousy or rivalry, he would not have gone to his brother and asked for one of his lambs so that he could be accepted by God. I have no doubt at all that Cain knew very well that the only way to be accepted was by the blood of a lamb. That was the principle of faith. All the way through the word, whether it was Noah or Abraham, whether it was Jacob or Joseph, whether it was Moses or Joshua, we find the same thing: They lived on the principle of faith. Everything is on this principle.

We walk by faith, that is, we take step after step by faith. The first step we ever took was by faith, the second step we ever took was by faith, the third step we ever took was by faith; and that is how we progress. inside, whose soul was puffed up. Then He said, “But the righteous shall live by his faith.” That is the first thing I want you to notice. However dark it may be, whatever judgments may be coming upon the world, however much we may have to move into this period of tremendous change and the fulfillment of so much that is predicted in the word of God, very difficult things for us to face, we have this marvelous word: “The just, the righteous shall live by his faith.” We have this word in Romans, right at the beginning of this greatest exposition in the Bible of the gospel of the good news. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous [just] shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). Notice the words shall live. The Lord could just as easily have said, “The just shall be saved by faith”; but He did not say that. Not that it is not true, because the just are saved through faith; but to live is something more. It is not just an initial experience of salvation, but the righteous, the one who is justified by the grace of God shall live by faith. In other words, death comes into our experience, corruption comes into our experience through unbelief; but through faith, comes life. We live by faith.

the power of God, if you want to live in the possibility of being changed into the likeness of His Son, then you have to live on the principle of faith. We were saved on the principle of faith, we were justified on the principle of faith, but every fresh step forward into experiencing the Lord has to be on the principle of faith. If by the grace of God the work of the Lord is completed in our lives, perfected in our lives, it will be on the principle of faith. God has never operated on any other principle. At the very beginning, when Abel offered a lamb and Cain offered the fruit of his toil, Cain was rejected and Abel was accepted. People think that was very mean. I often have questions asked me about this. People say that it was very severe of the Lord. After all, Cain was a husbandman, a market gardener, and he only brought the fruit of his toil. Abel was a shepherd. That was his business, so he brought a lamb. It would have been strange if Abel had decided to bring fruit to offer to the Lord. Both of them brought the toil of their work; the Lord accepted the one and rejected the other. I believe there was much more to it than that. When the Lord covered Adam and Eve, He covered them with skins, and according to our tradition, it was a lamb. Somehow, it was passed on to Adam and Eve and their children that only through the blood of a

In Romans 1:17a, it says, “For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith,” as if everything is from faith. Have you been gifted with the gift of faith? Have you been saved by the grace of God through faith? That is faith. There is the foundation. But every further step in a discovery of your so great salvation, every new, deeper appropriation of what is yours in the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross and made available to you through the Holy Spirit, every single fresh step forward is from faith to faith. No matter how old we get, no matter how much knowledge we accumulate, no matter how much experience we might have, at the very end, it will still be faith. It is from faith to faith.

Self-Manufactured Christianity I would like to make two further statements from the word of God, both of which are stark in their solemnity and unbelievably challenging. It sums up this whole thing. The first is in Romans 14:23b: “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” That seems like a horribly stark word. “Whatsoever is not of faith – that is, through faith, from faith – is sin.” It is not just negative thought or just some difficulty on your part. If it is not through faith, then it belongs to the realm of sin, it belongs to fallen man, it belongs to the first man, it belongs to Adam, it belongs to everything that comes out of him. It is sin. That is a very severe word. So much of my Christianity and your Christianity is self-manufactured. It is a question of culture; it is a question, sometimes, of a natural inheritance. Sometimes it comes through academic pursuit. Because some of us are more intelligent than others, we are more easily able to manipulate the word of God. It is a terrible thing to say: “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” That means you can study the 15

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Bible with your brain, without living faith, and it is all sin. That means you can be christened or baptized or sign a thousand decision cards, and if it is not a real work of the Lord through faith, it is sin. It means that you and I can join the church and if we have not had a saving experience of the Lord Jesus, it is sin. It is terrible, isn’t it? It is a very stark word. It is an epitaph written on all self-manufactured Christianity. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Without Faith We Cannot Please God Here is the second word. It is a little more comforting, but only a little more. In Hebrews 11:6, it says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” In some of the modern versions, it says, “It is impossible to be well-pleasing to Him.” The word of God says quite clearly that if there is no faith, no matter what you do, you cannot please the Lord, it is impossible to get the “Well done, good and faithful servant,” it is impossible to be well-pleasing to Him. So we are at the heart of the whole thing.

Saved through Faith We have looked at this little statement, “The just shall live by faith,” and then we have added these two very stark statements to it. Now we can see what comes to us through faith. First, we are saved through faith. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it says, “For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory [boast].” No man should glory in this thing; it is the gift of God. It is by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Faith is not a natural thing, it is not something you cook up from within you, it is not something you can somehow or other gather together from within your own being; it is the gift of God. So by grace are you saved through faith, and even the faith through which you are saved by the grace of God is God-given. Therefore, you have absolutely no ground whatsoever to boast – that it was your pedigree or your background or your national background or your racial background. Whatever it is, you have no ground whatsoever to boast in any shape or form, for you have been saved by the grace of God through faith; and that faith is not of yourselves, it is God’s gift; it is not of works, that no man should glory.

Justified through Faith The second thing is that we are justified. How wonderful this is! “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we have had our access by 16

faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Romans 5:1-2a). How rarely we hear about justification in the assemblies of God’s people. Yet justification is one of the most tremendous doctrines in the word of God. We are justified through the finished work of our Lord Jesus. That means you have been declared righteous by no one less than God Himself. On the basis that the Lord Jesus, who knew no sin, became your sin, God has declared that you are His righteousness in Christ. Isn’t it amazing! So many Christians suffer from bad consciences, from guilt, from things they have done in the past. The enemy has marvelous ground to work on us with, and we do not know how to stand before those accusations of the powers of darkness and evil. But it is through the shield of faith that we can parry every fiery dart of the evil one. Who really knows the wonder of justification? To whom has it been revealed that they are justified by the Lord Jesus, by His work? Through faith we are justified.

Standing by Faith “Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith” (Romans 11:20a). We stand by faith. We do not go forward; we do not go backward; we stand. As it says in Ephesians 6, we stand and stand and withstand and, having done all, stand. Then we know the victory of the Lord. It is by faith; by faith we stand. The first thing is we are saved by faith; we are justified by faith; we stand by faith. It is not knocked over, not driven back through the battle; but we stand by faith.

Walking by Faith “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Now we are walking. When you walk, you take a whole series of steps; it is step after step. How else do you walk? We are so used to walking that nobody thinks about it. You don’t read a book without walking, do you? It is only when you get a gamy leg or you break your leg or sprain your ankle that you suddenly realize what an amazing thing it is to walk without any problem. You never think about walking, do you? You just take a whole series of steps. If I want to get out of here, I have to walk; that is the only way out. I take one step after the other and in a few moments I am out. We walk by faith, that is, we take step after step by faith. The first step we ever took was by faith, the second step we ever took was by faith, the third step we ever took was by faith; and that is how we progress. As we move on, we walk by faith. Some people get all tied up on this kind of thing. They need such a lot to take one step of faith. It is such a natural, spiritually natural, normal thing

to walk; and we walk by faith. So when the Lord is dealing with you, let Him. By faith, take the step, and you have taken another step forward. So you walk by faith.

Running the Race Then we run. This is something more. What is running? It is only walking in a much quicker manner. “Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2a). We run by faith. So here is something else. It is not just that we are progressing in a very quick and fast manner. That is not the idea. The idea in this race is that it has a goal; it has an objective. There is a course; you do not just run anywhere. You are running in a race. It is a set course, and you are not going to be diverted; you are going to run right through. Jesus is the initiator. Through Him, you start the race, and by Him, you finish the race. There is no other way. It is by faith.

The Fight of Faith “Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called” (1 Timothy 6:12a). Fight the good fight of faith. Now we discover there is a battle, there is a conflict. This is not something that has no enemy in it. We have an enemy and we have to fight the good fight of faith; we have to lay hold on life eternal. Because this is the fight of faith, if there is an evil heart of unbelief, the enemy will come in and knock you out from the beginning. At some point, if not from the beginning, you will be knocked out. We have to learn that it is the fight of faith.

Inheriting through Faith Lastly, in this matter, there is inheriting. “That ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). We discover that we inherit through faith. We inherit the promises through faith and patience. It is not just through faith, but patience. It is enduring faith, faith that persists, faith that perseveres, overcoming faith.

The Just Shall Live

by Faith

“We walk by faith, that is, we take step after step by faith. The first step we ever took was by faith, the second step we ever took was by faith, the third step we ever took was by faith; and that is how we progress. As we move on, we walk by faith. Some people get all tied up on this kind of thing. They need such a lot to take one step of faith. It is such a natural, spiritually natural, normal thing to walk; and we walk by faith. So when the Lord is dealing with you, let Him. By faith, take the step, and you have taken another step forward. So you walk by faith.”

The whole gamut of the Christian life, of Christian service, of the fellowship of the church is to do with faith. It begins with faith, it perseveres through faith, it is built up and developed through faith, and it is completed through faith. 17

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Living Faith puts you in Christ Jesus Now I want to look at this little phrase “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” When the Lord first showed this to me, it revolutionized my whole attitude on this question. Have you ever asked yourself why we have that strange little phrase “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved”? You don’t believe on people, do you? You believe in people. You either believe in a person or you don’t believe in a person. What is believing on a person? Why does the Bible speak about believing on? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is everywhere in the New Testament, particularly in John’s gospels and letters. We have it again in John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life.” When the old, godly translators of the King James Version came to this Greek phrase, they just did not know how to put it in English. They felt that if they said, “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,” it just would not convey the meaning of the original. They felt the meaning of the word was very, very important; it was vital. So they coined a new phrase in English: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish.” Actually, the word is literally: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Everywhere you go in the New Testament, wherever you have that little phrase “Believe on the Lord Jesus,” it is actually, literally “Believe into the Lord Jesus.” In other words, living faith takes you, moves you, mobilizes you; it is not static. It is not that somehow you stay here and remain yourself and He remains Himself and you believe in Him over there with some kind of mental assent, some kind of academic faith or belief. No; this living, working faith means you leave the position on which you were born, the foundation upon which you have thus far lived an unsaved life and you move by the grace of God into Christ. When God saves you, He puts you in the Lord Jesus. You are in Christ. Now do you understand why the Lord Jesus said, “Abide in Me and I in you”? That is where God has put you through living faith. “By grace have you been saved through faith.” When that faith was given to you, as far as God was concerned, your whole position and status changed. You were delivered from the power of darkness and 18

transferred into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. In other words, whether you know it or not, a deliverance took place. The chains that had bound you to the powers of darkness, to an old life, to a fallen mankind were snapped and you were transferred into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Does that mean anything to you? The simplest person who has believed on the Lord Jesus has believed into Christ. It is living faith. You could not get into Him yourself. There was no way that you could change your position; you could not do it. No matter if you wept for years, no matter if you went to a thousand theological seminaries, no matter if you had so many theological degrees after your name that the whole alphabet was exhausted, it would not matter for one single moment. It would not do anything to you at all. No matter how many good works you did, what penances you made, how penitent you seemed, it would not in any way change your position. You were unable to do it. God did it in the moment that you believed. That is living faith.

The Unspeakable Gift of God God has not given us a thing called salvation. He has not even given us an experience called salvation. He has given us a Person. That Person is the Lord Jesus. A child of God who does not know the Lord is a contradiction in terms. Yet, there are many believers who do not know the Lord. They have been saved but they are stuck there. They have not gone beyond. It is very, very sad. God has not give us all kinds of experiences like salvation, peace, joy, fulness, power; they are all gifts. God has given us a Person, and He has made that Person salvation. The name of Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua; it means salvation. The Lord is salvation – Yeshua. God makes the Lord Jesus joy in you. He makes Him peace in you. It is the peace of God, peace which passes understanding. God makes the Lord Jesus life: “I am the life.” God makes the Lord Jesus reality to you: “I am the truth.” God makes the Lord Jesus the way ahead: “I am the way.” God makes the Lord Jesus resurrection when you are dead. God makes the Lord Jesus everything you need. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him; all the fulness of God is in Him; all the life of God is in Him. God has not given us things; He has given us a Person. That is why the apostle Paul said, “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” That is why the apostle Paul said, “That I may know Him.” In the Greek, there is a little suffix: “That I may fully know Him.” Knowing about a person is altogether different than knowing a person. I am always thankful that as rotten as I am and as full of weakness and failings

as I am, that from the very beginning of my little Christian life, I understood that I had to know the Lord – not things, not experiences, but a Person. As I got to know Him, everything would be explained and I would discover that I was overcoming when I least expected it, simply by knowing Him, simply by getting to know Him, simply by experiencing Him.

The Language of God When we come to the last book of the Bible, the Lord Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13). What did He mean? Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last letter. What I would say is A and Zed, and you would say A and Z. What did the Lord Jesus mean when He said, “I am A and Zed”? Did He mean that He is only the first and last letters and all the other letters are something else? Of course not! The Lord Jesus was saying, “I am the alphabet. I am the very language of God. When God speaks, I am His language.” Do you want to understand the mind of God? Do you want to understand the heart of God? You have to understand it through the Lord Jesus. “I am Alpha and Omega.” Outside of the Lord Jesus, there is no heavenly language; there is no language of God. He is God’s language. He is the beginning and the end. Does that mean that He is only the beginning and the end and everything in between is as best as we can get along? No; it means He is everything. What does not originate with Him will never end with Him. But sadly, you can start with Him and not end with Him. Whether it is the church of God or whether it is the individual believer, Jesus is the beginning and the end and everything in between. The Christian life is nothing other than the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit living His life in you and me. It is so simple, but we make it so complex, so difficult. People are always coming to me, especially young people, and asking me to explain the Christian life to them: “How can I live the Christian life?” I always say to them that the answer to living the Christian life is very simple; it is Jesus. They say, “How do I live Jesus?” I say to them: “That is an even simpler answer. The problem is not how to live; the problem is how to die. If you will die, you will know the life.” In the last book of the Bible, as He summed up everything in this statement in Revelation 22:13, the Lord Jesus was saying that everything that is not in Him will not come through. You will never find anything that is not of the Lord Jesus in the city of God; it is all out of Him. So you begin to understand that the righteous,

the justified, the just shall live on the principle of faith. Man is rendered absolutely helpless before God. No matter what his gifts are, what his talents are, what his energy is, what his zeal is, how religious he is, how intelligent he is, what knowledge he has, none of it brings him into the life of God. Man can be a genius in himself, but when it comes to God, he is helpless. He will get absolutely nowhere. That is why in the prophecy of Isaiah, it says, “I only am God. I only am the Savior” (see Isaiah 43:11, 45:21-22). There is no other Savior besides God; and there is no way to be saved or to enter into the life of God and all the fulness of God except through faith, and that is the gift of God.

Living Faith connects you to God I know that this will raise all kinds of questions for you. You will say, “Oh, if only I had more faith”; but you do not need more faith. Some of you have waited twenty years for more faith. You will not get it; you will die waiting for more faith. Then people say, “But it is Biblical to say, ‘Lord increase our faith.’” The Lord said “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you would say to this sycamine tree (which is one of the biggest trees in our part of the world), ‘Be removed, and be planted in the sea’ (see Luke 17:6). People think that is funny – to see a tree like that planted in the sea. Do not say the Lord does not have humor. “Be thou removed and planted in the sea” – and it shall be planted in the sea. Now the Lord did not mean: “Come on, you must have faith and you can move trees into the sea.” That is not what He was saying. They had said, “Lord, increase our faith”; and He was saying, “You do not need more faith. What you need is to use the little faith that you have. If you would only use the little faith that you have. If you would only use that little faith by which you have been saved by the grace of God, if you would only live on the principle of that faith, then nothing would be impossible to you.” May the Lord help us. We are going to move into days when there will be less and less faith and more and more facade. There is going to be more and more of what we could call Hollywood-style Christianity and less and less of the real article. The key to knowing the Lord is living faith. May God challenge us and wake us up, if necessary, that we at least might know that we are hopeless and helpless in ourselves. Then maybe He can shine into our hearts with an understanding of the way that faith operates. Faith is not something that you somehow or other engineer yourself and sort of gather up every last drop of it within

Everywhere you go in the New Testament, wherever you have that little phrase “Believe on the Lord Jesus,” it is actually, literally “Believe into the Lord Jesus.” In other words, living faith takes you, moves you, mobilizes you; it is not static. It is not that somehow you stay here and remain yourself and He remains Himself and you believe in Him over there with some kind of mental assent, some kind of academic faith or belief. No; this living,..

“Abide in Me and I in you”? That is where God has put you through living faith. you and push it together in one final push to see something happen in your life. That is not the way of faith. That is what I call Christian Science faith. You believe that something is not there and if you say it enough, it won’t be. It is mind over matter, and that is something inside of man. It is not unknown to Buddhism; it is not unknown to Hinduism; it is not unknown to the most mystical form of Islam. This kind of faith is man’s faith. If it is mind over matter, it is psychology; it is not faith. It is not Biblical faith; it is not genuine faith. The faith that is the gift of God is something so small that you can overlook it; but when it operates, it connects you to the almighty infinity of God. When you are introduced into the fathomless fulness of God, nothing is impossible; nothing. Everything that God ever wanted in your life can be fulfilled. It is possible. It is faith that is so small that we overlook it; but that kind of faith connects you to the power of God, to the grace of God, to the life of God, and to the fulness of God. May He open the eyes of our hearts.

Shall we pray: “Beloved Lord, there is not one of us that is not in need of living, working faith. We need to be delivered from all that is self-manufactured; all that is dead, academic faith. We need to be delivered from it, Lord. We need a faith that works, a faith that unites us to Your word, a faith that unites us to Your purpose, a faith that brings us in a new way into Your heart, a faith that somehow or other triumphs in darkness and in suffering, a faith that cries, “It shall be done.” Oh Lord, we need that kind of faith. Open our eyes. Open the eyes of our hearts. Fill us with a new vision of Yourself, Lord. Somehow, link the smallness and finiteness of all of us to Your infinity. We ask it in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.” (Excerpt s t a k e n f r o m t h e b o o k , Liv ing F a i th , Ch a p ter 1 by Lance L a m b er t, 1 9 9 8) 19

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g the li

Destiny o

in s s

Cornerstone Christian Church, Novaliches, Philippines

Project Menorah

By Pastor Alfred Abad oday, I’m writing the story of a roller coaster ride called “possessing our inheritance”. People always think that the most challenging fight in life is when one is faced with Goliaths. The truth is that the most challenging battle is when one is being refined while in the midst of exchanging blows with the giants. That in itself is a precious lesson and part of the inheritance to be passed down to the next generation.

In the middle of last year, Pastor Yang visited our church in Novaliches and challenged the leaders to consider buying a piece of land for the church building. It was so timely because we had just evaluated the financial budget in which a big percentage usually goes to our monthly rent in the mall. Actually, several proposals had been made about acquiring a property, but the matter was just lying dormant in our hearts, knowing that a special committee was looking into the matter. But Pastor Yang’s challenge was so inspiring that the church embraced it instantaneously. Prior to his visit, we surveyed a piece of land with no intention to purchase, but merely to satisfy a persistent church member’s insistence. This time round, we prayerfully surveyed the land again and were promptly assured by the Holy Spirit that this would be part of our inheritance.

offered their services for free to the community of San Jose. This event was held right on the plot of land that we have acquired. Our mission was to bring the gospel and love of God into the communities. The day started with medical consultations and treatments, as well as legal consultation and counselling with a Christian attorney. Thousands of people, both young and old from the community of San Jose came and benefited from the services offered. They were not only physically treated but spiritually fed. While the patients were waiting for their consultations and treatments, members of Cornerstone Novaliches took the opportunity to share the gospel and pray for the people. Praise be to God! We had 736 people giving their hearts and lives to the Lord. The day concluded with a Praise and Worship concert that was wellattended by youths and we saw 170 youths giving their hearts and lives to the Lord. Hallelujah! We are entering into the boundaries of our inheritance. This is just the beginning of a long and exciting journey and no matter what lies ahead, we cannot think of a better way than this to come into our destiny as a church. It may be a roller coaster ride of joys and tears, but still this project is “a gain worth the pain” because Project Menorah is dedicated to the future generations.

A team of pastors and elders began to work. Over the next couple of months, we had a series of negotiations with the land owner, lawyers and other relevant parties, but somehow, it always failed to have a definite closure due to various reasons. It even seemed as though the law was not on our side in reaching a compromise to satisfy the requirement between us and our foreign counterpart. After much deliberation, the negotiating team unanimously took the first step of faith. At midnight, we closed the deal with the owner and found ourselves crossing the line into our destiny. The owner had no idea that we had been negotiating without a single centavo (cent), but were simply trusting in the promises of God. To date, we have paid the required instalments and are in the process of completing the full payment. We have named the project, “Menorah”, as it will serve as a light to the nations. This name was taken from the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6 when the prophet saw a menorah and declared that “Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit.” Project Menorah is a ten-year plan that covers the acquisition of land and construction of a building facility. As part of Project Menorah, on 29 February 2008, teams of volunteer medical doctors, dentists and nurses, as well as a legal attorney, 20

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Mission profile: Santiago, Philippines

The first thing that the Lord placed on my heart was to start a church; that it was to be a Cornerstone Church and that Singapore would be our spiritual home and covering! I wrote to Pastor Yang and he was right behind our dream.

When I arrived in the Philippines in 2000, I had no plan or mandate to plant a church here in Santiago City. I spent the first two years developing the Bible School, inspiring churches and directing Sefton Village. In 2002, as I drove through the city, the Lord spoke to me so clearly, “These people are like sheep without a shepherd – I long to be their Shepherd.” Right there and then, God put a burden in me to start a new church in the heart of the city. A few weeks later, I hit a huge problem – a snake or scorpion bit me. My leg went black and red and my calf was 28 inches in diameter. As I laid on my back for eight weeks, I prayed Jonah’s prayers! Something significant happened in those dark days – I met Pastor Yang! He was the speaker at an Assembly of God (AoG) Conference at Sefton and they asked if he could stay in our home. Pastor Yang, his son Joel, Pastor Daniel Chua and Peter Sam stayed with us – and what a wonderful few days we had! A divine connection was made. Soon, God began to challenge me about the vision he had given me. The first thing that the Lord placed on my heart was to start a church; that it was to be a Cornerstone Church and that Singapore would be our spiritual home and covering! I wrote to Pastor Yang and he was right behind our dream. God began to show me the leaders He wanted to put into place but they were so young (average age of 22 years!). We prayed, discussed, cried, and sought God as to what kind of Church HE wanted Cornerstone to be. We began to write down all that He was showing us and after nine months of meeting together, we set the date for the launch – 29 August 2004. God gave us a great beginning! A few weeks later, we baptised 22 new believers and we were off and running. After a year of steady growth, I was feeling very happy with what was happening. One night, God spoke to me so clearly, “Mark, I have asked you to build a church.” But… I was confused. “I have asked you to extend my kingdom.” Through an amazing revelation, I realised that for most of my ministerial life, I had been working so hard to build churches. With little fruit! But I had been negligent in establishing His Kingdom. I had poured my life into a church contained within four walls and there are whole generations and cultures that are totally untouched and live under the rule of the kingdom of darkness. I asked God, “What would You do in Santiago? Where would You go?” His answers came fast and furious as if He could not wait to show me His plan. We started a feeding program for the poor in Santiago – particularly kids; we developed a consistent ministry in the local jail; we started a weekly hospital ministry where we would lay hands and pray for every patient in the local 22

The Vi neyard of the Lord We started a feeding program for the poor in Santiago - particularly kids; we developed a consistent ministry in the local jail; we started a weekly hospital ministry where we would lay hands and pray for every patient in the local Government Hospital . . . By Pastor Mark Ritchie 23

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Government Hospital; we started Powerhouse Kids Club, which would touch the lives of thousands of children every month. We planted a brand new church in the poorest place in Santiago and the Lord spoke and said that ‘He would turn it from a place of shame to a place of honour.’ I began to touch, feel and see the harvest. 2006 was another significant year. My family and I came to Singapore for the first Heidi Baker Conference. We had been through two years of major struggles as a family and the worst was when our little boy was severely ill with tuberculosis. On the last night of the conference, Heidi sat down on the floor with us after the service. She took our son Josiah in her arms and began to prophesy into his life and spirit. He has never been the same since! Then she turned to us and spoke a prophetic word into our lives. She said, “Thus far the Lord has given you grapes… but now he is going to give you a vineyard!”

We were excited and immediately I knew that it had to do with the planting of churches. When I came home, I shared with the leaders. We began to pray, and over the last 18 months, we planted two new churches and adopted two others! So now we have six Cornerstone Churches and we are planning to plant at least two more this year. I have entrusted the leadership of Cornerstone Santiago to a young man called Pastor Marlou, so that I am released to plan and plant the vineyard! Our ministries are growing – last year we fed 25,000 kids in our feeding programme. We are feeding undernourished children every day and 30 of them have reached their normal weight. We have seen some great healings in the hospitals and a little boy was even raised from the dead! Last month we baptised 32 inmates in the prison – in a 10gallon oil drum! All our churches meet together on the first Sunday of the month for Cornerstone United! We have baptised over 250 new believers and our young people are on fire. Our pastors are beginning to be placed in leadership positions in the AoG District and are becoming a great blessing to many. We are mentoring people in every department and we are trying to become more financially independent. Your prayers and support are not in vain! 24

Just as a physical vineyard takes time and effort to grow and be fruitful, so does a spiritual vineyard. I am no agricultural expert but here are some vital ingredients that I believe will produce a great harvest:

A Vineyard Needs Planning Every vineyard manager has a plan. He knows when he will prepare the ground, plant the seeds and harvest the fruit. He does not do things as he feels but has strategies to implement at the right time. He knows the problems that could arise and has the solutions already prepared to ensure growth.

leaders and sometimes the best way to protect them is to ignore the voices of accusation; to refrain from responding to rumours and ‘open not our mouths.’ The devil hates this!

A Vineyard Needs Pruning I remember watching my uncle prune his roses. To me, he was destroying them! Almost every branch – even those with beautiful flowers – was trimmed. What was left was an ugly mess of little twigs. He explained to me that the rosebush would not grow unless it was pruned. And because he did prune it, the roses would be bigger and more beautiful the next summer.

At Cornerstone, we also believe in planning. I keep telling our team that we need to have an ever-unfolding progressive vision from the Lord. He is our Vineyard Manager and we need to constantly hear His voice. He knows where and when He wants us to plant and He wants to prepare us for the challenges of today and the battles

We started off with one church and many leaders. Each time we planted a new church, a Pastor, his family and a few church members would leave the main church in Santiago. Our lovely church, which was beginning to feel like a family, began to be pruned. If you visit us now, almost all the original pastors have gone and planted

of tomorrow. He has shown us very clearly the towns where He wants Cornerstone churches planted. We follow THE Man…. and the Man has a plan!

new churches. The main church has been pruned but the benefit is that the members have risen up! They are the ones now leading the services, and worship and run the church. Pastor Marlou is building up an army of people to build the church. They have a new leadership made up of mostly lay leaders. They want to be financially self-sufficient and they are going to rent a smaller place but pay the rent themselves! They are smaller in number but bigger in faith and potential!

A Vineyard Needs Protection Rice fields surround Sefton Village. I watch the farmers as they regularly examine their fields for hidden dangers such as pests. Whenever they find them, they immediately begin to spray the rice with insecticides that will exterminate the pests to ensure growth. At Cornerstone, we also need to protect our vineyard. Problems can come in many ways – great and small. We have to watch over our leaders and protect them and their families. We have to watch out for the gossiping tongue and the adulterer’s roving eye. We have to watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing. We have had to watch out for any spirit of competition or jealousy among our leaders. The harvest is growing but we have to be ready to protect it should problems arise. We have not had an easy time and people have been spreading rumours about us. I have tried to protect the

A Vineyard Needs Planters I thank the Lord every day for the team of pastors and leaders He has given me to work with. Most of them are young and they have to learn very quickly ‘on the job’. Cornerstone is not a normal church. We think differently and are constantly changing, as the Lord shows us what to do. But they have risen to the challenge and I believe many of them will become significant leaders in this nation. The Lord has graciously added a few new leaders who are in their 40’s and they bring with them a greater level of maturity. I love these people and I love spending time with them and their families. In the last four years, we have not lost one pastor and I am blessed by their faithfulness, sacrifice and devotion.

But the truth is we need more planters! If the vineyard is to grow, we need more leaders. I was so encouraged at our AoG meeting the other day – we had 17 recognised pastors and leaders from within Cornerstone who had credentials. In our churches, we are always looking for people who have leadership potential. Our role is to recognise, train and release. We have earmarked three or four of our people to go to Bible School in June this year. If we fail to identify emerging leaders today, we will fail to grow tomorrow.

A Vineyard Needs Pesos Reinhard Bonnke once said this, “The Gospel is free but somebody has to pay for it!” This statement is true as I find myself in un-chartered waters. In the UK, it seems that leaders and churches will do everything BUT plant churches. Most pastors plough on with no thought of giving birth spiritually. Too much hassle. Too little time. Think about it, they have the resources, the finances, the technology,

the buildings – but what they do not have is willing and passionate people or a heart for missions. They are stuck in a box called ‘my church’. Our churches are like old barren women with little thought of missions or reproduction. In the west, we have a name for couples who choose not to have kids because they want to fulfil their own desires and pursue their own lifestyles. We call them DINKS (Double Income No Kids) and I think that we have many DINK churches in the west! Every living thing is supposed to grow and reproduce itself. Here at Cornerstone, we have the pastors and leaders, the people, the opportunities and the heart for missions. We could plant many churches in a year. But what we do not have are the finances, equipment and resources to plant churches. Our basic PA system is carried from one place to another; we have only one LCD for all our churches and we have one good set of musical instruments. I could go on, but you know what I mean. Churches cannot be planted without Pesos, Dollars or Pounds. There is no way around this. Halls have to be rented, pastors have to be paid and guitars need to be bought.

Herald, April 2008, I NTE RNATIONAL M I N ISTRI ES

Continued... The Vineyard of the Lord I was really praying about this a few months ago. We want to be helped, but not become dependant. We want to be supported, but not forever. We need to buy equipment, but only once. I am reading a book titled ‘When Charity Destroys Dignity’, which tackles the subject of how wealthy first world countries can help developing or third world countries without causing the latter to lose their dignity. It is an impossible balance for me because I see the problems that support can bring but I also see the enormous harvest that can be reaped with a little help from those who want to sow. Ultimately, we have to realise that, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul commended churches for giving to other churches that needed help in spreading the gospel. To those who have been given much, much will be expected. The truth is that the Filipinos are in a financial crisis right now. Everything is rapidly going up in price, yet their wages stay the same. Poverty is everywhere. You can feel hopelessness everywhere. In Cornerstone, I know that there are families who struggle so much but they are learning to sow generously.

The

Open Heavens

Conference with Heidi Baker

A PHOTO-JOURNAL

Right now I am working on a plan that would help us plant a vineyard here in the Philippines with help from the west. But as it is based on donation; it will be a partnership. The idea is simple – we will identify a place and leader where we will plant a new church. A Western Church, group or cell group (hereafter WG) will be involved in the planning, prayer and setting up of the new church. There will be a basic list of things that we need to buy to start the church, e.g. chairs, basic PA, guitar, OHP/LCD, laptop etc. The WG will be challenged to raise finances to help buy these things. The only monthly expenses for the WG would be the hall rental. The Filipino pastor would regularly email and send pictures and the WG would be encouraged to send some of their people for special church events such as Opening Services and Anniversaries. The support would be for an initial one-year period and it could be extended to two years after discussion and prayer. Cornerstone in the Philippines would be responsible to support the pastor and his family. I feel that this idea hits the balance and we could see churches planted, pastors supported, people in the west inspired and the Kingdom of God expanded. This is the power of partnership. A vineyard is being planted! I cherish our relationship with Cornerstone Singapore. I love Pastor Yang, the leaders and all the wonderful people in the church. I pray that, together, we will reap a great harvest. Please pray for us and hopefully some of you will be able to come and see for yourself ‘the planting of the Lord’.

(If you would like to read more on what God is doing in the Philippines at Cornerstone & Sefton Village then go to Pastor Mark’s blog – www.markmaryritchie.blogspot.com) 26

Herald, April 2008, I N TH E HOUSE

The

Open Heavens

Conference with Heidi Baker

This year started off with the much-anticipated Open

Heavens Conference with Heidi Baker. The various speakers challenged mindsets of what constituted true Christianity. They came as living epistles of Christ and through their lives, they showed us the way to releasing the supernatural works of God. It was unlike the typical three-point sermon or ingenious formula. Their honest testimonies were not just about the successes of their ministries but included stories of their humble beginnings and human weaknesses. As Heidi Baker unassumingly said, “I am just a little woman from the dirt.” Sister Heidi’s message on radical love and obedience was not revelational but it was certainly a wake-up call to the Body of Christ! It was the call to be Christ’s Body on this earth – to do what Jesus would do if He was walking in our midst right now. God’s people are to be His hands and feet so that people may experience the love of Christ. This is basic Christianity. This is the explicit will of God. This is a message that has often been preached, written, taught and talked about. Yet, why are we not seeing the miracles of God in our daily lives? The simple and sobering truth is this: It is not what we know, but what we do with what we know that matters. It is about being doers of the Word, and not hearers only. Radical love demands radical obedience and radical obedience requires radical boldness. Being bold involves taking risks - if you want to walk on water, you have to first get out of the boat. You must be willing to take the ‘risks of love’ if you want to see Love manifested. You have to

risk the possibilities of failure, humiliation, hurt, offences, inconvenience, rejection, pain, etc. Choosing to love is to be in a place of vulnerability and that is absolutely uncomfortable to the flesh. God made Himself vulnerable by being “…of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil 2:7-8) All of us face this conflict everyday – to satiate the flesh, or to obey the Word of God? The old man shrinks back from any hint of sacrifice or surrender, yet the new man thrives in translating love into action. Therefore, what will our response be? True love necessitates a laying down of our lives so that God may be manifested in and through us (John 12:2426). God is not confined by the walls of the church or the barriers in our minds; He is omnipresent! He can be just as real in our homes, schools and marketplaces, as He is in the church services. The only condition is that we take the initiative to step out of the common and comfortable.

If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat

Sister Heidi has made her choice to break out of the norm and now it is our turn to choose. It is a decision that will confront all of us. Remember - if you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.

By Qiu Wenhui

Herald, April 2008, I NTE RNATIONAL M I N ISTRI ES

China Alive Ministries turned 10 years old in July 2007. At the annual partner’s meeting, we were once again reminded of China Alive’s vision: to raise an army of intercessors and missionaries to win China for Jesus - first in Cornerstone, then across the nation of Singapore. By Pastor Samuel Wong

he leadership has identified 4 ‘S’ cities that Cornerstone would pray for and adopt, apart from the ‘Z’ minority group that we have been praying for the last 10 years. Many people have asked which are the ‘S’ cities - they are Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou and Shenyang.

In a matter of months, soon after the directive for our work in China was announced, the Lord not only opened up a great and effective door in the city of Shenzhen for us, but He also gave Cornerstone great favour in the city of Shanghai. Since then, we have not stopped advancing the cause of the Gospel in these cities - sending out well over 20 teams in 2007 alone. These teams comprised of the TENTS English Teaching ministry, intercessory and prayer teams, leadership training and discipleship teams as well as evangelism and exposure teams. We have been travelling to China for the past 10 years; we must say that the door has never been more open than it is today. “Do you not say, ‘It is yet four months, and the harvest comes’? Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white to harvest already.” (John 4:35) “The harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of harvest that He will send out labourers into the harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38) How true! There is now such openness towards the Gospel like never before. The harvest is ready, the door is opened and the time is now! We could still recall the days when we had to line up to apply for Chinese visas and pay around S$30 just to get a single entry visa. How troublesome and what a hassle it was! Today, this is no longer the case. Improved bilateral ties between Singapore and China has put us in a favourable position. Singaporeans can now travel to China and stay up to 14 days without the need for a visa. Not only 30

Cross Over & Occupy,

Establish & Possess that, it is also much easier to apply for a visa for extended stays. This is indicative of two things: China’s greater degree of openness to the outside world and the friendly relationship we have with this nation. Could this be the Lord’s way of confirming to us the call upon Singapore as the “Antioch of Asia”? If so, we must rise up to the challenge. Towards the end of 2007, China Alive introduced improvements to our China missions’ newsletter by presenting a new look and a new name to the magazine. It is now called Thrust magazine. Since then, we have published a total of three issues. The theme for the first issue was Run with the Vision, the second was The Time is Now, and the more recent one was titled All Hands on Deck. All these themes reflect one thing: the urgency of the hour in which we are now in with regards to missions in China. “Why the urgency?” some people might ask. With the open policy that China has adopted towards foreigners, it is not surprising that many religions and cults are now flooding the country, capitalising on this long-awaited opportunity. What would the impact of such a phenomenon be to a country that had been previously closed for so many years? It is not difficult to imagine. Materialistic pursuit is now the top-most priority of almost every family, whatever the cost may be, i.e. a better life and a brighter future at the expense of moral values and ethical choices. While great opportunities lie before us, the hearts of the people are also quickly becoming hardened by materialism. We risk losing an entire nation or generation if the Gospel does not get in fast enough. Thirdly, for a communist country like China, policies can change suddenly, the tide can reverse and the door can close anytime with no prior warning. Many prophecies have been given concerning a possible reverse of this current favourable situation. This is a window of opportunity that we must not miss! 31

Herald, April 2008, I NTE RNATIONAL M I N ISTRI ES

How are we to respond? What can we do as a church for China, in the realm of missions? In Joshua 1:11 lies the key: Prepare, Prepare, Prepare. What do we exactly prepare for? Prepare to ‘Cross Over and Occupy, Establish and Possess’. It is time for us to ‘Go Forth, Launch Out and Do Something’ that we have never done before. This calls for our commitment to the cause, giving of our time and resources in response to the call. There is a need for our dedication to press in and press on against all odds, at all costs, until we fully lay hold of the inheritance which the Lord has promised us. Psalm 2:8 tells us we are to ask Him for our inheritance. Accordingly, we have asked for the ‘Z’ people and the ‘S’ cities. God is faithful and so must we be faithful to do our utmost to fulfil His call in our day if we were to see the promises come to pass.

who will be willing to go to preach, teach and serve; worship leaders and musicians to impart skills and impact lives; youth leaders and others to volunteer to be involved and to intercede. Yes, we will see the churches mature and the nations turn to Jesus if we are willing to align ourselves to the vision and corporate strategy. We need to put aside our personal agendas and thrust ourselves forward as one corporate body to lay hold of God’s eternal promises and purpose for Cornerstone. What then is our strategy for China? Our strategy can be summed up in four words that define four specific areas of targeted ministry that our leadership has identified, IWYL: I for (I)nternet, W for (W) orship, Y for (Y)outh and L for (L)eadership. These are areas of strength that are characteristic of Cornerstone and they correspond to the needs of the churches of China at large. If we will wisely utilize and leverage on these specific areas to help meet the needs of the Chinese churches, it will certainly give us the greatest returns and fruitfulness in the stewardship of our Godgiven gifts and resources.

During my last trip to China, Cornerstone officially adopted a church in one of the ‘S’ cities. We are now committed to pray, care and provide for the needs of this new infant church that God has added to our family. What an honour and privilege, but awesome responsibility! They now look to Cornerstone for regular spiritual food supplies, leadership, direction and God has given us a mandate. We have a vision. Before us lies a covering, prayer support as well as training in ministry skills. challenge. We have the strategy. But do we have what it takes – This is an enormous task that is way beyond any individual Desire, Dedication and Determination? Will we respond to the or single ministry to undertake. The church must rise up trumpet call of God by saying “Yes, I want to be counted”? China as a mighty army to strategically deploy skilful and trained (the harvest) is ready, but “Are you (we) ready?” personnel, and to promptly send relevant reinforcements to boldly enter and meet Jos 1:11“Pass through the host, the imminent and pressing and command the people, saying, “Materialistic pursuit is now the top most needs of the hour. We must ‘Prepare food for yourselves, for send teachers who are apt priority of almost every family, whatever within three days you are crossing at teaching; musicians and over this Jordan, to go in to the cost may be, i.e. a better life and a worship leaders who draw God’s possess the land which Jehovah very presence; youth leaders brighter future at the expense of moral your God is giving you to who are on fire; administrators possess it.’ ” values and ethical choices. While great and even kingdom-minded businessmen to come alongside opportunities lie before us, the hearts For more information on how the church to help them grow you can be a part of the ongoing of the people are also quickly becoming strong, mature and steadfast work of Cornerstone’s China in this crucial hour. We must hardened by materialism. We risk losing Missions, come visit us at our respond quickly and not delay China missions office at #02-23 an entire nation or generation if the lest the door closes on us and Odeon Katong or call 6440 3153 the opportunity presents itself Gospel does not get in fast enough.” to speak with Michelle or any of no more. our representatives today. To begin with, we are planning to plant a base in this city in the next few months and subsequently send an administratively strong leader to be placed there for one month. This leader should be a good teacher, able and equipped to set up infrastructure that will facilitate future teams to go in. These designated responsibilities will be over and above the apostolic input he would offer to the local church. Plans have also been made to take the leaders aside for a time of refreshing. The purpose for the retreat is so that they can receive ministry and encouragement from spiritual fathers and senior ministers in the faith. As part of our corporate strategy, the worship ministry has also been enlisted to help prepare instructional videos for the purpose of raising up musicians for the churches in China. This is done in response to the cry of churches all over China. The list goes on… who can bear this alone? We need to activate the Body; we need all hands on deck. We need businessmen to come forward and financially undertake this project; leaders 32

who says you can’t find passionate, fearless, faithful, prayerful & powerful men in Singapore?

You can find them all, AT...

Herald, April 2008 2008, I NTE RNATIONAL M I N ISTRI ES

of Zion Fellowship (Perth) By Pastor Philip Chia

y wife, Irene, and I were married in 1978 and in the early years when we were staying in Singapore, we were involved in a church planting work as lay leaders of Church of Our Saviour. Sometime in 1994, we attended a teaching seminar by Pastor Brian Bailey and having read his book, “The Journey of Israel”, the revelatory teaching ignited my passion and thirst for the Word of God. Subsequently, God spoke to us vividly through signs and visions about migrating to Perth, Australia. Finally in February 1997, my wife and I, together with our three children, we moved to Perth. I continued working in the secular as an IT Consultant for another five years, and during those years, the call of God was intensifying. God was calling me to full-time ministry and in early 2002; I left my job in preparation for full-time service. Over the next two years, I was doing a distance Bible correspondence course and in 2003, we were impressed by the Lord to look for another local church. By divine appointment, we crossed paths with PastorYang and Pastor Bailey as they were in Perth at that time, and they were looking to plant a church in our city.We were offered the opportunity to pioneer the church planting work, and we gladly accepted it as we sensed that this was direction of the Lord.With that, Zion Fellowship was officially started in November 2003. It began with six members and for the initial two months, the church met at our house. Later on, we moved to a public venue (Joondalup Sports Arena) and about a year later, in 2005, we shifted to our current premise in Joondalup Industrial Park. Currently, the church is just over four years old and we have about 70 regular members. In the first year, we sought the Lord in prayer with regards to the mission and vision of our church. God reminded me of the key revelations that had deeply impacted me over the years – the teachings in Pastor Bailey’s books, lessons learnt from my Bible correspondence course and wisdom gained from other ministers of God in the past. The spiritual DNA that has been imparted over those years provided the foundation in conceiving the mission and vision for Zion Fellowship. They are:

Our Mission Statement (Purpose of Existence): To make God-loving, Christ-like & Spirit-empowered disciples

XX 34

Our Vision Statement (Our Destiny): Attain Spiritual Mount Zion - To be Carriers & Imparters of God’s Manifest Presence, Glory and Kingdom Authority on Earth.

of Zion Fellowship (Perth)

his vision and mission has become our heartbeat and passion. Since then, we have intentionally preached and taught on these subject matters progressively (precept upon precept, line by line, here a little, there a little). For example, in teaching Christ-likeness, we expounded on the nine aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. For spiritual empowerment, the church was taught on all the various gifts of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This was to help our members in the discovery and development of their God-given gifts. To reinforce the importance of this part of their spiritual walk, we discussed about spiritual gifts in some of our cell meetings as well. We strongly believe that when we build according to God’s pattern (His Word), in His time and by His grace, the tangible glory and presence of God will fill our church. However we must be prepared to take a long-term view to build and not have the mentality of wanting to achieve quick results. The first three to four years of our church was a period of consolidation. From the fourth year (i.e. 2007) onwards, we began to have more evangelistic activities. We organized a number of outreach activities, namely Super Holiday Club for children during the school holidays, an international food fair, Christian-based movie nights and tracting to invite more pre-believers to the

church. We plan to follow up on these people with home visits to build friendships. By faith, we believe that they will come and eventually respond to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. The country of Australia has a Christian heritage. The early explorers bestowed upon this continent a prophetic name - “Southland of the Holy Spirit”. Australia has been economically, geographically and politically blessed but unfortunately, over the years, the increasing love and pursuit of sports, leisure, and material comfort have made most Australians spiritually apathetic and indifferent. There have been many prophecies given that God is going to pour out a revival in this land in the coming last days. I believe that God is raising up some faithful churches for this coming mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are therefore going to prepare and position ourselves to be used by God for this outpouring, to shake the communities and nations in the coming revival/reformation for His glory. We pray that the Lord Jesus will build us into a spiritual house, a place for His habitation. We desire to carry His manifest presence, glory and kingdom authority to every corner of the community to effect a sustainable national transformation in every segment of our society. 35

Herald, April 2008, FEATU RE FEATU RE

By Pastor Ross Paterson

Who will be the

ANTIOCH There is a verse in Acts 11:19 on which

I have spoken many times. But every time I read it, I feel the need to challenge myself and others with a deeper truth concerning world missions than what is contained in this verse. It reads in the NKJV: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews onlyâ&#x20AC;?. 36

Herald, April 2008, FEATU RE

I also believe that Cornerstone, in its values and actions, is nearer to that word (about being an Antioch) than most of the churches of Singapore. It is thrilling to see people from different nations in the congregation on any given Sunday! It is wonderful to hear of the teams that go out to share the word of God in different nations. Recently my wife and I were in Kuala Lumpur attending a course on World Missions. As part of the course, a DVD was shown and it was the story of how different believers - all from Cornerstone - had responded to a minority people overseas and planted a church among them. Brilliant! Praise the Lord! But being nearly there does not make us all the way there!

There are three things that we can learn about these early missionaries. Firstly, they went into foreign cities and began preaching Jesus. They were on fire for the Lord and they wanted others to come to Him. Secondly, they were fleeing persecution; they had lost everything for the Lord Jesus and for their faith in Him, yet they intended to carry on in the way of Jesus, even though the price was so high. Amazing! Thirdly, in spite of all of that, they only preached to their own people - the Jews.

They knew what Jesus had said in

Acts 1:8, that the Gospel was also meant for the Samaritans and for the Gentiles, the people of the ends of the earth. And yet they only cared for their own people, the Jews, one of the three people groups that Jesus had specifically commanded them to reach in Acts 1:8. In the case of Antioch, there were many people in the city who were not Jews. There were Greeks and there were Syrians. In fact the Jews were the last people to arrive and made up the smallest percentage of the population - a minority people indeed. Nevertheless, these Jesus-loving believers who came to preach Jesus only preached to a small minority of the people in the city, their own people, ignoring the rest. And why would they do that? The reason was because there was a tradition in their version of Christianity which told them that they should behave that way. We know today that that is not what Jesus said. We know He told us to go to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20). Through this, we see that there was in their minds a complete contradiction between the tradition of the Church and the command of the Lord Jesus, but amazingly, they still went with tradition and not with the Lord’s command. Now it is easy for us to believe that nominal Christians would behave this way. Sometimes we can even be disparaging in our comments about such folk, realising they have little spiritual life and little desire to obey the Lord. But these early missionaries were not like that. As I have said, they were on fire for Jesus, totally committed to the Gospel of salvation as the only way to eternal life, and willing to back up that faith with a strong commitment that involved personal cost and sacrifice at a level that few, if any, of us have ever paid. Yet they still instinctively followed church tradition, even though it was not Biblical. How does that apply to us? In what way is this relevant to the Great Commission; to taking the Gospel to unreached nations? Simply put, it should warn us that it is possible for us to walk in that way, following in their footsteps; to be driven by unbiblical tradition and not by the will of God for our generation. Not deliberately, not by a process of thinking through what we should or should not do, but rather by instinct. I once read an interesting comment about dogs chasing rabbits (something we do not often see in Singapore!). When a single dog is chasing a single rabbit, it barks loudly and repeatedly! But the writer explained how foolish that is of the dog, because it warns the rabbit that it is in danger and encourages it to run away. It removes the element of surprise that is the dog’s best weapon. The writer rhetorically asked why the dog does what it does and his answer was that the dog is following an ancient instinct to bark, because its bark called its pack, the other dogs with whom it hunted, to join in the chase and trap the rabbit. But there is no pack for the dog today, so the action of barking has the exact opposite result of the intended one, and causes the rabbit to escape. That illustration impacted me when I read it. How many Christians are just 71 38

Perhaps you would then allow me as a “foreigner” to make some suggestions as to how Cornerstone can fulfil that mandate to be an Antioch church. Let me put that in terms of three simple questions:

Question One: “Who selects and helps the same, acting in a way that is born of instinct to follow tradition rather than intelligent obedience to Jesus? In Acts 11, we know what happened. The account says that there were other believers who did not come from the same place or tradition as these Jerusalem believers. They came from Cyprus and Cyrene (verse 20). The account says that they “began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus”. Then verse 21 tells us that “the Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord”. I believe the Lord was waiting and the Holy Spirit was poised to work. But He needed to find those who would reach out to the Greeks, to people who were not the same as them, with the good news of Jesus. As soon as they did, He worked a miracle of revelation and salvation in their hearts. And many were saved (verse 21). We know that Antioch then became one of the most significant churches in that period of the New Testament. From it (Acts 13), Paul was sent out on his missionary journeys - not from Jerusalem but from Antioch. Antioch was also said to have become the major teaching church of that period of New Testament history. It certainly grew very fast, because when Barnabas came down from Jerusalem, and encouraged them to persevere faithfully in love with Jesus, “a great number of people were brought to the Lord (verse 22-24). That is a powerful record about Antioch and its church: verse 21 says “a great number” and verse 24 speaks of “a great number of people”. And so by any token, the Antioch church became both very large in quantity and very strong in quality in terms of the teaching of the Word. And it also changed history by sending out missionaries to the nations, to reach an unreached world, through the apostle Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13 and following). When my wife and I came with our five young children to live in Singapore in 1994, we became familiar with a remark that we often heard in various situations: “Singapore is the Antioch of Asia”. It seemed at that time (and maybe still today) that Singapore churches had confidence that God had chosen the nation’s churches to be a modern Antioch. I do not want for a moment to say that this is not true, because I am told that this came from prophetic statements from men of God far greater than I am. Indeed, it would be my deep desire that this should come to pass. My argument is not with the prophetic words and purposes of God. It is with the way that we have failed here to analyse the meaning of that word and to see if we are walking in the way that God has called us to walk in. Are we unconsciously nearer the people that I described in Acts 11:19 - in love with the Lord, experiencing His grace, but with no really significant desire to reach the Greeks, Syrians and countless others in a dying world? If I am honest, I do not believe the churches in Singapore have fully obeyed that mandate. I may be wrong, but living here for well over 10 years has given me that conviction.

those who are suitable and called to serve in world missions?” In Acts 11, one of the first things that Barnabas did when he took over the church in Antioch was to go and look for the apostle Paul in Tarsus (v25), and to bring him to Antioch (v26). Barnabas knew that Paul was called to world missions (to the Gentiles). So he went and hunted Paul down, who were locked out by the Jerusalem church as Paul was in his home town of Tarsus, rescued him and took him to Antioch. Then (verse 26) he worked with him for a whole year. Barnabas knew that Paul was called, and battled to see him liberated from the place that others had put him, a place which made it hard for him to fulfil his call. May God raise up many Barnabas-es in Singapore, who scan the church and the youth groups for those called to missions, who would love them and care for them, releasing them into their calling and making sure they are not trapped in the wrong place and work.

Question Two: “Who trains the missionaries in cross-cultural understanding and in the

stresses of living in a foreign country before they leave their own land?” As I have mentioned, Barnabas worked with Paul for over a year (verse 26) before sending him out. I am sure they had fruitful discussions about the way the Antioch church, which was a majority Gentile and non-Jewish church, had come into existence. Barnabas was building a church that, for the first time, embraced Gentiles. This is a church that was crosscultural. He had to face these issues and he helped Paul to do likewise. Recently my wife and I have been helping an ethnic Chinese missionary who is called to Central Asia and whose church has made few serious efforts to help her prepare for her calling. She needs to learn the Russian language and develop an understanding of the culture and ways of Central Asia. Instead, her home church sent her to a rural church in her own country, where she helped with youth work among her own people. Pray with me that God will raise up those who know how to prepare missionaries for cross cultural differences before they are sent out as lambs among the wolves!

Question Three: Who will support the missionaries when they are on the field? Who will care for

them? Who will not forget them when they have gone away from the church to a foreign land? As I write, I am at missions board meetings in the UK. My wife is in China. The only reason she has gone is to sit down with about ten of the Antioch Missions team, meeting with them one by one and seeing how they are doing. One of them lost her step-mother in another country in a car crash. How is she doing? Is anybody caring for the tears that may be near the surface in her life at the moment? Another young couple has just returned to the field after getting married and are facing problems with their Chinese landlord, and may have to move from the apartment where they thought they were going to live in. Another struggles with the lifestyles of some of her colleagues because she comes from a very poor African background. There are so many issues that these

dearly beloved folks have to face and so few who care for them. Who will support the missionaries from Singapore on the field? In my early years here, I met a recently married brother who had been sent by his church to the Philippines. The result was that he returned quite quickly with his marriage destroyed and went through the agony of a divorce. I do not know the exact issues but one of the core reasons was surely that nobody showed care. I am thrilled to see what God is doing in Cornerstone. The last time I preached, God gave me a word in the middle of my message that Cornerstone was called to be a house of healing for the nations. Pastor Yang had been praying for Kenya and for the believers who have suffered in so many ways in that nation recently. And God spoke to me and said that Cornerstone, as part of its destiny, would see a day come when it would be a place of healing for leaders and others from the nations; those who have already suffered much for their faith. How wonderful it will be when God brings this to pass. I believe there is much, much more for Cornerstone in its destiny. I also shared about a recent experience I had in Cornerstone a few months ago. I had been preaching in another Singapore church, and came over to Cornerstone for lunch. I stood at the top of the stairs in the corner of the auditorium, and had a strong sense that the Lord was speaking to me of His pleasure and favour on Cornerstone. There was such a sense of His grace and satisfaction with the church. What a fantastic place to be in. But the issue I see and the challenge is this: how to sustain that, how to embrace the Lord’s kindness and love and walk in His purposes? So many believers today have never really understood that the appropriate response to God’s grace is a life laid down in sacrificial obedience to Him. That means finding and holding on to His will and purposes, including those for world missions. They have not understood that we are called to follow in the footsteps of the Master who came to seek and save the lost. That is the destiny of Cornerstone - in Singapore, Southeast Asia and the ends of the earth. By the time you get to read this, I will have almost reached my 65th birthday. God called me into world missions as a young man in Cambridge many years ago. As I look back on my life’s service, I am amazed at what God has done in Antioch Missions and through the China Ministry of Derek Prince Ministries, both of which I lead and for which I am responsible. God has given us wonderful colleagues worldwide and special people to work with in Singapore. I am amazed, truly amazed, at God’s kindness and what He has done for us ordinary people in China and elsewhere. But there is also a sense of unfulfilment, whether in Singapore or Taiwan or the UK or wherever. It is simply that I have not yet seen a truly Antioch church! I have not seen a church that has really answered the three questions that I have listed in this article. But I live in hope that before I go to be with Jesus, God would fulfil two deep desires that I have - to experience revival in the Biblical sense of the word (something that I know is so close to the hearts of many Cornerstone brothers and sisters)

May God grace Cornerstone with both of those world-changing blessings. and also to see a fully Antioch church.

Herald, April 2008

Living testimonies

inconvenience in communication. Whenever I was speaking to others, I just had to ensure I sat or stood

1:2). I realised that having faith in God’s power was not quite the same as having faith in relation to knowing the Father’s heart for my life. That was the message that Pastor Che Ahn shared when he visited Cornerstone, and when I was fully apprehended by that assuring truth, I responded to the altar call with a brand new perspective.

“2 Ears to Hear” During my SA2 exam, I was doing my SA2 Math paper and when I finished my

paper, I checked my work for errors. I found out that I did not do two pages, and I praised and thanked the Lord for reminding me. I did the two pages and continued checking my paper, while I kept on praising and thanking the Lord. The following week when I received the grading for my Math paper, I was so glad to have received 98/100. That day was a very happy day because, if the Lord did not ask me to check my work, I would have only gotten 80/100.

By Gabrielle Tan

8 years old

Thanking the Lord

By Liena Tan (Z12-Anastasis) Date of healing: 17 July 2007

to their right in order to hear what they were saying. After I came back to the Lord at the age of 19, God began to stir in my heart to pray for healing for my ear. Both Pastor Yang and Wenhui prayed along with me on this matter and I sensed that God wanted me to be persistent in contending for the healing to the glory of Jesus; just like the woman with the issue of blood. I wanted this to be a mighty testimony to my unsaved family members and friends so that they could be touched by the reality of

From as young as I can remember, I have not been able to hear with my right ear and thought it was normal. I used to wonder why God would create two ears but only one could hear. It was not until one day when my mum was whispering into my right ear that we discovered I was totally deaf in one ear. It was only at that moment that I realised that we were supposed to be hearing with both ears. My family was shocked and distraught upon knowing my condition and I was sent to various ear specialists in Singapore and China (I was staying in Indonesia then).

ear. The conclusion was that the impairment was due to a damaged nerve that connected my right ear to the brain, and it could have been affected by a high fever during my childhood. The diagnosis was that a hearing aid would not help me and that lifelong deafness was inevitable.

After several checks, the doctors could not diagnose any internal damage in my right

Through the years, I became accustomed to relying solely on one ear and treated it as an

My left leg was slightly shorter than my right and the imbalance has always given me frequent backaches. By Kevin Tan In June 07, I had testified that God

Jesus, the True and Living God. To be honest, in the last four years, there were times I told myself that I was fine living with this condition, if God had so purposed. While I absolutely believed that God was more than able to completely and instantly restore my hearing, what I did not truly understand was that God wanted to heal me. It is His desire for His children to “prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John

I remembered clearly that night that after I was prayed for, I covered my left ear and heard for the first time with my right ear, albeit softly. I was incredulous; it wasn’t just my healing that overwhelmed my heart, but seeing the joy of my brothers and sisters and who had stood with me all this while. I went to an ear consultant over the next couple of days and after the hearing test, he said that I only had moderate hearing loss! It also turned out that I would now be able to put on a hearing aid to improve the hearing in my right ear. Without any hesitation, I did not consider that to be an option because I fervently believe that soon, Jesus will give me a fully restored right ear. After all, our God is a God of completion! Therefore, let us not settle for any less. Hallelujah!

It is His desire for His children to “prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).

Although there was no one praying for me, I felt a muscle pull and thought it was due to the run that I had had the night before. But when I stood up, I immediately noticed a difference in my balance. When I compared the length of my two legs, they were both equal now! This was actually the third time in two years that God had lengthened my left leg and finally, the healing was complete!

had lengthened my left leg. However, it was a partial healing and after a few days, I realized that there was still a little bit more to go before my pelvis would be balanced. I am happy to say that on 9 Dec ’07, my left leg was completely healed and balanced.

The muscles on my left leg are still weak, due to an over-reliance on my right leg for the last nine years. Nevertheless, this gradual three-step healing has really strengthened my faith in God and what He can do. Even in healing, it is done God’s way and not how we think it should be.

In one of the Sunday services, an altar call was given for healing and I responded in faith, believing that this was a simple thing for God to do.

These things are really simple to God; the only question is how big we perceive Him to be!

The Lord’s lengthening

Generations*

IGNITE

CONFERENCE My School, My Responsibility @ Heart of God Church Generations feature

“Go and sin no more”by Cameron Walcott

audacious youth camp 2007 the one that we looked forward to!

43 34

Herald, April 2008

Generations Everyone in Generations really looked forward

Audacious Youth Camp 2007 By Daphne Lee

to the Audacious youth camp with much anticipation and excitement, as it was the last camp that we would have together. Preparation began months earlier, with a great deal of publicity leading up to the camp, and some were truly ingenious ideas. These included posing for pictures on the streets and hilarious skits; with the camp committee taking creativity to a whole new level. All of these served to make Audacious the most exciting camp ever. For the speakers this year, we had a double blessing in the form of Pastor Glyn Barrett from the UK, and Pastor Chris Long, whom we are all familiar with. They took the various sessions and brought the Word, and I am sure that Gen-ers would agree we received some pretty awesome messages! We heard about Mephibosheth, whose name means ”shame”, and how shame is taken away when we dine at the King’s table. Some uproarious scenes also ensued from the speakers’ illustrations, and we all remembered how Rachel Yang was almost married off! A memorable moment to highlight was when Pastor Glyn exhorted us to be audacious and bold as lions. He made us take out our mobile phones, and, after a prayer, asked us to type in the number of a friend that we had in mind and this simple message: “Dear {friend}, the next time you see me, ask me about God.” The text messages were all sent out at the same time, and it definitely made a lasting impact as we took the first step to reach out to our friends. Nigel Tham, 18, decided not to limit himself to messaging only one friend, and he reported that although some of his friends were shocked, they were also quite receptive. He felt that through this audacious action, people would believe that there is a God who cares for them, and it is also a stepping stone for those who are reserved by nature. All good camps definitely have games to remember them by, and the Audacious camp was no exception. Some games were recycled from past camps, while some were truly original. Ask any Gen-er, and they would all have their own embellished stories to tell! The most notable activity we had was when we were woken up at 4am on a Sunday morning, and made to walk to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on the pretext of looking for a missing committee member. It was not like the normal “night game” that we were used to, in fact it was quite a refreshing change. The campers had fun together on this unexpected trek, while struggling to climb to the top of the hill, the morning mist we encountered made us marvel at God’s creation. We trekked till late morning, and Caleb Huang, 17, remarked that it was a lot of fun, especially as he bonded with his team members. The Audacious youth camp truly lived up to its name, and has started the momentum for a generation of radical youths who will take this world by storm, doing audacious things for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be prepared to hear more testimonies of how our youths continue to step out in faith and courage, not being content just to live for themselves!

Herald, April 2008

Generations

Ignite Conference My School, My Responsibility

The recently concluded Ignite Conference 2008 has inspired hearts and encouraged youths to reach out to their schools. During the three-day conference, Pastor Joakim Lundqvist, founder of the New Generation Student’s Organization with 4000 members in Sweden, gave the call for Singaporean students to reach their schools.

18 - 20 Jan ‘08 @ Heart of God Church By Hannah Tan

The theme, IGNITED, presupposes that the young people have already been ignited with passion and desire to reach their schools but may not be equipped with the tools to do so. As Pastor Joakim shared different testimonies of New Generation groups doing great exploits for God all around the world, we were challenged to make a lasting impact in our schools. Through the video presentation of various youth ministries testifying of what God is doing in their schools, one important principle stands out - God uses the one who avails his or her self to do His will. Who else but students are in the best position to reach their own friends? When young people begin to take personal responsibility for their schools and friends, they start to become witnesses and living testimonies of the love of God. In his message, “ABCs for School Changers”, Pastor Joakim pointed out how students need to ask themselves what they can do for their schools, in order that their friends may be saved. Indeed, we have the Answer in us, even as we face different issues in our daily lives. The important thing is for us to see with the eyes of Jesus, so that we can look beyond the façades, the hurts, and the struggles that our friends go through and bring them to the one thing they truly need in their lives. In Mark 8, it was said that Jesus had compassion for the multitudes and likewise, we must ask God for compassion for the lost. The end of the conference signified the start of the mighty exploits that Gen-ers intend to do for God; to reach their schools and see their friends saved!

Herald, April 2008

Generations

By Cameron Walcott

The angry mob pushed the woman

down to the ground, right at the Master’s feet. Bruises had already formed on her arms where they grabbed her, and a trickle of blood was starting to flow from a cut on her cheek. “She’s an adulterer!” shouted one. Another screamed, “Let’s stone her!”, as the crowd started to pick out stones, planning her execution. An elderly gentleman in a thick priestly robe stepped in and raised his hand, “Silence! Let’s hear what this man has to say. Jesus, we caught this woman right in the act of adultery. The law says that she should be stoned and killed; what do you say?”

sin. Yet He chose not to condemn her and instead, showered her with undeserved pardon - the mercy of God. As a Christian, you are also a beneficiary of the mercy of God. Our sins meant that we deserved hell - eternal death. But by the mercy of God, He has forgiven our sins and made us partakers of His very own righteousness. Your salvation is completely based upon the mercy of God. So let us not walk in guilt over our past sins but remember that His mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:22). His mercy and love are freely given to us.

As a Christian, you are also a beneficiary of the mercy of God . . .

The Master looked at the woman, and surveyed the crowd that had gathered. A sense of anger, compassion, and hope was rising within; His face revealing the emotions stirring inside of Him. Instead of giving an eloquent speech, He stooped down and wrote something on the ground. When He stood up, Jesus said, “He who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.” This unexpected reply completely dumbfounded the accusers, and stripped away the cover of their religious pride. Staring at their own sinfulness now, each of them slowly started to drop their stones, and the crowd began to disperse. Soon enough, there was no one around, except for Jesus and the woman. He knowingly asked her if there was anyone else from the crowd still condemning her, and she replied “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:11).” This story reveals to us both the mercy and the righteousness of God. Mercy is the ultimate revelation of the character of God. He is not an angry despot, eagerly waiting to send people to hell; but He is a loving God, rejoicing to show His mercy. In this story, the woman was guilty and thus deserved punishment under the law. Jesus was the only One who could have condemned her, for He was the only One who was without even a hint of

But the story did not end with the woman being forgiven; she was given hope that she could truly be changed. Jesus told her, “Go and sin no more.” and He gives us the same directive. The purpose of God’s grace and mercy is not just to forgive us our sins, but to change us so that we no longer walk in those same sins. He is both a merciful and righteous God, and He demands a holy people. If we habitually return to the same sins after God has forgiven us, we are taking the mercy and grace of God in vain. Jesus gave this adulterous woman the hope and the commandment to walk in righteousness. A changed life is the evidence that we have truly received the mercy of God. Thank God that He is a merciful Saviour. Trust in His mercy and know that He has forgiven you your sins. And then, go forward, walking in righteousness and holiness. What a wonderful hope it is that we can “Go, and sin no more.”

“He who has no sin, let him cast the first stone.”

Express your love through flowers

Herald, April 2008, LET TH E CH I LDRE N COM E

“I’m scared!” “I’ve never done this before.” “I’ll need to rehearse on how to share the four spiritual laws!”

These are comments that you will

rarely expect to hear in a children’s camp but these were the actual words said by our children who came for last year’s camp. Overcoming their early jitters, many of them managed to do quite well and eventually took to the streets to share the gospel. The camp theme was on “The Great Commission” and we had children aged seven to twelve joining us. The camp message was primarily centred on the verses in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” As such, the teaching sessions were aimed at bringing forth key aspects in the verses mentioned above. To experience the ‘Go’ aspect in the Great Commission, the entire camp went on a ‘mission trip’ to the nearby Heartland Mall on the third day of the camp. Despite the heavy downpour threatening to rob many a camper’s first-time opportunity in street evangelism, the children’s spirits remained unshaken. Armed with much prayer,

balloons and handmade bookmarks to give away, the children raised their lovely voices; singing praises unto God as they waited for their turns to be sent out to the mall. When we looked at the children holding up their colourful balloons, the Lord reminded us of His covenant that He gave to Noah after the flood in Gen 9:13, “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” As the heavy raindrops were splattering on the camp ground, the colourful balloons raised were like the rainbow that God promised to Noah and all His people. God reminded us of His presence and that He will always be with us. He was watching over all the little groups, which were like mini troops of soldiers that were ready to be sent out. They went with boldness and trust in the Lord; pouring out their hearts as they reached out to shoppers with the message of love. Every initial thought of fear and incapability within each child was cast away as they moved by faith in God. Indeed our prayers are that this generation of children would rise up and play a vital role in the fulfilment of the Great Commission, to go therefore to all the nations; reaching out to people of every tribe and tongue.

Children’s Camp 2007 The Great Commission By Lai Mingwei & Soh Wai Leng

3 – 6 December 2007 @ Girls’ Brigade Centre

After-camp thoughts from the children campers

Rachel Tan, 11

Russell Tan, 11

Darren Chak, 12

“Through this camp, I received a breakthrough in my life and likewise for my sister, Deborah. We are drawn closer to God as each time we soaked ourselves in the river of God when He called us deeper into the river. God taught and led me to pray for others, including our Children’s Ministry teachers at the camp. It was truly a magnificent move of God.”

“It was fun; I had a wonderful time with fellow friends in the camp. I thank God for touching my heart again and changing the paradigm in my life. In the past, I always thought of study and play but now, I want to be more focused and serious when it comes to prayer and study of the Word.”

“I didn’t like going to camps; praise and worship was never something I enjoyed in the past. However, God’s power of transformation orchestrated a new change in my life when I went for the children’s camp last year. I thank God for His grace and mercy in making me new and I want to know Him more than before. The presence of God was so tangible during the camp. The outdoor carnival was fun too!”

Herald, April 2008, LET TH E CH I LDRE N COM E

By Soon Lili

The Lord’s Army Vacation Day Camp 2007 26 & 27 November 2007 @ The Cornerstone In Cornerstone, we have family camps, youth camps and children’s camps… how about a day

camp for our tiny tots? Initially, some Sunday School teachers and parents were apprehensive about the idea as it would be the very first time that we have a day camp for children aged three to six. Nevertheless, God’s love shines through and His grace is always more than sufficient for us. With that, we organized the camp and our kids got to enjoy a camp tailored just for them – The Lord’s Army Vacation Camp. There was much excitement and anticipation as 41 happy campers reported on the first morning of the camp. The two days were filled with fun and joy as the children were engaged in Bible stories, object lessons, skits, songs and games. Most of all, the sweet presence of God was in the midst of all the activities as seeds of biblical truths were sown in the hearts of the children. We saw the children “enlisting” in the Lord’s army and learning to know God as their Commanding Officer. They were also taught that they were equipped with His armour and united in love and spirit with the other “comrades”. The camp ended with the teachers laying hands on every child, sealing the Word that had been sown over the two days. The children’s faces glowed with joy and confidence in the Lord as they marched and sang “I’m in the Lord’s Army” at the camp closing. Indeed, we shall see an army of little children rising up to take their positions in His Kingdom and being led in simple obedience to accomplish all of His purposes.

Herald, April 2008, I N TH E SECRET PLACE

One of the biggest and most influential churches in America recently said: “We made a mistake.” The church conducted a comprehensive survey among the congregation, in an effort to know if current church programs were making a difference in the ongoing spiritual growth of the people. The members were polled on things like services, small groups, teaching classes etc. And the result? The founder and senior pastor said that it was “the wake up call of my adult life”. In his own words, he summarized the findings this way:

“Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into, thinking it would

really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against are stuff our people are crying out for.” The survey also revealed that “Increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities does NOT predict whether someone was becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It does NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more.”

p i h s e l p i c s i d

How sobering and how true this is. Merely participating in religious programs and attending services does not equate to being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

By Mickey Teo

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” [Matthew 28:18-20] The disciples received the aforesaid directive prior to Jesus’ ascension in what we have come to know as the Great Commission. It was definitely not the Great Suggestion. It is more than just global evangelism; the primary issue here is discipleship. In order for us to walk in this mandate to go forth and make disciples of all nations, it is imperative that we ourselves must first be disciples and be discipled. Follower of Christ The twelve disciples were divinely selected by Jesus after a night of prayer and receiving revelation from God the Father. They were to be with Him, to learn of His ways as He preached the kingdom, healed and ministered to the people. They needed to learn kingdom principles; that greatness comes by serving, authority comes by submission and that it is more blessed to give than to receive. As they followed Him and came under His training, they would in turn become conduits of ministry to others. A disciple is someone who has decided that the paramount goal and greatest passion in his or her life is to be a follower of Christ, learning to become like Him and obeying what He has taught and commanded us to do. It is more than just following a program, it is following a Person. More than just completing a curriculum and graduating from it, discipleship is a lifelong process of knowing God - observing, learning, obeying and experiencing a transformed life from the inside out. The starting point of every master-disciple relationship is an invitation from the master: “Follow me”. God’s promise to those who follow Him is “I will make you to be”. continued on the next page

Herald, April 2008, I N TH E SECRET PLACE

Discipleship In other words, He would make us to become what we have been created to be and fulfil our destiny in God. Jesus said He came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly. He was the Master of living! He modelled the life that we are supposed to live, one that overflows with purpose and satisfaction. Just as we follow a great piano teacher to master the piano, we follow Jesus because we want to master life! Make the Choice “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Following Jesus is an intentional decision. Notice the words “if anyone desires”. There was no coercion; instead, Jesus gave an invitation to anyone who desired. Being a disciple is not something that we stumble into but is a personal and conscious choice we make. There are no forced disciples. There was once a preacher who posed three questions to his congregation as he was giving an invitation to discipleship. Firstly, “Is Christ NOTHING to you?” Secondly, “Is Christ SOMETHING to you?” Lastly, “Is Christ EVERYTHING to you?” Jesus’s call is a call to fullness of life, more than just a life of repenting and experiencing forgiveness of sin. He represents everything we ever need, desire or dream about. Is there a stirring in your heart to want to follow Jesus and become like Him? He is worthy and worth following! The Missing “A” Factor “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Romans 13:1 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). The Bible tells us that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. There is a concept growing in acceptance today that you can be a Christian without being a disciple. Discipleship has become optional and peripheral. This is not biblical and most dangerous as it gives people a false notion that they could live self-centred lives and still go to heaven. This is where the need for accountability comes in. “Accountability”, “obedience” and “submission” are not popular words, but they are essential and necessary in God’s discipling process in our lives. God has placed guardians and stewards over us, who in turn are accountable to God for our lives. Although still imperfect, they have authority to hold us accountable because they themselves are Christ56

followers and are under authority. While they lead with heart and vision to mature and equip us for the work of the ministry, we are to submit ourselves to them as unto the Lord, that we might learn to walk in His ways and do His works. Our Lord Jesus set an example of submission and accountability to authority when we read of Him subjecting Himself to His earthly parents during His growing up years (Luke 2:51). “If we cannot obey man whom we can see, how can we obey God whom we cannot see?” Some have an attitude of “I will only listen to God and not to man. I will only do it if I hear from Him”. Nothing could be further from the truth than this. This unwillingness to be accountable will set one up for deception. God’s method has always been to work through man (not programs) to build His Church (2 Timothy 2:2). He uses the Pauls (a mature and seasoned Christ-follower who exemplifies Christlikeness, unconditional love and humility) to nurture the Timothys (a disciple who learns to be submissive and accounts his life to the shepherd or mentor). While some have an independent and proud attitude of not following man, others realize their need to be discipled but they are not following their teacher or mentor close enough to see progressive transformation in their lives. They are following their leader from a “safe” distance, while maintaining a certain level of autonomy in their lives, often choosing not to practice accountability in areas where they struggle in their flesh to surrender. They do not understand that by doing so, growth is stunted and they come out of God’s intended covering (His appointed leaders) and expose themselves to possible attacks of the enemy. We can never outgrow our need to be accountable to someone who loves us enough to ask how we are and speak into our lives. In fact, we need to eagerly pursue and position ourselves under such oversight. It takes a Community There is an old African proverb that says, “It takes a whole village to raise a child”. Similarly, it would take a whole community of faith to raise up disciples. Not only are we to be accountable to the leaders who shepherd us, relational accountability to one another is also essential in the process of discipleship. We need to be delivered from our individualism and our insistence on privacy and learn to relate to one another beyond the veneer of friendly handshakes and superficial conversations. There is a need to come to a place of vulnerability where we feel safe enough to open up our lives to one another, whether to share our successes and failures, confess our sins or for correction and counsel. How are our relationships with one another? Are they deep enough that we can speak the truth in love and provoke each other to press on unto God for love and good works?

A Call to Die “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The call to Christ is a call to come and die”. Following Jesus and living for Him requires one to die to self-life. It means that Jesus wants to lead and asks us to follow by denying our right to be in charge of our own lives. It means to surrender the driver’s seat in our lives and acknowledge the lordship of Christ over our will, words and actions. Many of us do not have the inner strength to turn off the television and spend the time studying the Word of Life. Others are unable to deny themselves more sleep in the morning so as to meet their Heavenly Father in prayer and communion. Living in an age and society of self-gratification, we have gotten used to just doing what we desire and succumbing to our fleshly wants and emotions. This is so different from the early disciples who radically realigned their priorities and changed their lifestyles in response to the call of Christ. Below is a description of the new lifestyle they had: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Conclusion: Am I a disciple? Today, Jesus is still calling out, “Follow Me!” He does this through His servant-leaders who are following His pattern by the Spirit. Is your life marked by transformation through follower-ship, submission, accountability and self-denial or is it characterised by just an outward show of attending, serving and giving? Beloved, let us not settle for a routine of religious activities without evidence of a life being transformed by the renewing of our mind. Here are some suggestions to start on this journey to follow Jesus and be His disciple: 1) Acknowledge His lordship over your life; He will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. 2) Eagerly pursue the position of being under authority (a place of safety) by being submissive and accountable to God’s leaders over your life. There is no authority in our life until we are under authority. 3) Build covenantal relationships with one another in mutual accountability. Get connected to the Body! 4) Learn to die to self-life and live in consecration to Christ.