Issue 13 | 2014
Join the resurgence of a generation on fire for God with a faith that stands firm against trials and storms. Let Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross be your beacon of hope and that of others around you. Heed the call to declare that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
the HIstory of
sTHE a MESSAGE lvat i o n IS THE SAME OUR MISSION REMAINS
the day i was saved:
jimmy needham
ON PORN ADDICTION
Notorious redemption
CARLOS CHOI
Let The Future Begin by PASSION is now available at
L
ike many Christian artists, Jimmy Needham has inspired thousands upon thousands of people around the world with his soulful music and meaningful true-to-life lyrics. There’s something to be said about the way Jimmy connects to his audience through his music, his performances, and his honest account of the challenges, defeats, and victories in his walk with God. But the heart of Jimmy’s chart-topping songs and his growing career in the industry goes all the way back to the day God freed him from the bondages of porn addiction. Jimmy shares in a post on CovenantEyes: We all have our hidden corners. You know, those secret and wicked sins in our life that look so attractive in the dark, so much so that we sometimes spend our whole life trying to keep them from the bright exposure of the Son. Indeed, we all have hidden corners. Some are just better at hiding them than others. I was 9 years old when my secret began. I was a 4th grader with 6th grade friends; friends who had access to pornography and graciously let me indulge with them. They took me to a nearby park and there under the playground’s kid castle was a magazine. I imagine many reading this were my age or even younger the first time Satan got his foot in the door of their hearts using pornography. What I cannot imagine is just how much it breaks the heart of God to see little ones corrupted. From that day forward I was living with an addiction, an addiction that wouldn’t leave for many more years to come. It’s interesting to me that ultimately God would use this addiction to bring me into a relationship with Him years later. I came to know God at the beginning of my sophomore year of high school. I had one Christian friend in school who was truly walking with Jesus, and he took me under his wing. One day I was compelled to tell him the things I was involved in.
…I was living with an addiction, an addiction that wouldn’t leave for many more years to come. I hadn’t ever opened up to anyone about it and it was tough to confess. But, I mustered up the courage and spilled my guts to him on the way home from school. I hadn’t cried that hard in years. I remember being shocked as he told me that he struggled with the same thing, but that the difference between me and him was that, although he struggled with lust, he was already free from its power over him and I wasn’t. He told me about the liberty from sin and death that Jesus brought him, and that evening, with a broken and contrite spirit, I committed my life to Christ. I suppose I thought from that day forth, everything would be smooth
source: www.covenanteyes.com photo courtesy of artist’s website
sailing: no more lust, no more porn, just freedom! I was wrong, and anyone who knows God can vouch for me. The battle had only begun. I found myself struggling even more than before, and now I had the added bonus of the conviction of God every time I sinned. If you are anything like me, you have felt incredibly frustrated at yourself in view of your sin. I began to live in a constant state of guilt and shame, always imagining the scowl of my God as He looked down on me from a lofty place.
The battle had only begun. There was one night in particular that was quite difficult for me. I was still in high school. My parents had gone to bed and I was alone in my room with my computer. I got off the computer, having stumbled again, and hit my knees right by my bedside. I remember crying out to God in the darkness of that room. I told him I wasn’t worthy of Him. I told Him how I just kept on sinning against Him and it seemed like total victory was nowhere in sight. I didn’t deserve Him, and I knew it. I remember wanting Him to just leave me in my sin. He was too perfect, and I was too wicked. That’s when it happened. As clear as I can see right now, I had a vision. I saw myself kneeling by my bed, broken, hurting, and ashamed. And then, I saw the Lord Jesus, Maker of Heaven and Earth, come and kneel beside me. No words were spoken. All He did was put His hand on my back, and we knelt there in silence. I was so moved by that simple gesture of God that I wept, and wept hard. In that simple, silent vision God spoke louder to me than ever before. I sensed Him saying to my heart, “I’m near. I care. I forgive you.” In a lot of ways that was the beginning of the end of my addiction. From that moment on I began to walk in some very liberating principles. The first is this: “There is therefore now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). When we begin to understand that this cloud of guilt over us isn’t from God but from our own misunderstanding of His character, and when we begin to understand the nature of our salvation, then we have one less inhibition that keeps us from fully walking in obedience
I sensed Him saying to my heart, “I’m near. I care. I forgive you.” to God. Our God is for us through Christ. We are as “saved” now as we ever will be. We are His. Let that truth sink into your bones today. Another sweet truth I learned that gave me great victory is this: Our Father is pleased with baby steps. Could you imagine a father getting mad at his 1-year old because he was having difficulty learning to walk? The thought is absurd! Any little progress the child made, the father would rejoice with him and encourage him to go further. I believe it is the same way with God. He is our Father and we are His children. As it is with earthly children, we too start off as spiritual babies, and the progress we make in this life, though small to be sure, our Father rejoices in it. No longer do we need to fear the judgment-laden, wrathful heart of an angry God. We are children in the household of the King and He loves our progress. Understanding these things along with some helpful resources, was crucial to me finally seeing victory in my life. When I entered college I redoubled my zest to beat this addiction with God’s help, and soon I was going a couple of weeks without falling, then a couple more, until one day I was just done altogether with it. That was a little over eight years ago now and I haven’t fallen back into the snare of pornography. Though the journey hasn’t been easy and I am still fighting the battle of lust every day, I am walking in victory because of the power and promises of a loving Father and the freedom provided through His Son.
Jimmy Needham’s latest album Clear The Stage was released in March 2012. Check out www. jimmyneedham.com or follow @JimmyNeedham to know more about him and his music.
T H E D AY I WA S S AV E D
ON PORN ADDICTION
r e d e m pt i o n CARLOS CHOI F notorious
or more than a decade, Carlos Choi has been ministering to the youth and gangs in Cebu City, while also living out his passion for music and worship. When he’s not counseling or doing outreaches, he leads the Carlos Choi band as frontman and vocalist in both local and international concerts—often speaking at worship conferences and workshops in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. But the one thing that brings out his laughter and easy grin is spending time with his wife and two children. No one would ever suspect that this spiritual leader used to be a member of the notorious Hong Kong triads. No one would ever guess that this family man once spent years in jail. This is his story of a life saved by grace. My parents divorced when I was 10 years old. I really didn’t have a role model growing up because my dad was always out getting stoned— the whole musician-rockstar lifestyle. I then looked for family outside, people who would stand up for me when I needed help. I became a drug dealer and gang member of the Hong Kong triads. [That life] was never safe—it was always a life of looking over my shoulder.
I was truly saved the day I was sentenced to pr ison.
I became a dealer and member of Hong Kong
drug gang the triads.
My first encounter with God was at a drop in center where other gang member drug addicts were seeking help. I joined the community because I wanted to quit drugs instead of going to rehab. When I was prayed for and someone began speaking of things about me they couldn’t have known, that only God would know, at that moment I realized that He was real. And I remember crying for a long time. But once I was well, I didn’t want anything to do with God. I wanted to go back to my old ways without being bound by drugs. The reality was that drugs weren’t my real issue. As soon as I left the center, by God’s mercy, I got arrested for boosting a car. From there, it led to my surrender to Him in the courtroom. I was truly saved the day I was sentenced to prison. At that moment when the judge gave me my sentence, I really felt the Holy Spirit whisper,
”Stop running.” I’ve prayed the Sinner’s prayer before, but even though I felt the presence of God, I didn’t really understand it. It was only when I left my community and got in trouble again, that it became real for me. I accepted my sentence and did my time. The miracle was: I was facing 6 — 10 years for drug trafficking and car theft but was only sentenced for 2 – 12 months, and was released after 6 months for good behavior. The one memory that I’ll never forget about being in a gang was when I was in prison and no one came to visit me. After moving to Cebu from Hong Kong, Carlos followed God’s leading in using his talent and experiences for spreading the good news of salvation through Christ. He shares: For the last 14 years, I’ve been working with the poor in a notorious area called Lorega-San Miguel in Cebu City. I personally work mainly with the youth, gangs, and the like. In my 14 years there, I’ve seen generations come to know Jesus, seen miraculous provision and physical healing amongst them. And I’ve seen hopeless young people becoming professionals, making an honest living and giving back by leaving their jobs to serve with us. We have sent out people to different parts of the world to make disciples and share what they have received from Jesus. Since the first time I encountered God and until now, God just keeps surprising me, loving me and humbling me. I don’t think that it’s going to end until I meet Him. I’m now back in HK training worship leaders and growing songwriters, having done a lot
M
I understood what it meant to be loved f or real, that no matter what I did He would never stop loving me. For me, being saved is to be in a place where you realize that you’re in “need” and at the same time being certain that your needs are met because of the relationship you have with your Savior. What changed me from my old life? When I understood what it meant to be loved for real, that no matter what I did He would never stop loving me. I didn’t have to fight for it, to get attention, to work my self-worth, because I have worth and I am loved. Why would anyone look for temporary things when they can tap into the everlasting source of grace and love?
Cebu-based Carlos Choi band released their new album Come and Have Your Way in January last year. The album and its title track reflect the testimony of a man who surrendered his life to God, and gained everything in return by His grace. Visit www.carloschoi.com or follow @CarlosChoiBand to know more about the band. Photo courtesy of artist’s Facebook page.
MODELING SERVANTHOOD anila has been enjoying excellent food, beverages, and services from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf since 2003. Today, there are 68 stores nationwide. It is one of the most celebrated brands not just locally, but all over the world. Their friendly customer service, yummy tea lattés (have you tried their African Sunrise lately?), contemporary ambience, and Swirl Card perks have established CBTL as the coffee shop of choice for most Filipinos. According to Mr. Walden Chu, President of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Philippines, the business was admittedly run very differently compared to how it operates now. “We were a very profit-focused, product-driven company for a long time,” he explains. “But things have changed. A little after a year I gave my life to Jesus Christ, my partners and I took a long hard look in the mirror and decided that we needed to run the company differently.” Change, of course, takes sacrifice. It’s an overhaul of the internals more than the externals, and Mr. Walden Chu experienced this for himself. “The tenant of the gospel is love and building relationship with our Creator and with each other. We wanted to see this in our corporate culture, we wanted to be people-driven instead of product-driven. We needed to create a sincere, genuine, authentic culture where our Team Members know in their hearts that we weren’t just concerned about how great-tasting our coffees and teas were, but that we care about who they are as people, their families, their dreams and aspirations. Only then can our culture translate to care for our customers as well.”
of worship training and taking worship out of the church walls and into the local music scene. Music for me is a byproduct of my faith – I keep laying my music down for God, and God keeps giving it back as I lay it down. I’ve gone through a lot of inner healing and was able to surrender a lot of baggage I‘ve been carrying for many years, because I believe that unless we surrender and lay it down before God, it’s useless to ask God to take things away. He’s been such a gentle Father patiently waiting for me to surrender to Him the things that were hindering my growth and relationship with Him.
“
... When you’re not living for yourself, everything changes.
”
CBTL is now an employer of choice for job-hunters, and a brand that customers prefer because they can tell that it’s a company that makes a positive difference in local communities. “We put God first, above everything. When you’re not living for yourself, everything changes. I certainly try to live glorifying God. I try my best to cultivate excellent relationships with the people who report directly to me, and it just cascades down. You sense it. You know when a brand cares.” And that’s exactly what people see and feel. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is one of the largest corporate sponsors for The Real Life Foundation. Aside from this, they have partnered with Habitat for Humanity’s iBuild program because Mr. Walden believes that nobody deserves to live in squatter areas. The Giving Journal, which you can probably still get in CBTL stores today, encourages everyone to live a kinder, more generous life. Other initiatives, such as The Caring Cup, opens up avenues wherein dialogue and action is encouraged to make a difference in all sorts of communities in need. Mr. Walden Chu also shares a secret: “To the outside world, CBTL is really known as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but internally – for us – CBTL means Christ Brings Truth & Life.” With all the accolades that CBTL receives as an employer and brand, Mr. Walden Chu is quick to dodge all forms of credit with an almost sheepish grin: “Everything that’s happened, you know, it’s only because my heart belongs to Him.”
THE
HIS TORY OF
SALVATION T
he Greatest Story of all begins with the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth, His fulfilment of messianic prophecy, His gruesome sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection from death and ascension to heaven. Recorded in the Gospels written by His Apostles, the Greatest Message was propagated through the ages by believers saved by grace. This is the Great History of our Salvation through the GOD-Man, Christ Jesus.
1456
Johann Gutenberg prints the very first Bible using his invention, the printing press.
6/5 BC
In Bethlehem, Jesus of Nazareth is born.
1380
27AD - 30AD
Jesus starts his ministry and chooses the Twelve Apostles; He fulfills the messianic prophesy with miracles, healing, teaching about the Kingdom of God and preaching salvation.
30/33 AD
After a three year ministry, Jesus is crucified.
Wycliffe translates the Bible from 1000-year old handwritten Latin to English, enabling even “common” folk at his time to read the word of God.
550 AD 1099-1291
The Crusade period in Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.
Three days later, he rose from death.
55-95 AD THE LIFE OF JESUS IS RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS
FIRST CENTURY FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST Early Church Fathers establish Christianity: Clement, a student of John the Apostle, writes the Epistle to the Corinthians (100 AD); Ignatius, the overseer of Antioch in Syria, preaches in captivity while waiting to be killed by the wild beasts in the imperial games (107 AD); Polycarp, overseer of Smyrna, endures persecution (155 AD), Irenaeus writes moving accounts of the martyrs and against emerging heresies (177 AD); and Tertullian passionately defends the vigorous Christian lifestyle and coins the “Trinity” (196 AD).
Mark, friend of the Apostle Peter, writes the Gospel of Mark. (53-55 AD) Luke the Physician writes the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. (62 AD)
The Roman Empire splits into two: the Western and the Eastern portion, as governed from the city of Byzantium (also called Constantinople; now modern day Istanbul) following the victory over the civil war by Emperor Constantine I in 312 AD.
References: Beverley, J.A. (2005). Religions A to Z. Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Christianity.com taken from http://www. christianity.com/church/church-history/ http://www.prayerfoundation.org/ christian_history_timeline_1.html
This timeline does not exhaustively present the full history of the Church and its movements. Dates mentioned are approximated from available sources.
SECOND CENTURY FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
The Church survives amidst persecution by wicked Roman Emperors such as Nero, Septimus Severus, Decius. Martyrs were often killed by beheading, burning, the blade, or in the arena by beasts.
324-638 AD Byzantine Period
325 AD ORTHODOXY DEFINED
Athanasius defends the doctrine of the Trinity (365 AD). Damascus lists the Old Testament and New Testament Canon of Scripture (382 AD).
432-461 AD Patrick evangelizes Ireland. Although once enslaved by Irish raiders as a child, he was called by God in a dream to be a missionary and share the Gospel to the Irish people, transforming their belief from druidism to Christianity.
The Apostle Matthew writes the Gospel of Matthew. (55-65 AD)
The Apostle John writes the Gospel of John, the three epistles: 1, 2, 3 John and the Book of Revelation as he was exiled on the island of Patmos. (85-95 AD)
Dionysius Exiquus invents the modern Calendar and system of dating. It establishes the birth of Christ as the central point of all of history. Everything before is B.C. (Before Christ). Everything after is Anno Domini (“in the year of our Lord”).
From this, Irish monks created and proliferated one of the earliest Latin manuscripts of Biblical commentaries. Their writings were propagated by the Irish Christians at a time when Europe was invaded by the Barbarians.
THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY ACROSS THE WORLD
The prolific and brilliant theologian Augustine of Hippo journeys to reach and preach to the English and Africans (387 AD). John Chrysostom becomes bishop of Constantinople--known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, and his denunciation of abuse of authority by hierarchal leaders (398 AD).
THE MESSAGE IS THE SAME O UR M IS SIO N R EM A I N S REFORMATION: SALVATION BY GRACE
On 1517, the 95 Theses is posted by Martin Luther, a German monk, issuing critical concerns with the ritualism and dead faith along with corruption, greed, and false teaching that was being tolerated and proliferated in the hierarchal church during his time.
More than 2,000 years has passed and yet generations continue to spread the Greatest Message in all of history—salvation through the Savior, Christ Jesus, until He returns.
NOW
This simple act started what is called the Reformation on the basis that salvation could only be received by grace through faith.
1536
John Calvin publishes The Institutes of the Christian Religion, bringing all key beliefs of the reformers into a systematic theology of scripture. He was one of the reformers to reach Geneva and teach brilliantly on the doctrines of the Christian faith.
1560
The Reformed Church is started by John Knox in Scotland, even reaching England. Despite the danger that he was facing, he boldly preached the scriptures in nearby castles and towns, even to common folk and royalty, continuing the spread of the reformation across Europe.
1611 King James Version of the Bible is first published.
John Bunyan, coming from a foulmouthed demeanor and irreligious lifestyle, came out of prison for open-air preaching (which was then considered illegal) across towns in England where people would come at dawn to hear him preach at noon. So compelling was his preaching that flocks of people would listen in, hear the Word of God and come to faith in Christ. He was imprisoned for years but quipped “If I was out of prison today, I would preach the gospel again tomorrow by the help of God.” Even prison could not hold him from ministry, writing most of his literary works imprisonment for preaching, one of which is The Pilgrim’s Progress (the second most widely circulated book next the Bible).
Billy Graham preaches in the Los Angeles crusade and in the Greater London crusade. Stadiums are jampacked with people wanting to hear the Gospel. Millions come to know Christ and further expanded the ministry of spreading the Gospel four decades later.
1947-56
Following shortly after this is the exodus of the Puritans (so-called Pilgrims) to the new world, America, in the hopes of worshipping God and having Jesus as head rather than a monarch.
1675
1949
They firmly believed that worship extended to all parts of life and that everything was done unto the Lord—breaking the divide between sacred and secular.
1861
The Dead Sea Scrolls are found in the Qumran caves containing the oldest ancient manuscripts of scripture, which was in the early period copied by hand on animal leather skin or papyrus in ink by scribes.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon starts his London ministry as a young pastor and straightforward preacher at the age of 19. He is known as the “Prince of Preachers” having preached more than 5,000 volumes of sermons to audiences reaching tens of thousands (an estimated 10,000,000 preached to for Spurgeon’s whole lifetime).
1899
C.S. Lewis, called Jack during his time, had come from an atheistic background springing forth from pessimism during childhood when his mother died due to cancer. Immersed in literature and intellectually gifted, he was good friends with Christians— such as J.R.R. Tolkien—who were able to influence him in the Christian faith, becoming one of the bestknown Christian authors (Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity) and teacher/apologist of the 20th century.
1735 THE GREAT AWAKENING
Jonathan Edwards leads the great awakening in America. Often known as the theologian of revival, he brought back the church to its biblical roots amidst the age of reasoning, science, and philosophy. From his open-air preaching, revival came as upwards of 300 converts at one time came to repentance in Christ. This happened all throughout the colonies as others like George Whitefield and John Wesley also began to travel across England to preach in the open air (1740-1741).
The Great Awakening was a period of extraordinary conversion and repentance for individuals as well as a time of multiplication for churches wherein different denominations worked together to spread the Gospel and spearhead missions locally and overseas.
1830 The second great awakening
Second Great Awakening, a flutter of societal reforms in the country that transformed not only people’s lives, but the society as well including movements upholding antislavery, education, prison reform, temperance, Sabbath observance, and women’s rights.
We are all in a battlefield. We are all at war. In these times of spiritual darkness, discouragement, and despair, SAVED rallies everyone to rise up in recognition of God’s victory over sin, and His gift of salvation for all who are willing to SEE, LISTEN and EXPERIENCE His unchanging love. Join the resurgence of a generation living up to the true calling of a saved life in Christ, spreading the message that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
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