Malaysia Conference

MALAYSIA CONFERENCE

-The importance of intimacy with our walk with the Lord (Teaching on Intimacy with the Lord)

-The church at Ephesus

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, “These things says He who hold the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostle and are not, and have found them liars;

“and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place-unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:1-5)

- Having one day a week Sabbath rest (A key to remaining fresh in ministry)

-Keeping our first love for Jesus ablaze helps us to get through those times of trials and challenges that we all experience in life. When we are in love with the Lord it is a lot easier to avoid becoming discouraged during these times. MINISTRY ALWAYS HAS ITS FAIR SHARE OF CHALLENGES. The Apostle Paul had as many challenges as any of us

-THE APOSTLE PAUL:

• Received from the Jews five times forty stripes minus one
• Three times was beaten with rods
• Was stoned
• Was shipwrecked three times
• He spent a night and a day in the deep
• He was in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of his own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren

• He knew weariness and toil
• Often had sleepless nights
• As well as experiencing the everyday challenges of overseeing churches

THE APOSTLE PAUL HOWEVER HAD A GREAT LOVE FOR THE LORD. IN THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS HE WROTE:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

EVEN AFTER BEING BEATEN FOR HIS FAITH, THE APOSTLE PAUL CONTINUED TO PRAY TO GOD AND WORSHIP THE LORD. NOTHING COULD DIMINISH HIS LOVE FOR JESUS

PAUL WAS A LOVER AND NOT A USER OF GOD. HE SIMPLY LIVED TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD AND TO MAKE JESUS KNOWN TO OTHERS

IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WE READ WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PAUL AND SILAS WERE BEATEN AND THROWN IN PRISON

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26)

MAINTAINING OUR FIRST LOVE FOR JESUS HELPS US TO WEATHER THE STORMS OF LIFE AND MINISTRY. THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28-29)

-As Pastors and Christians we need to guard our hearts with all diligence to ensure that our love and passion for the things of God never grows cold. In the book of Proverbs we read:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

-Jesus Himself made it clear what chokes the word in our hearts and can steal our affections away from Him so that our love for the Lord begins to grow cold.

-In His explanation of the Parable of the Sower Jesus said,

“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:14-20

-INTIMACY WITH THE LORD IS THE KEY TO GETTING TO KNOW GOD’S WILL FOR OUR LIFE, HAVING HIS HEART FOR MINISTRY AND HIS COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE, (ESPECIALLY FOR THE LOST).

In Psalm 37 we read,

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

-I WANT TO FINISH THIS FIRST AREA OF TEACHING ON HAVING INTIMACY WITH THE LORD BY LOOKING AT JUST A FEW SCRIPTURES FROM PSALM 119

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart.” (Psalm 119:1-2)

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9-11)

(BEING BOTH HEARERS AND DOERS OF THE WORD IS A KEY TO EXPERIENCING GOD’S BLESSINGS IN OUR LIFE)

-HAVING A WHOLE HEARTED DEVOTION TO GOD AND NOT ALLOWING THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND WRONG ATTITUDES TO STEAL OUR AFFECTION FOR THE LORD:

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You...Revive me in Your righteousness.” (Psalm 119:33-38, 40)

-THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

-IN PSALM 119 WE ALSO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD IN GIVING US WISDOM AND REVELATION AND DIRECTION FOR OUR LIVES

• “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

• “Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:129-130)

• “Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133)

MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD HELPS US TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES IN LIFE AND TO STAY ON THE NARROW PATH THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR OUR LIFE, THE NARROW PATH THAT LEADS TO TRUE PURPOSE AND MEANING IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK. Jesus Himself said,

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH

-In Chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Numbers we see an account of Moses sending out 12 spies to spy out the land of Canaan that God was giving to the Children of Israel.

-All 12 spies saw that the land that God was giving them was a blessed land “flowing with milk and honey”

-Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb believed in the bigness of their God and wanted to enter into the land of Canaan that God was giving to the children of Israel

-The ten other spies however focused more on the problems and natural circumstances than on God’s promise to give the children of Israel the land of Canaan.We can see this in the following Passage of Scripture:

“And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel…” (Numbers 13:25-26)

“Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is it fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.” (Numbers 13:27-28)

-WHEN WE TAKE OUR EYES OFF JESUS AND LOOK AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LIFE WE CAN BECOME DISCOURAGED AND FEARFUL

-In the gospel of Matthew (Chapter 14:28-31) we read how Jesus called to Peter to walk on the water to Him. Whilst his eyes were fixed on Jesus Peter performed the miraculous and walked on the water

-However the moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started looking at the storms around him he began to sink. So too if we begin to focus on the problems and circumstances in our life rather than THE PROMISES OF GOD in His word, we too can become afraid and DISCOURAGED and stop taking steps of faith in our life and ministry

-NOW BACK TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: Because they did not focus on the bigness of God and His promise to them that He had given them the land of Canaan, but rather listened to the negative report of 10 fearful unbelieving spies, a whole generation of the children of Israel missed out on what God had planned for their lives. They failed to appropriate their God given destiny.

-TO FULFILL OUR GOD GIVEN DESTINY FOR OUR LIVES AND CHURCHES WILL INVOLVE US TAKING STEPS OF FAITH

-TO FULFILL GOD’S DESTINY AND PLAN FOR OUR LIVES AND CHURCHES WILL INVOLVE:

• Stepping out to do new things on a regular basis (God’s plan for our life and church continually unfolds)

• Being forced to face and overcome our fears

• Stepping out of our comfort zone and doing things that we may have avoided in the past, and

• Committing to things that seem impossible in the natural, but which God has called us to do

-God’s plan for our life is far greater than we could ever imagine: This is made clear in the Scriptures

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

In the book of Isaiah we read,

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The word of the Lord came to the Prophet Jeremiah in prison, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

-THE BIBLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD BUT THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM

-In the book of Hebrew we read,

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

-God is pleased when we put our faith and trust in Him.

-God is always willing and able to help us because of His great love for us.

-King David was a man after God’s own heart and knew God’s love for him. In Psalm 139:13-18 we read the words of King David

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth (that is your mother’s womb). Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:13-18)

-“TRUSTING GOD,” “OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL FOR OUR LIFE” AND HAVING A “CHILDLIKE FAITH”HELP US TO APPROPRIATE ALL THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR OUR LIFE

-AS WE ARE FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE THINGS GOD WILL ENTRUST TO US GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES

-IN THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH WE READ

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

-IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH WE READ

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)

-JESUS HIMSELF SAID

“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:22-24)

-TRUST, FAITH AND OBEDIENCE GO HAND IN HAND

-When we trust the Lord and love the Lord we willingly step out by faith to do those things that God calls us to do

-WHEN WE STEP OUT BY FAITH TO FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIFE WE CAN COUNT ON HIS FAITHFULNESS

-In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

-Because 4 unlearned fishermen were prepared to leave their fishing nets to become fishers of men, and simply follow Jesus by faith, they became four of the 12 founding Apostles. Through their lives they helped to see the church being established as they became world changers.

-AS CHRISTIAN LEADERS WE NEED TO INSPIRE THOSE THAT WE SHEPHERD BY BEING LEADERS OF FAITH AND VISION

-I WILL NOW SHARE ON ONE MAJOR KEY THAT HELPS TO BUILD UP OUR FAITH LEVEL FOR MIRACLES SO THAT WE BEGIN TO TAP MORE AND MORE INTO GOD’S KINGDOM RESOURCES AND BLESSINGS. (God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3))

-RENEWING OUR MINDS WITH THE WORD OF GOD

-As Christians we can tap into all of God’s Kingdom promises and blessings through our faith in Christ

-The Apostle Paul wrote

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

-TITHING IS ONE OF THOSE PROMISES

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and poor out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts;” (Malachi 3:10-11)

-GOD’S KINGDOM IS A GIVING KINGDOM

(For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son. God gave His best.)Jesus Himself said,

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

-WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE NEGATIVITY IN THIS WORLD TO IMPACT OUR OWN LIVESAND TO UNDERMINE OUR FAITH. WE MUST LEARN TO BUILD OUR LIVES ON THE PROMISES AND WISDOM CONTAINED IN THE WORD OF GOD. The Apostle Paul wrote,