What Are You Planting?

I read in a magazine on board an aircraft some years ago and I remember this article (vaguely) about how rubber seeds were first smuggled into our country from … hmm … don’t remember where. It was years ago! Anyway, from just a small amount of seeds, today rubber is one of the major exports of our country. Seeds are powerful stuff! And the thought for today … what are you planting of late? What kind of seeds are you sowing? You’ve got to understand this universal law; you reap what you sow. And may I also add, you EAT WHAT YOU REAP!

After 3 years in Bible College under the influence of missionary lecturers from the West, we were taught to “go out into the world and plant churches.” If there is a town big enough for a post office, it’s big enough for an Assemblies of God church. So by the time I graduated, I planted a church in Rawang and when I left Bible College, immediately I started Vineyard. After having identified a location, I secured the sponsorship of a mother church. Rented a bunglow in Taman Septueh. Furnished it with pulpit, chairs, Sunday school rooms, etc. Now the tough part. Getting people to fill the church. So I had to “advertise” the presence of the new church. Went house to house weekly distributing flyers and talking to whoever would accord me the time and interest. Problem is, non Christians are basically not interested in church. So I was hopeful that Christians in that locality might want to join this new church. Long story short, wasn’t very successful with the inhabitants in that location although a handful got saved to start with. They were students. But I did have a handful of “imports” from our mother church FGT. After 2 years, came the “exodus” and we started moving from hotel to hotel for our services. Finally we settled in Jalan Bukit Bintang for a short while, started Haggai Project. And in 1997 we bought our current premise! I think we had about 40 – 50 members then but oh … we were a bunch who love God and love the church!

While trying still to fill the empty chairs in church, I started planting churches again, this time in Cambodia. Looked in Myanmar, Thailand, East Malaysia, but didn’t commit. In Cambodia, we planted two and is now looking into our third. We worked with the locals, and like what has been the norm, I looked for a worker who wants to plant a church and work in partnership with him/her. We don’t take ownership. We just help initiate and support the work up till the church can function on its own. Then we reckon we have planted another church. Were we successful as a church? I guess you can say yes. But are we on the mark? Well, maybe. Like me, church planters in Cambodia too is looking to do the same thing. Get a location. Get a sponsor. Get a building. Furnished it. Put up a signage. Now we are ready for business. Let’s pray.

Of late, like that cruise ship that’s turned upside down due to a rogue wave, my life too has been turned upside down. Looking at things from the upside-down perspective, I see that what I did was not wrong but it’s not the way things are meant to be. I realize now that Jesus did not commission His disciples to go plant churches. Bible did not say, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten CHURCH that whosoever believes in her shall not perish but have everlasting life.” God said He gave His Son! And that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life. We are commissioned to plant JESUS, not CHURCHES! Jesus didn’t come to BUILD a physical kingdom. He came to plant the KINGDOM OF GOD in the hearts of men. While we go and tell people to come join our church, Jesus said we are to go plant His kingdom in the hearts of men! In other words, plant Jesus … not churches! As people get saved, collectively they become a church and that church can meet anywhere, anytime and without a banner. Church is a byproduct. It is a result of, not the reason to. To plant a church you’ll need a full time worker and plenty of resources. To plant Jesus, any Christian can do that. You don’t need a pulpit, a building, a group of believers. You just need to tell someone that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Our calling is not to plant churches but to plant Jesus! It can happen in your home, at your office, at Starbucks or Papa Rich or over an outing. There are no 4 walls limiting you. The world is your harvest field! 

I don’t know if you can grasp what I am saying here. We not only need to do the right thing, very importantly we need to do it right. What has been passed down to us is a culture. A western concept of church. We need to do the right thing the right way. The church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful force on the face of this earth. Today I want to bring us back into perspective. Let’s start sowing the seeds of the Kingdom of God. Let’s plant an entire orchard of “Jesus Plant”. There is salvation in the Name of Jesus!

N.B. This article I wrote some years back. Since it's Easter week, I thought I'd post this. Easter is about Jesus. Let's keep it this way. Blessed Easter.

The Superficial & The Remnants

It's kinda hard  to comprehend the sufferings of the Jews throughout the history of their existence. It all started when they rejected their Jehovah and especially so when they rejected Jesus as their Messiah. God "abandoned" them and allowed Jerusalem to be trampled upon by the Gentiles until a said time. This is called the "times of the Gentiles" (Luke 10:24). Today we still see Jerusalem as it is, not as what it was. BUT in actual reality, God has not abandoned His people. When the "numbers/fullness of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:25) is prophetically fulfilled then God will return His people to Himself. He will turn away the ungodliness of Israel. Till the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, God has indeed hardened the hearts of Israel. They remain as they are today, a nation that has rejected their God. And God will always preserve a remnant who will, by all means, remain faithful to Jehovah.

Why the sufferings and atrocities that comes with the rejection? Why allow the Jews to experience near annihilation time and time again in history,  past and present? It's no wonder the hearts of the Jews have hardened. Israel was and is God chosen. Of all the peoples of the earth, God chose them to be His holy nation. The privilege and honour was theirs but they chose to reject the goodness of God and turn to wicked ways. So God had to "abandoned" them for a season. The reason being: to remove the superficial and to preserve a remnant who will yet glorify God.

To bring this home, let's look at the church at large today in our own country. We think we are doing fine. We think we are in the midst of a revival. Mega churches do not at all reflect the true state of the church today. Looking at the statistics alone will tell you that for the past decades the church has not grown at all. While we are happy church-ing, lost souls are still lost, yet to be found. If we continue on this trend, I fear we too may enter into a time where God will start removing the superficial so the remnant can shine. What's the superficial? The comforts, the prosperity, the music, the programmes, the buildings, just to name a few.

Now let's bring it a little more closer to home. We who are called of God, who professed to be a child of God, are too tied up with so much superficial that we don't give God our best. God is no longer first. Good Friday, Easter, Christmas are filled with travel plans and leisure. Gone were the days when these were great opportunities to introduce the Kingdom of God to friends. Church is no longer that important as long as we still belong. Prayer and Bible study are no longer of importance. Christians are after preachers who would preach those "make me feel good" sermons. From charismatic to cruisematic. Dare we say our faith in God is still strong and Bible based? Should the trumpet sound today, how confident are we that we will not be left behind?

I have been reading much of late with regard to Israel's past, present and future. It broke my heart to see the sufferings Israel  had to endure because they had turned away from God. Yet amidst the hardening of hearts, there's always the remnant who would not compromise on their faith, who would still hope against hope, trusting and believing that God had not abandoned them. These were the ones who would not be corrupted by the world nor would they compromise because of sufferings. These were those who would never lose sight of God's plan, purposes and promise. These were the ones who  would endure no matter what. These were the true believers. I believe in every church, there will always be the superficial and the remnant. The question is ... which are you?

HEY GOD. CAN I ASK?

Imagine you are in the wilderness for a long while. Now come the exciting time. Time to go over to Canaan land. First, there's this need to spy out the land. You have eleven others with you. Off you go. After the mission, there was a huge let down. Only you and Caleb gave positive reports while the rest transferred their fear and hopelessness to the entire camp. Chaos followed rebellion. God kicks in and the sentence ... 40 years in the wilderness. For the rebellion, it's understandable. Check the problem before it grows worse. But for you and Caleb? Was it fair and just? I mean, forty years is a long time! I wonder if Joshua and Caleb ever questioned God's decision.

Do you ever question God? Is it wrong to question God? Will God be angry if we questioned Him? After all we are only human and we don't know nor understand all things. When asked the same questions, Pastor Rick Warren said it's alright to question God as long as we don't question His morality and character. We do not and must not doubt God's morality and character. God is God and He is perfect. He doesn't need to improve, neither can He improve.  Just because we feel injustice doesn't mean God is unjust. It just means we need to see a bigger picture. And if you stick close enough to God, you'll see it.

So what do we do in moments when we feel God is neither fair nor just?

1. Accept the fact that He is just and right. Don't question His morality and character.

2. Look for the bigger picture. It may take a while but if you care to look, you'll see. And when you see, you'll understand. When you understand, you'll be encouraged to know that God has been with you all the time. You just didn't see it.

3. Take it as a test. You  know in exams, those who pass the tests get the promotion. Those who fail get retained.

Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who realized the dream of their forefathers. Even in old age when men's health fails and strength wanes, Caleb still had the strength and calibre of a young man. God kept him healthy! That in itself is priceless. Life is not just about today. Today is important. Tomorrow too matters. Go ahead. Ask God your questions.

Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isa. 1:18)

CRUISEMATIC

Today, at our bi-annual Minister's retreat, I Iearned a new word: Cruisematic. Pastor Kelvin from Singapore stated that in the past ten years, church in Singapore has stagnated even though there exist mega churches. Pastor Kelvin then mentioned that there are different kinds of churches in Singapore. Citing for example the charismatic churches, he then mentioned the "Cruisematic" churches. This phrase is something new to me and it amuses me. We all understood what he meant: Christians cruising from one church to another. Keeping this though in mind, here's a little make believe story to illustrate my thoughts today.

It was after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus disciples, being so thrilled and amazed at the miracle, asked for another miracle. Responding, Jesus told his disciples to each pick up a stone and poof ... He turned it into bread. The next day, the disciples asked again and the Lord told them to look for a stone. Peter being Peter, picked up a rock instead. Next, Jesus instructed them to throw away the stone. Disappointed, Peter protested. Jesus then asked Peter, " Who were you carrying the rock for? “

What about you? Who are you carrying the rock for? Why are you doing what you are doing? Why are you a Cruisematic Christian? Was it for Jesus' sake or for your own sake?

Let me state today the main thing of being a church. It's the Great Commission. Stephen Covey said, "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing". Today the devil is helping pastors keeping Christians busy running inside the church. If Jesus has His way, He will be keeping His people busy running outside the church. When asked about the vision of Vineyard church, whether in years past, now or the future years to come, my response will still be the same, and that is the Great Commission. That's the main thing. Today churches may have lost sight of the main thing. Today, it's about worship, prayer, preacher, buildings, leadership, branding and programs to keep church busy. I'm not saying these are wrong. Some of it are necessary tools. What I am saying is in whatever we do, IF we do not have the harvest fields in mind, then all we do is done in vain. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Who are you carrying the rock for? Are we all too busy running inside the church when we are supposed to be running outside the church? We are a pentecostal church. We are born again, spirit filled and spirit empowered for the harvest fields. Who are we carrying the rock for?

All Things Possible?

Are all things truly possible to them that believe? In Mark 9 a man brought his mute and demon possessed son to Jesus for healing. The disciples of Jesus couldn't do anything earlier, tried as they did. Just before Jesus delivered the boy from the clutches of the devil and bondage, the man asked, "But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us". Jesus replied just prior to healing, "If you can! All things are possible for one who believes". So I ask again. Are all things truly possible to them that believe?

Preachers have been preaching hard across mass meetings that all things are possible to them that believe. We have had rallies here in Kuala Lumpur with big banners promising healing to all who would believe. In India, a famous man of God did the same, only to stirred the anger of the people when the preacher couldn't heal and raise a dead man brought on stage. He had to be escorted out of the rally and head home for his country. It is easy to preach and say things in big rallies and there will always be results of miracles and healings but if we are at all honest, the percentage of healing in relation to the proportion of crowds that attended the meetings is hardly anything to brag about.

If all things are truly possible to them that believe, can I believe that I can stop ageing and not grow old rest of my life? If I believe, can I literally command into existence something that is not? We can talked about this till the cow come home. Preachers can justify all they want as to why some are healed and others are not. But let tell you what I think the Scripture meant when we quote "all things are possible to them that believe".  In a nutshell ...

THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE WITH MAN ARE POSSIBLE TO THEM THAT CAN BELIEVE (Mk. 9:23)

THINGS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MAN ARE POSSIBLE ONLY WITH GOD (Matt. 19:26)

Chew on this a bit. God bless.

SPEAKING ABOUT JEALOUSY.

Take a morning devotion with me. Or anytime of the day, read Matthew 20:1-16. It's about a parable of the workers in the vineyard as told by Jesus himself. Different sets of workers were hired at different times of the day but all ended up with the same wage. In this parable, the ones that were hired first were upset with the wage while the ones hired last were over joy because of the generosity of the owner. There are many lessons you can draw from this passage but today, we want to look at it as is, not as how we want to see it.

We are familiar with this phrase: "the last shall be the first and the first shall be the last". When God chose to bless the nations of the world, he chose Israel. In God's divine plan, Israel hardened her heart towards God and the blessings of the gospel therefore flowed to the Gentiles (non Jews). When the "full numbers of the gentiles" has come, God will then turn the ungodliness of Israel away from Him and the entire nation of Israel will be saved. Until that happens, Israel will continue to be trampled upon by the gentiles until God decides when the "times of the Gentile" shall be fulfilled. In the meantime, Paul in Romans 11 exhort the church to provoke the Jews to jealousy so that some of them shall be saved.

In the parable, the owner's generosity provoked the first batch of workers to jealousy. They were not able to see the generosity of the owner nor the joy of the latter workers. All they could see was unfairness and disappointment. They had forgotten the agreement they had with the owner. Was the owner at fault? Of course not. I wonder if the earlier workers will ever work with the owner again. The parable didn't say. Would you? In like manner Jesus was telling His listeners that He had chosen to bless Israel and now He too will bless the Gentiles. Israel has rejected Jesus as Saviour and now His generosity towards the Gentiles will provoke them to jealousy, seeing how the Gentiles are now blessed. My point?

We who have experienced the generosity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ should provoke the unsaved to jealousy. It's our privilege to show the world the generosity of our God. When they see the transforming work of God in our lives and the generosity we emulate of our Lord Jesus, they too would want to be a partaker of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus. We cannot provoke the world into jealousy by our theology. The only way is by the way we live our lives and conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus. We are the living Bible of God. Are people jealous of the fruits we bear? Can they see the goodness and generosity of God trough our lives?  If not, perhaps we are not the living epistles that we are to be (Read 2 Cor. 3:2-3). If people are not jealous of the God we believe in and serve, then something is amiss. We need to do some serious soul searching. I mean, what good is salt if it has lost its saltiness? 

There is a huge difference between being a Christian and a follower of Jesus. One is a religion and the other a living, walking Bible. When Jesus said to go into the world and preach the gospel to all the world, he didn't mean theology. He meant the latter. He filled you with His joy and blessings so that you can provoke the world into jealousy. Jesus said a good tree bears froth good fruits. I pray that all of us here at Vineyard will be able to bear fruits that will provoke others into wanting to partake of the generosity of the God in whom we believe and serve. What good is a fruit tree if it does not bear fruits? 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As i have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34).

FAITH