Pastor Daniel Ho, 12/06/2011
It's exciting to live in Malaysia. When we are caught in a traffic jam, God could be telling us to slow down and to pray.
Many times we don't speak well of Malaysia. We need to be reminded that Malaysia is a great country.
Malaysians are people with short memories and we need to be reminded about what is good and wonderful about Malaysia.
What are the good things here in Malaysia?
- The rich diversity – we are a kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnic groups.
- The natural beauty – it's one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Tourists come to Malaysia. We also have a 2nd Home program for foreigners. We have seas and islands and the hills. We often hear the slogan Malaysia Truly Asia.
- The good infrastructure – our road system is world class. Pastor Daniel has spoken in 20+ countries in 6 continents and when he comes back, he is always impressed with our road system. Many buildings and hotels are first class. Malaysia is suitable to hold international conferences because many good facilities are available at a reasonable rate.
- The fairly reasonable law and order. It is reasonable safe to stay in Malaysia. It's the same everywhere in the world, perhaps with the exception of Singapore where the leaves need permission to fall. (ha ha) We can work late and go home and not feel worry.
- The amazing food. The food is good and inexpensive (not cheap!) One Singaporean church ordered 1500 scones from the Dream Café. When we go overseas, we miss our food back home.
What are some major challenges facing the nation?
Leaders of character and moral courage needed
Pro 16:10,12-14 The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice. …
(12) Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. (13) Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth. (14) A king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it.
Where do we find these people? Some of us must consider stepping up and taking positive actions in the affairs of the nation. Don't just complain. When good men don't arise, bad men take over. Who is to blame when we have a corrupted society? Us.
There is one thing Christians can do that the politicians cannot do – a change of heart as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Every time a flight touches down in Malaysia, there is an announcement warning against drug trafficking. Stringent law cannot deter it. The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.
When there is unrighteousness in the land, there is problem. When righteous people walk the land, the land is exalted.Myopic vision
Eze 34:1-4 The word of the LORD came to me: (2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? (3) You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. (4) You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.
Eze 34:20-22 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. (21) Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, (22) I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.
There are some who think / see here and now. They could not care less about others and the future of the country. What a tragedy it is. When people or even leaders do not care anymore, the country is headed towards disaster. We have seen how this happens in many places in the world. It breaks the heart of the people. God is concerned about the people. God has intervened on behalf of the people in many instances. One example is how President Ferdinand Marcos was dethroned without civil war. Nuns holding hands stopped the tanks rolling in to the streets. We need people who knows right and wrong and not just follow orders and do things blindly. Another example is President Mugabe in Zimbabwe. It's tragic when those who followed orders didn't know what was happening.Ungodly polarization
Joh 4:9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. )
The churches in Russia and Sri Lanka are persecuted and sidelined. Human beings can treat other human beings like this.
We are called to be peacemakers. There are some who speak to harm the relationship among the peoples. Some have a subsidy mentality. We all must work for what we need.
Unhealthy Control
We want to see a nation with greater interaction and more freedom for open discussion. Sweeping things under the carpet doesn't help to advance the country.
Losing the edge
We are no longer competitive. We have lost out to Singapore a long time ago. We have even lost the edge to Indonesia, China and Vietnam. Foreign investments are going to all these countries in favour of Malaysia. Our soccer was once at the top of Asia with people like Mokhtar Dahari, Santokh Singh and Soh Chin Aun. We beat South Korea and Japan regularly. Now, they are playing in the World Cup and we scraped through the Suzuki Cup.
There are good and great Malaysians. The key helpers of Pastor Mike Conner (CityView Church, Australia) are Malaysians. COO of IHOP is a Malaysian. All over the world, we see Malaysians taking up important roles.
Yet, since we don't take efforts to keep them, many left.
The Response of the Church in Malaysia
Be persuaded that Malaysia is still a good country to live in
Act 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God has designed exactly where and when we live. Some have no choice. Like the Myanmar people who had to flee their country. If a nation is going to be good and great, we need to do our partBe standard-bearer and lead the way forward
Eph 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms
It is through the church that the wisdom of God is made known to the nations. We must be convinced of this. If the society is to be changed and transformed, the church must be the centre of it all. The church is not peripheral of the society, it is the central point of the society.
Rediscover the immense power of the pulpit ministry
Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (13) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
When the Word of God is preached well and handled well from the pulpit, people will be transformed and the transformed people will be the best people to transform the society. The preaching of the Word of God is so crucial.
"You all have the gift of suffering", said Pastor Daniel to those who answered in the affirmative to his question of whether he could preach more than 1 hour. (Not at all, I say.)
Pastor Daniel appreciates people commending him for a great message but it's more important to him to know what we are going to do about it.
Be courageous advocates
Pro 31:8-9 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. (9) Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
The Church of Jesus Christ has been offering services to the community. The time has come for it to speak for those who are marginalized, abused and exploited. When we do that, it can be costly. There will be people who do not like that. There are people in the Church who has paid the price for doing this. One of them is William Wilberforce who fought against slavery.
Cry for revival
Isa 64:1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
Isa 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, (7) and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
We need to cry for God's mercy and grace. During the Welsh Revival, the coal miners changed their language so much so that the donkeys could not understand them. "There was even a slowdown in the mines, for so many Welsh coal miners were converted and stopped using bad language that the horses that dragged the coal trucks in the mines could not understand what was being said to them" Read more here.
There have been 2 revivals in Malaysia, including the Bario Revival among the Kelabits and the Bekalalan Revival among the Muruds (formerly known as Lun Bawangs.)
We sometimes forget what God has done.
God want to be with us.
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