Champion of the Gospel with Jonathan Heng

Hiligaynon / Ilonggo Interpretation by Mark Winston Gabutero Hosting Pastor: Johann Bernajo, Promisecity Church Victorias City Jesus said that before He comes back to earth again, our world will be just like it was in the days of Noah. People are eating, drinking and partying. Many are consumed with pursuing money, power and sex. Now, there is nothing wrong with having the legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. But life is not just about fulfilling our physical needs. It is also to follow the Lord and seek His Kingdom. Today, we see all kinds of perversion and depravity. People are not only openly living sinful lifestyles, but want others to accept their behaviours. We are living in a day and age where evil is called good, and good is called evil. We have all kinds of blasphemers, mockers and scoffers of Jesus Christ. There is a spirit of violence that is persecuting those who believe God’s Word and walk in His way. The ark was a type of Christ. He calls us to come into the ark of His presence, protection, safety, shelter, refuge and rest. A storm is coming upon our world. It is a storm of judgment. Society will not get better and better, but rather worse and worse. We are a generation of vipers – sin has increased rampantly. Do we weep over lost souls? Do we warn people to flee from the wrath to come? We are close to the midnight hour, where the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is coming soon! Are we ready to meet Him? Now is the day of salvation. Some of us are religious. We may even attend church regularly, have a form of godliness but denying its power. We do many good works, but are not resting in the cross and the blood of Jesus for our salvation. Today, we must make our calling and election sure! The door of the ark is still opened right now. But it won't be long before the door will be closed.

Hosting Pastor: Bishop Mike Berdin, Charismatic Revival Center Fellowship The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, unveils the power of the New Covenant. He was given the mission to preach and proclaim the gospel to the world. Yet, until his conversion, Paul who was known as Saul at that time, was a hater of the church. He persecuted the followers of Christ, arrested and thrown them into prison. He stood by, approved and consented to the stoning of Stephen unto death. But on the road to Damascus, he had a dramatic encounter with Jesus Christ. He was blinded physically, but his eyes were opened spiritually. Suddenly, he saw a light from heaven. Often, it is persecution and not prosperity that results in lives being transformed. We like to have palace-like experiences in our Christian life. Yet, there are also pits and prisons in this journey of faith. It is opposition that has been a catalyst to spread the gospel. We want the hand of the Lord upon the church, to win the lost and make disciples. Yet, we must be prepared for trials and adversities in order to experience revivals and reap the harvest of souls. In the natural, none of us want to be a prisoner. Yet, we see that the very man who sought to destroy the Church and imprison its disciples, later became imprisoned himself. From a persecutor of the church, Paul became a great proclaimer and promoter of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, as was in the early church, the world still hates and persecutes Christians. It is not just the ungodly who are hostile to us. Often, there is also intimidation from parts of the religious world. Some religious leaders are outrightly false, others are backsliden and apostate. Paul, before his conversion, was zealous toward God, so he thought, until his encounter with Christ that dramatically changed his life. We can choose to be a prisoner of the world, a prisoner of false religion, or a prisoner of Jesus Christ. We may or may not be put in a literal prison, but we will face unjust accusation, ill-treatment and opposition at times. Paul’s life is to pursue, apprehend and attain Christlikeness. He wants to apprehend Christ and also, to be apprehended by Christ. In the natural, to apprehend means to catch, to capture, to arrest. It is to be handcuffed and chained to Jesus, to be a prisoner of His love. As a prisoner of the Lord, Paul bore scar marks on his body as the result of persecutions he has endured. He was in prison frequently, received lashes, beaten with rods and stoned. When the world looks at us Christians, what brand do we represent? No, I’m not talking about the name of our church, our denomination or our ministry. I’m talking about whether we are faithful and fruitful to the call of God, whether we are standing for truth and righteousness, whether we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, whether we are anointed and preaching the cross of Jesus Christ who saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again! Unlike brands of physical goods and services, we do not seek to be popular. Instead, we are often mocked, hated and persecuted by people of this world and even those from false religious institutions. The world wants to silence our voice, but we will not retreat. We are to be bold as a lion. Yet, we are also sheep in the midst of wolves. As we put our faith in Christ and Him crucified, His power will work exceeding abundantly in us. God can work mightily through us as individuals as well as corporately as the church. We have our unique gifts and callings and yet united and interdependent with other members in the body of Christ. Presently, we are living in the church age, or the age of grace. At the second coming of Christ, we will enter into the Kingdom age. We the redeemed, glorified saints of God, will live forever, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Until then, we are wanted! We are arrested, charged and convicted as prisoners of our Lord Jesus Christ! Let us...

Hiligaynon / Ilonggo Interpretation by Melbert Fajarito Hosting Pastor: Carlito Tablero, A Light Shine The Holy Spirit comes upon and baptizes us, operates within us to develop character and produce fruit, empowers and works through us as laborers in His harvest field.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth" (Isaiah 52:7). Jonathan Heng was born in Singapore. He was born again at the age of fourteen and baptized in the Holy Spirit two years later. Since then, the calling of God for ministry has been upon his life. Jonathan served in the ministry of helps and mercy in his high school days and at the age of eighteen, began moving in the exhortation of God's Word and writing onto the printed page. He also communicates on audio/visual music and teaching materials, and composes psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Birthed out of Jonathan's own personal struggles and desperate cry and need for more of Him, it is his prayer that his ministry will encourage hearts to a life of repentance, refreshing, restoration, and revival in the Holy Spirit. Here's an example of a statement he has made reflecting his desire to see people's relationship with the Lord and one another in the Kingdom set on fire: "It is my prayer that the preaching of God's Word will propel and prepare people to practise powerful principles of permanent partnership with a passionate pursuit". One aspect of his vision is to see lives being touched by the Word of God delivered under the anointing of the Holy Spirit through applied arts, literature, audio/visual mass media (music and teaching) and Information Technology in subservient to the local church, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:21). In this special presentation, we include footage from the first 25 years of a multi-media Gospel outreach ministry that has reached a wide audience with the Good News of Jesus Christ. To God be all the praise and glory and thanks to partners and friends who have helped him to fulfil his call in these last days! For more online media resources, please visit https://www.jonathanheng.com and https://www.whgoc.com Subscribe to Jonathan's channel on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/whgoc Connect with Jonathan on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whgoc

Khmer Interpretation by Seila Iep Hosting Pastor: Melbert Fajarito, Lighthouse Christian Assembly Ta Khmao City Jesus said that before He comes back to earth again, our world will be just like it was in the days of Noah. People are eating, drinking and partying. Many are consumed with pursuing money, power and sex. Now, there is nothing wrong with having the legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. But life is not just about fulfilling our physical needs. It is also to follow the Lord and seek His Kingdom. Today, we see all kinds of perversion and depravity. People are not only openly living sinful lifestyles, but want others to accept their behaviours. We are living in a day and age where evil is called good, and good is called evil. We have all kinds of blasphemers, mockers and scoffers of Jesus Christ. There is a spirit of violence that is persecuting those who believe God’s Word and walk in His way. The ark was a type of Christ. He calls us to come into the ark of His presence, protection, safety, shelter, refuge and rest. A storm is coming upon our world. It is a storm of judgment. Society will not get better and better, but rather worse and worse. We are a generation of vipers – sin has increased rampantly. Do we weep over lost souls? Do we warn people to flee from the wrath to come? We are close to the midnight hour, where the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is coming soon! Are we ready to meet Him? Now is the day of salvation. Some of us are religious. We may even attend church regularly, have a form of godliness but denying its power. We do many good works, but are not resting in the cross and the blood of Jesus for our salvation. Today, we must make our calling and election sure! The door of the ark is still opened right now. But it won't be long before the door will be closed.

Khmer Interpretation by Esther Soun Coordinating Pastor: Melbert Fajarito The Holy Spirit comes upon and baptizes us, operates within us to develop character and produce fruit, empowers and works through us as laborers in His harvest field.

Bahasa Indonesian Interpretation by Henok Hariyanto Hosting Pastor: Henok Hariyanto, Macedonia Ministry Psalm sixty-one is a Psalm of David. If there was a man who has seen the highs and lows of life, it was David. Through the ups and downs, the mountains and the valleys of his walk with God, David is without a doubt, one of the most extraordinary Bible characters. Yet, this Psalm also refers to Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Greater Son of David. Through David’s family would come forth the Saviour of the world. David trusted God. Jesus Christ the Anointed One, also had faith in Jehovah God His Father. Even though He suffered and died, He rose again! Are we troubled? Are we facing crisis and trials? It could be in areas of health, finances and relationships. Are we at our wits’ end? When our world falls apart, cry out to God for help. Faith is active, not passive. Faith is eagerly, fervently and desperately calling upon the Lord. Whatever our outward circumstances are, when we are facing difficult times, our hope and help is in the Lord. When we’ve hit rock bottom, there is a rock we can stand on. Jesus Christ is the rock. He is the rock that is higher than us, higher than all our problems.

In this message, we want to address some critically crucial questions such as: What is hell like? And likewise, what is heaven like? Who goes to hell and who goes to heaven? Friend, according to the Bible, I must tell you that there is a hell. And hell is not just a figment of imagination, or symbolic, but a real, literal place. There are many people in hell right now. If they could, they would rise from the dead to tell you not to go there. The thing is, the Bible says that even if they were to rise from the dead to warn us against going to hell, we would not necessarily believe. Why? We have prophets, we have preachers, we have the Bible, the Word of God. If we don't believe in the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, who paid sin's price on the Cross of Calvary, that through Him, there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun, we would not believe even if our loved ones or friends who are dead, comes back to life to warn us to flee from the wrath and fury of hell. The Good News is, "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" (John 3:16); "Jesus saith unto [you], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6); and "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). Our goodness fall short of the glory of God. What we consider good is filthy rags in the sight of God because God's standard of holiness is way far higher than what we can comprehend. We cannot do anything to gain eternal life. Being religious, charitable or performing good works will not get us to heaven. Only by confession of sin and faith in Christ can we be made righteous. I pray that you will embrace the gospel of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" if you have not already done so. The invitation is for you to trust in the Lamb who taketh away the sin of the world! Will you submit to the Saviour's bidding and come now? Praise the Lord!

In this message, we want to address some critically crucial questions such as: What is hell like? And likewise, what is heaven like? Who goes to hell and who goes to heaven? Friend, according to the Bible, I must tell you that there is a hell. And hell is not just a figment of imagination, or symbolic, but a real, literal place. There are many people in hell right now. If they could, they would rise from the dead to tell you not to go there. The thing is, the Bible says that even if they were to rise from the dead to warn us against going to hell, we would not necessarily believe. Why? We have prophets, we have preachers, we have the Bible, the Word of God. If we don't believe in the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, who paid sin's price on the Cross of Calvary, that through Him, there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun, we would not believe even if our loved ones or friends who are dead, comes back to life to warn us to flee from the wrath and fury of hell. The Good News is, "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" (John 3:16); "Jesus saith unto [you], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6); and "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). Our goodness fall short of the glory of God. What we consider good is filthy rags in the sight of God because God's standard of holiness is way far higher than what we can comprehend. We cannot do anything to gain eternal life. Being religious, charitable or performing good works will not get us to heaven. Only by confession of sin and faith in Christ can we be made righteous. I pray that you will embrace the gospel of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" if you have not already done so. The invitation is for you to trust in the Lamb who taketh away the sin of the world! Will you submit to the Saviour's bidding and come now? Praise the Lord!

The story of Rahab, a harlot, is one of the most powerful stories of salvation. The scarlet thread, which was bound in the window, symbolized the then still-to-come shed blood of Jesus Christ. When God sent His spies, Rahab was convicted of her need to turn to the Lord and hence, she was saved before the destruction that was to fall on Jericho. Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious shed blood is the only way to obtain salvation. When we were living in sin, we were spiritual harlots in the kingdom of darkness and slated for destruction. But God sent His spiritual 'spies', which is the Word of God preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As our hearts were convicted of our spiritual bankruptcy, blindness and prostitution, we repented and confessed Jesus as Lord. Spiritually, we tied the scarlet cord of redemption as we enter into a blood covenant relationship with God. It’s time for the Church to get back to the cross, to the cross where Jesus shed His precious blood. Today, we are substituting fads, philosophies and vain self-help programs for the simple and unadulterated truth of God’s Word. The foundation of the gospel rests on the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Any gospel that does not have the message of the cross and the shed blood of Jesus is another gospel. It is accursed and scheduled for destruction. Every single blessing comes through the cross – salvation, healing, deliverance, the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The power of the cross, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is what makes the fulfilling of the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ possible.

I am on an assignment, which is an awesome responsibility, from the King of kings and the Lord of lords to ask you a few questions, "Are you ready to face eternity?" "Are you ready to meet God?" "Are you ready for the Millennial Age?" I'm not just talking about being prepared for the year 2000 and after if Jesus tarries, but I'm talking about a time that is coming when He returns in all His power and glory to rule and reign on earth, "Where will you be on the day of the Lord?" "Will you be on His side?" Friend, if you are not sure or if have friends and loved ones that needs to know the Lord, I pray that you will listen to this message given to the prophet Joel from the holy Word of God concerning our future, your eternal destiny and mine!

In Acts 2:38-47, we see the Apostle Peter preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ before a huge crowd. Amongst them, about three thousand people embraced the message of repentance and forgiveness by faith in Christ and became believers. A new community emerged and started a mighty movement that is still growing and expanding today. I'm talking about the Church, the Body of Christ. Jesus said, " ...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19); "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32). Peter was an apostle, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. He and others like John, Philip, Paul, Barnabas, and thousands more pioneered a revolutionary army that is still invading our world today. They were soldiers of the cross, who stood up for Jesus whatever the cost. God's truth marches on today. The truth that there is power in the cross, there is power in the blood. There is apostolic authority and anointing in the name of Jesus. Oh, if Peter, if Paul were alive today, they would still be amazed that souls are being saved, sick bodies are being healed, demons are being cast out and believers are being baptized in the Holy Spirit. From Jerusalem to Judaea, to Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth, the Great Commission is being fulfilled in an unprecedented way today. The book of Acts, especially in chapter 2:38-47, is the blueprint for the Church today. Heaven is still writing the next chapter of a book about the spread of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit. Will you and I be the vessels He works through? Will we be community transformers for Jesus in our day and age? Hallelujah!

Every God-called mission began with a vision. Isaiah saw the glory of God, acknowledged his own sinfulness and that of the people in his generation, which gave birth to the commission of God upon his life. Proverbs 29:18 says, "When there is no vision, the people perish... " Isaiah's heart and spirit also burned with consuming love, passion and compassion to be set apart for God. Today, there is a primary call for all Christians to "stand in the gap" - to intercede and evangelize, "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it... " (Ezekiel 22:30). Whether we are business people, engineers, farmers, preachers, teachers or in other fields of occupation, let our lights so shine before people in our world as the glory of the Lord is risen upon us!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). I believe God is the Source for all our substances, including motor vehicles! Every Christian who have the opportunity to drive or be driven ought to be grateful for the gift of vehicles. Vehicles can be a blessing or a curse. As we honour God, it brings blessings. Yet, Satan wants to "steal, to kill, and to destroy" through thefts, accidents, mechanical faults, etc. Some of us have faced problems with vehicles in one way or another. Either we are not faithful to God or else Satan is robbing us! If we are not faithful, we need to repent! But if Satan is robbing us, we need to ask God to rebuke the devourer! We need to Satan-proof our vehicles! I feel that it is important that every one who is a steward of God's blessings need to dedicate our vehicles so that we can be His ministers of helps. We can "tithe" our time in bringing people to church. If you agree with God that He is the authority over your vehicle (whether it is car, motorcycle, van, truck, bus, boat, plane or other vessels of transportation), pray this prayer with me: "Father, in the name of Jesus, I dedicate the vehicle (Make and Model): ____________________ with the (Registration plate number): ____________________ unto You. I ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing if the vehicle has been used for ungodly practices and purposes in the past (especially if you drive a second hand vehicle). From this day and forward, I ask that You and Your holy angels will watch over the vehicle against accidents, thefts and dangers. In Jesus name, we rebuke the devourer and destructive force of the enemy over the vehicle. Cover and wash every part of the vehicle with the blood of Jesus. Anoint and fill this vehicle with the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I confess and declare that Jesus Christ is the authority and Lord over this vehicle. I give myself and this vehicle to the glory and honour of God in Jesus name. Amen."

The purpose of this message is to declare the healing anointing of God. That God's grace and glory will shine through us so that we will not only bring salvation but also take His healing power to people around us and even nations. I want to deal with the healing anointing in terms of being God's covenant, commission and compassion. God is doing something new! We must be prepared for this move of God which includes speaking the Word accompanied by signs and wonders. God's anointing is full of grace and glory! Just as God's will is salvation not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), His heart is for total healing in body, soul and spirit! The enemy has stolen from the Church of the Living God the knowledge of divine healing for centuries! God is about to restore all things! God's plan of redemption is salvation, healing and baptism in the Holy Ghost! Flowing out of His compassion and mercy, we need to be partakers of His divine nature which pertains to life and godliness. Perhaps, some of us are like the crowd when Peter was preaching in Solomon's Portico when the lamed man was healed, stood up, walking, leaping and praising God. What was Peter's response? Peter's response should be our answer to our churches and our world (read Acts 3:12-26). God's healing anointing is still flowing today! We must receive His covenant, commission and compassion to impart and release to a lost and dying world!

What is prosperity? Prosperity is not just material success, it is having all our thoughts and actions being in line with God's Word. It is the result of commitment and dedication to the will of God, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). God has the power to prosper us spiritually, physically and emotionally. If we are seeking God with all our hearts, His thoughts and plans will be shown in our lives, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). Over the last several years, there has been an abundance of teaching on the subject of prosperity. Books, tapes, conferences and television programs have invaded the Christian world on this issue. Many of these messages seem to promise happiness and wealth as God's sign of approval and favour on us. On the other hand, there are others who insist that to be devout or pious, we have to be physically and materially poor. What then should our attitude towards financial prosperity? As the Lord helps me, I want to address this important subject. I believe there are principles of prosperity that we can apply in our lives that will guarantee our success, but above all, God is looking for a pure people, a new breed that is full of faith and the Spirit, who will become partners with Him and be partakers of His covenant to establish His Kingdom in this generation, believers who will be faithful to pay the price of obedience in achieving the fullness of His blessings! Just because some have taken the prosperity message to the extreme (by perverting and polluting it into what I'll call a "carnal, self-centred gospel" do not negate the truth that it is the heart and will of God that we prosper according to His ways. It is time that we seek the Lord for who He is, not just for what He can do. We need to seek the "Promiser" Himself, not just for the promises. Our pursuit is to know His heart, not just see His hand move. Today, there are those who are only interested in seeking signs and wonders, but let us cry out to the One who alone satisfies.

What is holiness? How do we walk in the power of holiness? Holiness is to have the rule and reign of the Holy Spirit within, allowing Christ to live in and through us. It is an inward spiritual experience of resting and dwelling in the grace of God. Genuine holiness stems from the heart, mind and tongue that is yielded to Christ. It is far more than just conforming to some external and outward performance of good works. It is concerned with "being" instead of "doing". While good fruits and practical works will manifest when a person is holy, it is only a reflection and result of a living relationship with Jesus. If we are trying" to be holy by practising "good works", it will not work, "UNLESS the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it... " (Psalm 127). We are holy because of the finished work of Christ on the cross and we are resting in His grace through faith. It is not something we do, attain or work up for. Rather, it is something we believe in: that God accepts us as holy by virtue of the righteousness of Jesus and as we abide in and submit to Him by faith, "For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches" (Romans 11:16). This is righteousness through faith, not through human abilities. Walking in holiness is the fruit of hungering and thirsting for the Presence of Jesus in our lives. True holiness is about inner truth and purity, not legalism, law or bondage, "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:9-10). It is one thing to preach about self-denial, dying to the flesh and the world, but the Good News is that we must also proclaim that the Gospel has the power to enable us to live a Spirit-filled life when the resurrection power of Jesus fills our hearts! One of the marks of holiness is that it brings us to a greater devotion and intimacy with Christ. Devotion to Christ is measured by our desire to grow in His likeness. It is concerned with the heart, "For out of it springs the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Also, holiness is to have the fear of the Lord, which is to hate what God hates and love what He loves, "And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil" (Proverbs 16:6). Jesus is the root of holiness, we are the branches of His holiness. But then He wants us to produce fruits. As we abide and yield to Christ, we are holy and then fruits will just "supernaturally naturally" be produced in our lives (and not that we must produce fruits to prove that we are holy). The greatest joy of holiness, I believe, is to know that we are pleasing to God and are hearing His voice. While genuine holiness will produce the joy and favour of the Lord, I want to say that not everyone will rejoice with us walking in His ways. Following Jesus could also cause us to be despised and rejected by others who are probably jealous of God's anointing, blessings, favour and grace poured over our lives. They desire the joy and favour we are experiencing but because they have not known the truth of walking in holiness, they might sometimes persecute those who are godly. But my encouragement and exhortation is this, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

The story of Abraham is a story of how God can change a person's history of failure and sin into one of His mercy and grace. Abraham was a great man of God, a hero of faith as we can read in Hebrews 11:8-19. However, he did not do everything right in the process. When God called Abraham and made a covenant of promise that his descendants would be as the number of stars in the heavens (Genesis 15:5; also Genesis 12:1-3), he made a blunder by going ahead of the Lord, before His perfect timing. This resulted in Ishmael, a product of the mind and the flesh. Sometimes, when a word of the Lord or a prophecy is released to an individual or a church, we can get impatient in trying to help God fulfill it by moving before its proper season and time. This often cause jealousy, strife and conflict. Ishmael is an example or a type of what happens when Abraham's wife, Sarah, asked him to go to her maid Hagar in order to bear them a child. This was a wrong move. However, as God sees Abraham's heart of dedication, He has not forgotten His promises made to him. This resulted in the birth of Isaac, the child of promise and destiny, against all odds in the natural. The key is: Impatience gives birth to illegitimate work of the flesh (as represented by Ishmael); but Intercession and intimacy with the Lord gives birth to inheritance in the Spirit (in the case of Isaac). Today, God is calling us to be destiny setters for Him. Yet, mistakes in the past can often cripple us from being all that we can be in Christ Jesus. Like Abraham, what do we do when we fail God? Continue to STAND before the Lord (and see His salvation) - Genesis 18:22: "Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD" (a picture of intercession); Genesis 18:33: "So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place" (we need to identify with people in our society and bring them to the Lord - an example of evangelization). The key is: The believer's primary commission is Intercession and Evangelization. Intercession is the key to giving birth to inheriting the promises of God. Just as Abraham had to wait for the appointed time, when his wife Sarah was too old to conceive in the natural, God wants to move in the supernatural. It is like He is saying, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). Likewise, when God calls us for a task in the Kingdom, He will require maturity and obedience before the actual fulfillment of a word. Sometimes, it takes months and even years before we see the complete picture of His promises. In the case of Abraham, it was Isaac, the promise child, who was born in spite of his wife's barrenness and old age. What are the "Isaacs" in our lives? Could it be our career, material blessings, ministry and salvation of a loved one? Some of us will have to press in and press on in prayer, faith and the Word before we see our fullest potential and destiny in Christ realized. James 1:2-3 says: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing"; Luke 8:15: "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience" The key is: Faith is essential, but it is hope and patience with confession that brings forth possession. Before possessing the promises of God, we need to know and love the Promiser Himself intimately. Intimacy and love for the Lord will result in a life of obedience, sacrifice and worship. Even after we have received our "Isaacs", we need to surrender them to the Lord as a living sacrifice. When we think we have produced some results in a particular career, calling, ministry or gifting, God may require us to lay it down on the altar. Are we willing to relinquish our...

The word "new" is used in the Bible over a 100 times. For example, new song, new covenant, new commandment, new creature, new heaven and new earth. In the natural, many of us like new things such as new clothes, new furniture, new car and new house. In a technologically-advanced nation like ours, some of us may even buy new mobile handphones and new computers so often that we don't remember how many of them we have had put together since we bought our first one. We spend so much of our energy, time and money to acquire them that if we're not careful, we begin to think that our self-worth and value to others depends on having these possessions. Slowly, subtly but surely, our soul becomes dry when we focus so much on the material that we neglect the spiritual. No, there is nothing wrong with physical blessings and prosperity but when they become our primary preoccupation, then we are missing out on the true treasure and wealth and that is, to be strong in the inner man. As our hearts are open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit, God is seeking for vessels to manifest His glory to a suffering and sin-bound world. Throughout the church age, there have been a number of Holy Spirit revivals. However, the final great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is yet to be completely fulfilled. It will be fully realized during the Millennium reign of Christ. In recent times, we see the rise of "famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes" (according to Matthew 24:7). Persecution is intense and terrorism is rampant in many places. All these events have caused fear to grip the hearts of many. These are just a few signs of what the Bible calls "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). However, as these troubles hit our world, the Church of Jesus Christ will arise with greater manifestations of God's glory that will bring in the great harvest of souls into His Kingdom. As vessels of God's glory, we have a call and commitment to deliver a life-changing message of the gospel that will never lose its power. The only answer to the spiritual epidemic and social upheaval of the world today is the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ performed on the cross of Calvary. When the Word of God, delivered under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, men and women will be led to the fire of the altars and the cross of Calvary, "...I indeed baptize you with water; but one that is mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Luke 3:16). As stewards of the Gospel, all we can do is, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine ... do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:2, 5). Friend, the victory of the cross enables us to proclaim that "Jesus saves, heals, fills us with the Holy Spirit and is coming again!" This is a glorious gospel message! Hallelujah!

Friends, how much do you know the laws of your land? Do you know your rights and responsibilities as a citizen? Have you ever violated any rule? To the offender, ignorance is not necessarily innocence when standing before the judge. In the spiritual kingdom, there are also laws. Every person on the face of the earth right now is either living under the government of law or the government of grace. Understanding the meaning of the New Covenant will enable us to live a life of victory. There is a way of victory for the Christian, and it is by means of the Cross, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2)"; "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14). Christianity is at a crossroads today. Churches are either too legalistic or too liberal. Like the Pharisees, some Christians are so religious that they get into the works of the law, which is bondage. They may still profess salvation through faith. However, when it comes to sanctification, they would imply, "Oh, to be holy, you have to follow a list of rules". They may not necessarily verbalize such a statement but they tend to judge others who don't conform or measure up to their so-called spiritual expectations. On the other hand, there are other Christians who promote a message of what I call "lawless freedom". Such people display an attitude of "Since I'm under grace and God loves me unconditionally, I can do what I want for my own benefits and pleasures". All of these teachings distort and twist the true gospel of grace. A revelation of Jesus Christ on the cross will keep your doctrine and lifestyle in proper order. We must not try to live after a system of works and laws, but be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit on the premise of our faith in the finished work of Christ, what He did at Calvary and the Resurrection! To understand themes such as justification by faith, salvation, sanctification, the law and grace as well as walking in the Spirit, which are the foundational truths for living a victorious Christian life, the book of Romans presents some of the greatest teachings on these topics. In this message, we want to focus primarily on Chapter 6. Through this Epistle and other parts of the Bible, God has given us the manual of life, the blueprint for our success and victory. Yet sadly, many Christians do not experience total victory in their lives. Why is this so? Ignorance may be a cause. Another reason could be indifference to the things of God. Of course, using our own strength or willpower to live the Christian life is a futile and fruitless effort. Yet a far more subtle factor why even some dedicated Christians experience spiritual burnout is (listen carefully!) trusting in spiritual disciplines themselves more than focusing on the grace of God. What do I mean? There is an over-emphasis on measuring one's spirituality based on how much Bible study, prayer or fasting one practices. Now, before you throw a stone at me (or at least, the television or computer screen or mobile device that you are using to watch this message), let me say that prayer, Bible study, fellowship and all other Christian habits are very important ... but they are not the primary means through which we are sanctified or are holy. Neither do we overcome the devil or the powers of darkness because of our consecration. We don't say, "Satan, I come against you in the name of Jonathan! I am a prayer warrior, I am a walking Bible. You better obey me!" I know this sounds foolish and ridiculous or even blasphemous but isn't this why some Christians strive to have victory by self effort? It is through the cross of Christ and by the blood of the Lamb of God that demons tremble and hell shakes. When we understand that our position in Christ alone and not in ourselves, then we understand the New Covenant. Otherwise, we...