For Private Circulation Only
Vol. 5 No. 2 (May 2001)
http://www.berita-bethel-ung.com



My Faithful prayer partner/s in the Faith and in the Defense of the Gospel (Phil. 1:5, 7)

The LORD's my Shepherd, Psalm 23:1
On March 18, my home assembly put me down to speak on Psalm 23 in a series from "Christ in the Psalms". It was the start of an intimate relationship
with the Shepherd of the Psalm. In the preceding preparation leading to the presentation of the message of the psalm and its subsequent development in
further meditation, I must have recited the psalm almost 100 times as I paved the promenade of Gurney Drive in my morning walking exercise, at times even oblivious to the greetings of passing friends in my mental and spiritual occupation with the Shepherd.

Yahweh Ra'ah is my Shepherd's Name. This, I was privileged to experience and expound as I got to know Him better at Sungei Nibong Gospel Hall (SNGH) in the two weeks that followed. From a half-hour message at BRGH, it developed into a 1 1/2-hour exposition of His great Name and experiences with Him. The Shepherd emerged from the psalm as the Living Shepherd and Tender of the flock, Friend and Guide, Provider and Protector in my life for the past term and definitely will be so in the days ahead.

For the most part of February and March, the Shepherd led me on a tour of the seven Penang assemblies (including BRGH-Chinese) speaking on The Year of the Serpent tracing the conflict between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent from the Garden in Genesis (3:15) to the Serpent's imprisonment in the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:2) and ultimately to his final doom in the lake of fire (20:10)

April 6-8 saw me in Bangsar Gospel Centre teaching
on The Sweet-Savour Sacrifices. The almost-packed hall every session was most encouraging, considering the Saturday five-hour session with an hour-break for dinner and the notorious week-end Bangsar crowd just outside the Centre at night.  There were representatives from assemblies in Nilai, Taman Tun, Cheras, Bandar Utama, Jalan Imbi and elsewhere. The study on the Burnt Sacrifice reminded me of the substitute ram that Yahweh provided in place of Abraham's son that led Abraham to name Mt. Moriah, Yahweh-Yireh (Gen. 22:14) – lit., He will see to it; thus, He will provide. Hence, I shall not want. Psa. 23:1

April saw me busy also with Easter messages at Bangsar and Island Glades Gospel Centre, dealing with the topics, Mary Why Are You Weeping? and Thomas, Why Are You Missing?

April 22 was a special day in the history of fellowship and co-operation among the six English-speaking assemblies in Penang.  SNGH took the initiative of providing their respective elders, deacons, leaders and those interested to come together every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 5.30 to 7.00p.m. for a study workshop on Biblical Assembly Distinctives (B.A.D. !). This is to prepare the present and potential leaders on how to answer from Scripture Why We Believe and Do What We Believe and Do. Fifty participants turned up for the first session and it was very encouraging indeed. This Workshop is an additional regular undertaking for me to the Bethel Bible Class (BBC) in my house every 2nd and 4th Friday that seeks to prepare the young professional adults for future leadership.

Yahweh-Yireh, I shall not want. How true it is, that Yahweh will not only see to it what I do and where I go, but He will also provide all the resources for which He calls me to do. Again I acknowledge with thanks unto the Lord two BRGH anonymous gifts. With these and others, I am able to share with other servants of the Lord the joy of partnership in His service. As the Lord said to His disciples, freely ye have received, freely give. (Matt. 10:8). This term it was my privilege to have fellowship with the following, as together we serve Him, being co-labourers with God in His Vineyard. (I Cor. 3:9)
 
18.02.01 Ron and Sharon (Philippines)
Pray for their daughter, who has been diagnosed for TB and is now under medication.
21.02.01 Gujarat Earthquake Fund
Praise the Lord that none of our assembly believers died, though many suffered loss of property.
21.02.01 Low Sak Lan (Cambodia)
28.02.01 Ronnie Tin Maung Tun (Myanmar)
19.04.01 Chan Meng Yin (work among Orang Asli sisters in Malaysia)

The three servants of the Lord above were with us on Mission Night at BRGH to report on the Lord's work in the areas of His appointed ministry for them.
 
30.04.01  Timothy Yong (Batu Gajah)

Timothy resigned from his to serve the Lord in his home assembly at Batu Gajah Gospel Hall as from April 1st. May Yahweh-Yireh continue to encourage and provide for him in his service for Him there.

Yahweh-yireh, has frequently been referred to as the Provider of all resources that one needs, but I prefer the literal significance of that Name as time and again He sees to it that I am at the right time and at the right place in my ministry to obey Him.

Thus May 24-29 will see me at Salatiga Discipleship Training Centre (an assembly Bible School) in Indonesia to conduct 24 lectures on Eschatology as
part of their project to train evangelists and leaders there to fulfil their vision of setting up 50 assemblies in Indonesia by 2005 (DV). Amidst the uncertainties of political, religious, and racial unrest I go with the assurance He will see to it that His Will is done and He will provide for all my needs and protection. Your prayer is also greatly valued especially when I am going there alone, and yet not so, because Yahweh-Shammah will be there with me.

The next thought is therefore very comforting. Yahweh-Shalom (Jud. 6:24) will make me to lie down in green pastures; He will lead me beside the still waters. (Psa. 2:2). This is one promise, not only myself, but I am sure, the Harrisons, the Cowells and all the others in Indonesia who are serving Yahweh there, will treasure. He will be our Peace and Rest amid chaos.

This is further reinforced that Yahweh-Rapha restoreth my soul. (Psa. 23:3 cf. Exo. 15:26). I am looking to Him Who Healeth to heal me of my present thorn in the flesh (II Cor. 12:7) of tearing eyes, which has been with me for over a year now, and on occasions gives me the feeling that I am living in an undersea kingdom. Still, at such times, I have found His grace to be sufficient for me even as His strength  is made perfect in my weakness. (II Cor. 12:7, 9)

Lately, even as I take time off to write this Berita, my mind is burdened with the much preparation that has to be done in order to fulfil my commitments to the Lord and His people. Yahweh-Rapha restores and strengthens my soul, spirit and body even as Yahweh-Tsidkenu (Jer. 23:6) leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake  (Psa. 23:3) to the following itinerary He has planned for me for this term to uphold His Righteousness and to uplift His Name.
 
May 4-6 - Church Alive at Jalan Imbi Chapel.
May 24-29 - Eschatology at Salatiga.
June 15-17 - Biblical Assembly Distinctives at Batu Gajah Gospel Hall
July 27-29  - Feasts of Yahweh at Kepong Gospel Hall/Sri Damansara Gospel Centre
July 30  - The Lord is my Shepherd to the Senior Citizens at SS2 Gospel Centre
Aug. 19  - Open Topic at Taiping Gospel Hall
Aug. 19-24   - Lectures on Eschatology at GLO Training School, Taiping
Aug. 25  - GLO Study Workshop at Klang Gospel Hall (to be confirmed)
Sept. 07-09  - Scripture Union Young Writers' Workshop, Seminari Theologi, Seremban
Sept. 09-11   - Burmah Road Gospel Hall Family Camp (to be confirmed)
Sept. 12-15 - Northern Region Fellowship Camp at Fraser's Hill.
Sept. 28-30 - Church Alive at Bidor Gospel Centre.

With the heavy programme above which does not include the SNGH (B.A.D.) and the BBC every 2nd and 4th week of the month as well as the Sunday morning ministry in between in the Penang assemblies, the great comfort I have in fulfilling the Lord's commission to me is Yahweh-Shammah's (Eze. 48:35) assurance that He will be there even as the psalmist says, "Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psa. 23:4) and the Lord says, "Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20).

Once again, I thank you all for your every remembrance of me, my wife and family in your prayer fellowship and practical partnership with me in the Lord's ministry.

May the Lord bless you all individually and personally as well as the assemblies concerned corporately – being willing "ravens" (I Kings 17:4-6) of Yahweh-Yireh to supply my every need and comfort, and to support me as prayer-partners in this great work of the Lord.

The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
Neh. 4:19, 20

Yahweh-Ra'ah is my Shepherd; I shall never be in want because Yahweh-Yireh will see to it. Yahweh-Shalom makes me to lie down in green pastures, leading me beside the still waters, and Yahweh-Rapha restores my soul to follow my Yahweh Tsidkenu into paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. And everywhere I go, Yahweh-shammah is there, His rod and His staff they comfort me. Amen
 


Go to Berita Bethel Vol. 5 (1), Vol. 4 (3), Vol. 4 (2), Vol. 4 (1), Vol. 3 (3), Vol. 3 (2), Vol. 3 (1), Vol. 2 (3), Vol. 2 (2)