Trinity Methodist Church

Personally I love singing though I may not have a good voice. I believe songs can bring changes in the life of a person if he really meditates on it. Songs have the power to change people’s lives. There are some favourite songs I love to sing and have actually touched and changed my life.

 

Once upon a Sunday service, a pastor of my church preached from Psalm 86 about “The pilgrim’s song”. He began his preaching with a song that reminded him of the past. He then continued to share on how that song had an effect on his life. Instantly this caused me to go down memory lane where songs played such an important role in drawing me near to God even until this very day.

After I paused for moment to think about the past I started to see of the many songs which God had used to touch my personal life. They not only touched my life but more significantly changed my entire life that my confidence in Him has unceasingly grown stronger.

 

The Bible gives us plenty of songs that we can use to worship Him. Spiritual songs have got that power to improve a person’s attitude. For us as Christians, songs are very important. Songs can be used to worship God or to express our gratitude to Him.

 

I have some songs I really love to sing and they always remind me of my good God who is so caring, loving, understanding and faithful.

Below are some of the songs that give me joy in serving Him.

 

The first song is:

 

Holy, holy, Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty,

Early in the morning

Our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty

God in three persons, blessed Trinity

 

Whenever I sing or listen to this song I would instantly remember my parents. In the early morning at 5:30 we would go to church to pray with the other kampung folks. Most of the time they would sing a favourite song  “meligan, meligan” which  means “Holy, holy”. Even when my father sang out of tune, which is not uncommon, I could that see his heart is full of joy for the Lord. After the years passed this song keeps speaking to my heart about how my parents really loved God and gave their lives to Him despite their limitations. Now I begin to appreciate their faith and this has spurred me be like them; prayerful, loving and God-fearing.

 

The second song is:

 

Sedarlah teman hidup ini semantara

Tak akan kekal semua binasa

Jangan abaikan masa muda kita teman

Masa muda hanyalah sekali

 

Walaupun engkau ditimpa kecewa

Bukan kau seorang pernah mengalami

Jangan kerana itu iman menjadi lemah

Ini untuk melatih diri mu

 

Masa muda hanyalah sekali

Tak akan berulang lagi

Jadilah pelaku Firman Tuhan

Dan bukan hanya duduk mendengar

 

Honestly, after listening to this song in one of “youth convention in 1987”, this song has really led my entire life to God. This song keeps speaking to me and also reminding me that my life in this world is only temporarily. With this claim I have made a covenant that I shall dedicate my life to serve Him. I begin to surrender my whole life for God’s use. Life is short and I am getting older and older until the day when I will finally be six feet in the ground. So before that time comes I want do something for God by offering my life to be used by Him. Until this day, I have never regretted giving my life to serve Jesus Christ, my God.

 

The Third song is:

 

When You Have Some Questions,

In The Corners of Your Mind

And The Traces of Discouragement

And A Peace You Cannot Find

Reflections of Your Past

They Seem To Face You Every Day

But There Is One Thing I Do Know

That Jesus Is The Way.

 

Jesus Is the Answer for the World Today

Above Him there’s No Other, Jesus Is the Way

Jesus Is the Answer for the World Today

Above Him there’s No Other, Jesus Is the Way

 

Well, this song as affirmed me of God’s calling. I do admit that I struggled a lot when I enrolled myself in the Bible school.

My first struggle was to meet the school’s needs and requirements.

Secondly was my future. What will happen when I retire?

Thirdly, will I complete or excel in this training?

In those days I have seen many SIB pastors’ children living in poverty because of their parents’ low wages. All these have caused my heart to have worries and uncertainties. But on my first day in Bible school I ask for one thing from God; and that is to change my life. During my struggle the above song was a real comfort and encouragement.

 

The fourth song is:

 

I surrender all,

I surrender all,

All to Jesus, my blessed Saviour,

I surrender all.

In my ministry I cannot avoid myself from encountering with challenges, difficulties, worries and fear.  But one thing assured me of my calling is “Jesus is the answer for all my problems”. Although Jesus is the answer for my problems I need to allow God’s Spirit to take control of my entire life. Without surrendering my entire life to Him it is impossible for Him to help me. His arms are always open waiting for me “"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28 ]. Day by day I learn and teach myself to surrender my entire struggle to Jesus by making Him number ONE in my life.

 

The Last song is:

 

It is no secret what God can do

What He’d done for other He’ll do for you

With arms wide open He’ll pardon you

It is no secret what God can do

 

In my first year of my ministry in the church I was not really confident with my own sermon because my command of the English language was poor. I always make mistakes in my sermons hence making me spiritually down. I always blame myself for my weakness but God’s Word reminds me of what he wants of me.

This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD [Jeremiah 9:23-24 ].

After listening to this verse I begin to realize what God actually wants. I begin to believe that God can use me like others in His ministry regardless of my weakness, education, background and race. The above song has really helped me to trust God to use me in His ministry.

 

While some of us have trouble memorizing verses from God’s Word, something in our brain do help us to remember words in songs. If we analyze some of our favorite Christian songs and choruses, we find that they have been derived from the Scripture. Thus we can use the memory boost of music to hide away God-breathed words in our hearts. 

 

Actually I have many songs I love to sing to worship God and have also transform my life personally. I believe there is power in worship which brings transformation in someone’s life. The Bible has given us plenty of examples how music is used by God to work in the lives of His people.

 

First example is while Elisha was playing harp, the hand of the Lord come upon him and miracle take place. See in 2 Kings 3:14-19 “Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you. But now bring me a harpist." While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, "This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones."

 

Second example is, Joshua and the Israelites march around the city of Jericho for seven time, sing and shout the wall of that city was collapsed. See in Joshua 6:20-21 “When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it--men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys”.

 

Third example is David was playing the harp and the evil spirit which control King Saul leaving him. See in 1 Samuel 16:22-23 “Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him”.

 

Fourth example is Paul and Silas were praying and sing the prison was shaken and miracle happens. See in Acts 16:25-27 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped”.

 

To conclude, I like to quote a passage from the Bible in Psalm 150:1-6 “Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD”.

 

So let us worship our God as long as we live in this world. Do not stop worshiping our God. Let not the quality of your voice be a standard in your personal worship to Him. It is sweet music to His ears.

Prayer is one of my favourite ministries. Why?  Because through prayer I can do many things for God and nobody except Him who knows all of my needs. Although I struggle many times to set aside time to pray, but I enjoy it. I know prayer is not an easy thing to do but I try my very best to do something for God by spending at less a few hours with God. As I struggle against all my weaknesses, I remember the Apostle Paul’s testimony, where he says “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” [1 Corinthians 12:9-10 ]

 

After listening to a sharing by a leader of our church during a Morning Prayer session, I was reminded to be patient while waiting upon the Lord. Waiting is not an easy thing to do but for Christians it is a good training to make the person more Christ-like. Remember the Bible says “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us” [1 John 5:14 ].

 

Honestly speaking, I really enjoy praying alone. Each day of my life, the first thing I do is pray. I start the day with prayer and close with prayer, just before I go to bed. I want to be a man of prayer, where I can spend more of my time with Him. I need to give more of my time to commune with Him because my life is no longer my own but His. In other words I belong to Him. If I belong to Him what shall I do as I follow Him in my daily prayer?

 

First, I must wait with patience. Every time I speak about being “patient”, my mind immediately thinks about a farmer planting vegetables. A farmer needs more patience when he cultivates his land. He needs to work hard before he receives his reward. See [2 Timothy 2:6 ] the hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops”. That is why it is impossible for a farmer to receive a good share of his labour if he does not have patience. To wait is not an easy thing to do but as a Christian it is necessary because the Bible say so. See [Micah 7:7 ] “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me”.

 

Second, I must wait with confidence. Confidence means total trust in someone that he can do something for you. Confidence will lead us to have faith. See [Hebrews 11:1 ] “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not. In the entire chapter 11, the book of Hebrews speaks about faith. How faith work in the lives of many men and women of God. And if we refer to Hebrews 11:6 , it says “and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him’. Faith includes “belief and confidence” in someone – how we look at it is purely an individual and personal decision. To be Christians we need to be convinced with what we believe. Although we don’t see it with our physical eye, our God is with us in Spirit. See in [John 4:24 ] “God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." “Just believe in Him [Jesus Christ]”.

 

Third, I must wait with an open and understanding heart. This means that “we accept whatever the result after spending time praying for it, without doubting God or arguing with other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ”.

I once encountered an experience of organizing a seminar after months of praying and preparation. When the time came, the turn up was not at all encouraging. I felt upset and disappointed because my expectation was very high. As a pastor of a church I should not feel upset because God knows what is best for me. I need to be open and to think positively without blaming anyone. It is God’s business not my business, everything is for God. The Bible says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” [Romans 8:28 ]. Be open to any results by fixing our eye upon Him”.

 

Fourth, I must wait with faith. Whenever Jesus healed the sick, He always said to them “because of your faith you are healed”. It is very true that without faith it is impossible for us experience God’s miracles.

See in [Hebrews 11:1-2 ] “Without faith no one can please God. Faith is “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. ³By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible”.

Faith is not based on how long we have been a Christian or how much we know about Him but it is a matter of belief. To believe in Him means to “love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind”. See [Exodus 6:4 ; Mathew 22:37]. If we really love Him, we are prepared to do and follow His commands without any questions. So be patient, our God knows when we should receive what we ask for. See [Psalms 40:1] “I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry’.

 

Personally I say it is not easy to wait for something when events get nearer and become difficult. For example, if I receive an invitation to preach in another church and am not given a topic to preach on I will go through a personal struggle. I need to pray earnestly and seek God for guidance. Of course I could write anything I want but at the same time I need to know what God wants. Without God’s help, my message would be in vain.

See [Psalm 127:1-2 ] “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builder’s labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat for he grants sleep to those he loves”.

First of I need know what God wants. To preach is not difficult but to know what God wants is most difficult to discern. Why I say this is because it requires much patience and time. Sometimes I may have sleepless nights. Waiting is not an easy thing to do but it is a good training ground as a Christian. God’s work is not like “maggie mee” ready in an instant, it requires our time and patience.

 

Remember this statement [Anne Cetas, ODB, 2007] as we wait for God to answer our prayers:

 

“Others mean well, yet don’t always know us well. They’ll never know us as God does. We are an open book to Him; there is nothing about us that is hidden from Him.

 

• God knows everything we do. He knows all the activities of our day and every detail of our schedule. Psalm 139:2
• God knows everything we think. The good and the bad, the wholesome and the impure. Psalm 139:2
• God knows everywhere we go. “You comprehend my path…. And are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:3
• God knows everything we say.

 

He knows us better than we know ourselves. Isn’t it a comfort to be known so intimately by our Lord-even with all our flaws-and yet be loved so completely?”

 

Remember our attitude very much influences our personal prayer. Why I say this is because if we act too fast, the possibility of making mistakes is great. So as mature Christians we need more time to wait upon the Lord. Waiting is not difficult to do if we allow Jesus to take control of all our lives. He is the only one who can help us to “wait”.