By Bishop Dr. Ong Hwai Teik

The following is the gist of the sermon delivered by Bishop Dr Ong Hwai Teik at the

206th POLICE DAY CHRISTIAN WORSHIP SERVICE, 14 June 2013, 10 am, Trinity Methodist Church, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

NLT Ephesians 3:9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich veriety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Introduction

I am so glad to be able to join this 206th POLICE DAY CHRISTIAN WORSHIP SERVICE. I wish to thank ACP, Simon Kuan, Superintendent Howard Chai Ching Hau and Rev Dr Timothy Ong for their kind invitation to speak at this important worship Service.

We know that the Sovereign God, creator of the universe, has emplaced certain key institutions, which form the core structure for the well-being of the community and society that we live in.

A God-fearing, law-abiding and morally up-right Police Force is necessary and imperative to the survival and well-being of any society and country. To this end we thank the POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA force for staking their lives in the line of duty of protecting the rule of law, security and sovereignty of this our beloved country, Malaysia.

We read with great dismay and sadness this year of the loss of 10 precious and heroic lives as well as the 16 injured Police officers in the Lahat Datu skirmishes with armed intruders on 11 Feb 2013.

Multiple views and theories of how the government could have better engaged the intruders had been discussed since that incident but they do not distract us from the heroism and sacrifices that these officers displayed in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.

In fact, it has been reported that this important institution, founded on 25 March 1807, has seen from 1915 to 1 Jan 2013, 1,346 deaths among its ranks while in the line of duty.

We are grateful to Almighty God for the current PDRM sworn membership of about 102,037 as of 25 April 2013, and 1000 police stations dotting our country.

I. EPH 3: 9-11 - The ETERNAL PLAN OF GOD FOR HIS PEOPLE INCLUDING TODAY

THE BLOCKBUSTER EVENT 2013 FOR MALAYSIA – The 05 MAY 2013 13TH GE.

The GE 13 is without doubt the number one event that affects all Malaysians. In fact, we are still feeling the after-effects of the outcome of this history-shaping event for Malaysia.

From the Christian perspective, we can honestly say that very many – had to struggle with “dashed expectations” from the GE 13 outcome.

Some of the more telling reasons that contributed to this cutting disappointment, disillusionment and disenchantment are: 

# 1. The theme of the Jubilee Year that includes this year – a year of starting afresh, freedom of turning over a righteous page of fresh hope of goodness, justice and truth for our beloved nation;

# 2. The growth and direct accessibility of the prophetic stream: this is especially exacerbated by the coming in and going out of those perceived to be prophets or have a prophetic gifting, including a few with international standing in the Christian community globally who delivered prophecies regarding “what is to come” for Malaysia and that added to heightened expectations;

# 3. The incredible growth of the prayer movement in our Malaysian churches, denominations, para-church groups, and various networks because of GE13. Many churches had combined prayer meetings, collective fasting, all-night prayers, spawning of prayer networks and prayer information pages both in hard copies and in soft copies. We thank God that the prayer depth and width of the Malaysian Church will no longer be the same post GE 13.

# 4. The advancement of media technological tools nowadays like the internet, digital technology, and cyber space, have made information readily available – in terms of its scope, speed, and simultaneity. This has given increased expectations of change to those in the urban and semi-urban areas, regardless of race and religion. The easy access to information makes for a more thinking and selective civil society. These technological tools have truly given a new meaning to “Your sin will find you out” [Num 32:23], though not all claimed exposes are necessarily true.

# 5. For the Christian community in Malaysia, there are the added issues that have troubled us since the GE 12 of March 2008. Such key issues include the use of the word “ALLAH" which awaits resolving in the courts, even as this is a word that we have had in our usage that predates our first Merdeka ; the embargoing of the Alkitab for a time in the not too recent past; the allegation that Christians are conspiring to take over the governance of the country.

All these factors add collectively to heightening expectations for change that is needed – no matter which political party forms the government.

This brings me to what we need to remember as God’s people, the Church, whether the season is “GOOD, BAD, or UGLY”.

The unchanging, authoritative revealed Word of God tells us in
^NLT Ephesians 3:9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let me just comment on a few KEY THOUGHTS in these important 3 verses.  

#1. GOD’S PURPOSE - this DIVINE “PLAN A”- EXISTED FROM ETERNITY ie is “eternity old”.

Even before the Garden of EDEN – the supreme Maker of Heaven and Earth had so intended/ had already made this plan; way before the predominating realities of post 5 May 2013!

So the New International Version of Revelation 13:8 says: All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”

Whether the times and seasons be “Good, Bad or Ugly”– we are to still live by this “eternity old” Divine plan!

#2. GOD’S PURPOSE IS TO DISPLAY/ SHOWCASE/ DEMONSTRATE HIS GLORY ie “His manifold wisdom” which “He accomplished in Christ Jesus.”

The “eternity old” Plan A of the majestic and sovereign Creator of heaven and earth is to DISPLAY His Glory THROUGH THE CHURCH - of WHO and WHAT He is, especially seen/incarnated in the life, mission and ministry of the Messiah on earth, and now to be done through the Church by the work of the Holy Spirit.

#3. GOD’S GLORY OF HIS MANIFOLD WISDOM – IS “UNCOUNTABLE” and “INEXHAUSTIBLE”

Because He is the infinite God, His wisdom is manifold, uncountable, unsearchable, and inexhaustible as manifested concretely in the life of His Son while on earth. Our needs cannot “outsize” His supply.

#4. GOD’S CHURCH [OF EVERY GENERATION and AGE] IS THE MEANS TO SHOWCASE’ DISPLAY/ DEMONSTRATE HIS GLORY

God’s Plan that is “ETERNITY OLD” – is to showcase and declare HIS GLORY which brings healing, and all that is good through His church on earth. The Church is His designated witness to both the seen and unseen created realms .The angels and the spiritual forces are being witnessed to by the Church of Who God is - and God’s Glory is seen when the Church lives rightly!

Psalm 19:1 declares that “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. ² Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. ³ They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. ⁴ Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

BUT we, who are made in the image of God, proclaim the glory of God beyond the material creation, to the “immaterial” world, the universe - the awesome “diamond” Character of God!

#5. GOD’S CHURCH CAN ONLY PROCLAIM EFFECTIVELY GOD’S GLORY BY BEING A SPOTLESS EFFECTIVE “PRISM” – THAT IS OBEDIENT AND LOVING.

To radiate this wondrous rainbow “multi-wisdom of God which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” – is the raison d’être – reason for our existence as God’s people, the Church - especially now in post GE 13 Malaysia.

We do this by being an obedient, loving and united Church, notwithstanding our expectations unmet or the the “good, the bad or the ugly” in the current situation – so that the Person, Power and Presence of God will be displayed as in Acts 2: 42-47 and Acts 4: 32-37.

The Glory of God will be revealed in the healing that restores a broken, divisive, and hope-less world.

An obedient, loving and united Church will showcase and bring into reality His attributes and healing character that powerfully transforms people. LOVE – that breaks walls of division; POWER – that breaks the powers of the one who came “to kill, steal & destroy” and that is the devil who causes trauma, pain, illnesses; RECONCILIATION – that breaks the powers of alienation of body, mind and soul in a person or a community as well as the “breaking up” of creation.

This “eternity old” Divine plan and purpose calls for an “all seasons commitment - weather shield commitment“– in the “Good, Bad & the Ugly” times of our national and personal life; whether GE 13 turned out the way we want or not!

The KEY QUESTION then we need to individually and collectively as a Church ask is this – “ Is it all about ‘did we win or lose the GE 13’ or will the Malaysian Church and I continue to DISPLAY THE GLORY OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS?”

Will I resolutely pursue “Living by Eternal Planning” even though what has happened in the GE 13 is important, and that there is still much to be desired?

CONCLUSION
In the history of the Church, there is the widely accepted view that there are 3 fundamental and related callings for each disciple of Christ.

The 1st is the highest Calling which is to ABIDE IN COMMUNION WITH CHRIST. This is a sustained relationship with the Saviour; a vibrant, continual communion with God that is “full of faith & the Holy Spirit”

The 2nd is the call to live out the shared set of common callings in the Body of Christ. This is most emphasised in churches because it can be clearly cited and sighted such as the 10 commandments; forgiving your enemies etc. Often this quite naturally leads to placing emphasis on the Bible without an equal and balanced emphasis on the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit. An unbalanced emphasis in this direction may also lead to the perception that the work of the local and institutional church as being all-consuming. This will lead to the feeling that the church is more concerned about advancing the agenda of the institutional Church than caring for the members.

The 3rd calling is a specific one that is directed by God alone for the individual to accomplish as a vocation.

In Acts 13:2 – Paul and Barnabas received a specific calling from the Holy Spirit to be set apart for missionary work.

So long as Christ reigns over all parts of life – there should not be a separation of vocations as “sacred” or “secular”.

If God calls us to be Christian educators, then let us “display God’s glory” by striving for contributing to academic excellence, beauty of character and morality, wholesome extra-curricular activities - that will shape young lives, the community and nation-building.

If God calls us to be Christian businessmen – then seek to “display the glory of God” by growing companies that value people, pay staff fairly and properly, looking after employees interests, balance profit making with integrity, providing products and services fairly, stewarding natural resources responsibly and not solely driven by profit making. It is not wrong to be wealthy – but we must have a godly wealth creation approach.

If God calls us to be Christian artistes – then let us “display God’s glory” by creating presentations and pieces of beauty, affording clean works of creativity, imagination and entertainment that lift the spirits of those who are wearied, fatigued and need refreshing and “recreation”.

If we are given the specific calling to be Christian civil society leaders or as Christian law-makers – then let us “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God’ (Micah 6:8); to help bring about good and just laws to ensure acts of evil are restrained, and that the life-giving order and all that is good can be promoted for the welfare of the people of this nation.

If God has called you to be Christian law enforcement officers – then live up to the Motto, Vision and Mission of the Royal Malaysia Police: “Our commitment : Safe & Prosperous Community” 

Vision: A Leading enforcement agency of integrity, competency and commitment to work with the community.” 

Mission: The Royal Malaysian Police Force is committed to serve, protect the nation and to work in partnership with the community in the maintenance of law and order.”

May God grant our brothers and sisters in the PDRM to “display the glory of God” in the words of Paul in Phil 2:15 – “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”.

Today, the PDRM faces many challenges that include “important determinants of public perception” as outlined by P. Sundramoorthy, Asso. Prof of Criminology, USM, [The Star, 1 April 2013] such as

1. Not updating the complainant or victim of on-going investigations;

2. Lack professional courtesy when dealing with complainants or victims; 

3. Not allowing the complainant or victim to express themselves fully (not hearing them out);

4. Insensitive to the trauma that the victim is experiencing;

5. Some police personnel appear to be prejudiced and discriminating;

6. Some police personnel appear to be practicing selective enforcement;

7. Some police officials make ‘politically incorrect statements to the media’;

8. Sometimes police appear to be non-proactive in preventing crimes;

9. Police need to tailor crime prevention activities based on the specific crime prevalent in that specific neighbourhood; and

10. Police leadership must aggressively address any acts of police misconduct.

We shall pray with you, that together we shall live and shine as stars in our beloved land Malaysia during this challenging season. Together we seriously live out the great privilege and honour in accordance to God’s ETERNAL PURPOSE FOR HIS CHURCH: that you would DISPLAY THE GLORY OF GOD IN CHRIST – in the Royal Malaysian Police Force as disciples who are called Christians.

AMEN.