Source/Author: Bishop Dr. Ong Hwai Teik

Some years ago, the Sovereign Lord led us on a journey of coming together as a whole Methodist Family that began with the MPC 2007 (in PJ and Shah Alam] with the theme “One in Christ Through Prayer”. The journey continued with MPC 2011 (in Sibu) on the theme “Spreading Scriptural Holiness, Transforming the Nation””. This was followed by the recent MPC 2014 (in PJ/KL) with the theme “A Church after God’s own Heart”.

We thank the Lord for the many blessings we have received in MPC 2014 ….
such as, the 410 intercessors (from all our Annual Conferences) on duty during the whole of the MPC for 3 days; at least 912 signed up for the “A CALL TO NATIONWIDE 24-7 Prayer initiative, mobilizing non-stop unbroken prayer nationwide for the next 2 years to be a blessing to Malaysia”. Altogether, there were about 2,885 present at the Sunway Convention Centre on 29-30 Aug 2014 and more than 12,000 were at the Putra Stadium, Bkt Jalil, KL on the 31 August Sunday Worship Celebration. We thank the Lord for the 258 ushers on duty, the many “unnamed” ones who served willingly like the 70 sisters from the (inter-Annual Conference) Methodist Women who for 10 hours prepared the elements for Holy Communion for the Worship Celebration held at Putra Stadium that Sunday. The Lord gave us an able Organising Team that worked tirelessly since last year. The GC Prayer Team was most instrumental in mobilising our Methodist Family for prayer that began in January 2014. This culminated in a “Month of Prayer & Fasting for the MPC 2014” from 1 Aug, which many of us committed ourselves to. The cleaning up at Putra Stadium was so good that the staff and personnel there said they would welcome the Methodist Church in Malaysia back to use the stadium anytime!

We witness clearly the sovereign hand of the incomparable and irreplaceable God in the way He gave us our themes and speakers. He has first called us to gather as His whole Methodist Family in Malaysia in the spirit of Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. In this regard our General Conference and Annual Conferences leadership have been most responsive and collaborative, as we collectively, sincerely and seriously heed the divine injunction of 2 Chronicles 7:14 –  "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

As we continue our voyage after MPC 2014….
we worship and follow the Sovereign God Who calls us to “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, ¹⁰ declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention” [Isa 46:9-10].

In Isaiah chapter 46, our God makes it very clear that unlike the idols [v 1.Bel & Nebo] which has the “DNA” of human beings, He is “absolutely other”. There is nothing in the universe that can be used to “create” Him – He is simply out of this world, totally and uniquely “different” from any thing in the material order!

This incomparable God is the Holy One of Israel, Who unlike the chief idols of Babylon, Bel and Nebo that needed protection and carrying, He is the One Who will carry them from “womb to tomb” (vv 3-4: “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. ⁴ I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”}. Each line in verse 3 ends with the Hebrew words for “womb” – as if God is saying, “you will always be my little girl” as fathers say to their daughters!

Bible scholars have noted that in Isaiah the majestic monotheist view of God finds its clearest and highest form in the title – The Holy One of Israel, which is used 31 times in this book, compared to only 6 times in the rest of the Old Testament. This development is all the more astounding when we consider the fact that it came at a time when Israel is at its lowest ebb – being exiled from their beloved Jerusalem; Isaiah “saw God” most clearly in the most desperate of situations! We too, can see God clearest in the darkest of times – in a very low ebb moment as our nation stands at the cross roads of uncertainty and inexplicable events such as the loss of our two air flights this year.

As we stay on the highway of prayer and holiness after MPC 2014….
we choose to remain chosen, to belong to God, to be in the centre of His will on this journey of faith and prayer so that we can let Him accomplish His plans through us. We must, unlike the remnant in Babylon, choose to believe in this Incomparable God Who effected a “re-set” for Israel, by a second “Exodus”, this time from Babylon.

The narrative of the selection of Gideon’s army in Judges 7:1-8, reminds us that our incomparable God Who declares “I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning” can so “work things out” so that there is no mistaking where the glory should only go.

The remnant Israelites were so overwhelmed and intimidated for a long spell in Babylon by the pomp and lavish worship of Bel and Nebo that they suffered from “a displaced people with a misplaced awe” syndrome. What added to their choice of unbelief was the fact that God is going to use a non-Jew, a detested pagan, “a bird from the east”, in the person of King Cyrus of Persia to overthrow Babylon (Isa 41:1-3) and effect their restoration to Jerusalem.

To keep in step and remain chosen and “usable” in the hands of this Incomparable God, one has to overcome unbelief caused by “fear and trembling” (Judges 7:3) especially in the face living under grave, prolonged intimidation by enemy forces and threatening circumstances that cause the people of God to feel like a minority. The people of God called Methodists must not be satisfied with being among the initially 10,000 shortlisted after “round 1”. We must aim to be the “finally chosen” 300 in Gideon’s army that “put on the full armor of God – so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Eph 6:13).

God used 4 imperatives to remind the unbelieving remnant of the objective reference of faith in Him which is contained in their history. Such “proofs” were found especially in the miraculous signs and interventions of God in their first Exodus from Egypt that are inferred to in verses 8-10: “Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, you guilty ones. Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish”.

As we look forward to the way ahead beyond MPC 2014 ….
we pursue “staying chosen” and keeping in step with this Sovereign God Who in 2007 started our Methodist Family prayer movement. More than ever before, “we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways” before the Incomparable One “Who sees the end from the beginning”. Let us now choose to be unwavering in fulfilling His intention as “a church after God’s own heart”. We do this at different levels.

#1. Personal level – pray and obey 2 Chronicles 7:14 (“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”) each day; pray it at least once daily, in a posture of humility and thirst for holy transformation.

Our God is a HOLY GOD so that those who “turn from their wicked ways” [2 Chron 7:14] will find that “no good thing does He with hold from those who walk uprightly” [Psalm 84:11]

Those who belong to this absolute” holy One of Israel” must bear His holy likeness especially in living out compassion, love, goodness and faithfulness.

Micah 6:8 captures this succinctly for us – “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”.

In the New Testament, James 1:26 declares in no uncertain parallel terms - “If you claim to be religious [ie devout, spiritual people] but don’t control your tongue (ie in good and healthy speech), you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring (ie demonstrates compassion, love) for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt (ie faithfulness, trueness to God, holding on to holy, undefiled living against world’s strong tides that washes against you) you.

#2. Local Church – strengthen prayer life and gatherings in the congregation(s); give this due emphasis, priority and attendance as a local church community event as our churches are stirred up by MPC 2014 to pray.

#3. Inter–MCM level - organizing Combined Methodist Prayer Gatherings meeting periodically in towns and cities where there are more than one Methodist church; it helps to spur one another on in seeking God in intercession.

#4. Inter-denominational level – to initiate and participate in Prayer Gathering with other churches and networks periodically to pray for our nation.

#5. National level - to participate in the 24-7 PRAYER FOR THE NATION TWO YEAR COMMITMENT from 16.9.2014 – 16.9.2016. START NOW – on your own or with your family or in your local church or Small Group or Ministry Group. More informationwill come as each AC begins to plan, organize and train with the help of the AC Prayer Coordinators working with the GC PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM. Already we have the following indications from our Annual Conferences in adopting the day of the week for this national 24-7 Prayer initiative: Monday – TRAC, Tuesday – CAC and SPAC, Thursday – SCAC and SPAC, Friday – TAC, Saturday – PMSM, Sunday – SIAC. An overall plan will be put together as we pray to fully fulfill our part together with others in the Body of Christ in this nation. Sacrifices and commitment are needed especially when it comes to the “MOONLIGHT SHIFT”!

An Impact Statement and Benediction….
As a Methodist Family we seek by God’s grace to be a blessing that impacts this nation by being a Church after God’s own heart that humbly chooses to stay on His highway of prayer and holiness. A church that is:

• Growing Deep and Strong Inside 
• Standing with Christ’s Body nationwide 
• Giving God Glory from every side

As a people of God called Methodists in Malaysia - go forth into this land and the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint hearted; support the weak; honour all people; love and serve the Lord; rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, be upon us and remain with us always AMEN.