I got lucky today and got into talking with one of our predecessors over lunch. He was one of the crazy ones who really believed in the power of God reigning and taking control over the campus and was not hesitant to do anything for Him at all. He shared with me part of what God has done in his previous marketplace; his school in Taman Sea and listening to that was really empowering. Over 400 people were in one organisation called the Christian Union in a government school and each time there is a camp, it takes 7 buses to fit everyone. Is that amazing or what?
What the people (who established this by sowing the seeds of a miracle) did were not just sitting around and be comfortable at their own places. They were living it; living the life fulfilling the simple commands of God. Fervently indulging themselves in prayer, not just individually but collectively. But most of all.......they believed. They believed the sovereignty of God over His kingdom, over the place, which most the time we have understood but yet not fully grasping it in our minds and hearts and do something about it.
They were not afraid or complacent.
Have we, as children of God, done anything outside of the four walls of church to expand His kingdom? Or have we just circled around the vicinity of church, serving God only in church and our very own brothers and sisters in Christ who have already been made known and accepted the salvation in which God has given? Most people I know have dropped out from the faith because of this one term I never really presume exist; 'burnt out' and from what I found out is that, they have barely started God's real work, which is in the world. Church has been a place of great burden for some and as the organisation grows, people are beginning to place more and more things on their plates till they reach the point of 'burning out'.
The campus is a place which is in dire need of Christ. People take their own lives, going home carrying the sack of depression on their backs, experience emotional turmoil because of not having the privilege of understanding and knowing the true meaning of life. We have been too comfortably seated in our respective positions.
What my dear friend had was a sense of ownership. The people knew deep down that, in the name of Christ, each one of them owned the CF and each one of them owned the school, and each one of them owned the campus.
He told me this, "To be honest, what happened in that school was not at all within the realm of human ability. 400 people cram every single week in a limited space, bearing the afternoon heat and yet....people still come. And they keep coming. They were still worshipping. They were still standing up to their feet and hands were still lifted in full heart of worship. God is really beyond comprehension."
We always utter the cliched words of 'we are here not by chance'. How many of us actually truly dig down and make the mere few words into a story-to-tell...Our time in campus is short, my friends, and this is no great revelation or prophesy. It is something we all understood...but on the surface.
I urge you to start His work right here, right now. May we be able to speak the truth in love to those who have yet to come to know Him. May His name be able to be lifted high in this place.
Let us begin with prayer. Praying together is a very powerful tool. We need to play our part and He will do His. Come to the place where we will be meeting everyday starting this semester to begin praying for this campus and the people.
We have been idle long enough.
May I ask that you come to CF each week with an expectant heart and not by habit or obligation. Otherwise, I'd rather you not force yourself. Cause the number never really matter in the first place. Said in the scripture: even if there is only 3 or 2, God is with us. Come each week with your hearts prepared for worship so that you may not sing songs (which most songs contains words of promise, scary) you do not mean. Otherwise, I'd rather you not force yourself. Come each week with the heart of repentence and love that you do not harbour feelings, be it hatred or jealousy towards another and that you are able to have genuine fellowship with everyone. Otherwise, I'd rather you not force yourself.
This year's theme is Love: Free But Not Debt Free. It is taken from chapter 13 of the book of Romans, one of the hardest book to swallow. Paul says,
"Owe nothing to anyone except to love another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law"
Chew on it
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