APAC 2016 Day 2 H1 Aug 18, 2016
Opening Prayer by Nakano Satoru San
Morning Devotional Message
By Ichikawa San
Slept well like a log in beautiful hotel
Great joy able to participate in this conference
Was teacher in Penang-Japan school for 3 years from 1984
Like to learn about prayer with all
1. The power of prayer can overcome impossibilities & brings miracles
“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” – Matthew 21:21 NIV
#Acts 12:3-17
#Acts 16:25-26
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16 NIV
Let’s pray eagerly
2. Taking time for prayer
How much do brothers & sisters pray every day?
Advice of 3 actions to bring up faith
1. Read the Bible every day
2. Pray every day
3. Participate in church every week
Myself spent time on routine but no enough time on prayer
I can learn from Daniel’s prayer
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. -Daniel 6:10 NIV
As a result he was thrown into he pit of lions but saw God saving him in response to his prayer.
Learn that they took time for prayer every day. How about you? Do you take enough time for prayer?
My every day prayer requests
1. Pray each assembly member & non-believes come to assembly
2. Pray for current programs for our assemblies
3. Pray for 3 assemblies branched off from our assembly (Kamisoto) in these 40 years
4. Pray for the couple who are to be sent as holy missionary next April
We need to take some time to pray. Through my experience, I have learnt that God answers my prayers. If you take time to pray every day, you can receive blessings from God.
3. Praying for One Another
Back when before starting Penang-Japanese school sent airmail, expensive & 3 weeks to receive the answer
Dr Lim, elder of IGGC, picked us up from the hotel. I was very touched. We went to Burma Road Gospel Hall & were very welcomed by brothers & sisters kindness.
Today we can communicate & exchange info faster than before – sms, fb (2004), Twitter (2006), etc
Today, we can exchange prayer requests over the world today using these tools.
Let us pray for other Christian members from other nations.
I hope & pray that our network of prayer advances more.
Let us share with each other our prayer requests for his/her country.
Let us cover the whole Asia & whole world with prayer.
Let us use prayer which is the most powerful weapon as the prayer of a righteous person is powerful.
Welcome Address
By Wong San Tosh, Jalan Imbi Chapel
Great indeed is God’s faithfulness
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” – Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV
3 aspects of God’s faithfulness
1. He does not fails. He is righteous.
2. He does not faint. He continues to provide & renews our strength.
3. He does not forsake.
“… God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”” – Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Show brotherly love for one another following the footsteps of our Lord.
We are all one in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us rise up to face the challenges in assemblies & church around the world.
May He pour out His blessings on us as we meet on His Word.
KL Mixed Assemblies Conference Choir
Prayer of Dedication by Peter Ferry
Session 2: The Challenges of Heartless Formality
Revelation 2:1-7
Ephesus = To decline/let go/relax = Desirable & lovely; situated 40 miles from Patmos where John received this Revelation; 4 miles from coast & previously had harbour; fertile soils & fine climate; stunning architecture; ~400,000 population
Situated 40 miles from Patmos where John received this Revelation; 4 miles from coast & previously had harbour; fertile soils & fine climate; stunning architecture; ~400,000 population; Largest city but not capital, however considered as first & free city trusted by Rome thus self-governing
1st city, 1st love, 1st works
Putting the person of the Lord Jesus Christ 1st in everything
Location of temple of Diana, 1 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world
Great anger after apostles preached led to decline of selling of images
Largest theatre in Greek world & magnificent stadium where beasts & men fought
Great baths, well-known brothels, amazing library which rivalled Alexandrea in fame
Laboured for 3 years from autumn AD 82 to spring AD 85
Purpose to warn the leadership of the church of dangers to come
Enormous responsibility to ensure it did not happen/minimised
Received full epistle from the apostle Paul
Likely John’s gospel & epistles, and possibly Revelation, written in Ephesus
V1 Letter addressed to the angel of Ephesus
Angel = Referring to real angels (or not; avoid being dogmatic) OR a messenger sent to bring back letter to own church
Speaking of individual characteristics of the individual churches
To the leadership of the church in Ephesus
To write the letter & put in front of their eyes ensuring they read it
Church = People (more than a building)
Called out & called to (like Abram)
Called to a life of dependence & faith in God
That He should occupy the 1st place in any assembly
Jesus Christ is everything
Lord refers to Himself as He who holds the 7 stars in His hands
7 stars = leadership held in His right (stronger) hand (place of blessing & security)
Many fall prey to scheming of outsiders (ie Jews), faced wrongdoings & wrong messages from within
All of us need to pray every day for our church leaders, elders & teaches as they need even more protection & are exposed to attack
Walking = ceaseless activity
From time to time would exercise discipline
Sometimes in a gentle way, sometimes more severely (1 Cor)
Jesus is as both high priest & also assessor/judge of the assembly
V2 Commendation given by our Lord at every slightest opportunity
Commendation before condemnation
Labour was occurring & patience was evident
Likely that your knowledge of your own assembly is not complete
However Jesus knows completely & absolutely
When writes to the church in Thessalonica, Paul writes of works of faith & labours of love but to Ephesus only of labour & patience without mention of love
When love is missing, hope fails
Not only knows that but is absolutely aware they cannot put up with evil by testing
Also commended that doctrine if wrong, tested & rejected
V3 Born sustained all adversity
Laboured to the point of exhaustion
V4 Condemnation of the church
“Somewhat” omitted as not just something but a grave matter
Luke 15: Parable of Lost Sheep but the son left; Forsaken & abandoned by deliberate choice
Happened suddenly at a point of time in the hearts of the people of God hat they would leave their first love
Love = devotion to Christ
Not obvious to believers but totally clear to the Lord
First love in primacy & quality
Changes in our love deeply affect Him
Eyes were stills seeing; feet was still walking; but the heart of Ephesus was no longer beating
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” -1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV
V5 Jesus corrects them & tells them that in many situations there is a way back
1. Remember what the Lord did for me
2. Repent which is necessary & do the first works that emanates from the first love (2 Chronicles 25)
3. Return to God
Behold coming quickly in judgment
Church displaced or members are dispersed until nothing left
Removal of a lamp stand – not a forced destruction
V6 Hold on firmly to with an aversion
Nicolaitans followers of Nicholas of Antioch? Greek from victory over the people? Beginning of separation of clergy from laity?
V7 Revival often begins in the heart & mind of one person
We need to be willing to hear
To the overcomer is promised the tree of life
A privilege for overcomer
Access to tree of life lost in the garden of Eden; regained in paradise – the enclosed garden of God
1. Works without love accomplish little but is not acceptable & profitable to God
2. Important that assemblies resist wrong doctrine
3. Let us as Assemblies of God return to Him & His first works
Apocalypse in Matthew 24:5 (false prophets)
“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. – Matthew 24:5 NIV
Challenges
First love: for the Lord, His Word & His people
First works: repentance & responsibility
Report by South Korea
- History of Korean Brethren Assemblies
- North Korea situation, persecution & outreach; Pray continue to seek the Lord & rely on Him in faith for the security of Souh Korea; Pray for Gospel proclaimed & reach through neighbouring countries
- Foreign mission work from South Korea
Korea outreach helped by K-pop & movie wave, brands, etc help with outreach
Prayers for Korea
- Pray for more missionaries
- Pray for an open door to NK
- Pray for mission/training/publishing institutions
- Pray for the furtherance of the Gospel & sound teaching of His word
- Pray for maintaining good relationships with assemblies worldwide
- Pray for wisdom of government leaders
- Pray for reaching expats & foreign workers in Korea
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