4 March 2013 by Adeline Lum-
On March 3, I visited the New Life Restoration Centre in Petaling Jaya, which was started by six fresh college graduates in a house where only the frame of the church per se existed– one worshipper and one preacher every weekend.
“We were a group of students in Melbourne having goals and aspirations of a successful career and bright future. But we met a missionary who challenged us to seek more than these things in life. So, we decided to start a church when we returned to Malaysia. Maybe we foot out a little for plastic chairs but we started off this church with nothing,” said Rev. Ron Hee, Senior Pastor of New Life Restoration Centre in Petaling Jaya.
Indeed, evangelism is the DNA of the New Life Restoration Centre with churches in Petaling Jaya (mother church), Shah Alam, Cheras, Puchong, Ampang, Seri Kembangan, Kajang, Kepong and Kuching.
After a spirit-filled worship followed by a Holy Communion, soft-spoken Rev. Ron gave his sermon on the distinct features of a Christian. Since we accepted Jesus Christ, we are set apart from the world.
You Are Peculiar
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
King James Version calls ‘special’ as ‘peculiar'.
“Say to the neighbor next to you that you are peculiar,” said Ron to the crowd’s giggle. “We are called to be His peculiars, His saints, and His royal priests.”
And the meaning of ‘peculiar’ is unusual or eccentric, distinct from other’s and belonging distinctively or primarily to one person, group or kind, and a privilege or a possession that is exclusively one’s own.
The Best Gift is the Holy Spirit
“If anyone asked you what is the best thing to have in life, it would be the Holy Spirit,” said Ron.
Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with aseal, the promised Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Ron recalled attending a Holy Spirit conference in Hong Kong, where he was sitting beside a pastor who was skeptical of the giving of the Holy Spirit by the speaker. But at 2 am, the pastor's friend who was also at the conference woke up him and told him that the Holy Spirit had a word for him. The pastor responded, “Why hasn’t the Holy Spirit tell him himself?” His friend asked him to confess a sin long hidden and buried. Apparently, he held a grudge on his mentor who wronged him. It took him two hours to forgive! And after that, the Holy Spirit worked in him and his church, from a struggling church of 100 to a growing one of 1000.
Romans 8:26-27
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
“I know that some of us don’t speak in tongues. Do not worry because it could also be the groaning in our hearts. When we cry out to the Lord, these are groanings that words cannot express,” said Ron who recalled a time when a sister-in-Christ cried during prayer because God was releasing her from the root of her problem.
Ron encouraged the congregation to hunger after the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart
You will have a New Life with Jesus
“You may look the same but everything else about you is new. Brothers and sisters, we are now opened to every spiritual blessings in the Heavenly realms because we are united with Christ,” said Ron.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
“When we partake in the Holy Communion, we are reminded that the life of Jesus is in us. When we are baptized, we rise with the life of Jesus in us. Imagine having the wisdom, righteousness and holiness of God in us,” said Ron.
Ephesians 1:4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Our lives also become useful to the Lord
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus shows forth his fruits through his disciples, his branches. We have an eternal destiny, an eternal home with God.
To illustrate this point, he told a story of a missionary couple who spent 30 years in Africa before returning in a ship due to their failing health. While staying in a third-class humble cabin, they heard a ruckus at the first floor which they later found out the president of the United States were in the same cargo. The president and his entourage had been hunting in Africa. When the cargo finally docked in United States, many people greeted the president with an elaborate welcome and cheer while no one greeted the missionaries.
“The missionary grumbled in his heart saying: Lord, we have worked so hard for you and there’s not even one person here to welcome us in our homes. And the Holy Spirit said: Son, this is not your home. When you come home, I will welcome you. The angels will rejoice over you,” said Ron who loved that story.
No Oscar awards or wedding of the century can compare to this majestic wedding and mansion that God is going to prepare for us.
And brothers and sisters, while we are heading to our eternal destiny, let us bring other’s along. We are here to equip everyone of you for the Great Commission,” said Ron.
We are Called for the Great Commision
“Do you know how precious you are? God would leave 99 sheeps in search for the one soul, which is lost (Matthew 18:12). What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, but lose your own soul (Mark 8:36)? This means that your soul is more valuable that this whole world,” said Ron.
"Every person, every soul is precious to God. You can be certain of the Lord’s anointing if you preach the gospel to the poor. Just like the Great Commission who starts from Jerusalem to the ends of the world, start preaching to people close to you and people that you know," he added.
William Carey was an ordinary shoemaker but he became a missionary in India and translated the Bible to the Indian language. He stepped into the call and God did the rest.
“I am grateful of missionary couples who responded to the Lord. Because my neighbour responded to the call, I was saved. When I was in secondary school, I also attempt my first gospel sharing with a friend and he also responded and got saved! Now, he is a leader of the AOG church and also touching many lives. And it goes on and on. This is what makes us distinct,” said Ron.
Indeed, what an important message delivered by Rev. Ron Hee! it is our privilege to work with God in God’s promise and power. Let us rise to our call. Evangelism is not just the DNA for New Life Restoration Church, but it is also a DNA for every believer in Christ. Let us respond today.
For more information for New Life Restoration Centre, please visit http://newlife.org.my/pj/
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