18 Feb 2013 by Adeline Lum-
On February 15, I visited the Full Gospel Businessmen (FGB) Fellowship of the KL Jalan Ampang Chapter at Corus Hotel, 1-2 pm. Dr Kang Beng Huat, President of the chapter kick-started the fellowship meeting.
The speaker was Edwin T Marsden, National Director of the International Christian Mission Malaysia. So far, ICM Malaysia has echoed the vision of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) and planted around 200 churches in many countries namely Nepal, the Philippines and Indonesia, Congo, East and West Malaysia.
A passionate evangelist, Bro Edwin was touched by God during his first missionary trip in Indonesia in his twenties.
Many people in the rural areas have a desire to serve God but they do not have the education, money and time to go to bible school. ICM Malaysia has a one year training programme whereby they would take their three modules called ‘Bible School In A Brief Case’ (BSIB) to the villages and towns. They would work through the local churches to train and disciple anyone who will avail themselves to complete the modules.
“When they complete BSIB, we would select those who are ready and help raise financial support from friends and churches to support them, because their churches in rural areas are not able to support another worker,” explained Edwin.
After that, ICM would send them out to other villages through their churches to start a new work.
“Today, many including the Orang Aslis who have never dreamt of serving God are pastoring and also discipling others using the same modules!” said Edwin.
He quoted 2 Timothy 2:2:
The things you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Edwin also shared from Exodus 3:7-8 where the Lord called Moses to the burning bush and told him that He has seen the misery of his people. He has heard their cries and He is concerned. God said He has come to rescue His people and that Moses is the vessel He was going to use.
Today, God is still seeing the misery of the people; He is still hearing their cries and He is concerned. And that is the very reason He has sent His son to bear your sins and my sins on the cross so that we can come back into a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. Today, although He may not be with us physically but in spirit, He is in us to continue to do the work that He was sent to do; and that is to seek and save the lost. God said in Exodus 3 that ‘I have come to rescue my people’. He is the only one who can convict man of their sins as we are only the vessel that He uses. Hence, who are we to judge on who shall receive the Good News?
In verse 5 when God called Moses to the burning bush, He told Moses to take off his sandals for the ground he was standing was holy. Before God can use us, akin to getting rid of our dirty sandals, we need to get rid of the sins that so easily entangle us and draw close to Him. Bro Edwin asked the congregation about their relationship with Jesus. He used Revelation 2, where the church of Ephesus was commended for their good deeds, hard work and perseverance. Yet, God still held one thing against them; the church had forsaken their first love. And in the last moments of the last days, God is calling His people back to His first love.
Is Jesus your first love? Do you spend the same time praying and reading the Bible when you first came to know Him? Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with Him and we need to make time to build the relationship with Him so that we will know His agenda, His love, His plan and purpose for our lives. Only when we know how to go to Him will we know how to go for Him.
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
The word of God is spirit and alive. When we go out and put the word of God into practice, we will see the power of God in the word and our faith will rise up to believe and trust God for greater things in our lives and ministry. The problem is many of us are so fat with the word of God but we do not practice and hence, we do not experience His wonderful working power through His word.
God called Moses but Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10).
But God told Moses He would be with him. Like Moses, many people feel so inadequate and think they cannot serve God.
Isaiah was the same until he came into an encounter with God and he said, “Here am I Lord send me”. In Luke 1:35, when an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary the mother of Jesus and said to her that she was going to have a baby, Mary was perplexed because she was a virgin. The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will over shadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the son of God”. And Mary replied, “be it unto me according to thy word”.
The same Holy Spirit will also empower us as we look to Him and obey Him. It is only when you think you cannot be used, then God can use you because it is then you will depend on Him and not your own ability.
“We have seen many who were so afraid of sharing testimonies in their first mission trip but after encouraging them to pray and let God help them in their testimonies, they not only shared powerful testimonies but today, they are preachers of the Word,” said Edwin.
Mission is all about love. Everything we do is because of His love. Paul said it is the love of God that compels us to do what we do. Going for mission or evangelism is not a job we must do because we are Christians. No, we do what we do because His love compels us.
In closing, Edwin shared about the parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Whether we like it or not, when we accept Christ, God has entrusted us talents according to our abilities. And one day, we need to answer to God on how we used our talents.
Romans 8:28 says God works for the good of those who love him and who are called according to His purpose. We are called for a purpose and God will work for our good.
“We need to know God’s purpose and allow Him to fulfil His purpose and plan in our lives,” said Edwin who closed in prayer and thanksgiving to God.
What an enlightening and powerful sharing! We are all saints and all of us have the ability to share the gospel because of Christ in us.
The following was extracted from the ICM Newsletter:
If Patrick Sim, a blind ICM graduate can write notes using Braille so that he can reach out to the blind, what reasons do we have to not reach out? If 25 prisoners can complete ICM BSIB in Labuhan Ruku prison in Medan, why should we doubt that we are not per se good or ‘holy’ enough?
God’s not looking for a qualified person to serve Him, but a willing heart to do His will. Are you willing today my brothers and sisters?
Note: This article had been written in part by Edwin T Marsden, speaker of the FGB at KL Jalan Ampang Chapter.
If you are interested in missionaries trip or you want to learn more, please contact International Christian Mission (ICM) at:
Tel: +603-6205 3137
Email: icmklmalaysia@gmail.com
For more information on Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship (FGB), please visit http://www.fgb.com.my/index.html
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