GOD IS GOOD…..HE IS ALWAYS GOOD.
GOD IS GREAT….HE IS ALWAYS GREAT.
GOD IS GOOD…..That is the title of the 8th of June (Thursday’s) Upper Room Daily lesson to be meditated on.
Psalm 136: 1 says “GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOR EVER.”
What a joy to see all of you here tonight! To be able to praise and worship God almighty together in this manner is just wonderful! We thank God for this opportunity!
I was reading the UPPER ROOM sometime this past May, and God spoke to me and revealed to me that I needed to do something.
And recently, on the 19th of May during the weekly Friday Cell Group gathering, I was challenged again whether I should go out and speak!!!
And then the following Sunday (the 25th of May) during Pastor Lisa’s church sermon, when she spoke about Matthew 28:16-20, I was reassured the third time that I must go and share what I intended to say to you all: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
I started to think about what to say and when I should share. I prayed for God’s guidance.
Yes. God has provided me the opportunity! And tonight is the hour!
So tonight I just want to share with you all one of my experiences which happened while I was a student overseas.
Just a little bit of my background: My father was a pastor. My brother now is a missionary in New Zealand. I started to go to Sunday school as soon as when I was in Primary 4/5. I also sang in a church choir when I was ten. I sang with the Wesley Methodist Church choir back in the late 50s and 60s and thereafter for many years. I went through many occasions when God appeared, spoke to me and helped me.
Let me single out an experience that I can never forget.
It was back in the late 60s and early 70s when I was still a college student in the US. While I studied at a college, I also attended the Calvary Methodist United church. Again, I was a choir member then.
I recall I had financial problems at the college, and each semester the Church would support and pay for me. The college work grant did not give me enough money to pay for the tuition fees. I encountered problems and troubles.
One summer in 1968 as I continued to pray and wait for the news of whether the Church would continue to support me or not, time kept passing and there was still no news. I grew very worried as each day passed, not knowing what to do. I sought God’s direction.
Then, suddenly, one early Sunday morning, just as I was about to get ready to go to church, there was a knock at my college hostel door.
Who could this be? Instantaneously, I looked at my watch: it was 6.30 am. It was very early. No one ever knocked at my room door that early. I did not usually get up that early.
Guess who knocked on my door! God? Yes! Indeed it was God! God did!
YES! To me it was God! God sent him to see me! It was God’s representative!
When I answered the door, it was, I immediately realized, my church finance minister. I was quite surprised to see him that early, and I was even more shocked when he said the following,
“Tony, how much do you need for your next semester? You just come to the Church…..to my church office and approach me to collect the cheque when you return from your summer work.”
When I heard the words and the assurance themselves, I was totally speechless!
I was dumbfounded! I was indeed very happy and grateful! How the Lord has looked after me! Not only this time! He looks after me time and again, now and then!
He looks after me and you! He knows our needs!
He prepared my journey in advance! I was overjoyed but thankful!
1 Peter 5:7 says, “WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO CAST ALL OUR CARES, CONCERNS, HURTS, FEARS AND PAIN ON GOD BECAUSE GOD CARES FOR US.”
Scripture reminds us that our Lord will never leave us or forsake us. So hang on to the Lord! No matter where you are–in the kitchen, in your bedroom, on the way as you walk–no matter where you are.
Remember– what is recorded in John 16:33 when Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
May all glory be to God on high! God bless you all!