Sermon on "Freedom & Missions" Pastor Dr Ng Swee Ming on 15 Sept 2013

2. 16th Sept 2013
51th Malaysia Day
End of our 50th Year as a Nation – our
Year of Jubilee
Question : What is the Theme for this
year’s M’sia Day celebration ??
Malaysiaku Berdaulat, Tanah Tumpahnya
Darahku
(My Sovereign Malaysia, My Native Land)

3. As a Nation ...
“Merdeka” !
“Independence” !
“Jubilee” !
all about FREEDOM ...
BUT as a Nation are we truly free ?
How many of us truly feel free ?

4. True Freedom ...
TRUE FREEDOM cannot be found ...
 in people ...
 much less in politicians, political
parties or ideologies ...
 or even in governments ...
TRUE FREEDOM can only be found in
JESUS CHRIST

5. True Freedom ...
TRUE FREEDOM is found only in JESUS CHRIST...
John 8:31-32
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are
really my disciples. Then you will know the
TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you FREE.“
John 14:6
“I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE”
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you FREE, you will be
FREE indeed.”

6. cont. to
THANK GOD for Malaysia as a Nation
• Good & Blessed Land
• No ‘bad’ natural calamities
• Rich diversity of people & produce
Cont to PRAY for...
• Truth, Righteousness & Justice to
prevail in the Govt, Society & Nation
• Peace & Harmony in the Nation
• Freedom of Religion for all people

7. Freedom & Missions ...
If TRUE FREEDOM is found only in JESUS CHRIST ...
 Then People need Christ to be truly free
 So we need to “tell” people about Jesus
MISSIONS is all about “telling people about Jesus”
 Going / Sending ....
 Showing / Living / Telling... &
 Bringing / Inviting / Persuading ...
people into a knowledge & relationship
with our Lord Jesus Christ.

8. Freedom & Missions ...
but MISSIONs will remain just a WORD...
until we work out ...
MISSIONS then is all about fulfilling...
the GREAT COMMISSION

9. 10 Questions
Great Commission & Missions

10. 1. What does “nations” mean in
Matt 28:19 “Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations”?
a) country
b) ethnic people group
c) language group
d) family

11. 2. How many ethnic people
groups (estimated) are
there in the world?
a) 2,400
b) 8,450
c) 16,600
d) 28,500

12. 3. Approximately how many
ethnic people groups are
considered unreached / least-
reached world-wide?
a) 1,600
b) 3,100
c) 7,100
d) 12,500

13. 4. Approximately what percent of
the world’s population has
virtually no exposure to the
Gospel?
a)30%
b)20%
c)10%
d)5%

14. 5. Out of every $1 given to all
Christian causes, how much goes
to pioneer church planting among
unreached peoples?
a)About $.05
b)Between $.01 and $.03
c)Between $.03 and $.05
d)Less than $.01

15. 6. In Malaysia, how many People
Groups are there ?
a) 125
b) 149
c) 183
d) 205

16. 7. For Malaysia, approximately how
many ethnic people groups are
considered unreached / least-
reached ?
a) 38
b) 57
c) 86
d) 112

17. 8. For Malaysia, out of a total pop. of
28.3million, what is the Orang
Asli pop.?
a) 89,000
b) 147,000
c) 195,000
d) 223,000

18. 9. For Msia, with a total pop of
28.3million, how many are
“Christians” ?
a) 1.9 million
b) 2.1 million
c) 2.4 million
d) 2.5 million

19. 10. In Malaysia, what % of the
total Christian pop. is from
East Malaysia ?
a) 65%
b) 70%
c) 74%
d) 79%

20. Knowledge
 Understanding
 Application
 Transformation
What’s your ‘score’ ?

21. Freedom & Mission-
God Working With Us
Mark 16:15-20

22. Read Mark 16:15-20
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and
preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be
condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who
believe: In my name they will drive out demons;
they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and
when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt
them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well."

23. Mark 16:15-20
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he
was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right
hand of God.
20 Then the disciples went out and preached
everywhere, and the Lord worked with them
and confirmed his word by the signs that
accompanied it.

24. Current State of Missions
Introduction :
1. METHODS
4 Spiritual Laws
John 3:16 Presentation
Evangelism Explosion
Alpha Course
 Classic Alpha starting
Sat 28th Sep ‘13 from 4-6pm
 Chinese Classic Alpha ??

25. Current State of Missions
Introduction :
1. METHODS cont...
Christianity Explored
Church Planting Movement
Disciple Making Movement
Jim Yost 7-9th Oct ‘13
Orality & Storying ...

26. Current State of Missions
1. METHODS abound ...
2. MONEY
 Christians are generally
comfortable financially
 Churches are generally ‘Rich’
but MISSIONS remain ‘poor’
 statistically 96-97% of all giving
remains within the church

27. Current State of Missions
John Piper :
"All the money needed to
send & support
an army of self-sacrificing,
joy-spreading missionaries
IS ALREADY IN THE CHURCH."

28. Current State of Missions
1. METHODS abound ...
2. MONEY is there ...
3. MANPOWER
We have many PEOPLE in our pews...
 We have many CAPABLE PEOPLE in our pews...
 We have many GIFTED, TALENTED,
ANOINTED, CAPABLE PEOPLE sitting in our
pews ...
BUT
 Why are they not moving out ?
 How can we move PEOPLE out into missions?
Need to Apply the “Law of Inertia”...

29. Missions & the Local Church
METHODS
MONEY
MANPOWER
BUT ...
 MOTIVATION

30. THREE MOTIVATING FACTORS
for the Church & Members...
1. God Commands It v15
2. The World Needs It v16
3. The Church Can Do It v17-20

31. 1. GOD COMMANDS IT
V15 He said to THEM, "go into all the world
and preach the good news to all creation...”
Who are the “THEM”
Disciples ?
Only to the Disciples ?
John 17:18-20 “As you sent me into the world, I
have sent THEM into the world...
My prayer is not for THEM alone.
I pray also for THOSE who will believe in me
through their message,...”

32. 1. GOD COMMANDS IT
V15 He said to THEM, "GO INTO ALL THE
WORLD and PREACH THE GOOD NEWS
TO ALL CREATION...”
What ? Go...
Where ? Into All The World...
Why ? Preach the Good News..
Who ? to All Creation (everyone)

33. 2. THE PEOPLE NEEDS IT
V16 WHOEVER BELIEVES and is baptized* will be
saved, but whoever DOES NOT BELIEVE WILL BE
CONDEMNED.
In the New Testament & Early Church ...
• Believing and Baptism goes together
Believing for salvation
Baptism for public declaration
* BAPTISM by itself does not save

34. 2. THE WORLD NEEDS IT
Acts 4:12
“Salvation is found in no one
else, for there is no other
name under heaven given to
men by which we must be
saved."

35. 3. THE CHURCH CAN DO IT
V17 And these signs will accompany
those who believe: In my name
they will drive out demons; they
will speak in new tongues;
v18 they will pick up snakes with
their hands; and when they drink
deadly poison, it will not hurt
them at all; they will place their
hands on sick people, and they will
get well."
POWER is given to the Church...

36. 3. THE CHURCH CAN DO IT
Jesus charge to his disciples ...
Luke 9:2
he sent them out to PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD
and TO HEAL THE SICK....
Heb 2:3-4
how shall we escape if we ignore such a great
salvation? This salvation, which was first
announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by
those who heard him. God also testified to it BY
SIGNS, WONDERS AND VARIOUS MIRACLES, and
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT distributed according to
his will.
‘POWER EVANGELISM’

37. 3. THE CHURCH CAN DO IT
‘POWER EVANGELISM’ and in v19 & 20...
v19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was
taken up into heaven and he SAT AT THE RIGHT
HAND OF GOD.
v20 Then the disciples went out and preached
everywhere, and THE LORD WORKED WITH THEM
and CONFIRMED HIS WORD BY THE SIGNS that
accompanied it.
Jesus is not working for us ...
Jesus is not working in spite of us ...
JESUS IS INTERCEDING FOR US (cf ROM 8:34)
JESUS IS WORKING WITH US

38. MOTIVATED To ....
Respond ....
PRAYING ...
BLESSING ...
GOING ...

39. BOTTOM-LINE :
GOD Commands It
 The PEOPLE Needs It
 The CHURCH Can Do It
What Can I Do?
What Next ?
Highlight 3 very special
groups of people ...

40. Malaysia
Total Popn : 28.3 Million
Total No. of People Gps : 183
Unreached People Gps (UPG) : 57
 Muslims 61.3%
 Buddhist 19.8%
 Christians 9.2%
 Hindu 6.3%
 Others 3.4%
1. PRAY & WORK
for
the Freedom of
Religion for all
peoples in this land

42. OA Statistics 2003
Orang Asli Groups
Negritos/Semang Sengoi Aboriginal Malay
Bateq 1,255 Chewong 664 Jakun 27,448
Jahai 1,843 Jah Hut 5,104 Orang Kanaq 83
Kensiu 232 Mah Meri 2,986 Orang Kuala 4,067
Kintaq 157 Semai 43,892 Orang Seletar 1,407
Lanoh 350 Semaq Beri 3,545 Semelai 6,418
Mendriq 164 Temiar 25,725 Temuan 22,162
4,001 81,826 61,585
Total 147,412
COAC Dec 2003

43.  There are about 869
OA villages in West
Malaysia.
 Total Pop: 147,412
(2003)
 about 10%
Christians**

44. Who will share the gospel to
villages such as this in the
interiors of West Malaysia?
A short Video to highlight
the OA Struggle ...

46. THE CHALLENGEs in OA Ministry
PRAY for the 10 Barriers...
1. Basic Sustenance
2. Land titles
3. Children Education
4. Subsidy mentality
5. Church Planting
6. Discipleship
7. Offering & Giving
8. Pastor’s Image
9. Prayer
10.Functional Church

47. x

48. East Malaysia Focus
• Why the concern about
East Msia ?
• How does it affect us in
West Msia ?

49. Pop. Census 2010:
No. of Christians
in West Msia.

50. Pop. Census 2010:
No. of Christian in Sabah

51. Pop. Census 2010:
No. of Christian in Sarawak

52. East Malaysia Focus
FIVE undeniable FACTs :
1. Only 26% of Christians are in West Msia. -
74% are in East Msia.
2. They have GOD’s FAVOR - They have experienced
great moves of God in the past ... now ...
3. They speak BAHASA MALAYSIA
4. Their Bible is the ALKITAB
5. They are “BUMIPUTRA’S”
Bario 1972-75
Bekalalan 1982-85
Taginambur 1984-86

53. East Malaysia Focus
Sad to say :
Our East Msian brethren are being threatened...
Poor basic education & health facilities
Overlooked in development
Land rights have been exploited
Their future looks bleak ...
Pressure of ‘Islamisation’
Education : Kemas / Pemata / Hostel
Cultural & Language similarities
Jobs Prospects
Financial Assistance

54. Eg the Penans...
A Short Video to highlight some of
their issues ...

55. the Penans...

56. the Penans...
3 years ago, TRAC Board of Youth
Work took action ....
 0%
 26%
 50%

57. Quote:

58. SSMC Missions:
• Sibu, Iban Leadership Training #3
@ 18-21 Sept
• Sibu CPI#7 @ 9 – 12 Oct
• Sibu Youth Discipleship Camp #3
@ 21 – 24 Nov
• Sibu, Iban Leadership Training #4
@ 4-7 Dec

59. the malaysian church
‘a Modern Day Parable of the Church’

60. the malaysian church

61. Your Response ...
 GOD Commands It
Are you going to obey ?
 The PEOPLE Needs It
Do you care ?
 The CHURCH Can Do It
You and I are “the church”
What are we doing about it ?

62. Conclusion
 The CHURCH Can Do It
Mark 16:20
“Then the DISCIPLES went out
and PREACHED everywhere,
and THE LORD WORKED WITH THEM
and CONFIRMED HIS WORD
by the SIGNS that accompanied it.”

63. Conclusion
on 2nd june
“... that 2013 is
going to be a
year of divine
visitation...”