Devotional
for the Week - 24 December 2007
Christ
Our Centre
Sermon Text: John
15:5
Introduction
Dr Victor Koh is no stranger to Bedok Methodist Church.
He was a member of Bedok Methodist Church since a child.
He was a very active member of the church and has been
a missionary pastor in Toronto and Vancouver for the last
10 years. About a year ago, the Lord called Victor and
his wife (Peck Hoon) to minister to the ‘street
people’ in Vancouver. These ‘street people’
are people who are very poor and many of them are homeless.
He shared with the congregation some of their experiences
with God.
A Young Lady
Victor emphasised that in John 10: 27 “the sheep
hear His voice”. He said that he and Peck Hoon have
learnt to hear the Master’s voice and obey Him.
He shared the story of a 23 year old woman who came from
a well-to-do family. She had an incorrigible character
and was consequently sent out from her family’s
home. Her ambition was to be a professional DJ, however,
she was expelled from her college two months before her
graduation for her involvement in physical and verbal
fights. She also visited DJs at a downtown lesbian club.
Victor
and Peck Hoon came to know her about one and a half years
ago and only after this period did she disclose that she
was into drugs, drinking, DJ hard rock/rap music and that
she could not break free. Peck Hoon told her to invite
Jesus into her drinking, drugging and DJ-ing. She simply
laughed but said that she would try it. After one and
a half months this young lady called to say that she was
beginning to lose her taste for drinking, drugs and DJ-ing
music. She was encouraged to continue to invite Jesus
into whatever she was doing. Then she called again to
say that she could survive a week without any drug, drink
and hard music. Just before Victor and Peck Hoon left
for Singapore she called to say that her relationship
with boys had improved significantly, and that she was
beginning to develop an interest in men.
Whenever we feel we are down, that is when we must remain
connected to the Vine, and not just when things are ‘decent’
and well. God is “I AM” and He desires to
always be present with His child. This fact caused Victor
and Peck Hoon to fall in love with Jesus once again and
to function on that basis.
Mdm
Lim
On another occasion Victor and Peck Hoon were called to
the Royal Colombia Hospital to minister to a dying Catholic
lady who was in her late 90’s. It was two weeks
before Christmas and the hospital had wanted to take her
off the machines that were keeping her alive. As such,
the family requested a priest/pastor to pray for her before
she went to the Lord. She was all skin and bones with
many tubes attached to her body. She was breathing only
with the aid of an apparatus because her lungs had been
diseased for a long time. Her one desire was to spend
one more Christmas and New Year with her family. Before
a dying person, we often feel so helpless. However, the
Holy Spirit spoke to Peck Hoon to have Mdm Lim make her
request directly to Jesus. At that moment Mdm Lim gained
consciousness for a little while and Peck Hoon was able
to deliver the message and pray for her. Twenty-four hours
later, the family called to tell Victor and Peck Hoon
that Mdm Lim was back home without any oxygen tank or
hospital equipment. It seemed that her breathing became
stronger and stronger as her lungs grew back, resulting
in reviving all her major organs. By the next day her
health returned to normal and the hospital discharged
her with a clean bill of health. Mdm Lim celebrated Christmas
and New Year in the best of health relative to a 90+ woman.
One week after the new year, the Lord took her home in
her sleep without any more breathing difficulties. Jesus
had given Mdm Lim over 4 weeks of perfect health in accordance
to her heart’s desire.
In
times of crisis, simply lean upon Him and listen to what
He says.
A
Teenage Girl
During a mission trip to Philippines, Victor was called
to minister to a teenage girl who was suffering from betrayal
syndrome due to a rape. As she had been teased by her
friends on the first day of Vacation Bible School, she
withdrew into solitude and could not bring herself to
participate. When Victor met her, she was in a ‘zoned
out’ frame of mind and did not respond to any attempts
at communication. After 15 minutes of being in this awkward
situation, Victor asked the Lord for His opinion of the
situation. The Lord said He understood her trauma perfectly
because He too was badly betrayed and suffered much for
it. When Victor told her about Jesus being betrayed and
that her situation was a sacred one, her countenance immediately
changed and she was able to look Victor in the eye. She
then allowed Victor to lead her in a prayer to forgive
people and declare her preciousness to Jesus. This teenage
girl went skipping away with a new heart and plunged into
full participation with her group. She felt that she was
being set free and even took part in the closing skit
with the other children.
When
we face a brick wall with people, God’s word will
get through. Hence, we lean upon Him for what He wants
to say.
Sports
Car
With the Lord not everything needs to reach a ‘life
and death’ situation to involve Him. Simply take
delight in Him on a ‘normal and daily’ basis...
and we will enjoy His delighting in us.
In
a particular week while driving to work everyday, Victor
was drawn towards sports cars. Finally he told the Lord
in half jest, “Oh Lord how nice to be able to drive
a sports car!!” No one else knew of this desire,
only the Lord knew of it. Then, Victor was pastoring a
conservative Chinese church which had a membership of
over two thousand people. That following Sunday, a lady
senior member approached Victor and told him that she
would like Victor to use her sports car as she will be
out-of town for the next 2 weeks !!. Victor was surprised
as no one even knew she had a sports car at home that
she hardly used. What are the chances of a senior conservative
woman offering her pastor a sports car - out of the blue!
A
Car Crash
Earlier this year, Peck Hoon crashed their car on the
side of the garage when returning from her weekly marketing.
She was upset and berating herself when she heard the
Lord told her not to worry, as He would pay for the damage.
The repair cost would come to about $900-$1000. The next
day Victor took the car to one of the body shops in the
city. When Victor came to collect the car after the repairs
had been done, the manager (not a personal friend) told
him to simply take the car without the need to pay for
it. Victor was very shocked and offered to at least pay
for the materials cost, but the manager refused. The manager
did know what Victor did as a living (pastor), and Victor
did not even know if he was a Christian.
The
Lord moves the hands of, even, total strangers because
He is truly Lord of ALL.
Conclusion
He is the Vine and we are the branches. If we remain in
Him, we will bear much fruit; apart from Him we can do
nothing (John 15:5). Remaining in the Vine allows us to
hear His voice, and when that happens, His words never
return to Him empty. No matter what happens... Remain
in the Vine, as this is our very powerful right.
Prayer
Response
Dear Jesus, Thank you for your love for me. Thank you
for speaking your rhema words to me as I remain in You.
Holy Spirit, teach me to hear the voice of my Shepherd.
And let me have a heart of compassion for those around
me. Amen
Devotional based on a message by Dr Victor Koh