37. Testimonies from the Land Down Under (Part 2)
Name: Joshua
Date: May 2007
Location: Sydney
During my last trip to Sydney in April 07, I did not get to meet up with Dr. & Mrs. Leong, the leaders of the Lutheran church revival in the 1990s whom I had not met in 10 years. I knew that it wasn’t the Lord’s timing to meet during that trip and the Holy Spirit prompted in my heart that we would meet the next trip.
The other thing on my heart was to follow up with my fellowship with Pastor Paul, Ps Esabel and their wonderful church – Destiny Covenant Church. I knew that God had a many things in store when the next trip came sooner than expected in May 07.
Dr Leong invited me over to his home for fellowship, and to share the Word to his home group. His home group is an outreach to the people in his neighborhood, many of whom are non-Christians.
Ps Paul from Destiny Covenant Church invited me to preach on the first Sunday and to hold a two-session seminar on the Holy Spirit on the second Sunday. The first session is on the power of the Spirit while the second session is on the leading of the Holy Spirit. In between, I would also share at the mid-week Bible Study.
The Lord had lined up a full itinery for me with 5 sessions in the span of 9-days. I felt joyful to be able to share the Word and to be of full employment to the Lord.
Ministering in Dr Leong’s home group
My friend, Edwin joined me at Dr. Leong’s home. We had a good time of fellowship with Dr. & Mrs. Leong prior to the meeting. We talked about the good old days and, and it was good to see how the grace of God was strong upon them. Mrs. Leong had battled a physical condition but she experienced miraculous results after her operation. The grace of God delivered her and we were encouraged to see how she has grown to rest more in His grace.
When the meeting started, I knew I would be talking to a group of 10 people who were mostly non-Christians. These people are regulars at the meeting and would have heard the gospel message many times before. Though I knew that the sharing of the Word would never return void (Isaiah 55:11), I prayed specifically that the Lord would give me at least one salvation. I didn’t want to walk out empty handed, spiritually speaking.
I allowed the Lord to speak through me to this group of people whom I did not know. As I shared from the outline which I prepared, the Lord led me to share two testimonies that I had not planned to share. These were testimonies about God’s help during my examinations when I was a student. One was a diversion while the other was an insert prior to the closing. I had no idea how I “drifted” there. When I gave the altar call, one lady raised her hand to receive the Lord Jesus. There was a relief in my heart that the Lord had answered my request.
After we had prayed the salvation prayer, she requested for prayer for her upcoming examinations. I realized that the Lord had spoken to her from the two testimonies of my student days. The Holy Spirit has caused me to share them just for her. And she responded in faith to the Lord. I was thrilled because we are simply channels of the Lord.
That night, I knew that heaven rejoiced in that one salvation. I rejoiced with heaven. I did not walk away empty handed. His purpose was fulfilled. We also had a good time of prayer and edification with Dr. & Mrs. Leong.
20th May - Ministering in Destiny Covenant Church
Prior to my trip, I saw myself singing the song “Jesus we enthrone you” just before I spoke during Sunday Service. I saw that the song ushered in the anointing of the Lord. I thought I was just day-dreaming. But I noted it and I shared it with Florence.
On Saturday evening, at 11pm, when I was preparing for the Sunday message, I felt that the Holy Spirit wanted me to change my message. I was to share on “Meditation on the Word of God”. But it didn’t make sense. It was a baptism service with guests. Some may be non-Christians. But that message would be more suited for Christians. But I have learnt to let the Lord lead because He knows better than me.
Earlier I had a discussion with Edwin and Janice. They commented about why many people in the church know about God’s promises but yet they are not experiencing it? Why has knowledge not produced faith in their hearts? The Lord wanted me to teach on meditation to help produce faith and to result in an experience of His power. So I made an 11th hour switch, literally at 11pm.
Sunday, morning came and I was enjoying the worship. Finally the worship leader sang the last song. It was “Jesus, we enthrone You.” It was the same song I had seen myself singing. I could feel the tangible presence of God fill that place when they sang that song. I was in awe of God who knows the future. When that happened, I knew that God had gone ahead of me.
After the message, a dear sister came out to share a testimony before her water baptism. Then she called her son to share about the healing of a hole in his heart. This was not pre-planned. The young man shared his powerful testimony which confirmed my message. He said, “When the doctors gave him the bad-report, he chose to MEDITATE ON GOD’S PROMISES as the speaker had talked about.” He prayed through it and received his healing. That was more than a coincidence. It encouraged me.
After service, I was so overwhelmed with the warmth of the people who came to chat with me. Many expressed that they were encouraged by the message and the testimonies.
One dear lady said that she was a backslidden Christian. She came to browse the book, “Walking on Water”. I wanted to tell her that there was a practical tip in my book for backslidden Christians that would speak to her. As she was looking and flipping through the 424-page book, it fell open at the page where that specific practical tip was. I was stunned. I told her what had gone through my mind and I knew that it was the Lord that opened up to that page.
Friday 25th May – Prayer meeting
On Friday evening, we had a time fellowship and prayer with Ps Paul and Bro Edwin. During the prayer session, the Lord was speaking to all of us individually. Edwin received a word for Ps. Paul. As we were all in prayer, he did not want to disrupt anyone. He decided to pull over Ps Paul’s Bible, open it to that verse and point it to him quietly. To his surprise, the Bible was already opened to that page! And the Lord had been speaking to Ps Paul from that chapter and the very same verse that Edwin had received. It was awesome – more than a coincidence. It was God speaking and confirming His word to Ps Paul.
Sunday 27th May – Seminar on the Holy Spirit
One lady, Celia, a Sunday School teacher was talking to me just before the seminar started. She said that she had some reservations about the Holy Spirit coming from her idolatrous background where the term spirit has a negative connotation. She said she had prayed in the Spirit in the past but without much success. She had given up praying. Led by the Spirit, I told her to rest in the Lord and just enjoy the moment. She received that Rhema.
We started the first part of the seminar with the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Then we had a break, and resumed with the second part on the leading of the Holy Spirit. Then we ended and I proceeded to minister the baptism in the Spirit to those who desired for it. To those who had not experienced a breakthrough in tongues like Celia, I encouraged them to pray as the Spirit gave utterance.
A number of the people who came forward received the baptism in the Spirit. But let me share about Celia. As we prayed, I could see that the river was flowing through Celia and she was connected to heaven. Tears of joy flowed through her eyes as she prayed in the Spirit. I knew she had received her breakthrough. After the meeting, she shared how the she had prayed out so beautifully in an audible language, not like before. She knew she was making intercession. I encouraged her to continue using the language.
There were many other testimonies. I was filled with the joy of the Lord to see the wonderful work that God was doing in this wonderful church.
Dolphin sighting at Port Stephens
During a weekend, I brought my family on a day-trip to Port Stephens. We had a good time and the highlight was the dolphin viewing. The cruise boat took some time to try to locate the dolphins. We were on the top deck and couldn’t see anything. So we went downstairs and still couldn’t see any dolphins. The thought came to my mind that maybe we won’t see any. Maybe it was one of those days that these wild dolphins don’t appear. I talked to God in my heart to let my two children see the dolphins.
After a while, the dolphins kept appearing. We took so many photos of them and we even caught videos of them. At one point, we caught three of them swimming in front of the boat. My family saw so much of them that we were contented. It was like having a good meal to your contentment. God gave us our heart’s desire.
But when we got back, we realized that Florence left her coat on the cruise ship. My first thought is that it was gone forever. Even if it wasn’t, how are we going to Port Stephens to bring it back?
I had given up within when the thought came to me – “Why don’t you ask the angels to bring it back?” Florence had an angelic encounter in 1990s when the angel of God brought Florence’s sweater back. That thought brought about a small glimmer of hope into my heart. I prayed under my breath but did not tell Florence.
For some strange reason, I remembered the name of the cruise company because the tour guide mentioned it once – and it caught my attention. I don’t usually remember such details. I checked on the internet and located it. I called them and told them the problem. I had faith that they would locate it. Sure enough, they called to say that they found it.
Then I thought, “Now how am I going to get it back from them at Port Stephens?” I thought, “Maybe I could ask them to courier it and I will bear the cost.” The lady surprised me when she gave the solution I had not considered. She said she would ask the tour company to bring it back. They brought it back to our doorstep! Wow! I was relieved? The angels not only located it but arranged for it to be transported back free of charge. Isn’t God good?
On the whole, we had an awesome and fruitful time in the Lord. I think “awesome” is the word I have been using throughout this testimony.
Date: May 2007
Location: Sydney
During my last trip to Sydney in April 07, I did not get to meet up with Dr. & Mrs. Leong, the leaders of the Lutheran church revival in the 1990s whom I had not met in 10 years. I knew that it wasn’t the Lord’s timing to meet during that trip and the Holy Spirit prompted in my heart that we would meet the next trip.
The other thing on my heart was to follow up with my fellowship with Pastor Paul, Ps Esabel and their wonderful church – Destiny Covenant Church. I knew that God had a many things in store when the next trip came sooner than expected in May 07.
Dr Leong invited me over to his home for fellowship, and to share the Word to his home group. His home group is an outreach to the people in his neighborhood, many of whom are non-Christians.
Ps Paul from Destiny Covenant Church invited me to preach on the first Sunday and to hold a two-session seminar on the Holy Spirit on the second Sunday. The first session is on the power of the Spirit while the second session is on the leading of the Holy Spirit. In between, I would also share at the mid-week Bible Study.
The Lord had lined up a full itinery for me with 5 sessions in the span of 9-days. I felt joyful to be able to share the Word and to be of full employment to the Lord.
Ministering in Dr Leong’s home group
My friend, Edwin joined me at Dr. Leong’s home. We had a good time of fellowship with Dr. & Mrs. Leong prior to the meeting. We talked about the good old days and, and it was good to see how the grace of God was strong upon them. Mrs. Leong had battled a physical condition but she experienced miraculous results after her operation. The grace of God delivered her and we were encouraged to see how she has grown to rest more in His grace.
When the meeting started, I knew I would be talking to a group of 10 people who were mostly non-Christians. These people are regulars at the meeting and would have heard the gospel message many times before. Though I knew that the sharing of the Word would never return void (Isaiah 55:11), I prayed specifically that the Lord would give me at least one salvation. I didn’t want to walk out empty handed, spiritually speaking.
I allowed the Lord to speak through me to this group of people whom I did not know. As I shared from the outline which I prepared, the Lord led me to share two testimonies that I had not planned to share. These were testimonies about God’s help during my examinations when I was a student. One was a diversion while the other was an insert prior to the closing. I had no idea how I “drifted” there. When I gave the altar call, one lady raised her hand to receive the Lord Jesus. There was a relief in my heart that the Lord had answered my request.
After we had prayed the salvation prayer, she requested for prayer for her upcoming examinations. I realized that the Lord had spoken to her from the two testimonies of my student days. The Holy Spirit has caused me to share them just for her. And she responded in faith to the Lord. I was thrilled because we are simply channels of the Lord.
That night, I knew that heaven rejoiced in that one salvation. I rejoiced with heaven. I did not walk away empty handed. His purpose was fulfilled. We also had a good time of prayer and edification with Dr. & Mrs. Leong.
20th May - Ministering in Destiny Covenant Church
Prior to my trip, I saw myself singing the song “Jesus we enthrone you” just before I spoke during Sunday Service. I saw that the song ushered in the anointing of the Lord. I thought I was just day-dreaming. But I noted it and I shared it with Florence.
On Saturday evening, at 11pm, when I was preparing for the Sunday message, I felt that the Holy Spirit wanted me to change my message. I was to share on “Meditation on the Word of God”. But it didn’t make sense. It was a baptism service with guests. Some may be non-Christians. But that message would be more suited for Christians. But I have learnt to let the Lord lead because He knows better than me.
Earlier I had a discussion with Edwin and Janice. They commented about why many people in the church know about God’s promises but yet they are not experiencing it? Why has knowledge not produced faith in their hearts? The Lord wanted me to teach on meditation to help produce faith and to result in an experience of His power. So I made an 11th hour switch, literally at 11pm.
Sunday, morning came and I was enjoying the worship. Finally the worship leader sang the last song. It was “Jesus, we enthrone You.” It was the same song I had seen myself singing. I could feel the tangible presence of God fill that place when they sang that song. I was in awe of God who knows the future. When that happened, I knew that God had gone ahead of me.
After the message, a dear sister came out to share a testimony before her water baptism. Then she called her son to share about the healing of a hole in his heart. This was not pre-planned. The young man shared his powerful testimony which confirmed my message. He said, “When the doctors gave him the bad-report, he chose to MEDITATE ON GOD’S PROMISES as the speaker had talked about.” He prayed through it and received his healing. That was more than a coincidence. It encouraged me.
After service, I was so overwhelmed with the warmth of the people who came to chat with me. Many expressed that they were encouraged by the message and the testimonies.
One dear lady said that she was a backslidden Christian. She came to browse the book, “Walking on Water”. I wanted to tell her that there was a practical tip in my book for backslidden Christians that would speak to her. As she was looking and flipping through the 424-page book, it fell open at the page where that specific practical tip was. I was stunned. I told her what had gone through my mind and I knew that it was the Lord that opened up to that page.
Friday 25th May – Prayer meeting
On Friday evening, we had a time fellowship and prayer with Ps Paul and Bro Edwin. During the prayer session, the Lord was speaking to all of us individually. Edwin received a word for Ps. Paul. As we were all in prayer, he did not want to disrupt anyone. He decided to pull over Ps Paul’s Bible, open it to that verse and point it to him quietly. To his surprise, the Bible was already opened to that page! And the Lord had been speaking to Ps Paul from that chapter and the very same verse that Edwin had received. It was awesome – more than a coincidence. It was God speaking and confirming His word to Ps Paul.
Sunday 27th May – Seminar on the Holy Spirit
One lady, Celia, a Sunday School teacher was talking to me just before the seminar started. She said that she had some reservations about the Holy Spirit coming from her idolatrous background where the term spirit has a negative connotation. She said she had prayed in the Spirit in the past but without much success. She had given up praying. Led by the Spirit, I told her to rest in the Lord and just enjoy the moment. She received that Rhema.
We started the first part of the seminar with the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Then we had a break, and resumed with the second part on the leading of the Holy Spirit. Then we ended and I proceeded to minister the baptism in the Spirit to those who desired for it. To those who had not experienced a breakthrough in tongues like Celia, I encouraged them to pray as the Spirit gave utterance.
A number of the people who came forward received the baptism in the Spirit. But let me share about Celia. As we prayed, I could see that the river was flowing through Celia and she was connected to heaven. Tears of joy flowed through her eyes as she prayed in the Spirit. I knew she had received her breakthrough. After the meeting, she shared how the she had prayed out so beautifully in an audible language, not like before. She knew she was making intercession. I encouraged her to continue using the language.
There were many other testimonies. I was filled with the joy of the Lord to see the wonderful work that God was doing in this wonderful church.
Dolphin sighting at Port Stephens
During a weekend, I brought my family on a day-trip to Port Stephens. We had a good time and the highlight was the dolphin viewing. The cruise boat took some time to try to locate the dolphins. We were on the top deck and couldn’t see anything. So we went downstairs and still couldn’t see any dolphins. The thought came to my mind that maybe we won’t see any. Maybe it was one of those days that these wild dolphins don’t appear. I talked to God in my heart to let my two children see the dolphins.
After a while, the dolphins kept appearing. We took so many photos of them and we even caught videos of them. At one point, we caught three of them swimming in front of the boat. My family saw so much of them that we were contented. It was like having a good meal to your contentment. God gave us our heart’s desire.
But when we got back, we realized that Florence left her coat on the cruise ship. My first thought is that it was gone forever. Even if it wasn’t, how are we going to Port Stephens to bring it back?
I had given up within when the thought came to me – “Why don’t you ask the angels to bring it back?” Florence had an angelic encounter in 1990s when the angel of God brought Florence’s sweater back. That thought brought about a small glimmer of hope into my heart. I prayed under my breath but did not tell Florence.
For some strange reason, I remembered the name of the cruise company because the tour guide mentioned it once – and it caught my attention. I don’t usually remember such details. I checked on the internet and located it. I called them and told them the problem. I had faith that they would locate it. Sure enough, they called to say that they found it.
Then I thought, “Now how am I going to get it back from them at Port Stephens?” I thought, “Maybe I could ask them to courier it and I will bear the cost.” The lady surprised me when she gave the solution I had not considered. She said she would ask the tour company to bring it back. They brought it back to our doorstep! Wow! I was relieved? The angels not only located it but arranged for it to be transported back free of charge. Isn’t God good?
On the whole, we had an awesome and fruitful time in the Lord. I think “awesome” is the word I have been using throughout this testimony.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 1:50 AM
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