Pentecost Island, Vanuatu

Some of the signs of revival we have seen include a whole mountain ‘on fire’ one night during revival meetings at their Bible School, witchcraft items revealed then removed and destroyed by prayer teams, everyone prayed for in ‘custom’ villages healed, and angels filling a village church with songs in the night in a small village where the worship had been strong, lasting for many hours.  Everyone prayed for there was healed and all unbelievers repented during the worship and many were baptized.

Photo Report – Andrew and others on Mission in Vanuatu:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153417636371912&type=1&l=c0d498ed0b

Photo report – Grant Shaw on Mission in Vanuatu:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.6091736911.8437.544796911&type=1&l=d2ec2184a8

Photo Report – Joel Shaw and team on Mission in Vanuatu:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153110738631912&type=1&l=4df07da74a

Photo Report – previous teams in Vanuatu:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.5798796911.7292.544796911&type=1&l=31e6d45ef6

Andrew surfing

Andrew Chee from Hawaii lived to surf.  Now he lives to serve – for God [Photo: Andrew surfing].

See more photos on the Facebook Album

21 year old Andrew came with me on a three week mission to Vanuatu in June-July 2012 (and again two years later in 2014 and again in 2015 with Ben Gray and Noel Missingham – see below).  A great way to escape winter!  We saw God’s blessing and many miracles. 

Andrew sensed God telling him to go on the trip, and he booked his flights only one week before we left when flights were full because of school holidays.  At first he was wait-listed but the next day a seat became available on all my four flights!

His cousin Grant Shaw came with me to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands in 2006 when he was 22.  See photos on the Facebook Album

Grant founded Kingdom Culture Church on the north side of Brisbane.  He encouraged Andrew to join me [Photo: Andrew and Grant].

Grant hit the news in 2012 with a front page article in the Sunday Mail and guest appearances on TV shows because they take keen young people to nearby shopping malls and pray for the sick and for anyone wanting prayer.  Grant’s brother Joel, also a pastor, began doing this kind of outreach some years previously.  Joel and Grant saw God heal hundreds of people, especially non-Christians.  Many of those prayed for are now keen Christians also.

Andrew loves praying for the sick because he sees God constantly taking away pain and healing people.  He has strong faith in God’s Word, such as Mark 16:17-18.  Jesus said, “these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; … they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

We saw all that in Vanuatu, literally.  Daily.  Both in 2012 and 2014 with Andrew, as well as in 2006 with Grant and 2013 with his brother Joel and his team from Glory City Church in Brisbane – see Photo Reports listed above.

See photos and maps on the Facebook Album  Huge numbers were healed, and leaders challenged and helped.

 

Port Vila

We flew into Port Vila late on a Friday night and stayed at the Churches of Christ transit house above the church there.  Next morning at 6am we heard young people worshiping in their beautiful island harmonies, so joined them.  They welcomed us and invited us to speak briefly and pray for anyone sick.  Andrew had words of knowledge about people with pain who then came out for prayer immediately.  Our praying continued for everyone wanting prayer after the closing prayer.  Nice fast start to mission!

That morning we flew for an hour in a very small plane on the windy trip to Pentecost Island – the bumpiest I have had on my dozen visits there.  Fortunately we only had time for one bread roll at the airport before leaving, so did not get sick! 

I went to Pentecost Island first in 2003 to see their famous land diving, when men dive from 20-30 meter towers with only vines tied to their ankles.  Chief Willie, my host, invited me to return with teams of young people from the Law School Christian Fellowship of the University of the South Pacific.  I had met them in 2002 and hosted a month’s mission trip they had with me in Australia that year.

So now I was returning again, with another keen young firebrand for God.

 

Pentecost Island

This long, narrow island was sighted and named on the Day of Pentecost, 1764, by explorer Bougainville, and also seen by Captain Cook in 1774.

Pastor Rolanson met us at the airstrip and we walked 300 meters to the beach to ride for half an hour in the outboard canoe 10k south to Pangi village.  There Rolanson’s sons met us to carry our bags along the muddy track half a kilometer inland to their village, Panlimsi. 

I stayed there many times, including with Grant in the bush house behind Andrew and Rolanson in this photo.  Rolanson, pastor and evangelist, keeps asking us to return to encourage revival, pray for people, and help him train leaders.

We had our first meeting there that Saturday night in the village church, partially lit by a couple of old fluorescent lights when the generator was started, usually after everyone has arrived – to save fuel.  So most meetings begin in the dark with torch light or candles.

Early in the worship Andrew again had words of knowledge about people’s pain so worship included praying for the sick.  Their pain left.  After we both spoke that night, we prayed for many more.

So began a week night meetings at Panlimsi.  During the day we rested, recovered, washed in the nearby river where water taro grew abundantly, and usually walked back to Pangi to swim in the ocean.  Every time we went out into the villages people asked for healing prayer. 

So, like Jesus sending out the 12 and 70 (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1) in pairs, we too went through the towns and villages proclaiming the kingdom of God, healing the sick and casting out spirits.  Many illnesses there result from curses or witchcraft.  Often we had to break curses, bind afflicting spirits and cast them out in Jesus’ name. 

The first time I went there, in 2003, my host Chief Willie asked me to throw out an afflicting spirit giving him a headache, literally.  He said that ‘enemies’ had cursed him.  So we prayed together, bound and cast out attacking spirits, and he felt fine.

At other times people asked me to help them get rid of strong invading spirits such as one that haunted a house by ‘jumping’ onto the stones on the floor at night.  We prayed and it was gone after that.  However, that impudent one ‘jumped’ on the stone floor in my bungalow that night, so I had to cast it out in Jesus’ name, and it never returned.  Rather weird to hear someone/something ‘jump’ into your dark room at night!

This time we experienced strong witchcraft.  On our last day there, when Andrew and I were weary, Andrew was hit by severe aches and headache.   That night I saw a strange dull light, like a reddish torch light, moving horizontally just outside our village hut.  We began praying against powerful spirits.  God’s Spirit reminded Andrew to bless those who curse you and pray for your enemies.  He did.  The strange spiritual connection was immediately broken, and pain started easing off.  It took a day to recover from that one.  “All hail the power of Jesus’ name …”

Every first Sunday of the month the Churches of Christ have a combined service for all their churches in South Pentecost. We shared in one in the packed Panlimsi church.  Before the service Andrew had words of knowledge about pain in a man’s shoulders and the right side of a woman’s face.  Both came for prayer as people were gathering in the church.  It turned out that the man was the leader of the service and the woman preached that day!  Many times, the words of knowledge Andrew received, we discovered later, were for pastors and leaders, and then later we prayed for others.

At that Sunday service I was strongly led to call people out for prayer during communion.  That was a first for them.  It never happened in communion before.  A large number came for prayer and healings were fast and strong.

One night Andrew felt led to wash everyone’s feet.  That took the whole service!  We put a bucket of water near the door (regularly refilled) and Andrew washed everyone’s feet as they arrived while we worshiped, prayed, spoke and called people out for healing and empowering prayer.  I was led to wash the leaders’ feet that night also [Photo: Andrew washes the chief’s feet].  That happened many times through the years – following Jesus’ example.

Our adventures included another outboard motor canoe trip an hour north for a combined churches youth rally on the beach with a large campfire at the end of the meeting.  We joined forces with another mission team from Gladstone (in Queensland, Australia).  That night we also prayed for many people after the service.  Healings were the fastest and strongest we had seen till then.

Bunlap

The ‘custom’ village of Bunlap on the east coast is famous as the spiritual base for native witchcraft and curses.

I went there in 2006 with Grant on a five hour trek across to Ranwas village and then via Bunlap on a seven hour trek to Ponra village where we saw the power of God at every meeting and I head angels singing in the night, like the church was full, although no people were there. 

Grant had prayed for the paramount chief’s son whose groin was healed at Pangi village, so we offered to go to Bunlap and pray for the sick.  A couple of days later we heard that the chief had invited us to come and pray – the first white people to ever be invited to pray for people there.

This time Andrew and I were swimming off the jetty near Pangi when one of chief’s sons from Bunlap and his friends wandered onto the jetty.  Two of those young men had pain so Andrew prayed for them and the pain left.  The chief’s son told us they would be there when we came to Bunlap the following Saturday to pray for sick people again.

This year we enjoyed the luxury of a four-wheel truck trip across the island through the dense green mountains.  We had three nights of meetings at Ranwas village, Friday to Sunday, including the Sunday morning service there.  On Saturday we trekked half an hour through the jungle to Bunlap.

People were even more welcoming this time at Bunlap.  We prayed for dozens of people, and their pain left.  We talked about the kingdom of God and how Jesus saves and heals.  Some of the people told us they believed that and when the chief allowed it they would be part of a church there. 

The paramount chief once burned a Bible given to him by a revival team from the Christian villages.  Now he is willing for a church to be built on the ground where he burned the Bible.   Hallelujah – what a testimony to God’s grace and glory.

For the first time ever that paramount chief asked for prayer.  He wanted healing from head pain.  Andrew placed his hands on the sides of the chief’s head and we prayed for him in Jesus’ name.  The pain left.

Pastors Willy, Gordon, Rolanson and his son David with Andrew and the paramount chief (seated)

Then another chief there prepared lunch for us so the pastors in the team and Andrew and I ate in his house – again the first time ever for white people on mission eating with him there.

Like Jesus’ disciples, we returned to Ranwas church rejoicing that afflicting spirits were cast out, people were healed in Jesus’ name, some believed in Jesus, and they now plan to have a church there someday.  Our host chief told Rolanson he can bring his guitar and have meetings in the chief’s house anytime.

Some Christians at Ranwas were amazed to hear the reports.  They have endured witchcraft and curses from Bunlap for a century.  Again, during communion on Sunday large numbers came for prayer for healing, and healings were fast and strong.  They also had never done that in communion before.  At all the meetings Andrew had specific words of knowledge about healings, and pain left quickly.  In the beginning of our trip we had to pray for some people two or three times before the pain left, but as the weeks passed and faith rose, healings were much quicker and stronger.  By the end of the mission trip people in the congregation were praying for each other in faith and seeing God touch their friends. We really encourage them to keep doing that.

Andrew especially encouraged leaders to pray with him for people’s healings, just as he had learned from leaders in his church.  Soon those village leaders and others were praying more strongly in faith.  Many of them do that constantly anyway, so we were just encouraging them to believe and take authority in Jesus’ name even more fully.

We returned to Ranwas village, and Bunlap village in 2014, with similar results.  The sick were healed.  Hearts were opened to faith in Jesus.

In 2014 we also spoke and prayed with many people at the Independence Celebrations held every 24th July for a week.  Many responded, and many youth came for prayer during our time there.  We slept one night with a local football team and woke up to them singing:

For I was made in His likeness
Created in His image
For I was born to serve the Lord
And I can’t deny Him
And I will always walk beside Him
For I was born to serve the Lord.

I challenged them all to live fully this way and the whole team responded in prayer.

Some of the signs of revival we have seen include a whole mountain ‘on fire’ one night during revival meetings at their Bible School, witchcraft items revealed then removed and destroyed by prayer teams, everyone prayed for in ‘custom’ villages healed, and angels filling a village church with songs in the night in a small village where the worship had been strong, lasting for many hours.  Everyone prayed for there was healed and all unbelievers repented during the worship and many were baptized.

Santo

The largest island in Vanuatu is Espiritu Santo (usually just called Santo) with Luganville the second largest town in Vanuatu, after Port Vila the capital.  That’s the island where Pedro Fernandes de Queiros in 1606 named the island group La Austrailia del Espiritu Santo – the great south lands of the Holy Spirit, from which Australia gets its name.

We flew from Pentecost Island to Santo Island on a Wednesday and from Santo back to Brisbane, via Port Vila, on the Friday.  At Santo we stayed for two nights in the Churches of Christ transit house near the main church.  We had time to relax, eat café or restaurant meals, instead of village fare, and swam in one of the Blue Pools, a unique tourist attraction where the fresh water is a cool, clear bright blue.

There I met again two of their leading pastors who had worked with me in previous visits to Vanuatu, and we were invited to the youth meeting at the church on Thursday night, our last night in Vanuatu.

What a beautiful end to the mission trip.  About 30 youth practiced a new song to sing on Sunday, and the leader invited us to speak briefly and pray for them.  Again, Andrew’s words of knowledge proved to be first for their leaders who were immediately healed.  Then we prayed for other needs and finally asked all who wanted to be filled with Spirit and empowered by God to come out.  Everyone came!  What a wonderful atmosphere of faith and expectation.

We went to our beds rejoicing in the goodness of God and all we had seen him do in three weeks with the warm, friendly and faith-filled people of Vanuatu.   We especially appreciate your prayers and participation in the work of gospel of Jesus in Vanuatu.
Port Vila

On our return via the capital, Port Vila, last year (2014) Andrew was led to arrange for a hydro-electric plant to be shipped to Pentecost Island, to use in Panlimsi with Pastor Rolanson.  It’s much better for their lighting and band for revival meetings.  The hosted a national revival conference there on Pentecost Island in December 2014.

2015 Update

Vanuatu

Calvin Ziru (one of the team of law students who came to Brisbane in 2002) is helped to co-ordinate with various churches in meetings arranged by Pastor Alpheus.  We had meetings in different churches every night as well as in some home groups.  We prayed for many people each day with many being healed and empowered. Flora Meir from Kingdom Culture Church is the South Pacific supervisor for the Global Development Group (GDG) and was able to help people there in Honiara and also in Vanuatu plan for self-sustaining projects.  We value your prayer support – even now as you read this! I have truly appreciated your support in these mission trips over the years, and it looks like God keeps opening the way for more.

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Written on March 18, 2015

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The Lion of Judah

(6) The Spirit of Jesus

Now on Amazon and Kindle
Free as an eBook this Weekend

The Lion of Judah Series
1  The Titles of Jesus
2  The Reign of Jesus
3  The Life of Jesus
4  The Death of Jesus
5  The Resurrection of Jesus
6  The Spirit of Jesus
7  The Lion of Judah

The Emblem of Jerusalem – The Lion of Judah
The Hebrew word is Jerusalem

Contents of (6) The Spirit of Jesus

Introduction
God has given us the Spirit of His Son
The Spirit of the Lord in the Old Testament
The Spirit of the Lord in Jesus
The Spirit of the Lord in Us
Conclusion

Selection from this book:

God has given us the Spirit of His Son

God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts … (Galatians 4:6)

What a wonderful verse on the Trinity! Paul points out that God our Father has made us heirs, not slaves. He has given us the same Spirit that indwelt his Son.

“My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; ² but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. ³ So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶ And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”  (Galatians 4:1-7)

Luke, in The Acts, tells how the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, led Paul and his team in their journeys as they went to Troas and then on the Pilippi.

“They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; ⁸ so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas” (Acts 16:6-7).

Later, from prison, Paul wrote to the church in Pilippi:

“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-19).

Paul explains how the Spirit of Christ, lives in us and gives life to us:

“But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:9-11).

Peter also explains how the Spirit of Christ moved on the prophets:

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” (1 Peter 1:10-11 NIV)

The Holy Spirit is God. God the Holy Spirit imparts God’s love to us. “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit in us is also the Spirit of Jesus in us.

Scripture uses many titles and descriptions for God’s Spirit, including:

the Spirit (John 3:5, 6, 8; Romans 8:1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 26, 27);

the Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11; Luke 11:13);

God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30);

my Spirit (Genesis 6:3; Matthew 12:18);

his Spirit (Isaiah 48:16; 1 John 2:27);

the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2);

the Spirit of the Lord (Luke 4:18);

the Spirit of his Son (Galatians 4:6);

the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9);

the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7)

the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19)

the Spirit of truth (John 16:13);

the Counsellor, Helper, Advocate (John 14:16, 26; 16:7);

The term ‘the Spirit’ is used far more than any other in the Bible to refer to the Holy Spirit, so we use that term most in these studies. The Hebrew word ruach in the Old Testament and the Greek word pneuma in the New Testament can be translated spirit, wind, air, breath, power. Both words often refer to the Spirit of God as well as to the human spirit. In these studies, Spirit is always capitalised when referring to God.

Unfortunately many people think of the Father and the Son as personal beings and the Spirit of God as impersonal ‑ like wind, air or breath. Those symbols give us vivid pictures of the Spirit’s activity, unseen but vital and powerful, all about us and within us, giving and maintaining life. However, the Spirit is personal, not impersonal. He is the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of Christ.

God is Spirit and the Holy Spirit is God within and around us ‑ the person of the Godhead who imparts God’s life and love to us. The Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, truly God, all loving, all powerful and splendid in glory ‑ the Holy Spirit of God. We can know him personally and intimately.

The Holy Spirit is God

God has given us the Spirit of his Son (Galatians 4:6). The Spirit of God is an equal part of the Trinity, not inferior. He is not just the messenger or servant of the Father and the Son, but co-equal. He delights in glorifying the Father and the Son. He is also God’s Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus.

Many Bible passages describe the Holy Spirit as co-equal in the Trinity, fully one with the Father and the Son in the triune Godhead. Here are some examples of that Unity in Trinity.

Triune formula: baptised in the triune name:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … “ (Matthew 28:19).

Note that baptizing is in or into the one name, not three names.

Triune speaking: the Son speaks from God in the Spirit:

“For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit” (John 3:34 NIV).

Triune promise: the Father gives the Spirit with the Son;

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. ¹⁷ This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ¹⁸ ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you” (John 14:16-18),

Triune gift: God gives the Spirit of his Son:

And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Galatians 4:6),

Triune benediction: grace, love and fellowship:

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Note the beautiful description of God’s being in the benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14. It includes the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal love of God our Father, and the intimate fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

These truths enrich our lives as we realise we have intimate fellowship with our Triune God in and through his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is a Person

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. has all the attributes of personality. He has

intellect, he searches everything (1Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 1:17),

emotions, he groans and grieves (Romans 8:26; Ephesians 4:30), and

will, he leads and chooses (Acts 16:6-7; 1 Corinthians 12:11).

He in not just a force but a person who restrains (Genesis 6:3), regenerates (John 3:5), teaches (John 14:26), witnesses and testifies (John 15:26), guides (John 16:13; Romans 8:14), convicts (John 16:7-8), leads (Acts 8:29), directs (Acts 13:3; 10:19-21), sends (Acts 13:4), appoints (Acts 20:28), works (1 Corinthians 12:11), searches (1 Corinthians 2:10), speaks (Revelation 2:7), and prays and intercedes (Romans 8:26).

He can be: lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Acts 7:51), grieved (Ephesians 4:30), quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and blasphemed (Matthew 12:31).

The Holy Spirit is the Father’s promised gift (Acts 1:4) who reveals the Father and the Son to us (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9‑10), empowers us (Acts 1:8), and works in and through us to meet the needs of people as happened fully in the life of Jesus on earth (Luke 4:16‑21).

Biblical words or terms used to describe these encounters with God’s Spirit vary greatly. We have the problem of trying to express the inexpressible!

Terms used in the Bible to describe the specific impact or filling of the Spirit include these:

the Spirit was given – Numbers 11:16; John 7:39;

the Spirit came upon ‑‑ Judges 3:10; Acts 19:5;

the Spirit took control ‑‑ Judges 6:34; 1 Samuel 11:6; 16:13;

the Spirit poured out ‑‑ Joel 2:28‑28; Acts 10:45;

the Spirit came down ‑‑ Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:22; John 1:33;

the Spirit fell (or came down) ‑‑ Acts 10:44; 11:15;

the Spirit received ‑‑ Acts 8:15‑17; 19:2;

baptised in or with the Spirit ‑‑ Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5;

filled with the Spirit ‑‑ Acts 2:4; 9:17; Ephesians 5:18.

These examples give us a wonderful picture of the way God moved consistently by his Spirit in all history, revealed most fully in Jesus and active by his Spirit in the church and in the world.

Back to the Lion of Judah (6) The Spirit of Jesus

Back to The Lion of Judah Series

You can pray.  His testimony has gone global.

DEATH ROW PRISONER ANDREW CHAN IS ORDAINED A MINISTER

It was an occasion to mark a milestone in a life of crime and redemption, of selfishness transformed to selflessness, and one celebrated in the most difficult circumstances imaginable. In the chapel in Kerobokan prison recently, a small group of family and pastors gathered for the ordination of Andrew Chan, former heroin smuggling “ringleader”, as a Christian minister. After six years of study, and even more time tending to the drug addicted and damaged, Chan’s ordination took place just days after he received an official letter confirming his plea for clemency had been rejected by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.

“It was a very difficult time for him,” says Christie Buckingham, a senior pastor with the Bayside Church in Melbourne. “It was a sober, sacred and very quiet moment.” Rev Buckingham had come to Bali with a letter of accreditation formally recognising Chan as a Christian minister in Australia. It was awarded after an exhaustive process of study, practical work and, the endorsement of five senior ministers from different denominations. A group of Indonesian pastors also joined the ceremony in the chapel, where Chan has played a leading role in services for years, belting out hymns and songs of praise with his trademark bellowing voice.

Those present prayed as Chan was handed his certificate, a new Bible and an excerpt from the Second Epistle to Timothy to “Preach the Word in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” Buckingham said “Andrew and his mother held it and each other and I turned my back to give them some privacy, as did the others. They were deeply moved,” she recounts. “He has wanted to become a pastor since the moment he began his transformation. His faith is his life and no half measures would work for him.”

Buckingham went on “He wants to do his best and be his best – not for himself but as part of the responsibility he feels towards others.” Several current and former inmates of Kerobokan have offered to replace Chan and face the firing squad, such is the depth of feeling for his work running drug counselling courses and comforting the sick. Michael Chan said his brother’s ordination was a subject of immense pride for the family, especially his parents, who have converted to Christianity. “With all the bad news that’s happening, it was really uplifting,” he said.

Rev Buckingham said his coursework was demanding and his elevation to the ministry difficult to achieve. “Andrew is extraordinary with such a determination to learn, in fact almost a desperation,” she said. “He is the real deal, and Myuran Sukumaran is as well.” “Both men are living proof that people can change. Indonesia should be proud of the impact they are having. Those making the decisions should actually meet these men and look into their eyes, see the work they have done and what their system can produce. We continue to pray for them. Where there is life, there is hope.” Buckingham said.

Andrew Chan’s testimony was written in 2013 and published by ‘Leading The Way’, an International Evangelism Organisation. It read:  I found myself in Kerobokan Prison. At first I thought it was no big deal, ‘I’ll get outta this’. It wasn’t until I ended up in solitary confinement that I realised I wasn’t going to get outta this. In fact, I figured they were gonna kill me. I had never felt so hopeless and alone before, and decided that if they were going to kill me anyway, I’d just do it myself. I took my t-shirt off and made a noose, and then remembered the Heaven/Hell issue, and decided that if I was gonna kill myself I should make sure I ended up in Heaven.

I wasn’t sure how to do that, but figured I should pray. I wasn’t sure how to do that either, so I looked up and just said, ‘God, if You’re real, and for the first time in my life I began to cry and ended up on my knees. I said, ‘God if you’re real, send someone who cares about me to see me.’ I fell asleep like that. At 6.30 the next morning a guard woke me. He said ‘Get up, you’ve got a visitor.’  He took me to the visitor area and I saw my brother. I thought, my Mum must have seen this on the news and sent my brother to see about me, because I knew my brother wouldn’t just come – we don’t like each other. We get along like cats and dogs.

When I got to him, he said, ‘Andrew, no matter what happens or how long it takes, I’m gonna be here with you.’ I told him to bring me a Bible. I started in Genesis when I got it but I got nothing out of it. Someone else came to visit me who was a Christian, and I told him I was reading the Bible but didn’t get much out of it, and he told me to read the New Testament. I didn’t even know what that was and told him I didn’t have one. He had to explain to me that it was a part of the Bible, and told me to start reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I read through the New Testament a couple of times, but didn’t really notice any change. I just didn’t get it.

Just before my court date, I remember reading Mark 11.23,24, where it says that if you have enough faith you can say to this mountain, ‘Be removed’ and God will do it. So I said, ‘God, if You’re real and if this is true, I want You to free me, and if You do I’ll serve You every day for the rest of my life.’ I went to my court hearing and they convicted me and gave me the death penalty. When I got back to my cell, I said, ‘God, I asked You to set me free, not kill me.’ God spoke to me and said, ‘Andrew, I have set you free from the inside out, I have given you life!’

From that moment on I haven’t stopped worshipping Him. I had never sung before, never led worship, until Jesus set me free.’ My last appeal is on the President’s desk for review. If he doesn’t grant it, I’ll be executed. It’s not that I fear death, but I promised Him I’d serve Him for the rest of my life, and I feel I have more things to do. So if you want to pray, you could pray that I’ll be released.’

Source: Compiled by APN from various sources

Australian Prayer Network, April 8, 2015

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Top 5 Regrets of the Dying

When we reach the end of our lives, do we have any regrets?  What stopped us from doing what we should, or what we were called to do?  One palliative care nurse, working for years with the dying, shared the top five things she hears from patients as they pass on.  I have added summary headings and a few quotes from Jesus and Bible passages that relate to those regrets.

 1  Be true

1.  I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.”

Jesus gives real life: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).  Jesus challenges us to lose our lives to find life.  “Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).   Paul adds, I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

2  Work less

2.  I wish I didn’t work so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

Jesus said:  ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-20), and added, “What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?” (Luke 9:25).

3  Express feelings

3.  I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level.”

Jesus championed openess and honesty: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one: (Matthew 5:37).  He calls us to loving relationships: “I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” Matthew 5:44-45).   ..

4  Stay in touch

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying. It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end.”

Jesus emphasized loving relationships: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35), and gave practical examples: ’ You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:38-42).

5  Be happier

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to themselves, that they were content. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.”

Jesus reminds us that lasting joy is found in serving.  The night before Jesus died his friends argued about greatness – “A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, …  ‘But I am among you as one who serves’ (Luke 22:24, 27).  After washing his friends’ feet that night Jesus said: “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:15-17).

Adapted from http://faithhub.net/regrets-before-dying/

See also PDF Common Regrets of the Dying, by Australian palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware

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