Pastor
Albert Kang, Malaysia
Coordinator for Elijah Challenge Asia
Mission Trip to Philippines, August 2007 (Part I)
19 August 2007
Sunday – 3.00 PM
Rhema Miracle Church
Bacoor, Cavite
Pastor Juan Banes is the pastor of Rhema Miracle Church – a vibrant branch church that conducts its services in the home of a parishioner whose family members are involved in different ministries. Last July, Pastor Juan and some of his leaders attended the first Elijah Challenge Seminar in Bacoor, Cavite. He said that he was not only grateful for the training but personally thankful to God that his wife was healed during the seminar. Pastor Juan's wife, Pastora Yolly, was suffering from pain in her eyes and tears were also streaming out continually. When I met her this time, her eyes had remained healed and she has been a living testimony to the community of the healing power of God.Pastor Juan had moved his morning service to the afternoon so as to suit my schedule. I was so touched by this act of sacrifice that I postponed my previously arranged appointment to an hour later. About 35 people packed into the roofed porch of this small residential property. Most Filipinos really know how to sing – and it was no exception here at Rhema. With only 35 in the congregation, the worship sounded like it was coming out of a church of 350.
Since Pastor Juan had taught the congregation the principles of Elijah Challenge, I admonished the people to continue with healing the sick in the context of evangelism. The day's message for the Christians was to learn how to take authority over their flesh. As in most Elijah Challenge Training Seminars, due to the lack of time, I would hardly go in depth on this topic. As in the last two services, I affirmed the importance of obeying the Ten Commandments as an act of obedience to Jesus Christ. I explained that even though we are no longer under the laws, the Ten Commandments are still applicable to our daily walk with the Lord. They are vital for a life of holiness and also for a harmonious life with others. The Ten Commandments are used by God as the guiding principles for all mankind, so that we can all objectively evaluate how we are performing. Even though, they are not perquisites for salvation but following the Ten Commandments would be the results of a born-again experience. This means that everyone who knows the Lord would also have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome their sinful nature. I then led them to memorise the Ten Commandments – which to their amazement, they could do that in less than ten minutes. Then I gave the "Love Jesus Test", just as I did in the previous church. Everybody declared great love for Jesus. When I pulled out John 14:15, they were evidently convicted. Once again, if believers professed love for Jesus, why were they not serious about following His commandments? Why were they still lying, stealing, cheating, lusting and etc., etc? The big question was then placed before them – were they ready to confess, repent and "go and sin no more"? People were nodding in submission to this request. Then I asked for a commitment – would they return the things that they had stolen or "accidentally borrowed"? Would they apologise to those they had offended and make right a wrong? Would they forgive that offending mother-in-law?
As I continued with the list of offence and restitution, there was hardly a sound from the congregation. However, the non-verbal was deafening – some looked down, some looked at each other and nodded, some looked to heaven and some just fixed their eyes on me, showing great desire to swallow every verbal morsel. I knew that at the time, the Holy Spirit was speaking to the hearts of men and women. Words alone would not bring the conviction. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed the secrets of the hearts. The God who did the convicting would now grant His grace of forgiving. When the call for confession and repentance was made, everybody stood up. The miracle that happened was in the hearts of these repenting people. As God would not apply His grace on an unrepentant soul – in that moment, I saw the miracle of God's grace upon His people. As they raised both hands in surrender to our gracious God and repeated the prayer of apology for doing wrong even as a Christian and asking God for forgiveness and mercy, I felt a satisfying sense of fulfilment. If these people were to go out there and live a holy and sanctified life – the fragrant of Christ would be very evident. These believers would then truly be the salt of the world.
After the healing of the soul, it was time for healing the sick. I called for those who had been trained in Elijah Challenge to come forward. Then for those who had pain in their bodies to also come to the front. As the number of sick people was filling up the front, I decided to conduct a mass healing. By that time, Pastor Reggie was already signalling for me to leave for my next appointment that was to be one-hour drive away. Since my "Elisha", Pastor Ana was present at the meeting, I asked her to take over the healing session. Her husband, Pastor Cesar was also there to lend a hand. Pastor Juan and his wife were also up front, ready to heal.
Later in the evening, I received a call from Pastor Ana. The report was that there was a 100-percent healing rate. Everybody who came up for healing went back completely healed. What glorious news indeed! I wish I was there to witness all these.
The reason why I left abruptly was because I had to rush to Manila to meet Pastor Joy Gabasa, our Elijah Coordinator of Nueva Ecija. Ever since the Elijah Challenge seminar and crusade in his region in July, there was no emailed report from him. Therefore, I was really keen to know what had happened after the events. Pastor Joy reported that the churches in his region are still actively doing the healing. Since most pastors do not use emails, they had sms-ed or text-ed him about the healing results. Not being internet-savvy, he apologised for not emailing me but promised to make more effort in sending more reports in the future. His wife, Pastora Cora was also at the meeting and she promised to assist him. Pastor Joy said that the people who were healed in the last seminar and crusade still remained healed. One lady, who had to walk with a walking stick, is now walking without it. All the pastors who were trained in July are training their people to heal the sick. According to him, Elijah Challenge has created an impact in the ministries there. People are getting healed and saved! What wonderful news to receive! I am Pastor William's "Elisha" and now my very own "Elishas" are doing the training and healing.
Luke 10:9 "Heal the sick who are there and tell them,
'The kingdom of God is near you.’"
