“Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)
Celebrating 20 Years in Service
As we reflect on the goodness, faithfulness and gracious guidance of God over the past 20 years, we just marvel at the way He has led us through. Indeed, we have come a long way, and along the journey, He has strategically placed various people with the appropriate skills to build His ministry. As we have seen His hand at work, we rest secure in confidence that He will continue to lead us, no matter how rough the road ahead will be.
Moving on to Spiritual Perfection
The family of NECF Malaysia has been prayerfully led to make the theme of her 20th anniversary celebration this year as "Quest For Spiritual Perfection – The Malaysian Church Agenda", according to Heb. 6:1, "Therefore leaving the elementary principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on to perfection". Over the last few years, this ‘spiritual perfection’ has been increasingly on our hearts for the Malaysian Church.
And the momentum towards this goal has been building through successive waves of evangelistic and renewal initiatives, nationwide fast and prayer, and seminars on end-times prophetic fulfillment, discipleship and leadership. The two World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) international events that NECF Malaysia hosted in Kuala Lumpur last year contributed to a shift of focus in church spirituality and priorities from the ‘local’ to the ‘global’ scene. (The two events were the WEF International Consultation on Globalisation and the WEF General Assembly, which was attended by some 600 Christian leaders from over 80 countries.)
Modernisation and globalisation issues have added to the church new concerns over security, terrorism and international tension.
God’s Greatest Concern
From the foundation of the world, God has planned to present to Himself a glorious church, "holy and blameless in His sight" (Eph. 1:4), "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish" (Eph. 5:27).
A Church that is spiritually perfect has been His whole concern. He desires that His fullness – character and power – be manifest in us ((Phil. 1:23). From the elementary doctrines of salvation and baptism (milk for infants), the church has now to press on (led by the Spirit of holiness) to a deeper relationship grown on solid food.
With our most holy faith (Jude vs 20), we should live a life of separation from the world (2 Cor. 6: 14–18); and from those who pervert the Gospel (Gal. 1:7). Sanctification by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 13:12), Word of God (Jn. 17:17), and the Spirit (Rom. 15:16) is crucial for our spiritual victory, both in our personal life and ministry over the flesh, Satan and the world.
The Spirit transforms us from glory to glory into His image of perfection. Spiritual perfection is not just about outward ecstasies and miracles, but occurs when perfect love and purity rest in the Church.
It is a state where the Church is entirely cleansed and every sin purged, where His saints love Him with all their hearts, minds, souls and strength, and love their neighbours as themselves. Where carnal ambitions make way for godly passion and heavenly desires. Where they dwell in unity despite their differences. Being transformed by the Spirit from glory to glory into His image by the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18), they then become living epistles of Christ.
Positioning the Church
Equipping the Church for its march to spiritual perfection needs the building of integrity (‘wholesomeness’), a trait that is under increasing attack. As God is building His church by bringing "all things in heaven and on earth together under one head" (Eph. 1:10), Satan is working to tear apart His work.
The Church of integrity needs to be void of deceit or hypocrisy since "a little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). In our quest for perfection, it is also important to examine prevailing negative traits that need to be corrected for our life and service to conform to His perfect will.
The leaders whom God has appointed to help the Church attain perfection, need to excel in upholding the principles of commitment, consistency and competence. Purifying themselves "as He is pure" (1 Jn. 3:3), the church leadership has the divine task of practising and inspiring the congregation to practise what they preach: "Warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col. 1:28).
Call to Fulfill the Agenda
In line with the theme of spiritual perfection, we will be gearing our programmes to attain the ‘mark’ of perfection in holiness (2 Cor. 7:1). We seek to uphold the principles of commitment, consistency and competency in all that we endeavour to do. Thank you for your companionship all these years in our journey thus far. As we travel the road ahead, let us move on together, encouraging and strengthening each other as we see the day drawing near. |
