Press Statements & Articles

Into the Jubilee Year - The Window of Opportunity Opens

Into the Jubilee Year - The Window of Opportunity Opens

Compiled by Debbie Loh

 


Christians filled the Likas Stadium to bless Malaysia

MALAYSIA Day and the country's Jubilee Year were ushered in with a joyous celebration in Kota Kinabalu, where a crowd of an estimated 14,000 Christians filled the Likas Stadium on 16 Sept 2012 to bless Malaysia and to seek God for national transformation. Malaysia Day on 16 Sept is when Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form the country. Singapore also joined but withdrew later.

A time of prayer, praise and worship followed in an all-out celebration
 

The number of people who came to the Likas Stadium was a record for any prayer gathering in Kota Kinabalu. People came as early as 4pm to eat together to symbolise the ending of the NECF 40-Day Fast and Prayer campaign for the nation, which had begun on 7 August. The national anthem, Negaraku was sung, followed by the sounding of shofars and trumpeters to mark the start of the prayer rally.

A time of prayer, praise and worship followed in an all-out celebration complete with 1,200 flag bearers carrying the Sabah and Malaysia flag, 300 dancers holding banners, 120 tambourine dancers, 300 shofar blowers, and a 50-member choir in addition to the worship team. These participants worshipped and performed on the football field of the stadium and ministered powerfully to those who attended the prayer rally.

The Mayor of Kota Kinabalu was also present and he delivered an inspiring speech. Later, all present in the stadium stood up to make a pledge for nation-building and the rally ended with a fireworks display.

"It was an awesome time for the church in Kota Kinabalu and the land of Sabah. God's presence was felt strongly among us," said Pastor Steven Choon of SIB Skyline.

In Miri, about 800 people came for the Malaysia Day and Jubilee prayer gathering in SIB Canada Hill which overlooks the city. It was a moving display of unity among the churches, an inter-denominational event with leaders and members from the evangelical, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist, charismatic and Pentecostal churches all in attendance. The meeting began with the blowing of shofars towards Miri city, a declaration that the Jubilee has come.

"It was a united time of praise, worship, exhortation and prayer," said SIB Canada Hill's Pastor Robinson Simunyi.

In the Klang Valley, a powerful and sombre message on the Jubilee was delivered at the NECF Hope of Jubilee Celebration by guest speaker, Ugandan pastor Julius Suubi, who gave the exhortation at the event held at FGT Subang Jaya. About 2,800 people attended.

 
Pastor Julius Suubi

Pastor Suubi said Malaysia should learn from East Africa which had a spiritual revival in the 1930s and 1940s. Church growth lasted until the 1970s but all was lost when the church did not seize its kairos moment to act on national transformation following the revival. In 1971, Uganda fell to the dictatorship of Idi Amin. Later, the HIV/AIDS virus ravaged the country as well as other parts of the African continent. It took more than 20 years of war, oppressive dictatorship and AIDS before Uganda could struggle back to its feet. Even now, the restoration is not complete.

"Don't let that happen to Malaysia," said Pastor Suubi, who runs the Highway of Holiness Ministries International, an intercessory ministry for nations. "The season of Jubilee that you are ushering in is a moment for the revival and transformation of the nation. It is just beginning and the onus is on you to take hold of this opening in the spiritual realm, to see Malaysia's destiny fulfilled."

Pastor Suubi spoke on the application of the Jubilee Year in the context of modern-day Malaysia. Jubilee was a "prophetic season", he said, during which the things promised in Leviticus 25 would only come to pass if the church was earnest in repentance, prayer and action.

He affirmed Malaysia's national destiny "towards the redemption of mankind", but said the country was still unable to fully embrace its redemptive calling "because of certain limitations". These included the breakdown of the family institution, corporate or collective sins as a nation, historical wounds between ethnic groups and lack of repentance and forgiveness.

To receive the Jubilee promises of liberty, restoration, renewal, and rest, the church has to first be responsible by confessing the corporate sins of the nation and praying for revival instead of judgement. "God desires to show mercy. Judgement is his last option and only when people refuse to turn back to him," Pastor Suubi said.

He also called on the church to strengthen the family altar in keeping with Leviticus 25: 13, whereby "everyone is to return to their own property". Strengthening the institution of the family is the necessary first step if the church and the nation are to be transformed, as the family unit is the nucleus of society. Pastor Suubi also said he believed that Jubilee would be a season where many Malaysians living and working abroad would be moved to return to their homeland for the sake of the country.

The blowing of shofars
 

Finally, he noted that despite God's command to Israel to observe the Jubilee and his promises of blessing during that season, the Israelites never once practiced it because of their sin. "Jubilee which comes once ever 50 years for a nation, is a once in a lifetime experience for most of us. Don't be like Israel and miss the opportunity," he said.

The celebration moved into a time of prayer for three main items: Country, People and Land. Everyone prayed loudly in their own way and language, but as one voice, for Christians to restore their faith in the nation, to be loyal to the nation, to love Malaysia, to be a blessing to the land and to work at transforming it for God. They also prayed for the different ethnic groups in Malaysia, naming each one and asking for forgiveness and renewed love for each people group. Flag-bearers of Malaysia's 13 states and three federal territories moved around the hall and people stretched out hands in prayer for each state and territory.

Pastor Khoo Kay Hup of FGA KL then led in corporate prayer for Malaysia to prosper. Pastor Edwin Agung of SIB Brickfields prayed in Bahasa Malaysia for healing and unity among the races and Rev Esther Kong of GA611 Bread of Life Centre led in seeking God for forgiveness for sins, both past and present. NECF Secretary-General Rev Chan Theam Lai then led the gathering in a declaration of God's blessings on the land, people and country.


Prayer for Malaysia

Though Malaysia Day has come and gone and we have ushered in the 50th year of Malaysia's existence, NECF is not ending prayer efforts for the Jubilee Year. Combined monthly prayer meetings among churches will still be organised in the Klang Valley for believers to continue in the spirit of prayer and seeking throughout this Jubilee Year. Churches in other regions are urged to do the same. Together let us seek God for his Jubilee blessings for Malaysia. Let us do our part to fulfill Malaysia's redemptive destiny!

 



[ Back ] [ Print Friendly ]