Rapha Encounters (1)

Launching into our next missionary journey, my wife and I have planned to start a Rapha Encounters ministry to pray for the sick . (Jehovah Rapha means God the Healer- Exodus 15:26 ) This ministry is prompted by the numerous referrals of sick, broken and tormented people from time to time over the years by brothers and sisters from other churches in Paris to visit us.
We thank God and give glory to HIM that many were healed and set free.
But my personal encounters with healing had come a long way and I will take time to share some of them here.

The 1st Rapha encounter - March 1990
Barely 4 months after being rescued by Jesus from suicidal thoughts and accepted Jesus into my heart to be my Lord and savior, I was picked by my pastor ( Benedict Rajan) (Calvary City Church, Johor Bahru) to attend a healing seminar organized for the church life group leaders. For a baby Christian, I must have impressed him to earn this reward for having listened to all his dozens of sermon tapes and dozens and dozens of Derek Prince's teaching tapes and read many of the books in the church library. I was hungry for God.

My pastor also picked my wife (girl friend then) knowing that the two of us would become one.
At the end of the seminar, a healing crusade was organized at a down town hotel ballroom. After the course teacher, travelling evangelist AL Gill let out a barrages of testimonies of how Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons and set the captive free from the gospels, he then told the crowd that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
He then told us the students to stand in front in a row and he told the crowd that the same Jesus Christ still loves to see sick people healed today through His believers (us!!!). He then invited them to bring the sick to us so that we can lay hand on them and heal them in Jesus's name.
I began to see people coming. Oh no I saw one pushing a man in a wheelchair toward me! I could see from a distance he must have just suffered a stroke recently as water still drips from his mouth uncontrollably. In a panic, my faith sank, in fact it dropped on the floor like a melting ice creme.
As the wheelchair came closer and closer, that newbie in the Lord did the only thing he knew best. I froze and shut my eyes. YES I did a shut eye! And I could hear my heart thumping, thumping, thumping !!!
Lo and behold I soon heard the wheelchair stopped at a leader next to me. What a sigh of relief I thought and began to gather back half my composure and I opened my eyes wanting to pick up what's left of that melting ice creme, my faith in the Lord.
Then I was shocked to find this man smiling at me, who has been standing right in front of me all this while!!! That was why the wheelchair couldn't come to me. ( What a Mr. Bean I was!)
Then I asked this smiling man what's not right with him since he looks perfectly normal to me. He said he is from another church and he has been suffering for months now he has these pins and needles sensation underneath his soles. Every step he walks would cause such discomfort and unbearable pain.
My heart began to pound again!
So, with whatever little left of my faith I prayed " In the name of Jesus I command the pain to leave this man and his soles be healed".
Honest I did not expect anything would happen and I'm sure neither did he.
But I could see his eyes became so big as if in disbelief, and he shouted that his pain has gone! WHAT???
I didn't even know how to respond to THAT except to let him go in joy.

Anyway, that was my 1st Rapha encounter and more will follow.
But for now, do you have a need to encounter Jehovah Rapha God the Healer yourself ? Your friends? Your love ones?
Are they suffering from sickness? Broken relationships? Mentally tormented? Dangerous addiction? Husband and wife who wish to have children but couldn't? etc .... etc?
Well, you are more than welcomed to PM me. My wife and I are happy to pray for you.
Just remember, Jesus Christ loves all the people and He wants them healed!!!

A Call to Go - (A Flying Wellman - Dream 1991)

20/6/2016
15 years ago today I boarded a plane with my whole family and took a night flight to Paris, France. Many friends have since queried me why be a missionary in France? Why not China or some English speaking nations?
Well, they did not know I'd taken another night flight 10 years earlier (25 years ago) out to a place I did not know.
Well not on a plane. Well I was flying on a well, in a dream!

Time : 3/1991
After 15 months in Christ (who rescued me from suicidal thoughts) I had yet another vivid dream (the 4th dream):-
1) In the dream I was sitting on a well behind my father’s old house in Senai.

2) Suddenly the well was lifted up & began to fly in the air.
3) It was dark in the night. Initially I was very scared but after it had flown for a while, I began to settle down and even began to enjoy the flight.
4) After sometime the well started to descend.
5) Just before it ‘touched’ down, at some distance, I could see a huge building, not a very tall building but it has 2 chimneys. I have never seen any building like that before in my life. From afar, the color of the building is blue & white with a shade of red background.
6) When the well finally “landed” I discovered that there is a river beside the building.
7) Then, I saw the water level of the river started to rise and breaching the river banks.
8) I saw water rushing into that building, a lot of dirts flew out in the process.
Then, I woke up.

Time 26/12/2001
After 6 months in Paris responding to a call to come to France by faith from Malaysia, I found there was no immediate opening for me to serve in a church. We had even gone to a city Lille in the North of France for a possible pastoral appointment but in vain. I had previously given up a well pay job as a marketing manager in a financial institution in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur in 1992 to work in a small remote town of 15000 people and to pioneer a church there as a lay person in 1995. Eventually in 1999, I also gave up an even better pay occupation to serve full time in the church that I have pioneered for a dismal monthly allowance. So my mind was set to serve God full time in a church some where in France, all but to no avail. And my money was running OUT and I have my wife and 2 young schooling children with me, all on a 3 months TOURIST visas. Talk about sweating bullets. Did God really call me to France???
A day after Christmas 26/12/2001 my elder brother took me to view a house at the south eastern outskirt of Paris with a possible buy over. But I was already penniless!

That house owner has been renting it out to a few students who in turn sub letting to students and workers from China. My mind was working against the idea of running a hostel because I was so fixated on serving full time in a church. A quick tour of the house made me even more convinced to the negative because the house of some 20 tenants was really in a big dirty mess and chaos.
As my brother went to open the door to exit the house, I was so shocked of what I saw the 3 large Chinese words written in black across the door post on a piece of red paper - 挚爱门"Gate of Love & Affection", the very words that were written in my mind when I was contemplating suicide back in 1989 and was spoken to again 3 weeks later by a visiting pastor in a church that I was invited to attend by a Christian colleague. (Please read about it here - http://cpwaterman.blogspot.fr/2015/12/its-jesus-christ.html)

Then the main door was opened and as we walked out of the house I saw with complete amazement, appearing before my eyes, stands a large blue & white buiding, not very tall, with 2 chimneys right opposite the house and right along a river, exactly what I saw in a dream 10 years ago!!!

5 months later, miraculously the bank approved our loan application and we were able to have a place and enough financial providence to share the goodnews with the people here until today.

Well, who says there is no God?
And who says your dream cannot come true?
Job 33: 15-16
15 In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds,
16Then He (God) opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.

A Call to Tell ( At the King's court - Dream 1990)

When I was a new believer in Christ (Nov 1989), I was thinking that I'm fated for Christianity like some other fellow Christians but there are also others who are fated for their own respective religions. TO EACH HIS OWN! Therefore I was very reluctant to share my Christian testimony with non Christians. Why offend people? Why go and invite trouble ?
Then I'd this vivid dream (1990):-
In the dream, I was driving my car along Tebrau Highway from my office where I worked as a manager in a financial institution.(my office was directly overlooking an open field which is today’s Pelangi Plaza) passing "Christine Place", a restaurant serving up some good "Dim Sum" back in those days on my right toward Singapore immigration check point along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak with the old Johor Bahru main train station on the left and Merlin Tower on the right.

Merlin Tower was then the tallest building in Johor Bahru if I am not mistaken. It was at about this point near Merlin Tower that I noticed something most strange and bewildering was happening. There were cars that began to overtake me both on my left and on my right, quite understandably because I’m a well known slow “turtle” driver. But the big surprise was that these were no ordinary cars.They were all crushed, badly mangled up cars, some have even lost their wheels but could still zoom pass me all the same. The most grotesque and hair raising part was that they were no ordinary drivers! All these drivers were also all crushed, badly mutilated and disfigured. I could even see one with his eye ball dangling outside his eye socket. They were dead drivers!

It was so nauseating, horrifying and terrifying!

All too soon we found ourselves standing in a long queue at the front of the entrance of the Sultan Ibrahim building which houses all the government offices then. I'm not sure if the department which issues death certificates is also located in that building. We were taking our turn to enter that building after a brief inspection by two female workers who were dressed in full white gowns. After I walked into the building, the two workers kept looking at my feet as if something had gone wrong. However I was “permitted” to continue.

 Soon, I found myself alone inside a large room or an auditorium I was not sure because the light was very dim. Somehow instantly and instinctively I sensed that it was more like a court room where judgements and verdicts are being pronounced. Sure enough, I began to see different objects of worship, one after another, started to protrude out of the wall in front of me and I could clearly identify them because they were all images of popular religions that have been followed according to our traditions.

I was shocked to the bones for it was judgement time!

 I was wrestling within myself arguing that surely I should not be judged here because I have already been redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and I'm a righteous son of the living God through faith in Jesus Christ. But who am I to argue?

Suddenly, as I thought I was alone at the front of that court room, I was wrong! I turned and looked behind me and to my utter surprise the whole room was packed with women - middle aged and older women! Now, I can never and will never forget in my life, the weary look on each of their faces. Until this day the utter desperate look in their eyes still pains & cuts & moves my heart deeply.

First, it was the look of extreme sadness and remorse. I could tell all of them were honest god loving people and kind hearted believers of their own respective religions/gods according to their traditions. All of them realized now that they have got the wrong gods/religions and it was too late for them now. They are dead and could only wait for the impending judgement. They realized not one of their man made religions can rescue them now. How they wish they had come to know Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life.

You have to be there with me to feel how sorry they were, their feeling of utmost regret absolutely overwhelmed me. All of them know they will be sent to hell for a season before the ultimate lake of fire for all eternity.

Second, it was the look of utter desperation and hope. Even without a word spoken, I could read their minds what they were eagerly trying to communicate with me. They wanted me to do something for them, if only just one thing. Every one of them, without exception, was urging me, pleading with me, begging me to go and tell about the saving grace of God, the redemption plan of God, the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the cross of Calvary to their love ones who are still alive.

I was then only a very new Christian, barely a couple of months in the Lord. So I began to reason with them, how could I take upon me such heavy load of responsibility. But, you just could not stop sensing that unmistakable, unceasing yearning from their look. They were casting all their hope on me!

As I was still trying to convince them of my inability, all of a sudden, the two workers in white gowns entered the auditorium and called me out. They said "look what you are wearing, you should not be here, you must go out now!".

And I woke up!

I know at the King's court, God has given me a mission to fulfill, to go and carry the message of Salvation only available in Christ - to warn people not to go to the place of judgement.

Just as He loves me so much Jesus Christ has gracefully come to rescue me in my darkest hours, He loves all the people just as much and He wants all to be saved and none should perish in the lake of fire, a place He has prepared for Satan and his demonic cahoots. He provides us with the one and only way out, through faith in His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who took our sins upon himself, who cleansed our sins with his blood, who made us righteous and accepted before God and who gave us a new life in Him, a life of love, joy and peace.

Now, each time I contemplate not to share the good news of salvation, the looks from those women in the dream would overwhelm me time and again because I matter to the eternal destiny of their children. So God help me please! Amen!

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God not the Pope) except through me".
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name ( Jesus Christ) under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:15
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is the reason for Christmas,

Christmas is just round the corner!

Christmas is about Jesus Christ . But who is Jesus?
Some say he is a good moral teacher; some say he is this and some say he is that and some even say that he is a Muslim!
But just who is Jesus Christ???...
I think the best person should answer that is none other than Jesus Christ himself, correct? Then you can come away and decide whether he is a lunatic or he is just what he says he is.
1) The Bread of Life
Jesus answered, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." - John 6:35
2) The Light of the world
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12
3) I am the Door
Jesus said "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:9
4) I am the good Shepherd
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep." - John 10:11
5) I am the Resurrection and the Life
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live." - John 11:25
6) I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
7) I am the Vine
Jesus answered "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

What an insane claim right? And for that, he was put to death by crucifixion just as he foretold in the Bible, buried in a cave. BUT.......HE rose again on the third day, lived among his disciples for another 40 days before being taken up to heaven by a cloud, sent the Holy Spirit to the world and promised to gather all who believe in him when the time comes.
Christians the world over will soon be celebrating/ remembering Jesus Christ's first coming as a baby in a manger 2000 years ago, as a lamb that takes away the sin of anyone who believes in him.
Christians the world over will also be looking forward to His second coming as a King, as a lion to gather his saints away from the wrath that will fall upon the whole earth.
John 14:1-3
1"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Woohoo! who do you think Jesus is? A lunatic or the Savior ?
Let's us celebrate Christmas, let's celebrate Jesus!

It's Jesus Christ! (My Testimony)

My Testimony
I come from a traditional Chinese family and my parents followed Taoist & Buddhist practice just like 99% of the people in a small town Senai, Johor, Malaysia.
1975
At the age of 18, I left home to study in London. Throughout the 10 years in the UK, I used to mock & sneer at my British Christian friends that they are so pitiful for having only one god to protect them. I boasted that we enjoy so much divine protection right from our front door to the backyard of our house, guarded by different gods. In those days, Jesus Christ was a “polite” swear /curse word I use whenever I blew my top.
After all the social philosophical studies in the University, I was much influenced by the western enlightenment culture that there isn’t any god but we will just have to make the best out of everything and get on with our lives. I became a “free thinker” but respecting all religious people. I thought they were “fated” to have their own religious mind sets.
1985
When I came back to work in a financial institution in Malaysia, I was surprised that there were many Christian colleagues all around me. I spared no time to scoff & gibe at them for being weak and for betraying their ancestors to follow a western god. I took delight in making fun of them. Once I even switched their food around while they closed their eyes praying to give thanks to God. One day I told them that there really is a god. I showed them my hands and told them success & failure are in my hands, therefore, I am god. Their patience was truly tested! Then time came I had chosen to move from internal audit to front line marketing. I thought it a surer way to hasten the pace climbing up the corporate ladder and that meant I needed a lot of fresh contacts & prospects. I forced myself out to mix around with people of all religions, visiting their temples and shrines, happily joining as a member as and when invited, so that I could win some business clients. I was on a tricky journey of wearing different mask at different time to face different people to appease them in order to achieve my own personal (SELFISH) goal.
1989 A shift turn of events came in October and everything in life seemed to have fallen apart. Losing career prospect, broken relationship.... the roof had just caved in on me. I was so defeated, so disheartened and so depressed to the extent that I began to hear voices to urge me to take my own life. I was a wretched soul living in my own pitch black (hole) world.
One wee hour (3am) of morning as I arose to go to the toilet, I saw through the window that it was so dark & gloomy and suddenly sadness fell upon me and the same suicidal thoughts began to invade. I felt so bad but somehow I asked a silly question "if there really is a god???". Suddenly I saw the pitch black sky just lit up a few times, glowing gently before my very eyes from the West to the East. As I was still pondering, 2 Alphabets came to my mind - L & A. I was quite taken aback by my earlier question about god and I thought I have received a "quick" reply. I thought may be this god out there (I don't know who) wants me to go to Los Angeles. But these Alphabets quickly became 2 words - Love & Affection (挚爱).
I could not go back to sleep except for tossing & turning in bed, strangely thinking about the car alignment & the wheel balance. Then I was busy with work but it did cross my mind that may be this god is the goddess of mercy whom my mother has been worshipping, a family tradition for generations.
After 3 weeks, a Christian colleague invited me to his church promising to buy me a good "Dim Sum" lunch after the service. Needless to say I fell for the ‘Dim Sum’. That morning, the church service was long and the visiting pastor's speech was long winded too I was like being fed a big dose of sleeping pills I felt asleep a few times. At last I heard him saying that we have come to the end of the service but he said “just before we leave, I have this inner prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak” (This must be a weird church?) He continued "God wants you to know, I don't know who you are but God wants you to know the He loves you. He wants you to remove your masks. He wants you to have a vertical relationship with Him (car alignment) and He wants you to have a good horizontal relationships with all fellow man ( wheel balance). He wants you to do these with LOVE & AFFECTION (挚爱)".
It's Jesus Christ!
As people started to leave ( A Charismatic church!!!) I found myself completely struck down, at awe, crying like a baby and soaking wet in my own tears and sweats. At that moment I realized that it was this Jesus that they worship had made a personal visitation to me that pre dawn morning (At that time I didn’t know Jesus said in the Bible that He is the light of the world) and He is speaking to me again through the mouth of one of His servant pastors.
I was a wreck groping in the dark in life. He came as a light in darkness to rescue me and to teach me the way of life in genuine love & affection. I could feel His love for me. It was not any goddess of mercy who’d intervened but it was God Himself, the creator of heavens and the earth, it was God Himself who made every one of us, it was God Himself who came save a broken soul, me. That morning, a gentle spirited pastor came to comfort me and I became a follower of Jesus Christ with a new lease of life. My old person has died with Christ at the cross of Calvary. I’m now living a brand new life, a new life that is in Christ, carrying His loving message to all mankind – Remove your masks, have a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with man with His LOVE & AFFECTION.
I was as good as dead in 1989 but I'm forever grateful to Jesus for giving me this new lease of life. All thanks and glory be to God. Amen!
Luke 19:10
Jesus said "For the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) has come to seek and to save that which was lost."