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00:00 Good morning, brothers and sisters. Okay. Blessed New Year. Okay. But also a
00:06 blessed Chinese New Year as well. Amen. Okay. Right. Not. Okay. All right. Good to see all of you. You look smart and
00:12 bright and uh amazing. Okay. Say to your neighbor, you look amazing. Would you do that? Okay. That's great. That's
00:18 wonderful. All right. May maybe also say to your neighbor on your right, I'm blessed to be seated next to you on your
00:25 left your privilege to sit next to me. Would you do that? Okay. It'd be great. It' be wonderful. Okay. Uh for us to do
00:31 that. Well, this morning I'm going to speak uh
00:38 on the Chinese U message. Is it okay? How many of us we want more freedom and power in living? Can I see your hands?
00:45 How many more freedom and power in living? Okay. If your hand is not up, God bless you. Never mind. Okay. All
00:51 right. Uh we're going to read again to my sister. You read wonderfully. Let's read again. Is it going to proclaim the
00:56 word of God which is I think so important for all of us again. Matthew again chapter 6 9-15 together in the
01:03 strongest loudest most robust first baptist voices together. This then is how you should pray. Our father in
01:10 heaven hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth
01:15 as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as
01:21 we've also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver
01:26 us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you.
01:33 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins. Our father, we pray you'll take
01:39 your word, oh God, make it come alive, speak and challenge us. Father, we pray in Jesus wonderful name. Amen. Amen.
01:47 Now, how many of us we have been hurt at least once in our life? Hurt at least once in our Can I see your hands? Okay,
01:54 look at see your hands. Well, if hand is not up, you're almost like Jesus. Okay, not hurt, never hurt at all. Okay, God
02:01 bless you. You are just amazing. Amazing. I need to learn from you. But friends, you know what our human problem
02:07 is? This hurts, wounds, and pains. It's a common right reality of life.
02:13 Something that no one runs away from. Amen. Only 20%. Amen. God bless you, the
02:19 rest of you. Okay. All right. That's something nobody runs away from, isn't it? All right. That's a reality. Okay.
02:26 And uh we will continue to be hurt by the way. After you hear this sermon, you'll be hurt again. Amen. Maybe you
02:31 are hurt after my sermon. Okay? When you pray for yourself. But friends, you know what? All right. What happens when we
02:36 are hurt? When we're wounded, when we're in pain, what happens to us? It produces in us what happens? Anger, bitterness,
02:44 resentment, and sometimes worse still a desire. Often times to want to
02:50 retaliate. Isn't it? often times wanting to take revenge. Is it sometimes Chinese
02:58 New Year is a very uncomfortable time? Sometimes we go back home very uncomfortable. Why? Because sometimes
03:04 you find brothers don't talk to each other, sisters don't talk, uncle, auntie don't talk to each other. Isn't it very
03:10 very uncomfortable? Uh those are some realities of life and living. But sometimes when we are hurt as I said
03:16 okay we want to take it out against the person who have hurt us. Listen, how many of you you love Jackie Chan and
03:23 Kung Fu movies? Can I see your hands? How many of you? Wow. God bless you. Okay. You know why the ass is in Moscow,
03:29 Russia, a church of 5,000 people. I preach. How many would know Jackie Chan? Love Jackie Chan. All 5,000 hands went
03:35 up. I preach in Brazil, S. Paulo, Brazil, church of another 5,000 people. How many know Jackie Chan? Love Jackie
03:41 Chan. All the hands went up. Friends, you know, even Russians and Brazilians love Jackie Chan. You Malaysians, you
03:47 have no choice but to love Jackie Chan. Amen. Listen that's a reality of life because we know in in all kung fu sword
03:54 fighting films what happens you touch me I will take it back okay I will take revenge I will bow cho I will pose you
04:01 you nicely is take revenge on you and if I cannot take revenge what do I do I bring all my brothers along to take care
04:07 of you and if all my brothers still cannot take care of that I bring all my uncles to take care of you amen isn't it
04:14 and that's why it is not uncommon to see all this powching all this revenge taking place tragically and sadly isn't
04:21 And that's the reason we have friends many families many communities many
04:27 nations right are fractured totally completely
04:33 and friends you know you and I realize this is something that has created huge
04:41 problems and problems friends not just for a while because you and I know for We receive a cut on our hand, a wound on
04:48 our hand, within a matter of days or weeks or a few months, it will heal. Amen. Hey, are you human beings or not?
04:56 Okay. Right now, right now, we got to cut. It will heal a matter of days or weeks or months. But friends, can I say
05:02 emotional wounds, emotional wounds can last for years if not for generations.
05:10 You know that sometimes you find a parents will tell their kids don't call that uncle got nothing to do with them.
05:17 And so one generation goes on another generation and what a tragedy friends that it has caused so much brokenness
05:25 right in the lives of so many families not just Chinese families particularly more Chinese families. Why? Because in
05:32 Chinese culture we're not to forgive. We're not to okay uh yinyang forgive
05:37 that person. we are we're supposed to take it back on the person take revenge on the person but friends it is not just
05:42 in Chinese culture it is in every culture I come across around the whole world and that's a reality so therefore
05:49 friends the thing is what is the answer what is the solution and praise God
05:54 friends can I say there is an answer there's a solution okay but before that a hurt friends is always to do something
06:00 in the past amen hello is it right now her hurt is about something that has happened in the past that's why we are
06:06 hurt And what happens when we hover this? If we hover this, what happens is the past has imprisoned our present and
06:14 prevent us from living to the future. You realize that? You realize that? For example, if you
06:20 are hurt by that person, all right? If you're not forgiven that person, every
06:25 time you see that person, even think about that person, something not nice happens inside you. No, not not because
06:31 you got a heart attack. Okay? But you know, inside not nice. So what has
06:36 happened? That hurt has imprisoned you. All right? And you know what happens? It
06:41 can prevent you from living to the future. So therefore, if we harbor this hurt, friends, the reality is this.
06:46 We're living in the past, not even the present because our present arrested, right? And has kept us from moving to
06:52 the future. That's the reality. What is how sad this can be, is it? And a lot of people don't realize I've got the right
06:58 to be angry. But friends, you know, in your anger, you find that it has imprisoned you. Is it? It has kept you
07:05 from moving on into the future. It has prevented you friends from really begin
07:12 to really exercise the full potential and the gifts that God has given to you like this. How sad, how tragic it is.
07:19 And therefore, friends, what is the answer? What's the solution for us all? And the wonderful thing is is that the
07:25 answer, the solution is found in the Christian message. All right? Why? Because at the heart of the Christian
07:31 message is a message of forgiveness. Isn't it? It's a message of forgiveness.
07:37 And friends, can I say only the Christian message teaches that? No other faith teaches that. All right? Jesus
07:44 Christ teaches. Not only he teaches that, he models it as I will show you later on. Okay? All right. At the heart
07:49 of it, is it? Why? Because on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ forgive your sin, my sin, and the sin of the whole world.
07:55 That's what it is for all of us. Isn't it? And therefore, if this is so as Christians, why is it you and I must
08:01 forgive? Why is it we must forgive? The first reason because friends, it's a command of scripture. And all you First
08:08 Baptist people, you all love the scripture like crazy. Amen. No. Amen. Okay. We need to pray
08:14 for you now. Is it right now? Isn't it okay? And you and I friends who take the
08:21 word of God seriously, when the Bible says like this in Colossians chapter 3 and verse 13, come let's read together.
08:27 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave
08:34 you. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Isn't it? You and I have been objects of
08:40 God's forgiveness. Amen. Isn't it through the Lord Jesus Christ? And because we have been forgiven friends,
08:45 the command of scriptures that you and I must forgive. Therefore, and that's why sometimes friends can ask you can't
08:51 blame the non-Christian because they've never experienced forgiveness especially from God is and because they've not
08:57 experienced forgiveness, they say why should I forgive? But friends, you and I should know better and all God's people say it's command of scripture. We obey
09:05 it. Isn't it? All right. It is not ifs and buts and so and so forth. We just obey. All right? and live what word of
09:11 God commands us to do like a second reason friends before that okay Nelson Mandela the person who knows best about
09:18 injury to him of course he fought against apathite system in South Africa as we know he was in prison all in for
09:25 27 years and out of 27 years 16 years was spent in Robin prison all right uh
09:31 in Robin's island okay uh Doris and we were there actually standing in his prison cell there in Robin's island this
09:37 surreal experience this is Crazy human beings can do this to one another like this, isn't it? He fought against
09:43 apathite system. Eventually, praise God, it was dismantled and he was elected the
09:49 first black South African president. And when he was elected, you know what all the blacks say? Because in a country of
09:56 South Africa, 70% are blacks, only 30% are whites. And all these years before
10:01 the whites were in control, ruling harshly oppressively against the blacks. And when Nelson Mel is elected as
10:08 president, you know what the blacks say to him. This is a time for revenge. This is time take it back on all the whites
10:15 with bully us like crazy like this. Friends, the blacks just rise up and they can literally push them only to the
10:21 sea. And there's a lot of sea around South Africa. Amen. Isn't it? Nelson Mandela says this is not not the time
10:28 for revenge. This is a time for forgiveness. That's why he set up the truth and reconciliation commission that
10:34 if your whites are willing to come up publicly and confess all your wrongs, you will be forgiven. But you must tell
10:40 the truth, isn't it? And of all people who knows best about being inflicted all kinds of injuries unfairly. This is what
10:48 he says to all of us. When a deep injury is done to us, we never heal until we
10:53 forgive. We never heal until we forgive. That's a reality. And that's why it fits in
11:01 perfectly with the word of God. Forgive, isn't it? As God the Father has forgiven us. Amen. The second reason why you and
11:08 I must forgive because of the example of Jesus. Jesus sets a perfect example for all of us. Why? Because there in Luke 23
11:16 and in verse 34, come let's read together. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for do not know what they are
11:23 doing." Isn't it their friends? Hanging on the cross, Jesus says, "Father, forgive." You and I know he went to the
11:29 cross for no fault of his own. Amen. Isn't it? Went to the cross for your sin. My sin, the sin of the whole world.
11:36 Isn't it? Not for his own sins. He was there hanging on the cross. And on the cross, he prays, "Father, forgive them."
11:42 You know what would you and I pray if you're on a cross like this for no wrong? I know what I will pray. Father,
11:48 b you all nicely. Cowcow. Okay. Father, punish them all nicely. Cowcow. Okay.
11:53 Really, really strong, solid, isn't it? Why? because we are unjustly treated unfairly put on the cross. This what
12:00 Jesus went through friends. So church you know what he is not just someone who teaches about the need for forgiveness
12:08 as we read earlier on in Matthew chapter 6 9-15 about the Lord's prayer isn't it?
12:14 He doesn't only teach that friends you know he models it for all of us about what forgiveness is all about. A third
12:21 reason why you and I must forgive is because otherwise we cannot come to God in prayer. Why? Because you find that in
12:29 verse 12 of Matthew 6 will come. Let's read again to remind ourselves. Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our
12:36 debtors. Now we prefer the Luke's version of it. Forgive us our sins as we
12:41 have given those who sin against us. Amen. And I like that first song, the Lord's Prayer that was sung earlier on.
12:47 I said this exactly what it says there. And I like it really very very much because that that psalm says forgive us
12:53 our sins as we forgive those who sin against us which is which comes from the duke's version okay of the Lord's prayer
12:59 which is important is it forgive us of our sins as forgive those who sin you know friends you know what when we come
13:05 to God in prayer often times we come to God in prayer firstly confessing our
13:10 sins our wrongs to God amen hello are you still there
13:16 amen isn't it right now all All right. When we come to God who is altogether holy and righteous,
13:23 we know friends, when we come to him, when we done things that are wrong, you
13:28 and I need to confess. Amen. Isn't because otherwise friends, there is no we can connect with God rightly and
13:34 properly. When we come to God in our wrongs, okay, in our sins, in our compromise whatsoever. So therefore,
13:39 friends, you know, we come to God, we confess our sins to God. Is that all right? But Jesus also teaches us
13:45 friends. It says here that in verse 12, all right, as we confess our sins to God, Jesus says we have also forgiven
13:52 those who sin against us. Hello, are you there? Isn't it? You know, friends, if we unwilling to forgive those who sin
13:58 against us, we have no right to ask God for forgiveness. That's the two parts of the one same
14:06 thing. Like this is until unless we forgive those who sin against us, we have no right to come to God in prayer.
14:11 And if this is so it means we have no right to come to God to pray in a first
14:17 place like that. It is that serious isn't it? Not only friends you know why is it we must forgive. Not only friends
14:24 and it is a command of scripture. Second is an example of Jesus. Thirdly otherwise we have no right to come to
14:30 God in prayer. That's the fourth reason is a why. The fourth reason is that otherwise we will not know God's
14:35 forgiveness. Really? Okay. Why is this the case? Because this is what Jesus says in
14:41 verses 14 and 15 of Matthew chapter 6. Come, let's read together. For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
14:48 your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your
14:55 sins. This is that serious, friends. In verse 15, it say that if we're unwilling to forgive those who sin against us,
15:01 neither will we know the father's forgiveness. All right? It is that serious really, isn't it? And that's why
15:07 I trust I pray that by now you are convinced okay then you and I must forgive and all God's people say isn't
15:14 it? But maybe somebody say okay pastor okay I must forgive but tell me pastor how many times must I forgive? How many
15:21 times how many of us willing to forgive people up to three times. Can I see your hands? How many of us? Okay. All right.
15:28 Good. How many of us more than three times? See your hand. More than three times. Oh god. God bless you. White Kong
15:33 many of you. Okay. The rest of you what happens? Not willing not willing to forgive even one time is right.
15:40 Goodness. Isn't it? All right. Now friends, can I say it is not just your
15:45 struggle and my struggle as Christians. Even as Christians, not only your struggle and my struggle, it is equally
15:52 friends. Can I say the struggle of Apostle Peter as to how many times right
15:58 he must forgive. Why? Here in Matthew 18 21 and 22, Apostle Peter came to Jesus
16:05 and says to Jesus like this, okay, come let's read together. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times
16:12 should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times. Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times,
16:19 but 77 times. So it's not seven, but 77. What does 77 mean? When Jesus tells us
16:27 to forgive people 77 times, what does he mean? Now Jesus does not mean this.
16:32 Okay? He does not mean this. Hear me carefully. When someone sin is against you, you say to the guy, you watch out.
16:38 You got 76 times left. Okay? And when he sins again a second time,
16:44 say you watch out, you got 75 times left. Okay? Now, when Jesus says to forgive 77 times, it is not to keep a
16:52 score. It is not to keep a score as to how many times okay right someone has
16:57 sinned against you for example how many of you you have confessed to God 77
17:02 times of your sins can I see your hands okay more than 77 times can I see him more than seven oh my goodness I know
17:09 your church full of sinners here okay we need to pray for first baptist church but don't worry my hand is also up it's
17:15 okay yeah we confess to God isn't it again and again now have you and I ever heard
17:23 Let God speaking to us from heaven. One day when we confess, hey my son, today
17:28 77 bow finish already. All right. Your kota is over. From tomorrow onwards no
17:34 more forgiveness. God doesn't say this to us like this. Never. Isn't it?
17:41 What is it trying to say? When Jesus forgave 77. Now you and I know friends, you're well taught in scripture. Seven
17:48 as we know from scripture is a perfect number. Amen. is a perfect number. Seven
17:53 is but what about 77? 77 means what? It goes on and on and on and on again and
18:01 again. In other words, it is endless. All right? It is countless. And that's
18:08 what the father does to all of us when we confess our sins to him. Isn't it? God never keeps us score. As of course
18:14 in our confession, we must be serious. We must be humble. We must really really be very honest before God. Amen. But
18:21 sometimes friends in spite of all that we're trying to do to seek not to do wrong sometimes we still do wrong. God
18:28 or not okay only 5% of good people the rest of you okay we pray for you but
18:34 friends that's a reality isn't it even though we try to do right sometimes we do wrong like for example driving isn't
18:41 it? You know you want to be a very very good okay Malaysian driver unlike all other Malaysian drivers sometimes we
18:47 also do wrong right why right now how many we have beaten traffic lights can I see hands okay be honest in church
18:53 cannot tell lies can see how many we traffic lights okay God bless you first
18:58 row hands also upd traffic light as I came to this traffic
19:04 junction in PJ area all right the the uh what happens was that the traffic light
19:10 turned amber I thought I can make it. Amber can make it. You know what amber means? Amber
19:16 amber means give it a go.
19:21 So as I as I cross over, that flag just turns too fast. It turns
19:28 red. All right. And I cross over. You know what? The policeman will jump on the motorbike, follow me. Okay. Flag me
19:36 to the side. I say, "Sorry, sorry, Ted. I'm so sorry." Yeah. I I I I shouldn't
19:41 have done that. I'm so sorry. Okay. Uh All right. Do whatever that is right. Okay. Or whatever it is. Probably the
19:47 issue someone please go ahead and do that. I say by the way I'm a pastor. Are you a pastor?
19:54 You're a pastor. I say yeah pastor. Okay. I found a way rushing to another
19:59 appointment. So I'm sorry. Almost wanted to come to First Baptist Church. Just some Okay. I'm a You are a pastor. My
20:05 goodness. A pastor. Okay. Go go go go go pastor. Go. Friends, it's good to be a pastor,
20:13 isn't it? I hope there's not an excuse, isn't it, for us to do wrong? But sometimes we try to do things. Another
20:20 example, how many of you you pray? Okay, when you come to shopping mall, you pray for parking lots. Can I see your hands?
20:25 How many of you be honest? My goodness,
20:31 your church is serious church here. You see, but sometimes you know what in
20:37 a whole parking lot in a shopping mall sometimes you know what there's only one parking lot available right and 20 cars
20:44 circulating round and round and round in empire park empire here they're going to kind of thing like this and you know out
20:51 of the 20 circling around probably five are Christians and all five are praying to God for parking
20:58 poor God he's all confused which which one should I answer
21:04 hey come Give God a break. Isn't it all right? God has got more bigger problems
21:09 that tend to like the virus in Wuhan. Okay. And the fires in Australia and so
21:14 so is it right? But sometimes you see what happens is that in spite the fact
21:19 we're going to do things that are right. Sometimes we do wrong. Isn't it? Okay. And we come we confess to God. We ask
21:26 for forgiveness and God will forgive us. Isn't it? You know, friends, what is it trying to tell you and I? Okay. And
21:32 Martin Luther King Jr. has this amazing things to say to all because he himself went through all kinds of infliction to
21:38 his own life when he stood against and fought against civil rights movement. Is it all right? The for civil rights okay
21:44 thing in United States of America and this what Martin Luther King says forgiveness is not an occasional act. It
21:52 is a permanent attitude. All right.
21:57 It is a permanent attitude. In other friends, you know what you and I need to forgive again and again and again. It is
22:05 hard. It is difficult. All right. For example, DMC will run a drug rehab center. All right. because some are
22:11 close to 60 boys and some of these are not young anymore. All right, they're in their 50s. Okay, and so and so forth.
22:18 And you and I know coming from that kind of background and many times you find that uh what happens is that they have
22:25 done all kinds of things to get money, okay, to fill their drug habit, isn't it? And as a result, they've been
22:31 rejected especially rejected by their parents turn because they have deceived and liked their parents and everybody
22:36 else around. Okay. And imagine how painful will be the hearts of the parents. Is it right for years going
22:44 through like this? Well, praise to God these people coming to drug rehab center
22:49 got wonderfully saved and we told them the first thing you must do is be reconciled to your parents. All right.
22:55 And when you meet the parents it's hard my son has betrayed me, lied to me, cheated me all these. Why should I
23:02 forgive? Isn't it? You can't blame the parents especially not Christians. And this way we help them through eventually
23:08 coming to the place of reconciliation, restoration in the lives of relationship. And praise be to God. Some
23:14 of these parents come to faith in Christ in a process like this. And this what you and I must must do friends. That's
23:19 only in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is forgiveness. There is healing. There is wholeness for all of us. Amen. So
23:25 forgiveness is not just an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude. Something that is hard and difficult.
23:32 But friends, by the grace of God, he will enable us to do that. Amen. Isn't it? In other words, friends, you know,
23:38 more importantly, what happens to me when I forgive? Forgiveness, friends, you know, is a choice.
23:45 God will never force us to forgive. You know that. God will never say to us, "Come on, my son, you're such a senior,
23:52 such an old Christian. How can you harbor unforgiveness?" He will never do that. He lives it to you and me to
23:58 decide whether to forgive or not to forgive. That's a reality, friends. He will never force us. He lives us to to
24:05 us to decide. But friends, the wonderful thing is this. When I choose to decide to forgive, when I choose to forgive,
24:11 what happens to me? Firstly, friends, it sets me free. Not friends, it sets me free. Secondly,
24:18 friends, it sets the other person free. What do I mean? Let me try to explain. Okay, I try to explain what I mean like
24:24 this. You see what happens is if we don't forgive that person, if we don't forgive that person, every time you see
24:32 that person, even think about that person, as I said, something not nice happens inside you. Am I right or not?
24:37 What does it show? It shows that you're not free. You're not free, isn't it? Every time
24:44 you see that guy, think about that guy, something not nice happens. You're not free. noting you're not free friends
24:49 because if you're not forgiven that person you're actually saying to that person in your heart my friend I'm not
24:55 prepared to let you go we got a score to settle until that score is settled I'm
25:00 not prepared to let you go so what have I done I've held on to that person and
25:06 I'm imprisoning that person in the cage of my heart that's what we are actually doing isn't it we are holding on to that
25:14 person and imprisoning that person in the cage of our God. So what happens? One unforgiveness friends, one
25:21 unforgiveness results in two prisoners. You're not free. That guy is not free.
25:29 And friends, can I say there are more prisoners walking the streets of Kalumpo
25:34 than all the prisoners in Bulu prison put together.
25:39 I almost wanted to say Pudu prison put together. No more Pudu prison now because of people like Wong and Ano.
25:46 Okay. put all these guys out of of Buddhu, isn't it? There are tons of people, they
25:54 look free, they walk free in the streets of Koala Lumpo. But if you harbor unforgiveness, and I
26:01 guarantee you there are thousands, if not tens of thousands, if hundreds of
26:07 thousands of people harboring this hurt and wound in their hearts. They walk the
26:13 streets of Koala Lumpur. They look free. they walk free. But if honest with
26:18 themselves, they are not free. You know friends, you know, one
26:24 unforgiveness results in two prisoners. That's a scary thing. And that's why
26:31 sometimes there are so many families in prison. So many families totally locked
26:36 in. All right. And living only their past, not even the present and the future. It's all taken away from them
26:44 tragically. And sadly, isn't it? Not sure I told you this story. In a church I preached in at the end, a senior lady
26:51 came up for prayer together with a grownup daughter. And the lady said, "Pastor, pray for my
26:57 husband, her father." "Sure, of course I will." I said, she she said, "My husband is
27:04 such an angry man." I said, "I'm so sorry to hear about Can you pray?" So, I said, "Why why do you take my sermon
27:10 tape I just preached? Get hold of tape I just preached. Okay. take it back and let your husband listen. I think it will
27:16 help him. You know what she said to me? If I take it back, let my husband listen, he will kill me. Why? There also
27:24 murderers at home. They're also terrorists at home. Friends, can I tell you this? There are terrorists of all
27:30 ages at home. Some little boys are terrorizing their parents. Hello. So, terrorists are not just out there.
27:36 Terrorists could be in our home. Could be little ones in our homes. No, all your perfect children. God bless you all
27:41 here in First Baptist Church said. But this man don't realize friends in
27:47 harboring that anger. It is imprisoning him. It is robbing him. It is keeping
27:53 him from living in joy, in peace and in love. For many years he refused to come
27:59 to church. You can. If you do that, you don't realize. You think you got the right to be angry, but you don't realize
28:05 you're not smart. Hello. Are you there? not smart at all and there are a lot of
28:11 unsmart people running all over the world from all kinds of cultures really tragically for example I was preaching
28:18 this big church in Singapore at the end when I make an order call one or guy one
28:24 okay uh westerner put up his hand right in the front all right he said he he was actually executive pastor of the church
28:31 put up a hand I was surprised I said how come you put I thought you should know better put up a hand for prayer at the
28:37 end we met up. I said, "What happened, my friend?" He said, "You know what? My brother, he was then about 6 years old.
28:44 My brother and my father, they have not been talking to each other for years."
28:51 For years. And I put my hand up to stand on behalf of my brother
28:58 asking God in mercy and grace to intervene and to break through and to set him free as much as setting my
29:04 father free. Unities can happen like that, isn't it? And what a tragedy that
29:10 families are broken up like this from all cultures and traditions and backgrounds, isn't it?
29:16 But a wonderful thing is this friends, not just why we must forgive. How many times we must forgive? The wonderful
29:22 what happens when we forgive the first thing happens it sets me free. When I choose to forgive that person is not
29:28 that it sets me free. It sets the other person free because I want to say to the I'm tired of holding you on. I want to
29:34 let you go. And in letting that person go, friends, you know what? You let yourself go. It's an amazing thing,
29:39 isn't it? About the power of forgiveness. It frees us to living. It
29:44 frees us from living. Isn't it like this? Not friends, you know, when I choose to forgive, it sets me free. It
29:51 sets the other person free. That there's a third reason as to why. The third reason that there is healing. All right?
29:58 Why? Because in James chapter 5:16, it tells us like this. Come, let's read together. Therefore, confess your sins
30:05 to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
30:14 When we confess, we pray. God amazingly brings healing to us in our lives. Isn't it? Like sometimes, for example, as as
30:22 husband and wife, sometimes we got differences, we got conflicts. Got to know.
30:28 Hey, God or not? God, God. Okay. Unless you're very
30:33 unusual, probably abnormal couples, right? Know we have, isn't it? All right. You said differences, conflicts,
30:42 sometimes quarrels. But when we humble ourselves and come before God and maybe
30:48 kneel before God, humble ourselves, confess our sin to each other, as we confess to God and ask God forgive us
30:53 ourselves, what happens at at the end when you get up, you feel closer to each other. Amen.
30:60 Hey, right now, you just feel closer to each other than before. And that's what
31:05 it is. And friends, can I say this is the privilege of you and I as Christians
31:10 because you and I as Christians can come to God and humble ourselves before as we confess our sins and to God. God in
31:16 mercy releases his grace upon our lives and bind us closer than before. Isn't it? Then we begin to realize how foolish
31:24 and how stubborn and proud I was to hold on all right
31:30 against my wife, against my husband. It is like the whole group of CEOs I mean business leaders I'm involved in
31:37 mentoring all right they're all in the 50s 60s a few in their 70s in terms of ages what happens is and sometimes they
31:44 like to say you know pastor our senior citizens group our senior citizens club okay uh that I say some of us well we
31:50 belong to the 5 series the BMW 5 series some of us belong to the 6 series many
31:56 of us belong to the 7 series but you know what we got also eight and 9 series also got into I tell you know I belong
32:03 to the three series. Amen. Like many of you, right? And so
32:10 what happens? This guy is a CEO of a company. You know that he share with us very honest sometimes me and my wife we
32:16 conflict quarrel that kind of thing. You know I'm CEO I must win. Hello CEOs. I'm
32:24 CEO I must win. Whatever conflict I must win against my wife. Then he sat down thought about it. Not very clever. He's
32:31 my She is my wife. I almost He's my She is my wife. I said, "Why do I fight
32:36 against her like this?" Am I right? Okay. I give you this other example. This church in Singapore I preached
32:42 there. Okay. And at the end, a number of people line up to see me and this guy
32:48 who saw me at the end uh with tears in his eyes said to me, "Pastor Daniel, thank you for your message." All right.
32:54 Thank you for a message. With tears in his eyes. And he said to me, "Pastor, tomorrow morning, tomorrow morning, I
32:59 want to go to my lawyer's office and tell my lawyer, would you tear up the divorce papers I have instituted against
33:06 my wife? Just tear it up. Not interested pursue anymore." I was so touched by
33:12 what he said, so moved by it. I said, "My friend, thank you so much for what
33:18 you have just said. I thank God for your humility. But more than humility, my friend, I
33:25 want to pray for you for courage because it requires courage to carry it through. Amen. So I pray for thank God for
33:32 humility. I pray for courage for him that whatever he says today, tomorrow morning, first thing in the morning, he
33:38 will do it in a lawyer's office. You know friends, at the end the senior pastor took me to his car to go for
33:44 lunch. I saw him walking towards his own car. And you know what? He drives a very nice car. All right, friends. Driving a
33:52 nice car is no indication things are okay on the inside. Amen. Having a high position is no indication things are
33:58 okay on the inside. Sometimes living in a big house is no indication things are okay on the inside. See friends,
34:04 sometimes the problem living in a big house is just we can hide from each other in the many rooms we have got.
34:11 Hello. So it's good to live in a small apartment. Amen. I said then you can't hide from
34:18 each other. You got to face each other. You said right now and that's the reality friends. How long can we hide?
34:25 How long can we run away? And friends, can I say some people running away for years, for years
34:34 by fellow Christian refuse to come to First Baptist Church. All right? And sometimes not just for weeks, for
34:40 months, for years. How sad. He doesn't realize or she doesn't realize that
34:45 thing has been dealt with, confronted, resolved properly. And so important isn't it for you and I
34:52 to know that right now friends you know sometimes people say pastor you don't
34:58 understand you don't understand how deeply I was hurt you don't understand at all and sometimes we say to God but
35:03 Lord it has been hard to forgive really hard because the wound the injury is so deep you know when people say to me like
35:11 this you don't understand pastor know the wound is so deep it's impossible to forgive you know what I do I said you
35:17 know what you don't mind let me take you to the foot of the cross. Come with me to the fruit to the foot of the cross.
35:23 Look at Jesus. Look at his suffering on the cross. Is your pain, my pain,
35:31 equal to his pain? Is it the pain that Jesus went through
35:36 on the cross for your sin, my sin, the excruciating pain is no comparison with
35:42 whatever pains we go through in life. Amen. Isn't it? So when people say pastor I can't take the person to a
35:48 cross let's look at Jesus what he did for you for me he did for the whole
35:54 world but friends sometimes you hear this say all right to you hey come on
35:60 forgive and forget how many you hear about this how many heard about this your friend hey come on forgive and
36:05 forgeth isn't very common this is said to us friends can I say that's unbiblical
36:12 now how many of you you have really forgiven Even someone who had wronged you, you already forgiven but you still
36:18 remember today. Can I see your hands? How many of you see your hands? Who are so many? You're terrible people. You are
36:24 terrible people. Still remember. How can friends? Can I say it's perfectly all
36:29 right? Really. So people who teach about forgive forget they're unbiblical.
36:35 They're not. Why? Because let me prove you very simply. Let me prove to you very simply. If we say forgive and
36:41 forget, you and I should not read the Bible at all. Why? Because in the Bible, it is tons of
36:47 sins of God's people. Amen. So, if you're supposed to forget, we shouldn't be reading the Bible because it contains
36:52 tons of sins of God's people, isn't it? What is the purpose of the wrongs of the sins of God's people are recorded in
36:58 scripture for all of us? What's the purpose of it all? Okay, let me turn with you. All right, turn with me to one
37:04 Corinthians chapter uh 11. And this is what you notice when apostle
37:09 Paul tells uh tells us like this.
37:25 one sorry 1 Corinthians chapter 10 1 Corinthians 10 11 Paul writes like this
37:31 these things happened to them as examples all the wrongs all the sins okay that has happened in scripture
37:37 these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us on whom the fulfillment
37:44 ages has come. See all the wrongs that the people of God committed
37:49 some of them recorded in scripture for us. What is the purpose of God? To warn you and me not to repeat the same
37:55 mistakes. Hello. Are you there? Isn't it? And that's the amazing beauty and power of scripture that it contains tons
38:02 of sins of God's people. Isn't it? What is the purpose you know? Not to shame them, not to condemn them, not to
38:08 destroy them, but as a reminder and a warning to all of us that we don't repeat the same mistakes. Hello, are you
38:14 there? Sen friends, you know what? You and I got to learn from all the broken noses of the people of God in the Bible
38:21 and keep our one single only nose. Hello. Isn't it? Keep our one nice nose
38:28 and learn from all the broken noses in the Bible. That's the purpose of it all, isn't it? And that's why this book is
38:33 such a powerful book. This book's the most important book in the whole world. So therefore, you and I should read less
38:38 of her world, his world, whatever other worlds. Amen. Is it here in all these is
38:45 encapsulated all the wisdom and insights of the people of the world. Is it that
38:50 you can learn from enrich ourselves in a process like this? So friends, it is not forgive and forget. In fact, there is
38:57 one senior pastor of big hills church up north. I was teaching okay a course on
39:04 leadership action Bible college of Malaysia and he signed up amongst various other pastors who been there for
39:09 pastoring for more than 30 years. I said why do you sign up? Because you all should be teaching not me teaching you
39:15 all but because they said pastor because you're teaching that's why we come. And these are pastors of big churches have
39:20 been pastoring me for over 30 years. Great pastors I know them. Okay. And one of them at the end came out to him,
39:26 pastor Daniel, thank you what you just said about forgiveness because for the last 30 years I struggle
39:34 like crazy. I remember the wrongs of the person who have done
39:39 wrong to me. I have really forgiven that person but I cannot take it off from my
39:45 mind. I told him you terrible sinful pastor. How can you do that? No. No. He
39:50 said thank you so much. For the first time I'm liberated. For the first time and liberated. It is not forgive and
39:57 forget. But what it is it friend? It is forgive and forbear.
40:02 And it is to forbear in love. So not forgive and forgive but forgive and forbear. It is to forbear in love. And
40:09 this exactly friends what Paul writes to us. Ephesians 4:2. Come let's read together. Be completely humble and
40:16 gentle. Be patient bearing with one another in love. forbearing one another
40:21 in love is it so is forgive and forbear now when we forbear script when the
40:27 bible says forbear it is forbearance and love okay so it is not to forbear is to
40:33 what to do I have to t until he dies or I die then his thing is over that's all what it means is it is to forbear in
40:40 love say you know what okay it's not that guy it is even to reach out to that
40:46 guy to love that guy in spite whatever has happened now you and I can only do that provided we have really forgiven.
40:52 Amen. You and I can really do that provided we have really forgiven. And therefore friends the thing is this what
40:58 is a test that I have really forgiven that person. What is a true test that I have
41:05 forgiven? Is that sometimes you know you hurt that person so badly you really deeply hurt that person that hey it's
41:11 okay John forgiven forgiven and he that guy say so lightly you wonder to
41:16 yourself really true or not? He say so lightly but you hurt him so deeply. So the thing
41:23 is this friends, what is a test that you have really forgiven that person?
41:30 No matter how deep the hurt you you said you're forgiven, what is the true test you've really forgiven? Okay, let me try
41:36 to explain what is what is the test. The test is this. Every time you see that
41:42 person or you think about the incident, is there any more pain in your heart?
41:48 Is there any more pain in your heart? If there is a slight bit of pain still, you
41:55 have not dealt with it completely. It has not been totally dealt with. If there's a slight pain still in your
42:01 heart, so the test is is a pain in your heart. And there's still slight pain,
42:06 you got to deal with it. How to deal with it? Go up to the person and say to
42:12 the person, "My friend, I'm so sorry. I thought I forgiven you. But you know
42:19 what? Every time I see you think of the incident, there's still pain in my heart.
42:24 Will you please forgive me for having the pain still in my heart? Please forgive me as I choose likewise to
42:31 forgive you. Friends, you and I got to confront it, deal with it head on before there can be real true proper resolution
42:38 that takes place. Amen. Until unless it takes place, there will not be. Let me close with this.
42:45 this great man of God in Singapore by the name Dr. Benjamin Chu. Of course, he has passed away many years now. Highly
42:51 respected man as a medical doctor. Okay. In fact, when President Benjamin Shears,
42:57 a former president Singapore died, it was Dr. Benjamin Chu who conducted his funeral. That shows the respect that Dr.
43:05 Benjamin Chu in Singapore. Okay. And uh and what happens was highly respected
43:11 man. I have the privilege of uh working with him together evangelical fellowship Asia when I was general secretary of the
43:17 NCF. Okay. Wonderful man of God. You see when the Japanese invaded Malay and
43:23 Singapore, he was their medical doctor. All right. And he was pulled in by the Japanese to take care of wounded
43:30 Japanese soldiers in Singapore. All right. You know what he was thinking and saying in his heart? These rascals who
43:37 are here, this terrible people who are here invading our kicking our country
43:42 and bullying us, not bullying, killing us all like crazy like this. as we all know is that many many okay have been
43:48 killed particularly Chinese and he coming from a Chinese background when he sees okay Japanese how they dealt with
43:55 okay the Singaporeans the Chinese that kind of thing and uh the the brutality
44:00 they went through exterminating these people he was filled with big bitterness and hatred in his heart but he was
44:07 dragged in by the Japanese to attend to Japanese soldiers he had no choice otherwise he'll be dead as well isn't it
44:12 so he harbored this in his heart even as a Christian as a
44:19 fine Christian leader. You know what happens in the early '7s when the delegation from Japan came to Singapore
44:26 and came before the people of Singapore to ask for forgiveness. You know what Dr. Benjamin Chu did? He
44:34 went up to them and he said to them, "This was what happened during second
44:41 world war. I knew I come to ask for forgiveness from all of you. But you know what? To this very day, I've
44:48 harbored anger against you, bitterness, resentment against you all." And he in
44:53 front of them himself confessed his wrong, his sin, his hatred, his anger, his bitterness, his the wound in his
45:00 heart. and for the first time he was set free.
45:06 That's the way to deal with friends until unless we're willing to otherwise
45:11 there is no resolution there is no healing there is no wholeness we imprison we don't move on in life and I
45:19 believe friends this is so important for you and I to know from today onwards that you and I can live with greater
45:25 freedom and power more and more in the coming days but this can only take place
45:30 provided we will face head on with this kind of wounds injury hatred resentment
45:36 bitterness, anger in our hearts because otherwise we are robbed of our future and imprisoned in our present because of
45:43 the wounds and hurts and pains in our lives. Let us pray.
45:53 With heads bowed and eyes closed, I want to first extend an invitation for
45:59 those of us who have yet to come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
46:06 You're here maybe at an invitation of friend or relative or you just wanted in
46:13 or maybe you've been coming here for a number of times now but you've not
46:18 taken the step of faith to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior downstairs says up in a balcony I want
46:24 to extend this invitation to you all right with heads but eyes closed you would like to say yes to Jesus which is
46:30 very simply very very simply acknowledging we are sinner I'm a All of us are sinners. Believing secondly that
46:36 Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sin. Thirdly, ask him to forgive me of my sin. And then fourthly, inviting him
46:44 into my life as Lord and Savior. When we take that step of faith, my friend, you
46:49 become a child of God. You become a Christian. And I assure you, my friend, you're in for a wonderful journey of
46:56 your life with Jesus. Not that no problems or difficulties but he will be
47:01 there sustaining, keeping, enabling, empowering you as you move on in your life. So honest with you like to
47:09 upstairs at a count of three. Wherever you're seated, would you raise up your hand? I want to pray for you. Wherever
47:14 you're seated downstairs, up uh in the balcony at a count of three, raise up your hand. I want to pray for you. Are you ready? One, two, and three. Is
47:21 anyone? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Several hands. Yes. Anybody else? Yes. Thank you. Thank you.
47:27 Anybody else? Yes. Thank you. Several hands up in the galler balcony as well. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Now those who
47:34 raise up, would you say after me this prayer to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior? Those who say after me aloud and
47:40 church, can I ask you to join in to say together with these people aloud to encourage these people. So espec
47:48 Lord Jesus Christ I thank and I praise you for your love for me. Lord Jesus
47:55 Christ, I want to confess that I'm a sinner. I believe you died on the cross
48:02 for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins. Come right now into my life. Be my
48:10 Lord and my Savior. Take control of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and
48:18 your power and enable me to live as a Christian as a child of yours from today
48:25 onwards. Give me your love, your peace, your joy and your hope. Thank you Lord
48:32 Jesus. Lord seal it deep in every heart, every life who has prayed this prayer.
48:38 Bring father I pray this new birth and new life to pass from today onwards and lead them deeper higher and stronger in
48:45 you. Continue to bring them to come here first baptist church so they can be discipled so they can grow strong be
48:52 built up so that they in turn we will reach out to share the wonderful good news of Jesus and bring many more to
48:59 experience forgiveness of sins that is available in Jesus so that we can in turn in the process forgive those who
49:04 sin against us. So bless his precious ones. Father I pray. Thank you Jesus.
49:09 Thank you Lord. I want to extend one more invitation which is those those of
49:15 us who have been hurt have been wounded
49:20 for whatever reason. There's hurt and wound in your heart. Sometimes only you know. Sometimes even
49:27 your spouse don't know. I want to pray for you friends because it's a very precious moment. Very very precious
49:33 moment. the wounds and pains and hurts producing anger, bitterness, resentment,
49:38 hatred, and a desire for revenge. Friends, I believe God wants to deal with us to deal with it today. So that
49:46 will walk this from this place never the same again. So who hurts, wounds, and
49:51 pains and whatever else. Friends, at a count of three, where we're seated, downstairs, upsets, I want to pray for
49:57 you. All right? At a count, raise up a hand. I want to pray for you. Okay? Wherever you are, any wound and pain,
50:02 whatever. And some of these I sense could have been for there for years. Some of this could be when you even
50:07 childhood. You still harbor this in your heart. You not forgotten it. I want to pray for you friends. So very seated.
50:15 Okay. Uh I'm would you raise up a hand? One, two, three. Can I see your hand? Raise up. Thank you. Thank you. Yes.
50:20 Many hands. Keep it up. Would let me pray for you. All right. Keep it up. Right. There is no shame shyness. We're in a family together. All right. Uh we
50:27 all need the grace of God. Father, I bring to you all these my precious brothers and sisters. Lord, you know,
50:32 Father, oh God, the wounds and pains, oh God, in lives of these precious people, spirit of God, I pray you release your
50:39 healing grace upon them. And Lord, I pray that you enable these people to release forgiveness to whoever might
50:46 have hurt them, oh God, in the past. They they want that they choose, Father, I pray this day to release forgiveness
50:51 to these people. And Lord, I pray you bring healing right now to their lives. I take authority in Jesus. I uproot
50:57 every wound and pain and hurt and anger and bitterness. I take author, I uproot and I loosen this role from all these my
51:04 precious brothers, sisters. Set them all free. Father, I pray today in Jesus name. And release, oh God, I pray,
51:10 Father, your healing grace upon them. Release right now, Father, I pray, your healing. Let the bomb of Gilead, oh God,
51:15 I pray be applied in the heart and life of every person here this morning. Oh God, I pray and restore back to them the
51:22 joy of salvation. Oh God, enable them to walk in freedom, in peace and joy and could enable them likewise to forgive
51:28 and to forgive again and again. It will be a journey. It will continue to be one. Father, I pray, oh God, a permanent
51:34 attitude that we will exercise and show because of the forgiveness you yourself, heavenly father, show to us in the first
51:41 place that you have forgiven us again and will continue to do so. Help us likewise to do the same. Father, I pray
51:46 so that we be set free. We walk in joy, in peace. We will celebrate life forever and ever. Father, pray. So bless all
51:53 these precious ones. Oh God, I pray in Jesus wonderful name. God's wonderful people say, "Amen." Amen. Amen.
