To everything there is a season, a time for
every purpose under heaven…He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Eccl 3:1,11
A year ago, Pastor Kah Leong was approached to
consider doing CSM retreat in Davao with Love the Children Foundation ( LTCF ).
It did not materialise because God deemed it was not the right time.
By divine appointment, August 17, 2013 was set
apart for CSM’s foray into Davao for the first time, and it would be the right
time. In May 2013, Cindy and Tony, founders of LTCF and Pastors of Blessed
Living Church were in Singapore to connect with Pastor Kah Leong. They returned
to Davao with CSM materials to pave the way for the retreat and to prepare
their intercessors and church staff. Just two days before the retreat, Pastor
Charlie, the coordinator of CSM Philippines confirmed that he would join us for
the retreat. He had to embark on a road trip of some 12 hours and subsequently
catch a flight to Davao to meet with us; and to do the same on his way home.
Such is the dedication and heart of Pastor Charlie for his people and the CSM.
At the onset, there were 3 who were committed
to coming to Davao – Pastor Kah Leong, Kim Hwa and one other. By 15 August, we
have garnered a full team of 8 bound for Davao. The team now comprised of
Pastor Kah Leong, Kim Hwa, Hien Meng, Jessica, Judith and Jason, Alan, and
Yvonne.
Judith and Jason have been in the ministry of
feeding the poor among the poorest regions in Asia. One of their missions is
located in the mountainous region of Davao where they feed 120 school-going
children twice a week.
Six months ago, these children had no proper
food , clothes or education.
With the implementation of the feeding programme,
the children have an incentive to attend school. They now have put on weight and are
coming to school to be educated. Many
more around the village have heard of this and are coming to participate in the
program. Through education, the vision is to break the cycle of poverty in the
tribal community and beyond.
Through the additional resources provided by
Judith and Jason, the village now has clean running water for bathing from the
rain as a result of the building of a basic collection tank.
There were about 70 participants at the CSM
retreat comprising staff of LTCF, Blessed Living Church and the Feeding
Programme; and staff of affiliated ministries, together with their family
members.
Pastor Kah Leong entreated the participants to
be in a position of rest, instead of labouring; play instead of feeling weary,
and to stand against the evil one by recognising his schemes and to counter
them.
He touched on the topic of pride, which is the
first and most lethal weapon Satan uses to block off God's blessings and
highlights that pride is an overinflated sense of self. 1 Pet 5:5-6
Further along, the team expounded on the "Orphan Spirit" which is the typology of the bound man. We have the freedom to
rest in our Father's acceptance of us.
In dealing with guilt, shame and condemnation,
we are reminded that " I have made many many mistakes, but I'm not God's
mistake." The Father is wooing us to come back to Him for restoration, as a
declaration of His faithfulness.
Guilt is how we feel about the things we have
done. Shame is when guilt remains in our hearts without surrendering to God, or
can come about out of something done to us or by someone concerning us. ( Ezra
9:6 ). Condemnation is guilt + shame. Conviction comes from God to bring us to
a place to realise what we have done and to be reconciled with Him.
Moving on to the topic of abuse ( Ps 147:3 ) –
it is inner deadness . We performed the symbolic act of washing our face with
water for cleansing, followed by resting our hands gently on our heart for
healing of wounds and hurts.
The next part of our journey in this retreat is "Passage to Purity." It is conviction, not condemnation. God created sexuality
and it is good within the confines of marriage. Pastor Charlie shared on soul
ties, meaning knit or bound; joined to, cleaved. Soul ties can be good or
unholy. The very act of sexual relationship is a soul tie, and there is a soul
tie formed with every person in a sexual relationship. All sexual perversion ( unholy
soul tie ) robs the soul. ( Prov 6:22 ). Whatever is in the one becomes part of
the other in a soul tie. Freedom is found only at the Cross. Soul ties can also
be formed with objects, such as pornography or other addictions.
We came forward, with names of people with whom
we have unholy soul ties written on a piece of paper; renounced them one by
one, and end off with the symbolic act of tearing the paper into shreds; and
stamping on it.
The team led participants at each segment to be
honest and open with God and self, and to repent, renounce and break the cycle
of bondage in the areas explored.
The retreat ended on a victorious note by Kim
Hwa sharing on the “Resurrection Life” (Rom 8:11). She reminded us that the
enemy wants to steal our hopes, dreams, desires and rob us of joy. ( John 10:10
) This opens up the door for the spirit of death. The enemy wants to kill with
sickness and diseases in the body, our mental capability, our emotional
wholeness; he wants to kill our passion for life. Abundant life is to be
experienced now. The enemy wants to destroy relationships, family, church, our
relationship with God, since relationship is a vital and important plan of God.
We are to recognise that God is a dream giver.
He wants to redeem, resurrect and restore.
( Rom 8:38 ) God loves us with a
stubborn love. ( Deut 28:9-10 )
A prophetic word was given by Kim Hwa – that
the latter glory of the Philippines will be greater than its former glory.
It is a breakthrough – of new beginnings, new
relationships, fresh dreams, toward a joyful journey of walking closer in
fellowship with our Father, and recognising our identity as his beloved
children; no longer oppressed by the enemy. We have learnt to recognise how he
works, and how to deal with his schemes – repent, renounce and break. Sometimes
we will fall, but we have learnt how to pick ourselves up and stand up, and
move forward. To God be the glory.
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