Search this site

(Extract from chapter 7; Your Faith Determines Your Future: Lifting The Limits Off Your Life) Dr Brendan Kirby Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. —2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJVYou can do great things. Your potential may be unrealized at the moment, but a latent seed can still grow and produce much fruit! Your potential may be unrealized at the moment, but a latent seed can still grow and produce much fruit! In August 1989 I started work as a Research Scientist for the CSIRO Division of Wool Technology in Geelong. After 12 months instead of making my position permanent (as previously promised two times by my boss) I was placed on extended probation in order to assess my work further. Being under probation was a great shock to my system - especially when I had been assured, I’d be made a permanent staff member. This was a very stressful time - and I worked as hard as I could to redeem myself in my superiors’ eyes - struggling to make a research discovery ASAP. One of the experimental scientists I was working with noted that my recent experimental results were of a good quality. I began to believe I could make it back. After another three months my superiors unofficially sacked me. (The official letter had not yet been signed off). It was a devastating blow. After ten years at university it was now all to no avail. I wondered if my life would ever recover. My reputation would be shattered. I had three months employment remaining – my research leader did not care if I came to work or stayed at home for that duration. After praying to God for my work that night with David Bernard who was the leader of the Bible study fellowship that I was attending, and with other church friends in Williamstown I received fresh courage. I arrived the next morning to work at 8am much to the chagrin of my boss, determined to overturn this decision. For the next three months I worked as if my life depended upon it – and I prayed like I had never prayed before, drawing upon all the trust and faith in God that I could. During this time the assistant chief of division invited me into his office and recommended that I resign because it would smooth things out – they would not have to sack me and I would not have that “blot” on my record – but I would have to admit that I could not cope with textile research. I felt like I was in the middle of the plot of a Hollywood drama – except my life really was at stake! I rejected the “kind” offer of the assistant chief and he reconciled himself with having at least tried to help me. I was even more determined to show that I could succeed in this work – not knowing what lay ahead. But I prayed and worked – knowing in my heart that somehow God would work things out. Towards the end of those three months my determination to “save my future” eventually paid off into my being given a three year research fellowship. This was one of the biggest miracles of my life. Subsequent to this God-given deliverance my three line managers still conspired against me by assigning public staff presentations to me they were confident I would do badly in. Those next three years were some of the most intense in my life! But I held on to the belief that God would give myself and Nick Sokolov (the eccentric but brilliant engineer from Footscray) excellent results in our worsted rectilinear combing research project (Dan. 2:21,22). After another two years or so we were actually leading the world in combing production rate research. This remarkable turnaround of events stunned our division, and our research presentations solicited huge interest. Some of the mathematics that was derived during this work was later published in one of the world’s leading textile research journals (J.T.I. 95 (2004) 261). This publication established the results on credible international grounds. God came through and changed my future because I chose to believe and fought for my job, my self-esteem and my faith. It was very difficult, it was extremely stressful, but with God all things were possible. No matter how defeated you may feel today, despite the rejection and negative words you may have experienced, you can still arise out of your ashes and achieve victory in your life with God’s help. You can still arise out of your ashes and achieve victory in your life with God’s help. Don’t give up. Fight for your future. Fight for your faith. Keep wrestling against your common enemies of fear, anxiety, confusion, doubt, unbelief, sin and self-centredness! Fight for your future. Fight for your faith. Keep wrestling against your common enemies of fear, anxiety, confusion, doubt, unbelief, sin and self-centredness! Copyright©️2026 by Brendan Kirby. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

There is a wide variety of churches, ministries, and Christian organisations. A key question is: how do we support them? How do we support their staff? How do we support visiting ministries? On one hand, some appear to receive very large salaries or financial support — though in reality this group is quite small. On the other hand, many more receive inadequate support, and some struggle significantly. Their proportion is far greater than it ought to be. Throughout Church history, this has been a major issue. Many views and approaches have emerged regarding how to support such workers, whom I refer to as Kingdom workers. Even in the Apostle Paul’s time, it was already a matter he needed to address. My hope is that God’s people will better understand the key biblical principles related to this area. The passage of 1 Corinthians 9:1–18 offers us important insights. RECOGNISING KINGDOM WORKERS 1 Corinthians 9:1 - 18 (NIV) 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. In this part of the epistle, Paul began a passionate defence of his calling as an apostle. Although Paul founded the church in Corinth, there were some within who were questioning whether Paul was truly an apostle. Some argued that Paul was not as eloquent as apostles like Apollos or Peter, believing he lacked the charisma or wisdom they assumed an apostle should possess. In other words, Paul did not “tickle their ears” the way they were accustomed to in the philosophical arenas. Paul addresses some of this in 1 Corinthians 1–4. Others reasoned that Paul was not associated with Jesus in the way the original twelve apostles were, and therefore questioned how he could have been chosen as an apostle. This likely prompted Paul to emphasise that he had seen Jesus on the road to Damascus — a statement many Christians today mistakenly treat as a criterion for apostleship. Others felt that since Paul did not depend on their donations as others did, he must somehow be of a lesser standing than them. Perhaps he is not an apostle! It is important to identify genuine Kingdom workers, especially if we are to support them. In effect, the Corinthian believers were struggling to recognise Kingdom workers, particularly Paul. It is important to identify genuine Kingdom workers, especially if we are to support them. To recognise them appropriately, we can draw several key thoughts from this passage. Consider their calling (v1a): “Am I not an apostle?” Is there evidence of God’s call upon their lives for the ministry role? Consider their relationship with Christ (v1b): “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Is there clear evidence of their ongoing relationship and allegiance to God? Be cautious of those who appear to serve God but are ultimately serving themselves. Consider their fruits of ministry (v1c): “Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?” One way to recognise a person’s calling is to carefully examine the biblical fruits of their labour. An evangelist will win souls. A prophet will discern God’s voice and speak prophetically. A pastor will shepherd the people. A teacher will teach effectively. An apostle will establish and grow churches, and oversee other churches. Is the fruit leading to godliness and righteousness rather than the opposite? Are the church and ministry staff truly advancing God’s work? Consider their ministry recognition (v2): “Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” Here we see the issue of recognition. Are they recognised by other ministries? Do other fivefold ministers affirm their calling and role? Will others vouch for their ministry — their faithfulness and devotion to God? These are some key questions we can ask. RIGHT OF SUPPORT Paul began to outline reasons why both he and Barnabas were deserving of support from the Corinthian church. From this we can determine a number of key principles. Fairness in treatment (v4-5) “4Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?” Those who are equally deserving should receive similar treatment, similar support. Peter (Cephas) and other apostles, even Jesus’ brothers, were receiving support when they came to Corinth to minister. Even Peter’s wife received support as she travelled with him. Hence, it is only fair to expect the same treatment for Paul and Barnabas. The principle of fairness should apply in support. Those who are equally deserving should receive similar treatment, similar support. There should not be favouritism. Rather, we should be discerning of their personal circumstances and provide a fair level of support. In our church, we consider the size of the congregation that is ministered to, as the larger the congregation, usually the larger its financial capacity. We consider the time the minister is likely to invest in the preparation, the actual ministry times, the total time away including travel required, etc. We consider whether the minister is an itinerant minister, as they are more dependent on the income they receive from the ministry. Common practice as common sense (v6-7) “6Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?” No soldier fights at his own expense. Imagine if soldiers are told, “Pay for your own gun and ammunition, own protective vests, own boots!” At one time, the sad reality was Australian soldiers bound for Afghanistan had to buy some of their own gear because they did not trust the army-issued versions. It is simply common sense that workers are covered for the costs of the work, receive some personal returns for their efforts. Just as farmers can eat from their produce or shepherds drink of their flock’s milk, Paul argues that it is simply common sense that workers are covered for the costs of the work, receive some personal returns for their efforts. Hence leaders such as Paul and Barnabas have the right to receive support from the Corinthian church since they established it, guide and continue to minister to it. The principle we derive is that if one contributes significantly to the well-being or operation of an organisation, it is fair to be supported. If one is hired to do a job, they should be paid accordingly. Paul then proceeds to expound Scriptural principles… Support from the ministry (v8-14) “8Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Paul quoted Deuteronomy 25:4 (NIV) “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain”. The context is probably where an ox is rented to tread a farmer’s grains. Some farmers mistreat the ox by not allowing it to feed on their grain. Because they could not care less about the conditions for the ox that they rented. “Let it go hungry!” Have you ever found that when people borrow or rent something, they tend to treat it less carefully? Take my books, for example. I’m quite a particular person when it comes to books. I treat them lovingly. My books usually look pristine — crisp pages, clean edges, no bends, no bruises. And if I ever underline anything, it’s done with a ruler, slowly and carefully, like a man performing delicate surgery. So you can imagine my reaction when people borrow my books and return them with dog‑ears. Some even underline them — with terrible, wavy, earthquake lines! It’s as if the book went out for a peaceful stroll and came back from a battlefield. I’ve had to learn to live with that nowadays. Especially since my wife, Lai Ling, is the complete opposite. She dog‑ears without hesitation. She underlines all over the place. She treats books like living companions, not fragile artefacts. And God — with His gentle humour — uses this to grow me out of my preciousness. Out of my tight grip on neatness and control. He uses dog‑ears and wavy underlines to teach me patience, humility, and grace. Those involved in God’s work deserve support from the ministry itself. So God says, “Treat the ox right. Treat the owner of the ox rightly by allowing the ox to eat from what it treads.” Paul made the point that those involved in God’s work deserve support from the ministry itself. Especially if they have no other income source. Indeed, God designed the temple ministry to cater for the priests' needs. In the Old Testament, tithes and offerings were given to God in terms of foodstuffs and livestock. A portion was burnt, sacrificed unto God, but the remainder was for the priests so they could live off it. In the church, if we have been spiritually blessed, we should bless in return. In the same way, in the church, if we have been spiritually blessed, we should bless in return. Galatians 6:7 (NIV) “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” Paul also referred to the instruction that Jesus gave in Luke 10:7 (NIV) “…the worker deserves his wages” So church staff, ministry staff, people who establish their own ministries, etcetera, have a right to receive appropriate support from it. Of course, the support should be within the organisation’s means. The ox cannot eat more grain than it has trodden! Those who have greater responsibilities and bigger roles should be compensated/supported accordingly. Just as in the temple, the Aaronic priests receive a greater portion compared to the Levitical priests. This recognises that some roles require much more experience, expertise and responsibilities. Honour God’s servants (v11-12a) “11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?” Part of the reason why this whole passage was written was because the Corinthian church failed to honour Paul as a servant of God. There were segments in the church who were critical of Paul, dishonouring him. Paul also wanted to set the biblical perspective as it impacts their treatment of other ministries. When we honour God’s servants rightly, we honour He who sent them. One critical key is that we should honour God’s servants. When we honour God’s servants rightly, we honour He who sent them. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - 13 (NIV) “12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.” Honour can be demonstrated in a wide range of ways. Financial support is only one of the key ways. Honour is demonstrated by the way we love them, encourage them, pray for them, lend a hand, speak well of them, etc. Honour is due to all of God’s servants, and there is a rightful place for giving double honour to those who serve their role faithfully and well. Honour is due to all of God’s servants, and there is a rightful place for giving double honour to those who serve their role faithfully and well. In other words, excellence should be recognised with extra honour. 1 Timothy 5:17 - 18 (NIV) 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” Again, this can be shown in a variety of ways. But the key is to express it tangibly, so it is obvious to be double honour, so that they are encouraged, affirmed for a job well done, etc. As an example, our family of churches in Malaysia expressed double honour to the national leader Ps. Simon by buying him a car some years ago. RESTRAINING THE RIGHT OF SUPPORT (v12b, 15-18) “But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.” After Paul’s extensive efforts to argue for the right of support, he turns around and declares that he has no intention of exercising those rights. Why? Firstly, he was willing to forego such support if it might hinder the Gospel in any way. Hence, he operated as a tent-maker. I did the same, working as a research scientist while pioneering this church as a volunteer for about 5 years before I went part-time – so as not to burden the church. Secondly, he was willing, even eager, to preach the Gospel voluntarily. To Paul, there were greater rewards than the material support he could have received. The greater reward was the satisfaction of offering the Gospel at no cost to the Corinthian church. Paul did something counter-cultural to the times and context of Corinth. To tangibly demonstrate this truth: the Gospel is free. The Gospel is freely available because of God’s grace. Paul chose to present it freely to the Corinthian church. To tangibly drive home the point that the Gospel was truly free. Thirdly, Paul knew that his relationship with the church was fragile. Hence, he did not want to strain it further. Now, the other apostles did not choose to do it that way. We know this because they received material support. And in fact, Paul did willingly receive support from other churches and individuals at other times. 2 Corinthians 11:8 - 9 (NIV) “8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.” We know he received support from the Philippian church instead. Philippians 4:15 - 16 (NIV) “15 … in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.” On the practical front, we must remember that Paul was single and had no family to support. So, it was much easier for him to live only on a very small income. So now we have 2 main principles. Firstly, the right of a Kingdom worker to receive appropriate support for their ministry. Those who receive the ministry should take responsibility to provide appropriate support to honour them, both materially and in other relevant ways. The sad thing is, I have seen churches expect Kingdom workers to make all the sacrifices, to live by faith. But the church itself fails to live out its faith by honouring its Kingdom workers by giving and blessing them. The consequence is that the Kingdom worker faces more personal stress having to cope financially. Sadly, I know of children of pastors who are turned away from ministry because they experienced firsthand how poorly their parents were treated. Secondly, the Kingdom worker should consider restraining from receiving such support – if it hinders the effectiveness of propagating the Gospel. Self-sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. It is by this attitude that we know whether one is truly a Kingdom worker. Sadly, we all know of Christian leaders who take all they can receive, earning enormous amounts. My conviction is that once we can live adequately and provide for our family, we really do not need much more. Can we be generous and give it to others instead who are in greater need? Give it to further the ministry? I am so inspired by the example Ps Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. When his books became famous, and he earned millions from it, what did he do? He repaid his church all the salary it had ever paid him. I believe it was more than 20 years of salary. CONCLUSIONS I want to honour all who serve God’s church and make sacrifices in their income. As God’s people, we must recognise and honour those who do so. Those who have been blessed by their ministry should do our best to provide them with appropriate support so they can continue to serve the Lord without facing undue financial stress. Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Often people do not experience the power of God because they lack true faith. God is looking for faith in people’s hearts. When there is faith, God responds. At times, in greater ways than we expected. Consider the story of the paralysed man and his friends that took unusual steps to bring him to Jesus in Mark 2:1–3 (NIV84) 1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. These men came to Jesus with faith, and it unlocked an unexpected response from Jesus. From this narrative, we discover 3 things that occur when we have faith. 1. RECEIVES GOD’S FAVOUR Mark 2:4-5 (NIV84) 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” When Jesus saw them, what was His response? He called the paralytic “son”. A term that indicated warmth and favour. If some men broke through the roof of my house, I might call them a few things, but definitely not “son”. I would not view them favourably. This emphasised how deeply Jesus was impressed by their actions. What was it about them that Jesus viewed favourably? Jesus saw their humility. They were humble enough to admit that they needed help and sought for help. They knew that they could not solve their problem by their own efforts. Only Jesus could help their friend. So, they acted in the only way they knew to get to Jesus. Even if meant breaking through roofs. It takes humility to ask for help. How many of us avoid asking for help, because it was too embarrassing to ask for it! We may not be physically handicapped like the man, but we may be emotionally, mentally, socially or spiritually handicapped in some way. Yet often we may be too proud to admit it. We might be having a dull pain of loneliness or insecurity, but we hide it and appear cool. We might even try drowning ourselves with alcohol or drugs. Only to wake up in the morning with a big hangover and still the same hole in our hearts. I know of those who look like they have it all together. They have the looks, the brains, the personality. But inside they are a mess! Will we humble ourselves enough to recognize we need help, just like the paralysed man? And turn to God? God favours those who are willing to humble themselves. Isa 66:2 (NIV84) … "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, ..." God favours those who are willing to humble themselves. Jesus saw their determination. When the 4 men saw the huge crowd around the house, they knew there was little hope of their friend getting the attention he needed from Jesus. How in world would they even get close to Jesus? That was when they got a brilliant idea to jump the queue. Doing so meant getting through every obstacle. So they lifted their friend on a mat up to the roof. Then they dug through the roof itself. Most likely the roof was made of a thick layer of compacted earth over a rough wooden ceiling. This wooden ceiling probably was framed by trimmed tree trunk beams upon which close fitting smaller branches were laid. Strong enough for men to walk upon. These men dug through the earth layer, pulled out the branches to open an area large enough to fit their friend lying on a mat through it. A considerable effort! The queue jumpers got an F for courtesy but an A+ for determination. They would not take a “No” for an answer! Jesus was impressed with their determination, their doggedness. They needed help and they were going to get it. True faith is characterized by its determination to obtain an answer from God. True faith is characterized by its determination to obtain an answer from God. Jesus saw their faith for healing. So certain was their faith in Jesus’ ability to heal their friend, they literally broke through every barrier to get to Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that faith is a critical ingredient that pleases God. Heb 11:6 (NIV84) "And without faith it is impossible to please God…" It was not just an intellectual faith but a faith that truly trusts by taking action. 2. RECEIVES SOLUTIONS TO REAL NEEDS Since Jesus had favour upon these men and the paralysed man, what did Jesus do? Mark 2: 5 (NIV84) When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Imagine the poor paralysed man and his friends who went through the huge effort to get to Jesus, expecting to receive miraculous healing. He came to be healed physically, but Jesus dealt with his spiritual problem. Perhaps the man must be thinking, “Excuse me? I can’t walk! Nice to be forgiven my sins, but I still can’t walk!” We often seek for solutions to our perceived needs. But those needs may not be our real or greatest needs. It could be imagined needs. “If only I had more money or more time. If only I was more beautiful, had a better body shape. If only I can speak better. If only I had more friends.” It is like taking Panadol for brain tumour. Or it could be secondary problems. Dealing with our flu when we have cancer. We live in a society that seeks the quick fix. If we have problem in our relationships, just read Relationship for Dummies or check on YouTube for latest advice. If we have depression, just pop this pill or read “5 easy steps to overcome depression”. But Jesus is more interested in dealing with the deeper, main problem first. Which is sin. Sin is shown by our selfishness, self-centeredness. Isa 53:6 (NIV84) "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; ..." Sin is the root of most problems in our lives and in this world today. It can only be dealt with properly when people repent and turn to God, and to follow Him. Then God will forgive us. The paralysed man had true faith in God and because Jesus saw it in his heart, He had mercy on him and forgave his sins. Those with true faith will often receive more than they asked for. God may answer by dealing with our greater needs first. Those with true faith will often receive more than they asked for. God may answer by dealing with our greater needs first. 3. RECEIVES THE TOUCH OF GOD Some teachers of the law, religious scholars, were upset with Jesus forgiving the man’s sins. “How can Jesus forgive anyone their sins? Only God can! It goes against all our theology.” Mark 2:6-7 (NIV84) 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” An incorrect worldview can be a great hindrance to receiving what God has to say or do! Ever noticed that there were no Pharisees or teachers of the law who were healed by Jesus? Jesus immediately knew what was going on in their hearts. And He challenged their thinking. An incorrect worldview can be a great hindrance to receiving what God has to say or do! Mark 2:8-12 (NIV84) 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Jesus demonstrated that He had the power to forgive sins by healing the paralysed man miraculously. Jesus sought true faith and he saw it in those men. God is delighted to find true faith and moves in response to it. Ps. Jerry Stott, a friend of mine, recalled an incident when he was called to a hospital because a church member’s brother was on life-support. This young man, a husband and father, was unconscious, barely alive. The doctors were quite certain he would not make it. Ps. Jerry started to make a simple prayer for his soul when suddenly he heard God say, “I will raise him on the third day.” Shocked, he asked God to confirm with a sign, that the man’s eyes would open. Right at the moment, the man opened his eyes! Ps. Jerry decided he had to rise up in faith to trust God. So he informed the man’s family not to take the man off the life support and that God will heal him on the third day. Ps. Jerry then went off on a planned family vacation. When he returned a few weeks later, he discovered that the dying man sat up and was completely healed on the third day. The man and his family even came to join Ps. Jerry’s church. God intervenes, when there is true faith. God intervenes, when there is true faith CONCLUSION True faith is when we are willing to trust in God fully. God delights in such faith. He will respond to us favourably. He will even provide us more than we ask. God will touch us, even miraculously. Shall we rise up and be found with true faith? Copyright©️2026 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Welcome to Wilson & Lai Ling's ministry website! We aim to provide practical ministry and biblical insights. To empower Spirit-filled ministry. Our immediate focus will be on leadership, Bible, intercession and prophetic. Wilson & Lai Ling CONNECT Practical Biblical Anointed Practical Biblical Anointed We aim to provide practical ministry and biblical insights. To empower Spirit-filled ministry. Our immediate focus will be on leadership, Bible, intercession and prophetic. About Us Latest Episode I033 Prayer, Surrender, and Self-Care with Ps Julie Stott Intercession Lai Ling Pastor Julie Stott doesn’t just preach about prayer—she lives it. For 48 years, she’s started every day the same way: on her knees, pursuing God before anything else. Why? Because she knows: out of intimacy comes impact. In this episode, she shares: – How worship shifts her focus from problems to the Problem-Solver – Why she keeps prayer lists for missionaries, family, and those needing a touch from God – The miracle that happened when she repented of trusting doctors more than God – How to strengthen yourself in the Lord when you feel like giving up (1 Samuel 30:6) This is a must-listen for every intercessor, pastor, and leader who wants to walk closely with God and overflow to others. Download Leader Guide More episodes Leadership Intercession Leadership Listen & Subscribe Wilson Lim Podcast Available On Listen & Subscribe Lai Ling Lim Podcast Available On Latest Blog Posts Faith to Overcome Failures Brendan Kirby 6 days ago 4 min read Supporting Kingdom Workers Wilson Lim Oct 7 12 min read What Happens When God Sees True Faith? Wilson Lim Sep 15 7 min read Subscribe for updates! Be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, blog posts, and more! Your generosity helps further our mission to equip leaders. Ask us anything related to our ministry focuses. Ask Us

A selection of sermons by Wilson & Lai Ling Sermons Not Found Search using single words or Boolean operators AND/OR i.e. "God AND faith” ALL Wilson Lim Lai Ling Button 21 Oct 2026 | Prophecy God invites us to stay open to the Holy Spirit while remaining grounded in His Word. True prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts—and it will never contradict Scripture. Receive with humility. Test with wisdom. Hold fast to what is good. “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 Lai Ling Button 16 Sept 2026 | Dying to Live John 12:23-28 To truly live, you must first die. Jesus said: unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (John 12:24). What is God asking you to let go of so He can bring something new? Wilson Lim Button 2 Sept 2026 | The Holy Spirit Transforming Lives Everywhere Acts 1:4-8 Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. That abundant life includes a Spirit-filled life now and the promise of greater works through us. The Holy Spirit transforms our heart, becomes our Advocate and Helper, and baptises us with power for witness. A Christian life without the supernatural is a diminished, truncated Christian life. Wilson Lim Button 19 Aug 2026 | The King on a Borrowed Donkey Mark 11:1-11 The King came on a colt, not a chariot. Jesus fulfilled prophecy by entering Jerusalem lowly and riding on a donkey’s colt—God had prepared every detail. What is set apart for God must be pure and reserved for Him, like our firstfruits of time, energy, and resources. The King of All chose a borrowed colt: substance over spectacle, heart over hype. Which is your priority today? Wilson Lim Button 5 Aug 2026 | Discerning the Spirit's Work through the Word Acts 8:15-17 What did Luke mean by “receive the Holy Spirit”? Not conversion—empowerment. In Acts 8, the Samaritans were already saved but hadn’t received the Spirit’s power. Luke’s vocabulary, patterns, and Jesus’ own words all point to one truth: Spirit baptism is for boldness, witness, and kingdom authority. Are you operating in the fullness of what Jesus promised? Wilson Lim Button 22 Jul 2026 | Making Room For More Isaiah 54:1-4 To make room for more, God asks us to stretch—our faith, our sacrifice, our generosity. Like the widow’s jars, the measure we bring determines the space for God’s miracle. We do the possible, He does the impossible. Wilson Lim Button 8 Jul 2026 | Expectant To Encounter God Psalm 27 Expectation in God isn’t wishful thinking; it’s built on trust, fueled by longing, and proven in pursuit and perseverance. As we learn to trust God like David, long for His presence, actively pursue Him, and wait with confidence, we position ourselves to “see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Wilson Lim Button 17 Jun 2026 | The Promised Holy Spirit Outpouring and Its Impact Acts 2:1-21 ⁠Pentecost was not just a dramatic moment in history—it was the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Holy Spirit on all people who turn to Christ. This promise is not limited to the first believers; it is for you and me today. The Holy Spirit brings life transformation, becomes our Advocate to help us daily, and gives us supernatural power to live and serve God with courage and faith. Wilson Lim Button 3 Jun 2026 | By His Spirit Zechariah 4:1-14 God’s house is built by the Spirit, not by human effort. The same Spirit who anointed Zerubbabel and Joshua is still anointing you today—shaping your character, releasing gifts, and preparing you to advance His Kingdom. Let this year be about surrendering to His work in you and through you. Wilson Lim Button 20 May 2026 | In Awe of Jesus, Our Saviour While we were sinners, God took initiative—canceling our debt, nailing it to the cross (Romans 5:8, Colossians 2:14). His suffering brings forgiveness. Remember and proclaim: Jesus' death saves and transforms! Lai Ling 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ... 15 Now available on Apple and Spotify podcast services Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim Messages Listen on:

Sermons by Lai Ling Sermons Not Found Search using single words or Boolean operators AND/OR i.e. "God AND faith” ALL Wilson Lim Lai Ling Button 21 Oct 2026 | Prophecy God invites us to stay open to the Holy Spirit while remaining grounded in His Word. True prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts—and it will never contradict Scripture. Receive with humility. Test with wisdom. Hold fast to what is good. “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 Lai Ling Button 20 May 2026 | In Awe of Jesus, Our Saviour While we were sinners, God took initiative—canceling our debt, nailing it to the cross (Romans 5:8, Colossians 2:14). His suffering brings forgiveness. Remember and proclaim: Jesus' death saves and transforms! Lai Ling Button 22 Apr 2026 | Family Matters: How Will They Thrive Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Discover God's Heart for Children Flourishing Spiritually: Parent Intentionally with Eternal Vision (Deut 6:1-3), Choose the Right Biblical Approach to Foster Love, Obedience & Reverence for God (Deut 6:4-6), and Walk the Talk Diligently in Everyday Life to Impress His Commands on Their Hearts (Deut 6:7-9). Lai Ling Button 18 Mar 2026 | Missing the Mark of Genuine Devotion (Mark 12:38-40) Mark 12:38-40 Jesus exposed the scribes: long robes for show, exploiting widows while praying loudly for applause (Mark 12:38-40). Rise above pride—serve like Jesus who sought the lost (Luke 19:10). Your humble heart changes everything! Lai Ling Button 18 Feb 2026 | Looking Beyond the Surface Mark 11:12-21 God is not impressed by our ‘Christian image.’ He weighs the heart, tests our work by fire, and looks for lasting fruit that flows from real intimacy with Him. Lai Ling Button 19 Jan 2026 | Uncompromising Discipleship Mark 8:31-38 Following Jesus is not about comfort, convenience, or casual belief—it is the daily decision to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and walk in His footsteps. Real discipleship costs us something, but what we gain in Christ is far greater than anything we give up. Lai Ling Button 20 Aug 2025 | Faith in Motion is Persistent Mark 7:24-30 Like the Syrophoenician mother in Mark 7, true faith persists—it keeps asking and seeking despite obstacles, pushing past offense until breakthrough, because it is anchored in who God is and what He has promised. Lai Ling Button 16 Jul 2025 | Jesus The True Healer Mark 6:53-56 Want to experience more of God’s healing in your life? Discover how Jesus heals when we: 🙌 Acknowledge who He truly is — the Miracle Worker, the Healer. 💡 Respond in faith, trusting Him with every need — spiritual, emotional, physical. ❤️🔥 Approach with humility and boldness, believing He will move. He’s still healing today — are you ready to reach out to Jesus? Lai Ling Button 21 May 2025 | Mother's Day Precious Mums, you are God’s masterpiece. Precious, significant, and steadfast in faith. You shape lives and leave legacies. Lai Ling Button 19 Feb 2025 | Freedom from bondages Mark 5:1-13 God has all authority in heaven and on earth, including over all spiritual forces. In this sermon we unpack the incident of the demonised man at Gerasenes to reveal key truths about spiritual bondages and how we find freedom through God's power and authority. Lai Ling 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Now available on Apple and Spotify podcast services Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim Messages Listen on: