At the much anticipated dedication service for CHC’s new location at Suntec Singapore, guest of honor David Yonggi Cho encourages the Church to keep its eyes on Jesus.
CN PHOTOS: Daniel Poh.
Jul. 9, 2013 marked a special milestone in the history of City Harvest Church: Suntec Singapore–which CHC now calls home–held its official dedication service after nearly a year of renovation.
Pastors and church leaders from 48 Christian organizations all around Asia flew to Singapore to celebrate the day with CHC.
George Tiong, senior pastor of CHC Kuching, told City News, “I am very impressed with the revamped convention hall; it has a very cozy feeling.”
Dave Tong, senior pastor of Rhema Church, Sitiawan, Malaysia, said, “Being here gives me a big boost of confidence. It is truly an impressive feat, especially given the current circumstances. My spirit is lifted and I feel very encouraged.”
Despite it being a Tuesday night, the service was packed to overflowing. An atmosphere of faith and gratitude filled the hall as the Church gathered to dedicate the premises to God.
Kong Hee, senior pastor of CHC, with the help of visuals, introduced some new features on Level 2 and Level 6 of the convention hall. Thereafter, he led the Church in reciting Psalm 24, the Apostles Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, and declarations from the Word of God, dedicating the worship halls to God.
LORD OF THE HOUSE
The highlight of the dedication service came when Dr David Yonggi Cho, the man Kong called his senior pastor, was welcomed to the stage to deliver a message.
Cho is the founder and senior pastor-emeritus of the largest church in the world, Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea. In his opening statement, Cho remarked that CHC has redefined what “Church” is, alluding to the creativity and excellence he witnessed in the house.
He proceeded to share a powerful message on the Lord of the House: Jesus Christ.
“I am very happy every day, because of Christ who removes my sins and trespasses. He is the source of health and strength, and gives me assurance of eternal life,” said Cho.
“I am in Him and He is in me. Whenever I am burdened, Jesus says to me: ‘Cho, I have finished your work. Do not worry, I have finished the work, you are free in Me and your enemies have no power over you; all your troubles and worries are finished on the Cross.’”
Cho assured the congregants that God is love and He created mankind so He could love them. Jesus came to pay for all the sins and pain on the Cross and He is committed to continue loving the very people His Father created.
“When you know and accept this truth, God comes into your life. You can have peace and joy. Curse, failure, unhappiness, and death are all finished by Jesus Christ!” Cho proclaimed. In their place are righteousness, sanctification, health and eternal life, he added.
Cho taught the congregation that they needed to know in their hearts that they are free in Jesus Christ and the power of sin is lost. The way to do it is to through one’s confession with the mouth–over and over again.
To illustrate how powerful positive confession can be, Cho shared a testimony on how one woman in his church was miraculously healed. She was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and was told that she had little time left. After listening to Cho’s message, she received a revelation and started declaring over the illness, “It is finished! Jesus has healed me by His work on the Cross”. The medical personnel laughed at her and thought she had lost her mind, but it turned out that she had the last laugh. Two weeks ago, she received medical verification that she had been completely healed.
I WILL GIVE YOU REST
Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” In Genesis, the first man God ever created was formed on the Sabbath, the day of rest. Cho shared that God created man to enjoy rest and peace, not to work and suffer.
Poverty, sickness and failure are never from God, but from the devil, Cho emphasized. Jesus willingly went to the cross and took the penalty of sin, sickness, curse and death upon Himself.
“He died suffering, but He declared on the Cross before He died, that ‘It is finished!’ Therefore continually declare: Sickness, disease, and failure, you are finished by Jesus,” Cho taught the Church.
The pastor also taught that work belongs to Jesus and prayer belongs to His believers, therefore Christians ought to pray.
He gave the example of how, when Israel was under attack and the prophet Jeremiah was in prison, God told him to pray while He worked. Work belongs to Him, said Cho.
To receive help from Jesus, Cho taught that believers must first change their thinking.
“Don’t think you are unworthy of Jesus,” he said. “You are qualified. Go to Jesus and let Him reveal His glory to you. Jesus has finished the work, He is just waiting for your faith.”
Secondly, they needed to confess with their mouth.
“What you say is an expression of your faith,” said Cho.
The pastor encouraged the Church, saying that God has raised CHC for the glory of God in the world.
“In my ministry, I have traveled to almost every country in the world to do God’s work. Now God has asked me to retire, but I still felt the world needs me. And God said: ‘Yes, you are needed but I need better.’ ‘Who is better?’ I asked, and God said: ‘Kong Hee!’” Cho said, drawing applause and laughter from the audience.
“I praise God for your Church; it is a present and future church,” he said. “Present Jesus to the sick, cursed and dying, and Jesus will manifest His glory and power through you.”
He also encouraged the Church to always have positive confession. Faith, he says, is connected to confession with the mouth, and speaking releases thoughts and vision.
Cho also gave the Church the secret of the “heart-changing principle”. To have a real change in circumstances, the change must first come from the heart; and the heart is strengthened by reading the Word of God, thinking, dreaming and confession.”
This is what Cho does continually daily. He meditates on the truths of God and his heart is being changed every day.
“The Holy Spirit will give you rhema (the living Word of God) and you can have faith. Pray for the rhema word and the assurance of God in your heart. Believe that God will work to fulfill His rhema given to you.”
Cho said, “For example, God has given Pastor Kong a rhema to build CHC in this way, and in my 55 years (in ministry), I have never seen this kind of ‘departmental store church’!” he said to the laughter of the congregation, which could identify with the uniqueness of CHC’s location.
“It’s amazing. And I pray that you will receive so much rhema from your pastor’s ministry and every one of you will become a shining star for the glory of God,” said the 75-year-old as he brought his message to a close.
To cap off the dedication service, five pastors, Bobby Chaw, Joseph Ang, Audrey Ng, Kenneth Sim and Eileen Toh, were ordained by Cho, and licensed to serve as Reverends. Each of them received a plaque as well as the prayers and blessing of the congregation.
