Evangelist and founder of Daystar TV Marcus Lamb preached at City Harvest Church recently, bringing a message to the church that God is with them, even in troubled times.
CN PHOTOS: Albert Soh & Michael Chan
There was much to look forward to for CHC churchgoers on Nov. 22. Televangelist Marcus Lamb was ministering for the first time at the church’s Saturday evening service. At the same time, a powerful prophetic minister, Mary Hudson, also visited the church for the first time.
Marcus Lamb and his wife Joni are co-founders of Daystar Television Network, the second largest Christian television network in the world. The network brings Christian TV shows to more than 290 countries, reaching 700 million homes globally each day with non-stop broadcasting.
Hudson, whose daughter is pop singer Katy Perry, brought a prophetic word to CHC. She preached in a number of cell group meetings during the week and prayed a powerful prayer for the church during the Saturday service.
“Lord, we thank you that tonight will be called the tipping point of CHC,” she prayed. “Even as the church has been called with the Cultural Mandate, to change the nations, to change cities, I thank You right now that the glory will arise, and favor will arise, the favor will come upon them and surround them as a shield, Father.
“ ‘So start to rejoice and start to praise Me because I’m going use you as a city of refuge for people who don’t know where to go and they don’t know how to flow. I’ll use your gifting, I’ll use your talents, I’ll put you in the most unusual places. This will be the building you will be in. It will always be a covering for you; this city will know that Jesus is Lord and the miracle working power of God shall rest upon you,’” she prophesied.
“I thank You, Lord, right now for the peace of God on Pastor Kong and Sun,” she prayed in closing. “I thank You for health and strength coasting through their bodies; the challenges of the past will drop just like evening rain. The year 2015 will be a year where their ramp will turn up, lights will be turned on, things will start to happen and even as the favor was pulled away, the crowd will start to cheer for them even on that day.”
WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN THE SPIRIT IS CRUSHED?
Lamb started his message with Proverbs 18:14 (MSG), which says, “A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?”
“Sometimes, bad things happen to good people,” he said. “2 Timothy 3:12 says ‘Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.’ It should not come as a surprise.” Bad things come in many forms, Lamb pointed out: a negative report from doctor, a letter from the attorney for a legal case; or job loss.
“I came all the way from Texas to tell you this: when the devil has a plan to take you out, God has a plan to keep you in,” he said, going on to share three points in overcoming troubles.
- Your trouble is not permanent
Quoting a Biblical teaching that says, “And this too will pass”, Lamb reminded the congregation that their troubles are not permanent.
“Tough times don’t last but tough people do,” Lamb said, quoting Robert Harold Schuller, a retired well-known American televangelist. “The Bible tells us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. One of the things that Joni and I learned is that if you don’t give up, you can’t be defeated. Hang in there because the victory is just about to be yours.”
To illustrate his point, Lamb played the song “Tubthumping” by the British band Chumbawamba which goes, “I get knocked down but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down”.
Lamb went on to remind the congregation that Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy,” but Jesus said, “I have come to give you life and life more abundantly.” God has also promised in Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”
He shared some personal victorious stories with the congregation, one of which was a time when he was charged by the American national income tax authorities for tax evasion. The legal case went on for a few years but the Lambs were obedient in serving the ministry and kept on trusting God. Lamb’s accounting firm decided to fight his case free. Eventually, Lamb won the case and the department of revenue paid back 100 per cent of the money he spent on the case, with interest.
“God will fight your troubles, and they are not permanent!” Lamb proclaimed.
- Even in trouble, God is with you
Lamb encouraged the Church with several verses, including 2 Chronicles 20:17, which says, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
“It’s time to quit trying to fight your own battle, it’s time to quit trying to solve your own problem, it’s time to quit trying to answer your own question,” Lamb said. “Let Jesus rise up within you as the Captain of your salvation, and let Jesus fight your battle for you.”
In America, when there is an emergency, people call 911. Lamb said that God has His own 911 and that is in Psalms 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Lamb also quoted his favorite verse Psalm 91:15, which says, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.”
He then gave Kong and Sun a prophetic verse in Numbers 14:8-9, “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
He encouraged the congregation to keep stirring themselves by reading the Word, going to church and spending time with God so that they will not grow weary while serving Him.
“It’s time to go back to the Source, to worship God and read the Word again when our spirits crash.”
- God will bring you through the trouble
Jesus told His disciples in a storm, “Let us go through to the other side.” Lamb understands this to be a prophetic word that indicates, “If you go through, you’ve made it to the other side.” He reminded CHC that if Jesus is onboard their ship, it does not matter that they are going through a storm—they will reach the other side.
Reading from 1 Corinthians 15:57, which says “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Lamb encouraged the Church that God has given His believers victory. “Our victory is on its way,” assured Lamb.
Lamb ended his message with the story about Moses in the battle with the Amalekites. It was recorded in Exodus 17:1-12 that Moses had to lift up his hands for the children of Israel to win; whenever Moses lowered his hands, the Amalekites would have the upper hand. However, Moses was only human and his arms got tired. God knew that Moses was weak in his body and so He sent Aaron and Hur to stand on each side of Moses to hold his hands up until they won the war. Because Aaron and Hur stood with Moses to uphold him, their families benefited from the winning of the war and avoided being killed or captured as slaves. Lamb encouraged the congregation to raise up their hands and uphold their leaders in prayer. He then invited all the full time ministers onstage and prayed for each of them.
Wayne Lim, 25, an events executive told City News that he was greatly encouraged by this sermon, and now stood assured that he will overcome his slipped disc spinal condition because no trouble is too difficult for God.
The message also touched Vanessa Ben, 25, a tertiary student who shared, “I am reminded that God is always there for me even in the midst of my troubles. I recalled that I had previously missed all the admission dates for my tertiary education. But by having faith and trusting in God, I prayed about it, and now, I’m in the final year of my studies!”
