My heart sank. To my right, clouds of incense filled the air. There were huge sticks of incense as tall as me, burning in front of an old Chinese temple. There were idols sitting inside mini temple houses, about 5 feet tall. Images from the old Testament filled my mind. God’s people were offering gifts, burning incense, and worshiping idols. For the first time in my life, I actually witnessed this with my own eyes. Not just the one street, but several. If no large temples are in sight, there are mini temples on the corners of streets, with incense and gifts of jewelry and other goods thrown on the idols inside. I was reminded of all the times in the Old Testament when the Israelites worshiped other gods. I saw firsthand what this looks like and I got only a glimpse of the broken heart of our Father, who wants wholeness for His people.
Something in the air was different. These are God’s people, giving praise to something dead, unloving, and absolutely not worthy. The God of the Israelites offers such love, peace, grace, and reconciliation through His son. Why do people believe it is better to worship a lifeless stone, each containing a different creature? There was a prevailing spirit of doubt among the people in the temple. They did not seem whole, they seemed monotonous. They were going through the motions of their rituals and what they have always known, afraid to question anything outside of the confines of the temple wall.
Christianity in Malaysia is not prevalent by any means. About 9% of the entire population are Christian, in some states as little as 0.2%. About 60% of the population are Muslim, 19% Buddhist, 6% Hindu, and about 3% old Chinese religions.
Ministry this month has been about praying for the people. Ezekiel 22:30 says “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” We are being the watchmen this month, a concept that is new to me when it comes to intercession. We are contending for this nation, asking God to help them as they struggle with political turmoil. Their Parliament has been dissolved and general elections are here. People are trying to pass laws with a terrible corporal punishment attached to it. Though all of these things are going wrong, for the first time in my life I believe the prayers for the nations are being heard and answered and a great powerful revival will sweep through this nation someday. For all of you back in the States, I want to encourage you to be the watchmen. Refresh your memory of the times in the Old Testament when God heard the prayers of one righteous person and change an entire nation. Will He not do the same for you, especially when there are many righteous ones? Pray for our nation, the Lord is watching over all, waiting to hear His people turn back to Him in our troubling times. He will listen. Whether you see instant results or not, He will show His strength if only you will persevere.
Despite the struggles of Malaysia, I felt peace in the air when we first settled here. The Lord is near, something is happening. The prayers of the people are being heard, you can hear it in the stories of people asking for prayer. You can see a cloud of protection over the nation of Malaysia. Through it all, there is a certain verse that continues to stick out to me this month:
“Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess He is Lord.” There are many verses that reference this: Philippians 2:10-11, Romans 14:11, Isaiah 45:23, and in Revelation 5:12-13. WHAT A POWERFUL VERSE. When I stared at the temple, this was all I could think about. One day, every single person will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior. Every single person shall bow. All 7 BILLION of them. Have you ever looked at a map and thought about that 7 billion? They are spread through known and unknown regions of the world. I leave you with this hope. As believers, we always have hope in Christ’s coming and we never stop praying for those with a veil to see clearly. After all the veil was torn in two, a great symbolism that all will see and all will bow. Friends, no matter what political unrest there is, God already won the war and has gone before you, just like He did over and over again with David. Will you go into battle and declare this in prayer? Will you be the watchmen who intercede for our nation and for the world, to strengthen your brothers and sisters? In declaring this, you are inviting God’s Spirit to dwell in the spaces and hearts of many. He wants to bless you and answer your prayers. Your prayers are the water added to the cup that will runneth over, and His Spirit will be poured out to the world in the strengthening of His people. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
