Uproot and tear down

One of the clearest exposition of Jeremiah chapter 1 (see v.5 and v10 ff) by Pastor Paul with practical insights. Every soul is ordained for greatness and any community can bless God and flourish, including your own.

Reflecting on our own local history, I could see the Geylang story being told in the description of the witness of the Singapore’s ekklesia over 3 decades.

Four years after our registration under COC ruling in 1992, we faced the challenge of reaching Philippines (pop. 110 million). Many were abusing the privilege of hiring domestic work. Maids were being unfairly treated. It was a silent epidemic happening right under our nose.

Soon were flying in and out of Manila with a provincial and municipal prayer burden working with pastors, businessmen and magistrates to tackle injustice within both our two countries.

This led to all sorts of initiatives in response to prophecies, demonic issues of corruption, scandal and systemic iniquity at the highest levels. The plight of the house helper got in the limelight with movies like Anak and Iloilo and the rules got tougher against the unscrupulous and illegitimate.

By the time we reached the back lanes and alley ways of Geylang it was 2005 and we were confronted with another silent epidemic of human suffering that was even more deadly and sub-dermal ie, beneath the “skin” of society – namely, trafficking in persons (TIP).

This period of uprooting and tearing down meant a call to Catch up on a hot drink1,000 nights of prayer which is how we saw intercession on our property as a tree of life. The prayers of saints from every part of Singapore, from every sector, without respect to tradition.

These were ministry pilots who flew in with different leadership styles, the lion, the ox, the eagle and man – wearing different uniforms and sporting different call-signs. Here we were with a single objective in mind – facing the goliath of the most nefarious sort.

Our time in Geylang taught the depth of satan and demonic interference. Those walked the streets, those who raised a shout, those who meditated on the injustices, they understood that evil was a person, Lucifer who meant to turn to sour what God meant for good.

The plight of the street prostitute got in the limelight with movies like Nefarious and NGO’s like Ywam, Tamar, HAGAR, Scarlet Web, Olives, etc the rules got tougher against the unscrupulous uncles and illegitimate pimps. Then came Covid.

And so, the past 24 months (of Covid) was like a living nightmare. As a population, we were subject to a constant barrage of disinformation from one sided commentators that refused to hear or countenance other or another opinion. We did not know a battle was raging.

The metadidomic came into direct confrontation with the eleemosynary. Medical doctors took sides that were diametrically opposite to each other. And big pharma was going to town in the midst of the foray, frustration and fear.

We did not realise a war was being fought against spirits or religion, elements of lawlessness, advocates of secular humanism, purveyors of pagan practices. In short, we were assaulted by those who lusted after glory and dominion and some of these spirits tried their best to enter the ekklesia as well.

The message of the prophet Jeremiah must be heard again with fresh eyes and ears. What is at the root of evil often serves as the plan, script and score to bring the thinking ekklesia to new and higher dimensions of in revival prayer, life and godliness. Sometimes God has to break a bone to save a life.

Kingdom Shifts #3-2 by Paul Khoo (Grace to Judgements)