Standard Operating Procedure of Church: Pastor Rajiv

 

Is Church going such a habit that we become desensitized to worship? Today Pastor Rajiv talks about the core of worshipping God. 

Let My Heart Be Broken: Pastor Noom

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The Great Commission. 

"In 1947, a young American minister named Bob Pierce traveled to China. What he encountered there shattered him. Orphaned children wandering streets bombed into rubble. Families torn apart by war and famine. The overwhelming suffering of a nation in chaos. But one moment changed everything.

A Chinese schoolteacher brought a little girl to him—a child she could no longer feed. With tears streaming down her face, she placed the girl in Bob’s arms. That night, overcome with grief and conviction, Bob Pierce wrote in his Bible words that would become the foundation of World Vision, one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations:

“Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God"

This was not sentimentality. This was not emotion for emotion’s sake. This was a man aligning his spirit with the very heart of the Almighty—a God who sees the suffering, who hears the cries of the oppressed, who acts on behalf of the helpless.

The question thundering from heaven today is this: Has your heart been broken lately?

Or have you become so comfortable, so insulated, so self-absorbed that the suffering of millions passes by your eyes like background noise on a television screen you’ve learned to ignore?"

The Great Commission given to every Christian is His or her mission.

Bob Pierce understood something that much of the modern church has forgotten: A Mission doesn’t start with a program. It starts with a broken heart.

When God looks upon this world, what does He see?

- He sees 8 million children who die every year from preventable diseases.

- He sees hundreds of millions living in crushing poverty, without clean water, without basic medical care.

- He sees the lonely elderly forgotten in nursing homes, yearning for a kind word.

- He sees teenagers contemplating suicide because they feel worthless and alone.

- He sees families torn apart by addiction, abuse, and abandonment.

- He sees the unreached peoples who have never once heard the name of Jesus.

And His heart breaks

When was the last time your heart was broken?

(Rev Noom Pastors the Christ Church, Bangkok. This is an excerpt from his power message. We will share more excerpts from this powerful message on Thursday. Contributed by a reader)

Monday Reset: Ghosts of the Past

 

Read: Genesis 33

Sometimes, like Jacob we fear the ghosts of our past. When faced with confrontation, like Jacob, we try to plot and plan or try to buy our way out.

What we don't realize is, the most faithful solution to such situations is giving or receiving forgiveness.

None of what Jacob feared actually happened: quite the reverse in fact. He found unasked forgiveness. Just as we have received from Jesus.

This week think about anyone you have been rude to, or have accused because of gossip, or yelled or been yelled at and abused at without fault or so many situations that maybe disturbing you. Try forgiving those who did you wrong or ask for forgiveness of those you have wronged. To forgive, don't wait to be asked. Just do it and move on. Forgiveness begets forgiveness.

Have a happy week.

Sabbath Prayers

                                        

You are the God who heals, and we rest in Your promise: “For I am the Lord who heals you.”
— Exodus 15:26

Heavenly Father,

As we enter this Sabbath, we come to You seeking Your healing touch. For every person carrying pain in body, mind, or spirit, let Your restoring presence draw near. Speak peace where there is fear, strength where there is weakness, and comfort where there is sorrow. we pray today very specially for Haleen, Laurika and Lisa for you to grant them grace and strength to see you near them and experience your comfort. . we pray for Jen, Samira and Joan who have their treatment scheduled for next week. Very specially for Joan on the 5th of February. We pray that their treatments are effective with minimal side effects. For as you have said Oh Lord - 

You are the God who heals, and we rest in Your promise: “For I am the Lord who heals you.”
— Exodus 15:26

On this Sabbath, we lift our world before You.
Where there is conflict, bring peace.
Where there is sickness, bring healing.
Where there is hunger, bring provision.
Where there is fear, bring Your calming presence.

We bring seniors who battle the cold and the heat and all those who need protection from the Nipah virus. 

Strengthen leaders with wisdom, protect the vulnerable, and comfort those who are grieving. Let Your mercy flow across every land and Your light break through every darkness.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
— Psalm 24:1

Unite us in compassion, teach us to love one another, and let Your peace rest upon every home, every nation, and every heart.

Let this Sabbath be a shelter of hope, a breath of renewal, and a reminder that Your compassion never fails. Surround the sick with Your love, guide those who care for them, and let Your light break through every shadow.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

---

Please join us every week in our Sabbath Prayer for the week. We request your support in adopting prayer points for people mentioned, in your own prayers this week and become vessels of His healing. 

To download our mobile app Click here 

Jen Tan: The Peace of God

In today’s devotional, Jen Tan, a cancer patient in Singapore, shares from John 10:28 on eternal life and peace. 

This devotional post is written from the heart, based on Jen Tan’s personal cancer journey. Please do keep this missionary in your daily prayers. 

John10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Application study bible: While believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life with God. You may face many fearful and dangerous trials here on earth because this is currently the devil’s domain and he controls the hearts and minds of many. But if you choose to follow Jesus, he will give you peace of mind now and everlasting safety.

"This verse feels deeply relevant to my life here on earth. I said the prayer and accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was in high school. Most likely, this was influenced by my group of friends at the time, as many of them were Christians. I also attended a mission school, where our morning assemblies were held in a small chapel within our school compound.

However, after leaving high school and moving on to tertiary education, I lived a life with little thought of God. I prayed only occasionally—usually when I needed His help or provision—and often forgot even to say a prayer of thanksgiving. I remember once a friend told me to take my salvation seriously, warning that rejecting Him would lead to eternal death in hell. At that time, I told her that I didn’t even believe in heaven or hell. Looking back now, I realise how ignorant I was, and how full of pride.

Throughout my life before my cancer diagnosis, everything seemed to go smoothly. I often told my friends that I had been lucky since young. When I was first diagnosed, I thought that since I had always been ‘lucky,’ this illness would pass quickly too. But that was not the case. And it was in this very moment that I finally realised God had been faithful all along—He never gave me up. 

Most of all, in my most difficult moments, He has surrounded me with a peace I have never experienced in my good days".

Have You seen Jesus?

Have you ever thought about why were shepherds chosen to be the first to hear the good news? 

In the context of first-century Judea, choosing shepherds as the first "press release" recipients for the birth of Christ was a counter-cultural move.

Here is why that choice carries so much weight:

The Lowly Status of Shepherds

In that era, shepherds weren’t the romanticized figures we see on Christmas cards. They were often viewed as social outcasts.

* Ritually Unclean: Because of their constant contact with animals and nature, they were often unable to maintain the strict purification rituals required by religious law.

* Legal Standing: In some historical accounts, shepherds were considered so untrustworthy that their testimony wasn't even allowed in a court of law.

By announcing the birth to them first, the message was clear: this "Good News" wasn't just for the elite or the "perfect"—it was for everyone, starting from the bottom up. The Gospel for the overlooked!

And that includes you and me. The worst of the worst!

One point for which they praised God was the agreement between what they had heard and what they had seen. Observe the last sentence—“As it was told unto them.” Have you not found the gospel to be in ourselves just what the Bible said it would be? Jesus said he would give us rest—have you not enjoyed the sweetest peace in him? He said we should have joy, and comfort, and life through believing in him—have we not received all these? Are not his ways, ways of pleasantness, and his paths, paths of peace? 

We too have heard the gospel — the promise of peace, joy, and rest in Jesus. But have we seen it? Have we tasted the sweetness of His presence, the comfort of His grace, the beauty of His truth? If so, let our praise rise like theirs — not from borrowed words, but from lived experience.

Let Thursday be a day of remembering:

• What you’ve heard about Jesus.

• What you’ve seen in your walk with Him.

• And how perfectly the two align.

If you’ve found Him faithful, if His peace has stilled your storms, if His joy has lifted your heart — then glorify and praise Him. Let your harp be tuned not just by hearing, but by the touch of living faith.

God's Grace for the Middle

Grace for the Middle Moments.

The middle of the week often brings a different kind of fatigue—not just physical, but mental and emotional. You may wonder if you can finish strong, or if your efforts matter. But hear this: God’s grace meets you right in the middle.

God's Grace isn’t just for salvation but also for sustenance. God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness. When you feel like you’re failing, grace says, “I’ve got you.” When you feel overwhelmed, Grace whispers, “You’re not alone.” When you do, remember the Eagle. 

You may wake up feeling tired or discouraged, but God offers more than motivation. He offers renewal. Like the eagle that soars again after shedding its old feathers, God promises to refresh your strength and restore your joy.

"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's". Psalm 103:5 (KJV)

Pause this day and ask for fresh grace. You don’t need to finish in your own strength for you have access to supernatural help.

Your age, past mistakes, or present weariness don’t disqualify you from this promise. God’s Spirit breathes life into dry bones and new energy into worn-out hearts. You don’t have to face this day with yesterday’s strength. Come before Him and receive your renewal. He doesn’t just patch you up but He makes you new.