In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am Bro Chong Kim Chong from Malacca Church, I testify how I came to believe in the True Jesus Church and received the Holy Spirit.
In Mathew 7:7, the Lord Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you: seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” The Lord Jesus clearly encourages us that if we come before God with a need or desire in prayer, He will answer our prayers. It is a promised divine provision, that is, if we ask anything in faith, He will give it to us (James 1: 5-6). If we seek Him, He will be found by us (1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2). “Knock, and it will be opened to you” implies that if we need something from someone behind the door, we keep knocking persistently until that person opens the door! For me, Mt 7:7 is the most encouraging bible verse and truly inspires me to seek the Lord God.
As I came from a Buddhist family that worshipped idols and practiced ancestral worship, it seemed impossible for me to be a Christian. I only knew of Christianity when I was in secondary school. Even at that age, I knew that worshipping idols was senseless and meaningless.
In 1978, I married Sis. Esther Phan Sew Yong from the TJC Malacca. My wife often preached to me and invited me to church. However, I was stiff-necked, often challenged her and vehemently rejected her invitation. Even though I refused to follow my wife to church, I really wanted to seek the true God in my heart. Sometimes, without her knowledge, I would read the TJC gospel tracts that were placed in the living room and even imitated her prayer in the name of Jesus.
The beginning of my journey of faith began when we went to Melbourne, Australia for holiday in 2009. My wife’s late brother diligently brought us to the TJC in Box Hill. Since then, I learnt the truth and attended church services. When I returned to Malacca, I continued to seek the truth. Thanks to the grace of God, that under the guidance of our local deacon, preachers, brothers, and sisters, I diligently attended Bible study classes and church services.
During one of the Sabbath prayer sessions, I experienced a warm sensation in my entire body. However, I was not ready, felt that I was still unclean and doubted the abidance of God. Immediately that warm sensation left me. I never had such a warm sensation feeling before. After that, I decided to baptise on the 20th of March 2010 in TJC Malacca. Since then, I attended Bible Study classes and church services without fail as I know these spiritual pursuits will strengthen my faith to receive God’s grace and blessings.
I knew that I needed to pray hard for the Holy Spirit. A person without the Holy Spirit is like a parched desert, a dried well or a withered tree! No amount of fun, pleasure or excitement can satisfy the void in our heart. God, through His prophet, has promised to give believers the precious Holy Spirit to live in their hearts; “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues, and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekial 36:27 ESV). Often, I cried aloud in prayers to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness of my sins.
There are many ways to pray for the Holy Spirit. This is the manner I prayed for the Holy Spirit: “In the name of Lord Jesus I pray. O Lord, You are my portion. I sought Your face with all my heart. Please do not forsake me. Please be gracious to me according to Your promise. I need Your Holy Spirit to praise, worship and glorify Your name. Please bestow your Holy Spirit to me, O Lord!”. After six years of relentlessly praying and studying the truth, the gracious Lord Jesus showered the precious Holy Spirit on me during the Sunday morning prayer session on 2nd August 2015. During that prayer, I had full conviction in the Lord that He will surely bestow His Holy Spirit to me. After 10 minutes of prayer, my tongue began to roll, and I spoke in tongue. The resident deacon laid hand on me. After the prayer, the deacon did not say anything to me except patted on my shoulders four to five times. In my heart, I knew he confirmed that I have received the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord! Words could not express the joy I have, and the Lord Jesus has answered my prayers.
There are many ways to pray for the Holy Spirit. This is the manner I prayed for the Holy Spirit: “In the name of Lord Jesus I pray. O Lord, You are my portion. I sought Your face with all my heart. Please do not forsake me. Please be gracious to me according to Your promise. I need Your Holy Spirit to praise, worship and glorify Your name. Please bestow your Holy Spirit to me, O Lord!”. After six years of relentlessly praying and studying the truth, the gracious Lord Jesus showered the precious Holy Spirit on me during the Sunday morning prayer session on 2nd August 2015. During that prayer, I had full conviction in the Lord that He will surely bestow His Holy Spirit to me. After 10 minutes of prayer, my tongue began to roll, and I spoke in tongue. The resident deacon laid hand on me. After the prayer, the deacon did not say anything to me except patted on my shoulders four to five times. In my heart, I knew he confirmed that I have received the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord! Words could not express the joy I have, and the Lord Jesus has answered my prayers.
May all glory and praises be given to our Lord Jesus, Amen.
