ASK and you shall be Answered

Campus Alive was finally back after a few weeks of absence due to the AUSMAT trial exams. This time around, CA was held in forum style. The gathering kicked off with a warm welcome from our emcees, Larry and Samantha from ALM 9. They had the crowd cheering and geared up for the session ahead. There was a competition on who could cheer louder between the guys and the girls. Two newcomers were introduced and it was followed by opening prayer by Samantha.

We proceeded with games led by Krystal from ADFP. We were divided into two groups and both groups had to guess the word without using all the other words shown on the screen. This game is called taboo. If a taboo word was mentioned, the other group had to shout the word “taboo” and marks will be deducted. Some words had to be acted out without uttering a single word. Among the words that they had to guess were Pak Lah, cheek, shoulder, Jonas brothers, pirates, Transformers, robots, Ratatouille and many more. It ended with both groups evenly matched.
Praise and worship was then led by Chewie and the team, Theng Theng (piano), Daniel (guitar), Dian Han (drum), Winnie and Miryam as backup singers. The songs included in the worship were Hatiku Percaya, Here In Your Presence and Sing Of Your Great Love.

We had an inspirational time with God and we could sense His presence throughout the session.

After that, Larry and Samantha introduced the three speakers who had kindly agreed to answer our questions in this forum-styled CA. The three speakers were Kong Lee Ang, Michael William and Lee Chun Chung from Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES). The questions and answers during the forum were as followed:

If God is good, why do bad things happen? Why does God let Christians suffer?

Michael answered that according to Genesis 3:16-17. God gave human freewill, so He allowed Man to sin. However, sin has consequences, which is suffering. Bad things happen to everyone because of sin.

“To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."

“And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;”

Nevertheless, in our suffering, we can hope on God and He will still help us.

How do we know that God listen and answer our prayer?

Lee Ang said that there are times when we can be sure that God will answer our prayers but through the Scriptures in 1 John 5:14-15, we can be sure that God does answer our prayers. However, sometimes we do not know whether it is God’s will for us when we ask of Him for something. Therefore, we need to read the Bible in order to know whether it is God’s will or not. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as well. She gave the example of Joseph who did not know what God’s will was for him until after so many years being stranded in a place far away from home and enduring so many hardships.

What is the explanation of the trinity? Are they three in one?

The word “Trinity” is not directly mentioned in the Bible. However, in Genesis 1:26

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”

and Genesis 3:22

“Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.”,

it is shown that God was addressing more than one person. What is the trinity? God is three distinct persons (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) and each person is fully God but there is only one God. Also, if Jesus is not fully God, how can He redeem us from our sin? The one who suffers for the sins of mankind must be perfect, completely sinless. The only person that fulfills this requirement is Jesus, the person of the Son in the Trinity. The trinity is a mystery and man’s understanding cannot comprehend it. Trinity cannot be explained in a tangible way.

When do we receive the Holy Spirit? What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

The disciples first received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 2:1-4 (CEV)

The Holy Spirit comes upon us after our conversion. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit and we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then brings forth the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and empowers us with spiritual gifts. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is basically receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit when one becomes a Christian. A manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the speaking of tongues, but it’s not the only sign nor is it a must.

Can you lose your salvation?

We cannot lose our salvation. Jesus had died on the cross for us to redeem us from our sins. Salvation cannot be lost just like that. Jesus Christ guaranteed that we are secure in His and the Father's hand, and so He will keep safe each one who has received the gift of eternal life.

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."

John 10:28(NKJV)

If we are truly saved, will there be any reason to denounce our faith and lose our salvation?

What about the people in the interior or those who have never heard of Christ, will they be saved?

We do not know but we have the conviction that God will be fair. Everyone will have a chance to hear the gospel, as illustrated in the verse Revelation 7:9 (NIV).

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

If there are people who did not hear of the gospel, how can there be people from every nation, tribe and tongue that are saved?

The people before Jesus did not hear of Christ e.g. Abraham, yet they were saved (counted righteous) because of their faith.

“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Genesis 15:6 (KJV)


As time did not permit for the session to continue, Samuel suggested that those who were still interested in the forum could stay back and others were asked to adjourn to the next room for refreshment prepared by Eliza and Siaw Hui. We had French toast, sausages and jelly. It concludes another great CA.


His children.