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2 Peter 1:21—“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Peter writes these words to anchor the church’s confidence in the origin and authority of Scripture. In a world already troubled by false teachers (2 Pet. 2), he draws a sharp line between human opinion and divine revelation. Prophecy, which is God’s revealed Word, did not arise from human initiative, creativity, or religious impulse. It was “not…by the will of man.”

This verse confronts a subtle danger in every generation: the tendency to treat Scripture as the product of gifted personalities rather than the voice of God. Peter reminds us that the prophets were not religious innovators but instruments. They did not speak from themselves; they spoke from God.

Yet Peter also preserves the mystery and dignity of God’s servants. He says, “holy men of God spake.” God did not bypass human agency. He sanctified it. The prophets spoke with their own voices, vocabularies, and historical settings, but they were “moved by the Holy Ghost.” The word “moved” pictures a ship carried along by the wind. The sailors are active, but the power driving the vessel is not theirs.

This truth calls us to humility and confidence in the Scriptures. Humility, because no preacher, teacher, or believer speaks with authority apart from God’s Word. Confidence, because the Scriptures we hold are not uncertain reflections of human thought but the reliable revelation of the living God.

If God has spoken by His Spirit, our calling is not to edit or evaluate His Word, but to receive it with reverence, trust it with confidence, and obey it with submission.

Nehemiah 6:9—“For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Nehemiah utters those words at a critical moment in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The work is nearing completion, and opposition intensifies. Having failed to stop the building of the wall through ridicule, deception, and false accusations, Nehemiah’s enemies now resort to intimidation as their final tactic. Their aim is clear: to instil fear so that “their hands shall be weakened from the work.” If fear succeeds, it would achieve what outward opposition could not, bringing God’s work to a standstill from within.

Fear is often used as a weapon to weaken God’s people and oppose His work. The enemy understands that discouraged hearts lead to weakened hands. God’s work is often hindered not by lack of resources but by inward fear that saps courage and resolve. Nehemiah recognises this danger and does not respond with counter-threats or self-confidence. Instead, he turns immediately to God in prayer: “Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.” This brief prayer reflects the profound truth that strength for God’s work must come from God Himself.

Nehemiah’s response offers a model for believers facing opposition, pressure, or weariness. He does not deny the reality of fear, nor does he allow it to govern his actions. He brings it before God. By asking God to “strengthen my hands,” Nehemiah acknowledges that perseverance in God’s work comes only through God’s sustaining grace.

Nehemiah’s prayer is simple, urgent, and faith-filled. He does not seek to escape the strain and struggle of the work of God, but for a divine supply of strength to continue the work.

When opposition aims to unsettle and discourage us in God’s work, withdrawal is not an option; the path forward lies in prayerful dependence on God. He delights to strengthen weary hands and steady trembling hearts, enabling His servants to persevere until His work is finished.

Mark 9:24—“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

We have just read one of the most honest cries of faith found in Scripture, spoken in a moment of deep need and distress. The scene unfolds at the foot of the Mount of Transfiguration, where the radiant glory revealed atop is followed by human weakness and a desperate cry for deliverance. The disciples have failed to cast out a demon, the scribes are disputing, and a desperate father stands helpless before Jesus with his child afflicted by an evil spirit. In the midst of confusion and disappointment, Jesus exposes the true issue, not the power of the demon, but the struggle of faith in the human heart.

The father’s cry is both a confession and a prayer: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” He admitted that his belief in Jesus’ power was real, yet imperfect and fragile. The man does not deny his belief, nor does he conceal his doubt. He brings both honestly before Christ. True faith is not the absence of struggle, but the act of bringing our struggle to Jesus. The father believes enough to come to Christ, yet he knows his faith is fragile and in need of divine help.

Believers who feel ashamed of wavering faith can be comforted and guided by this story. Jesus does not reject the man for imperfect belief; instead, He responds with compassion and power. The father’s tears reveal humility, dependence, and sincerity, qualities Christ welcomes. This episode teaches us that faith cannot be self-sustained. We need the Lord Himself to uphold and strengthen our faith in times of weakness.

Christ meets us not at the level of perfect faith, but at the point of honest dependence. When faith falters, the right response is not silence or despair, but a humble cry to the Lord who alone can strengthen what is weak and restore confidence in His matchless saving power.

Hosea 10:12—“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it istime to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Hosea puts forward a prophetic call in a context of spiritual hardness. Israel had become outwardly religious but inwardly resistant to God, trusting in idols and human strength rather than in the LORD. The land imagery reflects the true condition of their hearts—cultivated for self-interest, yet barren toward righteousness. Into this condition, God speaks with both urgency and hope.

The verse brings together human responsibility and divine grace. The commands, “sow… reap… break up”, address God’s people directly. “Sow to yourselves in righteousness” calls for a life ordered by obedience and faithfulness. “Reap in mercy” reminds us that the harvest is not an earned blessing, but grace generously given by God. Righteous living is not a means of self-salvation, but the proper response to a merciful God.

The image of fallow ground is especially telling and instructive. Fallow ground is that which has been left untilled for a lengthy period, so that work on it must start from scratch again. It represents untilled, unused, hardened, and seed-resistant field. Spiritually, this speaks of hearts that have become like stubborn weeds, deeply embedded in the soil and hard to remove. Yet this was the work set before them. Only through thorough and even painful effort could the ground be cleared, made ready again for healthy growth and a fruitful harvest.

The urgency is apparent: “for it is time to seek the LORD.” Delay is dangerous in spiritual matters. Yet the promise is gracious: God will come and “rain righteousness” upon His people. “Rain righteousness” means God graciously restoring His people to right relationship with Himself and enabling a renewed life of obedience and fruitfulness. 

This verse speaks to seasons of spiritual dryness and stagnation. It assures us that spiritual restoration is possible, but it begins with seeking the LORD earnestly while trusting in His promised renewal and refreshing. When hearts are softened in repentance and turned toward Him, God delights to respond with the refreshing, life-giving grace of His righteousness.

Hosea 6:3—“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

It sets before God’s people a hopeful summons that follows repentance, exposing the danger of shallow commitment. Israel had been inconsistent: quick to speak of returning to the LORD, yet slow to pursue Him with perseverance. Against such superficial repentance, this verse calls God’s people to something wholehearted and steadier: not merely to know about the LORD, but to “follow on to know” Him.

It also teaches that true knowledge of God is both relational and progressive. “Then shall we know” points to the certainty of knowing God personally, but only along the path of continued pursuit. Knowing God is not achieved through momentary religious impulse, but through sustained, obedient seeking. 

The repenting and returning people are assured that God Himself will take the lead, His “going forth is prepared as the morning.” Just as dawn comes unfailingly after night, God’s self-disclosure to repentant seekers is sure and dependable. He is not reluctant to be known.

The imagery of rain deepens this assurance. God comes to His people “as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” In an agrarian context, these rains were essential for life, growth, and fruitfulness. Theologically, this portrays God as the One who revives, nourishes, and sustains spiritual life. Without His gracious coming, hearts remain dry and barren.

A great encouragement is given to believers who long for renewal. It reminds us that spiritual dryness is not resolved by emotional bursts, but by faithful pursuit of the Lord. As we persist in seeking Him, He assures us that He will meet us with gentleness and refreshing grace, not with harshness. Those who persevere in knowing the LORD will discover Him to be faithful, life-giving, and richly sufficient, like rain falling upon parched ground.

Hosea 6:1—“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.”

From the midst of judgment comes a merciful invitation, summoning a wandering people to return to their God. These words emerge from a nation that has experienced the painful consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. Israel had pursued idols and trusted in political alliances rather than the LORD, and divine discipline had followed. Even in chastening, He aims to restore His people.

The same LORD who “hath torn” is also the One who “will heal.” The tearing speaks of righteous discipline. God wounds not as an enemy, but as a faithful Father who disciplines those He loves. His smiting is purposeful, intended to awaken repentance and draw His people back into covenant fellowship. 

Crucially, healing is not found by escaping God’s hand but by returning to Him, for restoration comes only through renewed fellowship with the LORD who both disciplines and heals. The people are not told to seek relief elsewhere, but to come back to the very LORD who struck them. The same God who “tore” and “smote” is the only One who can “heal” and “bind up,” teaching that restoration lies in a renewed relationship with Him alone.

This verse speaks tenderly to wounded and wandering hearts. It assures us that chastisement is not evidence of abandonment, but of a continued relationship. The call, “Come,” invites repentance without despair. No matter how deep the wound or how painful the discipline, God promises to “bind us up.” His hands that strike in justice are the same hands that heal in mercy.

It reminds us that genuine repentance is marked by turning toward God, trusting that the One who disciplines us is also the God who delights in restoring, healing, and renewing His people.

Hosea 2:19–20—“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.”

Hosea 2:19–20 stands as one of the most tender and theologically rich promises in all Scripture. Contextually, these words are spoken to a people who had been unfaithful to the LORD, likened throughout the book to an adulterous spouse. Israel had broken the covenant, pursued idols, and provoked divine judgment. Yet astonishingly, God responds not with final rejection, but with a promise of restored relationship expressed in the language of marriage.

The repeated phrase “I will betroth thee unto me” emphasises that restoration is entirely God’s initiative. A betrothal in the ancient world was a binding covenant. Here, God promises not a temporary reconciliation, but a union that is “for ever.” This renewed relationship is grounded in God’s own character: righteousness and judgment, which denote His moral integrity, lovingkindness and mercies, which denote His covenant love and compassion, and faithfulness, which denotes His unwavering reliability. What Israel failed to be, God Himself supplies.

The promise reaches its height in relationship: “and thou shalt know the LORD.” This knowledge is not merely intellectual, but personal and covenantal, born out of restored fellowship rather than external religious practice. True knowledge of God arises from a restored relationship and lived communion with Him.

The words of this passage speak hope to broken and wandering hearts. It assures us that sin, though grievous, is not stronger than God’s grace. For believers today, this promise finds its fullest expression in Christ, through whom God betroths His people to Himself in an everlasting covenant. We are urged to rejoice in a God who restores our broken relationship with Him, guarantees it by His own faithfulness, and leads us into a rich and lasting knowledge of Himself.

Sermon Text: Psalm 122
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 25th January 2026

Proverbs 18:2—“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”

In the framework of the Book of Proverbs, a “fool” is not merely ignorant but morally resistant to truth. Proverbs 18:2 exposes the inward posture of such a fool. He is not interested in learning, discerning, or submitting to godly wisdom. His goal is self-expression rather than gaining and applying understanding. The phrase “that his heart may discover itself” describes a heart that uncovers its own lack of understanding, revealing itself through speech marked by ego, impulse, and self-assertion. Words become a mirror of the heart, not a means of growth.

This verse confronts our habits of constant opinion-sharing, quick replies, and defensive speech, urging us to first apply our hearts to biblical wisdom in our conversations with others. How often is our listening shaped more by what we want to say next than by a desire to understand what is being said? The fool speaks to be known, but the wise listens and responds with godly understanding. What often feels like honest self-expression, when left unchecked, reveals a heart still learning the way of wisdom.

In relationships—at home, in the church, and among friends—this kind of speech quietly erodes good relationships. When words flow from the heart without discernment, understanding withers soon.

Ask yourself: Do I delight in understanding, or only in being heard? As His followers, we are called to speech shaped by humility, patience, and love. Let your words arise not from the need to display your heart, but from the desire to grow in wisdom and build others up.

Beloved in Christ,

I warmly exhort you to make every effort to attend the upcoming seminar, “Zechariah: The LORD Remembers”, organised by Gethsemane Adults’ Fellowship this Saturday. This study of an ancient prophetic book will help us to behold the faithfulness of our covenant-keeping God, who never forgets His people nor abandons His promises.

The Book of Zechariah was given to a discouraged remnant who were small in number, weak in strength, and surrounded by opposition. To awaken them from discouragement and lethargy, the LORD spoke words of comfort, correction, and glorious hope. As the prophet’s name itself declares, “The LORD remembers”, which is the meaning of the Hebrew name Zechariah. He remembers His covenant, His city, His people, and His redemptive plan for the nations.

In this seminar, you can expect a clear and reverent overview, coupled with a brief exposition of Zechariah’s visions, symbols, promises, and eschatological prophecies. We will explore how God calls His people to repentance, assures them of His presence, and points them forward to the coming Messiah, who is portrayed as the Branch, the Stone with seven eyes, the humble King, and the pierced Shepherd. From a premillennial perspective, we will also consider how Zechariah unfolds God’s future purposes for Israel, Jerusalem, and the nations, culminating in the visible reign of Christ over the earth. These prophecies strengthen our confidence that history is moving steadily towards God’s appointed end, even as it passes through seasons of natural catastrophes and human chaos.

Why is learning Zechariah so important for the church today? Because we, too, live in days of weariness, moral confusion, and spiritual opposition. Zechariah teaches us that God’s work is accomplished “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD”. It lifts our eyes from present struggles to future glory, and anchors our hope in the certainty of Christ’s coming kingdom.

Come, then, with a teachable heart. Come to be comforted, corrected, and encouraged. May the LORD use this seminar to deepen our faith, renew our hope, and stir us to faithful service until He comes.

Testimony of Penitence

“And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Genesis 8:20). By God’s sovereign mercy, Noah and his family found favour in His sight and were preserved. In like manner, as I reflect on the year 2025, and my past years as a Christian, I stand before my Creator and Redeemer, with deep thanksgiving for His longsuffering and enduring mercies towards me, which I do not deserve.

For quite some time in my years of confusion and fear in the past, I had lacked full trust in His saving work, and relied on my own strength and failed grievously. Like Lot, I sought to serve, yet stumbled through my own folly, disobedience, and unbelief. My sins were heinous and hateful in the sight of God, rightly deserving both His displeasure and the reproach of men. The shame and sense of unworthiness that accompanied returning to the LORD for restoration are not easy to endure. I blame no one but myself. To all brethren who have loved me in the LORD, and whom I have stumbled, disappointed, or grieved by my errant ways, I offer my sincere apology. In particular, I’m thankful for my beloved wife, in whom there still abides a gracious trust in Christ and a spirit of forgiveness towards me.

Truly, once breath ceases, there is no second chance. Though a wretched soul as I am, the LORD has mercifully chosen to forgive and save me, therefore I cannot remain unchanged. I need to be transformed by the living Word, and be prepared to go through continual and just chastening, be it through painful correction, pruning, or cleansing, that the filth of the world and besetting sins may be removed. The spiritual battle is real and intense. Despite my misguided concern for my family’s needs (enticed by worldly temptation and a desire for quick solutions), yet I thank God that, through the timely preaching of His faithful servants, He graciously exposed my sin and led me to forsake it—to flee again to His mercy seat, seeking forgiveness and restoration. My Lord knows my frailty and failures; my life is in His hands. His loving chastening assures me that I am His—mercy upon mercy, utterly undeserved (cf. Hebrews 12:6–8). May the divine Potter mercifully placed me again upon His wheel to shape me according to His will.

The year 2025 was marked by painful and discouraging trials, as well as moments of grace. It was sadly a season of repeated failure and repentance—I lost count of how many times I cried out to God for forgiveness. Satan knows my weaknesses and relentlessly attacks my faith and trust in Christ. Yet I thank God that He did not pass me by. I do not presume upon His mercy, but trust that when I came in sincere repentance, He would forgive me and hold me fast in His gracious and mighty hands.

O, how I wish I had listened more carefully, and obeyed my dear Pastor’s godly counsel, and be guided wholly by the Word of God! Had I done so, my path would have been far more firmly established in the Lord. Though I do not deserve it, I thank God for opening doors for me to serve at the Lions Home For The Elders, at St Luke’s ElderCare and within our Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry. These are solemn responsibilities (particularly sharing God’s Word or assisting through interpretation), which I can fulfil only with God’s help. Even as I press on in service, may God continue to teach, correct, and humble me, through the loving encouragement and fellowship of Pastor, the elders, and preachers, for the battle against sin remains real and intense.

I thank God for placing me in this church, a true “spiritual hospital”, where His Word is faithfully preached, and where the deeply rooted sins and corruptions that so easily entangle me are continually exposed and purged for the good of my soul. I thank God for the Watchnight Service—a time to pause, to examine myself, to consecrate and re-dedicate my life, and to be soberly reminded of the wrath that is to come. Just like in Noah’s time, where Noah witnessed firsthand God’s righteous judgment on the people of his generation (who persisted in unbelief and disobedience), my heart is burdened for my children and my newborn grandchild, who remain outside God’s Ark, even Christ. May God, in His sovereign mercy, bring them to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.