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Luke 5:11—“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”

The miraculous catch of fish concluded not with celebration over newfound wealth but with wholehearted surrender to Christ. Peter, James, and John had just witnessed the Lord’s divine power and received His call to become fishers of men (Luke 5:1–10). Their response was immediate and decisive: they brought their boats ashore, “forsook all, and followed him”. The miracle had accomplished its true purpose. It led them not to treasure the gift but to devote themselves to the Giver.

The phrase “forsook all” does not suggest that every believer must abandon all possessions or family responsibilities. Rather, it signifies a complete transfer of allegiance. Christ became their supreme treasure and highest authority. Their occupations, possessions, and personal ambitions were willingly yielded to His sovereign call. They left behind not merely their fishing business but their former way of life to become His devoted disciples.

This verse illustrates the nature of saving faith. Christ’s call demands more than admiration or occasional obedience; it requires wholehearted commitment. Discipleship is marked by self-denial, submission, and a willingness to place Christ above every earthly attachment (Luke 9:23; 14:26–33). Such surrender is not the price of salvation but the fruit of hearts transformed by God’s grace.

Christ still calls His people to follow Him with undivided devotion. Though our circumstances differ from those of the first disciples, every believer must ask whether anything competes with Christ’s rightful lordship. Those who gladly surrender all to Him discover that no sacrifice compares with the privilege of walking with the Saviour and serving His eternal kingdom.

Luke 5:10—“And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

Peter had just fallen at Jesus’ knees, overwhelmed by the miraculous catch of fish and the realisation of his own sinfulness (Luke 5:8). Expecting condemnation, he instead heard words of divine comfort: “Fear not.” Christ did not cast away the repentant sinner; rather, He graciously called him into His service. This marks a turning point in Peter’s life, from a fisherman of the sea to a fisher of souls.

The phrase “from henceforth thou shalt catch men” signifies Peter’s new vocation. Just as he had once gathered fish into his nets, he would now proclaim the Gospel through which men and women would be brought into the kingdom of God. Unlike fish caught for death, those whom Peter would “catch” through the Gospel would be rescued from sin and brought to eternal life. This calling would be fulfilled powerfully after Pentecost, when thousands believed through his preaching (Acts 2:41).

The Lord does not choose men because they are worthy or capable; He equips those whom He graciously calls. Peter’s sense of unworthiness became the very setting in which Christ displayed His mercy and power. It is the sovereign grace of Christ that calls His servants into His salvation and ministry. 

Every believer should first hear Christ’s “Fear not” before undertaking His service. Effective ministry begins not with self-confidence but with humble dependence upon the Lord. Those who have experienced His forgiving grace are best prepared to proclaim His saving Gospel. Christ still calls His people to participate in His glorious work of bringing sinners to Himself through the faithful proclamation of His Word.

Luke 5:8—“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Peter’s response to the miraculous catch of fish reveals that the greatest miracle he experienced was not the abundance of fish but the overwhelming awareness of Christ’s divine majesty. Having obeyed Jesus’ command to let down the nets (vv. 4–7), Peter witnessed a display of power that no ordinary man could perform. The miracle unveiled the glory of Christ, leading Peter to confess not the greatness of the catch but the sinfulness of his own heart.

The context highlights a remarkable spiritual transformation. Earlier Peter had addressed Jesus as “Master” (v. 5), acknowledging Him as a respected teacher. Now he calls Him “Lord”, recognising His divine authority. Like Isaiah, who cried, “Woe is me!” when he beheld the Lord’s holiness (Isaiah 6:5), Peter was convicted by the contrast between Christ’s purity and his own unworthiness. True encounters with God's holiness always produce humility rather than pride.

Genuine repentance begins with a right view of God. Men do not fully understand their sin until they behold the holiness and glory of the Lord. The gospel first humbles the sinner before it comforts him with grace.

Believers should seek not merely God’s blessings but God's presence. When Christ reveals His greatness through His Word, our proper response is humble confession, reverent worship, and wholehearted submission. The Lord did not reject Peter’s confession but graciously called him into His service (vv. 10–11). Christ still receives repentant sinners and transforms them into faithful servants for His kingdom.

At the age of 97, Rev. Dr Koa Keng Woo was called home by the Lord to His eternal presence on 22 July 2026. While we grieve his departure, we rejoice that he has entered the blessed presence of the Saviour whom he loved and faithfully served for many decades.

Having trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour in 1946, Rev. Koa answered God’s call to full-time ministry and enrolled in the Far Eastern Bible College in 1981. Graduating with the Bachelor of Theology degree in 1987, he devoted himself to preaching God’s Word and teaching future ministers.  Ordained to the ministry in 1989, he faithfully pastored Muar Bible-Presbyterian Church and also served the congregations in Rawang and Bukit Gambir. As a lecturer at Far Eastern Bible College, he instructed generations of students in Bible Geography, Church Music, and other subjects, while also serving as the FEBC choir conductor. In recognition of his faithful and fruitful ministry, FEBC conferred upon him the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

Rev. Koa’s life was marked by humility, fidelity to the Holy Scriptures, cheerful labour, and steadfast commitment to the Bible-Presbyterian testimony. Even in his nineties, when many would have long retired from active ministry, he continued to travel and preach God’s Word and encourage churches. His love for Christ and commitment to the Gospel never diminished even in his advancing years.

Though the church mourns the loss of a faithful undershepherd, we give thanks for his godly example and enduring legacy. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

(Pastor’s note: On our wedding day, 23 November 1991, Carolyn and I were greatly encouraged by Rev. Koa and Mrs Koa, who lovingly ministered to us through a special song. Mrs Koa sang beautifully while Rev. Koa accompanied her on the piano. Their thoughtful expression of Christian love has remained one of our most treasured memories of them.)

Heartfelt Gratitude for Our New Home!

Dear Pastor Koshy, Mission Team, and Beloved Church Family,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We write this letter with hearts overflowing with gratitude. It has been almost a month since we moved into our new home, and not a day has gone by without us thanking the Lord for His faithfulness through you.

To our Pastor Koshy: Thank you for your shepherd’s heart, your prayers, and your leadership. You stood with us in faith when we needed it most. Your encouragement reminded us that God is our Provider, and we saw that promise fulfilled.

To the Mission Team: We are so grateful for your hands and feet that served us. For every hour you worked, every sacrifice you made, and every prayer you lifted for this home, thank you. You showed us Christ’s love in action.

To our Church Family: Thank you for every prayer, gift, and word of support. You have been instruments of God for comfort and strength when we were weary. This home is not just ours; it is a testimony of what God can do through a united church. We’ve already made so many memories here in the past month, and we think of you and give thanks to the Lord for each one of them.

And above all, to our Lord: Father, we thank You for hearing our prayers. You are Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. This home is Yours. May it be a place of peace, worship, and hospitality that brings glory to Your name.

We pray that the Lord bless each of you a hundredfold for your kindness. Our doors are always open to you. We look forward to fellowship, prayer, and praise in this home that He has built through all of us together.

With all our love and thanksgiving,
Sis. Josephine and family
Bogo, the Philippines

Sermon Text: Psalm 139:19–24
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 26th July 2026

Luke 5:5—“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

Simon Peter’s response to Christ reveals the conflict that often arises between human experience and Christ’s command. As an experienced fisherman, Peter knew that after an entire night’s labour that had yielded no catch, there was little reason to expect a different outcome. Yet he chose to obey, not because the circumstances had changed, but because the Lord had spoken. His words, “nevertheless at thy word”, express the essence of true faith. It expressed faith and submission to Christ’s authority above personal reasoning and past disappointments.

The context magnifies this lesson. Jesus had been teaching the multitudes by the Sea of Galilee and then instructed Peter to launch into the deep and let down the nets (Luke 5:1–4). What followed was not merely a miraculous catch of fish but a revelation of Christ’s divine authority, preparing Peter for his greater calling to become a fisher of men (vv. 10–11).

This incident teaches that all that Christ has revealed to us in His Word is always trustworthy, even when it appears contrary to human wisdom or experience. Faith does not ignore reality; rather, it rests confidently upon the authority of God’s revealed will. The Lord often accomplishes His greatest works when His people obey Him despite apparent impossibilities.

Believers today frequently face discouragement after repeated failures or fruitless labour. Like Peter, we are called to obey Christ’s commands faithfully, leaving the results to Him. Our confidence must never rest in our ability or experience but in the unfailing power and truth of the Lord’s Word. Those who obey Him will never find His promises wanting.

Judges 5:23 – “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.”

Judges 5 is Deborah’s and Barak’s song of victory after the LORD delivered Israel from Sisera and the Canaanite army. Amidst the celebration comes a solemn denunciation of Meroz. Unlike the tribes who willingly risked their lives for the LORD’s cause (Judg. 5:14–18), the inhabitants of Meroz remained indifferent. They neither joined the battle nor supported God’s people in their hour of need. Their sin was not open rebellion but culpable neutrality.

The Angel of the LORD pronounced a bitter curse because Meroz “came not to the help of the LORD”. This expression does not suggest that God required human assistance, for He is almighty and self-sufficient. Rather, it emphasises that the battle belonged to the LORD, and He had graciously called His people to participate in His righteous work. To refuse that calling was to oppose His cause by neglect.

This warning remains relevant for God’s people today. Christ calls His church to contend earnestly for the faith, proclaim the Gospel, serve one another, and stand faithfully in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10–18; Jude 3). Spiritual indifference, cowardice, or self-preserving neutrality when God's truth is at stake dishonours the Lord.

Meroz reminds us that sins of omission are no less serious than sins of commission. God is not pleased with passive spectators when His kingdom’s work requires faithful labour. Let us therefore answer His call with willing hearts, remembering that it is a privilege to serve the victorious Lord in the advance of His kingdom and the glory of His name.

Judges 2:18—“And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.”

Judges 2:18 summarises the gracious pattern that repeatedly unfolds throughout the book. Israel forsook the LORD, served idols, and consequently fell under the oppression of surrounding nations. Yet when their affliction became severe, and their groanings ascended to Him, the LORD graciously raised up judges to deliver them from the hand of their oppressors.

These judges were not merely legal officers but divinely appointed deliverers. Their authority and success came from the LORD, for “the LORD was with the judge”. Israel’s deliverance did not arise from military strength, human wisdom, or national merit, but from God’s merciful intervention. Through the judges He raised, the LORD restrained Israel’s enemies and granted relief.

The statement that “it repented the LORD” does not mean that God changed His eternal purpose or that He made errors. Rather, it describes in human terms His compassionate response to Israel’s misery. Though their distress did not always produce true repentance, their groanings moved the covenant God to pity them. Though Israel deserved judgment, the covenant God dealt with them according to His abundant compassion and mercy.

This verse warns us against presuming upon God’s mercy, yet it also encourages the afflicted believer. It offers intense comfort to believers feeling trapped in personal cycles of failure. It assures us that God is neither deaf to our groans nor absent in our afflictions. Even when we bear the consequences of our own missteps, God’s heart inclines toward mercy when we cry out. He equips leaders, provides divine presence, and initiates rescue for all who truly turn to Him for deliverance. Believers can rest assured that God's grace continually outweighs human weakness. 

God hears the cries of His chastened people. When sin has brought sorrow, we must not merely seek relief but turn sincerely to the Lord. His compassionate heart is revealed supremely in Christ, who saves all who come to God through Him.

Exodus 40:34—“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

After Moses completed the tabernacle exactly as the LORD had commanded (Ex. 40:16, 33), the cloud descended, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. By filling the tabernacle with His glory, God graciously affirmed His acceptance of the sanctuary that had been prepared exactly according to His revealed pattern.

The cloud had already guided Israel through the wilderness (Ex. 13:21–22). Now it rested upon the tabernacle, signifying that the holy God had chosen to dwell among His covenant people. Yet His glory was so overwhelming that even Moses could not enter the tabernacle until God permitted him (Ex. 40:35). This reminds us that sinful man cannot approach God on his own terms. Access to God is possible only through His appointed way.

The tabernacle foreshadowed Jesus Christ, who “was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory)” (John 1:14). In the incarnate Christ, “all the fulness of the Godhead” dwells bodily (Col. 2:9). Through Christ, believers are brought near to God, and the Holy Spirit now indwells His people individually and corporately as God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:21–22).

This passage also teaches that careful obedience precedes divine blessing. Israel did not devise its own pattern of worship; it followed God’s revealed instructions. Likewise, the Church must worship and serve according to His Word, seeking not human applause but the abiding presence and glory of the Lord. Our greatest privilege is not merely to labour for God, but to enjoy His gracious presence in our midst.

Genesis 29:35—“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.”

Leah’s life was marked by sorrow and disappointment. Though she was Jacob’s first wife, she was not his favourite. Jacob loved Rachel more, and Leah longed for the affection and acceptance she could not receive from her husband. As each of her first three sons was born, her words revealed her hope that Jacob’s heart would finally turn towards her (Gen. 29:32–34). Yet her longing remained unfulfilled.

When her fourth son was born, however, a remarkable change took place. Leah declared, “Now will I praise the LORD”. Instead of focusing on what she lacked, she fixed her eyes on the abundant grace God had shown her. She recognised that every child was the LORD’s gift and responded with grateful worship. She named her son Judah, meaning “praise”, making thanksgiving to God the testimony of her faith.

Leah’s praise was not because all her problems had disappeared. Jacob’s favour had not changed, nor had her difficult circumstances. Rather, God’s grace had changed the direction of her heart. True praise is born not from perfect circumstances but from confidence in the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.

Leah’s son Judah became the forefather of Israel’s royal tribe, from whom David and, ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ would come (Matthew 1:2–3). God graciously honoured the woman who was overlooked by men by including her in His redemptive plan.

Believers today are often tempted to measure God’s goodness by what they have not received. Leah teaches us to praise the Lord for His undeserved mercies, trusting that His wise purposes are always better than our deepest desires. A heart that truly knows God’s grace will always find reasons to say, “Now will I praise the LORD”.