Sermon Text: John 12:31, 32
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 2nd April 2021 (Good Friday Service)
(Sermon starts around 20:14 mark.)
Sermon Text: John 12:31, 32
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 2nd April 2021 (Good Friday Service)
(Sermon starts around 20:14 mark.)
Sermon Text: Selected Scripture Texts
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 28th March 2021
(Sermon starts around 44:22. We apologize that the sermon got cut off due to an unstable internet connection on that day.)
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1-2).
The proper response to divine favours received is a personal commitment to bless the LORD. Thankfulness leads the beneficiary to worship the Giver, who is the LORD. In the previous verse, the psalmist has already exhorted his soul twice to bless the LORD. Now for a third time, he says, “Bless the LORD”. Such repetition denotes the earnestness of his desire to express his gratitude. Besides, he stirs up his soul to employ itself in grateful worship of the LORD. The worship of the LORD must arise from the inner man. It is a soul-work. Jesus reprimanded those who engaged in “lip-worship”. Citing Isaiah, He said, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8; cf. Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31). No worship exists when the heart is not sincerely and earnestly employed in praising the LORD.
In Deuteronomy 8:10-14, the LORD warned Israel against forgetting His benefits – “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God …”
Recollecting and recognising the LORD’s help, guidance, rebuke, promises, spiritual blessings, physical provisions, strength, hope, etc. will provide genuine impetuses for the worship of His name. Grateful emotions make the soul yearn to bless the LORD. Recognition of the LORD’s blessings in his life causes the psalmist to cry out: “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people” (Psalm 116:12-14).
In order to mould oneself to be a better worshipper of the LORD, one should awaken one’s memory to the benefits one has received from the LORD. Our memory is like a large storehouse. Recollection will bring to our present awareness those things stored up in the memory, producing powerful emotions of gratitude and worship in our hearts.
Dear Pastor, the Church Session and all our beloved brethren at Gethsemane BPC-Singapore,
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6).
It is with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord that I greet you a Blessed 33rd Anniversary!
By the grace and mercies of God, the church has weathered many challenges and difficulties, including the recent COVID-19 crisis. I remember well that it was in March last year when it was declared a global pandemic. Now a year after, we can testify as with the prophet Jeremiah, saying: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23)!
Indeed, God is faithful in keeping the church, and sustaining (even flourishing) its ministries. Just when everyone thought that the recent crisis would hinder the ministry of the Word as churches would have to close their doors during the lockdown, the Lord has opened wide a great door of opportunity, that the Word would have free course not only among you, our brethren in Singapore, but also to all of us in the mission churches and to many others in different parts of the world. I thank the Lord for Pastor Koshy for his burden to organise many online meetings for the feeding and nurture of God’s flock in these most difficult and trying times. In addition to the regular weekly programmes, many have been blessed by the online fellowship meetings, Bible study, Bible conferences, and even the recent Bible Witness retreat. The Word of God is not bound!
Granted, the idea of online meetings and worship may not fit well as to what a church should be, that is, a gathering together or the assembling of God’s people together. Yet it has become the most viable means, especially in those times when mass gatherings were prohibited. No doubt, it was God’s providence that has brought about these so-called “virtual” meetings, so that even though we cannot meet and gather together physically, we still are able to gather together in His presence.
Now a year after, we rejoice together with you as you come together physically to offer praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord for the 33 blessed years of the church’ s existence. Just as the psalmist declared, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works” (Psalm 145:3-5).
On this happy occasion, I also would like to express our sincere appreciation for all your support and prayers. Please know that your burden of the Lord’s work has been a great blessing and encouragement to us.
May the Lord bless Gethsemane BPC (Singapore) with many more years of service unto Him, to the glory of His Name!
Yours in Christ,
Reggor B. Galarpe
Gethsemane B-P Church (Cebu)
Cebu City, Philippines
Sermon Text: Selected Scripture Texts
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 21st March 2021
Acts 1:8 – "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Jesus Christ unequivocally stated, concerning His servants, that "ye shall be witnesses unto me". It is every Christian's life-long spiritual responsibility. Witnessing Christ to others is inherent in a Christian’s make-up.
The task of witnessing is to make Christ and His truths known to those who know Him not. As Peter points out, the apostles "were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2 Pet. 1:16). Jesus’ own words in Matt. 28:19-20 tell us what it is to be witnesses for Him - "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you".
In recording his witness of Christ in 1 Jn.1:1-2, the apostle John wrote, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)". Our witnessing should bear testimony to Christ and urge others to put their faith in Him as their Saviour and Lord, that they too become partakers of the eternal life He gives.
Christian witnessing includes bearing testimony about Christ, and our submission to and partaking of all things Christ has instituted. Bearing witness to others about Christ is done verbally and visibly to all who have not heard, understood, or experienced His greatness and goodness. Our words and actions must manifest Christ and His truths to all around us. Those who defy Christ and live a disobedient life will fail to be faithful witnesses of Christ. The apostle Peter urged, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). The manner of Christians' living and service should lay a solid and sound platform of charity, integrity and purity, on which they can stand boldly and preach Christ and His truths.
Jesus said, "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me". The assurance of our Saviour to all His servants is that in the new dispensation of the Holy Spirit's work that would follow the ascension Christ, all of them will receive the power to be His witnesses. It is to enable all His people to be witnesses that He sent His Spirit into us.The word "power" translates the Greek word (dunamis), from which is derived the English word "dynamite". All genuine believers have the “spiritual dynamite” (the Holy Spirit's power) to enable them to be witnesses of Christ. No believer is denied the power of the Holy Spirit; hence every believer who yields to the Holy Spirit would be thus activated by His power to be witnesses of Christ. Believers must be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit (cf. Eph. 4:30), but to be filled with the Spirit (i.e. to be under His direction that He gives through His Word [Eph 5:18b-19]). When a believer is under the complete control of the Holy Spirit who guides him by His Word, the life of that person will be an amazing witness to Christ.
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 shows the power of the Spirit-filled church. He prayed "that [God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; …. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (vv. 16, 20-21). When the Holy Spirit increasingly strengthens the church, its life and ministry will be radiant with the glory of Christ. A people yielded to the Holy Spirit will be a powerful witness to Christ!
Jesus said, "ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." The Lord's mandate to the apostles was to begin their witnessing in their current locale ("Jerusalem"), then to their neighbourhood ("Judaea"), and further to the next region ("Samaria") and distant lands ("unto the uttermost part of the earth"). The Book of Acts shows how the apostles executed their Gospel mission from Jerusalem unto the earth's remotest parts.
As witnesses of Christ, we must first declare Christ to those who are close by – to our relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbours, etc. We also have the responsibility to spread the truths of Christ throughout this world. Near and far, we must go as witnesses of Christ. While Jesus prayed, He said, "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world" (John 17:18).
Christians are the Lord's agents of a worldwide geographical expansion of Christianity. With the direction and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, they will reach people near and far with the Gospel. Like ripples on a pond, their witnessing will spread outwards even to the farthest place where the Lord may send them. Wherever the Spirit leads us, we must speak a word in praise of our wonderful Saviour and Lord. We cannot be silent, but must be witnessing Christians in our homes, schools, workplaces, market, and journeys. We must bring the truths of Christ to every place – islands, cities, towns, villages, camps, resorts, companies, palaces, parliaments, etc. – where the Lord will direct our paths.
The history of the church tells us the story of Christians, who, for the most part, were unlearned men and women, propagating the Gospel rapidly through their witnessing of Christ. More than missionaries and preachers, Christians, who took their Master's calling to be His witnesses, became informal evangelists and contributed more to the rapid spread of the Gospel. That was the secret of the sudden global expansion of Christianity in the first century, and other flourishing times of church history.
The Lord Jesus Christ demands that every Christian fulfil his or her obligation - to bear witness to the Saviour everywhere!
A famous poem by Charles Thomas Studd (often known as C.T. Studd [1860 – 1931]). He was a renowned British cricket player, missionary and poet. He served the LORD as a missionary in China, India and Africa. He was fully dedicated to the LORD. He gave his family inheritance to Moody (who established the Moody Bible Institute) and to George Müller’s mission work and his orphans. His final years of Gospel work was in Congo, Africa. His life principle, in his own words, was: “If Jesus Christ be God, and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.”
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has burned out for Thee.
I praise the Lord for enabling us to hold a worship service last Lord’s Day in our new outreach in Villasis. The service was held in the home of Sis. Charlene Mae Abrena (who now attends GBPC, Singapore).
Bro. Jumar (who recently returned from Singapore)
came with his wife, Sis. Olive, and his father to attend the worship service in Villasis. Bro. Kyt Bince (the other brother who also recently returned from Singapore) also joined the service, together with his sister.
We praise the Lord for enabling the neighbours and relatives of Sis. Charlene to attend this first worship service. A total of 20 people attended. Bro. Kyt led the worship service. After the service, we rejoiced with Bro. Jumar and Sis. Olive, who were celebrating their wedding anniversary. May the Lord bless their family. God willing, we will meet in this place every 1st Sunday of the month.
We are also glad to report that a temporary shed is being raised in Macayug. The roof is almost done. God willing, we will hold our children’s ministry here, where the children can focus on the study of God’s Word without distraction.
We are now slowly moving to the new mission station in San Fabian town. We have finished painting the wall of the worship hall and the kitchen of the rented premises. God willing, we will install the fans and other things so that we can use the place for worship service and prayer meetings.
Some of our present regular weekly activities are as follows:
Brethren, do pray for us as we are slowly transferring to the new mission station in Macayug. We covet your prayers for the salvation of souls, as well as God’s protection and strengthening in our travels to different places in the Pangasinan region to conduct Bible studies and visitations.
Participants of the first worship service held in Villasis with our recently returned Filipino brothers—Bro. Jumar Balicao & Bro. Kyt Bince—and Pr Donald dela Cruz.
A temporary shed is built on a piece of land in Macayug, purchased by Pr Donald for the church. It will be used for children’s ministry and other Gospel outreach work.
Sermon Text: Selected Scripture Texts
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 14th March 2021
We are not required to be in a church building or a sacred place in order to pray to God. (Of course, this fact should not be cited as an excuse for forsaking church prayer meetings and worship services.) The Bible records people praying in all sorts of places: in a closet (Matthew 6:6), before the congregation (2 Chronicles 6:13), as a church (Acts 2:42-47), in a garden (Matthew 26:36-44), on a mountainside (Luke 6:12), in a home (Acts 9:39-40), by a river (Acts 16:13), on the shore (Acts 21:5-6), while sinking in the sea (Matthew 14:30), on the way by the well (Genesis 24:11-27), in the temple (1 Kings 8:22-53), in battle (2 Chronicles 13:14-15), in a cave (1 Kings 19:9-10), in bed (Psalm 4:3-4), in the stomach of a fish (Jonah 2:1-10), on a housetop (Acts 10:9), in a prison (Acts 16:23-26), in the wilderness (Luke 5:16) and on a cross (Luke 23:33-34, 46).
In 1 Timothy 2:8, Paul said, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere.” For the Spirit-filled Christian, every place becomes a place of prayer.
A believer is always aware of his insufficiency and therefore the need to live in total dependence on God at all times. The Bible records the testimony of those who cried unto God day and night (Psalm 88:1; Luke 2:37; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:3). Everyone who humbly accepts his insufficiency and dependence on God will be eager to pray always. So Jesus exhorted: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
Scripture records people praying three times a day (Daniel 6:10), in the morning (Psalm 5:3), in the evening (1 Kings 18:36), before meals (Matthew 14:19), after meals (Deuteronomy. 8:10), at the ninth hour (Acts 3:1), at bedtime (Psalm 4:4), at midnight (Acts 16:25), day and night (Luke 2:37; 18:7), often (Luke 5:33), when they are young (Jeremiah 3:4), when they are old (Daniel 9:2-19), when they are in trouble (2 Kings 19:3-4), every day (Psalm 86:3), and always (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Prayer has no language barrier. Even though man thinks and speaks in different languages, God understands all of them. He is the God of all nations and Scripture says, “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name” (Psalm 86:9). This certainly gives evidence to the fact that language is no barrier when it comes to praying to God (Acts 2:4, 11; Acts 10:46). God even searches the hearts of His children and thereby knows their motives, needs and desires, no matter what language they think or speak in (Romans 8:27).
Since God knows both the hearts and thoughts of everyone, prayer may be expressed mentally, audibly or in song (psalms). In times of great trials, we may prayerfully sit before His throne though without the power to express our thoughts. In times like these, the Holy Spirit searches our hearts and makes our feelings and thoughts known unto God (Romans 8:26; Hebrews 4:15).
There is a time for offering up our prayers in a proper, clear and formal manner. This should be the case, especially when we pray before a congregation or fellowship group. However, we can come before God with broken hearts and weeping, crying audibly (1 Samuel 1:10; Psalm 34:18). At times, it may be expressed in the form of making a vow (1 Samuel 1:11; Acts 18:18), making sacrifices (Psalm 20:1-3) and singing songs (Psalm 59:16, 17; Acts 16:25).
People in the Bible prayed sitting in ashes (Job 1:20-21; 2:8), wearing sackcloth (Psalm 35:13), crying with tears (Psalm 6:6), smiting their breasts (Luke 18:13), throwing dust on their heads (Joshua 7:6), tearing garments (1 Kings 21:27), fasting (Deuteronomy 9:18), sighing (Ezra 9:4-15), groaning (Psalm 6:4-6), crying out loud (Hebrews 5:7) and sweating as if bleeding (Luke 22:44).
Sometimes, Christians may engage in prayer for several days (Esther 4:16), several hours – all through the night (Luke 6:12), or short ejaculatory prayers (Matthew 14:30). Some would even take time to pray several times a day (Daniel 6:10).
Prayer is to be a total way of life—an open and continual communion with God. It is not limited or restrained by factors such as time, posture and place. Under any circumstance, a child of God can call on His God.
Sermon Text: Selected Scripture Texts
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 7th March 2021
In these days, prayer in the Christian realm is increasingly putting on the characteristics of unbiblical mysticism of the oriental religions. Prayers of Christians ought to be guided and moulded by biblical injunctions and patterns of prayer. The following characteristics of biblical prayer can be of help to maintain proper prayer habits.
Prayer is unidirectional – believers speaking to God and Him alone. Philippians 4:6 says, “Let your requests be made known unto God” (cf. Nehemiah 4:9; Acts 12:5). Jesus said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). Never does the Bible speak of prayer as a request made to dead saints, angels or demons. In truth, the Bible prohibits any form of prayer to idols, spirits of the dead persons and devils (Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; 2 Kings 17:17; Psalm 115:4-8; Zechariah 10:2). No man, whether dead or alive, is worthy of our dependence. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8). “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:8). Unfortunately, there are many who claim to be Christians but practise necromancy to the dead) and other forms of prayer and worship that are abominable to God. It is not uncommon nowadays to hear some charismatic preachers talking to the devil in the midst of their prayers. These practices, biblically-speaking, are distortions of prayer. Prayer should only be rendered unto God.
To all true Christians, prayer means instant access to God. Paul affirmed this truth in Ephesians 2:18 – “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (cf. Romans 5:2). Likewise, Hebrews 4:16 declares, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Christians can have boldness in the fact that they can have access to God’s gracious throne any time they need His help. All those who have been reconciled to God through Christ can have the assurance that God is ever ready to hear their prayers. In fact, because God is omnipresent (God is everywhere regardless of time or circumstances) and omniscient (God is all-knowing), He not only hears prayer immediately but even knows the content of prayer before it is formulated by the one praying. Isaiah 65:24 says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Psalm 145:18 promises, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (cf. Psalms 50:15; 91:15).
The Bible records God’s people praying in various physical positions. Praying in various circumstances necessitates different postures. In the Bible, people prayed standing (Genesis 24:12-14), lifting up their hands (1 Timothy 2:8), sitting (Judges 20:26, 2 Samuel 7:18), kneeling (Daniel 6:10; Mark 1:40), looking upward (John 17:1), bowing down (Exodus 34:8), placing their heads between their knees (1 Kings 18:42), lying down on their bed (Psalms 4:4; 63:6), bowing on their bed (1 Kings 1:47), pounding on their breasts (Luke 18:13), facing the temple (Daniel 6:10), and prostrating (Mark 14:35; Revelation 7:11).
The above brief review indicates that in the Bible, there is not a particular posture of prayer. Postures are important only to the extent that they are the external expressions of reverence, inner feelings and commitment to the Lord. No single posture is able to express all feelings of the praying man. Hence, we find in Scripture a diversity of options and possibilities. One should adopt one’s posture of prayer appropriately and in a reverential manner before God. Our posture in prayer should be the reflection of our hearts, whether it be hearts overwhelmed with the cares of life, hearts overawed by the majesty of God or hearts hushed in humble obedience to God.
Above all, the Bible emphasizes the posture of the heart more than the external posture. Isaiah 29:13 admonishes us: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Jesus also condemned the hypocritical prayer postures of the Pharisees – “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:5).