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There has been much enthusiasm among our brethren about the upcoming church camp (to be held 6-10 June, 2016). If the Lord permits, 217 brethren will gather at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The camp committee, led by Dn Francis Lee (Camp Master) have made all the arrangements and will continue to labour to ensure a smooth running of the camp.

Even our children are excited about the church camp. During last Tuesday prayer meeting, as I sat with our young children to pray, I asked them whether they were looking forward to the church camp. Their enthusiastic reply of “Yes! Yes!” was very heartening, and we prayed together for the camp’s blessings. May the Lord use this camp to bring salvation and spiritual growth to our children. During the camp, our children will be ministered to by Pr Joshua Yong, Sis Ng Boon Choo and Sis Ho Xiao Wei (full-time workers from Calvary Pandan and Truth B-P Churches). Pr Kelvin Lim and the Gethsemane Children’s Committee will be at hand to help the children during the camp as well.

All our preachers, elders and deacons will also be at the camp to minister to you. Pray for those who chair the meetings and preach, that the Spirit of God would empower them to minister His Word to us. Let us pray that all of us will be greatly edified and that great joy may fill our hearts.

I would like to encourage you to make full use of the time and opportunity to learn God’s Word, to pray with one another, and minister to one another with joy and love. Please be courteous and helpful to one another. One very important aspect of the church camp, to which every participant should give utmost attention, is holiness in our private and public conduct. Godly conduct is crucial to a peaceful and happy time of fellowship and learning of God’s Word. So, let us be watchful to flee all temptations and consecrate ourselves to worship Him “in the beauty of holiness”.

Therefore, please adhere to the following advice:

Some Important Advice for the Camp

1. Go to the camp with a prepared and ready heart to receive His Word –
   • Take time to pray that you will know God’s will concerning your life, that you will grow spiritually, and that you will learn to enjoy His joyful presence in your life.
   • Bring along your Bibles and writing instruments. Papers for note-taking will be made available for you.
2. Clothing worn at camp must be modest, even during games and sports activities –
   • During meetings, no shorts and slippers are allowed. Skirts and dresses must be below the knees.
   • Campers will be asked by Pastor, the Session members or the Camp Committee members to change their clothes if they are deemed inappropriate.
   • Inappropriate apparel include spaghetti straps, midriff/ belly shirts, backless and strapless tops and cheerleading shorts.
   • A rule of thumb for all sports shorts is that the length should be below your fingertips when your arms are resting at your side while standing. Do not walk about in inappropriate apparel.
   • Clothing that is offensive or advertises alcoholic beverages, drinking establishments, tobacco or rock music is forbidden.
   • Male campers must keep their shirts on at all times, except when they are inside the pool.
   • Ladies are advised to have decent one-piece swimsuit for swimming. Do not walk about in your swimsuit.
3. The use of alcohol or tobacco products of any kind is absolutely forbidden. Do not visit or hang around the pubs or other worldly entertainment facilities at the resort or in its vicinity.
4. During free time, if you are not resting, please engage in prayer, fellowship or personal devotion. Do not waste your time watching ungodly movies and programmes on TV, or listening to secular music.
5. Do not leave the premises without informing the Camp Master or Camp Committee members.
6. Conduct and speech exhibited at camp must be in keeping with Christian principles.
7. Be always ready to encourage and help one another.

As we gather together in His presence, may the Lord make us rejoice with great joy!

Have you been developing a close friendship with unregenerate people? Have you been ‘dating’ an unbeliever? Or have you been maintaining your relationship with a Christian in an unbiblical, worldly, carnal manner? Then, please consider the following warnings of God’s Word, and quickly deliver yourself from the displeasure of God and much heart-wrenching consequences in life.

Consider what an ungodly relationship brings upon you:

It pours contempt on Christ and the spiritual union with Him

Ungodly marriages and adulterous relationships of Christians not only despise but also pour contempt on the sanctity of your spiritual union with the Lord. So, all Christians are admonished in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication… What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

All genuine Christians are joined to Christ, and hence, there exists a sacred spiritual union – a close, intimate spiritual oneness with Christ – “he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” Because of this spiritual union of believers with Christ, “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). This sacred union with Christ is an abiding relationship that His people cherish more than all other relationships. They are eternally bound to Him and therein grow in closer communion with Him. For this reason, they should not enter into or maintain any relationship that would betray or desecrate their union with Christ.

If you are a Christian, you certainly would not appreciate a relationship with someone who does not honour Christ. If you are truly bound to Christ, you will not drift away from Him with someone who does not appreciate Christ and His righteousness. It is a terrible scorn on Christ to be in an ungodly relationship!

It promotes unbelief and ungodliness

A Christian’s intimate relationship with unbelievers places him in a league that accepts and supports unbelief and unrighteousness. Hence, Scripture warns us, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).

How could Christians, who are saved out of unrighteousness, darkness, idolatry and all other forms of worldly and satanic activities, be in alliance with those who continue in them? Christians are always expected to keep away from the ways of unconverted men. 2 Corinthians 6:17 exhorts believers, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you”. Christians should never associate with anyone in a manner that would erase the line of demarcation between them and unbelievers. It is the duty of Christians to extricate themselves from all relationships that would require them to accept quietly and support others’ unbelief and ungodliness.

It propels one into sinful conduct

Christians are warned: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Close and intimate communication resulting from ungodly companions will corrupt any Christian. Anyone who thinks that he or she will be unaffected by close companionship with unregenerate people is deceived. A Christian who grows closer and closer to a non-Christian is lying if he claims that his morals have not been corrupted. The influence that an ungodly person can have on Christians should never be underestimated - “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6)!

God’s people are therefore warned: “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:14- 19). Likewise, Proverbs 22:24-25 cautions: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”

It provides bad example for others

Scripture cautions us about men and women who would not only walk disorderly but also become a motivation for others to follow their ungodly example. 2 Peter 2:2 speaks of this dangerous and ensnaring scenario – “And many shall follow their pernicious ways”!

Why would you or I be a bad example of rebellion and betrayal? Instead, let us be “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Timothy 4:12b).

Jesus has said to His disciples, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:18-19).

Gethsemane Bible- Presbyterian Church has always been emulating her Saviour’s example and embracing His teaching, by constantly evangelising and reaching out to the lost souls, across all ages. On top of the demands of various ministries that our church has undertaken, Pastor Koshy’s burden has also been to reach out to the elderly with the Gospel message.

By the providence of God, Pastor Koshy (together with a team of brothers and sisters) was guided to commence this outreach effort to the elderly in May 1997, by ministering to the Lions Home, which was situated at Bedok South Avenue 2. Since then, by the grace of God, several elderly folks have, through this ministry’s humble efforts, come to believe in the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and were subsequently baptised.

In 2003, Lions Home expanded by setting up a branch in the Toa Payoh area, so as to accommodate more old folks in need. Praise be to God, we were also permitted to arrange for another Gospel outreach to the elderly folks in that home. Many more brothers and sisters responded to this “open door” and got involved. Over the years, we thank God for these brethren’s zeal in their efforts to exhort and encourage those senior residents in both the Bedok and Toa Payoh Lions Homes. This has further led to a few more elderly believers being baptised!

Come October 2015, when the Singapore Government decided to acquire possession of the land occupied by Toa Payoh Lions Home for further development, the affected home was then moved to No. 9, Bishan Street 13. In spite of the change in location, we thank God for the administration’s continued granting of permission for us to carry on with our ministry to the elderly at the new Bishan premises. God willing, we will see some “fruit of our labours” very soon, as two more elderly believers from Bishan Lions Home have expressed their decision to get baptised. The names of these two elderly brethren are: Mr James Wee and Mdm Theresa Kok Khim Ee

Bro James Wee accepted the Lord as his Saviour a few months ago and has been joyfully attending our meetings regularly. Last week, when I ministered to him, I impressed upon him, from the Scriptures, the need for a believer to be baptised in the Lord when he has received Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Bro James understood this and has expressed his delight to be baptised.

As for Sis Theresa Kok Khim Ee, she has believed in the Lord since a few years ago. However, due to certain circumstances, she was not able to be baptised. The Lord has been good to her as she has always professed her steadfastness towards her Saviour Jesus Christ. She too has been a regular participant in our Bible study at Bishan Lions Home every alternate Sunday when we visited them. We thank God that Elder Mah has explained to Sis Theresa with regard to baptism, and she has expressed her readiness to be baptised.

As our Lions Home Ministry team continue to labour and render our services to God, we exult joyfully for the constant reminder and encouragement by the apostle Paul in Romans 10:15 – “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Please continue to remember us in prayer as we continue to labour for His glory and honour.

JJesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Here, Jesus first of all directs our attention to the fact that He is the “Son”. By using the title “Son”, He wanted to draw us to the fact that He is the undisputed Heir of all things, who wields the ultimate authority and power concerning all matters, even to free a man from his servitude. So in the preceding verse, He had said, “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever” (John 8:35). As the only begotten Son of God, Christ enjoys unchallenged, eternal right to exercise the full authority vested in Him by the Father to liberate slaves. Jesus Himself said in John 3:35 - “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” Only Christ, the Son, has the power and freedom to liberate us from everything that shackles us.

Christ alone has the right of freedom. Since the Fall of Adam, all men are born slaves to sin, without the power to deliver themselves. Only by the gracious bestowment of freedom by the Son of God could one ever obtain one’s freedom. So our freedom is a benefit conferred by Christ, and we obtain it by faith. By His Spirit, He liberates our souls that we may gain freedom from sin and continue in that freedom. Thus Paul testified in Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” About the freedom He grants us, Jesus says, “ye shall be free indeed”. An emphasis is placed on the word “indeed”. His freedom is not some unreal, foolish figment of imagination.

Many today are like the Jews whom Jesus rebuked for claiming that they were never in bondage and had always been free. They boastfully say that they’re free to do whatever they like to do. They do not acknowledge that they are actually under the wretched bondage of sin.

Nonetheless, those who put their trust in Christ take heed that they “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

The Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry exults in the Lord with praises of thanksgiving for His bestowal of His bountiful love and blessings for the past 11 years. We marked this anniversary occasion with a special thanksgiving held on 7 April 2016 at Aloha Loyang Resort. Praise God for giving us clear, beautiful weather on that blessed day! With joy overflowing from our hearts, we gathered to commemorate and recount the Lord’s abundant grace and mercy which we have witnessed and tasted in our lives.

The meeting proper began in the morning with the worship of God in singspiration, followed by a devotion message on “God’s Benefits to Christians” by Rev Tan Kian Sing, taken from Psalm 103:1-6. After the devotion, sisters in our midst testified with their voices in singing praises to God. We then had a Gospel outreach to the eleven unbelieving relatives and friends who had been invited by their loved ones to join us.

After the lunch break, the “sporting” seniors gathered at a nearby field to contest in friendly games. The elderly “competitors”, who were divided into four teams, certainly had a memorable time engaging in the games. We thank God for His protection and a good time of fellowship with the saints.

In the evening devotion, Pastor Koshy exhorted us from Psalm 116:12-19, on the importance of “Christians’ Gratitude towards God’s Benefits”. We are grateful to God for His inspiring and comforting Word, which not only gives us consolation and hope, but also instils in us the conviction that though we advance in age as elderly Christians, we still have this privilege and joy to honour and serve Him.

Of course, we must not forget the many brothers and sisters who have lovingly and enthusiastically laboured in various areas contributing to a very fruitful Thanksgiving Service, as well as those who testified of their gratitude and appreciation towards the Lord.

May our prayer be as the psalmist’s: “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee” (Psalm 71:18-19)! May our gracious God continue to use the Seniors’ Ministry for His glory and honour. Amen.

Angela Ang’s Testimony

I started going to church since I was 36 years old. Through a friend from Truth B-P Church, I was introduced to the Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study at the Bible Witness Bookroom, where I came to know Pastor Koshy, Sis Carolyn and Bro John Peh. I was very impressed with Pastor Koshy’s teaching of God’s Word. I like his teaching because he speaks loud and clear on God’s truth. This is why I decided to join Gethsemane B-P Church.

I attend the Seniors’ Ministry every Thursday held in different homes. Thank God for Eld Mah and Pr Jeremiah who preach God’s Word and pray for us. We also visit the sick in hospital and pray for their salvation. Since I joined this ministry, God has changed me. I began to open my home for Christian gatherings. Before, I was very quiet and hardly mixed with people. But now, I’ve more senior friends and sometimes we go out together to visit the sick and pray for their salvation. This helped me to be more caring and friendly. I also desire to share God’s Word by telling people how Jesus loves us and died for our sins. As my Mandarin is not so good, I mostly speak English to them, but I can understand when they respond in Mandarin.

How time flies! I have been in this church for about 6 years, and am now a member. I’m thankful to Eld Mah, Pr Jeremiah and Pr Daniel for their care, love and patience. I appreciate Pr Jeremiah and Pr Daniel for fetching us from the MRT station every Thursday. Sometimes we were late, but they never complained or got angry.

Every morning, I give thanks to God for His grace, mercy and providence, and pray for guidance, protection and strength. He has given me peace and blessed me with much spiritual blessings. May you also receive blessing from the Lord, especially those who have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Accept Him now because we do not know what will happen tomorrow. We do not know when we will leave this world. It can be today or tomorrow. The Bible says that those who believe in Him shall be saved and have everlasting life. Jesus has already prepared a mansion for us in heaven. Praise the Lord!

Peh Soon Seng’s Testimony

Ibelieved in the Lord in 2006 when I followed my son and daughter-in-law for worship in Gethsemane B-P Church. I was baptized in Dec 2006. After believing in the Lord, I have experienced much peace. I pray 3 times a day, constantly asking the Lord to keep my family safe and healthy, and to protect us in our activities everyday. When I have pain or sickness, the Lord has thus far granted me quick recovery. Though I am now 93 years old, I am still mobile – praise be unto God!

I attend the worship service every Sunday and the Seniors’ Fellowship every Thursday. I thank Pastor Koshy who often enquires about my wellbeing. Although he does not speak Chinese, I know he always keeps me in prayer. I want to thank Pr Jeremiah and Pr Daniel, who regularly fetch me to the Seniors’ Fellowship, come rain or shine. I also want to thank Eld Mah and all the preachers who have taught us the Word of God. They often encourage us to strengthen our faith in God.

At the Seniors’ Fellowship, I enjoy fellowshipping with the older members of the church. I thank God for the sisters who often enquire about my well-being. The Seniors’ Fellowship has given elderly folks like us meaningful avenues to pass our time. The highlight every year must be the one-day outing to Malaysia. Besides listening to God’s Word, we also have a time of relaxation in touring the countryside, after which we would have a sumptuous meal.

I pray that God will continue to prosper this ministry so that more older folks have the opportunity to listen to the Gospel and come to the saving knowledge Jesus Christ. All glory be to God!

In Romans 15:1-2, Paul records for us the duty which every Christian should know and be fully committed to – “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

Every Christian is called to be a member of the church, where he renders himself for the edification of other Christians. Paul has earlier stated this truth in Romans 12:5 – “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” In 1 Corinthians 12:25, he further emphasises “that the members should have the same care one for another.” It is God’s design that we edify one another through mutual care.

The first counsel that Paul gives in the above text is that the strong are to help the weak. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak”. Paul’s use of the word “ought” (opheilo in Greek), which means “owe” or “be a debtor”, suggests that the strong ones must feel an indebtedness to God to help His weak children. The word “bear” (bastazō in Greek) has meanings such as “carry”, “endure” and “support”. Hence, it is the duty of every Christian to bear patiently with the weaker ones around him and help them to walk and grow along with him. He who is spiritually strong should neither despise nor neglect those who are weak. Instead, he graciously renders himself available to support and help them. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye” (Romans 14:1a). In 1 Corinthians 12:22-24 we read, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked”.

The second counsel for Christians is “not to please ourselves”. A Christian should not be self-centred if he is to help others as God expects. A person’s spiritual maturity is evidenced in his willingness to give up his rights so that others may be helped. We must be willing to deny ourselves if we can promote others’ happiness in doing so. Our conduct should not be motivated by our personal happiness or gratification, but rather by the welfare of others. We must, like Paul, be able to sincerely say, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).

The third counsel is to “please his neighbour” – “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification”. No Christian is exempted from the exhortation given in this verse. Every Christian is urged to “please his neighbour”. In the light of the context of this verse, the word “neighbour” denotes a fellow church member or a fellow believer. To “please” another is to conduct in a polite or courteous manner towards that Christian brother or sister.

Many biblical admonitions, if carefully implemented, will enable us to be “pleasing” towards one another. Some of such admonitions are briefly enumerated below:

• We must greet one another, showing respect and love. 1 Corinthians 16:20b says, “Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” (cf. Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14).
• We must be kind-hearted to all, showing love and compassion. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (Romans 12:10; cf. John 13:34).
• We must show respect to all (even to those who are younger and immature), “in honour preferring one another”, as we are admonished in Romans 12:10 (cf. Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5).
• We must be welcoming to others in the church. Romans 15:7 urges us, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (cf. Romans 14:1-3; Matthew 10:40).
• We must be helpful and caring towards one another, even to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:14).
• We must be patient towards others, “with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”, as Ephesians 4:2 instructs us (cf. Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
• We must “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
• We must encourage and edify one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (cf. Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:16, 29; 1 Thessalonians 4:18). In other words, we ought to “please” one another for the expressed purpose of edification.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

The Greek word which Paul uses for “temptation” (peirasmós) in the above verse can mean either a temptation of sin or a trial. Generally, temptation is an incentive or enticement or provocation to sin. When afflictions are brought upon us by Satan, he would also attempt to stir within us doubt, impatience and even apostasy. But as it was in the case of Job, God will use the trials and temptations brought by Satan to prove the faith and fervency of His children.

Three major divine promises are given here to comfort and strengthen Christians who are encountering temptations and trials in their lives. The first promise is that God would not permit any temptation that is uncommon to man to befall His people. The second promise is that our faithful God will not allow us to be tempted above that we are able. The third promise is that along with the temptation, God will make a way for us to escape so that it will not be unbearable to us. So often, people try to extenuate their sins by citing the strength of temptations and the weakness of their human nature. They speak as though temptations and trials are expected to get the better of them. But Scripture teaches that such notions are absolutely groundless.

The apostle Paul reminds us that “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man”. Whatever temptation or trial that we experience had already been experienced by other saints of God, and had been resisted and overcome with God’s help. It is totally absurd to believe that there never was anyone who had faced temptations and trials as you have. So, do not become despondent and yield to the enticements and provocations of your particular temptation. When God permits the temptations and trials authored by Satan, He wants us to know that we can certainly overcome them with His help. If they were beyond our power to resist, how could they be called temptations or trials?

Truly, when God’s children are faced with temptations and trials, they can be assured that God is faithful to them. His faithfulness to His people is very great. Lamentations 3:23 declares, “great is thy faithfulness”! God is faithful to all whom He has called (cf. 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Thess. 5:24; 2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:13). In the midst of our temptations and trials, if we look only to ourselves, we would fail. But if we would depend on the faithfulness of our God, we will be secure. This is not to say that we do not have to make any effort on our own to resist the temptations that assault us, but rather that we can trust Him to be faithful to help us in our efforts to overcome them. If at any time we err in our conduct, we should immediately repent and confess our sins, for “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

Because God is faithful, we are assured that He “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able”. He will never place us where we cannot overcome temptations of sin. Let us believe in His assurances and resist our temptations. Even when difficulties increase and we see no light at the end of the tunnel, let us trust that He will not abandon us to our ruthless foe, the devil. Amidst our temptations and trials, the Lord shall be most tender and affectionate towards us. He will be paying attention to our peculiar struggles and challenges. As Psalm 103:14 tells us, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Being our faithful God, He would never let temptations that are disproportionate to our strength to overtake us.

Nonetheless, we have known of believers who have foolishly walked into great temptations and troubles. Consider Lot, for instance. He went and resided in Sodom, a city of great wickedness. He lost his family to the wickedness of that city. Yet, the apostle Peter tells us that God “delivered just Lot” who was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked” (2 Peter 2:7). It is instructive to note that on Lot’s part, many careless and foolish choices were made, but on God’s part, He is faithful and merciful to rescue His child who had wandered far into a land of temptations and dangers.

Even though we may feel that we are almost defeated by temptations and trials, God will indeed provide “a way to escape”. God Himself will see to it that we are delivered from our temptations and trials!

God has instituted one day in the week for His worship by His people. In the Old Testament, it was the seventh day, and was known as the Sabbath day. In the New Testament, the day of worship has been the first day of the week; and it has been referred to as “the Lord’s day”.

In our time, Christians increasingly disregard the fact that God has set apart the Lord’s Day to be a time of public and private worship of God and also to rest in Him. I notice that even among the Bible-Presbyterians, some have no concern for the Lord’s expectation that His people spend this day in worship and service unto Him.

The Westminster Confession of Faith, which is the standard statement of faith for our church, states in Chapter 21 (Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day), sections 7 and 8:

“As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.”

“This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe a holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.”

The original purpose of God in ordaining the Sabbath day for worship and communion with Him is evident from Genesis 2:1- 3 – “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” God “blessed” and “sanctified” the seventh day. While the word “blessed” denotes God’s favour assigned to that day for the benefit of His people, the word “sanctified” denotes that the Lord set that day apart from all other days for His own glory. Thus, God distinguished the Sabbath day from the rest of the week by issuing a Creation ordinance – man, whom God had made, should honour his Maker. The day in which God “rested” (i.e. ceased) from His work of creation, was allocated by Him to be a day for His people to contemplate the glory of the Creator.

The ultimate purpose of the Sabbath day was to engage in worship of the Creator. Adam and Eve, before the Fall, had unobstructed communion with God every day and also done all their work in six days for His glory. Yet, the seventh day was to be all for God and His praise. It was for the worship of God that man was commanded to rest or cease from all his work on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath day was not merely a day to be inactive and rest, but a day to do works of God in worship and service!

Our Lord Jesus Christ had proven to us that the ultimate purpose of the Sabbath day was never to be total inactivity. Christ not only worshipped God the Father on the Sabbath, He also laboured to edify and restore by ministering to others in God’s name. We do not see Jesus taking Sabbath merely as a day to rest and recover from fatigue. On a Sabbath day, after healing an impotent man who had been suffering for 38 years, Jesus proclaimed, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). Jesus constantly affirmed the truth that though God has ceased from the works of creation, He never ceases from His works of providence. Even on the Sabbath day, God’s care and protection of His people continue unabated. On another occasion, Jesus also said, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28). These words of Christ further prove that the ultimate purpose of the Sabbath was neither leisure nor inactivity, but involvement in activities that honour and render worship to God.

On the day of worship, we cease from our regular duties and activities to take up works that pertain to God’s glory, as God has meant it to be. While everything that we do (even eating and drinking) must glorify God (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31), the Sabbath day activities should not include all the mundane works, entertainment and sports that we normally engage in. Since Creation week, God’s special purpose for the day of worship is that we serve Him by manner of special services that particularly pertain to worship and service of God, not by doing the same things we do all through the six days of the week. While we do many things for six days to the glory of God (Colossians 3:23), all such works – except that which belongs to the worship of God, such as public and private worship, acts of charity and edification, etc. – are strictly prohibited on the day of worship.

So, we hereby affirm what Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 60, states: “The Sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreation as are lawful on other days, and taking up the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy”.

Since time immemorial, God’s people have been singing unto the Lord as individuals, as a congregation and as a choir. While it is biblical to look at the ministry of preaching as the most important ministry in the church, looking down on the ministry of the church choir as though it is irrelevant in the church is downright unbiblical. When Martin Luther said, “Music is next to theology”, he was not suggesting that theology is the only thing that matters and that the church could serve God without music. Actually, what he was advocating is the opposite – music is to be in tandem with (though always guided by) sound theology. In fact, good theology makes the whole church sing! “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted” (Psalm 89:15-16).

It is God’s will that every Bible-believing church should aspire to be a singing church. One cannot read the Bible and fail to realise there are hundreds of biblical commands, exhortations and testimonies, calling us to sing praises unto the Lord. It is estimated that there are 185 songs in the Bible! Do you know that some of the books of the Holy Bible are written entirely as musical texts? They are the Book of Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations. In the Old Testament, you can find “The Song of Moses” (Exodus 15), “The Song of Wells in the Wilderness” (Numbers 21:17- 18), “The Song of Victory of Deborah and Barak” (Judges 5), and “Jehoshaphat’s Battle Song” (2 Chronicles 20:21). Furthermore, when God’s people were allowed to return to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity in Babylon, Ezra recorded for us how God blessed the returnees with a choir of 200 singing men and singing women (cf. Ezra 2:65).

In the New Testament, one can find “Mary’s Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55), “Worthy is the Lamb” (Revelation 5:9-10) and “The Song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3). It is also noted that the Lord Jesus ended the meeting with His disciples at the upper room with a hymn (Matthew 26:30). When Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi, instead of worrying for their lives, at midnight before they went to sleep, they simply committed themselves to God in prayer and sang praises to Him (Acts 16:25)! Truly, singing praises unto the Lord had always been part and parcel of the lives of God’s people. No matter what situation they were in, God’s people sang praises unto God.

Why are all these recorded for us? Is it not to convict our hearts that we must be a singing people? Take note how the apostle Paul exhorted the church at Ephesus regarding this matter. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20). A church that is at the forefront of singing praises unto the Lord is a fruit and a sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If our people “drag their feet” and find it a big struggle to “sing unto the Lord”, there is something spiritually wrong!

Obviously, this is not to say that everyone in Gethsemane must serve in the church choir. Paul explains, “For the body is not one member, but many … If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:14-18). Truly, we all have different gifts and callings. Among these must surely be the gift of music. May those who are so gifted and so moved of the Lord to serve Him in the church choir ministry, rise up and serve Him!

Our church is blessed with a choir. It is known as “Voices of Gethsemane”. Its purpose is to gather, organise and train those whom God has blessed with the ability to sing. Audition is not necessary for brethren to join us. It is open to any interested person who is a born-again believer, and who feels called to sing in the choir. If you are being moved of the Lord to join us, you are most welcome. We meet at 9.00am on Sunday mornings. Be assured that the church choir needs more help and “reinforcements”, and your prayerful contribution will be gladly received by all among the Voices of Gethsemane.

So come and let us serve the Lord and His church together! Indeed, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah” (Psalm 66:1-4).

Greetings in the Name of our risen Lord and Saviour!

On this happy occasion of commemorating our Lord’s resurrection, we also rejoice with you on your 28th Anniversary Thanksgiving. Praise God for His goodness all these years!

As you gather together for a time of thanksgiving and praise, I would like to encourage you to press on in your service to God and in living a dedicated life unto Him. In the words of Paul, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Realise that as God’s people – sinners saved by His mercy and grace – we are to dedicate our all, that is, to offer our all unto Him. It is the one thing that the Lord desires and expects from His people, and thus, it must be our preoccupation and our purpose in life.

To live a dedicated life unto God is to live a life characterised as follows:

1. A Life in Consecration – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice …” (Romans 12:1a). To dedicate our life to God involves a personal, deliberate presentation of our bodies unto God as a living sacrifice, which means an offering set apart unto Him.
2. A Life in Holiness – “… holy, acceptable unto God …” (Romans 12:1b). For an offering to be acceptable unto God, it must be pure and holy, for it is to be set apart as sacred to God. So, we must live our life in constant pursuit of holiness.
3. A Life of Worship – “… which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1c). A life dedicated unto God is a life in service unto Him. That entails a life of worship.
4. A Life of Separation – “And be not conformed to this world …” (Romans 12:2a). We are to separate not only from sin, but also to be separated from the ways of the world.
5. A Life that is Transformed – “… but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2b). A transformed life involves the renewing of the mind that enables us to know God’s Word, to follow God’s way and to discern God’s will.

Once again, on behalf of the brethren here, “Blessed 28th Anniversary!”

Yours in Christ,
Reggor B. Galarpe
Gethsemane BPC (Cebu)
Cebu City, the Philippines

My Testimony

Titus Ho

Iwas born into a Christian family and was baptised as an infant. From a young age, I have enjoyed coming to God’s house, being and learning together with God’s children, whether it be through Junior Worship classes or church camps. Because of this, as well as the biblical teachings that I have imbibed from my family devotions, I seemed quite well versed with Bible knowledge. However, I have difficulty putting much of it into practice. That made me doubt whether Christ would be willing to forgive my sins and whether I would be able to go to heaven. The thought of going to hell simply scared me! To me, I thought if I could be a well-behaved boy outwardly, I would be able to go to heaven. It was not until one night, at the age of 4, when my mother explained to me that even if I do good works, I am still a sinner doomed for a lost eternity if I did not have Christ. That night, I said “the sinner’s prayer” and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour.

Throughout the subsequent years, I thank God for my parents’ spiritual “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), as well as the spiritual nourishment that I have derived from the church. In particular, I am thankful to God for the catechism class I attended, which was led by Eld Mah and Eld Choy. Through these sessions, I am more assured about my faith, having had greater insights about the basic doctrines I have heard over all those years.

Now I realise that I am nothing without Christ; all my good works cannot earn my salvation. It is through Christ’s atoning death and His bearing of my sins that I can now have everlasting life. However, the Christian life is not a bed of roses. Along the Christian journey, there would be trials, temptations and opposition from the world (which I had already experienced somewhat in my secondary school). Hence, my faith must be strong in the Lord. And to do that, I must meditate on the Bible daily and seek the Lord’s strength and wisdom in every challenge that I face.

In addition, I am grateful to God for the privilege of belonging to a sound, Biblebelieving church with a faithful pastor, Godhonouring leaders, and kind, like-minded friends. These are blessings money cannot buy!

In conclusion, I would like to quote a verse from 1 Corinthians 4:2 - “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Truly, by God’s grace, I hope that I would be faithful to the Lord in everything that I do, for His glory.