Recent Posts

John 6:35—“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” With these words, He reveals not only who He is, but what every human soul truly needs. Bread was the daily staple of life, which was simple, necessary, and sustaining. By calling Himself the bread of life, Jesus teaches that He is essential, not optional. Apart from Him, the soul remains spiritually empty, no matter how full life may appear.

This statement comes in a context where crowds followed Jesus after being fed with loaves. They desired more miracles, more provision, more satisfaction on their own terms. Yet Jesus gently redirects them from temporary bread to the eternal nourishment of their souls. Physical hunger returns, but spiritual hunger runs deeper. Only Christ can meet it.

Jesus then makes two promises, each tied to a response. “He that cometh to me shall never hunger.” To come to Christ is to turn toward Him in need, repentance, and dependence. He also said, “He that believeth on me shall never thirst.” To believe is to trust Him fully, resting in who He is and what He has come to accomplish for their salvation. To come to Christ and believe in Him is not a one-time action, but a posture of life. There must be continual coming, continually believing.

The promise does not mean that believers will be free from desires, struggles, or longings in this life. Rather, it assures us that our deepest spiritual needs, such as forgiveness, life, peace with God, and lasting hope, are completely fulfilled in Christ. Though other desires may rise and fall, Christ remains the sufficient and unfailing source of true life. Christ does not just relieve hunger; He satisfies the soul. He does not merely quench thirst for a moment; He becomes an abiding fountain within.

We should stop feeding on substitutes in our quest for soul satisfaction. Success, comfort, and approval cannot provide the spiritual satisfaction our souls crave. Only Christ offers life, fullness, and lasting peace. Let us turn to Him daily, in every moment, to receive the spiritual nourishment our hungry souls desperately need. Success, comfort, and approval cannot provide the spiritual satisfaction our souls crave. us come to Him daily, moment by moment to find the spiritual nourishment that our hungry souls desperately need.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). Since the inception of this Church, we thank God for the cheerful giving of His people in buying property for the work of the Lord. Funds were successfully raised for the purchase of the land in Kamoi, Kenya in 1992, to buy our first Church resource centre in 2003, the Ethiopian Building Fund in 2008, the industrial unit at 33 Ubi Crescent for Gethsemane Media Centre (GMC) in 2019 and the gift towards the building of the Church and Bible College in Cherrapunji in 2023. Currently, we are raising funds for the building projects at Cebu, Pangasinan and Vizag. As the Lord enables us, in time to come, we may have other overseas projects and also procure property in Singapore to either expand GMC or to purchase land for a Church building. Historically, our building projects have been classified as restricted funds. These are funds with restrictions placed on the purposes to which these funds may be used. All charities have an obligation to ensure that donations subject to restrictions are applied or utilised within the specified purpose intended by the donors. This is a legal requirement per Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012 (‘the Fund-Raising Regulations’). 

Financial regulations governing restricted funds have increased over the years. These regulations are good for upholding donor intent and fostering trust, maintaining financial transparency and ensuring legal compliance. However, this can give rise to challenges as exemplified in the following scenarios:

1. Currently, we have building projects in Cebu, Pangasinan and Vizag. We pray that all these building projects will be completed smoothly. However, the health of Pastor Reggor in Cebu has highlighted the problem that can arise when the mission Church’s Pastor is stricken. Can we continue with the building project when we have no godly man of God to lead the work? Also, in a hypothetical scenario where a doctrinal issue arises within a mission Church, there is no recourse for the restricted funds for the purchase of land in that mission area to be used in other areas. These funds will either need to be sent, returned to donors or reassigned with the permission of the charity administrator which are all difficult situations to handle.
2. God can enable the work in one mission area to progress faster than another area. For example, if the Holy Spirit enables the work to progress in Vizag much faster than in Cebu, there is no possibility to channel funds from the Cebu building Fund to Vizag to meet urgent financial needs. We will then need to raise funds for Vizag, although there may be a million dollars unutilised in the Cebu Building Fund.
3. God can open new avenues of work to us which will need to be undertaken rapidly. We will then need to raise funds, and there is an increased financial burden on the Church to meet this new work, although there are unutilised funds in multiple restricted building funds.
4. Obstacles in obtaining government and other regulatory licences overseas can bring a building project to a standstill over a prolonged period. The monies placed in the restricted building fund can likewise be “stuck”, in layman’s terms, over a long period as well, which is undesirable, especially when there are urgent financial needs in other building projects.

Administrative challenges and issues also arise in having restricted building funds. They are:

1. Surplus in any restricted fund cannot be easily dealt with. There is a need for timely and efficient utilisation of restricted donations to avoid the practical difficulties of contacting donors when there are surplus funds. Any unutilised restricted donations must be returned to the donor unless the donor has agreed for the funds to be channelled to another purpose within the charity. Locating donors can be difficult when the restricted donations were collected many years prior to the completion of the project, or when there is difficulty in identifying the individual donors. In such situations, the charity needs to communicate with the Commissioner of Charities to see how the surplus can be used. 
2. There is a necessity for a clear understanding and definition of what these restricted funds can be used for. The scope of use of the restricted fund must be clearly defined. If the definition of use is unclear, allegations of misuse of funds can occur. For example, in our restricted building funds, the money can be used not only for the purchase of land, but it can also be used for construction, renovations, professional fees, government fees, taxes and other miscellaneous related land and building matters. The intent and purpose of use of these restricted funds need to be clear in the minds of all donors to prevent misunderstandings, as some may think, for example, it’s only for the purchase of the land or the construction costs of the building.

In light of the above problems, as God enables us to have more building projects, both overseas and local, it behoves us to make sure that our financial controls remain stringent yet flexible to meet the challenges. Designated funds are funds internally earmarked by the organisation’s management committee for specific purposes. This is in contrast to restricted funds, which are dictated by the donor (external). Designated funds are set aside and used only for specific purposes, but unlike restricted funds, they can be redirected or redesignated by the management committee of the organisation within the charitable objectives of the charity. Building projects are usually started under the leadership of the BOE with the affirmation of the congregation, hence the building funds can be classified as designated funds (internal). There is proper accounting of the funds, and yet it gives the flexibility to the BOE to administer the funds where they are most needed.

The current restricted building funds will remain status quo, but beginning 8 Feb 2026, the BOE intends to have a new designated fund known as the “General Building Fund”. In Acts 11:29-30, we read “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Church members of the Antioch Church entrusted their gifts to the Elders in Jerusalem to decide on how to distribute them. Like the Antioch Christians, may the congregation affirm its support to the BOE by entrusting their gifts to the designated fund “General Building Fund” to grant the BOE the flexibility to redesignate and redirect as needed. However, if the Holy Spirit guides you to be specific in your giving, please do so and it will be distributed accordingly. May the Lord help the BOE to administer all the funds received from His people wisely for the gospel work which He has entrusted to us, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be exalted and magnified in all corners of the earth. Amen.

Leviticus 26:11–12—“And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.”

These words express one of the most tender promises in all of Scripture. Amid covenant instructions and solemn warnings, the LORD reveals His deepest intention toward His redeemed people: communion.

The promise begins with God’s initiative: “I will set my tabernacle among you.” The ancient tabernacle was the visible sign of God’s holy presence. To dwell among sinful people is no small matter, yet the LORD declares that He Himself will come near. Even more remarkable is the assurance, “My soul shall not abhor you.” This statement conveys acceptance. God pledges not to turn away in disgust, but to remain with His people in covenant mercy.

The promise deepens further: “And I will walk among you.” This echoes Eden, where God walked with Adam before sin shattered fellowship. Here, God promises restored nearness, a relational presence, not distant authority. He is not just enthroned above His people; He walks among them.

The covenant formula reaches its fullness: “I will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” This is the heart of redemption. God binds Himself to His people in love, ownership, and faithfulness.

Theologically, these verses anticipate Christ, who “dwelt” (tabernacled) among us (John 1:14), and the final promise of Revelation, where God dwells with His redeemed forever. A blessed assurance is given to all weary believers that God desires nearness, not distance.

The holy God does not just command His people; He chooses to dwell among them. This is grace beyond measure.

Leviticus 26:1—“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 26:1 stands like a solemn threshold, opening into the LORD’s covenant promises and warnings. Before He speaks of blessing or announces judgment, the LORD first addresses the matter of worship. What is at stake is not mere obedience to a command, but wholehearted devotion, even total and undivided allegiance, to the living God.

The command is clear and all-encompassing. Idols crafted by human hands, images meticulously shaped, monuments proudly erected, and stones reverently bowed before are all prohibited. God allows no substitutes. Anything created to represent divine power or to receive divine devotion becomes a competitor to God Himself. Idolatry is not just the worship of false gods; it is the misdirection of the heart away from the true God.

The reason for this command is deeply personal and covenantal: “for I am the LORD your God.” God does not appeal first to fear, but to relationship. He is not one god among many; He is the LORD, the self-existent, covenant-keeping God who redeemed His people and claimed them as His own. To bow before idols is, therefore, not only sin, but it is spiritual betrayal.

These words of the LORD invite us to quiet self-examination before Him. While we may not bow before carved stone, modern idols are just as real: success, security, approval, pleasure, even ministry itself. Anything that takes the place of trust, love, and obedience that belongs to God alone becomes an idol.

The LORD summons us back to undivided worship. The living God cannot be reduced or replaced. He alone is worthy of our reverence, our trust, and our obedience, for He alone is our covenant God, the LORD.

Leviticus 19:2—“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.”

In this verse, God speaks to “all the congregation of the children of Israel,” emphasising that holiness applies to everyone, not just a select spiritual elite or priestly class.  Holiness is not optional, nor is it reserved for a few; it is the calling of the entire covenant people. This command flows directly from God’s own character. 

Holiness is not the means by which Israel becomes God’s people; it is the response of a people who already have the LORD as their God. Holiness is not something Israel is asked to create or define for itself. It flows from the character of the LORD Himself. God’s purity, faithfulness, and righteousness set the pattern for the lives of those He has redeemed. Holiness, therefore, grows out of relationship before it is expressed in behaviour; it arises from belonging to a holy God.

This verse introduces a chapter that applies the concept of holiness to everyday life, including family relationships, honesty, compassion, justice, and love for one's neighbour. In Leviticus, holiness is not about withdrawing from life but about faithfully obeying God’s Word while engaging in it. God's people are called to reflect His character through ordinary acts of obedience just as much as in their sacred worship.

This command also challenges any attempt to separate faith from daily living. To belong to the LORD is to be shaped by Him in every area of life. Yet the call to holiness is not heavy or crushing, for the God who commands holiness also supplies the grace needed to walk in it. Leviticus 19:2 reminds us that holiness is not a means of earning God’s favour, but a grateful response to the God who has already claimed His people as His own.

Genesis 12:1—“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”

God calls Abram not just to move to a new place, but to embrace a life of faith in His promise. The command is both clear and demanding. Abram is instructed to leave behind all that was familiar to him, his homeland, his relatives, and even his father’s household, without being provided with a detailed route or specific destination. The focus is not on where Abram is headed, but on the trust he places in God.

This call occurs in a world characterised by dispersion and rebellion following the Tower of Babel. God's redemptive purpose now unfolds not through human effort, but through divine election and promise. Abram is chosen not because of any merit, but solely by God's grace. We also note that faith begins with God's Word. "The LORD had said"—Abram's response follows because God has spoken.

This call confronts our desire for certainty and control over life. Abram is not asked to understand fully before acting, but to entrust himself to the God who speaks. The phrase “unto a land that I will show thee” emphasises that guidance comes after obedience, not before. God reveals the path step by step, teaching His servant to walk by faith rather than by sight.

Genesis 12:1 reminds us that following God often requires difficult separations, but it never leads to meaningless loss. What Abram leaves behind is far outweighed by the promises that God has for him. True faith in obedience does not rely on visible certainty; instead, it rests in the faithfulness of the Lord who calls us.

1 Timothy 1:5—“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”

Paul addresses Timothy as a pastor charged with safeguarding the church from those who misuse the law and pursue empty speculation rather than true godliness. In that context, Paul clarifies the true goal—the end—of God’s commandment. God’s instruction is never an end in itself; it is meant to produce a transformed life. The aim is not argument, superiority, or mere correctness, but “charity,” a self-giving love shaped by the gospel.

This love is not the product of natural affection or emotional impulse. Paul carefully traces its source. It flows from “a pure heart,” a heart sanctified by the Spirit and the Word and set apart for God. It is sustained by “a good conscience,” one shaped by truth and guarded from hypocrisy. And it is rooted in “faith unfeigned,” a sincere trust in Christ that is not merely outward or superficial. Where faith is genuine, love inevitably follows.

Obedience divorced from love misrepresents God, for it portrays Him as harsh rather than holy. When law is pursued without love, it hardens the heart into cold legalism. Yet love detached from truth fares no better; it slowly deteriorates into sentimentality and compromise. In God’s wisdom, His commands never separate what He has joined. They unite truth and love, shaping lives that display not only His holiness, but also the gracious beauty of His character.

Let us heed the call of our text to examine not only what we believe, but why we believe and how we live. Sound doctrine must lead to sincere faith, a clear conscience, and visible love. When these are present, God’s commands accomplish their gracious purpose in us.

2 Peter 2:2—“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

Peter writes with pastoral urgency, warning the church that false teaching is dangerous not only because it is wrong, but also because it is often popular. “Many shall follow,” he says, the pernicious ways of false teachers. Numbers are never a reliable measure of truth. Error has a disturbing ability to attract crowds, especially when it promises freedom without holiness or blessing without repentance.

The phrase “pernicious ways” points to teachings and lifestyles that quietly corrupt. They do not always appear openly hostile to the Gospel. Often, they borrow Christian language while hollowing out Christian truth. The tragedy is twofold: souls are led astray, and God’s truth is dishonoured. Peter notes that because of such teachers, “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” When those who claim Christ live contrary to His Word, the watching world concludes that the Gospel itself is flawed. 

Peter is preparing believers to discern carefully whom they follow and what they tolerate. Doctrinal error does not stay hidden. It inevitably manifests itself in the church’s life and testimony. The world’s perception of Christ is deeply shaped by the lives of those who publicly claim His name. This warning from the apostle calls us to vigilance and integrity. We must guard our doctrine, but also our conduct. Sound teaching adorned by godly lives commends Christ; distorted truth paired with moral compromise dishonours Him.

The church’s concern should not be, “Is this message popular?” but, “Is this the way of truth?” Faithfulness to Christ may never draw “many,” but it will always honour God and proclaim His truth faithfully.

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.

A Comforting Exhortation for the Aged Saints of the Church Preached @ Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry Meeting

Dearly beloved seniors, 

When we can no longer keep pace with the world, we may begin to wonder whether we are still of any value. Yet before God, worth is never measured by speed or relevance. A life lived in faith, prayer, and quiet trust remains deeply precious to Him, and is often most fruitful when it is suffused with the Lord’s gentle, loving presence. There is a quiet, sacred glory in old age when it is lived in close fellowship with God. 

One of the most comforting and deeply assuring thoughts in old age is this: The LORD is my Shepherd. When strength declines, and the path grows quieter, it is a profound peace to know that our care does not rest in our own hands, but in His.

The LORD is Your Shepherd, Even Now

There is hardly a more comforting image than this tender Scriptural depiction of our God: “The LORD is my shepherd”. Not was. Not will be. He is right now our Shepherd. This present-tense confession anchors the ageing believer in unchanging truth. 

The Shepherd of your youth has neither retired nor stepped away from His care for you in your old age. Time has not diminished His watchful care for you. The One who led you through valleys and carried you through storms, does not grow weary with passing years. 

Though age weakened the body and slowed the step, it does not lessen His vigilance over you. He still guides, still provides, still carries, especially when strength fails. In old age, this promise becomes not smaller, but sweeter.

The LORD, Your Shepherd, Knows You Personally

Jesus has said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep” (John 10:14). When Jesus says, “I… know my sheep”, He speaks of a deep, personal knowledge, not a distant, vague awareness of all His people. He knows their names, their weaknesses, their fears, and their needs. This knowing is relational and loving, marked by care, commitment, and presence. 

In old age, the Lord, our Shepherd, knows us. He knows which sheep limps, which sheep is anxious, which sheep lags behind, and which sheep needs to be carried. He knows your history, your regrets, your losses, your secret fears, and your longstanding obedience. You are not one face among many to Christ. You may forget the names of your dear ones. You may forget dates. You may even forget the good words of the Lord. 

But Christ will never forget you, not once. “Can a woman forget her sucking child…? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee” (Isaiah 49:15). Old age does not make you less known—it makes you more tenderly watched. In Isaiah 46:4, the LORD declares, “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

The LORD, Your Shepherd, Gently Carries the Weak

“He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom” (Isaiah 40:11). Here, Scripture does not hide the fact that God’s people grow weak, but it assures us that He does not leave them alone in their frailty. Instead, with gentleness of heart, the Shepherd gathers those who cannot walk on their own, carries them close to His heart, and leads with patience those who are tired and burdened. Isn’t it comforting to know that our weakness does not drive Him away but moves His tender heart to care for us?

There comes a season when walking is slower, reading the Word and praying feel harder as strength fails. But this is not a failure of faith; it is a calling to rest more deeply in the Shepherd’s arms. The LORD reminds us, “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you” (Isaiah 46:4). As we grow older, God gently leads us away from self-reliance into fuller trust. Once, we longed for independence to do whatever we pleased in our own strength. But in old age, we are gently taught to live more and more by depending on God, trusting His wisdom, His timing, and His sustaining grace. 

Instead of rejuvenating us back to our youthful vigour and strength, He gently teaches us to rejoice in His grace that is sufficient by affirming, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Thus we are taught to say like Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9). He teaches us through our declining health to rely wholly on the Lord and find our contentment and spiritual strength. Just as Paul wrote, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). 

If Christ carried your sins to the cross at the cost of His own life, He will surely carry you through old age with unfailing care. The Saviour who bore your guilt will not abandon you in your bodily weakness. His redeeming love guarantees His sustaining presence all the way.

The LORD, the Shepherd, Never Abandons His Sheep

The LORD has repeatedly assured in the Scriptures, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). In Isaiah 41:10, the LORD says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God”.

His assurance of His presence helps us face and overcome loneliness, one of the sharpest trials of ageing. As years pass, friends are taken from us, and sometimes even a beloved spouse. Children may move far away, and in some cases, even familiar places change. Yet the Lord remains near, unchanged and faithful, and His abiding presence becomes a deep and steady comfort to the ageing heart.

The LORD, our Shepherd, does not retire from our side. He does not seek to delegate your care. He does not walk away when the night grows long. As David testified, we can assuredly say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

When He is with us, even death becomes only a shadow. His presence robs our last enemy of its power, for a shadow cannot harm those who stand with Christ. With this confidence, we can ask, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20) has committed us to His unending care. The Lord Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28). The Shepherd who walked ahead of us into death and triumphed over the grave will walk with you safely through it.

Conclusion

And when your voice grows weak,
when your steps falter,
and when the final valley comes –
You will hear Him say,
“Fear not. I am here. Follow Me.”
And He will lead you home.

Age may lessen outward strength, but it often deepens inward grace – “though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Therefore, continue to cling to the LORD, our Shepherd, through this final season.