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Proverbs 2:6—“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

 The early verses of chapter two call for earnest seeking of wisdom. Listening carefully to God’s words, storing His instruction in the heart, and searching for truth with diligence are highly encouraged. In the midst of this encouragement comes a foundational statement: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

This verse reminds readers that wisdom is not merely the result of human effort or intellectual ability. The source of true insight is the Lord Himself. Human reasoning may discover many things about the world, yet a lasting and right understanding of life, righteousness, and the path to peace comes from God.

The phrase “out of his mouth” points to God’s revealed Word. Through His spoken and written revelation, the Lord provides guidance for those who seek Him. Scripture becomes the means by which knowledge and understanding are granted to His people.

This truth calls for humility. Instead of relying solely on personal judgment, the wise person listens attentively to what God has revealed. True wisdom begins when the heart recognises its need for divine guidance.

The verse also brings comfort. God is not distant or silent toward those who seek Him. He willingly gives wisdom to those who look to Him and receive His Word with trust.

When believers shape their thinking and decisions according to God’s revealed truths in the Bible, their lives grow in clarity, stability, and direction. The path of wisdom is discovered not by human pride, but by listening to the Lord who speaks.

Ezra 2:68—“And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place.”

After 70 years of exile, the people of Israel returned to Jerusalem. The journey had been long and difficult, yet their hearts were set on restoring the place where God had been worshipped. Ezra 2:68 records an important response when they reached the site of the temple: “some of the chief of the fathers… offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place”.

These leaders saw the ruins of the temple, once the centre of Israel’s worship. Though much work lay ahead, their first response was generosity. They did not wait for obligation or pressure. Their giving was voluntary, flowing from gratitude and reverence toward God.

The verse highlights an important truth about God's work among His people. The rebuilding of the temple would require many resources. Now their response was to give willingly what they had. Such generosity reflected hearts that understood the importance of restoring a place dedicated to honouring the LORD.

This moment also shows how spiritual renewal often begins. When people return to the Lord, their priorities change. What once seemed most valuable is gladly placed in service to God’s purposes. Their giving reflected gratitude and commitment to the Lord’s purposes.

The scene also shows how renewal among God’s people often begins with willing participation. The temple had not yet been rebuilt, but the desire to restore the centre of worship stirred generosity among the leaders. Generosity is not merely about material support; it is an expression of devotion to God. When the Lord’s work is valued, His people respond with glad readiness.

Ezra 1:7—“Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods.”

As the opening chapter of the Book of Ezra describes the remarkable return of God’s people from exile, this verse reveals how God stirred the heart of the heathen king of Persia to begin the miraculous restoration of what had been lost and to prepare the way for renewed worship. For many decades, Jerusalem and the temple had lain desolate, and the Sacred objects from the temple taken by Nebuchadnezzar were placed among the treasures of Babylon. 

Ezra 1:7 records a surprising moment in the story. Cyrus, the king of Persia, ordered that the vessels belonging to the house of the Lord be brought out and returned. What had been taken during a time of judgment was now restored as God began renewing the life of His people.

This moment reveals the sovereign hand of God over the affairs of nations. The same treasures that had been placed in pagan temples were now released by a foreign ruler so that they might again serve their original purpose. The Lord showed that no power could permanently claim what belonged to Him.

The verse also reminds readers that the restoration of worship was very important. Before the temple was rebuilt, the instruments of worship were carefully returned. This signalled that God would help them return and rebuild the temple, and that the life of God’s people must once again centre on worshipping and serving Him.

The passage encourages us to trust in God’s ability to restore what has been lost. Seasons of discipline or hardship do not erase His purposes. What has been taken away can be renewed when God calls His people back to Himself. As we pass through seasons of hardship, let us continue to rest in God's faithfulness.

2 Timothy 1:7—“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Paul writes this second epistle to Timothy during a time of increasing hardship for followers of Christ. Paul himself was imprisoned and facing the end of his earthly ministry. Timothy was serving in a difficult setting where opposition and discouragement were real dangers. In this situation, Paul reminds him of the kind of spirit God gives to those who belong to Him.

The verse declares, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear”. Fear can paralyse the heart and silence faithful witness. It causes hesitation when courage is required and discouragement when perseverance is needed. Paul assures Timothy that such a spirit does not come from God.

Instead, God grants a spirit marked by “power”. This strength does not arise from human ability but from the work of God within the believer. Through this strength, followers of Christ are enabled to remain steadfast even in the face of hardship. God provides His power to accomplish His purposes through us. 

Along with power, God gives “love”. The love that comes from God is agape, a deliberate and selfless love that seeks and acts for the good of others. Love guards the heart from bitterness and hostility. Even when facing opposition, believers are called to reflect the compassion and kindness that flow from Christ.

The verse also speaks of a “sound mind”, which refers to a self-controlled, disciplined, and properly prioritised mind. God’s presence brings stability rather than confusion. A sound mind helps us to focus and direct every part of our lives according to His will. 

 Together these qualities shape a life that stands firm in difficult times. When fear threatens to dominate the heart, this verse reminds believers that God equips His people with strength, love, and steady judgment for every challenge they face.

2 Timothy 1:3—“I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.”

In his final letter, Paul writes with deep affection to his younger co-worker Timothy. The words of the Second Epistle to Timothy were written as Paul neared the end of his life. Yet instead of bitterness or despair, his opening words are filled with gratitude: “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience.”

Paul speaks of serving God “from my forefathers with pure conscience”. He recognises a long heritage of faith that stretches back through the history of God’s people. Though his understanding of God was transformed when he encountered Christ, he still saw himself standing within that unfolding story of devotion to the Lord, a story traced through a long line of Jewish fathers.

Paul’s gratitude in prayer as he served God was also for Timothy, who was not merely an acquaintance or a mere fellow worker; he was someone Paul continually remembered before God. Day and night, Timothy’s life and ministry were brought before the Lord in prayer.

This verse reveals how deeply the Christian life is shaped by gratitude and intercession. Thankfulness directs the heart toward God, recognising His grace in the lives of others. Prayer expresses care and spiritual concern, lifting others before the Lord.

Today’s verse gently encourages believers to cultivate the same pattern as we observed in Paul. Instead of allowing daily concerns to dominate the mind, the heart can turn regularly to God with gratitude and prayer for others. When believers remember one another before the Lord, bonds of faith grow stronger, and the work of the gospel is sustained through loving and faithful prayer.

Diana Lim

“To Be a Baby with a Moustache No More” … by the Grace of God

I came to know Christ when I was in either kindergarten or Primary One. Through door-to-door evangelism by some Christians from Grace Assembly of God Church, my siblings and I began attending Sunday School.

One day, on my way to church, I was almost knocked down by a car. I was probably in the upper primary then. It was wonderful to experience God’s protection in my life. 

However, my siblings and I sometimes struggled to attend church because we wanted to watch our favourite TV programme, and the timing clashed with the evangelistic hour at 3pm. Eventually, I stopped attending church when I was in Secondary One.

Yet God’s mercy and faithfulness have never failed me through the years.

After my ‘O’ levels, I entered Singapore Polytechnic and attended an orientation programme. At the Navigators’ booth, Wong Siok Wai (my “spiritual mother”) shared Christ with me and encouraged me to join the fellowship. She also invited me to witness her baptism at New Life B-P Church in Marsiling. I started attending New Life the following Sunday and was baptised on 5 November 1989.

Sadly, I later went astray and disobeyed God by marrying a non-Christian. Nevertheless, God’s mercy and faithfulness remained unchanged.

I invited my husband to attend Thomson Road Baptist Church, and we faithfully attended the Chinese Worship Service. However, one day, I told him I wanted to stop attending because of my part-time degree studies—I sowed my own disaster.

Karen Quek encouraged me not to give up on my faith and invited me to the Ladies’ Fellowship and Sunday Worship at Gethsemane B-P Church. I did not attend regularly, but instead listened to Pastor Koshy’s sermons online. Through Karen, I learned about the Bible Witness Retreat “Heaven” in March 2024, and I registered for it. Subsequently, I met Joan Cheah on the bus to Johor Bahru. Like Karen, she encouraged me to worship on site rather than only online.

In early December, I invited my husband to attend the Gethsemane B-P Chinese Worship Service, and I was surprised when he said “Yes”. Truly, God’s mercy and faithfulness endure forever. I continue to pray for my husband’s salvation.

I remember that during one of the Navigators’ meetings, a speaker, Royston Tan, spoke about “a baby with a moustache”. He challenged us not to remain on milk when we should be taking meat (solid food).

I praise and thank God for sending friends to awaken me. Last but not least, I thank God for Pastor Koshy, whose faithful teaching and preaching have greatly helped me grow in my spiritual walk. Indeed, God has given me many opportunities to repent and return to Him. May God help me not to be “a baby with a moustache” anymore.

Ong Li-Suen

I was brought up in a Christian home and have been attending Glory Presbyterian Church for many years. I am thankful for the strong spiritual foundation and guidance I received there, which played an important role in nurturing my faith from an early age, and in leading me to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. 

Recently, my fiancé, Joshua, and I began looking for a church where we could settle down and continue growing together in our Christian walk, and we happened to come across Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church. 

On our first visit, we were warmly welcomed by the congregation. The fellowship seemed genuine and encouraging, and it quickly felt like a place where we could belong. I have also been very encouraged by the church’s strong focus on the teaching of God’s Word. Through the sermons, I have already learnt much and have been spiritually edified. 

One of my favourite verses is Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” 

This verse continually reminds me to trust in the Lord’s guidance in every aspect of my life, even during tough times. 

As Joshua and I will be getting married soon, we are thankful to have found a church where we can grow together spiritually as we begin this new chapter of our lives. We look forward to building meaningful fellowship, and to continually grow in our faith together with the church.

Wong Cheng Han

Unworthy and Undeserved, Yet Saved by Grace

As an unworthy and undeserving sinner, I thank God for saving me by His grace. Through both good times and difficult times – when I have failed and fallen – God has never forsaken me. I am truly very thankful for His love and long-suffering towards me.

In 1996, I was baptised at Calvary Pandan B-P Church (CPBPC). I am grateful for the late Rev. Dr Tow Siang Hwa’s faithful preaching of God’s Word, his guidance, and his exemplary life. I was deeply touched by his love for God and for His flock. He had played a crucial and significant role in my spiritual growth.

By God’s grace, I had the privilege of serving in the visitation team and in an outreach ministry to neighbourhood children on Saturdays, undertaking roles such as a bus attendant and assistant teacher, besides leading in singspiration. There was great joy in serving the Lord, and through these ministries, my faith and love for Him increased. Indeed, God has not dealt with me according to my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities (cf. Psalm 103:10). Though He remembers that I am dust (cf. Genesis 3:19), He is still pleased to use me.

Years later, I also had the privilege of serving at Blessed Hope B-P Church as a greeter, Sunday School teacher, and in the visitation team. However, during the COVID pandemic, when participation in congregational worship was not possible, I started listening to online messages from Gethsemane BPC and True Life BPC. Later, God led me back to CPBPC, though it was not something I had prayed for. While supporting the visitation team and helping monthly at the Senior Fellowship, I reconnected with old friends and made new ones. At the same time, I prayed and waited for God’s direction.

It has been two years since I last visited CPBPC. By and by, God providentially leads me to move on to another church. The Lord constantly reminded me that His grace is sufficient for me, and that He is my keeper, so there is nothing to fear. I have learnt to trust and look to the Lord, whenever I experience aching and tingling sensations in my right leg (which has occurred since mid 2025), instead of praying for healing regarding this infirmity.

After much prayer, in January 2026, I shared my decision to become a member of Gethsemane B-P Church with Brother Jordan and Sister Ara. They were very happy, as it was an answered prayer. I thank God for the brotherly love we share.

The Christian fellowship among the elders, preachers, deacons and brethren has also been heartwarming. I am equally blessed by the teaching of God’s Word from the pulpit and in the Chinese Service, as well as in the Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship.

Pastor Koshy’s exemplary life and love for God’s church – shown through his leadership, guidance, care, warnings, and reproof – have encouraged me to become more Christlike. Indeed, Gethsemane B-P Church is blessed to have him as our shepherd.

I look forward to serving together with like-minded brethren in this church. My constant prayer is that I may be a vessel fit for my Master’s use. Amen.

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Sermon Text: Genesis 37
Speaker: Preacher Cornelius Koshy
Date: 22nd March 2026

Psalm 1:1—“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

The opening verse of Book of Psalms presents a clear contrast between two ways of living. It begins with the declaration, “Blessed is the man”. This word describes a life marked by deep joy and well-being that comes from God. Such happiness is not the result of wealth or success but flows from a life ordered according to the Lord’s truth.

The verse first describes what this person refuses to do. He does “not walk in the counsel of the ungodly”. This refers to rejecting advice or thinking that ignores God’s wisdom. Human ideas that exclude the truth of God’s Word may appear attractive, yet they lead away from the path of life.

The verse continues with a progression: walking, standing, and sitting. These actions describe increasing involvement with those who oppose God’s ways. To “stand in the way of sinners” suggests lingering in patterns of conduct that dishonour the Lord. To “sit in the seat of the scornful” portrays a settled attitude that mocks what is good and true.

The blessed person avoids this downward path. His life is shaped by reverence for God rather than by the influence of those who disregard Him. This verse reminds readers that choices about companionship, influence, and daily direction shape the course of life.

For believers, the verse encourages careful attention to whose voices guide their thinking. True happiness grows from a life that turns away from harmful influence and seeks the Lord’s wisdom. When a person walks according to God’s truth, he discovers a life that is stable, fruitful, and deeply satisfying before the Lord.

Ephesians 1:12—“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

As Paul explains the purpose of God’s saving work in Christ, he shows in this verse that salvation is not only about receiving blessings but about bringing glory to God. Those who trust in Christ are called to live in a way that reflects and magnifies God’s greatness.

The phrase “to the praise of his glory” teaches that the ultimate aim of redemption is God’s glory. When God saves sinners by choosing, redeeming, forgiving, and transforming them, His grace and power are displayed before the world. The changed lives of believers become a testimony to God’s mercy.

Paul also speaks of those “who first trusted in Christ”. This refers to the early believers who placed their hope in the promised Messiah upon hearing the gospel. Their faith was not placed in human effort or religious works but in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Believers are reminded that salvation begins and ends with God’s glory. Faith in Christ unites believers to Him and places their lives within God’s greater purpose. This truth shapes how Christians live. Trusting Christ is not only a personal experience of salvation; it is a calling to live for God’s honour. Every act of obedience, love, and faith becomes a way of praising God.

Thus, the believer’s life is meant to display God’s glory, showing that Christ is worthy of trust and worship.

Ephesians 1:3—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

In the opening of the Epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul begins with a hymn of praise to God. Before speaking about the duties of the Christian life, Paul directs the church to the great blessings God has already given to His people. He writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

This means offering praise and thanksgiving is our calling. The reason for such praise is that God Himself has already blessed His people. The Christian life begins not with what believers do for God, but with what God has done for them through Jesus Christ.

Paul explains that God has given “all spiritual blessings”. These blessings are not mainly earthly riches or temporary advantages. They are spiritual gifts that come through the work of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In the verses that follow, Paul speaks about some of these blessings—being chosen by God, redeemed through Christ’s blood, forgiven of sins, adopted into God’s family, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and much more.

These blessings are found “in heavenly places in Christ”. “Heavenly places” indicate the spiritual realm where Christ reigns, and God’s saving purposes are accomplished. It emphasises that believers’ blessings come from heaven, are secured in Christ, and belong to God’s eternal kingdom. Every believer who is united to Christ shares in these riches.

Pastorally, this verse reminds Christians that their great treasure is already secure in Christ. Even when earthly circumstances are difficult, believers possess immeasurable spiritual riches. Such grace calls for thankful hearts, confident faith, and joyful praise to the God who has so richly blessed His people in Christ.