In Commemoration of SG50

The apostle Paul, in defence of the Gospel, testified of God our Creator: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 117:1-2)!

Today, as Singapore celebrates the 50th year of its nationhood, we look towards the LORD with hearts full of joy and thanksgiving for His providentially blessing our nation with 50 years of stable and efficient government, peace, prosperity and religious freedom. It is indeed remarkable that we Christians can live and thrive in this beautiful city-state without the terrifying conflicts and persecution that Christians in many other parts of the world are facing. The strife-free, tolerant, harmonious nation that Singapore has become is indeed a very special blessing from the LORD to us. So let us give thanks to Him.

Our LORD expects His people from every nation to be thankful and to praise Him for His blessings. As the Word of God exhorts us in Psalm 117:1-2, let us praise Him for His merciful kindness to our nation. Certainly, it is the LORD who has blessed us, so that we “are multiplied greatly”; it is He “who suffereth not their cattle to decrease” (Psalm 107:38).

In the midst of our joy and celebrations, let us not forget the LORD our God. Our hearts and minds must acknowledge that He is the Sovereign One who reigns above all nations, including our Singapore. “For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). “For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth… For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness” (Psalm 47:2, 7-8).

While we dwell in this country as her citizens and residents, let us live as God’s honourable and holy people. The Christian faith and virtues that we pursue are most certainly advantageous to the well-being and prosperity of any nation. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Nothing in Christianity undercuts a morally wise polity. Instead, its precepts and practice support and exalt a nation that is committed to righteousness and justice.

How wonderful it is that through the preaching of the Gospel, the church can turn many who live in sin to the salvation and righteousness of Christ! Our church’s Gospel ministry has turned many who have been entangled in vices and crimes to live in righteousness and peace. The Gospel dispels vice from the hearts of people and fills them with a steadfast love for godly virtues. Moreover, the Gospel of Christ and its accompanying biblical counselling have brought peace to many homes, relieving them of painful, destructive conflicts and troubles. Hence, let us continue to exalt Christ so that those who live in the darkness of sin may see His light.

However, we also need to be wary of the rising tide of immorality in our nation, as is also the case all over the world. Whatever is morally wrong cannot be politically right! It will cause great upheaval to individuals, families and the society. So Scripture warns us in Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” We are further cautioned: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17; cf. Colossians 4:5). May God give us wisdom and vigilance!

Greetings from Kenya

Dear Rev. Koshy,

Greetings in the blessed Name of our Lord!

I hope you and your family are doing well in the Lord. I also trust that the ministries of the Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church are flourishing by His grace.

My family, by God’s grace, is doing well in the Lord, and our kids are growing also. God has sustained and protected us all these years in all our ministries as missionaries. By the way, we had just celebrated in June the 10th anniversary of our being missionaries in Kenya. As we look back, we have much to thank God for His grace in our lives. Also, we are thankful for the love and prayer we have received from His people, especially from you and the Gethsemaneans. For such long years of love and support, we are debtors of His love. Thank you once again for your pastoral heart and love towards our family.

Well, I would like you to know that we are taking a furlough from this month onwards. I believe I have mentioned it briefly last year when we attended Gethsemane’s Missionary Conference. The mission board has strongly advised us to go on furlough every five years. We had never imagined that we would actually take a year’s break from the mission field. The idea was suggested to me by Rev. Kim after he has observed our family, as we were showing signs of stress due to many struggles from cultural differences, and other problems we had faced. So we thought it was not a bad idea to take a break from the mission field for a year. We thus prayed and decided to take a break for one year from our mission work in Kenya.

We are considering the requests and suggestions from the mission board to go to the US. We are also thinking of taking up some theological studies. Please pray for me that I will remain faithful to all that I have learned from God’s Word in FEBC. And if the Lord permits, we hope to return to Kenya in August 2016. Please pray for us that we may come back with joy, peace, readiness and strength for another term to serve the Lord there.

Once again, thank you for the support and prayer from Gethsemane B-P Church all these years. May the Lord continually bless, strengthen and protect the church ministry in these last days.

In Christ,
Rev Eben

We thank the Lord for GBIOnline that has been on a partial trial run for the last few months. Currently, 37 students from 4 countries (Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia) have signed up for the two subjects that have been offered, namely ‘the Book of Jonah’ and ‘the Names of God’. The next stage, God willing, will be in full swing, with more subjects being made available for students to choose from.

Three more series of lessons will soon be ready for all online registered students.

1. “Systematic Theology I: Theism”. This was recently taught by Pastor as a series of Wednesday night lectures (29 January – 13 May);
2. “Systematic Theology II: Bibliology”. This will be the new series of lectures to be taught by Pastor next semester;
3. A live webcast of “Theology of Prayer”. This will be taught at the Bible Witness Bookroom during the lunch-hour Bible Study on every Wednesday at 1.00 pm, starting on 5th August. Incidentally, we have been informed by Eld Richard Tiu that the students of GBI (Cebu) will take part in this live webcast. All onlineregistered students can also attend this live lecture. They will be notified duly of their quizzes and final exam, which are required for the completion of this course. In any case, those who cannot join the live webcast of this series of lessons will have subsequent opportunities to partake of them, as the recorded lectures will be uploaded to the GBI-Online website.

Let us continue to pray for GBIOnline, that the Lord may use it for the equipping of our church members, believers from around the world, as well as the students of our Bible Institutes in our mission stations in Ethiopia and the Philippines.

Brethren, please do not miss this excellent opportunity to engage in an in-depth study of God’s Word! If you cannot attend the Wednesday night class, you can always sign up for the online course. Visit our GBIOnline website (www.gbi-online. com), and register yourself to study His excellent Word.

Testimony

David Tan

I would like to thank God for enabling me to attend GBI-Online Wednesday Night Lectures on System Theology (Theism). Though I was having a very busy schedule at work, the Lord enabled me to attend the GBI classes without fail. The course has provided me with deeper knowledge of God and also equipped me with clearer spiritual understanding.

When this course was first announced in the church, I was hesitant to sign up as I was worried that I would not understand the lessons. But thank God that He has granted me wisdom to learn and grow in the knowledge of Him. Nevertheless, the lessons certainly required both mental and spiritual disciplines. I found myself praying constantly for His guidance and help to study His Word. The Lord helped me to yield in humility and prayer to the learning of the Word, and I soon find joy in exercising my mind to receive His truth.

Though this course, I learned that we are not able to fully understand God; only when He reveals Himself to us through the Holy Spirit and the Word can we grow in the knowledge of Him. Otherwise, our imperfect and ignorant thoughts about God will lead us to false worship. Concerning the Holy Trinity, I learned that there is only one God, but three distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three are co-eternal and co-equal in essence and substance.

I also learned that our Almighty God is self-existent, sovereign, self-sufficient, eternal, incomprehensible, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, immutable, loving, gracious, merciful, holy and just. God existed even before heaven and earth came into existence. He is independent in His being and causes everything that He created to depend on Him. God is not dependent on us. God reigns supreme on His throne over all His creation after the counsel of His own will. He is without beginning and end. He is not limited by time, but He controls time.

Our God is all-powerful and has unlimited authority and influence. He has the ability to do whatever His will dictates and He is present everywhere, all the time. God is all-wise and all-knowing. He is the source of wisdom and He knows even our secrets. God is unchangeable and he cannot change, for He is always perfect. God loves His people and His love is unmerited. His grace is directed towards our debt and need, while His mercy is directed towards our guilt and misery.

Through this series of study, I also learned about the decrees of God and how God executes them. God’s decrees are His eternal purposes, according to the counsel of His will, for His own glory. He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. God has already planned everything even before His creation of all things and all things are executed according to His plan. Nothing takes God by surprise. Nothing is outside His knowledge. He knows everything. His decree is totally free of any external influence. God controls all things – even evil – to fulfil His plans and purposes for His glory. He never does evil and is never to be blamed for evil. It is His creatures that are guilty of the evil they do. This course made me realise that God executes his decrees through His works of creation and providence. He made all things very good, out of nothing by His Word within the space of six days. God made all things through Christ, with the Holy Spirit also at work in the creation. He cares for all creatures and provides them with all that they need. God also governs, preserves and sustains all His creation according to His eternal decrees, and He rules over His creation forever!

Furthermore, the study of Christology helped me understand Christ better. The Deity of Christ teaches me that our Lord Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity, who is God eternal who pre-existed even before the creation. Christ is of equal substance with God, the Father. The Humanity of Christ teaches me that He became man by the Virgin Birth. He took upon a human body when He came to this world and He continues to exist forever in His human form in heaven. He has a human soul, and hence possesses thoughts and emotions as well. However, he is without sin. Christ is one Person with two natures, fully God and fully man. His natures are distinct and not mixed, yet not separated.

Through all the knowledge that I have gained from this course on “Theism”, I am better equipped to live my Christian life with fear and love for God. Now I am happy that I can also explain these truths to my family when I lead them in the reading of the Scriptures. I thank God for His goodness that has sustained me throughout the course.

Just a week ago, a young Christian sister shared with me how troubled she felt when her long-time school friend revealed that he is a gay. As a Christian, she was also deeply concerned as to what is the right way to relate to her friend who has now openly “come out” as a homosexual. Should she continue to associate with that friend or separate herself completely? Can she maintain some kind of friendship with that friend, who now openly lives as a homosexual, so that she may have opportunities to share the Gospel with him?

There was another similar situation not too long ago, when I was asked what Christian parents should do if any of their children say to them that he or she is homosexual? Before I give my response to the above questions in the light of Scripture, I would like to exhort all Christian parents to teach their children Scripture’s categorical condemnation of homosexuality as a sin and its warning of God’s wrath against those who practise and would not repent from it. Parents’ biblical instruction and supervision of their children till they grow into adulthood is very important (see Proverbs 22:6, 15; 29:15, 17). We must prayerfully give ourselves to the spiritual nurture of our children so that they may be guided and nurtured in the way of holiness, even in the midst of the world’s increasing attempts to influence them with its wickedness. As with all sins (such as pornography, fornication, greed, selfishness, lying, theft, pride, murder, drug addiction and gambling), homosexuality is also being increasingly promoted in our modern society.

What should Christians do if a friend or a family member suddenly “comes out” as a gay? The biblical principles for Christians’ response to homosexuals are no different from the biblical counsels concerning Christians’ response to all other unrepentant men and women who live in unbelief and immorality.

• Whether it be homosexuality or other forms of sexual immorality or for that matter, any other sin, we are admonished not to associate with those who utterly reject the Gospel and shamelessly engage in immoral deeds (Psalms 1:1-2; 26:4-5; Proverbs 4:14-15; Acts 15:20; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17; Ephesians 5:3-7, 11).
  • While we dissociate ourselves from the unbelieving sinners in order that we be not partakers and promoters of their sins and that we be not contaminated by their sins, we should not miss opportunities to show grace and kindness, and also to lovingly preach the Gospel to them, that they may turn from their errors to the salvation and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, how would they know the Gospel, if we do not even communicate with them (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; Philippians 2:15)?
  • However, we must be prepared to be accused and even attacked (verbally or physically) by those who take offence against the divine condemnation of sin, and the exclusive claim that Christ alone is the Saviour (cf. John 15:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 Peter 4:16).

• If the sin is committed by one who claims to be a Christian, then he must be first confronted in a loving and yet firm manner. The severity of the sin in the light of Scripture must be explained to him, with a view to his repentance and restoration to a life of holiness and good testimony to God’s truth and glory (cf. Matthew 18:15; James 5:19-20; Galatians 6:1; Jude 22-23).
  • If he would not take heed to the biblical correction and repent at the first confrontation, then he must be approached again, with the help of matured and godly men, to persuade him to repent (cf. Matthew 18:16). If he repents at this point of confrontation, he should then be accepted with love and grace, and be carefully instructed, guided and strengthened by godly men.
  • If he still would not repent, then he ought to be put away from the church. Christians should stop fellowshipping with such a person (cf. Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; Romans 16:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 1 Timothy 6:5; 2 John 10).
  • Be not deceived: the one who claims to be a Christian and yet continues to live in sin without any repentance not only distorts the truth of God’s Word, but also seduces other Christians with his false claims about the Bible and his sinful pattern of life. Christians’ response towards such a person is clearly and emphatically stated in 1 Corinthians 5:13 – “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person”! Christians, especially church leaders, have the moral duty to guard the purity of the church and to keep God’s flock from ungodly and corrupt influences.

BWWR Spread the Gospel Blessings

Our Bible Witness Web Radio (BWWR) continues to spread the blessings of God’s wisdom and truth around the world. The testimonies we receive from around the world speak of these. Below is a communication between a listener from Australia and BWWR’s Sis Melissa Mah:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Thank God for the ministry of Bible Witness Web Radio. It has been a source of great blessings for me as I have been following the broadcast messages, especially those on “Women of Virtue”. As a working adult Christian, I constantly seek to find some good biblical material to listen to while I am at work and this need has been met by BWWR. I am greatly blessed by the Q & A sessions, where the questions discussed are addressed with support from the Bible and based on teaching from God’s Word.

Truly, I realise that the issues that have been brought out through such discussion are very relevant to the sisters of our time, such as how to dress modestly and the role of women in the church.

Thank God for the labour of love in this ministry and I will continue to uphold the ministry in prayer.

In Christ,
Angeline
Australia

Dear Sis Angeline,

Thank you for sharing your thanksgiving for this ministry. We are very thankful to the Lord for His enabling grace and strength to do His work. Of our own selves we are unable to accomplish anything, but we trust in God’s promises that He will grant us all that we need in the Gospel work, including His guidance and provisions. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

The “Women of Virtue” segment is planned by Sis Carolyn Koshy, who co-labours with Pastor Koshy and the Bible Witness Media Ministry team to produce this weekly programme.

Praise God for the Q & A sessions; in this respect, please pray that the Lord will guide us to select topics that are of great spiritual benefit to BWWR listeners in general, and the ladies in particular.

In Christ,
Melissa Mah
for BWWR

The redefinition of marriage, through the increasing influence of the homosexuals, is throwing a vicious challenge to Christians and their families, and the church. Our society is under great pressure from the homosexuals to accept theirs as an alternative lifestyle. Our youths and children are most vulnerable as they are increasingly pressured not only to act acceptably towards the homosexuals’ behaviour but also to support them.

A couple of weeks ago when I was in Australia, I was told by some high school and college students how they were pressured by their schoolmates to show support for the LGBT movement by wearing rainbow colours. A few of them have to endure angry and rude responses from their friends when they rejected their demand. In recent years, the rainbow colours have become universally recognized as a symbol of LGBT pride and identity. The rainbow flag has found wide application on all manner of products, including jewellery, clothing and other personal items; indeed, the rainbow flag colours are regularly used as a show of LGBT identity and solidarity.

am concerned how our youths and children face such pressure from a fast-changing society that expects them to be supporters and even participants of this carnal pursuit of a generation which has completely rejected the traditional moral norms, and disregarded biblical virtues and prohibitions. Christian parents also need to know what biblical advice they should give to their children.

As a people of God, all Christians must follow divine counsels for our conduct in a world of sin. When changes occur in the culture of our society, especially when they lead to rampant moral decline, Christians are admonished not to be swept away with the world. We are expected to stand steadfastly with the biblical truths and instructions, to engage zealously in preaching God’s Word, and also to patiently and lovingly work for the salvation of souls. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 exhorts us, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

We must not approve or support homosexuality, for God has condemned it as a sin

God has opposed homosexuality in every age – in the days of the patriarchs (Genesis 19:1-28); in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13); in the days of Israel’s Babylonian exile (Ezekiel 16:46-50); in the Apostolic era (Romans 1:18- 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Jude 7-8); in the last days (Luke 17:26-30; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

LGBT advocates have been “selling” their carnal agenda to Christian youths and children by promoting their warped interpretations of passages in Scripture that address homosexuality. Their pro-gay arguments from the Bible are not only warped, but also completely irrational! They quash God’s design for a proper human matrimonial relationship, which is the complementary relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4- 6; Ephesians 5:22-33). We should not be intimidated by homosexual advocates and their vain reasoning which is utterly contrary to the Scriptures.

We should not go along with those who refuse to acknowledge the sinfulness of homosexuality. The Bible repeatedly warns us against being supportive of conduct that is condemned by God as sin. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). To call evil good is to misguide people to the wrath of God. Not warning people of their wickedness is a woeful attitude that God will judge. Ezekiel 3:18 says, “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

We, Christians, must not compromise what the Bible says about homosexuality. Even though we want to show charity and compassion to those who are lost in sin, such as homosexuality, we must not do it without loving the LORD and His truth. To express our love for man at the expense of righteousness and devotion to God would make us promoters of sin. Homosexuals and all sinners, who stand defiantly against the will of our Creator and Redeemer, according to the Scriptures, are worthy of eternal damnation in hell (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8). So if we truly want to show compassion and charity to the homosexuals, let us always warn them of God’s wrath and to turn from their wicked ways. The judgment of unrepentant homosexuals, as it is the case with all unrepentant sinners, is absolutely certain. To deny this truth of God’s Word is to deceive those who are perishing.

We must actively, lovingly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them

Though a great number would refuse to repent from the sin of homosexuality, we are reminded in the Scriptures that we should preach the Gospel of God’s saving love to sinners, no matter how wretched their sins may be.

I have come across several sad and suffering homosexuals. Their lives have been wrecked by this sin. They were not at all looking “gay”. (The word “gay” has always meant “happy”, until it has been ‘hijacked’ to describe the homosexuals!) They were consumed by “vile affections” (Romans 1:26). Their lust had caused them to abuse their physical bodies (use of drugs and alcohol are also common among gays), and ruin their relationships with parents, spouses, etc. Some of them are still in great suffering of soul and body, craving for liberty from this accursed bondage of sin and God’s wrath (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).

God welcomes even homosexuals to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to enter His joyous and blessed kingdom. There were former homosexuals in the Corinthian church. Concerning them Paul said, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Even in our church there are former homosexuals who have repented and turned to the Lord Jesus for salvation. They now live their renewed life with great joy and peace.

So, let us be ever willing to preach the Gospel to those who are lost in the sin of homosexuality. Proper Gospel presentation requires us to tell of God’s wrath against their sins – even homosexuality – and point them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and deliverance from sin. Preach the truth of the Gospel faithfully and zealously. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).

The attempts to redefine marriage have been going on for more than a decade. In the past few months, Ireland and USA have made overt, definite steps to legalise same-sex marriage. Many other countries around the world are moving in the same direction. In Singapore too, the voice in favour of same-sex marriage is getting louder. There is an incredible surge of interest in affirming homosexuality over the last few months. In my opinion, ‘gay marriage’ will soon become a common practice across the world.

Therefore, we must not dither over this issue! Should Christians go along with the changing mindset of modern society about marriage? Unfortunately, some churches around the world have made public affirmation of their approval of same-sex marriage as an acceptable practice. Some churches have accepted unrepentant homosexuals as members, and even appointed such as leaders of their denominations or congregations. Though it is a very sad phenomenon, we do know that such spiritual and moral erosion and decadence have already been predicted in the Scriptures as signs of the end-times. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

The Spiritual and Moral Evil of Same-Sex Marriage

• It Despises the Authority of God:
  Same-sex marriage despises God’s authoritative word on what marriage is all about. It is God who instituted marriage after He created the woman from the rib of Adam for a helpmeet (Genesis 2:20-24). In Genesis 2:24, the Word of God says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

  This original blueprint of marriage has been reaffirmed repeatedly in the New Testament as well. Jesus categorically declared the marriage union as between a man and a woman in Matthew 19:4, 5 (cf. Mark 10:6, 7). The apostle Paul also upheld the “man-woman” marriage union, just as God has originally intended it to be (Ephesians 5:31).

  Marriage is created by God, and is defined by God’s Word as the covenantal and sexual union of a man and a woman in lifelong allegiance to each other alone, as husband and wife. God created man male and female, each with distinctive masculine or feminine natures and thereby distinctive roles in marriage as husband and wife. For modern churches and their leaders and members to “rewrite” the marriage institution as including same-sex union is an appalling defiance of God’s sovereignty over this solemn institution. No government or judge or church leader is above God! If human institutions and authorities would defy and violate the divine purposes and authority, then every faithful church and Christian must seek to stand firm for the declaration and practice of God’s command. As Peter and other apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

• It Distorts the Scriptural Portrayal of Christ and the Church:
  The solemn relationship between Christ and the church is depicted through the husband-wife relationship between a man and woman (Ephesians 5:22-33). Paul wrote, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:31-32).

  The mysterious and profound meaning that Scripture gives to marriage is that God has instituted the marriage relationship between male and female — which is the only manner they may fulfil their distinctive roles as husband and wife so that they may manifest the pure, sanctifying love that is between Christ and the church. The husband is commanded to pattern his relationship to his wife after Christ’s headship over the church; he is also to relate to her with the sacrificial love that Christ has demonstrated through His life and death for the church. The “great” (and thus glorious) mystery of marriage, as God has instituted it when He created man and woman, is that in the marriage relationship as male and female, they may represent Christ and the church. Thus, it is incumbent that the roles of man and woman as husband and wife should not be exchanged.

• It Defiles and Damns Man:
  Scripture has clearly depicted it as a damned sexual perversion, which results from increasing wickedness and immorality in the society.

  Romans 1:24-32 depicts it thus, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

• It Demeans the Gospel:
  The Gospel calls all sinners, including those who commit homosexuality, to come with repentance to put their trust in the redeeming death of Christ, that they may be forgiven and restored. Scripture clearly warns us that same-sex desires and samesex intercourse are all part of man’s fallen, sinful nature; unless we repent from them, we will not inherit God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

  However, ‘same-sex marriage’ proponents teach people not to repent from the sin of homosexuality for the salvation that Christ offers. The Gospel of salvation is also offered to repenting homosexuals. But habitual, permanent engaging in same-sex activity, and the rejecting of the Gospel call to repentance and belief on Christ, will exclude a man from God’s kingdom and will utterly condemn him.

  The recognition of ‘same-sex marriage’ is a clear social and personal statement against God and His sovereignty, against Christ, the Church and the Gospel. It will lead to greater spiritual and moral declension in our homes, churches and society. May our church continue to preach the Word, rebuking sins and calling people to repentance, faith and salvation. May all our members walk to please God and, by their words and actions, promote godliness and the Gospel.

An Exposition of 2 Peter 1:3-4

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” — (2 Peter 1:3-4).

The Prospect of Godly Life

Christians struggle daily with temptations and sins that easily beset them. Is it then possible for us to live a godly life? Can we live a life that is holy and pleasing to God? Regardless of our doubts about the possibility of living a godly life, Peter firmly asserts that it is possible to live a godly life because “his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness”.

Like Peter, Paul also says that the grace of God given to believers will urge them on to a godly life. In Titus 2:11-14, Paul teaches us that “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ...who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”.

Godliness is possible only because of God’s gracious provision for its nurture in us. If we reject what God provides for this purpose, we cannot be godly.

The Power for Godly Life

It is known to us all that Peter (like most of us) also has a story of failure and full restoration to a godly life to tell us. He had tasted the bitterness of failure in his spiritual pursuit. Though he made bold claims about being loyal to Christ, when the time of testing came, he denied his Master three times. However, he had been changed by the divine power of the Lord. As he repented, he received the power of the Lord to be a loyal minister of God’s truth. And now he declares to believers who have been struggling with temptations, failures and disappointments that godliness or true piety is possible through the power of God. His message for all of us is that we should stop selfpitying and doubting, and start thinking about the provision of the unmatched divine power. That is why he assures us that “his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness”.

Now read how Paul’s pen writes about the greatness of the divine power made available and the results of it in our lives (with emphasis added):

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:10-13).

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23).

filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23). “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; ... Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:16-21).

The Perspective of Godly Life

“... through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”
(2 Peter 1:3b).

To be godly, we can have no other perspective about our life than that which Christ’s life would grant us. Without a thorough and intimate knowledge of Christ, none can lead a godly life. To be godly, we need to follow our Master. Whatever He counts as glorious and virtuous, we must strive to attain. Then shall we inherit the glory and virtues of the Son of God. In short, a godly person is one who is preoccupied with the glory and holy virtues of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s life illustrates this – “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21; cf. 3:7-10).

The Promises for Godly Life

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises”
(2 Peter 1:4a).

In order to help us stay the course, the Lord has given us many promises. These promises are unmistakable assurances because God will always keep His Word. They are better than silver and gold, which are perishable. God’s promises are never affected by circumstances. As God is unchanging, His promises are also unchanging. So their value is indescribable, indeed “great and precious”.

His promises help us overcome temptations and trials, and separate from ungodly ways. Trials will normally compel us to reject godly ways. But when we think of the great and precious promises of God, we realise that if we patiently wait on the Lord, He will help us overcome them. This helps us not to forsake godly ways.

Peter leaves us to wonder at the blessedness of men who live by God’s promises by pointing to the promises they inherit as “exceeding great and precious promises”. Their blessedness is as great as the value of the promises they inherit from God.

No wonder Paul urges us, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

The Purpose of Godly Life

“… that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”
(2 Peter 1:4b).

The ultimate purpose of living a godly life is that we may be partakers of the divine nature, and thus overcome the lust and corruption of the world. The pursuit of godliness purges a man from the uncleanness of this world and fleshly lust. A carnal lifestyle must be a thing of the past for a person who pursues godliness. “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries” (1 Peter 4:3).

Divine nature and worldliness cannot co-exist. Thus, over time, the grip of lust and worldliness decreases steadily in the life of a godly person. At the end, we shall be “changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Diana Chan

I thank God for a very blessed Church Camp with rich spiritual feeding of God’s Word, as well as for safety, strength and protection. Thank God for our camp speakers (our pastor, Rev Prabhudas Koshy, and Rev Tan Kian Sing), for Elder Ng and the Camp Committee, games organisers, preachers, pianists, AV team, JW committee, Elder Eliezer and Sis Arlaine, Preacher Edsel and all the brethren who served in other ways. Praise God for all their labour of love for the Camp.

Thank God for the many valuable lessons which I have learnt from the Morning Devotions, Prayer Meetings, video clips on the mission trips to Cebu / Pangasinan and other parts of the Philippines, as well as the Question-and-Answer sessions.

Praise God for the preaching of God’s Word on the theme, “Have Faith in God”. Pastor Koshy and Rev Tan laboured to bring us the messages which were very soul-searching, causing me to examine my heart and pray. Here are some pointed admonitions:

1. “…children in whom is no faith” (Deut 32:20). My heart was pricked, when I heard that the verse was a lamentation from God. I pray that God will not lament over our faith. May He find us faithful, “children in whom is faith”.
2. “…I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal” (Hosea 2:8). I asked myself: with the blessings and provisions God has given, for whom did I prepare them, especially when our church is praying for the Church Building Fund? May the Lord be pleased to make me a vessel unto honour in this project.
3. “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). Pastor Koshy asked us whether we were real “Israel”, whether we were real Gethsemaneans. I pray that God will be merciful and gracious to all of us in Gethsemane B-P Church that we are “all Israel”.
4. “…faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Rev Tan shared with us the need to work out our faith, citing the examples of Abraham and Rahab. He used two criteria to help us examine that our faith is a living faith –
   • it benefits men; and
   • it submits to the will of God.

May the Lord help us to have true and living faith. Amen.

Aron Ong

This, being my first church camp as a married man, I thank God for enabling my wife Shan to come as well, which is incidentally her first Gethsemane Church Camp. He has seen us through our individual peculiar difficulties at work in the few weeks running up to the camp, and enabled us to come and be focused on the study of His Word.

Thank God for the messages preached on the important and pertinent theme for Christians - “Have Faith in God”. Personally, Wednesday’s evening message on “Faith to Depend upon God” is a sobering one for me. It causes me to think of and examine the activities in my own individual and family life, whether they be of God’s will. It also makes me realise that if we live our life in full dependence on God, in accordance with His will for our life, we can have confidence in tomorrow (uncertain though it may be to us). This gives me great assurance as we resume our busy lives back in Singapore and face all our commitments at home, at work, in church, with greater confidence going forward.

A special mention of thanks to Bro Kwan Teng and his team in organising the games, as well as all the preparatory planning and even late nights spent before the camp. It was a time of fun and interaction among one another. We got to see a different (and less serious) side of people during the games. Personally, I was pretty amused by the intense and competitive spirit of some players in our games group.

Thank God for the Church Camp!

Shan

This is not only my first Gethsemane Church Camp, it is also my first church camp after coming over to Singapore. So I was looking forward to experience what it would be like. This is a lot more luxurious than the church camps that I have been used to in Australia, which are held in campsites where we sleep in freezing cold dormitory-style rooms with squeaky bunk beds. Thank God for the comfortable environment we have here. Physically speaking, we have been well-fed and have profited from the games and exercise, albeit little compared with the spiritual meat which have been fed to us. It is not always easy to take the spiritual meat, especially when the Scriptures and the preaching prick and convict my heart. Yet I am so thankful that day by day, God’s Word continues to instruct, rebuke and correct me.

I have been deeply moved by Rev Tan’s life example and testimony, where the faith of his family is being exercised daily for the past 18 years. It is a fine example of God’s power and God’s promises fulfilled in action.

One verse that stirs my heart was Romans 10:21 – “...All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” The longsuffering and mercy of the Lord is so great indeed. How long will we make Him wait while we live in disobedience and non-compliance? It causes me to think what kind of faith I had. If my faith can be measured as water in a glass, is it full, half-full, or close to empty?

In the last day’s message, I’m thankful that Pastor ran overtime as he laboured to finish delivering all that he had prepared in his message. For how can we finish learning about having faith in God? In that message, Abraham’s faith in God led him to abandon all that he loved, even his own son. Faith leads us to the untried and the unknown, but it is not without absolute substance and undeniable evidence (Hebrews 11:1). I was deeply encouraged by Jesus’ words on having faith. Even if it is as small as a grain of mustard seed, how powerful it can be, because it is the work of God and not our work.

Thank God also for a blessed time of fellowship and getting to know more of our church brethren a bit better during this camp. Praise the Lord for this Church Camp!

Jenice Choy

Praise the Lord for His marvellous provision for this year’s church camp! Thank God for a blessed time of feasting on God’s Word, as well as warm fellowship with like-minded brethren in Christ! The theme, “Have Faith in God”, has certainly been a timely reminder for us to trust in God’s sovereign and perfect will for our lives. Truly, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We need faith to “endure trials”, to “do good works”, to “depend on God”, and to “patiently wait for Christ’s return”.

May we exercise more faith in our faithful God who never fails to keep His promises. Mal. 3:10 says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” May the Lord find us faithful, and may we all occupy till He comes!

Dorcas Koshy

I praise and thank God for the opportunity and provision for my family and me to attend this year’s church camp. Praise God for the reminder that my faith (which is based on the oracles of God) must abound, be continuous, and follow the beautiful feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace. I pray that I will submissively obey God, suppress my self-will, and seek ways and means to provide practical help to those in need, lest my faith be without works and thus be dead. All glory be to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour!

Amanda Tan

I want to thank the Lord for enabling me to attend the church camp this year. Initially, I thought I would not be going as I had school and other commitments that fell on the same week as the camp. However, as I was eventually able to shift all of that to the following week, I thought of going to the camp. But a week before the camp, I fell sick and had a high fever that lasted for a few days. So I’d like to thank the Lord for being gracious unto me and healing me of my illness so that I was able to enjoy the camp. Thank God also for the fellowship that I had with the brethren, for the messages that were preached throughout the camp, and also for the efforts that the camp committee had put into the camp. All praise be unto His name!

Lim Hua See

Ithank God for the many lessons I have been taught through the camp, which applied to me in no small way.

Firstly, thank God for working upon me even prior to the camp. In deciding whether to go or not, God proved Himself to be the Provider of all things. Furthermore, through His Word, He had shown me my desperate need to have faith in Him. Also, through the prompting and good example of brethren, I was encouraged to go.

James 1:2 teaches us to be joyful when we “fall into divers temptations”. This is possible only through faith. Many things can take away our joy in the Lord; in my case, I think the most plaguing problem for me is my “own understanding” (Prov 3:5). Oftentimes I would fret when things look impossible and beyond my mind’s comprehension, which cause me much struggle and anguish; consequently, there is no peace in my heart and joy fades away from me.

One lesson that struck me is the call to be confident in things unlikely or seemingly impossible, as manifested in a living faith which does “good works” that benefit man and glorifies God. For come what may, God who calls us will lead us and will never leave us to struggle alone. If we just look up to God and allow Him to lift us above our trials and temptations, we will surely be able to see His tender mercies and rejoice in Him always, realising that “He that spared not his own Son” shall “freely give us all things”.

Lastly, thank God for giving us His Word accompanied with the gift of faith, and His Spirit to teach us so that we may discern and abide in the will of God. Therefore in times when my faith is weak, by His grace, I will not fail. Amen.

Aileen Tan

With a grateful heart to God for enabling me to attend Church Camp 2015, I thank God for precious lessons learnt on the theme, “Have Faith in God”. I’ve learnt much from the six sermons by Pastor Koshy and the nightly messages by Rev Tan Kian Sing, as well as the morning devotions by Preachers Dennis, Kelvin, Jeremiah and Andrew.

2 questions by Pastor in the opening sermon “pricked” my heart deeply – “What is the state of my faith?” and “Do I have genuine faith?” This awakened me to search myself and I learn to beware of these errors -

• Desecrated faith
• Dishonest faith
• Disobedient faith
• Distorted faith

In Pastor’s sixth sermon, he reminded us of our daily spiritual responsibility: a believer’s life is an open book for people around him to see how his faith is growing. This is a timely reminder for me to be a good daily testimony for God. May the Lord help me to grow in my faith in Him.

Thank God for the labour of Elder Ng, our Camp Master, and his camp committee. This year, I also thank God for blessing us with the participation of new brethren in our midst. We hope they all feel welcome in this camp and find joy in worshipping with us in our church. All glory to God!

Arnold Diaz

I thank God for giving me the boldness and words in expressing my thoughts to praise His Name.

In this church camp, when Rev Tan Kian Sing testified of his family’s trust in the Lord concerning their struggles with the health problems of their daughter Faith, God brought to my memory His goodness towards me in my own difficulties. When I lost my first job after coming to Singapore, I became very anxious and troubled. A brother then encouraged me, “Brother, one day is long enough for the Lord to give you a job. Just pray and commit everything to Him.” I praise God that after one week, I found a job.

We also heard Pastor preaching on ‘Perils of Lack of Faith’. When he started enumerating the perils one by one - worry, anxiety, fearfulness, doubt, failure to discern God’s will and failure in spiritual battles, I felt that all of those perils are present in me. That’s why my faith is very weak. But when he said that ‘by faith you can conquer the mountains’, it really stirred me to consider the greatness of our Lord - how He raised the dead Lazarus from the grave, how He stilled the raging waves, how He turned the water into wine, etc. I praise God for bringing me to the camp to hear all the messages on faith.

Now, in the church, Pastor mentioned to us about the building fund of 5 million dollars by the end of 2015. We still haven’t reached even 1 million. As human as I am, I thought to myself that it’s impossible to reach this goal. May God forgive us for our lack of faith; we have been hearing all these things, and also many testimonies of God’s goodness in Pastor’s life and ministry, yet we doubt. May He strengthen my faith and cause me to doubt no more. In the spirit of the brother who had earlier encouraged me, I like to say: “One day is long enough for the Lord to give us 5 million!”

Kenneth Wong

Our family would like to praise and thank God for the gracious provision (through the church) for us to attend this year’s Church Camp. During one of our family morning devotions in the camp, we read from Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Truly, how we have ‘tasted’ God’s goodness during and even before the camp. Thank God for Pastor and Church Session who had enabled us to come. During the camp, we were fed physically by the sumptuous spread during meal times, and spiritually through the faithful preaching of God’s Word. We ‘saw’ that our faith in this world is a journey filled with perils and promises; as such, we are to have faith in God through our trials and to depend on Him daily.

Personally, I am challenged to grow and be led from ‘faith to faith’, increasing and progressing ‘day by day’. As a family, we are to continue to serve Him faithfully. I ‘saw’ the faith in God through the “cloud of godly witnesses” in the biblical characters, as well as in our pastor and Rev Tan. Undeniably, they are living examples of the blessedness of a man whose faith is in Him and Him alone. Most importantly, they had pointed us to the Word of God and Christ, the Perfect Example who is our guide and hope. All glory be to God!

We praise God for last week’s church camp (June 15-19) held at Holiday Inn, Batam, in which 215 members and friends participated. Great spiritual blessings were poured upon the congregation, as they were brought under the exposition of God’s perfect Word. There were repentance, renewal of hearts and rededication of hearts to God’s glory. We thank God for the preachers and the camp organisers who laboured with great devotion to the Lord. Today we publish some of the testimonies; more will be published in the coming weeks.

Zacharias Tan

I am a university student, having finished my first year of studies. Coming up to give my testimony is a “test” of my faith in God, because I have to put my trust in God to help me overcome my nervousness and stage fright. I am always afraid that I’ll say something wrong in my testimony. But all glory to God for letting me share my testimony of how good He is to me.

Before I came, I had many questions and worries in my life. I came to the church camp in search of answers or at least to learn something from His Word. I needed some form of assurance. God is good – I learnt more than I expected. So I’ll share 2 examples of how my worries are answered.

First, I have been very disappointed with my university exam results. Although I made detailed study plans and followed them seriously, I did worse than the previous semester. I was so ashamed of myself and I nearly lost hope in God. But I learned through the first and third night messages of this camp that I must patiently endure trials and depend upon God. God’s promises in the Bible never fail and I know that He will guide me according to His plan for me. My results may disappoint me but if God let it happen, it is according to His good will. Indeed, it may be a period of drought for me now, but I must still labour on for my remaining 3 years in university, believing that “rain” (relief) will come.

Second, I have learned how we should serve the Lord when there is increasing pressure from school, family and the world. I asked this question during the Q & A session, “How shall I answer those who discourage me from doing more for God, saying it’s dangerous?” I learnt that my service to the Lord is not up to man to decide, not even myself. I am grateful for the lesson that only God should decide how I ought to live my life and serve Him. And the knowledge of His will comes by prayer and listening more to the Word preached by faithful men. I also learnt that I ought to walk straight with God to know His will, for He will fully let me know His will for me.

There are many more questions for which I have found answers through the messages and the fellowship we had in this camp. Here are briefly some other important learning points that I have gleaned:

1. Faith is the shield that protects us from the fiery darts of the devil.
2. In times of doubts and fears, I need to learn to pray more to God. (My doubts and fears were many, and each time after discussing with Pastor, he would pray with me.)
3. God’s Word is power, from where our faith comes. Through faithful preaching of the Word, we grow spiritually and our faith is strengthened. Pastor taught us on spiritual growth at last year’s youth camp, and now on having faith in God. Truly, there are so many wonderful benefits in being spiritually mature and having a strong faith. We can thus avoid so many troubles and problems that result from being spiritually lethargic and having little faith in God.

Thanks be to God for helping me share my testimony!

Moses Lee

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:21).

I thank God for this year’s church camp theme that is so apt for my life. The messages constantly reminded me to examine my own faith to ensure it is not a devilish, distorted, desecrating, dishonest and disobedient faith but a joyous, patient, living, working, true and genuine faith – one that wholly depends on God even in times of trials, like the pressures in school from ungodly friends or from our own sinful nature.

In their respective sermons, Pastor and Rev Tan Kian Sing kept using examples of prophets with such great faith. One of them was Moses, whose life was full of testings, and yet he trusted in God so greatly. Truly, whatever is impossible and illogical in the sight of men, is possible to God. So we need to have faith. (Thinking about this, I really do not deserve the name Moses). I really have to look to Jesus and pray more that He will direct my path on this journey of faith and strengthen my faith in the midst of much tribulation.

1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. Knowing that I am not alone and with Christ’s very soon return as my motivation to be with Him forever in eternity, I have to grow spiritually, having faith in God.

Of course, I thank God for all the preachers for delivering the Word to us faithfully each day, and also the camp committee and all those who laboured in service for the Lord to ensure that everything went smoothly.

All glory to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Joey Lim

I truly thank God for the church camp, and for clearing all obstacles for me to attend.

As the hymn goes, ‘Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare/Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.’ I am aware that I have not fully grasped all the precious lessons expounded from the Word. Thus, I shall continue to meditate on the truths preached even after I return home, and pray that God will ever continually teach my heart. However, at this time, I would just like to share two lessons that I have learnt during this camp.

Firstly, I learnt the importance of God’s Word in our life and how it is essential in our life of faith, for faith is taking God at His Word. Through the theme messages preached, as well as through godly and edifying fellowship, God has deeply impressed upon my heart that His Word is our only source of true joy, comfort, peace, wisdom and guidance. For instance, Psalm 119:50 – ‘’This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me’’ – teaches us that the Word is our comfort in our affliction, as well as the means of true revival in our souls.

Secondly, I learnt how to view afflictions in my life. Afflictions, whether great or small, are ordained by God, and He directs them all for His sovereign purposes. Blessed be the Name of the LORD, for "[e]very good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). I must learn to behold even each and every trial as God’s good and perfect gift for me. To look at trials this way, my vision is removed far from myself (which is all weakness and darkness), and guided upwards to the Father of lights, where I am lost in His goodness and grace. Praise be unto God, who is the Giver of all things! Amen.

Julius Del Rosario

Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! I thank the Lord for His grace for bringing my wife and I, and my father-in-law to this church camp.

I praise God for the relevant messages being preached by our Pastor, Rev Tan and our own preachers. Hearing and receiving the messages about our faith in God made me realise that I am a man of little faith. But God is gracious and merciful to remind me to put my trust in Him completely, for He will take care of everything.

I don’t know how the Lord wants me to serve Him in the church, I don’t know if the Lord will give us our own child, etc. But one thing is certain concerning what the Lord wants me to do. The Lord wants me to “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” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

All glory to God!

Joy Del Rosario

Greetings!

Ipraise and thank the Lord for this opportunity to join the church camp and that my father could join us. I thank God for a wonderful fellowship with the brethren. I have been in Gethsemane for 5 years. But I am guilty of not knowing the brethren by their first name. Thank God for such an opportunity as this to get to know many from the church.

A few weeks prior to this church camp, I have been working overtime due to lack of manpower and more responsibilities. Even when I arrived here, my mind was somewhat carried away by the responsibilities I left behind, especially whenever I received emails from my workplace. I cried and prayed to the Lord that He will strengthen my faith, for He will take care of tomorrow and whatever I have left behind. The daily feeding of His word in this church camp constantly reminded me to stay in the presence of the Lord.

James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” The question of “what is your life?” really struck me. Indeed, what is my life? Praise God that through the series of messages, I have learned that life ought to be simple. It is to be in full dependence on the Lord. It is to be in full dependence on His promises so that we may walk in faith.

May the Lord continually bless me with a steady heart in Him, that I may be revived and renewed, and serve more for His glory.

All glory to God!

Eunice Choy

Iwant to thank the Lord for enabling me to go for this year’s church camp. Having been unable to go for church camp for the past few years due to work, I was really looking forward to this year’s camp. However, about a week before the camp, I fell while cycling and sustained head injury. The Lord is good to preserve me from more serious harm. I started to have severe back pains while resting at home. The back pains were so unbearable that I thought that I might not be able to go for the camp, and I became disappointed. However, the Lord gave me relief from the pain. I also thank God for comfort and encouragement and prayers from church friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, uncles and aunties, loved ones and family members. Thank you all for your love and concern and much prayers for me. Not forgetting also all your reminders to me to walk slowly and take things slowly, and helping me with my luggage.

Thank God for the messages preached and the precious lessons learnt. Indeed, when trials and difficulties come our way, God gives more grace and thus we can have full faith and confidence in Him. We can depend and rely fully on Him because He is Sovereign and in control of all matters of our life. That is why we need not fear, for God is always there. I pray I will always submit and do God’s will and be obedient to Him. As the song goes, “God never moves without purpose or plan when trying his servant and moulding a man. Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long; in darkness he giveth a song.” God has a good and higher purpose, so we can fully trust in Him to take care of us. Romans 8:28 says it best – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

(more testimonies next week)

Our Ethiopian mission church has just held their 9th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service. We have received a brief report and some photos of the event, which are published below.

Our preparation for the Ethiopian mission began in January 1999, when Bro Ephrem Chiracho came to Singapore as an FEBC student. As he pursued his theological studies in FEBC, he attended Gethsemane BPC. Later his wife, Sis Gete, also joined him here in Singapore. Together, they were trained in FEBC and served amongst us till 2003. Upon the completion of their theological training, they both went to serve in Bible College of East Africa, Kenya, for two years.

In August 2005, they returned to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and began the Gospel work there. The church was inaugurated a year later on 28th May 2006. A mission team from our church, made up of Eld & Mrs Mah, Bro Eddie Ng, Sis Melissa Mah, my wife and I, went to participate in the inauguration service. Later, on 28th November 2007, in our Second Missionary Conference held in Cebu, the Philippines, Bro Ephrem and Bro Reggor were ordained as pastors of their respective churches.

Pastor Ephrem, and his work. The Lord gave two more preachers to colabour with him, namely Pr Imane Dola and Pr Engida. Another Gospel station, Alem Gena, was started in January 2009. In this place, we have a church and a Bible Institute. Let us continue to pray for and support all the preachers, churches and their Gospel work, as well as the 15 full-time students currently in Gethsemane Bible Institute. The brethren in Ethiopia face many kinds of opposition, threatenings, violence. Pray for the brethren that they will grow in faith and in the knowledge of God’s Word.

Email from Rev Ephrem Chiracho

Dear Rev Koshy,

Greetings in the blessed Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

How are you doing with your family? How is your health?

Over here, we are fine by God’s preserving grace. By His grace, Gethsemane BPC, Ethiopia, has just celebrated God’s goodness, mercy, protection and providence for the past nine years and His blessings over GBI for the past three years. Truly, Psalm 103:1-5 is the song of our soul to the Almighty God. He has been faithful to us through all the ups and downs which we went through these years. He has been with us as we walked through “the valley of the shadow of death”. His hand has prospered, protected and provided for His work here in Ethiopia. We stand in His presence with a great sense of indebtedness and gratitude for all that He has done in us, through us and for us.

In this anniversary, we had 6 adult and 4 infant baptisms, besides 4 who transferred their membership. The GBI students had the opportunity to serve in singing hymns and spiritual songs. All glory to God!

We also take this opportunity to praise God for Gethsemane BPC, Singapore and the Gethsemane B-P mission churches and all likeminded brethren who stood with us all these years to support God’s work in Ethiopia. May the living and true God of Israel bless all your works for His glory.

Have a blessed week of service. Please convey our heartiest regards to all.

Yours in Christ’s service,
Rev Ephrem Chiracho

Testimonies of Mission Trips to The Philippines

Pangasinan

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:1-2).

The Philippines, a land steeped in Roman Catholicism and in the fetters of idolatry and witchcraft, is made up of 7107 islands, of which the Lord has been pleased to so graciously open Gospel doors to our church in the islands of Cebu (Cebu City, Bogo, San Antonio), Bohol and Luzon (Dagupan of Pangasinan province). May the Lord also open more doors to other of the numerous islands of the Philippines!

When I first heard of the two planned mission trips to visit our Filipino missionaries and to conduct DVBS for children, I decided in my heart that I would be going to Pangasinan. But first I had to overcome the hurdle of breaking the news to my parents. They had always warned me against travelling to the Philippines due to a spate of news reports concerning many natural calamities (like typhoons, earthquakes), as well as terrorist groups kidnapping foreigners. My mum was also sceptical of our church organising so many trips out of Singapore this year; moreover, my dad’s attitude was: “No need to serve in other countries. Just serve in Singapore, that will be enough.” Hence, I hesitated a few times before informing my parents of my mission trip to Pangasinan. To my surprise, when I broached the subject one morning while having breakfast, there was not much resistance from my mum this time round. All she said was: “Since you have already decided to go, so what can I do?” After informing them of the trip, I went ahead to book my plane tickets, etc.

Another hurdle that potentially stood in my way was a new project that I was assigned to take care of by my company in the month of April. Two staff were needed for this project, but when 1 of them resigned, as the project’s manager, I had to stand in and work full-time on the project. In addition to the added work demands, I had to keep up with the GBI and FEBC night classes. During that trying time, I returned home every night feeling extremely exhausted. My health was affected and I was afraid that I may not be able to travel. During this time, I thank the Lord for Pastor’s sermon (on the book of Matthew) concerning the folly of worrying for tomorrow and the Lord’s promise to take care of our tomorrows. I rested on this promise given in God’s Word, and (praise God) on 18 May, the Lord provided the 2nd staff so that I was able to go for the mission trip with peace of mind.

On the eve of our departure, early morning on 22 May, my mum (during her sleep) fell from her bed to the floor and sustained a big bruise on the back of her head. As she is on aspirin (which is a blood-thinning agent), any internal bleeding could result in blood clots in her brain following a fall. So that morning, she requested that I accompanied her to NUH Emergency unit. The doctors there gave her a CT scan and kept her in the E-bay for observation for 8 hours. Thank God the CT scan showed that everything was normal and she was discharged on the same evening.

That was not all. On the morning just before departure (i.e. 23 May), my father tried to dissuade me from going, citing a Straits Times report of the deaths of 2 persons in the Philippines because of the heatwave. I told my dad that my going was firm and instead requested that he be praying for me. Clearly, through all these incidents, I believe the devil was unhappy with my going for the mission trip, hence all these hurdles in my way. But thanks be to God, He has overturned all these seeming hindrances to enable me to still go for the mission trip.

Furthermore, I thank the Lord for Sis Joanna’s timely encouragement to me and I believe to the rest of the team as well. Her coming, together with the last-minute addition of Brother Kenneth, has added much strength and support to the initial team of five. I believe Kenneth’s presence has lightened the load of teaching for Sis Gina and Sis Sarah. His assistance in providing music accompaniment during singspiration, as well as Sis Sarah compiling the songs and lyrics for the singspiration sessions and acting as slide-clicker, and Sis Dorcas recording the music (ahead of time) for the songs, were all tokens of God’s blessings on the team. Not forgetting the provision of God’s servant, Preacher Jeremiah, who preached a message on unity during the Sunday worship service, and shared devotions during the 3 home visitations that followed.

Thank God for the warm fellowship with the Filipino brethren for the Gospel’s sake and the hospitality extended to us by the Filipino brethren, who cooked our meals daily in the hot and stuffy kitchen. I thank the Lord for Pr Donald and Sister Sejin who cleaned our rooms and went the extra mile to provide all the necessities that we may have a comfortable stay. We were encouraged by the many children whom God brought to our 1st DVBS in Pangasinan (including the parents who came) to listen to His Word and the Gospel message. May the Gospel seed that was planted in their hearts germinate and grow and bear fruits according to the timing of our Lord.

May the Lord continue to bless the work in Dagupan, Pangasinan and may many more living in the land of the Philippines be ushered into God’s Kingdom through the Gospel call. My prayer is also for our young ones to rise up and go and proclaim the Gospel wherever the Lord leads them, in fulfilment of the Great Commission. Amen.

Violet Quek

Cebu

Praise God for the opportunity to visit our mission station in Cebu, the Philippines, again, 8 years after my last visit (which was during the 2007 Missionary Conference). It was a joyful and satisfying experience to minister to and be ministered by the brethren there.

Thank God for His enabling grace and strength to accomplish the tasks He had laid upon us, for His unfailing love and care extended to us through His people there, as well as for safety, good health and the added bonus of refreshing fellowship throughout the 6 days.

young children in the church being trained up in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Indeed, most conducted themselves well with godly fear, and showed themselves to be knowledgeable in God’s Word. Many of them had set good examples for the new DVBS participants, some of whom were still unsaved. I pray that the lessons of faith from the Book of Joshua will remain in their hearts and minds, and follow them through their lives as they grow in age and in faith. May God also continue to bless the humble efforts of the parents and be gracious to preserve this young generation for the furtherance of His kingdom in Cebu and beyond.

Praise God also for the opportunity to be fed with spiritual food during the 3 nights of GBI lectures conducted by Pastor on the theme, “Communion of the Saints”. It was promising to note that many church members came with their families to hear God’s Word. Truly, our constant prayer (in line with what we have learnt through Pastor’s lectures), is that God be pleased to continue His “sanctifying” work in the Cebu congregation, that their “sainthood” may be voiced abroad and His name be praised.
Dorcas Koshy

In the first part of this article, I have pointed out that we can learn precious lessons about praying in a God-pleasing manner from the Book of Psalms. 5 major elements stand out in the prayers recorded in the Psalms: (1) Praises of God, (2) Thanksgiving, (3) Petitions and Lamentations, (4) Confessions of Sins, and (5) Expectations. I have briefly discussed the first two of those elements in the first part; the rest will be deliberated in today’s article.

A Christian praises God when he recollects and describes God’s attributes and deeds. Such efforts from a believer would naturally produce a thanksgiving disposition towards God. To maintain it, one must strive to meditate on God’s attributes and deeds constantly. This article will continue to discuss the remaining three aspects.

Petitions and Lamentations

David, who contributed significantly to the Book of Psalms, was a man who had been thrown into severe difficulties in life even to the point of death. However, because of the extreme afflictions he went through, he was enabled to pen down some wonderful psalms that reflect a believer’s heartfelt cry for God’s help in difficult times. Believers of every generation who go through such trying times can definitely learn much from those psalms which emerged out of afflictions. Their petitions to God would certainly encourage every afflicted child of God to cast himself in prayer to God.

The psalmists, when in distress, called for the attention of God at the very outset of their prayers. They began with phrases like: “Hear me when I call, … and hear my prayer (Psalm 4:1)”; “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry…” (Psalm 5:1-2); and “Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer…” (Psalm 17:1). This does not mean that God was previously inattentive to them; nor was He ignorant of their affairs. The calling for God’s attention shows the psalmists’ dependence on Him. They constantly sought to focus on their God rather than their troubles. In other words, they turned away from being preoccupied with their problems by paying attention to God.

Instead of just asking God to remove their afflictions, the psalmists yearned to draw near to God during such times. They were more desirous of the closeness of God (which they prayed for first) than the removal of their afflictions. For example, in Psalm 17, David prayed that God would “keep [him] as the apple of the eye, hide [him] under the shadow of [His] wings” (v. 8), before he asked God to deal with his enemies (v. 13). In Psalm 25, he prayed for God to lead him and patiently waited on Him by remembering His “tender mercies and lovingkindness; for they have been ever of old” (vv. 4-6); then in verse 19, he asked God to “consider” his enemies. Likewise in Psalm 27, he wanted to hide himself in God (v. 5) and seek God’s face (v. 8); only in verse 12 did the psalmist ask God to deliver him from his enemies.

At times, the psalmists in their extreme afflictions seemed to lament and complain to God about what had happened to them. They seemed to slump in despair, having lost hope. Yet by the end of their prayers, their lamentations would incline towards hope in God and praise to Him. In Psalm 6, after questioning God on how long he had to endure his suffering as his soul was “sore vexed” (v. 3), David expresses his agony: “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears” (v. 6). However, the psalmist found comfort because of his confidence that God had heard his prayers and supplications (vv. 8-9). In Psalm 13, the psalmist seemed to question how long would God forget and hide from him (v. 1), and also how long his enemies would be exalted over him (v. 2). Yet in the end, the psalmist expressed trust in God and sang unto Him (vv. 5-6). Despite their lamentations, the psalmists constantly expressed their faith and hope in God.

Confessions of Sins

The much-afflicted psalmists would also go through times of selfreflection and soul-searching. They would ask themselves whether they had led a holy life thus far. David cried out in Psalm 7, “O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me” (vv. 3, 4a). Likewise, the psalmist of Psalm 77 communed with his “own heart” and his spirit “made diligent search” (v. 6). Affliction was a signal for the psalmists to reflect and discern if it was God’s chastisement to bring them back to Him. They were ready to confess their sins once that was made clear to them during self-reflection.

The psalmists looked to God to convict them of their sins during self-reflection. They pleaded with God to judge them. “The Lord shalljudge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness” (Psalm 7:8a). “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man” (Psalm 43:1). “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2). At times, the psalmists would also set themselves apart, before God, from the ungodly people around them. “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity” (Psalm 28:3a).

There were also times when the psalmists express their determination to keep themselves from the stain of sin. Psalm 17:3 says, “Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” In Psalm 26, when David found himself to be innocent after careful self-examination, he desired to come into God’s presence (v. 6) to serve Him by praising Him and to “tell of all [His] wondrous works” (v. 7). This was in stark contrast to Psalm 32, where David found it unbearable to have procrastinated in going to God to confess his sins. He confessed that “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.” (vv. 3-4). Sorrow needs to be expressed in one’s confession of sins, as indicated in Psalm 38:18 – “I will be sorry for my sin.”

The psalmists who went before God to confess their sins pleaded for the mercy of God. They asked that the dealings of God be not according to the measure of their sins. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1). They would cry out to God not to deal with them in His fury. “O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” (Psalm 6:1; cf. Psalm 38:1). It is important to reflect and ask God for forgiveness in prayer, such that one might be humbled and divinely sustained in one’s situation.

Expectations

Very often, the psalmists prayed not because they wanted to change their situations but to change themselves. They were confident of receiving relief after praying because they knew that God would hear them. They left it to God to do what He deemed best for them. When the psalmists cried out for God’s attention, they were sure that their prayers would reach the Most High God. It can be observed that they exhibited full confidence that God would pay attention to them in troublous times. Psalm 4:3b says, “The Lord will hear when I call unto him.” Likewise, Psalm 17:6a says, “I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God”.

Even the expectation that God would hear them brought much comfort to the psalmists. The psalmist rejoiced and was glad, “for [God] hast considered [his] trouble; [God] hast known [his] soul in adversities” (Psalm 31:7). The expectation of a believer that God will always be faithful to hear him in his distress will stir his heart to be full of love and gratitude towards God. This can be seen in Psalm 116:1-2, ”I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”

It can also be seen from many psalms that the psalmists’ spirits were lifted high before their prayers were ended. Their hearts were no longer turbulent but were stilled although their situations remained the same. When, for instance, David was fleeing from Absalom, he prayed to God in Psalm 3:6, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” This was despite the fact that David was still fleeing for his life. Again David, in Psalm 4, started his prayer in distress but by the end of his prayer, his heart was reassured: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” (v. 8). A prayer uttered out of an expectant heart pleases God as it speaks of a quiet confidence in the Most High.

Conclusion

Like the psalmists, Christians who go through afflictions in life must not be overwhelmed by their situations, but must instead focus on God by praying. They must be more interested in their intimacy with God while they go through difficulties, rather than the mere removal of their problems. Then Christians will find themselves gravitating towards hope in God and praise of His name even in trouble. Afflictions also call for a time of self-reflection before God. Christians should look for none other judge but God to determine if they have led holy lives thus far. Upon the realisation of sin, Christians can plead before God not to mete out dealings equal to their transgressions by appealing to His attributes of mercy and lovingkindness.

Christians should be full of expectancy when they go to God in prayer, not because they expect God would immediately improve their situations, but simply because they expect their Heavenly Father to hear them. May God help and grant grace to all who wish to learn how to pray in a manner that is pleasing to Him.