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READ:

Philippians 4:19

¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

EXHORTATION:

Being thankful for the love and concern expressed by the brethren in the Philippian church through their financial support, Paul was moved to utter these words. Just as the brethren were concerned for Paul’s well-being, he was also concerned about theirs. He knew that they showed generosity towards him not because they themselves were free from financial needs. Paul could do little to help them on his own, but he prayed that God would provide for all their needs. Essentially, he was saying, “Brethren, I am unable to return your kindness, but I pray that my God will supply all your need just as He has supplied my want through you.”

The expression “my God” conveys Paul’s confidence in God as his unfailing Provider in all of his life’s needs. God was his most benevolent benefactor. The sentiment conveyed here by Paul is very much like that of David who said, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Because God has been wholly in charge of all of his life’s needs, he is also assured that God will attend to the needs of his fellow Christians at Philippi.

Paul’s words, “my God shall supply all your need”, exalt God as the most merciful and faithful Provider of all His people. God’s ability and willingness to supply all our need, as well as His commitment to do so as our covenant God, are conceived in Paul’s words. God undertakes to meet all our needs. Yes, our needs (both temporal and spiritual) are many, but the extent of His supply is “according to his riches in glory”. God gives unto His children, not as a poor man who struggles to provide in the face of scarcity, nor as a rich man who gives grudgingly. He supplies according to His boundless riches in glory. He will look after us till we get to the glorious celestial home which He has prepared for us.

How inadequate words are in describing the riches of God! The grandeur of His supply is conspicuous throughout the universe – in the light of the sun, in the starry sky, in the flowers of the field, in the birds of the sky, in all things both seen and unseen. “The whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). It is God’s inexhaustible supply that is promised to us which will be channelled to us by Christ Jesus. Christ is the guarantee of the divine supply. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

READ:

Philippians 4:13

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

EXHORTATION:

This is the solemn witness borne by the apostle Paul while he was bound in chains and imprisoned for Christ in Rome. His confinement and intimidating situation could have broken his spirit and left him in utter distress. He could have wept over his inability to do what he had been doing before his arrest and confinement in the high-security prison of the Roman emperor’s palace. As he was not allowed to visit the churches which he loved so dearly, he was left yearning for their fellowship which was deprived him. “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:8). Being also severely hampered in the oversight of all that he had been praying and planning for the Gospel’s advancement, he was most concerned about the preaching ministry in those churches and their spiritual safety (cf. Philippians 1:15- 16, 27-30).

Regardless of all those heart-breaking deprivations, Paul was absolutely confident that his Saviour and Lord would continue to strengthen him to do all that he had been called to accomplish. He did not fear that his present imprisonment would shut him away from divine purposes and power. Instead, he believed with all his heart that all that had happened to him would lead him to new frontiers of Gospel advancement.

Earlier in this epistle, Paul had comforted the Philippian Christians who were anxious about his arrest and confinement by reporting to them that the Lord had paved a way to new Gospel frontiers through his incarceration. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). In the next verse, he explained that the palace (of Caesar) and its vicinity had heard of his suffering for Christ. Apparently, the Lord had given him opportunities to explain his faith to the guards, officials and workers whom he met in the palace’s prison. Thus, the Gospel spread quickly through those who believed through Paul’s testimony. Even within the palace, some had turned to Christ, as Paul wrote at the end of this epistle that “all the saints” in “Caesar’s household” joined him to salute the Philippian Christians (Philippians 4:22). Paul could not have devised a plan so effective as this to enter Caesar’s palace with the Gospel, Caesar being a sworn enemy of the Gospel. In effect, it was Christ who sent Paul into the palace as a prisoner to preach the Gospel! Christ can fulfil all His will concerning us, just as Paul had testified.

READ:

2 Thessalonians 3:13

¹³ But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

EXHORTATION:

As much as this exhortation is a warning to Christians against becoming weary in well doing, it is also an encouragement to continue in their commitment to be charitable and helpful to others in need. Throughout the New Testament, Christians are urged to be welldoers. Jesus exhorted His followers in 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.” Likewise in Titus 3:8, we are instructed by Paul “that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.”

The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” So, how do we know what are the good works that God wants us to fulfil? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us that “All scripture is given … that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” In pursuing well doing, we are obeying the will of God revealed in the Bible.

Even among those who oppose us, we are commanded to show our good works. We read in 1 Peter 2:12, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Christian women are told that what is proper for godly women is not so much “broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” as “good works”. In 1 Timothy 6:18, rich Christians are admonished to be mindful “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate”. Though widows are often needy people, they too are encouraged to be engaged in well doing, so that they may be found worthy to be in the list of women who can be entrusted with responsibilities in the church. In 1 Timothy 5:10, Paul advised that such a widow should be “well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.”

Quite often, we may be disappointed and even discouraged by the ungratefulness and abusive reaction of the recipients of our kindness. However, we should not allow our hearts to grow weary in well doing.

READ:

2 Thessalonians 3:7

⁷ For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you.

EXHORTATION:

The early Christians paid much attention to learning from the apostles. Acts 2:42 records, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship”. In fact, the early Christians also paid attention to the apostles’ conduct. Many of the early Christians, who came from heathen families and societies, were accustomed to immoral and ungodly ways of life. Even those who came from Jewish background needed to shed their hypocritical, legalistic way of life. They knew that the best examples they could pattern their lives after, were the lives of the apostles and those who walked after them.

The apostles had always been careful to provide an example for the early Christians. So Paul could undoubtedly say, “for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you”. In his earlier epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded them, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:10). The lives of the apostles constitute an irrefutable testimony of the kind of godly living which they could hold up before all Christians and say, “Now, follow us.” Paul said, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16). Again he said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” To the Philippian saints, he beseeched, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:17).

It is God’s will that the ministers of the Word should be examples to the flock. To Timothy, his protégé in the ministry, Paul said, “be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). In similar fashion, Peter admonished the elders, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). An important and abiding duty of every leader of the church in all ages is that he should so live his life that his people can follow his example to live a life of piety. Unfortunately, many leaders of the churches today are seen having the “Do as I say, not as I do” philosophy. Leading by example is often missing in many pastorates in these days. A pastor should never live in a manner which another believer cannot do likewise. In both public and secret areas of his life, he must be blameless and worthy of emulation. So, pray for exemplary pastors!

Our youths on campus face numerous challenges, including intellectual doubts, peer pressure, and temptations that aim to silence their Christian testimony. Yet the Word of God provides all that is needed for spiritual strength and steadfastness. The psalmist declares, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). A life of testimony begins with a life rooted in Scripture. Daily meditation in and obedience to the Word equip the heart to resist sin and to shine as a light before others.

Prayer is another vital pillar. Daniel, though a youth in Babylon, “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” (Daniel 6:10b). His prayer life gave him courage to stand boldly even when threatened. In the same way, campus youths must cultivate disciplined prayer. They must pursue personal and corporate prayer life, seeking the Spirit’s wisdom and power to bear witness to Christ.

Fellowship among like-minded Christian youths is essential for living a strong life of testimony on campus. Godly companionship not only strengthens the believer, but also guards against the dangers of isolation. Scripture reminds us, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). This principle was exemplified in the life of the early church, for they “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Indeed, isolation weakens faith, but godly friendships provide accountability, mutual exhortation, and a collective witness for Christ before the world. 

Through fellowships and Bible study, Gethsemane Campus Ministry becomes a training ground for our youths to be bold witnesses for Christ amidst the challenges of campus life. Testimony on campus is not optional; it is the very calling of every Christian youth. When youths walk in purity, pray in faith, and fellowship in love, they become living epistles known and read of all men (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:2). We encourage our youths in tertiary educational institutions to participate in Gethsemane Campus Ministry.

Gethsemane Campus Ministry: An Avenue for Christian Exhortation and Fellowship

The Campus Ministry focuses on students in their tertiary education, through the weekly online Campus Bible Study (CBS) meetings, held every Thursday, via the Google Meet platform. By God’s grace, these are usually well-attended by Gethsemane youths and students, mainly from National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). 

We thank God for Pastor Koshy, who has been ministering to us during the past year on the theme: “Characteristics of God”, reminding us of His sovereign presence and guidance throughout the students’ life endeavours. Over the weeks, we have been enriched through the learning of God’s unchanging nature, perfect love, grace, and holiness—truths that anchor our faith and strengthen our walk with Him. From June 2025, Pastor has embarked on a new Q&A series, focusing on topics and common issues pertaining to making godly choices in Christian living. 

One memorable occasion of this academic year was the fellowship dinner on 14th August, where CBS members gathered physically to reflect on the Lord’s goodness and sustenance upon us all. We trust that such occasions not only strengthen our bonds of friendship, but also the unity we share in Christ. Pastor Koshy gave a short exhortation on “Always Putting God First”, which was a timely reminder for us, in view of our upcoming academic year’s responsibilities. We also shared much joy and laughter over dinner and games, before we took time to remember one another in prayer. 

Indeed, the Campus Ministry has been pivotal in encouraging youths from other churches as well. The regular Bible study sessions have been essential to keep us grounded in our precious faith, amidst the demands of our ever-increasing commitments. As we progress into a new academic year, our prayer is that the LORD will continue to sustain this ministry and the friendships forged, that more youths will join us to become shining testimonies for His glory!

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Sermon Text: Ruth 3:1–13
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 14th September 2025

READ:

2 Thessalonians 3:5

⁵ And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

EXHORTATION:

This is Paul’s pastoral prayer and wish for the church. He prayed that the Lord would “direct” their hearts. The Greek verb for “direct” generally means to guide one’s way straight towards a place. Paul’s desire is that every Christian will be constantly led forward by God into a deeper, firmer relationship with God and Christ. No higher prayer can be offered than this – that by the influence of the Spirit of God, we may be led into the vibrant, unhindered operation of God’s love.

Christians’ continuous advancement in their spiritual relationship with their God and Saviour must always be sought after. Their spiritual life should not be stagnant, but constantly growing towards greater experiences of spiritual realities.

Like Paul, who trusted the Lord to direct the believers, we too can trust and pray to Him for our spiritual growth. Without the Lord’s direction, we will be like sheep that have gone astray, prodigals that have left their heavenly Father’s loving abode. If we would pray, He will lead us back to His loving presence and establish us in His love.

Hearts led by the Lord will not only obtain the joy and blessings of divine love, but will also grow in their love for God. More love for God will be seen in all aspects of their lives. Their love for God will manifest in greater appreciation for God’s Word, greater commitment to prayer, loving and generous service in the church, enthusiastic communion with God’s people, and compassion for lost souls. It would be impossible to suppress their love for God, as they grow to love Him with all their heart, mind and strength. May it be our desire to love as God has loved us!

Together with “the love of God”, the apostle Paul also mentioned “the patient waiting for Christ”. The Greek word translated as “patient waiting” denotes the idea of “the ability to continually bear up under difficult circumstances”. Impatience does not go along with love. Love begets patience. Patient waiting is the fruit of growing faith and love. It endures all circumstances with constancy, courage and steadfastness. Like Christ, we must also patiently suffer all things in love, for we know He is coming again to reward us. Therefore, in anticipation of the Lord’s return, we ought to bear difficulties, offences and sufferings with patience.

READ:

Romans 5:6

⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

EXHORTATION:

We once lived in great peril, having no strength to help ourselves out of our sins, misery and condemnation. Our impotency to help ourselves out of our utter wretchedness was an eternal peril that snared our souls. Our condition was pathetically awful, as we were “without strength”.

Our utter inability to please God – because of our sins – had left us completely open to the full force of God’s curse and wrath. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). Our wretchedness reflected our cursed state – “for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10).

Our sins had left us in dreadful spiritual, moral, emotional and even bodily weakness. Ungodliness had brought upon us many evils, namely the wild passions, the miseries of life, gloomy and dismal prospects, banishment from God and condemnation. It had wrecked our lives and left us in total spiritual and moral paralysis. Oh, how true it is that we had been “without strength”! What a terrible, tragic condition was ours! This malady is not a calamity befallen upon us, but a condition brought about by our own deeds. Nevertheless, how consoling it is that “in due time Christ died for the ungodly”! The divine intervention on our behalf did not come too late. Christ came to this world at the divinely appointed time. The time had been declared by the Old Testament prophets (cf. Daniel 9:26). As Paul said in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law”.

When no man could help, Christ came. Christ means “Anointed One”. Christ, the Son of God, came as God’s appointed Saviour. He was endued with God’s perfect wisdom, power and authority to be our Saviour. He cannot and will not fail. Oh, what great news it is that God’s anointed one, Christ, has come to rescue us from our certain peril! How gracious it is that Christ “died for the ungodly”! He laid down His life on the cross, bearing upon Himself the divine justice against our sins. By His death, we have redemption. Truly, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

READ:

Revelation 12:11b

^11b And they loved not their lives unto the death.

EXHORTATION:

This is a description of the attitude of the saints towards their own lives during the Great Tribulation period. It has already been stated in the first part of this verse that they will wholeheartedly trust in the blood of Christ to overcome the ferocious fury and hostility of Satan against their souls. They are also determined and devoted to bear witness for Christ. They fearlessly confess Jesus Christ and testify concerning Him in the midst of atrocity and violence committed against them. They are fearless and undeterred by the fierce persecution. Violence, blood, suffering and death will not stop them from living out their lives for the testimony of Christ.

The saints of Christ do not go into hiding to avoid the wrath of Satan and his hosts. They will maintain their evangelistic efforts even if it means death to them. Thus, John goes on to pinpoint the attitude behind their bold testimony, i.e. they do not love their lives to the point of death. They refuse to live for themselves. They are least concerned about their own safety when it comes to testifying for Christ.

They truly epitomise Jesus’ teaching on discipleship: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). The true follower places Christ above everything else, even above his own life. Furthermore, Jesus said, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Denying oneself and bearing the cross are essential components of a life that is faithful and fervent for Christ. In other words, the faithful believers maintain their witness even if it means martyrdom.

In Revelation 2:10, the believers in Smyrna were told: “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Many Christians will be persecuted, though not all will be put to death. So Christians must be willing to suffer and die for Christ, if necessary. They should not love a life that does not bear testimony for Christ. If the world and Satan should crush their efforts to live for Christ by inflicting death, they would happily accept it. Like Paul, their testimony would be: “Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

READ:

Revelation 12:11a

^11a And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

EXHORTATION:

Satan and his hosts of demons have, according to previous verses of this chapter, been trying to destroy Israel and Christ and all the believers on earth. Satanic destruction has been unleashed against believers all through the ages and will reach its climax against the saints of the Great Tribulation. He will try to destroy and slaughter all of the believing people.

However, Satan will be defeated. Notice what our text says: “they overcame him”. Believers will overcome all satanic opposition and persecution. How would they overcome Satan and his demonic hosts? According to our text, their overcoming of Satan and his demons was not by rebuke, incantations, bindings of demons or exorcism.

They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 describes the Tribulation saints as “they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. Because of Christ’s blood shed for their redemption, no accusation would stand. No accusation against the suffering saints of the Great Tribulation would stand before the throne of God. In fact, no accusation against any believer in any age would stand. It is not that they possess some personal power of their own, but rather that “God hath set forth (Christ) to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25). As Paul said, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:6-7; cf. Colossians 1:14). All of the accusations against us fall on deaf ears because we have been saved by the blood of the Lamb, even our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:12, 14).

What’s more, the believers also overcame Satan “by the word of their testimony”. In a world filled with demonic treachery and opposition, their testimony never wavered. They remained faithful regardless of all the threatening situations brought against them by the fury of Satan. They were unflinching and unwavering in the face of hostility. Their witness was clear and steadfast. Truly, Christians do not surrender; as “overcomers”, they go forth bearing Christ’s testimony, even in times of satanic hostility.