In last Sunday’s pastoral exhortation, I have briefly discussed the prevailing sexual immorality of our modern-day society. I would like to continue with the article by presenting to you some of the important Scriptural reasons and advice for avoiding sexual sins.

Scriptural Reasons for Avoidance

Sexual sins distort the purpose of God concerning Christians’ bodies: 1 Corinthians 6:13-14 says, “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

Believers’ bodies, according to God’s design and purposes, are not just for biological functions. It is also for the Lord (cf. verse 13). Verse 14 reminds us that our bodies are not only for the service of the Lord in this world, but also for the heaven to come. God will raise our bodies one day as glorified or heavenly bodies to serve Him for ever and ever in that sinless world. Since our bodies are for the Lord forever, we must not pervert their purpose by polluting them with sexual sins.

Sexual sins desecrate the spiritual body of the Lord: 1 Corinthians 6:15- 17 records, “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”

Believers’ bodies are not only for the Lord’s service, but are also inseparable members of His own body. Romans 12:5 says, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ.” So, for Christians to commit sexual sins is to use a part of Christ’s body to commit immorality. Because sexual relationship involves a union, the Christian who commits adultery or fornication joins Christ’s members with the members of a harlot. What an abomination to corrupt the Lord’s holiness by such association!

Sexual sins damage Christians’ bodies: 1 Corinthians 6:18 warns, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” Paul is saying that sexual sins are more destructive to the body than any other sin. From the experiences of many, we know that sexual immorality not only brings horrendous diseases, but also can drive one to suicide.

Sexual sins desecrate the temple of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 admonishes, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” The bodies of Christians have been made the temple of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit rejoices in indwelling and sanctifying our bodies to be a glorious temple for Him. But sexual sins will instead desecrate the bodies that are consecrated. Sexual sins, in other words, are sacrilegious!

Scriptural Advice for Prevention

Refrain from flirtatious comments and gestures: Godly wisdom advises us to be kept and delivered “from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” (Proverbs 2:16-18; cf. Proverbs 7:5, 21), as well as “from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids” (Proverbs 6:24-25).

Guard your eyes and ways: Scripture, in no uncertain terms, warns us in Proverbs 7:6-21 of the ruin that befalls an unrestrained man who allows himself to sink deep into sexual immorality. This description is given that we may avoid such situation at all costs. “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: and, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: he hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.”

Avoid places of temptation. During courtship, young couples must not be alone in quiet places whereby they may be tempted to sin. Married people must be deliberate in not developing close or intimate friendships with people of the opposite sex.

Remind yourself of severe consequences: Scripture further warns us in Proverbs 7:22-23 of the serious consequences of sexual sins. “He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.” Finally, do not ever forget Scripture’s unequivocal warning against the unrepentant of eternal judgment (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; cf. Galatians 5:19-21)!

Notes of Thanks and Appreciation...

Dear Bible Witness team,

We have been richly blessed by the articles in the Bible Witness magazine, and we wish to express our heartfelt and sincere thanks with a small love gift (enclosed in this letter).

The Bible Witness magazine is a rare find. There are not many periodicals/magazines that we know of which provide readers with good, sound doctrine, based on fundamental interpretation of the Bible. The Bible Witness magazine is one of them - and it is our hope that this work will go on from strength to strength. I hope that my children will be able to also enjoy and benefit from reading it (when they grow up in about 10 years’ time), so it is my prayer that the Lord will sustain and prosper your ministry in the years ahead.

May the Lord bless you all!

In Christ,

Adrian & Carolyn Ho

Dear Pastor Koshy,

We must inform you that we are so thrilled to read the section devoted to children in your church weekly.

In the previous churches that we attended and visited, including our own church, this does not even exist. The emphasis on dedicating a section on Scripture for children could not be more important, for each child is as important and valuable as each adult member. We are sure the children in GBPC look forward to their Scripture section of your weekly. Like parents in GBPC, we are glad to see that children are not left out. Praise GOD.

We have decided to collect a year’s issues to bind into a booklet form, to present to our 2 grandchildren in Hong Kong. We are certain they will love to read and learn from your GBPC weeklies.

Thank you for your devotion to all the children.

With joy in Christ,
Church Visitors

Blatant promotion of immodesty and open display of carnal affection in public are increasing day by day. In these days, pornographic images and movies are made available with little resistance; and even children view them with ease. Sexually explicit music is also common. Extramarital sexual activity is regarded as normal. Sexual immorality is like an unstoppable plague of our time, corrupting and destroying individuals and families.

A recent report in our country’s leading newspaper, The Straits Times, is appalling:

“One in two teenagers here has watched or read sexually explicit materials, a poll has found, with some as young as seven when they were first exposed to it. And one in three admitted viewing pornography in the past year, whether intentional or accidental. The first large-scale survey here to examine children’s exposure to pornography, which polled 836 students aged 13 to 15, was conducted by Touch Cyber Wellness, the main agency that gives online safety talks in schools here. Experts say the findings are worrying as such content affects young people’s attitudes and behaviour towards love and sex, and may lead to sexual crimes.” (See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/half-teens-singapore-exposed-pornographysurvey-20140906#sthash.vEtap2VS.dpuf)

With such reports, we can easily discern the severity of the moral decay of our society. You do not have to be an expert to know how accepting our society is when it comes to promiscuity, both in thought and deed.

However, the Bible teaches us the avoidance of sexual sins. There is nothing better than prevention when it comes to sexual sins. If sexual sins occur, there can be severe consequences of various kinds. Most certainly, God will forgive those who repent of such sins. Nonetheless, the consequences of such an action can linger on for a long time. So the best is prevention.

One of the sad things about those who commit sexual sins is that they often live in serious denial about their sin. They believe that they will never get caught and somehow, life will continue to move towards a happily-ever-after ending. But let us take heed to the old saying, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

The Scriptures prescribe prevention

Our attitude towards scriptural admonitions and counsel should not be “when all else fail, read instructions”. Many often try to assemble or operate things that they buy even without taking a look at the manufacturer’s instruction manual. They only refer to it when they are in trouble. If we take such an attitude towards the biblical instructions given to us by our Great Creator, we will not be able to prevent many tragic and disastrous events. This is especially so with regard to sexual sins.

If you have carefully read the Scriptures to find out what God says about sexual sins, you will certainly realise that nowhere does He counsel us to try it once and then think of how to get out of it. On the contrary, the Scriptures repeatedly warn us not to engage in any sexual conduct outside marriage. It calls for total abstinence from sexual activities outside marriage.

“Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body” (1 Corinthians 6:13).

“Flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22).

“. . . they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, . . .” (Acts 15:20).

“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints” (Ephesians 5:3).

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, . . .” (Colossians 3:5).

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

“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).

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; cf. Galatians 5:19-21).

The Scriptures’ clear message to the unmarried is “Wait till you get married”; and to the married, “Don’t - with anyone other than your spouse.”

A New Campus Bible Study at SUTD

Andrew Koh

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof (Matthew 13:31, 32).

Thank God for another campus outreach which started on the 26th of September at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Its purpose is twofold: to preach the Gospel to students studying at SUTD and to minister to the Christians there. Currently, there is a systematic study of the book of 1 Thessalonians every Friday evening starting at 7.45pm.

When this campus outreach began its first meeting, God brought 1 SUTD student, Bro Chris, to join the Bible study. We prayed for other SUTD students to join us so that more people can listen to God’s Word. During one Bible study session, we saw one of Chris’ friends, Yuliana Harijanto, sitting just outside the classroom where we were seated. She went there to find a quiet place to pray! It was indeed God’s providence at work. Seeing her outside the classroom, Chris invited her to join us and she agreed. Though we had just one more addition, thank God for a new participant!

There is another campus near SUTD where we hope to reach out to its students too. It is the campus of INSEAD, a business school. Both are within walking distance of each other. By God’s wonderful working, He has brought a Christian sister, Echo, who is currently studying at INSEAD to join our Bible study. In the days to come, may God be pleased to work through her to bring more students from INSEAD to join us.

The campus ministry at SUTD may have started small, like a mustard seed, but God can definitely give the increase. We just need to be faithful and recognize that this is the work of God. Do continue to pray for this ministry at SUTD. Thank God also for some of the youths from Gethsemane Youth Fellowship who came to encourage the Bible study on campuses of SUTD (Fridays @ 7.45pm) and NAFA (Wednesdays @ 6.30pm).

Is your mind made up before getting any counsel? Christians who are young in the faith may lack the necessary biblical knowledge to make certain decisions in life. This may be due to their lack of understanding concerning some biblical doctrines. When certain situations arise, they do not know what to do. They would usually ask more spiritually mature Christians for advice, as they genuinely want to know and do God’s will.

However, there are those who ask for counsel for the wrong reasons. Some, being driven by personal lusts, seek God’s help to gratify their desires. When they ask for counsel, they ask with the hope that the counsel they receive will be in line with their intentions. In other words, they have already decided on their course of action even though the counsel they seek might be different!

This all-too-familiar scenario in the church also happened during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. Certain individuals went to Jeremiah to seek counsel concerning God’s will but only to act contrariwise.

Acting before Asking for Counsel (Jer 41:17 - 42:1-3)

Judah was in ruins in the year 586 BC. The “terrible and dreadful” Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:7) destroyed the city of Jerusalem and burned down the Temple and all the houses of Jerusalem. They also carried off many people and the treasures of the Temple, leaving behind the poor ones (2 Kings 25:9-13). In the chaos that ensued, a man named Johanan took some of the Jews and “dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt” (Jeremiah 41:17).

He was already on the move to go into Egypt for fear of the Babylonians (Jeremiah 41:18). However, Johanan and the people still asked Jeremiah to show them God’s will concerning them so that they might act accordingly (Jeremiah 42:1-3).

Sadly, even today, there are some who seek counsel only after having taken steps towards a particular direction. Though such an action seems to be irrational, many are found making this mistake. For example, some, having established relationships with unbelievers, approach their preachers or elders to ascertain whether such relationships are okay. Some others proceed to make investments before praying earnestly about those matters. There are others who apply for jobs without considering whether those professions are God-honouring or not. They act before asking for or finding out God’s will. If a Christian is sincere in seeking spiritual counsel, he should not act before getting an answer from God.

Placing Self-gratification over Obedience (Jer 42:5-6)

Another characteristic of people who have made up their minds before asking for counsel is that their decisions are based on what is most pleasing to themselves. Such people tend to give only lip service to God. Johanan and the people professed that they would do all that the Lord said, whether they liked it or not (Jeremiah 42:5,6). Yet, Johanan and the people had already presumed that which would please them the most would be the best. They claimed that they would obey God so that His favour would be upon them. But in reality, they only wanted God to approve what they had decided beforehand as the best course of action. Being overwhelmed by fear of Nebuchadnezzar, they were only concerned about their own survival and safety, rather than doing God’s will.

When a person has decided on his own what pleases him the most, he will be very hesitant to obey God’s will. Although God’s will may at times not make sense to us, we just have to trust it to be our perfect guide. We just need to do what God requires of us. Our heavenly Father always knows what is the best for us. Therefore, it is better to pursue His will than follow what we think to be the best.

Levelling Blatant Accusations against Faithful Counsel (Jer 43:1-4)

Jeremiah gathered Johanan and the people after receiving an answer from God. He then made known to them that God wanted them to stay back in the land that God might build them up. God also encouraged them not to be afraid of King Nebuchadnezzar, as He had promised to be with them. A warning was also issued against Johanan and the people that if they were to flee to Egypt, they would die in Egypt and none of them would escape (Jeremiah 42:7-22).

When they realized that Jeremiah’s counsel was not in line with their plan, they turned against Jeremiah. They accused Jeremiah of lying. They also disputed that Jeremiah was sent by God to give such a message. They even charged Jeremiah for being involved in a conspiracy to deliver them into the hands of the Babylonians. Thereafter, Johanan and the rest of the people acted against “the voice of the LORD” (Jeremiah 43:1-4). Their self-pleasing attitude emboldened them to blatantly accuse God’s appointed servant.

Pastors and preachers are often attacked by self-seeking, disobedient people. Such people have no regard for God’s messengers. Neither do they reverence God’s Word. Oh, what tragic errors are found in those who made up their minds even before seeking spiritual counsel!

It Helps to Confirm Our Love for God and Fellow Men

Both in the Old and New Testaments, obedience of His commandments proved a person’s love for God (cf. Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 10:12, 13; Daniel 9:4; John 15:10, 14; 2 John 6). Jesus says to His followers, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

It must be emphasised that Jesus’ commandments did not exclude the Ten Commandments, for He said that He did not come to destroy but to fulfil the Law (cf. Matthew 5:17). The Lord Jesus Christ has taught us more than just the Ten Commandments, and not once did He refute or set it aside. Neither did Jesus teach His followers that it is alright to ignore or disobey the Decalogue. Instead, He taught them how to obey the Ten Commandments – by loving God with all their heart and strength, and by loving their neighbours as themselves.

In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus firmly asserted the importance of the Law when He was asked, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” His answer was not that the Law would be irrelevant from then onwards, but that “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Thus, Jesus taught us that we can fulfil the Moral Law by loving God and loving our neighbour.

Now ask yourself, in the light of the above teaching of Christ, whether a man can justly claim that he truly loves God and his fellow brethren, when he refuses to obey even one of the Ten Commandments.

The Apostle John reminds us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (vv. 8-10).

Christ and the apostles clearly upheld the Decalogue as an expression of love for God and man. Hence, the commandments of God serve as a guide by which our love for God is given rich expression. They do not grant us salvation, but they provide those who are already saved by faith in Christ, the proper expression of a life that is filled with love for God and fellow men.

The Law of God is not antithetical to the love of God. God’s Law and His love are not opposing or conflicting spiritual realities. Instead, there is an immutable and unbreakable bond between them. The Law and love are two spiritual realities that God has joined, which no man should put asunder. True love does not promote lawlessness, but it promotes the fulfilling of His Law. James, in his epistle, explains this truth: “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:8-12).

It Shows and Guides Us in the Path of Righteousness

The Apostle Paul says, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12), and further asserts, “For we know that the law is spiritual” (Romans 7:14). Every one of the Ten Commandments is holy, just like its Giver, the Lord Himself. God gave them to command and to encourage holiness in His people.

The Decalogue is the holy will of God. It is spiritual, for it forbids spiritual wickedness (such as heart-murder and heart-adultery), and it commands spiritual service. It requires the heart to render worship to God with total devotion. It is God’s spiritual Law for all His people.

In Romans 7 and 8, Paul shows the importance of the Law in fighting off the onslaught of the flesh. In Romans 8:7, he mentioned that “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God”. In fact, he had already explained in Romans 7 that the sinful or fleshly nature within him is overcome by his inward commitment to the Law of God. He said, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man” (Romans 7:22). He also “thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” in Romans 7:25, that “with the mind I myself serve the law of God” as he faced the temptation of the flesh to serve “the law of sin”.

If the Law of God had been Paul’s help in the fight against the flesh, we should also adhere to the Law with the help of the Holy Spirit to fight against the fleshly desires of our body. “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:4).

The Moral Law, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, gives evidence to our conscience and the actual nature of our sanctification. When the Spirit helps us to compare our thoughts and actions with the Law, we will be able to discern whether we are growing towards the perfection that God requires in our practical living. Hence as a standard of holiness set by God, the Law, in the hand of the Holy Spirit, functions as an unerring guide in our pursuit of holiness.

Conclusion

The Law of God is relevant and important to Christians. In fact, God’s people of the new covenant will have the Law written in their hearts. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Hebrews 8:10). Though the new covenant is specifically focused on Israel (cf. Jeremiah 31:31), it is clear that Christians of the present time also stand under its blessings (cf. Romans 11:13-27). Assuredly, this perception does not lead to confusion between Israel and the Church, for under the new covenant, all believers are promised that God will “write” His “laws” in their hearts and minds. For all who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, and have become partakers in this new covenant, the Law is not just something external (written on two stone tablets placed in the Ark of the Covenant), but an internal truth written in their hearts!

Matthew Henry rightly said, “The Law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future; though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own it, and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator, subordinate to the Law of grace; and so, are so far from overthrowing that we establish the Law. Let those who deny the obligation of the Moral Law on believers consider this.”

So, are the Ten Commandments relevant today? Let us consider the words of Jesus Himself: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19). Nothing can be clearer than that!

Annual Congregational Meeting

The ACM for the Financial Year 2014/2015 will be held today at 1.30pm.

The Annual Congregational Meeting (ACM) of Gethsemane B-P Church is held every year in the month of September. All Communicant Members are required to attend this meeting. The quorum needed for the ACM is one third of the total Communicant Members. During the ACM, the office-bearers of the Church Session shall report on the spiritual and temporal matters of the church, and also inform the church of the plans for the coming year...

Just as in all our meetings, let us also during the ACM conduct ourselves in an orderly and honourable manner worthy of a church that is called in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us also pray for the office-bearers who will give reports of the church ministries and accounts.

Remember the following Scriptural advice on our conduct in the church.

• “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
• “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9).
• “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; ...not in strife and envying” (Romans 13:13).
• “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:26).

As we listen to the reports, we should not only examine whether the work of the church has been carried out faithfully, but also praise God for all things that have been done faithfully and effectively. Since we will also consider our plans for the coming year, let us also take this time to dedicate ourselves to serve Him as good stewards of His house.

Pangasinan Mission Update

The northern part of the Philippines, including Manila and Pangasinan, experienced two typhoons in one week. Together with the typhoons were heavy rains. Last Friday (2am onwards), the rain kept pouring non-stop for 30 hours. Most parts of northern Luzon, which include Pangasinan, were flooded. School and work were suspended. Some districts, including Dagupan City, have declared a state of calamity. But the Lord has preserved us in our mission station. We thank the Lord for sparing us the flood, though we experienced strong winds.

The church brethren have also experienced the loving Hand of God. They were very worried that their crops would be destroyed by the strong winds and possible flood. Now they are very thankful that the Lord has kept their rice fields intact. The river beside their houses and fields almost burst its banks. Thank God that they did not experience flooding. The weather for this week is very sunny which is favourable for the harvest season. God willing, the brethren will start to harvest from late this week until next week.

We thank God for safety, especially while I drove to fetch the brethren to and fro in the midst of heavy rain and typhoon last Sunday. Last Sunday’s worship service was attended by 14 adults and 8 children. Please pray that the worshippers in Pangasinan will consecrate their lives and follow God’s will. Please pray also for the Friday Bible Study and all our evangelistic efforts.

This Lord’s day, the children will have Scripture Memorization test. To encourage them to take it seriously, we have prepared token rewards for those who are outstanding students. We pray that our children and adults will strive to put Scripture in their heart.

In Christ,
Pr Donald dela Cruz

Thanksgiving for Provision of Vans

Dear Pastor,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I apologise for not sending you an email earlier. Upon my return after the Missionary Conference in Singapore, I had tried twice to send an email to you but for some reason they bounced back. However, I would like you to know that we keep you always in our prayers.

I also would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all who have made it possible for us to purchase the two vans for our church ministries here in Ethiopia. Because of the van, I can now go from Addis Ababa to Alem Gena without all the problems that I used to face. It has helped me to avail myself to teach and preach even in Alem Gena. It gives us much relief from the long and wearisome journeying that we had to endure over the last three years. I cannot thank you all enough for your generous giving to the van fund, as well as for all your prayers and support. ALL GLORY BE TO OUR ALMIGHTY GOD!

Truly, even as we continue to reach out to the unsaved ones with the Gospel, God has been using you, brethren, in many ways to sustain the Gospel work here in Ethiopia.

Thank you also for the support extended to my family. God bless you and keep you for His glory. Amen.

Pr Engida Tefera

We are left with no room to debate or doubt the relevance of the Moral Law (i.e. the Ten Commandments or Decalogue) in the daily life of all who trust in Christ for salvation. We are clearly taught in the New Testament that faith in Christ does not nullify the relevance of the Law in the lives of Christians; rather, Christians are to give the Law the uncompromising place God has always intended and demanded in their lives.

While discussing the Law and justification, the Apostle Paul declared in Romans 3:31, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Though the Law cannot justify us before God (cf. Romans 3:28) – for we are justified by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the Law is still very relevant to our Christian walk. Faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not negate the relevance of the Law.

The following teachings of the New Testament further explain the perennial significance of the Ten Commandments in a Christian’s life.

It exposes the sin within us

Romans 3:20 says, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” When we bring our thoughts, words and actions under the light of the Law of God, it will show up our transgressions of His holy Law. The Apostle John teaches that “whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).

Without the Law, man will remain unaware of his sins. In Romans 7:7, Paul elaborates this truth even further - “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Furthermore, “without the law sin was dead” (Romans 7:8), and “where no law is, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). The Law awakens our souls to the presence of sin within us. In other words, without the light of the Law, the ugliness of the stains of sins will remain unnoticed in the darkened souls of men.

If the Law of God is not preached and applied in the lives of the people, sins will abound even in Christian congregations. Antinomian (doing away with the law) tendencies will take deep root in individuals, families and communities. Where the Law of God is not preached, there will be no conviction of sins and no crying out, “Who shall save me from this life of sin?”

It convicts man of his condemned state before God

Romans 3:19 says, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

The ministry of the Law is to stop anyone who dares to speak of himself as righteous by holding him guilty before the holiness of God. No one can argue in his own defence that he is not under sin and God’s wrath. As the Law holds up God’s holy standards, it also shows that the whole world is guilty before God.

To the guilty world, it proclaims God’s just wrath. In Romans 4:15, Paul wrote that “the law worketh wrath”. The same truth is also found in 1 Corinthians 15:56 – “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” The righteous Law of God declares to every man not only his sin, but also his condemnation, even eternal death. Thus the Law urges sinners to run to the Saviour for eternal life.

It functions as a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ

The Moral Law not only convicts sinners of their sins and warns about their eternal condemnation; it also points them to Christ, the Saviour. Galatians 3:24 declares, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The Law never distracts us from Christ, it only leads us to Him. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4).

The Law clearly tells every man that he cannot be justified through the Law. While talking about our justification before God, the Apostle Paul said, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Paul then continued, “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God” (Galatians 2:19). In other words, when a man seeks to be justified through the Law, he finds himself under death, being condemned by the Law for his many transgressions. He is then led to believe on Christ, that he might live unto God. The Law points mankind to Christ, because He alone has fulfilled all the righteousness of the Law (cf. Matthew 5:17), that we might be imputed with His righteousness. Moreover, Christ also has borne the curse of the Law for our sin and died on the cross. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).

Jesus did not come to this world apart from the Law, but fully in submission to all its requirements. This is so that He might fulfil not only all its righteousness on our behalf, but also to take away its curse that was upon us. Paul wrote, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4- 5). In Romans 8, Paul reiterated, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (vv. 3-4). Therefore, we can most assuredly say that the Law does not divert us from Christ, for it draws us inexorably towards Him. Neither does Christ do away with the Law, for He has affirmed and fulfilled the righteousness of the Law.

(to be continued next week)

Why pray for Revival?

The topic for this Saturday’s Bible seminar, “A Prayer for Revival”, is a subject that we can no longer ignore or neglect. Christians and churches everywhere are slipping into dangerous spiritual slumber. Many are under the narcotizing effects of false doctrines, selflove, materialism and carnality. Frighteningly, the spiritual battle may be lost even without a fight! Unfortunately, our church is not spared from this spiritual malady. Unless the Spirit of God awakens us out of our spiritual slumber, I fear that many Christian homes and churches of our time will soon be swallowed up by the fast spreading spiritual delusion of our time!

Does the LORD require it?

It is high time for all of us to watch unto prayer that our lives may be renewed and revived to passionately live godly and consecrated lives. Lack of spiritual discernment is causing many to think that there is no need for a revival. Many are much like the church of Sardis to which Christ has written: “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Revelation 3:1). He has no pleasure in such a state of affairs in the church. So He calls them to be awakened unto renewal – “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:2).

The Lord not only calls us to a renewed and revived life, but also sternly warns us of dire consequences if it goes unheeded. “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Revelation 3:3).

Pray to be revived , lest ye die!

Will the Lord’s warning and call to be revived go unheeded? All genuine churches and Christians will take heed to their Lord’s call. The Lord says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:6).

How would we respond to the Lord’s call to be revived? We must respond with ardent pleading and prayer, and with willing submission to His Word. There should be no place for spiritual apathy and prayerlessness in our church, homes and lives.

We must plead for a greater work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that we may love Him fervently and relentlessly. We must pray for holiness and zeal to declare His saving name everywhere. There must be ceaseless prayers, individually and corporately as a church, for the refreshing mercies of God to fall upon us.

Let us pray like the prophet Habakkuk, “O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).

The Lord will revive us if we humbly seek Him, for He has promised so. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). Jesus said, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11-13).

So I call every worshipper to come this Saturday to learn from the example of the psalmist, who prayed for revival – “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” (Psalm 85:6,7).

Notes of Thanks Received...

Dear Pastor Koshy,

We are so blessed to be able to attend the Wednesday Lunchtime Bible Study at the Bible Witness Bookroom. We have learnt so much in just a few lessons. We pray to be able to continue to study with you and the class.

Thank you for your unambiguous affirmation that God’s Word is holy and infallible, and that it is to be accepted by faith. Certainly, man’s scientific observations are imperfect and even flawed, at best. We are truly edified.

Our friend, Bro Yee, wishes to attend your church service this Sun; we will accompany him. We pray that he will find GBPC the church for him and his family.

In Christ,
Rob (a recent regular worshipper)

Dear Pastor,

Thank you very much for your prayers and your words of encouragement. I have been meditating on the Word of God, especially on the sermon you preached last evening (Tuesday night prayer meeting), which has greatly encouraged me to love my Lord more fervently. I praise the Lord for impressing on your heart to teach us on the “Names of Christ”. I am very excited and am looking forward to this new series of messages, where we can learn and appreciate all the Names of Jesus. Surely, this will help us to worship Him better, for many a times our words are too weak and faint to express the magnificence and glory of His name.

I know my Saviour, the great Physician, will undertake to see me through. We will be praying for you as you labour hard to prepare all the messages. I always thank God for such spiritual nourishment He has blessed us with through you.

I pray that the Lord will grant me my heart’s desire to go to His house to worship Him this Lord’s Day.

Stephanie Lee

Youths encouraging their peers through GYBH WHATSAPP

Having listened to Pastor’s daily devotions yesterday and today (10th and 11th Sept), I am most comforted by the exhortations from Revelation 12:11. It tells us about the Christians going through persecution, who “overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.”

I felt greatly moved when the realisation dawned upon me that in the midst of our trials, we have Christ who will look after us and give us boldness to live a faithful and fervent life for Him.

Zacharias

Hi Bro, Thank you for sharing :-). May God help us to live selflessly and bear His name fearlessly.

Dorcas

Much patience is needed among the church members so that we may continue to flourish as a loving, united and God-honouring church family. Without patience towards one another, we will not be able to handle weaknesses, shortcomings and even hurts that might occur within our church family. A happy and effective church is a household of believers who bear with one another with longsuffering.

The Apostle James advises Christians, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19, 20). This prudent counsel of James is of particular help to us, that we may be a people who give opportunity for everyone to grow unto maturity. Let us now carefully consider these words of James.

This passage begins with the connective particle “wherefore”, which refers us to James’ discussion in the preceding verse that God begat Christians according to His will by the truth of His Word. All genuine Christians are the children of His family. In this regard, James addressed fellow believers as “my beloved brethren”. Then he exhorted them as to how they should conduct themselves as children of God’s family.

The first conduct of a child of God that James teaches, is that he ought to “be swift to hear”. The primary emphasis of this advice is that every Christian ought to be eager and ready to hear God’s Word. Listening attentively to the instructions of the divine truth, by which every Christian is begotten, is crucial in the life of God’s child. His foremost calling is to be a student, rather than a teacher, of God’s Word. He must be teachable and have a great appetite to feed on God’s truth. A holy curiosity and a receptive spirit are paramount if he is to grow in the knowledge of God.

The second conduct of a child of God that James teaches, is that he ought to be “slow to speak”. This is certainly not an advice to promote some kind of unsociable reserve. There is no virtue in being uncommunicative. We are not forbidden from speaking altogether. We are not taught to abstain from speaking entirely, but to be slow to speak. The admonition is against talkativeness and hastiness to be a teacher. Such restraint in speech has been taught in the wisdom books of the Bible. Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Proverbs 17:27 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” In Ecclesiastes 5:2, we are warned: “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God.”

The third conduct of a child of God that James teaches, is that he ought to be “slow to wrath”. Quicktemperedness and fiery outbursts will lead to many great and heinous offences and sins. So we are to control our temper. Moreover, to be a good learner of God’s Word, one needs to be patient in spirit. Let us not be angry, especially when we are rebuked and corrected by His Word. Proverbs 14:29 reminds us, “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.” He who is slow to anger shall attain wisdom and honour, but the wrathful man, only foolishness and shame.

In verse 20, we are given the reason for James’ earlier admonition that every Christian ought to be slow to wrath. “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

A great number of Christians are in need of this reminder, for many seem to be ignorant of this truth or have conveniently forgotten about it. Christians so often foolishly burst into wrath without having full understanding of a matter, or worse, after having misunderstood or misjudged a matter. One’s impatience and ungoverned temper often numb his mind from exercising proper reasoning and righteous judgment. A volatile temperament will also certainly hinder one from exercising Christian graces such as patience, mercy and forgiveness.

Every Christian ought to take seriously the caution that “the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God”. Scripture does teach us abundantly how the wrath of man works against the righteousness of God. Proverbs 27:4 warns us that “wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous”. When anger is unchecked, it produces merciless and hurtful conduct. The anger kept within the heart will soon become uncontrollable, suddenly ventilating itself by yelling at others, shouting insults and vulgarities, hurting and injuring others, throwing things around and destroying them, etc.

Proverbs 15:18 states, “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension and easily picks up a fight. In this proverb, he is set against the peacemaker, which demonstrates how quarrelsome an angry person could be. Anger and hatred will cause strife in the family or at the workplace or in the church (cf. Proverbs 10:12; 29:22).

Proverbs 29:22b points out that “a furious man aboundeth in transgression”. There is no stopping the offences by an angry person. Mischief will flow from an angry, passionate, furious disposition. Furthermore, “He that is soon angry”, warns Proverbs 14:17, “dealeth foolishly”. Verse 29 of Proverbs 14 affirms this fact by pointedly declaring that “he that is hasty of spirit (i.e. to anger) exalteth folly”. So let us restrain our wrath at once, and refrain from sin.

Jesus repeatedly tells us that terror and fear will increasingly grip the hearts of the people in the days that lead to the end of the world. “But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” (Luke 21:9-11). He also said, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:26).

A former US President, F.D. Roosevelt, in an address to Congress in 1941, said that one of our essential human freedoms is the freedom from fear. Since then, much is said and done to get fear out of human minds. Though this is a good and just cause, it is an utter impossibility. The events of our times only aggravate the sense of fear in human hearts. Whether it be terrorism, wars, pestilences or natural calamities, people everywhere live in fear. Just as Jesus said, “Men’s hearts are failing them for fear.”

The root cause of troubles and fears is sin and rebellion against God. As long as sin increases, there is no hope for calm and tranquillity. The Lord God Almighty says, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21).

No man can fully free himself from fear until he is “born again” through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Prince of Peace, and He alone will be responsible for peace on earth. Man is absolutely powerless to rid the world of fear, as evidenced by the long history of wars and rumours of wars that have afflicted the globe to this day. According to the unfailing Biblical prophecy, this world is not heading towards a man-made utopia but towards the Great Tribulation, the time of greatest suffering the earth has ever known (Revelation 6:15-17).

Of all the hundreds of things that men fear, the greatest is undeniably the “fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15). Anyone who has never been saved by the grace of God and washed in the blood of Christ has every reason to fear death and to die in his sins. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31; cf. 9:27). Death is not the end for man. God’s Word says that after death, each of us will forever be either in the torment and punishment of hell, or in the joyful bliss of heaven (Luke 12:4-5; John 14:1-3). At the moment of physical death, one’s eternal destiny is forever sealed. The greatest fear anyone could ever have is an eternity in hell!

Jesus died on Calvary’s cross for our sins, bearing all the judgment that we deserve. Now He offers salvation to everyone who will confess his sins to God, and trust Christ as his Saviour, believing that He died for him. You cannot be free from fear until all your sins are forgiven. Believe on Christ “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

Once we are cleansed of our sins and are delivered from eternal damnation, we can be sure that the Lord will be with us, even in death. Jesus also assures us, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17-18). If at anytime you feel afraid in the face of the encroaching and increasing terrors of the end-time, pray to the Lord for His peace. He promises, “My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

GYF Campus Ministry

We have desired to have a Gospel outreach ministry to students in tertiary education. Through Bro Andrew Koh, who now serves with Gethsemane Youth Fellowship, a Bible study for students in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) has been started. Below is Bro Andrew’s brief report on the first session:

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1).

Thank God for every opportunity to speak forth His excellent name wherever He sends us. It pleases God to use even man to make His great name known. The psalmist said, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4).

By God’s providence, the first Bible study was conducted at NAFA on 27th August (Wednesday) evening at 7.30pm, on Campus 1 Wing B. By word of mouth, 4 people attended this Bible study to learn from God’s Word. Currently, we endeavour to do a systematic book study of 1 Thessalonians. We also took time to pray for one another. Through the sharing of prayer items and fellowship, the participants were encouraged to remain steadfast in their Christian walk and be faithful to God even amidst an ungodly environment. It was a blessed time of fellowship.

We pray that the group will “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), and that more will come to learn God’s Word weekly. We also hope to hold evangelistic meetings to reach out to non-Christian students with the Gospel. May God open more doors for us to speak forth His excellent name!

If you know of any NAFA student who is interested to join our Bible study, please introduce him or her to me. My contact number is 9862 3403.

The Bible and prayer are closely bound together; they are two integral parts of Christian life and ministry. God communicates to His children by His Word, and they communicate to Him by prayer. Believers ‘inhale’ the words of God, and ‘exhale’ prayers unto God. So both the Bible and prayer are indispensable in maintaining a faithful and fruitful Christian life. While a lack of God’s Word and prayer will lead to spiritual calamities, an abundance of them will result in much spiritual success.

Our Lord Jesus had vividly stated the importance of God’s Word and prayer in John 15:7 – “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” A full measure of the Word and prayer each day will ensure a powerful and victorious Christian life.

Even for the ministry of the church, the Word of God and prayer are vital. Their pre-eminent place in the ministry has been affirmed by the apostles when they said, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Christian ministry ought to be defined as the ministry of the Word and prayer. When Paul wrote about the ministry of Epaphras, a servant of Christ from Colosse, he reported about Epaphras “labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

Both the Word of God and prayer must be pursued with great enthusiasm. If prayer is pursued without the guidance of God’s Word, the result will be a mystical religion. Conversely, much learning of the Bible without prayer will effect a mere mechanical, academic pursuit of the Scriptures without the beauty of faith, submission and the power of godliness.

The following biblical facts demonstrate to us the relationship that exists between the Bible and prayer.

The Bible is the basis of all prayer

All we need to know about prayer is found in the Bible. The infallible truths about God to whom we pray can only be found in the Bible (Hosea 4:1; Jeremiah 8:9; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39). The perfect knowledge of God, which the Bible provides, is vital to a proper vibrant and effective prayer life (John 15:7; Psalm 119:58, 76, 170). Scripture shows that those who are mighty in prayer are those who know God intimately through His Word.

Prayers ought to be consistent with God’s truths in the Bible. Prayers which are contrary to the Word will not be answered by God. Acceptable prayers flow out of the sound doctrines of the Bible. In fact, it is warned that the prayers of those who are disinterested in the Bible are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 28:9 tells us, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

The Bible is the manual for prayer

Not only does the Bible direct Christians to pray, it also provides the divine principles and patterns of prayers that are acceptable to God. The principles of prayer are taught both by direct commands and through prayers of godly men, which are a pattern for all those who delight in coming to God in prayer.

It teaches us various kinds of prayer such as petitions (1 John 5:15), supplications (1 Timothy 2:1; 5:5), intercessions (1 Timothy 2:1), thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2) and confession (Daniel 9:20; Psalm 51).

The Bible is the corrective aid for improper prayer

Reasons for unanswered prayers are clearly taught in Scripture so that Christians may correct their errors and cultivate an effective prayer life. It admonishes us against sin harboured in one’s heart (Psalm 66:17): whether it be lack of mercy (Proverbs 21:13), hatred and violence (Isaiah 1:15), greed and lust (James 4:3), an unforgiving spirit (Matthew 5:23-24), marital infidelity (1 Peter 3:7), hypocrisy (Matthew 6:5-6), vain repetition (Matthew 6:7-8), or doubt (1 Timothy 2:8).

The Bible provides motivation for a life of prayer

The Bible excites us to a life of prayer with wonderful promises of God’s answers to our prayers. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3; cf. Psalms 50:15; 91:15; 145:18; Matthew 6:6; 7:7-11; 21:22; Mark 11:24; 1 John 3:20-22).

We are also given examples of lives blessed through prayers, e.g. those of Moses, Hannah, Samuel, David, Esther and Paul. In the Bible, the greatest of all men of prayer is the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 14:23, 26:36; Luke 6:12; 9:18, 28; 11:1). If we would truly accept Him as Lord and Master, we also ought to yield ourselves to be like Him in our exercise of prayer.

The Bible should be the main subject of our prayer

We ought to pray for an understanding of the Word of God (see Psalm 119:18, 34; Ephesians 1:17-23). When we learn the truths of the Bible, we must rejoice and turn to God in prayer to give thanks (Psalm 119:7, 164, 171, 175). We are to seek God’s blessings that are promised in the Bible (Acts 2:39; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Psalm 119:173; 2 Chronicles 1:9). We are to study the instructions and exhortations of the Bible and pray that they will be fulfilled in our lives (Psalm 119:5, 35-36; Hebrews 13:21). Upon the study of the Word, we ought to pray “Lord, may Thy will be done in me.”

The Bible’s promulgation ought to be a subject of our prayer

It is every Christian’s God-given duty to pray for the propagation of His Word. In this regard, Christians are also instructed to pray for those who preach the Word. Paul urged his first readers in 2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” To the Colossians, Paul wrote, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds” (Colossians 4:3).

Conclusion

A constant study of the Bible is essential for the nurture of our prayer life (Luke 11:1-13; Jude 20), and a consistent prayer life is essential for the right understanding of and obedient response to the Bible (Psalms 25:4-5; 86:11; 119:12, 26, 33-35, 64, 66, 68, 124, 135, 169; 143:10; Colossians 1:9-10). A biblical prayer life is most necessary for a closer walk with God.

On 20th January 2013, I wrote at the end of my pastoral exhortation in the church bulletin: “Our need for more space is acute. So we must pray for God’s provision to acquire a larger space for our increasing ministries. I call on the church to pray for and work towards a Building Fund of 5 million dollars by 2015. ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want’ (Psalm 23:1).”

Though all of us have become aware of our need for a more spacious Church Resource Centre and consequently the Building Fund, our giving has been simultaneously directed to several other urgent fundraising to which we have already been committed, such as Missionary Conference Fund (S$45,993.15), Ethiopian Van Fund (S$101,122.90), Ethiopian Borewell Fund (S$22,300), The Philippines Relief Fund - Typhoon Haiyan (S$59,429.43), etc. Nonetheless, by the grace of God, through the generous giving of our people, the Church Building Fund has been slowly but steadily growing.

The present Church Building Fund of S$353, 837.50 is only about 7 percent of the target sum. In about 16 months, we must pray that the LORD will multiply this sum a hundredfold. The LORD, who has helped us hitherto in exceedingly abundant and wondrous ways, shall be our Help.

It is very encouraging that many of you have been writing notes of thanksgiving, faith and encouragement, coupled with your love-gifts. I am profoundly thankful that you have taken time to write edifying notes (though I would also like you to exercise caution to avoid biblically unsound quotes).

Recently, I heard testimonies of children, youths and adults who have been working extra hard to earn some “income”and give to the Building Fund. Some have given substantial portions of their savings. Some others are attempting to sell some of their collections, handcrafts, self-made outfit, accessories, bags, used goods, etc. via the Internet. They are giving all their profits to the LORD. No matter how small the sum they earn, because they have gladly and willingly dedicated all or most of their earnings to the LORD, He will certainly honour their giving. They give because they are assured of the worthiness of the cause to which they give, as well as the honour that they have in “co-labouring” with the LORD. We praise the LORD that He will not despise His people’s sincere and obedient acts of faith and love.

Let us continually pray for His enabling grace to give our best with a cheerful spirit towards the Church Building Fund. For the last four years, our present Church Resource Centre has been fully utilized. By end 2015, we need to have larger premises to accommodate our growing ministries and the increasing number of members, preachers, staff, etc. Let us pray in faith for God’s leading and provision in this area of our need.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Wrong Motives for Giving

The Bible speaks of wrong motives for giving and the following are some of these in the light of the Biblical instructions. In order that our giving might be acceptable to God, we must eradicate all of these from our heart.

For the Praise of Man

This is one of the worst motives for giving - the desire to be seen by other people. Jesus warns us not to seek recognition from man for our giving because it forfeits any reward that we would receive from God. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus said, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

For Covering up One’s Greed

Some greedy people want others to think of them as generous people. In order to achieve this end, they deliberately create a facade of sacrificial giving. God hates this heinous plot. His hatred for such giving is clearly demonstrated when He killed Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the apostles and the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 5:1-11).

God disapproves of any effort to glorify the giver rather than God Himself. Gifts that function as personal advertising are contrary to the will of God. It is especially so when giving is used as a cover-up for one’s greed.

For Securing Salvation and Spiritual Blessings

Lastly, some people give with the hope of earning forgiveness, salvation, etc. The Bible is very clear that salvation and all its accompanying blessings cannot be earned with money or corruptible things. According to Psalm 49:7-8, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever).” Wealth forever comes short of the power necessary to accomplish eternal spiritual blessings. It has always been insufficient, and it will always be. There is no hope that it will ever be sufficient; that by any increase in the amount, man can obtain spiritual blessings.

In 1 Peter 1:18, we are told that “...ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold ...”. We can never pay God enough to purchase our salvation. It is audacious and odious to think that we can bargain with God over the price for His salvation and blessings.

Here is a final warning from Job 36:18-19 – “Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will He esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.”

For More Wealth

It is not uncommon today that people give for purely selfish reasons. They give in the hope of getting more from God in return. It is true that God promises to bless those who give sincerely and obediently (Proverbs 3:9-10), but it does not teach us to treat the ministry as a profitable “financial investment programme”. Today, covetous men turn the solemn act of giving to glorify God into a “get-rich-quick” scam. May we keep ourselves from every materialistic notion that is being propagated as a legitimate form of worship. In 1 Timothy 6:5, we are warned to stay away from such men and their schemes. Paul cautions, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”