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Some Lessons Learned in Christian Parenting - II

In last week’s Pastoral Exhortation, 5 biblical lessons foundational to Christian parenting were given. A few more lessons vital to biblical nurturing of our children are discussed in today’s article. These lessons are crucial to effective Christian parenting. Parents themselves must be committed to the correction and changes of their habits and attitudes, if they are to spiritually nurture their children for God’s glory.

6. Be patient with your children

Impatient parents will drive children to be bitter, disillusioned and uncooperative. We must show them the same longsuffering and patience that the Lord graciously extends to us. Parents must pay attention to not being easily irritated or quicktempered. Colossians 3:21 advises, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Likewise, Ephesians 6:4 counsels, “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

We cannot be in a hurry to get our children to cultivate godly thinking and attitudes in their lives. We need to have the patience to guide them and help them to overcome their sins, and nurture within them godly virtues. In the process, we also find ourselves being shaped for His glory.

7. Be firm with your children

Patience is needed to firm up our children in the way of the Lord. Being patient does not mean we allow our children to misbehave or live foolishly without fear of the Lord. Proverbs 27:5 reminds us, “Open rebuke is better than secret love” (cf. Proverbs 28:23). On the same token, Proverbs 19:18 puts parents in mind of the need to rebuke and chastise their children when they stubbornly err – “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” In addition, Proverbs 13:24 warns, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (cf. Proverbs 22:15).

8. Be joyful parents

Though parenting is full of toil and, at times, even forebodings, Scripture calls us to be joyful parents. Jesus spoke about the joy of motherhood in John 16:21, “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” Not only the birth but also the upbringing of the child is to be a joyful experience. Psalm 113:9 assures every mother that with the Lord’s help, she can “be a joyful mother of children.” Chastening our children is no easy or enjoyable process for either the parent or child. However, Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” A father or mother who corrects the child is advised to say, “My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things” (Proverbs 23:15-16). Parents who patiently and firmly follow the biblical counsel on nurturing their children are promised greater joy concerning their children – “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice” (Proverbs 23:24-25)!

9. Be a mutually loving and respectful couple

Nothing makes children sad and disgusted in a home more than their quarrelling parents. Where the husband and wife remain faithful and sincerely, tenderly and passionately love one another, children will find much joy, encouragement and comfort as they grow up. Do not let our marriage lack vitality or fail. “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:9). Its health is paramount to good and effective parenting. Our mutual commitment and fidelity will be an example for them as they grow up to love their spouses and children. Children should learn from us how to love, forgive, forbear, care, strengthen, provide, protect, respect and nurture one another. Proverbs 5:18 pronounces a blessing on a loving couple’s offspring – “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.”

10. Be prayerful and dependent on God to build up your children

Parents should guard against depending on their own wisdom and strength. Apart from the Lord, we cannot nurture our children for His glory. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127; cf. Psalm 128). Ultimately, we must wholly entrust our children to our heavenly Father’s care. We love our children and desire their good, but have not the power to secure it. Let us trust Him who knows how to give good gifts to His children (cf. Matthew 7:11).


Select Leaders With Much Prayer

Peter and his fellow apostles prayed for God’s leading in the appointment of a man to replace Judas. “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place” (Acts 1:24-25). Scripture clearly records in another text that the prayers of the early church for godly men to lead the ministry were answered - “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

We need the help of the Holy Spirit in determining the right persons for the offices of the church. The Spirit knows every man’s heart. From the example of the anointing of David as King, we know that in the selection of leaders, God is interested in the spiritual condition of the heart, rather than outward appearance. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). This is why Peter and the rest of the apostles prayed, “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship”. If we have to have men of God’s choice in the leadership, we must sincerely seek His mind in prayer, even in fasting.

Another reason why we must pray in our selection of godly leaders is that it is the Spirit who equips men for the offices of the church. The Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts that are necessary for the offices of the church. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). So only the Spirit can show who are the men whom He has equipped with the appropriate gifts for the edification of the church.

Even our Lord Jesus prayed all night long, before He chose the apostles. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6:12, 13). So let us pray for godly leaders during our prayer meetings on Tuesday nights and in all other prayer gatherings. We must seek God’s will in the appointment of church leaders, in a manner similar to Moses, who prayed: “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation” (Numbers 27:16).

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Some Lessons Learned in Christian Parenting - I

Parenting is one of the greatest responsibilities in this life. Having godly children is a tremendously blessed experience that fills our hearts with great joy and praise to God. The apostle John’s words in 3 John 4 capture the sheer delight of parents with godly children - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

I am very glad and grateful that God has blessed my wife and me with three children. As much as I enjoy their presence in our life, I am also overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy and fear of failure. But all thanks and praise to God for the infallible counsels of His Word, which have been our source of wisdom, help and strength in parenting our children. As I continue to co-labour with my wife in our home in nurturing our children, I would like to share with you lessons that we have learned which form the bedrock of Christian parenting.

1. Love not your children more than the Lord

Worthy Christian parenthood can be possible only when we live with a total commitment to the glory of our God. We must guard against our predisposition to love our children and their future more than our Lord. Our great Saviour cautions us, “he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). If we love our children more than the Lord, we will be miserable examples and guides for our children in genuinely and passionately loving God. Christian parents who live without a wholehearted love for God will surely mislead their children into being lovers of themselves and this world more than God. It is significant that we do not let them be the ultimate focus of our love. By loving God more than everyone, our hearts shall be sanctified by His glory and, hence our children will have the greatest pleasure of growing up in the shadow of His glory which fills our hearts. They, being sinful like us, will display their streak of unhappy rebellion against our insistence to live for the Lord. But we, as parents, cannot follow our children; instead, we are to love the Lord and command our children in the way of the Lord. The shepherding of our children’s souls requires the highest and noblest of motive of heart, even the love for the Lord. This is best established by Christ who commanded Peter to feed “my lambs” when he affirmed that he loved Christ more than all else. To love our children, who are His lambs in our households, with pure, sanctifying love, we must first love our Lord unswervingly.

2. Labour to see that they are saved by faith in Christ

Our chief concern ought to be the salvation of the souls of our children. We must not settle for mere external religiosity that is nothing more than a general discipline of life. We must not be fooled to think of their participation in children’s activities of the church as a sure mark of their salvation. We shall not exchange the Christian faith for mere moralism in our children. Our children’s good manners and social etiquette do not mean that they have genuinely trusted God. Hence, we must labour and pray to see that their lives reflect a heart renewed by the love of Christ. Be earnest in plainly telling our children of the need to repent from their sins and believe in Christ. Moreover, warn them of God’s wrath against unrepentant sinners. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” From time to time, we must probe them for some token of assurance of salvation that comes by faith in the atoning death of Christ. Let us say to our children that without Christ they shall perish, but if they put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, they shall be saved to the uttermost. What an invitation Scripture gives us to declare to our children – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31)!

3. Know that we and our children are not perfect

We and our children are sinners who are in need of grace. Even though everyone in the family has trusted the Lord, there is a need for us to correct ourselves and grow each day in faith, wisdom and service of the Lord. Thus, we must examine ourselves regularly in the light of God’s Word and with the help of the Holy Spirit. We must be quick to repent from all sins, and be diligent to grow in faith and obedience. We must not assume we are perfect. Neither should we be complacent about our need to grow in the Lord. We should also, like Job who prayed for the sanctification of his children, be concerned about our children’s salvation and sanctification (cf. Job 1:5).

4. Nourish them with God’s Word

The Scriptures make it plain that parents are to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of God’s Word. We cannot take this responsibility lightly. Christian parenting is impossible without the teaching of God’s Word. “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Providing Biblical knowledge is more important than preparing breakfast, lunch or dinner. We cannot afford not to teach our children God’s Word daily. Instruction of God’s Word should not be just a matter of Sunday school, but a daily affair of our home. If we would not daily feed our children God’s Word, they will be spiritually impoverished. Let us neither ignore nor despise the importance of daily teaching God’s truth to our children.

5. Lead them in the service of God

For all those who love God, nothing is more enjoyable on earth than serving their God. Joshua said it best – “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Our homes itself must be a place of service to God and His people. Hospitality is one of the best ways we can serve God. Together with our children, we can serve others in Christ’s name. We can welcome unbelieving friends (even our teenage children’s friends) and tell them of the Gospel. We can entertain, comfort, counsel and strengthen believers and servants of God. We can be loving hosts of the fellowship meetings of our church and visiting missionaries. We can be compassionate and zealous in praying together as a family for fellow brethren, leaders of the church, missionaries, missions and the church. As a family, our major family activities can be participating in church activities, serving in various ministries and cheerfully giving for the Lord. Whenever possible, use the family car to fetch those who have difficulty in getting to church or fellowship meetings. When Christian parents make serving the Lord their main preoccupation, their children will have a compelling pattern to emulate.

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Gethsemane Children’s Ministry

Our church esteems the ministry to the children as an important work that the Lord has committed to us. Since 1991, the Lord has given us the burden to reach as many children as possible with the Gospel and also to provide sound biblical knowledge to the children whom God has given us in our church. Since 2008, Pr Kelvin Lim has been appointed to labour among the children. An assiduous GCM Committee (comprising Pr Kelvin Lim, Bro Neo Kian Seng, Bro Kenneth Wong, Sis Choy Luan Kheng, Sis Winnie Yap, Sis Melissa Mah, Sis Kamalamangai) has also been ministering to the children. A good number of our church members also serve on various occasions as teachers, helpers, musicians, drivers, refreshment providers, etc. to attend to the spiritual and physical needs of the children.

We exhort all the parents to do your utmost to let your children benefit from all the various activities for children. Do you know what are the regular activities organized by the church and the GCM committee for your children are?

  • Saturday GCM (Every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturday - outings and Bible learning activities)
  • Junior Worship (concurrently with the main worship service on Sunday)
  • Catechism Classes (Every Sunday @ 1:30 pm except 4th Sunday of the month, taught by FEBC trained, full-time teachers in our church)
  • Memorization of verses (every Sunday, during the worship, Pastor guides them in learning the verses).
  • JW Page for children in the church bulletin.
  • Children’s Choir (Every Sunday @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am)
  • Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting (children gather together with pastor / a teacher for prayer)
  • Daily Vacation Bible School (3 or 4 day event held every December)
  • Seminars to equip parents and teachers (one or two such events every year)
  • Bible Witness Media Ministry’s programme and productions (e.g. ‘Scripture in Song’ DVDs)
  • Bible Witness Web Radio programme
  • Special programme for children (in almost all our church’s retreats, seminars, camp, etc.).

Biblical Mandate for Our Ministry to the Children

As a church, it is our duty to carry out God’s will concerning ministering His Word to children. Echoing the Lord’s call to children to come to Him is the duty of all parents and the church leaders. May the Lord help us to accomplish it enthusiastically and effectively.

Now consider the following Biblical passages, which through precepts and patterns sound forth God’s will concerning the ministry to the children:

Deuteronomy 4:9 – “… teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.”

Deuteronomy 6:7 – “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Deuteronomy 11:19 – “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Joel 1:3 – “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.”

Psalm 34:11 – “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”

Psalm 78:2-4 – “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.”

Psalm 145:4-6 – “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.”

Proverbs 4:1 – “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”

Proverbs 7:24 – “Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.” (cf. Proverbs 8:32).

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Mark 10:14-16 – “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

2 Timothy 3:15 – “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Saturday Children’s Ministry

Recently, GCM has resumed the Saturday ministry to our children. The meetings will be held on three Saturdays, simultaneously with Men’s Fellowship (2nd Saturday), Ladies’ Fellowship (3rd Saturday) and Adults’ Fellowship (4th Saturday) at 4 pm. Such GCM meetings are also being held near the venues of the other fellowship groups so that while parents attend their respective fellowship meetings, their children will be ministered to by the GCM. If you need more information on this ministry, please talk to Pr Kelvin Lim or any of the GCM committee members.

GCM T-Shirts: GCM has printed T-Shirts for children and adults who serve in the GCM. Sis Melissa Neo has designed the T-shirts, and our TGCM brethren have printed them. We encourage all the participating children and adults to wear them so that they can be easily identified during the outings to public places like parks.

Neglect not Saturday Children’s Ministry: Our children spend most of their time in the worldly environment of schools and other places of activities. Their hearts are heavily influenced by the materialistic and carnal philosophies of this world. Unless we are diligent to provide for them a spiritual environment where they can have godly teaching and fellowship, they will soon be drawn away by the world. It is a very serious mistake that some Christian parents make by neglecting the special activities planned for their children’s spiritual nurture. The Bible warns parents that a child without constant reproof and guidance will be misled and spiritually ruined. Proverbs 29:15 says, “a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame”.

Spiritual nurture is more important than secular education and all other training. Let not our hearts esteem the pursuit of worldly achievements above the spiritual nurture of our children’s souls. In Proverbs 16:16, we are reminded of the high value of biblical education – “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” Again it is said, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13-14).

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Our God Above, Our Nation on Earth Below

In Commemoration of SG50

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Greetings from Kenya

Dear Rev. Koshy,

Greetings in the blessed Name of our Lord!

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,
Rev Eben

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GBI-Online Update

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

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

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

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

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


Testimony

David Tan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What shall I do if someone who is close to me “come out” to say “I am gay”?

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

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

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

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

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

BWWR Spread the Gospel Blessings

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

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

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

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

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

In Christ,
Angeline
Australia

 

Dear Sis Angeline,

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

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

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

In Christ,
Melissa Mah
for BWWR

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How Should We Respond to the “Homosexual Invasion”?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What Should Be Christians’ Response to ‘Same-Sex Marriage’?

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

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

The Spiritual and Moral Evil of Same-Sex Marriage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Nurture of Godliness

An Exposition of 2 Peter 1:3-4

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

The Prospect of Godly Life

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

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

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

The Power for Godly Life

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

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

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

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

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

The Perspective of Godly Life

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

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

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

The Promises for Godly Life

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

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

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

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

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

The Purpose of Godly Life

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

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

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

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Testimonies of Church Camp 2015 - II

Diana Chan

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

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

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

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

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


Aron Ong

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

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

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

Thank God for the Church Camp!


Shan

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

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

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

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

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


Jenice Choy

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

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


Dorcas Koshy

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


Amanda Tan

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


Lim Hua See

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

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

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

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

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


Aileen Tan

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

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

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

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

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


Arnold Diaz

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

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

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

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


Kenneth Wong

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

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

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

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