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READ:

Psalm 100:3a

^3a Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.

EXHORTATION:

Biblical religion is knowledge-based; it is based, in particular, on the knowledge of the living and true God. True worship never occurs without the knowledge that the LORD is God. False ideas of God lead to idolatry and superstitions. Hence, the admonition to all is: “Know ye that the LORD he is God”. The name “the LORD” in Hebrew is “Yehowah”, which is transliterated into English as Jehovah. This name of God appears 6,518 times in the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures. In the King James Bible, “Yehowah” is translated as “LORD” 6,510 times, “GOD” four times, and “JEHOVAH” four times. It has never been used to refer to any other god or person in the Bible. The LORD is God in the fullest, most absolute and most exclusive sense.

“Yehowah” denotes the self-existence of God (cf. Exodus 3:13-15). The LORD is the eternal God. He is without beginning and end. He is also our Creator. It is the LORD who “hath made us, and not we ourselves”. Hence, we must know that there is no God besides the LORD. Unto Israel, it was declared through Moses, “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him … Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else” (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39). Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah declared, “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king” (Jeremiah 10:10). It is repeatedly asserted that the LORD of Israel (who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures) alone is God (cf. Joshua 22:30; 1 Kings 8:60; 18:39; 2 Kings 19:19; Isaiah 44:6, 8, 24; 45:5-6, 22; Hosea 13:4; Joel 2:27; John 17:3; Acts 17:23-24).

Every worshipper must acknowledge and confess that the LORD alone is God. Even more, they must seek to know Him more and more with great wonder, thankfulness and reverence. God’s people have been instructed: “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Through the prophet Hosea, the LORD also said that He desired “the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). We must know the LORD and prove our knowledge of Him by our faith, obedience, zeal and love towards Him.

READ:

Psalm 46:10

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

EXHORTATION:

The psalmist was speaking about the heathen nations that rage against God’s people (Israel) in vain. Their rage was utterly crushed by “the LORD of hosts”. The LORD had overthrown the foes of His people, and had prevented them from utterly destroying His people.

The LORD, who is the Mighty Conqueror, wants His people to “be still, and know that I am God”. It is very important that we hush our tumultuous hearts, suppress all the passions of our hearts and restrain our minds from wandering thoughts. We must cease from fear, anxiety, bitterness, boastfulness and all other kinds of frenzied activity that distract us from fully focusing on God and His mighty acts. Even amidst the commotion of war, God’s people should quietly wait on God to work for them.

David’s words in the battle against the Philistine giant, Goliath, are illustrative of the stillness we must have in our hearts – “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47). When we are embattled, we must quietly and firmly acknowledge in our hearts that “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).

Moreover, before the presence of the LORD, everyone ought to quieten his heart and contemplate the mighty work which the LORD has done for the defence and deliverance of His people. The stillness intimated here is not that of indifference, indolence or dejection, but of humility, faith, meditation and thanksgiving. Before the presence of our great God, we must maintain a holy silence of submission and worship. “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation” (Zechariah 2:13). We must make every effort to acknowledge and praise God for the work He has accomplished to protect and deliver us.

The LORD also declares in the hearts of His people that “I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”, to His great glory. His mighty acts will draw praise even from the heathen. They will know that their idols are nothing and will exalt the LORD’s name above all else. Then one day, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

READ:

Psalm 4:4

⁴ Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

EXHORTATION:

Man’s experience on earth is such that committing sin is more common than refraining from it. At every provocation or temptation, man finds himself easily in the sway of sin, unless he guards himself with God’s help. In fact, even without any external provocation or temptation, man is found gravitating towards sin. So, the counsel by David is a crucial one to us all. David’s admonition to everyone is: “Stand in awe, and sin not”.

The Hebrew word translated as “stand in awe” carries the idea of trembling within. Some have translated it as “be angry”, suggesting that Paul had taken his admonition in Ephesians 4:26 – “Be ye angry, and sin not” – from David’s words. There may be some truth in that. David was here addressing men who were trying to discredit him with their vain words and lies (cf. v. 2). His counsel to those restless men was to “stand in awe”, that they might abstain from sinning. They ought to tremble with godly fear regarding their sinful conduct and its consequences. Their hearts must be stirred against their sins.

We must heed David’s counsel so as to prevent ourselves from sinning foolishly. Let there be always a fear and dread upon our minds, which arise from a sense of divine holiness and justice against sin. There is no greater prevention against sin than a due sense of the presence of the Almighty God who “is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). If we nurture and maintain a holy reverence for our sovereign God’s glory, and a holy dread of His wrath and curse, we will not dare to provoke Him with our sinful conduct. Let us be “tremblers” rather than “triflers” before God.

David’s next advice against sin is to “commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still”. The proper attitude of awe ought to be nurtured by communing with our own hearts. Teaching ourselves how to think and act in a way that would rid our lives of all sinful conduct is a solemn duty we should not neglect. We must take time to look into our hearts to watch out for any seed of sin germinating within us. We must search our hearts to uncover and remove the roots of our misdeeds, as well as teach our hearts the godly ways in which we ought to walk. To truly nurture our hearts, we must find a place and a time of quietness, hence the need to retire into our chamber (“bed”) and examine our hearts before the LORD.

Reflecting on Ephesians 4:28

In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul describes what a transformed Christian life looks like, one in which old sinful patterns are put off and new godly habits are put on. Among the many areas he addresses, Paul speaks pointedly on the matter of personal integrity: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28). In this short verse, God confronts our past, and commands our present and future. He calls us away from wrongdoing, into diligent labour, and towards generous living. This verse shows us the essence of a Christian’s life of integrity.

Leave Behind All Forms of Dishonesty

Paul begins with a clear command: “Let him that stole steal no more”. The Greek construction behind the word “stole” indicates a repeated or ongoing action, and thus refers to one who used to steal. Whether stealing was a settled habit or an occasional act, the instruction is emphatic: once a person is in Christ, he must abandon theft entirely!

Jesus teaches that “thefts” arise from the sinful heart (Matt. 15:18–19). Stealing is not merely a social offence; it is a spiritual malady. It is one of the sins that, if unrepented, marks a person as outside the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9–10). Scripture consistently teaches God’s people against theft. The eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal”, appears repeatedly in the Law (Ex. 20:15; Lev. 19:11; Deut. 5:19), and is affirmed by both Jesus (Mark 10:19) and Paul (Rom. 13:9). To steal is to rebel against God’s command and to injure fellow men.

Stealing, however, takes many shapes. It is not limited to breaking into homes or taking items from shops. In our modern society, theft hides behind more respectable forms, such as cheating on taxes, misusing time at work, inflating expenses, manipulating business deals, refusing to pay debts, withholding fair wages, plagiarising, violating copyright, or acquiring wealth at another’s expense. Even neglecting to give tithes and offerings, what belongs to God, is a form of robbing Him (cf. Mal. 3:8).

The Christian must not only avoid these sins, but must also refuse to admire or imitate people who enrich themselves by dishonest means. Many fall into subtle patterns of stealing without recognising how deeply they violate God’s holiness. Yet when the Spirit convicts us through His Word, repentance must follow, accompanied, where possible, by restitution. Integrity requires not only ceasing from sin, but also repairing the harm it causes.

Embrace Honest, Diligent Labour

Paul does not merely say, “Stop stealing.” He adds a positive command: “but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good.” Gospel transformation replaces sinful habits with righteous ones. The thief becomes a worker. The idle becomes industrious. The selfish becomes responsible.

The word Paul uses for “labour” (kopiáō) means to toil to the point of weariness. It reflects sustained effort, not casual involvement. God calls His people to honest, strenuous work – not as a punishment, but as part of His good design.

Paul himself embodied this principle. When financial support was lacking, he worked with his hands as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), supporting not only himself but also those around him (Acts 20:34). He reminded the Corinthians, “[We] labour, working with our own hands” (1 Cor. 4:12), and told the Thessalonians that he and his companions worked “night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you” (1 Thess. 2:9). Paul was no stranger to hardship, but held up diligent labour as honourable and necessary.

A Christian’s integrity is most clearly seen in the way he goes about his daily work. Laziness, irresponsibility, and carelessness contradict the Gospel we profess. Whether in secular employment, at home, or in the ministry, believers are called to labour faithfully, using their minds, hands, and energy to accomplish what is good and beneficial. We work not only to earn a living, but also to glorify God through the quality, honesty, and faithfulness of our efforts.

We should not despise hard work or seek shortcuts to wealth, as many do these days. Scripture elevates labour to a godly calling. Work becomes an arena where integrity is tested and displayed.

Labour with a Purpose: To Give to Others

Paul ends the verse with a surprising motivation for honest work: “that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Integrity is not merely about avoiding wrongdoing or even working hard; it is about cultivating a heart of generosity. The Christian works not only for personal provision, but also to bless others.

This stands in stark contrast to the thief who takes from others to enrich himself. The Gospel turns takers into givers. The hands once used for stealing become hands that provide, support, and bless.

Paul’s life again illustrates this beautifully. He collected offerings for needy believers (Rom. 15:26), directed churches to set aside gifts for the saints in Jerusalem (1 Cor. 16:1–4), and personally brought relief to the poor (Acts 24:17). He exhorted the Galatians, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

Generosity is one of the clearest fruits of integrity. A Christian who lives honestly and works diligently in obedience to God’s Word would also develop a capacity to help others, whether through finances, service, or hospitality. Our integrity finds practical expression in compassion and sacrificial giving.

Conclusion

A Christian’s integrity is the overflow of a renewed heart and a sanctified mind. It is manifested in the daily choice to reflect godliness in both private and public behaviour. A Christian’s integrity matters because the Gospel we proclaim is reflected – or contradicted – by the way we live. When believers conduct themselves with honesty and diligence, they display the faithfulness and love of Christ who saved them from their sins. 

Sermon Text: Psalm 119:97–104
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 23rd November 2025

READ:

Psalm 46:1

¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

EXHORTATION:

The psalmist here instructs God’s people concerning how they ought to possess indefatigable faith in God, even when they are encircled by terrors and troubles. The psalmist is not only an example of unfaltering faith, but also an encourager who exhorts fellow believers to put their confidence in God. The psalmist’s confession of God’s goodness towards His people is remarkably invigorating.

Here the psalmist makes three assertions about God which believers should affirm wholeheartedly in their times of troubles. The first truth that we should affirm in the midst of our troubles is that “God is our refuge”. Some have built for themselves what appear to be well-fortified castles with tall, strong walls and thick iron gates, guarded by hosts of strong men with powerful weapons. Yet time and time again, such manmade refuge have been breached by enemies and all kinds of perils. A far superior shelter is the LORD God for all who trust in Him. He is their impregnable refuge. Taking shelter in God is far better than running into man-made shelters. God is our safe shelter!

The second truth that God’s people must affirm always is that God is their “strength”. When they feel weak and defenceless, God is the source of their strength. They can come to Him, and renew their strength. God’s omnipotence provides His people with assurance and motivation to endure their troubles and accomplish all that God has called them to do. Let His people believe that God’s strength is their strength. Let them arise in confidence to fulfil all His good purposes, even when troubles assail them. God is our unfailing strength!

The third solemn truth that God’s people must affirm constantly is that God is “a very present help in trouble.” When trouble is near His people, God is nearer to them than the trouble. He never withdraws Himself from His troubled people. He draws near to His children in their trouble. God is closer to His people than their nearest and dearest family member or friend. He will be with them as their Help. His presence will be nearer than the trouble. He will never be absent from His people. Troubles confronting God’s people are not a sign of God’s abandonment of His people. Rather, they are an opportunity bestowed by God for them to experience the grandeur of His presence. Come, let us sing the forty-sixth Psalm.

READ:

Jeremiah 1:8

⁸ Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

EXHORTATION:

The LORD expected His servant, Jeremiah, to embolden himself against all that was terrifying his heart. Fear was preventing Jeremiah from enrolling in the prophetic ministry to which the LORD had called him. Fear was destabilising him and almost dispossessing him of the resolve and readiness needed to be an obedient and effective preacher of God’s Word.

Courage and fearlessness are much needed to a live a life of faith and righteousness in this wicked world. Fear will make us falter, and disobedience to God will then characterise our lives. So, fear should not be allowed to remain in our hearts. This especially applies to those who are called to be preachers of God’s Word to rebuke the sins of the people.

The LORD said to Jeremiah, “Be not afraid of their faces”. It is now apparent from the LORD’s words that the actual fear Jeremiah had in his heart was the disapproval and retaliation of the people to whom he would be sent to rebuke, correct and instruct according to God’s Word. There was a greater hindrance in Jeremiah’s heart than his earlier reasoning that he was an inexperienced, ill-equipped, ignorant “child” (1:6). That was a flimsy, unconvincing excuse before the LORD. The real reason for his hesitation is now addressed by the LORD, i.e. his fear of people’s unhappiness with the message.

Thus, the LORD told Jeremiah to disregard the frowning brows, stern looks and angry countenances of his hearers. Sinful men would express their disapproval of and disgust for God’s truth by snarling at the preacher. Cowardice has no place in the preaching ministry. If one is to faithfully communicate the divine message to the people, one must overcome their menacing looks, slanderous words and hurtful actions.

The best remedy against fear of man is in the form of the promises of God, such as “I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.” The LORD is His servant’s ever-present Protector and Deliverer. Steadfast faith in God’s promises and presence will help us to conquer fear and be filled with boldness. Faith draws us to God and all His purposes, but fear insidiously draws us away from God and all His purposes. God has committed Himself to be with us and deliver us, so why fear? Only believe!

READ:

Jeremiah 1:7b

^7b For thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

EXHORTATION:

Jeremiah, a fearful, reluctant young prophet, is here being encouraged and instructed by the LORD. Jeremiah’s protest was overruled and his divine commission reiterated. It had pleased God to employ a weak and timid Jeremiah to dispense His Word. It is not a man’s self-confidence or volunteerism that matters in the LORD’s work, but his divine call and commission. No one should thrust himself into the role of a minister of the Word. To take upon oneself the office of the ministry is to be brazen, presumptuous and irreverent in the work of the LORD. Many of the men who filled the prophetic office of Israel were men whom God had not called. The LORD spoke concerning them, “I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you” (Jeremiah 27:15). Hananiah was a pretentious prophet whom the Lord rebuked through Jeremiah, saying, “Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie” (Jeremiah 28:15). When a man enters the sacred office of a preacher without being commissioned by God, he is akin to being a deceiver who misleads the people with a self-conceived message that destroys the souls of the people.

Here, upon reiterating His divine call, the LORD stipulates Jeremiah’s task as a prophet of Judah. Firstly, he was to go to all that the LORD would send him. Everyone whom God calls will have a divinely appointed place and people to minister His truth. The LORD’s servant must comply with the divine deployment (wherever it may be), even though he would experience hatred, persecution and even death in the course of his ministry. The choice of where one ought to minister is not a personal prerogative. This great lesson can be seen from Jonah’s story; the LORD will certainly reprimand any who neglects his appointed place of ministry.

Here the LORD also delineates Jeremiah’s message to the people. The LORD demanded, “whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak”. The LORD’s messenger is not allowed to speak his mind, but to declare only that which the LORD has revealed as His Word. No preacher should ever craft a sermon to please his own or the hearers’ thoughts and feelings. God’s charge is: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

READ:

Jeremiah 1:7a

^7a But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child.

EXHORTATION:

The LORD is teaching Jeremiah, the young preacher, to overcome his timidity, sense of inadequacy and reluctance to enter the ministry to which he had been called. His response to the LORD’s call was: “Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). Jeremiah feared that his inexperience and lack of knowledge would render him ineffectual in the ministry.

Such a situation is common even today in the church. The sense of unworthiness has caused some to dread the duties and responsibilities of the ministry. They become timorous and unwilling to accept any duty in the church. The feeling of incompetency has compelled many to decline responsibilities in the Lord’s work.

However, we notice that the LORD’s word to Jeremiah (who feared the call of duty) was: “Say not, I am a child”. The LORD would not let Jeremiah sink into despondency and remain unfruitful in the ministry. The LORD graciously addressed his fear and prevented him from further sliding into his sense of inadequacy.

God’s word to the prophet – “Say not, I am a child” – implies that Jeremiah should not linger any more. He must ignore his own feelings and get into action, just as the LORD had spoken to him. He must believe that the LORD would be able to supply him with wisdom and strength fully equal to the task he had been commissioned to do.

The LORD is able to take a timid man, such as Jeremiah, and equip him for His work so that the glory may be His. By calling and empowering such “ill-adapted tools” for the accomplishment of His purposes, the LORD manifests His great wisdom and power. When God takes a man, who is plagued by a debilitating sense of utter inadequacy, and accomplishes His design through him, all human reasoning shall be thrashed and the magnificence of His wisdom and power shall be exalted.

Many children and young people have been called by the LORD to accomplish His purposes. Samuel, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Timothy, and many more had been called and separated by the LORD from their childhood or youth, in order to accomplish His great purposes which far surpassed their stature. No one is too small that God cannot use him.

READ:

Colossians 4:6

⁶ Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

EXHORTATION:

A Christian’s speech, as much as his conduct, must befit his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our speech must not be like that of the unregenerate people. Our speech should never be channels of boasting, arrogance, lies, deceit, lust, profanity, hatred, curse, intimidation, violence, vanity, flattery, foolishness, idle talk, swearing, slander, gossip, or false teaching.

Our Lord’s speech was impeccable. There was never an imperfect or condemnable word that had proceeded from His mouth. In Luke 4:22, we have a record concerning Christ’s speech: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” Yet, His enemies were “laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him” (Luke 11:54; cf. Matthew 22:15; Mark 12:13). In the end, they could not find anything wrong with His speech, and resorted to engaging false accusers against Him. Our conformity to Christ demands our conformity to His speech, hence the divine imperative: “Let your speech be alway with grace”. This is an exhortation to cultivate speech that is spiritually wholesome, fitting, truthful, loving, kind, sensitive, encouraging and gracious as well. Our speech must demonstrate the grace of God that is operative in our hearts.

At all times, we must maintain gracious speech. Gracious speech must be a habitual characteristic in our interactions with fellow men. In all circumstances of life, we must learn to maintain gracious speech. Whether it be a casual conversation with family members or friends, a stressful situation at home or work, a time of provocation and persecution, a time of Bible Study, a time of giving counsel, or a time of play, let us be careful to maintain gracious speech. Our speech should never be abrasive, rash, vitriolic or nasty.

Now, this does not mean that our speech must be “dripping” with undue words of niceties. But as Paul adds, it must be “seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”. Our speech ought to be not only gracious, but also effective like the seasoning effect of salt. As salt penetrates the meat to give it taste and prevent decay, so must our speech be reproving, correcting and instructing. We must speak wisely, with spiritual discernment, in order to answer every man appropriately.