Sermon Text: Psalm 116:1–19
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 10th August 2025
Sermon Text: Psalm 116:1–19
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 10th August 2025
9b Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Since we are commanded to love without dissimulation, should we love all and sundry indiscriminately? Does love demand that we need to accept all without discretion? Can a loving person refuse to receive another in view of sin, falsehood and non-repentance?
Most certainly! Concerning charity, Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 13:5-6 that it “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth”. Clearly, Scripture teaches us that true love not only recognises the difference between truth and falsehood, good and evil, righteousness and sin, but it also clearly discriminates against and rejects those that are false, evil and sinful.
We are instructed to “Abhor that which is evil”. The word “abhor” means to hate, to turn from, or to avoid. The word “evil” here refers to malicious, ungodly belief and conduct. We must hate sin, no matter in what form it appears. Whether it is in thought or in action, be it trivial or great, personal or public, covert or overt, we must hate sin. No matter how sin may appear, we should not tolerate it.
It is not only unwise, but also incongruent with Christian charity, to even wish to accommodate sin. We are told to “Depart from evil, and do good” (Psalm 34:14). In Psalm 97:10, Scripture commands us, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil”. Let us not condone sin in our thought, word or action. If we ever fall into sin, let us repent as soon as we realise the evil in our ways, and depart from it.
On the other hand, we are exhorted to “cleave to that which is good”. The word “cleave” denotes the act of attaching or uniting firmly to something or someone. It indicates active partaking and participation. We ought to adhere to all that God’s Word reveals as truth. We should love to cleave to all things that are good in the sight of God. We must relentlessly pursue truth and righteousness with increasing fondness. Steadfast, constant pursuit of truth and holiness must characterise every Christian. May our hearts and hands be always devoted to propagating His truth and doing His righteousness. Let us walk “in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:75).
9a Let love be without dissimulation.
The Bible frequently commands us to be sincere and genuine in our love for others, as it is commanded here (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:6; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 1:22). “Dissimulation” means “hiding under a false appearance”. The words “without dissimulation” is translated from a Greek word anupókritos, which literally means “not hypocritical”. In our English Bible, this word has been translated as “unfeigned” (4 times), “without dissimulation” (once), and “without hypocrisy” (once). So, Paul is teaching us that our love for one another ought to be undisguised and sincere. It is the Christian’s duty not to fake love, but to love one another genuinely.
The Bible records many sad and treacherous expressions of hypocritical love, which serve as a warning to us. Psalm 55:21 warns us against those who hypocritically speak loving words: “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” Proverbs 26:25 cautions us likewise: “When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.”
Sadly, hypocritical love has been found even among the followers of Christ. Judas is the archetype of all those who act with hypocritical love. When he betrayed the Lord Jesus, he sealed it with a kiss, the token of love. So, according to Luke 22:48, Jesus asked him, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” Similarly, Ananias and Sapphira, who professed love and generosity towards the early church, were also exposed by the Holy Ghost as pretenders. The pretence of brotherly love, which is devoid of truthfulness and sincerity, is often the fruit of self-love.
Our hearts must be purged of self-aggrandisement and self-love so that we may love one another with sincerity. 1 Timothy 1:5 instructs us, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned”. Christians must love one another in a pure way out of a pure heart for the sake of Christ. Beware of play-acting when it comes to showing love for one another.
Hypocrisy (the epitome of ungodliness) and love (the chief of all good virtues) are diametrically opposite of each other. Anyone who acts in pretentious love will soon, by his own acts, manifest his malicious heart. May we love one another with unfeigned love.
9a But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.
The original Greek phrase translated as “they that will be rich” refers to those who desire or wish to be rich. They are not contented with whatever God has given them. They are ambitious and determined to make more wealth. Their hearts and minds are set to be rich. They may not appear to be covetous and greedy. In reality, they will very likely come across as noble men who are industrious, determined and assiduous. However, they are driven by an irrepressible passion to be rich. Such would be noticed by the people of this world and be endued with great honour and praise for their achievements and wealth.
Yet God’s Word warns us that they who are driven by the accumulation of wealth will “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts”. The path of material wealth is strewn with many pits of sinful temptations. When driven by an uncontrolled craving for wealth, they will suddenly fall into temptation. They will be led into snares of lust, like wild animals led into traps. Once trapped, they thrash themselves all over the place trying to break free from the traps. Their burning desire for achievements and prosperity makes them morally senseless, irrational, even animalistic in their conduct. They become victims of their own lusts.
With their unchecked passion for wealth comes hurtful and foolish conduct. Chasing money is not the way to happiness; it is the way to being trapped in sin and being a victim of one’s own lusts. A money-minded man will soon be a victim of his own ambitions. The love of money leads to sin and hurtful consequences. It leads to entrapment, it leads to irrational control by lust, and finally it brings upon him self inflicted harm and ruin.
A man driven by material success often pursues paths of life that a godly person would gladly abandon. Clearly, it is foolish and hurtful to spend one’s life solely for material success. Hebrews 13:5 advises us: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Let us learn to be contented with what God has been pleased to give us, and be dedicated to live a life pursuing after the glorious purposes of God. So brethren, get rid of covetousness from your life before it ruins your soul!
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
The fear of man mentioned here is not about the proper and necessary respect and submission that we should show towards human authorities, such as kings, governments, officers, teachers, parents, etc. Honouring those in authority is taught in the Bible. However, if they require us to act against our Biblical faith and principles, “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
The fear of man appears in various forms, namely, caring too much about what people think of us, fearing the loss of favour and friendship of men, fearing forfeiture of rights and privileges, fearing loss of honour and applause from people, fearing reproaches, reviling and persecution from people, as well as fearing afflictions and death that people could inflict.
God’s Word warns us that such fear of man can ensnare God’s people. It can lead men into great sins at times, holding them like a bird caught in a snare. It often compels many to give up their faith in the Lord, or to disobey God, or to participate in wicked deeds, violating their own conscience. Aaron, though a priest unto the LORD, yielded to the outcry of the people and made them a golden calf. Peter denied his Master for fear of a maid. Oh, how tragic it is to be ensnared by the fear of man!
The fear of man can also cause men to conduct themselves without dignity. Abraham, because of his fear of the Egyptian king, denied that Sarah was his wife; David (who ran from Saul), being “sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath”, behaved like a mad man before the latter. Some have failed to carry out their duties and given up their honour for fear of man. The fear of man also restrains men from being useful in God’s kingdom. Many dare not speak a word for Christ for fear of others. Some refuse to take responsibility or leadership in the church for fear of man and thereby waste their abilities and opportunities to become useful and fruitful in the Lord’s work. It reduces many to cowardly, shameful and foolish actions.
The most effective Scriptural antidote to the fear of man is to trust the LORD. The LORD is our safe refuge from the threats and intimidations of men. The LORD God is mightier than the whole world combined. Like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, let us find courage through prayer to face a frowning, mocking, ridiculing or even raging mob.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
When God brought the people of Israel to the Promised Land, they were specifically warned: “Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:11-14).
However, God’s Word says, “they served their idols”. Oh, what an incriminating verdict! Serving the idols of the inhabitants of the land had led them into many other abominable deeds connected to idol worship. Eating food offered to idols, building altars unto idols, sorcery, witchcraft, soothsaying, child sacrifices and all kinds of despicable carnal behaviour had been adopted by most Israelites. By their unashamed involvement in idolatrous practices, the people of Israel relentlessly provoked the LORD.
Their adulterated religion was an insult to the Most Holy God. He was dishonoured by their shameful hypocrisy. The LORD, the only living and true God, was reduced to the ranks of idols, which they had turned to worship. They had forgotten and despised all the blessings that the LORD promised in His covenant with them. He had been faithful to them and given them the land that He promised them. However, they callously walked away from Him to serve the idols of the heathen people!
To seek truth, blessing and protection in idolatry was a foolish journey into endless snares to their souls. The idolatry they sought after was “a snare unto them”. It was like the snare by which birds and animals were trapped. They did not perceive the danger of idolatry, simply because they ignored the warnings of God against worshipping idols.
Today, churches and Christians at large are much like the ancient Israel that went a whoring after the idols. Their chief idolatry is worldliness. Though the Scriptures warn Christians to “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15; cf. James 4:4), many unabashedly pursue materialism and the unchaste life of the unbelievers. O Christians, avoid the dangers of worldliness by fleeing from it. Separate from the world and adhere to your LORD.
Psalm 2:11
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
When we make ourselves available to serve God sincerely, feelings of joy mingled with fear would fill our hearts. Divine service often engenders many emotions and virtues in the hearts of His servants. Here the psalmist speaks of fear, joy and trembling as the expected and most suitable feelings and experiences of the LORD’s servants.
Fear and joy may appear to be two contrasting feelings, yet they co-exist in the hearts of those who serve the LORD. Both are necessary feelings of those who come into the awesome presence of God to serve Him.
Scripture reminds us in Psalm 89:7, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” We must not only have great reverence for the LORD’s majesty, but must also possess great fear of His wrath against disobedient conduct in the midst of divine service. The LORD should be served with awe; all the teachings of God’s Word confirm this. His majesty, power, holiness, justice are to be greatly feared.
Such fear of the LORD makes His servant exceedingly cautious and diligent as he renders himself to the LORD’s work. The fear of the LORD makes him wise unto holiness, faithfulness and fervency, which are essential to the LORD’s work. It will drive away reluctance, slothfulness and sinful habits from the hearts of His servant and will fill them with readiness, zeal and obedience for solemn service before Him.
The fear of God is never detrimental to one’s spiritual joy. It is rather a forerunner of joy in the LORD’s service. Those who serve God in godly fear will find themselves filled with joy unspeakable in the presence of God. Their reverential fear of the greatness of God dispels hesitancy and gloom to serve Him. Cheerful, happy service then freely flows out of their hearts, which are filled with the glory of the sovereign LORD. The service of God begets the highest joy that a man has ever known. When the hearts of His servants are overwhelmed with such earnest and sombre emotions, they would even be overcome with “trembling”! Unlike the carnal and worldly rejoicing that produces a puffed-up attitude, the spiritual joy of service evokes solemn inner impulses of humility and devotion, which are referred to here as “trembling”. The LORD’s servant is girded with humility and submission as he reverentially and joyfully renders his service.
26 If any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Oh, what great honour is promised to all who serve Christ according to His good and perfect will as revealed in His Word! How wonderful to hear it from the lips of our blessed Lord and Saviour! He will certainly do what He has said. Oh, how tenderly and graciously the Lord deals with His servants! How amazing it is that in the midst of His great agony, He thought about cheering His troubled servants by telling them of the honour that His Father will bestow upon them!
The prospect of being a servant of Christ is the highest and an unsurpassable honour that a man can ever receive. Obedience to Christ is a glorious privilege, for it empowers a man to overcome his wicked lusts and thoughts and live a godly and blessed life. Being an obedient servant of Christ is to inherit a pure and clean life devoid of the corruptions of sin. To be a submissive, dutiful follower of Christ is to be conformable to Christ. A true servant of Christ is Christ-like. Oh, what an honourable and high calling Christ gives to everyone who follows Him as His servant!
Serving Christ in this hostile world would bring many trials and much suffering to His followers. Jesus Himself has said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matthew 10:22-24).
The humiliations and the hurts one suffers for being a servant of Christ serve only to prove his calling and the certainty of the eternal glory and honour the Father will bestow on him. True servants seek not the honour that cometh from man, but from Christ and His Father. So Jesus said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). Paul told the suffering Christians, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12). Servants of Christ may suffer on earth, but they shall have great honour in heaven!
Dear Friends,
As you prepare to go forth on this mission trip (5–10 August 2025) to our sister churches in the Philippines, I write to you with deep affection, prayerful support, and solemn expectation. This is no ordinary trip! It is a spiritual assignment, a sacred privilege to stand alongside fellow believers, to strengthen the weary, to proclaim the unchanging Gospel, and to serve the body of Christ in a time of both trial and opportunity.
Your visit comes at a particularly “weighty” season. Our dear brother, Rev. Reggor Galarpe, the supervisory pastor of the congregations of Gethsemane B-P Church in Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio and Bohol, is facing a severe affliction in the form of lymphoma. This trial has troubled us all, yet we know that such “valleys” are not void of God’s presence. In fact, they often become holy ground, where Christ’s strength is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Your presence among the brethren during this time is not merely supportive; it is providential. God sends you as ministers of comfort, joy, and Gospel hope.
You also go as heralds of the Gospel, bringing the light of Christ into homes, hearts, and streets that need to know the love and lordship of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour whom God has sent to the world.
May your words be seasoned with grace, your service marked by humility, and your lives reflect the fragrance of Christ in all things.
I commend each of you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and equip you for every good work (cf. Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:12,16). Go forth in the power of His Spirit, consecrated for His purpose and prepared to serve Him in the beauty of holiness. May this mission bear lasting fruit—for the strengthening of the church, the salvation of souls, and the glory of our great Redeemer.
Soli Deo Gloria – To God alone be the glory.
In Christ’s service,
Your pastor,
Prabhudas Koshy
Dear Pastor,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
We thank God for another semester at GBI, India. By God’s grace, our full-time students from Meghalaya and Odisha have returned to continue their training at GBI. This semester, we have three new students: two pastors from Vizag city and a brother from Odisha.
The addition of Bro. Jonathan Hendricks to GBI, Vizag, to assist in teaching and preaching is very helpful, and we thank God for graciously leading him to us. He is now staying at the Kotapadu campus with the students.
Thank you, Pastor, for taking time to address the students and faculty on Tuesday. Your exhortation served as a good reminder for all of us to be content and responsible with the appointments God has given to each of us.
We look forward to the start of the Elementary Hebrew classes next week. Eleven students have registered for the course this semester. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to teach Hebrew to our students (Monday and Friday). Our students are also registering for your GBI Online courses on 1 Peter, Isaiah III (Wednesday evening), and Paul’s Missionary Journeys by Pr Cornelius Koshy (Thursday). Additionally, some students have enrolled in FEBC online courses as well. We are very grateful for all the opportunities to learn God’s Word.
During the holidays, we completed the mud-filling and borewell digging work on the newly purchased land. Thanks be to God for the help from Bro. Thomas, Sis. Melanie, and Dn Gan in drawing up the building plans and designs. We are planning to submit the drawings for building permit approval soon. Please pray that the Lord will grant us the necessary permits to resume the construction work. May the Lord continue to provide for the building fund through His people.
In Christ,
Pastor Sujith Samuel
Sermon Text: Psalm 115:1–18
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 3rd August 2025