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READ:

Revelation 3:19

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

EXHORTATION:

When Christ rebuked the church in Laodicea with stern and severe words, He wanted them to know that it was His love for them that resulted in such sharp words of rebuke – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten”. To rebuke one’s sins is not to find fault or being unjustly captious. Nor is it hypocritical nitpicking in an impatient, bitter, retaliatory spirit. Its actual intent is not to destroy a good person or action. It is the setting of sin clearly and convincingly before the mind and conscience of the erring person to convict and to turn him to the path of righteousness. It springs from nothing but pure love of a person when he sees someone whom he loves errs in his ways, which is exactly what Christ did to the erring Laodiceans.

If need be, the Lord will also “chasten” His people. The word “chasten” describes acts of discipline, correction and corporeal punishment to change one’s sinful and unwise behaviour. The Lord’s chastening can be an unpleasant and painful experience for erring Christians. Nevertheless, it is not to be confused with the wrath or the ultimate judgment of God. Its purpose is to correct and restore us to the ways of truth and holiness. It is done with love like that of a parent, who applies the rod of correction on his erring child. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:5-7).

One chastened servant of God confesses in Psalm 118:18, “The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.” 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.” The purpose of painful chastising is to lead the erring believers to repentance and to restore them to God’s blessing (cf. Jeremiah 31:18-19; Psalm 94:12). The Lord’s love for His people requires that they quickly quit the sins which they had embraced; hence His injunction to the Laodicean Christians: “be zealous therefore, and repent.” Dearly beloved, no more hesitating! Rather, be wholehearted and earnest to turn to God from our sins. The Lord desires us to come to Him in repentance, humility and commitment to do His unerring will.

READ:

Revelation 2:16

¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

EXHORTATION:

The Lord pronounced these words of threat against the church in Pergamos. He was displeased with their lack of doctrinal and moral integrity. He reproved that church, saying, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (vv. 14-15). Being plagued with the heinous sins of fornication and heresies, their immediate repentance was a great necessity.

Thus, the Lord required them to “repent”. Repentance is the first act of souls who return to God from sin. By repenting, they acknowledge that they have erred and that they are truly sorry for their errors. It also demonstrates their willingness to separate from their sins. They then thereby yield themselves to holy living and to pleasing their Saviour and Lord, which are the signs and first endeavours of truly repented hearts. Yet, some adamantly refuse to repent while some others hesitate to repent quickly, citing that they have both time and grace available to them to repent. Delaying repentance could further harden their hearts, and the wrath of the Lord will come upon them when they least expect it. It is utterly foolish to delay repentance, especially in the light of the Lord’s unmistakable warning: “I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them”!

The Lord’s words, “I will come unto thee quickly”, warn the unrepentant people of the church that He will come against them in imminent judgment to deal with them for their unabashed continuance in sin. It also denotes that He is all set to deal with them. It is a forgone conclusion that the Lord will deal with the unrepentant at the time of His choice. This is not a reference to the final judgment at the Lord’s return, but to a judgment that He will bring upon a disobedient church or people at any imminent moment that He decides. He says that He “will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” He will fight them with the double-edged sword that proceeds from His mouth. His Word will be against them. He will not only reprimand them, but will also by His Word announce and seal their eternal destiny.

READ:

Revelation 2:4

⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

EXHORTATION:

The Lord Jesus Christ has just commended the church in Ephesus for several of her good deeds, such as her “works”, “labour”, “patience”, as well as her vigilance, discernment, separation from those who are “evil”, and fake “apostles” (v. 2). They were also commended for their “patience” (v. 3). Having credited them with the good they possessed and exhibited, the Lord now chides them for their spiritual declension.

The Lord has a deep, profound personal interest in the affairs of the church, for He is her Saviour, Bridegroom, Shepherd, Head, Lord and King. Furthermore, He has perfect knowledge of even the minutest thing that the church does. The Lord has taken notice of the church’s diminishing piety. He observes what is amiss, and faithfully reproves her for it.

Our Lord Jesus, as an impartial and the most holy Judge, takes notice of both the good and the bad in us. Let us not ever imagine that the Lord has not detected our drifting. Though we may have done much good, the Lord takes note with displeasure what is amiss in our hearts. All our good works will not serve as a cover for our spiritual rottenness. He will not approve of our backslidden condition.

The sin that Christ charged the Ephesus church with was their decay and declension in holy love and zeal. He chided her: “thou hast left thy first love”. He was not saying that she has left and forsaken Christ as the object of her love, but that she has lost the fervour and zeal of her love which she has first demonstrated. He will definitely rebuke and chastise us for our failure to love Him wholeheartedly.

The decline in enthusiasm in Christians’ love for their loving Lord and His kingdom is a prevalent spiritual malady in the church. Many begin their Christian life with great warmth of affection towards Christ, His Word, His church, His work, prayer, worship, holiness and heaven. However, their lively affections soon abate and cool off, grieving the Lord deeply. Christ is very displeased with His people who grow remiss and cold towards Him. If we are in such a condition of diminishing love for Christ, let us turn towards Him with deep contrition of soul to love Him with all our heart, mind and strength. Let us seek His help at once to retain our ardour for our loving Saviour and Lord.

READ:

Hebrews 10:23

²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).

EXHORTATION:

The early Jewish Christians were under much pressure to give up their faith in Christ. It is apparent that the people to whom this epistle was written were under persecution (cf. Hebrews 12:4-15). They were also in great danger of being apostatised by the Judaizers and other early false teachers. The epistle taught the Hebrew Christians why they should not go back to the rituals of the old covenant, as Christ has fulfilled them all as their perfect High Priest and unblemished Lamb of God. Considering the hostility and enormous pressure that they were subjected to, the apostle exhorted them to hold fast the profession of their faith.

The Greek word for “profession” (homología) literally means “confession” or “saying the same thing”. The Greek word translated “faith” (elpídos) emphasises the hopeful or confident nature of our faith. We ought to speak boldly and assuredly of our faith. So, the exhortation to us Christians is that we ought to “hold fast” the profession of our faith. We should continually acknowledge and confess our solemn faith in Christ.

We Christians must lay hold of Christ and never let go (not even in the slightest) of our faith in Him. We are urged to hold firmly to the faith that we profess. We are also exhorted to be “without wavering”. Regardless of the attempts by the opponents of the Gospel of Christ (be they persecutors or false teachers), we must remain unswerving in our faith. Let not our faith be shaken by opposition, trials or false teachings!

The solemn profession of our Christian faith is not just an initial confession that we make, but also the way we continue in it by words and actions. The confession of our faith must be maintained all through our lives, regardless of difficulties and hindrances. We cannot halt, but must always progress in the profession of our faith. Many make a “confession of faith”, but fail to “hold fast” the same. It is easy for someone to avow that he is a Christian, but it is most difficult indeed to live the life of one.

We are given an additional encouragement (in parenthesis) to hold fast our profession of faith, i.e. the fact that He who has promised us salvation and blessings is faithful. God, who has promised eternal life to us, is faithful to all that He has said. Since God is so faithful to us, we ought to be faithful to Him.

Sermon Text: Psalm 96:1–13
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 8th December 2024

READ:

Hebrews 10:19

¹⁹ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

EXHORTATION:

The believers have some very great privileges and rights as a people whose sins are remitted through the blood of Jesus Christ. One of their great privileges is discussed in the verse for today’s meditation – it is the boldness that they can have to enter into the holiest.

The word “holiest” here is taken from the “Holy of holies” in the temple (cf. Hebrews 9:3). However, it is here applied to heaven. The “holiest” of the temple was an earthly emblem of heaven. The entrance into the Most Holy Place was forbidden to all but the Jewish high priest once a year. The high priest entered the Holy of holies with the blood of bullocks and of rams. Hebrews 9:7 says, “But into the second (i.e. the Holy of holies) went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people”.

But Jesus Christ, by the shedding of His own blood on the cross, has procured our access to heaven. Christ, our Saviour, was the perfect, unblemished Lamb that God had prepared to take away our sins. His shed blood has become the means by which we have access to God. Hence, the access to the real “Holy of holies” (i.e. heaven) is now granted to all whose sins are remitted by the blood of Christ, who is the perfect Lamb of God.

All those who have believed on Christ and His atoning blood that He shed on the cross, can now have “boldness to enter into the holiest”. The Greek word for “boldness” (parr?sía) here denotes freedom or confidence, particularly in speaking. The “boldness to enter into the holiest” is not just about the Christian’s going to heaven at death or at the return of the Lord, it is also about our present access to God to offer our prayers and worship by faith. Under the old covenant, the Israelites were prevented from drawing nigh unto the Holy of holies to offer their worship and prayers. Even the Levites who served as priests of the temple were barred from the Holy of holies. But now the right has been accorded unto all who trust in Christ’s atoning sacrifice to draw near unto His throne with their prayers and worship. We are admitted into a far nobler “Holy of holies” – the presence of God Himself – than that from which ancient Israel was excluded. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

The BOE has been prayerfully discussing and considering the appointment of new members to serve on the committees of our church’s various ministries and fellowships. By the Lord’s guidance and grace, the BOE has finalised the selection of committee members to serve for the next three years (2025–2027). These newly appointed committee members will assume their responsibilities for planning and organising programmes, in alignment with the instructions provided by the BOE from time to time, following their installation on the first Sunday of January 2025.

In the interim, the BOE directs all current committees to plan the meetings and activities for the first four months of 2025, as the newly assigned committees will be responsible for organising those activities starting in January 2025. We thank the Lord for the dedication and faithfulness of the brothers and sisters who have diligently served as committee members in their respective ministries and fellowships. Their wholehearted efforts and fervent commitment have been a blessing to the church. May the Lord richly reward each of them for their labour of love and faithful service in His kingdom.

Responsibilities of the Committees

Church committees advance the church’s mission through prayerful decision-making and a Christ-like attitude. To ensure that their service is consistent with our church’s biblical principles and goals, they should plan and organise all the activities according to the BOE’s directives. For this purpose, every committee functions under an Elder of the church who serves as an Advisor. All who serve in the committees need to be mindful that they ought to be submissive to the biblical authority of the Pastor and the BOE, as our church’s constitution stipulates: 

Article 12.2—The spiritual oversight of the Church in matters of doctrine, principles of government, church elections, admission and discipline of members and the administrative oversight of the Church shall be the specific responsibilities of the BOE. 

Article 15.7—The Lead Pastor shall be the ex-officio member and advisor of all committees connected with the Church, except that he may delegate such role to a Pastor or an Elder. 

May the Lord help all the new committee members to be diligent and servant-hearted to serve together in unity. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Committees must ensure their actions and policies align with biblical principles, avoiding compromise with worldly standards or practices. Committees should welcome input from church leaders, pastors, and other members to ensure well-rounded and informed choices. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Decisions should always be guided by the Word of God. Hasty decisions can lead to mistakes. Committees should take time to seek God’s will, trusting His timing rather than reacting impulsively to circumstances. Every decision should be evaluated, based on whether it glorifies God. Committees exist not to promote personal agendas, but to advance God’s kingdom and honour His name.

Chinese Service
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Pr Daniel Lim
Eld. Alan Choy
Dn Gan Chin Hwi
Bro. Francis Tan

Filipino Fellowship (GFF)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Dn Norefel Resuma
Bro. Anthony Evangelista
Bro. Jordan Ballega
Bro. Juffrey Balicao

Malayalam Fellowship
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Dn Benny Skariah
Dn Lijoy George
Bro. Joish Paul

Pastoral Visitation
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Eld. Ng Poh Kok
Eld. Lim Ah Sang
Dn Tan Eng Huat
Bro. David Tan

Evangelism Outreach (GEO)
Eld. Low Boon Siang (Advisor)
Pr Jeremiah Sim
Bro. Chan Tuck Whye
Bro. Gerry Lee

Seniors’ Ministry (GSM)
Eld. Mah Chin Kwang (Advisor)
Eld. Ng Poh Kok
Pr Jeremiah Sim
Pr Daniel Lim

Men’s Fellowship (GMF)
Eld. Lim Ah Sang (Advisor)
Dn Lijoy George
Bro. Benjamin Cho
Bro. Ignatius Law
Bro. James Chen
Bro. Jomart Tindaan

Ladies’ Fellowship (GLF)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Sis. Julie Skariah
Sis. Lim Chow Lin
Sis. Low Hui Lin
Sis. Merisa Teong
Sis. Tan Beng Yan

Children’s Ministry (GCM)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Bro. Jordy Kay
Bro. Matthew Mah
Sis. Charlene Mae Abrena
Sis. Choy Luan Kheng
Sis. Rhodora Resuma

Adults’ Fellowship (GAF)
Eld. Francis Lee (Advisor)
Bro. Andrew Teong
Bro. Aron Ong
Bro. Lim Peng Kwang
Bro. Matthew Mah
Bro. Shaun Ng
Dn Benny Skariah (Mentor)

Youth Fellowship (GYF)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Pr Cornelius Koshy
Dns Diana Chan
Bro. Amoz Choy (Auxiliary)
Bro. Gideon Lee (Auxiliary)
Bro. Marcus Chee (Auxiliary)
Bro. Rayson Tan (Auxiliary)
Sis. Judy Chan (Auxiliary)

Young Adults’ Fellowship (GYAF)
Eld. Low Boon Siang (Advisor)
Bro. Andronicus Koshy
Bro. Benjamin Chong
Bro. Goh Yong Wei
Bro. Matthew Peh
Bro. Raphael Ko

Young Mothers’ Fellowship (GYM)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Sis. Jenice Chee
Sis. Joey Peh
Sis. Law Sze Huey
Sis. Tan Hua See
Sis. Sophia Zhang (Mentor)
Sis. Tay Su Ling (Mentor)

Encouragers’ Ministry (GEM)
Eld. Mah Chin Kwang (Advisor)
Dn John Zhang
Dn Lijoy George
Dns Diana Chan
Bro. Edward Wong
Sis. Lee Kim Lei

Defenders’ Ministry (GDM)
Eld. Francis Lee (Advisor)
Pr Samson Hutagalung (Consultant)
Pr Cornelius Koshy
Dn John Zhang
Dn Tan Eng Huat
Bro. Jonathan Tay

Church Library
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Bro. John Peh
Sis. Chairine Chayadi
Sis. Chong Shu Mun
Sis. Jenice Chee
Sis. Ruby Seng
Sis. Yeo Geok Hien

Ushers’ Ministry
Eld. Low Boon Siang (Advisor)
Dn Benny Skariah (Overall IC)
Bro. Marcus Chee (2IC)
Bro. Matthew Peh (AV IC)
Bro. Cayson Chok (SingPost Store IC)
Sis. Sarah Yong (Sunday Slides IC)
Sis. Karen Quek (Sunday Refreshment IC)
Dn Norefel Resuma (Holy Communion Coordinator)
Sis. Yeo Geok Hien (Holy Communion Preparatory Team Leader)

READ:

1 Corinthians 15:53

⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

EXHORTATION:

A total change or re-making of our present earthly body is necessary before we enter heaven, whether by death and subsequent resurrection or by being taken up instantaneously during the Rapture of all the saints who are still alive at Christ’s second coming. A great change before we enter heaven is clearly taught in Scripture – “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

We are told of a great contrast between what we are now and what we will be. Concerning the change, the apostle Paul says: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption”. Like putting on a new garment, the soul must be clothed with a new body. The Lord will furnish us with a body that will not corrupt, unlike our present earthly body which is corruptible.

In this verse and the next, the apostle used the same Greek word for “put on” four times. He wrote, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (vv. 53-54).

This great change is necessary because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (v. 50). Our present earthly bodies, which are liable to disease, pain and death, are composed of decaying particles. Hence they are not suitable for a life that is eternal in heaven. We must cease to be corruptible and mortal. Our bodies must become incorruptible and immortal, no less!

In death, our corruptible body is stripped off in order that we may be “clothed” with an incorruptible, immortal body on the day of resurrection at the coming of Christ. Death then is a mere “unclothing” of our present body. Soon, at Christ’s coming, our souls shall be “clothed” with a glorious, celestial, immortal body! The righteous who remain alive till the coming of Christ, shall be at once changed (as Enoch and Elijah were), with incorruption and immortality. The Lord “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21).

READ:

1 Corinthians 15:55

⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

EXHORTATION:

Two types of feelings about death are expressed in these rhetorical questions by the apostle Paul – the feelings of those who have not received the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and also of those who have received Him as their Saviour by faith.

People’s general sentiment about death portrays it as something with a “sting” that results in “victory” over us. The allusion seems to be the venomous sting of a vicious reptile which leaves a man in agony and dying. The reality of death renders some unbelievers totally numb with fear. Even the boldest of men cowers and turns pale in the face of death.

However, the apostle Paul, being confident of the believers’ victory in Christ Jesus over sin and condemnation, “taunts” death. Christ has disarmed death of its sting, which He achieved by removing the guilt of our sins and thus breaking its power. When we come under the Lord’s saving grace, sin loses its dominion over us. When the wrath of God against the guilt of our sin is appeased, there remains no more accusation and condemnation against us. Therefore, our fear of death and hell is exchanged for a blessed hope of immortality and joy. Oh, how death is disarmed of its sting and we are enabled to triumph over it!

Paul already spoke of the certainty of our victory in Christ earlier in this chapter. In verses 20-22, Paul affirmed: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Likewise in Romans 5:14-15, Paul declared, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” By dying, Christ conquered death and spoiled the grave. Through faith in Him, believers become sharers in His triumph. He now gives us a blessed hope of resurrection and eternal life; thus the dread of death is driven away from our hearts. Instead of being gripped with fear of death, we are henceforth filled with hope of resurrection and everlasting life with Christ!

READ:

1 Corinthians 15:58b

^58b Forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

EXHORTATION:

Paul made this statement as an encouragement for all who would give of themselves to always abound in the work of the Lord (v. 58a). The work of the Lord is the Christian’s “labour”. The Greek word that Paul used for “labour” (kópos) denotes trouble and vexation. Indeed, serving the Lord often would require wearying effort from His servants. It is laborious in various aspects, such as the enormity and scope of the work, the diligence and exactness required, the hostile circumstances involved, and so on.

The apostle Paul knew how laborious the work of the Lord could be. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-30, he highlighted his labours for Christ. He wrote, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”

Even though the servant of the LORD has to endure such intense hardships, he is assured that his labour is “not in vain”. No real work for the Lord is in vain. Because of the hardships, one might be tempted to think that one has failed to be effective in the Lord’s work. Yet, because we are co-labourers with God, He will accomplish all His good purposes through us. Moreover, as we endure hardships in our labour for the Lord, our own character is being conformed to the Lord’s, others are blessed by our efforts in the Lord, and the Lord also is magnified. The resurrection day will prove the full measure of the fruit of our labour for our Master. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). Truly, “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthians 3:8b).