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READ:

James 5:13

¹³ Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

EXHORTATION:

In a local congregation of believers, a variety of experiences may be found at a given time. While some people experience severe afflictions, others are presented with reasons for jubilation. It is also true that all alike are subject to afflictions and happiness. Both those types of experiences can be in different persons or in the same individuals at the same time. And sometimes, change from one extreme to the other can happen suddenly.

Extreme circumstances, if they occur to people whom we love earnestly, can affect our thinking. With varying events, our emotions will also rise and fall accordingly. Such divergent experiences in our congregations would make us wonder who we should attend to and how we should respond to those situations. As a matter of fact, such extreme situations can happen simultaneously or successively in our church or personal lives.

Christians are urged to carry out their corresponding duties in those varying circumstances. Appropriate spiritual responsibilities, which are mentioned in our text, have to be discharged readily. If we readily carry out our biblical duties, we can minister to people in varying circumstances in the most befitting manner.

What should we do when we find others or ourselves in trying circumstances? The apostle James advises us to pray. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.” We should pray, asking God for the wisdom we need to understand the situation and manage it to bring glory to His name (cf. James 1:5). We can pray for His grace to endure troubles (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10). We can also pray, if it is His will, that He will remove the troubles. Through prayer we not only communicate to God our needs, but also commune with Him. One of the major divine purposes of our afflictions is that we may draw closer to Him in prayer.

What should we do when we find others or ourselves in a situation of joy and gladness. James says, “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” Psalms are thanksgiving, worshipful songs to the Lord. Singing psalms to the Lord is the most preferred way of praising and worshipping God for all His benefits in our lives. Joyful experiences are given to us so that a worshipful spirit may be built up within us. While afflictions are sent to teach us to pray, happiness is bestowed that we may learn to praise Him.

READ:

James 5:8

⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

EXHORTATION:

For some Christians, life on earth is filled with trials. Hostility, ridicule, oppression, persecution, etc. are their daily experiences. In the preceding context of our verse, the apostle James wrote about the exploitation of the poor and needy. To be ridiculed and exploited when you are already poor and suffering is very excruciating. Certain biblical saints who have been in such circumstances have prayed that God would shorten their lives (1 Kings 19:1-4). Some cried, “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” (Psalm 74:10).

We should not expect to have everything easy and comfortable in this present life. Jesus has told us that “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul told the early believers “that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Christians must be ready for hardships and heartaches.

James’ first advice to the suffering Christians is that they be patient. Bearing the wrongs done to them, without murmuring and retaliation, is the Christians’ high calling in the Lord. The essence of James’ exhortation is that suffering Christians ought to be longsuffering. When our oppressions and suffering seem prolonged, let our patience be enduring. Let not our forbearance and courage be short-lived. Let them continue as long as there is a need to be patient.

James also exhorts the suffering Christians to “stablish your hearts”. The word “stablish” (stērízō) conveys the ideas of confirming and strengthening. In its appearances in the New Testament, the Greek word for “stablish” is found mentioned as the outcome of the ministry of the Word (Romans 16:25), and prayer (Luke 22:32; 1 Thessalonians 3:13). In our most agonising moments, let us turn to His Word and prayer for wisdom and strength to patiently endure our trials.

Till the Lord comes again, Christians must endure adversities thrown at them along life’s journey. Soon Christ shall come, and we shall be delivered from all our trials and tears. He will then wipe away our tears (Revelation 7:17; 21:4). Then we shall also be rewarded for enduring our trials and for glorifying Him with our humble labours.

Sermon Text: Psalm 104
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 23rd February 2025

READ:

Psalm 37:8

⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

EXHORTATION:

The preceding context of this verse (vv. 1, 7) suggests that the anger is provoked by the unchecked actions of the wicked. The wicked was also prospering, causing much unhappiness and trouble to the man of God. So the godly man was advised, in verse 7, not to be overwhelmed by his frustration with the wicked – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Nonetheless, his patience was wearing thin. The unhindered progress of the wicked had filled him with displeasure and vexation. Because he had not paid attention to his own feelings, his angry heart was further inflamed. When anger is not checked, even within a godly man’s heart, it will produce evil thoughts and emotions. So Scripture advises us, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

The first advice in our passage is to “cease from anger”. When anger rages within us, we must warn ourselves that we are entering a very perilous arena, strewn with many evils. Anger will engender disorderly conduct, disrespectful and hurtful words, dangerous and violent actions, and many other shameful and destructive evils. Proverbs 14:17 warns us that “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly”. Proverbs 29:22 further admonishes us that “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Proverbs 27:4 also reminds us that “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” Likewise, James 1:20 teaches us that “the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” So we must not feed our anger, but cease from it.

Secondly, we are advised to “forsake wrath”. We are not only to stop nursing the anger that we feel against others, but also to totally abandon it. We would rather shun and avoid anger than quietly harbour it in our hearts. So Paul said in Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” The final advice given to us is: “fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” An uncontrolled, enraged mind will soon indulge in harsh and malicious remarks, or undesirable and deplorable actions. So as Paul says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

This year’s church camp (2nd–6th June 2025) will have two series of messages. Rev. Mark Kim (Principal of Bible College of East Africa) will preach the first series on “Churches & Missions”. I will preach the second series on the theme: “Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction”.

Rev. & Mrs Kim have been serving the Lord for 35 years in East Africa. They serve in BCEA Nairobi, Kenya, providing theological and practical training for individuals engaged in Gospel ministry. The Nairobi campus is home to a vibrant church, community outreach initiatives, and a kindergarten programme. In 2006, BCEA expanded to Tanzania to train men and women for Christian ministry, and in 2017, a campus was established in Rwanda. It will be a special joy to hear Rev. Kim sharing precious biblical lessons that God has taught him in the mission fields of Africa. May the Lord use His servant to illumine us to shine even more brilliantly for His glory. 

An extreme shift in the cultural and spiritual landscapes has occurred in recent years. This phenomenon reflects a growing departure from Biblical truth, luring many into a web of deception. We are witnessing the rising seduction of the last days, as prophesied in the Scriptures – “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). 

The rising seduction of the last days poses a significant threat to the church, individual believers, and their families. We must analyse and understand these increasing deceptions and how they occur, so that we may guard ourselves against these perils.

The perilous traits of the last days, described in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, paint a picture of a society characterised by moral decay, self-centredness, and a departure from Biblical values – “… 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”.

In the light of the Biblical depiction of the last days, we perceive more ominous signs of deception – (1) an increase in false teachings, (2) distortion of the Gospel message, (3) religious pluralism, (4) moral decline and acceptance of sin, (5) spiritual complacency, (6) cultural pressure to conform, (7) persecution of true believers, and more.

We can no longer ignore the warnings of last days’ deceptions, as the signs of our times increasingly align with Biblical prophecies. They have infiltrated both the secular and religious spheres. No church shall be spared from their influence. Many are already swayed by their enticing messages within the church and worldwide. Christians must recognise such subtle invasion and resist these deceptive influences!

With Biblical warnings echoing through the ages, we must anchor ourselves in God’s Word, be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and be steadfast in our commitment to live by the Biblical counsels. Only by doing so can we withstand the tides of deception and uphold the faith, ensuring that we remain faithful amidst the challenges of these perilous times.

Amidst a world that increasingly embraces the seduction of the last days, we need to be equipped with the insights the Bible provides to safeguard believers living in these perilous times. Let us prepare for this year’s church camp with prayer and enthusiasm, to learn to “Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction”.

Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction

This year’s church camp (2nd–6th June 2025) will have two series of messages. Rev. Mark Kim (Principal of Bible College of East Africa) will preach the first series on “Churches & Missions”. I will preach the second series on the theme: “Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction”.

Rev. & Mrs Kim have been serving the Lord for 35 years in East Africa. They serve in BCEA Nairobi, Kenya, providing theological and practical training for individuals engaged in Gospel ministry. The Nairobi campus is home to a vibrant church, community outreach initiatives, and a kindergarten programme. In 2006, BCEA expanded to Tanzania to train men and women for Christian ministry, and in 2017, a campus was established in Rwanda. It will be a special joy to hear Rev. Kim sharing precious biblical lessons that God has taught him in the mission fields of Africa. May the Lord use His servant to illumine us to shine even more brilliantly for His glory. 

An extreme shift in the cultural and spiritual landscapes has occurred in recent years. This phenomenon reflects a growing departure from Biblical truth, luring many into a web of deception. We are witnessing the rising seduction of the last days, as prophesied in the Scriptures – “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). 

The rising seduction of the last days poses a significant threat to the church, individual believers, and their families. We must analyse and understand these increasing deceptions and how they occur, so that we may guard ourselves against these perils.

The perilous traits of the last days, described in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, paint a picture of a society characterised by moral decay, self-centredness, and a departure from Biblical values – “… 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”.

In the light of the Biblical depiction of the last days, we perceive more ominous signs of deception – (1) an increase in false teachings, (2) distortion of the Gospel message, (3) religious pluralism, (4) moral decline and acceptance of sin, (5) spiritual complacency, (6) cultural pressure to conform, (7) persecution of true believers, and more.

We can no longer ignore the warnings of last days’ deceptions, as the signs of our times increasingly align with Biblical prophecies. They have infiltrated both the secular and religious spheres. No church shall be spared from their influence. Many are already swayed by their enticing messages within the church and worldwide. Christians must recognise such subtle invasion and resist these deceptive influences!

With Biblical warnings echoing through the ages, we must anchor ourselves in God’s Word, be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and be steadfast in our commitment to live by the Biblical counsels. Only by doing so can we withstand the tides of deception and uphold the faith, ensuring that we remain faithful amidst the challenges of these perilous times.

Amidst a world that increasingly embraces the seduction of the last days, we need to be equipped with the insights the Bible provides to safeguard believers living in these perilous times. Let us prepare for this year’s church camp with prayer and enthusiasm, to learn to “Stand Guard Against Last Days’ Seduction”.

READ:

John 11:26

²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

EXHORTATION:

Those are Jesus’ words to Martha, who was grieving over the death of her brother, Lazarus. Although four days had passed since Lazarus was buried (v.39), Martha and Mary were still in anguish of heart. Jesus assured her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (v.25). Jesus then roused her soul, with the words of our verse: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Just as in Martha’s case, these words of Christ offer great peace and comfort for anyone who is bereaving over a departed Christian relative or friend.

In life, if one has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord, he is immediately granted eternal life. Jesus said, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15). Jesus will never permit the life which He has bestowed on a believing soul to perish. He will preserve it forever. It is not “never-lasting life” that Jesus promised, but everlasting life (cf. Jn. 3:16, 36). Jesus also said in John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Had it been left to us to protect the gift of eternal life, we would surely lose it. But Christ, the giver of the eternal life, shall preserve it forever. Perpetuity or permanence of the life that Christ gives is in His own hands. Because He lives forever as our Redeemer, He shall keep our souls for ever and ever. Paul said unto the believing Corinthians that Christ “shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8).

Jesus said that the believer “shall never die”. Though his body would die, his soul, having received eternal life from Christ, shall live in His presence for endless days. Neither physical death nor “second death” (which is the eternal judgement of the unbelievers in hell [Rev. 20:6; 21:8]) will affect that soul. So in the face of death, being sustained by Christ’s precious promise of eternal life, we shall not mourn like the unbelieving. In bereavement, we shall boldly confess that the departed believer lives in heaven, to the glory of the Giver of eternal life, even our Lord Jesus Christ!

READ:

Ephesians 2:5

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

EXHORTATION:

No one has become a Christian by his sheer power of decision or action. Man has no power or disposition to save himself, for “we were dead in sins”. This is a dreadfully emphatic pronouncement — “dead in sins”! Could there be a worse spiritual state than this? To be dead in sin is to have no real spiritual ability or experience. Whatever a man who is dead in sin might do, it cannot be a genuine expression of spiritual life! All his physical, rational and moral experiences and activities are under the overwhelming power of sin and spiritual deadness. Even charitable actions of the unregenerate man are tainted by his sinful nature, which is the natural condition of every man. Man is totally incapable of awakening himself from his spiritual deadness.

But what man cannot do, God does. He “hath quickened us together with Christ”. Christ’s resurrection from the grave insured the resurrection of all for whom He died to save. Only Christ’s resurrection power that has brought Him from death to life can awaken a soul that is dead in sin unto spiritual life. The risen Lord Jesus alone can give us life eternal. His resurrection secured and sealed our spiritual resurrection from deadness in sin. He has implanted within us the principle of spiritual life.

What a great and mighty salvation we have received! We are now made alive with Christ. What God has accomplished in Christ, He has also accomplished for believers. It is in union with Him that spiritual death is vanquished and new life is received. Christians live and serve with the resurrection power of Christ. Through our risen Lord Jesus Christ, the power of sin and spiritual death over us have been vanquished.

At the end of our verse, Paul proclaims in parenthesis that a mighty rescue has been carried out by the grace of God through Christ’s resurrection – “by grace ye are saved”, declares the apostle. What a joyful acclamation! It is God’s gracious initiative that has made us alive together with Christ to grant us salvation. God lavished His grace on us through the resurrection of Christ who died for us. His grace has brought new life into our souls, reviving our soul’s spiritual senses, powers and faculties which were once deadened by sin. Now we can live unto God in the power of Christ’s resurrection.

READ:

Ephesians 2:4

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.

EXHORTATION:

The worldly man speaks of riches in terms of material wealth. He yearns for money, jewellery, big houses and luxury items. Sadly, even churchgoers of our time are overly concerned with material riches.

But a godly man, like the apostle Paul, will be extremely vigilant and cautious towards material wealth (cf. 1 Timothy 6:9-11). In fact, such a man will also be overwhelmingly fascinated with the riches of God. In his epistles, Paul spoke glowingly of “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8), “the exceeding riches of his grace” (Ephesians 2:7; 1:7), “the riches of his glory” (Romans 9:23; Ephesians 1:18; 3:16), “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” (Romans 2:4), “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11:33), etc.

Our text for today declares that God is rich in mercy. The riches of His mercy far outshine all the wealth of this world. While man becomes rich by hoarding things for himself, God, being “rich in mercy”, shall endlessly bestow His goodness and glory on those who need them. He is so rich in mercy that no one who comes to Him for His mercy shall be turned away for lack of it.

What sinners like us need most from God is His mercy. Shall we dare to approach His awful throne for His blessings? The answer is that He is rich in mercy! Are we then worthy to ask favours from Him? The answer is that His mercy is abundant to those who seek Him. You need not possess any merit nor meet any eligibility requirement. Just come to Him, and you shall have mercy; His mercy shall supply all your needs.

What is the guarantee of the bestowal of His mercy? The apostle assuredly says, “for his great love wherewith he loved us”. The love of God towards His people is immensely great and abundant, and His loving hands are always stretched out to receive those who come to Him and to bestow upon them His rich mercies. The richness of His mercy and the greatness of His love are both now extended to His children in full measure. Oh, how blessed we are in Christ to have God’s inexhaustibly rich mercy and inexpressibly great love! Oh, what great encouragement we are given to come to God! There is no reason why we should hesitate to come to Him. He says to us, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

READ:

Psalm 103:9

⁹ He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

EXHORTATION:

Though God’s people have often provoked the LORD, He has not dealt with them according to their sins. Psalm 78:38-39 tell us, “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”

If the LORD were to chide us on every occasion when we sin, we would have been totally devastated. How consoling it is that the LORD will not always chide, though we often offend Him and deserve His chiding! The LORD is unlike those who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to stop! What would become of us if God had dealt angrily with us on every occasion of our sin?

Our text also says, “neither will he keep his anger for ever.” In the preceding verse, the psalmist testified that “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (v. 8). Because He is merciful and gracious, He is also “slow to anger”. His patience towards us is very great. The LORD knows how feeble we are, and shows His pity on us by withholding His anger from us. In Isaiah 57:16, the LORD proclaimed, “For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.” The LORD does not chide us for every fault; neither does He chide us for a long time nor hold any grudge against us. If He had always chided, our spirits would have failed altogether. That would have crushed our spirits!

Such longsuffering and compassion should not be taken for granted. We must quickly put off our sins and turn to Him in repentance and gratefulness. Nothing is more foolish than trying to exploit God’s grace and patience by continuing in sin!

Also, having received plenteous mercy and patience from God, every child of God must now show the same kind of longsuffering to others. Too much chiding might lead others to be disoriented and disillusioned. Some parents, by their constant rebuke and bitter dealing with children, drive them away. So let us be slow to anger towards those who have erred. Let us pay heed to Galatians 6:1a, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness”.

READ:

Hebrews 3:15b

^15b Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

EXHORTATION:

Today, not tomorrow! Now, not later! Nothing is said in this verse about tomorrow. To God’s people, every day is an opportunity from God to know His will and fulfil it. How they respond each day to the Lord matters! They are warned against hardening their hearts towards the Lord and against provoking Him to displeasure.

A new day of defiance would mean another day of aggravation and provocation of the just wrath of God. However, His gracious voice today extends another opportunity for all the defiant ones to repent and escape His wrath. It is for our sakes that He exhorts us to obey His voice without delay. Our hesitation to obey His voice is a serious violation of His sovereign authority and utter contempt for His gracious voice.

Often the Lord protested and lamented Israel’s unwillingness to listen to God’s voice. For instance, in Psalm 81:11-13, He said, “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!” While Jesus was here on earth, He told His Jewish hearers, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15).

Like Israel of old, many in our modern-day church despise and reject God’s voice, and squander the mercy and the opportunity He has extended to them. They are also dull of hearing. Mercy upon mercy has been shown by the Lord, but they repeatedly despise and reject them. They seem to be hearing, but they would not yield.

Have you been turning a deaf ear to the Lord’s voice against your sins? If you put off your repentance to another day, your sins will linger and abound that many days more, while opportunities of that many days would have been lost on you. Do not make your heart callous anymore! Do not flee from His presence to ungodly company! He is calling you. So, today is a very favoured day; seize this opportunity and turn to the Lord.