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Amos 8:11 - “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

Amos announces a dreadful judgment upon Israel: not merely scarcity of food or water, but a famine “of hearing the words of the LORD.” The people had repeatedly rejected God’s warnings, oppressed the poor, pursued dishonest gain, and despised His truth. Therefore, the day would come when the prophetic word they had refused to hear would no longer be readily available.

This was a judgment more severe than physical famine. Bread sustains the body, but the Word of God is necessary for the soul. Moses declared that “man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). To be deprived of God’s Word is therefore a terrible spiritual calamity.

The verse also warns us against taking divine revelation for granted. When God’s Word is preached faithfully, we must hear it with humility, repentance, and faith. Continual resistance to truth hardens the heart. Those who repeatedly refuse to listen may one day discover that the opportunity to hear has been removed.

Yet the warning also carries a call: treasure the Scriptures while they are freely available. Read them. Hear them preached. Teach them to your children. Receive correction from them. Do not treat the Bible as common simply because it is accessible.

A famine of bread is painful, but a famine of God’s Word is far worse. The question is not merely, “Do we possess a Bible?” but “Do we hunger to hear the words of the LORD?”

Amos 6:1—“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!”

Amos pronounces a solemn “woe” upon those who were “at ease in Zion” and who trusted in the strength of Samaria. The problem was not merely that they enjoyed comfort. Their sin was a careless security that ignored God’s warnings and trusted in outward privilege, prosperity, and human strength.

Zion embodied Judah’s religious confidence, while Samaria was the fortified capital of the northern kingdom. Both peoples had grounds for security. They possessed cities, influence, wealth, and national prominence. Yet none of these could protect them from God’s judgement.

The phrase “at ease” conveys a settled complacency. They were comfortable while the nation was spiritually corrupt. They enjoyed prosperity even as injustice, pride, and ungodliness grew around them. They acted as though judgement could never come.

This remains a serious warning for believers. Material comfort can easily produce spiritual dullness. We may have a secure home, stable income, good health, and religious privileges, yet become careless about prayer, holiness, repentance, and the state of our souls.

Scripture repeatedly warns against false security. “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall” (Proverbs 11:28a). Our confidence must not rest on wealth, position, church membership, or outward blessings, but on the Lord alone.

God’s people must therefore resist spiritual complacency. Comfort should make us thankful, not careless. Prosperity should deepen our dependence on God, not weaken it.

The question Amos presses upon us is searching: Are we resting in the Lord, or in our comforts?

A pastoral exhortation in view of the upcoming Kuching Mission

“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5).

Although Paul was imprisoned and separated from the church in Philippi by a great distance, his memory of their fellowship with him had not diminished. He could write, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you… for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3–5).

Their “fellowship in the gospel” was far more than warm friendship. The biblical idea of fellowship is about sharing, participating, and having something in common. Paul and the Philippians were bound together by their common faith in Christ and their shared commitment to advancing His Gospel.

Although the Philippians could not accompany Paul wherever he preached, they participated in his ministry by praying for him and supporting him materially. They sent Epaphroditus to minister to his needs. They remained concerned for the progress of the Gospel, even when Paul was far from them.

This is beautifully illustrated in Paul’s testimony about the churches of Macedonia. Though they endured “a great trial of affliction” and “deep poverty”, their generosity “abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2). Remarkably, Paul says they gave “to their power” and even “beyond their power” (v. 3). What produced such generosity? Paul explains: they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (v. 5).

There lies the heart of true missionary fellowship. Before we give our money, our time, or our strength, we must first give ourselves to the Lord. When our hearts belong wholly to Christ, we will care about what Christ cares about. We will desire His Gospel to be preached. We will rejoice when sinners hear of the Saviour. We will pray for missionaries and preachers labouring far away. We will willingly support the Gospel works in places which we may never personally visit.

The Philippians understood that those who remain at home can have genuine fellowship with those who go forth. Paul later commended them: “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel… no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only” (Philippians 4:15). 

Their fellowship was practical and enduring “from the first day until now”. This should also characterise our church. The Lord has graciously opened doors for Gospel ministry in various places. Brethren labour in different fields; churches need strengthening; preachers need encouragement; Gospel works require support; and souls still need to hear about Jesus Christ.

Those who travel go as representatives of a congregation that stands behind them in prayer, encouragement, giving, and love. Some may preach. Others may teach. Others may serve in practical ways. But the whole church can participate through “fellowship in the gospel”.

Therefore, the upcoming Mission Trip to Kuching should never be regarded as the undertaking of only those whose names appear on the travelling team. It is our church’s Gospel work.

Let us then pray earnestly for those who will go, that the Lord will keep them spiritually strong and physically well; that He will grant wisdom, courage, humility, and love; that His Word will be preached faithfully; that believers in the mission field will be strengthened; that sinners will hear the Gospel and turn to Christ; and also those who labour there will continue to do so after the visiting team has returned home.

We should always ask ourselves: What has the Lord entrusted to me that can be used for the furtherance of the Gospel? Perhaps we can give financially, encourage a missionary or preacher, help meet a practical need, and regularly remember a particular mission work in prayer. Perhaps the Lord may even be preparing some among us to go forth and serve Him more directly in the days to come.

Missionary concern must never belong only to pastors, missionaries, or mission committees. It belongs to the whole church.

Campus Bible Study Thanksgiving 2026

On Thursday evening, the youths of Campus Bible Study gathered for dinner and fellowship. It was a time to share the Lord’s goodness and mercies that they had experienced throughout another academic year. We also welcomed new friends from various tertiary institutions.

Amidst the demands of academic rigour and the pursuit of secular aspirations, many Christian youths are increasingly overwhelmed by responsibilities that can gradually divert their attention from the Lord. This gathering was planned to urge the participants to consecrate their hearts to the Lord, deepen their love for Him, and begin the new academic year with their priorities rightly ordered before God. We pray that each youth entering or attending tertiary education will commit to the weekly Campus Bible Study and fellowship sessions, which are carefully curated for their spiritual growth. It is essential to meditate constantly on God’s Word throughout the week, for this strengthens our hearts to remain steadfast and guarded against worldly influences.

Join us for our Campus Bible Study Sessions, held weekly on Thursdays (6pm to 7pm) via Google Meet! God willing, we will be studying the wise counsels from the Book of Proverbs.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Sermon Text: Psalm 144:1–15
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 30th August 2026

Luke 4:13—“And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.”

After failing to persuade Jesus to distrust His Father, to worship Satan, and to test God presumptuously, the devil withdrew. Christ had answered each temptation with unwavering obedience to the written Word. Yet Luke includes the sobering qualification, “for a season”. Satan’s departure was temporary. He would return at other opportune moments, seeking to divert Christ from the suffering and death appointed by the Father.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus faced renewed satanic opposition. Peter’s attempt to dissuade Him from the cross echoed the earlier temptation to obtain glory without suffering (Matthew 16:21–23). As the crucifixion approached, Satan’s activity intensified through Judas, Christ’s enemies, and the agony surrounding His betrayal. Nevertheless, Jesus remained obedient unto death and completely triumphed over the evil one.

This verse teaches that overcoming one temptation does not end spiritual conflict. Satan may withdraw after being resisted, but he watches for another suitable opportunity, perhaps when we are tired, discouraged, lonely, prosperous, or spiritually careless. Yesterday’s victory must not become today’s presumption. Scripture therefore warns, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Yet believers need not live in fear. Our Saviour has faced temptation without sinning and is able to succour those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). His victory is the foundation of our confidence, while His Word provides the truth by which temptation is exposed and resisted.

Remain watchful, prayerful, and firmly grounded in Scripture. Do not mistake a quiet season for the end of the battle. Resist the devil steadfastly, depending on Christ, and remember that Satan’s opportunities are limited, whereas Christ’s triumph is everlasting.

Luke 4:12—“And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

Satan brought Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple and urged Him to cast Himself down. Having heard Christ appeal to Scripture, the tempter then quoted Psalm 91:11–12, claiming that God’s angels would preserve Him. Yet Satan distorted the promise by divorcing it from its proper meaning. Psalm 91 assures those who walk obediently in God’s appointed ways; it does not encourage reckless acts intended to force God to prove His faithfulness.

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16: “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” The verse recalls Israel’s sin at Massah, where the people questioned God’s presence and demanded evidence of His care: “Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7). Rather than trusting what God had already revealed, they insisted that He prove Himself to their satisfaction.

Faith trusts God’s promises; presumption misuses them. Faith obeys God and leaves the outcome with Him; presumption acts foolishly and expects God to prevent the consequences. We tempt God whenever we knowingly disobey Him, neglect appointed means, or demand extraordinary signs before believing His Word.

Christ refused to manufacture a spectacular display of divine protection. He did not need to test His Father’s love, for He rested securely in it. His answer also shows that Scripture must interpret Scripture. A biblical quotation used contrary to God’s revealed will is still a misuse of the Bible.

Believers must not seek unnecessary danger and then expect miraculous deliverance. Neither should they demand signs when God has already spoken clearly. Our confidence rests not in dramatic experiences but in God’s unchanging character and trustworthy Word. Do not put God to the test. Trust Him, obey Him, and walk humbly in the path He has appointed.

Luke 4:8—“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world and promised Him their power and glory on one condition: “If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (v. 7). The devil offered Christ a crown without the cross, even worldwide dominion without suffering, obedience, or death. Yet accepting that offer would have meant rejecting the Father’s will and bestowing divine honour on the creature rather than the Creator.

Jesus immediately dismissed the tempter: “Get thee behind me, Satan”. He then cited Deuteronomy 6:13, declaring that worship and service belong exclusively to God. Worship is not merely singing, praying, or attending religious services. It is the wholehearted reverence, love, trust, submission, and obedience that govern one’s life. Whoever receives our highest allegiance is, in practice, the object of our worship.

Christ refused Satan’s shortcut. He would receive the kingdoms of the world from His Father, but only through the appointed path of perfect obedience, suffering, death, and resurrection. While Israel repeatedly turned to idols, the obedient Son remained wholly devoted to God.

Satan still offers apparent advancement through sinful compromise. He suggests that success, influence, comfort, wealth, or recognition can be gained by silencing the conscience and setting aside God’s commands. Yet no earthly advantage can justify spiritual unfaithfulness.

The believer must therefore reject every rival to God. Money, ambition, pleasure, reputation, and even human relationships must never claim the devotion due to Him alone. Worship the Lord sincerely and serve Him faithfully, remembering that every crown gained through compromise is bought at the cost of the soul.

Luke 4:4—“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

After fasting forty days in the wilderness, Jesus was hungry. Satan therefore tempted Him to use His divine power to turn a stone into bread. The temptation was not merely to satisfy hunger but to act independently of His Father’s will. Christ answered by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, recalling how God humbled Israel in the wilderness and taught them that life ultimately depended not on food but on His sustaining Word.

Bread is necessary but not sufficient. Physical life and all its provisions remain entirely under God’s command. Food cannot preserve us unless He blesses it, and deprivation cannot destroy us before His appointed time. True life is sustained by trusting and obeying whatever God has spoken.

Where Israel murmured and failed in the wilderness, Christ, the obedient Son, trusted His Father completely. He refused to end His suffering by straying from the path appointed for Him. His victory also teaches us how to resist temptation: not by human reasoning, determination, or compromise, but by faith in the written Word—“It is written”.

We are often tempted to make physical comfort, financial security, health, or immediate relief our highest priority. Yet no earthly provision can nourish the soul. We need the promises, commands, warnings, and consolations of Scripture. God’s Word reveals Christ, strengthens faith, corrects error, and guides us in righteousness.

Therefore, do not feed the body while starving the soul. Read the Scriptures prayerfully, receive them humbly, and obey them faithfully. Bread sustains earthly life for a season, but God’s Word leads us into life everlasting.

Mark 13:33—“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

Jesus spoke these words while teaching His disciples about His return. He had warned them of coming deception, persecution, tribulation, and cosmic disturbances. Yet He did not reveal the precise time when all these things would be fulfilled. Instead of encouraging speculation, Christ commanded spiritual vigilance: “Take ye heed, watch and pray”.

“Take ye heed” is a call to careful self-examination. Believers must guard against false teaching, spiritual carelessness, and worldly distraction. Prophecy is not given merely to satisfy curiosity about future events. It is intended to produce holy and watchful living. A person may understand many prophetic details and yet remain spiritually unprepared.

“Watch” means to remain awake and alert. In the following verses, Jesus compared Himself to a man travelling into a far country who assigned responsibilities to his servants and commanded the porter to watch. Christ has ascended into heaven, but He has entrusted His servants with work to do until He returns. Watching, therefore, is not passive waiting. It means faithfully fulfilling our duties, resisting sin, serving Christ, and expecting His appearing.

“Pray” reminds us that watchfulness cannot be maintained by human strength. Prayer keeps the heart dependent upon God. Through prayer, believers seek grace to withstand temptation, discern error, endure trials, and remain faithful.

The reason for Christ’s command is plain: “Ye know not when the time is”. The uncertainty of the time should not produce fear or speculation, but constant readiness. Christ may come when many are spiritually sleeping. Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds faithful at His return. Therefore, let us watch over our hearts, pray without ceasing, and diligently perform the work He has given us.

Mark 11:26—“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Jesus spoke these words while teaching His disciples about believing prayer. Having commanded them to “Have faith in God” (v. 22), He also taught that effective prayer requires a forgiving heart: “When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any” (v. 25). Faith in God cannot be separated from a gracious disposition towards others.

Christ’s warning is solemn: “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” This does not mean that sinners earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others. Scripture plainly teaches that forgiveness is granted by grace through Christ’s redeeming blood: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). Our forgiveness of others is not the meritorious cause of God’s forgiveness but necessary evidence that we have truly experienced His mercy.

An unforgiving heart contradicts a profession of saving faith. The person who understands how much God has forgiven him cannot withhold forgiveness from a repentant brother. Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the unforgiving servant, who received extraordinary mercy yet refused to show it to another (Matthew 18:23–35).

Christ also speaks here of the Father’s forgiveness within His relationship with His children. Cherished bitterness disrupts communion with God and hinders prayer. A believer cannot approach the Father sincerely for cleansing while stubbornly refusing to let go of personal vengeance.

Forgiveness does not excuse sin, remove lawful consequences, or immediately restore broken trust. It means renouncing personal revenge, refusing to nurture resentment, and remaining willing to pursue reconciliation biblically.

Is there someone against whom you are harbouring bitterness? Remember the immeasurable mercy shown to you in Christ. Forgive, not to purchase God’s grace, but because His forgiving grace has conquered your heart.