Sermon Text: Psalm 89:38–52
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 22nd September 2024
Sermon Text: Psalm 89:38–52
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 22nd September 2024
29b We ought to obey God rather than men.
These were the words of Peter and other apostles who were brought before the Jewish council that prohibited them from preaching the name of Jesus Christ. The high priest who headed the council charged them, saying, “Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us” (Acts 5:28). However, on an earlier occasion, Peter and John had already told the very same council that “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
The apostles’ bold and forthright reply was a much-needed spiritual lesson for the self-promoting, self-seeking, unreasonable Jewish religious leaders, who exhibited their utter defiance to God by crucifying Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Their hatred for the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the main reason for their ungodly demand that the apostles be banned from speaking about Christ.
Man’s greatest obligation or duty in life is to obey God. So the apostles said, “We ought to obey God”. We owe to God our obedience. It is a requirement abundantly set forth in the Scriptures and in our conscience. For instance, in Deuteronomy 13:4, the LORD commanded, “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (cf. Deuteronomy 27:10). The prophet Samuel taught that obedience to God’s Word is more important than sacrifices: “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Jesus also taught that obedience is the proof of one’s love for Him: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15; cf. Exodus 20:6).
So by declaring their commitment “to obey God rather than men”, the apostles exalted God above all human authorities, whether it be secular or religious. They and all other Christian martyrs chose death rather than a disobedient life. They were men committed to obey the Lord at any cost. Making the ultimate sacrifice in obedience to the Lord should be the Christian’s highest honour and privilege.
10b Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Christianity is not about following any man-made philosophical system or way of life. Neither is it about winning the approval of men at any cost. The Christian ministry’s main concern is to follow Christ and please God.
The Gospel that Paul preached was “according to the will of God” (Galatians 1:4). He warned the Galatian Christians that those who preached a different Gospel from what they had heard from him were attempting to “pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7). He even pronounced them as “accursed”! “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). The apostle’s pronouncement of curse on the perverters of the Gospel proves abundantly that he was not a man-pleaser.
In fact, he repeatedly condemned such who perverted the Gospel. Paul was firm in guarding the truth: “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Galatians 2:4-5). He was uncompromising when it came to false teaching – “he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be” (Galatians 5:10); “I would they were even cut off which trouble you” (Galatians 5:12). Evidently, Paul was not a flatterer. He was not the kind of preacher who cajoles a congregation by playing on their vanity.
Many churches nowadays, being driven by the marketing principles of the secular world, have sought to be “seeker-friendly”. Such churches do not take firm doctrinal positions based on God’s Word. They view strong doctrinal convictions as unhelpful to the growth of the church. Neither do they rebuke worldliness and sin among their people. Any man-pleasing approach that compromises the biblical truths is contrary to the service of Christ. Man-pleasers are not Christ-pleasers. Anything that pleases man which displeases the Lord is accursed conduct in the Christian ministry. Thus Paul advises us, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6).
4a Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.
Herein Paul declares in a sentence the grand plan of God concerning our salvation. He begins with Christ’s self-sacrifice for our salvation. He says that Christ “gave himself for our sins”. Christ’s death on the cross was voluntary. He came into this world for that purpose. On numerous occasions, our Lord declared that His mission on earth was to lay down His life for the redemption of sinners. He had Himself said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The apostle John recorded Jesus as saying, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). His death was neither accidental nor forced upon Him. Prior to His death, Jesus said, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18).
Christ’s giving of Himself for our sins was the perfect and final divine act of redemption. His death appeased God’s just wrath against sinners, reconciled people to God, and provided for their redemption. So Paul said in Titus 2:14 that Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
One purpose of Christ’s death is to deliver us from the present evil world. By His death, Christ delivers believing sinners from the power of the present world system. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is an emancipating message. His death draws us to Him and separates us from the governing power and influence of this present world’s wickedness. It is deliverance from the power of this world, fuelled by its threefold seductiveness “in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16)!
Unsaved persons live under the corrupting influence of this world and its god, Satan. As 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” But Christ’s death frees all who have trusted Him from the defiling world. Those whom Christ has saved by His death will have His saving power that liberates them from the pollutions of this evil world. We are saved to love Christ and His righteousness, certainly not this world and its ungodly ways of life.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
This is one of the many doxologies in the Bible. A doxology is an utterance or a short hymn of praise to God. The word “doxology” comes from the Greek words, doxa (“glory, grandeur”) and logos (“word, speaking”).
Giving glory to God is the believers’ greatest duty on earth. It is their natural inclination to ascribe to God the glory (i.e. the honour and praise) due unto Him. Glory is due unto our God. His people are repeatedly exhorted in the Scriptures to be mindful of this chief end. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2). Similarly, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts” (Psalm 96:8).
Observe the apostle Paul’s utterance, “God and our Father”. In the previous verse, he had said, “my God shall supply all your need”. Paul was speaking assuredly of God’s gracious provision for all his needs and those of the believers. Here he calls all believers to join him to give glory to God by referring to Him as “God and our Father”. We must, like Paul, urge one another to gather together in the church to praise God as His children. How wonderful it is to glorify God as our Father!
God is our Father in Christ Jesus. Jesus taught us to pray and glorify Him, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). We must praise our God because “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103:13). We should never regard Him as a despotic ruler of the universe. He is no tyrant, but a kind and loving Father to all His people. As a father is concerned for his children, so is God concerned for all the believers. He will supply all our need “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, to God our Father, be glory for ever and ever!
May it never be said of us that we have not returned to give glory to God our Father. Let us be God’s thankful and worshipful people always. One activity of God’s people here on earth that will continue into eternity, even after their life on earth is over, is their giving of praise unto God. All His redeemed and the angels shall praise Him in His celestial glory for ever. God is to be praised for ever. “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Being thankful for the love and concern expressed by the brethren in the Philippian church through their financial support, Paul was moved to utter these words. Just as the brethren were concerned for Paul’s well-being, he was also concerned about theirs. He knew that they showed generosity towards him not because they themselves were free from financial needs. Paul could do little to help them on his own, but he prayed that God would provide for all their needs. Essentially, he was saying, “Brethren, I am unable to return your kindness, but I pray that my God will supply all your need just as He has supplied my want through you.”
The expression “my God” conveys Paul’s confidence in God as his unfailing Provider in all of his life’s needs. God was his most benevolent benefactor. The sentiment conveyed here by Paul is very much like that of David who said, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Because God has been wholly in charge of all of his life’s needs, he is also assured that God will attend to the needs of his fellow Christians at Philippi.
Paul’s words, “my God shall supply all your need”, exalt God as the most merciful and faithful Provider of all His people. God’s ability and willingness to supply all our need, as well as His commitment to do so as our covenant God, are conceived in Paul’s words. God undertakes to meet all our needs. Yes, our needs (both temporal and spiritual) are many, but the extent of His supply is “according to his riches in glory”. God gives unto His children, not as a poor man who struggles to provide in the face of scarcity, nor as a rich man who gives grudgingly. He supplies according to His boundless riches in glory. He will look after us till we get to the glorious celestial home which He has prepared for us.
How inadequate words are in describing the riches of God! The grandeur of His supply is conspicuous throughout the universe – in the light of the sun, in the starry sky, in the flowers of the field, in the birds of the sky, in all things both seen and unseen. “The whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). It is God’s inexhaustible supply that is promised to us which will be channelled to us by Christ Jesus. Christ is the guarantee of the divine supply. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
This is the solemn witness borne by the apostle Paul while he was bound in chains and imprisoned for Christ in Rome. His confinement and intimidating situation could have broken his spirit and left him in utter distress. He could have wept over his inability to do what he had been doing before his arrest and confinement in the high-security prison of the Roman emperor’s palace. As he was not allowed to visit the churches which he loved so dearly, he was left yearning for their fellowship which was deprived him. “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:8). Being also severely hampered in the oversight of all that he had been praying and planning for the Gospel’s advancement, he was most concerned about the preaching ministry in those churches and their spiritual safety (cf. Philippians 1:15- 16, 27-30).
Regardless of all those heart-breaking deprivations, Paul was absolutely confident that his Saviour and Lord would continue to strengthen him to do all that he had been called to accomplish. He did not fear that his present imprisonment would shut him away from divine purposes and power. Instead, he believed with all his heart that all that had happened to him would lead him to new frontiers of Gospel advancement.
Earlier in this epistle, Paul had comforted the Philippian Christians who were anxious about his arrest and confinement by reporting to them that the Lord had paved a way to new Gospel frontiers through his incarceration. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). In the next verse, he explained that the palace (of Caesar) and its vicinity had heard of his suffering for Christ. Apparently, the Lord had given him opportunities to explain his faith to the guards, officials and workers whom he met in the palace’s prison. Thus, the Gospel spread quickly through those who believed through Paul’s testimony. Even within the palace, some had turned to Christ, as Paul wrote at the end of this epistle that “all the saints” in “Caesar’s household” joined him to salute the Philippian Christians (Philippians 4:22). Paul could not have devised a plan so effective as this to enter Caesar’s palace with the Gospel, Caesar being a sworn enemy of the Gospel. In effect, it was Christ who sent Paul into the palace as a prisoner to preach the Gospel! Christ can fulfil all His will concerning us, just as Paul had testified.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
As much as this exhortation is a warning to Christians against becoming weary in well doing, it is also an encouragement to continue in their commitment to be charitable and helpful to others in need. Throughout the New Testament, Christians are urged to be welldoers. Jesus exhorted His followers in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Likewise in Titus 3:8, we are instructed by Paul “that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.”
The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” So, how do we know what are the good works that God wants us to fulfil? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us that “All scripture is given … that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” In pursuing well doing, we are obeying the will of God revealed in the Bible.
Even among those who oppose us, we are commanded to show our good works. We read in 1 Peter 2:12, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Christian women are told that what is proper for godly women is not so much “broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” as “good works”. In 1 Timothy 6:18, rich Christians are admonished to be mindful “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate”. Though widows are often needy people, they too are encouraged to be engaged in well doing, so that they may be found worthy to be in the list of women who can be entrusted with responsibilities in the church. In 1 Timothy 5:10, Paul advised that such a widow should be “well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.”
Quite often, we may be disappointed and even discouraged by the ungratefulness and abusive reaction of the recipients of our kindness. However, we should not allow our hearts to grow weary in well doing.
Sermon Text: Psalm 89:1–37
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 15th September 2024
From 4th to 6th Sept 2024 (Wed – Fri), the 25th BW Retreat was held in Gethsemane Media Centre. 71 adults and 17 children participated in studying the theme: “God of Covenants”. While four children’s teachers – Mrs Abigail Koshy, Mrs Leanne Joseph, Miss Crayson Wong, Mrs Gracia Chew – faithfully taught the theme from God’s Word to children, Pastor Koshy expounded the Scriptures to the adults who gathered to learn about the theme. Every afternoon, the participants met together to pray. We thank God for the blessed time of learning and fellowship, which is gratefully recollected in the testimonies below.
Dominic Kwok and Beng Hwee
We are so blessed to have Pastor Koshy, who is so dedicated to feed the flock, to teach us much about God’s “Biblical Covenant” during this Bible Witness Retreat. Thank God for enabling Pastor to prepare and preach nine messages over the three days of retreat.
We are grateful for God’s mercy and grace through His redemption work, and His patience with us as we still struggle with sin daily. It is a journey which He continues to refine us for His service. Also, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness – one such striking lesson is that we are assured that God is a Promise-Keeper. There are times we get discouraged in pleading with God daily for our children’s salvation. But knowing that He is a Promise-Keeper has helped us to continue trusting in Him! We were also touched when we learnt about the plight of the hymn-writer who wrote “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”, which is a timely encouragement for us to trust God despite setbacks and struggles. We have a sovereign God who is in control of everything – so let us hold fast our faith!
Finally, the retreat allowed us to have wonderful fellowship with the brethren, and to know them better.
Jane Koh
Thank God for the 3 days of Bible study at the recent Bible Witness Retreat, on “The God of Covenant”. Thank God for Rev Koshy for teaching us God’s Word and for encouraging us to walk close to Him. Thank God also for many brethren who came with their children to study and listen to His Word. All praise, glory and honour to our Heavenly Father.
Dns Diana Chan
The God of Abraham be praised for the 25th Bible Witness Retreat! Indeed, Jehovah, the great I AM, is also the God of love.
Praise the Lord for Pastor’s preaching of nine messages on “The God of Covenant”. Thank God also for Dn Lok and brethren in GBWL for their labour of love in organising the Retreat. I was blessed by the messages. I have gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of covenant, how God reveals Himself through His covenant, a believer’s relationship with God in His covenant, and the attributes of God in the covenant.
The covenant of God is a promise, oath, vow, bond, agreement or commandment of God with His people. God initiates the relationship with His people. God chooses His people. God reveals Himself to His people through His covenant as the God of Redemption and Restoration. He shows His grace to us by forgiving us of our sins, redeeming and restoring us to Him by the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ. Only then can God establish His relationship with His people. “I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1b).
The covenant is not an assumption. It is the declaration of God. It is unilateral. It is not a two-party agreement. We do not negotiate with God the terms and conditions of His covenant. It is singularly and sovereignly administered by God. He is the great I AM. The components in God’s covenant are His promises, blessings and curses, conditions, signs and sacrifice of the blood. An example of a promise of blessing when there is obedience, is in Exodus 20:12 – “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” There is also a curse if there will be no obedience – “And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 11:28a). So, the covenant with God denotes a personal relationship between God and the believer. It is a bond, as emphasised by God in Genesis 9:15a, “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you”.
In establishing covenants with His people, God also provided signs, as highlighted in the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and the New Covenants. An example of a sign in a covenant is the rainbow in the Noahic Covenant. After the flood, God sent a rainbow as the sign of His covenant with Noah, that He would not destroy the earth again with a flood. I thank God for the rainbow in that whenever I have the opportunity to see a rainbow, I am reminded of God’s mercy and grace, His assurance and promises.
The covenant of God also reveals that God is the Creator and Sustainer. He is the God of design and order, God of moral and ethical order, God of providential and personal order. I praise and thank God for His covenant between Him and me. He is “my shepherd”. He decides and directs the providential and personal order of my life. He “leadeth me … for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3b).
Therefore, may we, His covenant people, “know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). All glory and praise be to God!
Carolyn Koshy
I thank God I’ve attended all the sessions of this retreat, through which I’m much convicted after learning from the exposition of Pastor’s clear teaching of “The God of Covenant”. Truly, God’s covenants have been at work from the time of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament, right up to even now in our time, beyond the New Testament, until He comes to reign on earth and ushers His people into heaven. God’s covenants offer us the bond of a most loving relationship with Him in Christ; this we must trust and appropriate as our way of life. His covenant is steadfast and the solid foundation for our lives. God never lies, and His covenantal words are His oath to us. It is now up to us to confess our sins, receive by faith His salvific promises, and submit to all His precepts, including the Ten Commandments, for our blessing.
Pastor’s exposition of 2 Peter 1:3-4 has strengthened me further in God’s “great and precious promises”, because they shall be accomplished in me and all believers by our all-powerful God, who would not fail. These divine promises shall equip us in our lives to be virtuous and glorious. To encourage all of us, Pastor sang us the song with these lyrics: “Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best. Lovingly is part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.”
Nathan Resuma
The 25th Bible Witness Retreat was a great blessing to me and my family. I praise and thank God for His timely provision which allowed us to attend the retreat. I thank God for Pastor who preached on the theme: “The God of Covenant”, and for the many lessons I have learned.
Peggy Lee
Thank you, Infinite God, for the 3 days of careful study of Your words.
Thank you, Incomprehensible God, for giving Pastor Koshy a deep understanding of Your covenants and the wisdom to explain Your promises to us.
Thank you, Invisible God, for having progressively revealed Yourself – so that we, finite beings, can know You.
Thank you, Unsearchable and Unfathomable God, for wanting to establish a relationship with Your people.
Thank you, my Heavenly Father, for giving me a heart to know You as my God and for making me Your child.
Thank you, O LORD, for giving me the understanding that You are the ‘I AM THAT I AM’ – the self-existing, eternal and unchanging God.
Thank you, Merciful God, for unilaterally and sovereignly conceiving and initiating Your covenants.
Thank you, Gracious God, for sovereignly extending Your covenants to whomsoever You will.
Thank you, Omnipotent God, for sovereignly exercising Your covenants, and fulfilling all Your covenants.
Thank you, Immutable God, for being the Creator of design and order, as portrayed in all the created beings, and for sustaining them.
Thank you, Holy Father, for making known Your Moral Order to Your people.
Thank you, Faithful God, for accomplishing Your covenants by the sending of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Longsuffering God, for all your Grace and Patience towards Your creation.
Thank you, Only Just God, for extending Your New Covenant to us while we were yet sinners, and redeeming us.
Thank you, Loving God, for the many exceeding great and precious promises given by the Holy Spirit to Your people.
Thank you, Only True God, for being true and faithful to keep all Your promises.
My Heavenly Father, help me to grow in faith and love for You, the All-Sufficient and All-Powerful God. May I, without worry or fear for tomorrow, undoubtfully trust You to lead me in Your truth, till I reach the promised land. All glory be to the Only Great God!
Dn Lim Ah Sang
Thank God for the blessed 25th Bible Witness Retreat held recently in GMC (4th-6th September 2024). It was a “foretaste” of heaven, where 70 plus participants gathered to praise and worship God, to pray, and to learn of the many aspects God’s wonderful truths concerning “The God of Covenant”, as well as to have fellowship one with another in Christ.
This retreat serves as a good spiritual stimulus for me to be enlightened of the deep doctrines on our covenantal God – the great I AM who is sovereign and faithful in His covenants, in His perfect redemption plan for man through Jesus Christ progressively revealed in the Scriptures, and in His gracious, exceedingly great and precious promises which are “yea” and “Amen”.
Knowing that we are the sons of the most gracious “God of Covenant”, may we persevere in the faith in these troublous times, and be faithful witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ till His soon return.
Indeed, the good LORD be praised for sustaining and enabling Pastor Koshy in his faithful teaching of the nine messages during the retreat. Thank God also for all who have laboured and contributed towards the retreat. All glory be unto the one living and true God!