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It may surprise some to learn that some of the fiercest attacks against God’s Word arise not from secular critics, but from within the church itself. When unbelievers scoff at Scripture, we expect it. But when pastors, leaders, and professing Christians disregard, distort, or diminish the Bible’s authority, the damage is severe, the betrayal more grievous. In such times, the church must not retreat, but rise—humbly and courageously—to defend the unchanging truth she has been entrusted to uphold. As 1 Timothy 3:15 declares, the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Yet, in doing so, we must ask ourselves: can frail, fallen men truly “defend” the Word of the living God? Scripture itself portrays the Word not as something fragile needing rescue, but as fire, as a hammer that shatters rock (Jeremiah 23:29). It is not God’s Word that needs us; rather, we desperately need the Word. The Lord is our Defender, and His truth is our shield (Psalm 91:4). To presume that the Bible will fail without our help is both proud and perilous. We are not called to uphold it as if it were weak, but to declare it faithfully, for it stands forever (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25).

We must therefore approach the defence of God’s Word with deep reverence, not misplaced confidence. Scripture warns that those who speak for God must be sanctified by Him. “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes?” God asks the unclean in Psalm 50:16. None of us, by nature, is worthy to handle His Word. It is only by His mercy that we are made fit.

So the right posture is not pride but petition: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, that I may serve You.” Let every preacher, teacher, singer, and giver say, “God has helped me.” As Paul testified, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). All our labours for the truth must be grounded in grace.

We do not defend the Word because it is weak, but because we have been entrusted with it. And we do so not in our own strength, but in humble dependence on the God whose Word endures forever.

Worthy Defenders of God’s Word

The record of Jeremiah 23 is a sobering reminder that even those who profess to be God’s people can become miserable custodians of His truth. Israel’s failure to uphold God’s Word stands as a warning to the church today. Some precious lessons gleaned from Jeremiah 23 are shared below that we, who are called to be “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), must consider carefully to be worthy defenders of God’s Word.

Be Faithful Believers

God’s displeasure towards the people of Judah was powerfully expressed in the words of Jeremiah: “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD” (vv. 9-11).

The people, prophets and priests in God’s house, who were meant to uphold God’s truth, are declared profane because they are even found with their wickedness within God’s house. The land is described as mourning and drying up because it is “full of adulterers”, symbolising widespread moral and spiritual decay. Those who fail to obey and honour God’s Word become enemies within the house of God.

Even today, passive, indifferent, and disobedient believers undermine the testimony of the church. Faithful defence of God’s Word begins not with grand arguments but with simple, unwavering obedience. When God’s Word commands, we obey. Whether He calls us to rebuke sin, forsake worldliness, or abandon personal ambitions for His sake, our response must be immediate and complete. Obedience is the most basic and robust defence of God’s truth.

Faithfulness to Scripture is essential. The church must uphold truth, pursue holiness, and reject compromise. Without this, even places meant for worship become corrupted. God’s people must remain vigilant, obedient, and reverent.

Be Faithful Preachers

Jeremiah also denounces false prophets who speak “a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:16). God’s Word concerning those false prophets: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”

Preachers who substitute their own opinions for God’s truth corrupt their sacred office. They are deceivers of God’s people, certainly not proclaimers and defenders of God’s truth, for they give credence to their thoughts over God’s thoughts.

The pulpit is not a stage for personal display; it is a platform sanctified for proclaiming the unadulterated Word of God. Preachers must renounce all pride and pray: “O LORD, teach me and make me to know what Thou hast spoken in Thy Word.” True defenders of the Word are those who humble themselves under its authority and declare only what God has said.

We must learn to discern truth carefully, test all teaching by Scripture, and reject flattering lies. True spiritual guidance comes from God’s mouth, not human imagination. God’s people must value truth over personal prosperity, prestige, pleasure and popularity.

Be Rebukers of Ungodliness

God abhorred prophets who told evildoers, “Ye shall have peace.” Unmasking their role in promoting sin, Jeremiah declared, “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. (Jeremiah 23:17). Instead of confronting sin, they comforted the rebellious. Such tolerance of sin invites God’s wrath.

The church today must resist the temptation to soften God’s standards for the sake of acceptance. Pastors and elders must courageously call sin what it is. Fathers must lead their families in righteousness. Every believer must take up the sword of the Spirit to fight off sin. The refusal to rebuke sin is not compassion; it is compromise, and it undermines the authority of God’s Word. 

Be Steadfast in His Counsels

God asked through Jeremiah, “For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?” (Jeremiah 23:18). Those words reveal that not all who claimed to know God truly listened to Him. They may outwardly profess loyalty to His Word by reading it, quoting it, even preaching it. But their lives tell another story. Their conduct, choices, and priorities show an insulting indifference to God’s commands.

Today, many profess to uphold the counsel of the LORD, yet their lives betray indifference to its commands. Marking our Bibles with underlines is not the same as marking God’s Word in our hearts. Some underline verses in their Bibles, memorise Scripture, or attend faithful churches, yet their hearts remain cold, their actions unchanged, and their wills unyielded. They treat God’s Word like information rather than divine instruction. This is not standing in His counsel; it is standing near it without being shaped by it. Such a disconnect is dangerous.

To truly stand in the counsel of the LORD means more than hearing His Word—it means submitting to it in reverent obedience. We must measure our love for God’s Word by our faithfulness to it. Have we truly stood in His counsel? Let us search our hearts and confess, “O LORD, we have heard Thy Word but have not stood in Thy counsel. Have mercy on us!” The evidence of true defenders of the Word is transformation, a people turning from evil and walking in truth.

Be Not Pretenders

The Lord declared, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21). These men claimed to speak for God without His calling or appointment. These prophets acted with zeal but lacked divine commission. The lesson is clear: not everyone who runs in God’s name is sent by Him.

Today, pulpits are filled with self-appointed preachers who lack divine calling. A true preacher must have an inward conviction of God’s call, visible spiritual maturity and the gifting affirmed by the church. Bible colleges cannot confer a divine call; only God can. Churches must be discerning and prayerful before ordaining anyone to ministry. It is dangerous and grievous to support a man whom God has not called. Pretenders will only lead the flock astray.

Ministry without divine commission dishonours God and misleads His people. Today, we must guard the pulpit and spiritual leadership from men of ambition-driven service. Ministry must be grounded in God’s calling, shaped by His Word, and empowered by His Spirit, not by personal desire or public approval.

Conclusion

How then do we become defenders of God’s Word? It begins with allowing the Word to defend and sanctify us. We do not fight for the Bible by our fleshly strength, but by the spiritual weapons God provides (2 Corinthians 10:4). We must be moulded by the truth we proclaim. Our confidence is not in our intellect or ability, but in God’s grace and calling.

Moreover, the church as a whole must submit to the authority of Scripture. Let every member be a Berean, testing what they hear against the Word. Let us never forget the tragedy of unfaithful men who publicly upheld the Bible while privately denying it. Anyone who disobeys the Word ridicules it and discards it with contempt.

As Jeremiah 23:22 says, “But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way.” The evidence of true defenders of the Word is transformation—a people turning from evil and walking in truth.

Finally, let us remember Paul’s words to Timothy: “That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Our identity as the church of the living God is proven in our role as the pillar and ground of the truth. We uphold the glory of God’s Word by living under its rule. Only then are we deemed worthy defenders of His truth.

READ:

Proverbs 1:10

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

EXHORTATION:

This is a very necessary fatherly advice to all young people against the lure of sinners. With tenderness and gravity of heart, the young person is addressed: “My son”. It is vital that parents and those who minister to young people maintain an affectionate and yet vigilant spirit, to offer them timely advice that would guard them against the lure of sinners.

There is always something alluring about the ways of sinners. They who walk in sin also seek to entice others into their path. They aggressively promote their evil ways among young people, not even sparing those who are being brought up in godly homes. Sin is unduly glamorised and blatantly propagandised in the societies in which we live.

We cannot trust the world to bring up our children in godly ways. Whether it be in schools or universities, sports or arts centers, there are sinners constantly seeking to coax our children into wickedness. The word “sinners” emphasises their commitment to practise and promote sin. They are habitual sinners who have no qualms about pursuing a life of sin. They are not only persistent in their sins, they also constantly persuade others to follow their ways. So we must, with all seriousness, lovingly admonish children about the dangers of the allurement of sin and sinners.

The word “entice” implies a deceptive attempt to capture another’s imagination that involves portraying their ways as profitable and pleasurable. They masterfully conceal the perilous nature of their sin; they misguide their “prey” into thinking there is no evil or danger in what they do. They bait their hook and “package” their sinful ways as “great fun”, “entertainment”, “freedom”, etc. They promise to show their victim what real life is all about. They deceive the young ones with their flashy appeal.

Let us also note that sin’s greatest influence comes through “sinners”. It will often be a collective effort by sinners to entice a naive person into sin. They will work together to cajole their victim into wicked ways. The word “consent” denotes the beginning of a positive reaction to an appeal made. So, the admonition is that one should not even bother to consider the invitation of the sinners. A willingness to consider their alluring words will inevitably lead to a disastrous end. Thus, the young person must be convinced that he should totally ignore the counsel of the “sinners”.

READ:

Revelation 20:15

¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

EXHORTATION:

This is a divine declaration about those whom God will cast into the lake of fire, the place of eternal torment. This is certain to happen. Let not the strident voices of the unbelieving ones – that God will not cast anyone into eternal hell – ever cause us to doubt the certainty of His judgment, which is mentioned so clearly here. God will execute the judgment of the unrepentant and the unredeemed, just as He has said here.

We are told that “whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” The word “whosoever” means all persons, irrespective of their ranks, worldly achievements, age or social status. It is an all-encompassing word. The only group of people who will be delivered from the lake of fire will be those whose names are “found written in the book of life”. Kings, princes, statesmen, judges, philosophers, religious men, rich men, poor men, the young, the aged, and all whose names are not found written in the book of life, will be doomed to the lake of fire for eternal punishment!

In the New Testament, “the book of life” is the sacred register of all those who are saved (cf. Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 22:19). This book belongs to Christ, the Lamb who was slain for the redemption of the people whose names are written in the book from the foundation of the world (cf. Revelation 13:8; 17:8). At the last judgment, everyone not listed in the book of life is consigned to the fiery lake (Revelation 20:12, 15).

How can you know whether your names are written in the book of life? If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be an overcomer of sins and trials by His grace, you can be assured that your name is in the book of life. In Revelation 3:5, Jesus said, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” He will never blot out the names of those who have trusted Him for the forgiveness of their sins. The comfort of the believers is that their names are recorded in the book of life and that they shall remain secure in the possession of the Lamb who was slain for them.

But all those who are not found in the Book of Life will be doomed to an eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

READ:

Revelation 20:14

¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

EXHORTATION:

This is a description of what follows the great white throne judgment. All the wicked dead shall be brought to life again and be judged according to their works by the Lord who sits upon the Throne. According to the previous verse, Revelation 20:13, “the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” The mention of “the sea” giving up its dead makes it clear that regardless of how far a body has disintegrated, it will nevertheless be resurrected for this judgment. The physical bodies of the unsaved will be joined with their souls; then they will be cast into “the lake of fire”!>

The phrase “lake of fire” occurs only in Revelation, and that for a total of five times (19:20; 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8). In our text, the casting of the wicked dead into the lake of fire is referred to as “the second death”. It does not denote, as some say, annihilation or complete destruction of a person. According to their teaching, the soul and body of the wicked will be completely destroyed such that they will not suffer the eternal torment in hell or the lake of fire. That teaching of annihilation is unscriptural.

The lake of fire is the place where the wicked will suffer eternally the torments of hell. It is the place in which the wicked spend eternity in torment. John the Baptizer referred to hell as “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). Jesus referred to hell as “everlasting fire” (Matthew 18:8), and “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). He also described hell as “the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43b-44; cf. 9:46, 48).

This is the place where Satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet will also be cast into forever. Revelation 20:10 says, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” The epistle of Jude also testifies to the eternality of the hellfire, which is reserved for the wicked. Hell’s torment is referred to by Jude as “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7).

Those who repent from their sin and trust in Christ do not have to fear the eternal hell. In Revelation 20:6, it is said concerning the believers that “on such the second death hath no power”.

READ:

1 Corinthians 10:31

³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

EXHORTATION:

The chief purpose for which God’s people should live is God’s glory. It is also the chief rule by which they decide what they should do. They should do only that which will honour God.

To act for the glory of God is to act so that His glory is acknowledged, admired and accomplished. Whatever is done to advance the glory of God is right; and whatever is done without the purpose of His glory is wrong.

The rule that we must glorify God extends to everything in our lives, not just in the activities of the church. Not only on the Lord’s Day, but every day we ought to exalt His name. Even as we eat and drink daily, we must glorify God. In other words, the honour of God must be our constant passion in life.

In order to glorify God in all aspects of our life, we must be preoccupied with His glory. We must be wholly dedicated to His glory at all times. A fascination with His glory is paramount in every Christian’s life. Hence, we are commanded, “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

If we should seek to honour God in so small matters as eating and drinking, how it ought to be our singular motive behind all our actions, endevaours and relationship. Whatsoever we do must tend to His glory.

It must also be noted that when we are asked to do all things for God’s glory, we are not asked to help to add to His glory. Nothing we do add to His glory. He is “the King of glory” (Ps. 24:7-10). “His glory is great” (Ps. 21:5). “The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens” (Ps. 113:4). “Great is the glory of the LORD” (Ps. 138:5). Our duty is simply to yield ourselves to be vessels of His glory.

We must declare and live for His glory. Like David, who avowed himself to the praise of His glory, let us also joyfully say, “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works” (Ps. 145:5).

Let us also live to exalt His glory. Nothing in our conduct should obstruct God’s glory from being reflected in us. In everything we do and say, no matter how insignificant, the world should be able to see that we are God’s people committed to His glory.

READ:

Proverbs 16:25

²⁵ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

EXHORTATION:

This verse has been mentioned once before in Proverbs 14:12. Since it is being repeated, we stand alerted twice to its warning. Hence, it is of utmost importance that we pay attention to its admonition.

We are warned here concerning the delusive and seductive nature of our self-will. Alas, even a destructive way may seem right unto a man if he simply follows his passion and self-will, which have been darkened by sin. If a man’s thoughts and feelings are not guided by the wisdom of God’s Word, what is harmful may seem right to him, being warped by his mind that is predisposed to sin and disobedience. Without the light of God’s Word, our minds are prone to choose the destructive ways of sin.

Under the influence of sin, man’s conscience loses its power to discern and to make right judgment. It “seemeth right” to him, but only in its appearance. Things are not what they seem. On the surface, the path would appear easy, pleasant and quite safe. Many may be walking along that same road, but without the wisdom of God’s Word. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13b, “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. Fashions of the world further fuel the follies of a generation misguided by their sin-plagued conscience. As Proverbs 30:12 says, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Let us be wary of the social conscience of our times, which is often misshaped and misled by man’s sinful passions. It is utterly perilous to think that our ways are the best and most desirable. Our perverted minds and passions will lead us astray, like a moth that is attracted to the flame.

Even when we render our service to God, we cannot follow our thoughts blindly. Oftentimes, by the very act which we think will please God, we actually provoke Him to anger. In Isaiah 29:13, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men”.

Man without God is prejudiced, confused, ignorant and self-deceiving; he walks inexorably to a ruinous end. So let us examine our ways and be sure to follow Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

READ:

Hebrews 13:7b

^7b Whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

EXHORTATION:

After instructing Christians to remember those who have the rule over them and have taught them God’s Word, the writer of Hebrews exhorted them to follow the faith of their faithful teachers. What could have been intended by the word “faith”?

Firstly, “faith” is the trust that one’s heart places in Christ and His Word. It is by such faith that we are saved. Ephesians 2:8 says, “by grace are ye saved through faith”. Secondly, “faith” can be a reference to the truths of God that we ought to believe. Thus, we are exhorted in Jude 1:3 to “contend for the faith”. Thirdly, “faith” also signifies fidelity or faithfulness. In Titus 2:10, the Greek word for “faith” (pisitis) is translated as “fidelity”. So the word “faith” here could encompass all of those Scriptural thoughts attached to it; it therefore indicates the leaders’ dependence upon and faithfulness unto God and His Word.

We are instructed to “follow” the faith and faithfulness of those godly men who have preached the Word of God unto us. The Greek word for “follow” (miméomai) literally means “imitate”. We ought to follow in the footsteps of faithful preachers who have taught God’s Word unto us. We must speak words of faith and perform deeds of faith as they have done.

We are also told to follow their faith, “considering the end of their conversation”. The word “consider” actually means “to look at again and again” or “to observe carefully”. The word “end” (ekbasis) means “a going out” or “an egress”; hence it refers to one’s going out from life or exiting from the world. It could be a reference to their death, when they are finally delivered from all their toil and suffering, which they have endured in living a life of faith and faithfulness.

We are here also reminded of how Paul has described his anticipation of the end of his life and ministry. He wrote, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Paul made Timothy aware of the anticipated end of his journey on earth, that he might be encouraged to live faithfully and make full proof of his ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).

READ:

Hebrews 13:7a

^7a Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God.

EXHORTATION:

This is an exhortation that is intended to guard our hearts against wandering away from the divine truths which God has given to us through men who faithfully serve Him among His people. It would be tragic if we forget God’s faithful servants who give us His truth and instead follow after those who teach contrary to the truth of God’s Word. This is why the apostle Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-32, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Human nature is very unpredictable. How many congregations have forgotten and neglected the labour and teachings of the faithful pastors who had laboured among them. Such forgetfulness is akin to sinful ingratitude. It is very much like the situation mentioned in Ecclesiastes 9:15 – “Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city: yet no man remembered that same poor man.”

In order to protect Christians and churches from departing from faithful teachings of godly leaders, they are exhorted to “remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God”. The word “remember” denotes thankful recollection of the leaders and their preaching. It is an exhortation to treasure up their instructions in the heart, and call to mind their exhortations, counsels and warnings.

The leaders whom we ought to cherish are those “who have spoken unto you the word of God”. The men whom God has graciously called to rule the church are gifted by Him to expound and enforce the Scriptures. Every pastor must rule the church by carrying out the ministry of the Word with faithfulness and authority. The apostle Paul advised Titus, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:15). The tireless labour of faithful preachers must not only be appreciated, but also heeded.

Many of us were deeply saddened and troubled upon hearing the sudden news of Pastor Reggor Galarpe’s ill health. Concerned, I reached out to him by phone. Though he was enduring physical pain and facing the uncertainty of biopsy results, his voice remained calm and unwavering—bold in the Lord, as always. Despite the looming prospect of medical treatment, his heart was steadfast, eager to continue serving the Lord, whatever the outcome.

During our conversation, he mentioned an article he had written to inform and comfort the Cebu congregation while he and his family waited for the test results. We are privileged to share that article within the pages of this bulletin. This reflection was penned in the “shadow” of affliction, yet lit by faith.

As I reflected on Pastor Reggor’s ministry in Cebu and how the Lord has used him to strengthen mission stations across the Philippines for more than 20 years (since 2003), I was reminded that those called to serve Christ are often called to serve Him in seasons of unusual hardship. The apostle Paul testified to this very reality, declaring, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me…” (Acts 20:19).

To serve the Lord in times of comfort is commendable, but to serve Him in seasons of affliction is extraordinary. The apostle Paul, in his farewell discourse to the Ephesian elders, pulled back the curtain on his ministry to show that it was accomplished not in ease, but with tears. He described it as a path that had been walked in suffering, hardship, and perseverance.

In “serving the Lord with all humility of mind”, Paul knew that divine strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul’s humility was not false modesty, but the fruit of a heart surrendered to divine grace. His Christ-centred service was marked by submission even amidst intense trials.

His service was also “with many tears”. They were not tears of defeat, but of intercession, of burden-bearing for the souls entrusted to him. These tears speak of the depth of his pastoral heart: a man not indifferent to pain of others, but willing to be poured out for others.

The phrase, “and temptations, which befell me”, reveals the severity of his afflictions. His calling placed him directly in the path of danger. Yet he remained unmoved, being focused on his calling as a preacher of the Word.

The servant of Christ is not spared from – but strengthened amidst – affliction!

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Going Through Series of Tests

Rev. Reggor Galarpe

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). 

For some time, I have been bearing with occasional backache – a kind of painful sensation that many would consider as “panuhot” (bloatedness), which can be easily relieved by applying some liniment. It was no big deal until I started to feel pain on my right upper quadrant (right side of chest and abdomen); that was when I went for a medical check-up in September last year. I thought that it might have something to do with my internal organs (kidney, liver, gall bladder, etc.). I was ordered to go for the usual blood tests, plus ultrasound scan of the whole abdomen. All these revealed no “alarming” result, meaning everything’s fine inside – praise God!

However, the “on and off” pain continued, so the doctor advised that I go for the CT scan (whole abdomen). For some reasons (one of which was the cost), I thought of delaying it for some time later, hoping that the pain would be gone, but it persisted, though still manageable with the “ever-dependable” liniment. Then, in April this year, I noticed a swelling on my back. With all that was going on at that time, especially the preparations for our Combined Church Camp, I thought of seeing the doctor only after the event was over.

Indeed, a week after the camp, we went to see the doctor and I showed her the swelling. The initial impression was somewhat comforting, as she thought that it could be an accumulation of fat tissues. I was advised, in addition to the usual lab tests, to undergo another ultrasound (this time for my back), and also chest x-ray to see if it has affected my lungs. While the x-ray result was normal, the ultrasound suggested further imaging. Thus, the following week, I was scheduled for the CT scan of the whole abdomen (with contrast).

Again, I take comfort that all the internal organs are generally in normal condition, except for the swelling (caused by a mass), in which the result suggested tissue correlation. The doctor explained that the mass would have to be removed and be subjected to examination. I was referred to a surgeon and had been to his clinic last Wednesday. As per doctor’s advice, he will be taking some tissues from the affected part (a procedure that will be performed “out-patient”; no need for hospital admission), and have it examined to determine its nature. And from there, he will consider the treatment procedure, and work on reducing the size of the mass and then its removal.

In the midst of this, many things come to mind, but we (me and my family) look up to the Lord for His mercy and grace, yielding to His sovereign will and purpose. Humanly speaking, times like these can be very troubling and disturbing. But for us God’s children, they are occasions to seek and find (even rejoice) in God’s comfort. 

Come to think of it, it is in such times that we experience the goodness of the Lord in a very special way, and that we are drawn closer to the Lord and His Word, ever realising how helpless we are and how desperately we need the Lord!

Sermon Text: Psalm 111:1–10
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 29th June 2025