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READ:

Hebrews 13:6

⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

EXHORTATION:

Oh, how we need to cast off our despondency. At times, the pressing needs of life can fill our hearts with overwhelming anxiety and perplexity. We should not allow our hearts to drown in despair. We ought to teach ourselves to wait upon the Lord, who is our Help.

Let us first acknowledge that we are poor and helpless creatures. Let us humbly and sincerely confess our destitution without the Lord’s help. The youths and the elderly alike need the Lord’s help. Even the wealthiest, the wisest, or the mightiest cannot stand alone. There will be times when man becomes acutely conscious of his need for help.

It was David’s practice to confess his need before the Lord and seek His help. Consider the following confessions of David in the book of Psalms:

“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Psalm 40:17).

“But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high” (Psalm 69:29).

“But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying” (Psalm 70:5).

“Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1).

“For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me” (Psalm 109:22).

In times of our need, let us also joyfully and boldly confess that the Lord is our Help. Every Christian ought to be able to testify of his cheerful confidence in the Lord, even when he faces perplexing situations of need and anxiety. Admitting that he has a need and confessing that the Lord will help are sure ways to cast off one’s anxiety.

He is all-sufficient. The treasures of His grace are inexhaustible. He is able to help us in all our needs. It is impossible and inconceivable that the infinite resources of our Divine Helper should ever fail. Let us therefore triumphantly confess that the Lord, our Helper, is greater than our needs, our troubles and our foes. He will help and sustain us.

READ:

2 Peter 1:5

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.

EXHORTATION:

The apostle Peter had just mentioned in the previous verse that God has granted to believers exceeding great and precious promises, that they may escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. In fact, through God’s promises given to the believers, they are empowered to attain many more spiritual advantages than being delivered from the lustful snares of this corrupt world. All the potential for greater spiritual attainments and excellence is provided for every Christian in God’s exceeding great and precious promises. The supply is abundant, but it needs to be appropriated by believers.

So, Peter exhorts us to show greater enthusiasm by “giving all diligence” in our spiritual pursuits. The apostle calls us to greater earnestness and activity. The responsibility of believers to pursue spiritual excellence is stressed in those words. Being thankful for His great promises is not enough. Spiritual heights and glories in a Christian life are to be pursued with utmost labour. Idleness, negligence, disengagement and suchlike are not for those who appreciate God’s great promises.

We ought to show diligence, first of all, in getting our own individual lives aligned with spiritual realities. Before we can make any real impact in others’ lives for God’s glory, we must make progress in our own personal lives. We need to pay attention and make every effort by trusting in His gracious promises to cultivate all the wonderful spiritual qualities and abilities that the Lord expects of us. In order to do that, we must trust in God’s gracious provisions that He has promised. We must not give in to lethargy, discouragement, disappointments or frustrations. Trusting in God’s wonderful promises, we must thrust forward to make spiritual progress in our own lives. Others may discourage us, circumstances may attempt to deter us, but we must give all diligence to progress in our quest for spiritual excellence. This is why God has graciously given us His “exceeding great and precious promises”.

Now, our faith in God’s promises must lead us to virtue. The word “virtue” refers to spiritual and moral excellence that would bring praise to our God. The more we strive to glorify God, the more we need to know His will to perform it. So, let us strive by faith unto virtue and knowledge.

READ:

Hebrews 13:5b

^5b For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

EXHORTATION:

Herein we have a reminder of God’s promise of His presence and tender care for all His people. The word “for” connects it to the earlier portion of this passage, which exhorts Christians to avoid a covetous life and to live in contentment. This divine promise is mentioned to encourage us to live contentedly with what we have in our peculiar circumstances. This promise of the Lord is intended to instil in us courage to live contentedly. These assuring words of the Lord are spoken to every child of God. The word “thee”, being singular, addresses every individual child of God. None of His children will be without God’s presence and provision.

This promise of God to every child of His is not just for certain occasions only, but it is for all times. The Lord said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The word “never” tells us that no time is excluded. Even in hard times, He will remain with His child as his faithful God to help and guide him. This promise covers every circumstance and every moment in the life of a child of God. Be it in times of plenty or scarcity, the Lord shall be with His child. Dear child of God, are you going through times of great need or difficulty? Is your heart filled with anxiety? You should now say to your heart, “God, who has promised me that He will never leave me, is with me now. He will not abandon me in this hour of need. Oh, praise the Lord, who is my great companion and help!”

This promise also goes with His children wherever the Lord would lead them. To every one of them, wherever His providence would lead him, He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” When the Lord spoke to Joshua to strengthen him to lead the people of Israel into the land of the Canaanites to conquer it, He promised that His presence would be with him. The Lord promised Joshua, saying, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). The Lord, who had been with all His servants wherever He sent them, will also be with each of us who trust Him and go where He leads.

When God is with us, we have all the good that we can ever have in our life. What comfort and confidence this promise brings to His children as they go through all sorts of difficulties, troubles, weaknesses, losses, desertions, strange places, and dangers!

READ:

Hebrews 13:5a

^5a Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.

EXHORTATION:

Christians must be careful to avoid covetousness in life. It is a pernicious sin. The prophet Habakkuk said, “Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil” (Habakkuk 2:9)! In other words, one who lives covetously to secure a life of ease, which is seemingly free from troubles, will only invite greater troubles to his house.

In exposing its maliciousness, the Scriptures warn Christians against living with a covetous spirit. Consider some of the following Scriptural depictions of covetousness:

• Covetousness or “love of money” is “the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10a).
• Covetousness is an ensnaring sin. 1 Timothy 6:9a says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare”.
• Covetousness leads to “many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9b).
• Covetousness is an afflicting sin. Covetous people have “pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10c). No wonder the apostle James says, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you” (James 5:1)!
• Covetous people “have erred from the faith” (1 Timothy 6:10b).
• Covetousness deceives the hearer of God’s Word into pursuing wealth at the expense of God’s wisdom, which will thereby “choke the word, and he [the hearer] becometh unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22; cf. Ezekiel 33:31).
• Covetousness interferes with a life of contentment and godliness (1 Timothy 6:6-9).
• Covetousness holds down people from entering the kingdom of God. In Mark 10:23, Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5).
• Covetousness brings God’s wrath upon people (Ephesians 5:6). Thus Proverbs 11:4 reminds us, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”

Let us therefore be content with whatever the Lord has given us, and do not covet the luxuries and riches of this world.

Sermon Text: Psalm 45
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 25th June 2023

Selflessness and a sympathetic heart are key traits of every effective Christian in church ministries. The church comprises people of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and with different levels of spiritual maturity. Paul instructs the Corinthian Christians in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 that they, like him, must be ever willing to accommodate the differences of others “for the gospel’s sake”, so that they might “gain them” for Christ!

Accommodation of Others

Paul was a Jew through and through, having had a prestigious Jewish education under the tutelage of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). If such was his Jewish heritage, why did Paul say, “unto the Jews I became as a Jew” (1 Cor 9:20a)? Here, Paul refers to the Jewish customs and practices which were rigidly and religiously practised by Jews, such as circumcision and other ceremonial and civil observances. Paul knew and taught that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Galatians 6:15). Yet, at the early stage of the New Testament Church, when in the presence of a hostile Jewish crowd, Paul conceded to Timothy being circumcised (Acts 16:3). Later on, Paul shaved his head as part of his vow to attend the feast at Jerusalem (Acts 18:18). These are examples of Jewish customs that Paul was willing to accommodate, so that he may win the Jews’ acceptance and slowly teach them the better “law to Christ” (1 Cor 9:21). When ministering to the Gentiles (“them that are without law”), Paul did not coerce the Gentiles to circumcise and observe Jewish feasts, for the Gospel did not necessitate those observances. Hence, Paul opposed Peter, who compelled the Gentiles to live as the Jews (Galatians 2:14). We see a very careful and wise Paul who adapted to the various contexts, but never at the expense of the truth of the Gospel. In reaching out to others, Paul never compromised the Gospel and always displayed much care and concern to bring its truths to both Jews and Gentiles.

Affection for Others

Paul’s affectionate care is seen particularly in his treatment of the spiritually weak. He says, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak” (1 Cor 9:22a). Paul neither encouraged believers’ lack of faith nor joined in their sinful acts. But when establishing young believers in the faith, Paul would abstain from certain foods, so they would not be stumbled (1 Cor 8:13). On other occasions, he exhorted believers to bear each other’s burdens and patiently restore the weak to the church’s fellowship (Gal 6:1-5). Every Bible-adhering Christian must not stand aloof to the struggles of fellow believers. For the sake of Christ and as an expression of the love we have first received, let us care for the weak and those who are afflicted. Christians must commit to being affectionate and accommodating of others. We must be vigilant against cultural or national pride, even spiritual pride, which would prevent us from going out of our comfort zones to minister, encourage and fellowship with others. 

 Remember, the purpose for Paul’s commitment was never to establish a name for himself, but for the name of Christ, “And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you” (1 Cor 9:23). 

A Youth Retreat for the Gospel’s Sake

Learning from Paul’s exhortation and example, the Gethsemane Youth Fellowship will organise a year-end retreat to Cebu and Bohol from 18 to 22 December 2023. We pray that all participants will be selfless, sympathetic, accommodating and affectionate as we strengthen our fellowship with brethren in the Visayas churches. As announced by Pastor last Sunday, the total retreat fee, including the group-booking airfare, is no small amount. Nonetheless, we trust and pray for God’s timely provisions, so that 80 brethren can participate in this trip to encourage our brethren in Cebu City, Bogo, San Antonio, Tagbilaran City, Anda and Candijay. The theme for this retreat is: “Prepare to Meet Thy God”, a phrase taken from Amos 4:12. Our prayer is that these messages will prepare our young people for the second coming of Christ. In the season of Christmas, the Gospel will be presented in remembrance of His first coming as our Saviour, and in preparation for His second coming as our Judge and King. Furthermore, the youth choir will be enlisted every evening to sing specially selected hymns at each location. Certainly, there will be much travelling by air, land and sea. Hence, we prayerfully commit the planning and preparations for the retreat, as well as the safety and protection of our participants, to our Sovereign God. 

I thank God for last week’s opportunity to visit Rev Reggor, Pr Edsel, their families and their congregations in Cebu and Bohol, respectively. Elder Low Boon Siang joined me on this recce trip from June 13-15. Though a short visit of three days, our trip was fruitful and fulfilling, for we met up with some whom we did not see for a long while, and with others whom we saw regularly in our Gethsemane Fellowships over Zoom during the Pandemic. Elder Low and I attended the prayer meetings in Cebu (Tuesday night) and Bohol (Wednesday night), and our fellowship with them was very sweet! We went there with a desire to encourage the brethren, and we went away being very much encouraged ourselves, having heard testimonies of the persevering faith of some amidst different setbacks in recent years. 

Borrowing the pen of Paul, we conclude with both thanksgiving and prayer – “For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13).

This we do, for Christ’s sake, that others may be blessed, just as we have been blessed.
This we give, for the Gospel’s sake, that others may receive, just as we have received.
This we sing, for Christ’s sake, that others may be edified, just as we have been edified.
This we shared, for Christ’s sake, that others may be encouraged, just as others have shared with us.
This burden we bear, for Christ’s sake, that we may bear one another’s burden, just as others have borne our burdens.
This place we go, for the Gospel’s sake, that others may be saved or strengthened, just as we have been saved and likewise strengthened.

May the LORD use this retreat to unite us to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). To facilitate planning, I urge all to quickly sign up for the year-end youth retreat in the Philippines!

READ:

Jeremiah 29:13

¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

EXHORTATION:

This is an exhortation found in the concluding section of a letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the Jewish captives who were deported from Jerusalem to Babylon in 597 BC. He knew that the Jewish people would have a difficult time in that heathen nation. So in that letter, Jeremiah, like a very concerned pastor, sought to instruct and encourage them. He told them how they should conduct themselves in that heathen land so that they may be good witnesses to the idolatrous Babylonians.

Jeremiah also warned them not to follow the false Jewish prophets who were among them. He wrote, “Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD” (vv. 8-9). Those false diviners had given the Jewish captives the false hope of a quick return to their homeland. But Jeremiah told them that God would bring them back only after 70 years; as such, they should live in peace in the land and work to establish themselves there. He admonished them not to be afraid nor discouraged. The prophet also reminded them of their responsibility to seek the LORD in prayer so that the divine promise of their return after 70 years would be fulfilled according to His Word.

God’s people should always seek Him in prayer according to the knowledge of His will, as revealed in His Word. His promise is that if they seek Him, they shall find Him. The LORD wants His people to search for Him wholeheartedly. Even when He chastises His people for their sins, He graciously calls them back to Himself. His chastening is to remind His children that only when they diligently and sincerely seek Him, shall they enjoy His presence, provision and protection. The Lord shall not hide Himself away from His people forever. It is His pleasure to draw near to all who would draw near unto Him at His gracious promptings in their hearts. He will hear their prayers of repentance and forgive them. He will give them His peace even in the midst of their many afflictions. Whatever be the circumstances of their lives, He will draw near to all who genuinely seek Him in prayer. Do not doubt whether He will receive you if your heart is moved to seek Him. He seeks us before we seek Him. Our “search” for Him is the response of our hearts to His invitation.

READ:

2 Peter 1:4b

^4b That by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

EXHORTATION:

Having described the promises of God as “exceeding great and precious”, the apostle Peter now enumerates God’s ultimate purpose in giving His promises to the believers. God’s plan is to aid the believers, through the promises, to become “partakers of the divine nature”.

The Greek root word for “partaker” (koinōnós) is the same Greek word for “fellowship”. It means sharer or partner. What does it mean to share in the divine nature? It certainly does not denote the teachings of the heathen religions that man would ultimately be absorbed into what they call the divine one or become one with their so-called “god”. The notion that the creature could become one with the Creator is not only totally contrary to biblical teachings, but is also absolutely abhorrent to God!

It is important to note that Peter did not say that we might participate in God’s being, but in His divine nature. The term “nature” here indicates God’s character, and not His essence and substance. The expression “divine nature” does not indicate the Person of God. We can never participate in God’s Person, for we are and will always remain as human beings whom God has created. The last portion of our verse gives us a clearer understanding of what Peter meant by “divine nature”. Peter sheds light on the intended meaning of “divine nature” when he mentioned “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. So the divine nature is the opposite of “the corruption that is in the world through lust”. In other words, we are called to partake in God’s holiness. Hebrews 12:10 also mentions the same purpose of God concerning the believers that “we might be partakers of his holiness”. Likewise, in Ephesians 4:23-24, the apostle Paul exhorts us, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

God gave us the promises that we may be attracted to His holiness to become partakers of it. We should not be like those who are allured by the material prospects of this world and become partakers of the corruption of its lust (or evil desires). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

READ:

2 Peter 1:4a

^4a Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises

EXHORTATION:

The promises of God are assurances which God has given to His people in the Scriptures. We can trust God to bestow all His promises to us because He is faithful and able to fulfil all that He has promised. Hence, none of His promises will fail.

These promises are “exceeding great” because they come from an infinitely great God. The promises of the Bible are an expression of God’s greatness, all-sufficiency, omnipotence, omniscience, grace, mercy, love, etc. His great power to bring about all His plans and promises, makes all His promises to be exceedingly great. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah 32:17). Our Lord Jesus Himself said, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). As God is great, so are His promises.

All the promises of God are also referred to as “precious promises”. The word “precious” obviously means valuable, costly, honourable, etc. They are like a treasure storehouse of inexhaustible help from God to His people. They constitute also the best and most befitting help amidst all our challenges and trials of life. Furthermore, the promises of God give us the most earnest encouragement to face temptations and trials and come forth as triumphant Christians. Indeed, Christians can find their most assured help in God’s promises. When doubts and fears assail our hearts, God’s people can firmly stand upon the promises of God.

Every biblical promise from God is absolutely trustworthy because the One who promises is unchanging, faithful, ever true, all-powerful, and all-wise. When God has promised, He will perform because it is His word of truth and power. He performs all that He utters. The promises of God are given to believers for their inheritance. He will bestow them all upon them, just as He has promised. 2 Corinthians 1:20 declares unto us that “all the promises of God in him (i.e. in Christ) are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” Christ is the guarantee of all the promises of God unto us. So the apostle Paul asked rhetorically in Romans 8:32, “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?”

READ:

Psalm 105:3

³ Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

EXHORTATION:

Believers are exhorted to “glory” in the LORD’s holy name. The Hebrew word rendered “glory” is the same word from which we get the word “hallelujah” (meaning “praise ye the LORD”). It denotes praise. The special subject mentioned for believers’ praise is the holy name of their God. In other words, the fact that the LORD is holy should help them to rejoice and praise Him from their hearts.

The very fact that the LORD is holy gives us confidence to trust Him and believe all that He has promised. The LORD’s holiness guarantees us that He is good and perfect, and that He will show unto us His goodness, love, mercy, truth and grace. Because He is holy, He shall be faithful in all His promises which He has given us in His Word. Therefore, we can trust Him at all times, and rest in His goodness and love.

So without hesitation, we glory in His holy name. We rejoice and praise Him for His holiness. The Lord’s holiness is something to exult in. There is nothing whatsoever to be ashamed about our God. We only have reason to rejoice and be glad that the LORD our God is perfectly holy.

We rejoice that we are forgiven and brought into a close relationship with Him who is infinitely holy. We are glad that we are given the most wonderful privilege to trust and follow the Holy One. We rejoice that we can commune with Him. We rejoice that our holy God leads us daily in His paths of righteousness. As we walk with Him in His righteous ways, we praise Him for the honour and blessings which He grants to us.

Thus the psalmist says, “let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.” We who seek the Lord exult in the opportunities that we have daily to seek Him. How wonderful it is that we can love Him, learn His Word, know His will, walk in His ways, and seek Him without fear! Worldly men may rejoice and glory in the wealth, luxuries and pleasures of this world, but we rather rejoice in that we can seek the Lord who is holy. In Jeremiah 9:23-24, the LORD exhorts us, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Let us truly rejoice and glory in the holiness of our God.