Sermon Text: Philippians 4:8–13
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 24th November 2024
Sermon Text: Philippians 4:8–13
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 24th November 2024
Sermon Text: Philippians 4:4–7
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 17th November 2024
Living as a righteous person in a hostile world brings unique challenges and tests. The righteous person’s desires often clash with the prevailing values of the world, which prioritise selfish ambition, power, and material success over humility, integrity, and faithfulness. Yet, the desires of a righteous person remain rooted in seeking God’s will, living justly, and walking in love and truth, even when surrounded by forces that resist or oppose his righteous desires.
I would like to share two thoughts for your instruction, caution, and encouragement, so that you may know how God cares for the desires of the righteous while He opposes the expectations of the wicked.
The desires of a righteous person hold a unique place in God’s heart, for they reflect a soul seeking alignment with God’s will. The Bible teaches that God not only knows our outward actions, but also understands our innermost desires. For righteous people, these desires go beyond mere personal gain and resonate with a longing for God’s presence, purpose, and guidance.
God knows our desires. As David said in Psalm 38:9 – “Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.” David acknowledged that all his desire is before the Lord. This desire encompasses his deepest longings, needs, and hopes. His desire is more than just material; it is also a spiritual yearning for God’s presence and goodness.
David had been suffering. He said, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger” (v. 3a). He also mentioned that his iniquities were a heavy burden on him (v. 4). He yearned for healing and forgiveness from God. Amid his suffering, David turned to God, knowing that God alone understands the full extent of his pain and desires.
God possesses an intimate knowledge of every desire that His children hold. He knows our hearts even before we bring our desires to Him in prayer. Whether spoken or unspoken, each longing is laid bare before Him.
There is no need for elaborate words or hidden feelings—everything is laid bare before the Lord. This echoes the sentiment found in Psalm 139:1-4, where David acknowledged that God knew his every thought, word, and action even before he expressed it. He wrote, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”
There are moments when we may struggle to express our needs and desires clearly, being overwhelmed by our circumstances. Yet, even in those times of confusion or emotional turmoil, God fully understands our inner longings. He perceives our deepest thoughts and knows what burdens our hearts, even before we can find the words to articulate them.
When all we can do is sigh or groan in our distress, these groans, too, become prayers in His ears. A troubled soul’s earnest, heartfelt cry reaches God as powerfully as a perfectly spoken prayer. So David said, “and my groaning is not hid from thee.” Here, “groaning” refers to his deep inner pain, perhaps both physical and emotional. It is a word that conveys more than just sadness—it represents the weight of suffering that David was experiencing. Yet, despite his silent or quiet groans, David knew that God heard and understood even the unspoken cries of his heart.
It is a comfort to know that our loving God sees and understands us completely, even when all we can offer is a groan from our troubled hearts! He is always aware of our needs and desires, and His compassion towards us never wavers.
Proverbs 11:7 declares, “When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.”
Human life is filled with expectations and dreams. People set high goals for themselves: students strive for top grades, professionals aim for career success, and families seek security, comfort and a sense of pride in their homes and possessions. Many people achieve these dreams through hard work and perseverance, in fulfilment of their earthly aspirations. Yet, this proverb provides a stark reminder of a reality beyond earthly success. For those who live without repentance—the “wicked”, as Scripture calls them—there is a bitter disappointment awaiting them beyond the grave.
When people live apart from God, placing all their hope in temporary achievements, they face the crushing truth that those worldly gains cannot follow them into eternity. The Bible reveals that for an unrepentant sinner, death is not simply the end of earthly pleasures and possessions, but the beginning of a tragic eternity. Everything the wicked have worked for—their wealth, power, influence, comforts—will perish. At that moment, their cherished expectations vanish. The “hope” that unjust people cling to in this life is revealed as a mirage, leaving nothing but emptiness and loss.
Moreover, for those who reject the forgiveness and salvation offered through Jesus Christ, death is not only the end of earthly hope, but also the end of any chance for eternal peace and joy. The wicked do not enter into the rest or honour of heaven; instead, they face eternal separation from God. Scripture warns of “the disappointment of endless shame and suffering in hell”, a truth that urges us to reconsider where we place our hope. For those who live without repentance, every earthly pleasure and achievement ultimately become meaningless, unable to satisfy in the face of eternal loss.
In the light of this, Proverbs 11:7 challenges us to examine our hearts. Are our greatest expectations and hopes rooted in fleeting, worldly success, or are they founded in God’s eternal promises? We can only escape the fate of eternal disappointment through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. In Him, our hope becomes more substantial than worldly achievements or wealth; it is the promise of everlasting life, peace, and joy in His presence.
So, let us turn away from sin, and embrace the grace of God through Christ. Let us build our lives not on fleeting dreams but on the solid foundation of faith, which offers hope that does not perish in death. Only by following the Lord can we secure a future free from disappointment and that leads to eternal joy and fulfilment in His presence. Let this truth stir us to prioritise what truly matters, and seek God’s forgiveness, so that we may find lasting peace and hope beyond this life.
DVBS 2024 (to be held 27-29 Nov) is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to host an exciting and enriching vacation programme designed to help our children grow strong in their understanding of the Gospel and Scriptural truths of our Lord Jesus Christ. With only two weeks to go, it is high time for you to invite and register children for DVBS 2024, which is an excellent opportunity to let them hear and learn of the Biblical promise of “Joy Unspeakable”!
In recent years, an increasing concern about the mental health of children and youths in Singapore has been reported. A report in 2020 read: “In just under three years, there has been a fivefold increase in the number of children between the ages of five and nine calling in to their (IMH’s) hotline to seek help.”1 Another very recent report mentioned: “A significant proportion of youth in Singapore has experienced severe or very severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress, the first nationwide survey on youth mental health by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found. Nearly a third of young people aged 15 to 35 reported symptoms that included feeling empty, tense or upset most of the time, according to the National Youth Mental Health Study.”
Our children need to know how they can be joyous amidst life’s complex and challenging experiences. There is nothing more vital than that they grow with ‘joy unspeakable’ that God alone provides. Let us pray and bring our children to grow in a close, joyful relationship with God, which He offers to all who come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all who trust in Him.
No level of academic excellence, worldly achievements, comfort, wealth, luxury, entertainment, or recreation can free our children and youth from the grip of sin and its resulting guilt, frustration, fear, and sorrow. Only a life grounded in God’s truth offers true liberation from these burdens. Only when our children grow with the assurance of salvation and a loving relationship with God can they be strong and tenacious overcomers of sin and the trials of this life.
The words of Scripture testify of the divine, supreme, unmitigated joy that God gives to all, both young and old, who trust and walk obediently with Him.
When Peter wrote about “joy unspeakable” (1 Peter 1:8), he was talking about the joy that comes from knowing Jesus, even though we can’t see Him with our eyes. Although we haven’t seen Jesus face-to-face, we believe in Him wholeheartedly. We know He loves us, saves us from our sins, and is always with us, no matter where or what we go through. This faith in Jesus brings a joy that is so deep; nothing else in the world can compare to it!
When we love and follow Jesus, His Spirit lives in our hearts and fills us with His joy. This joy shines through us like a light in the darkness, showing others that God is real and His love is incredible. It is the kind of joy we desire for our children and youth as they grow immersed in God’s Word, devoted to prayer, consecrated to His praise, and serving others according to His will.
The teachers of God’s Word in the DVBS will explain to children how to experience “Joy Unspeakable”, and how to “Overcome Sadness” through stories of God’s saints in the Bible. Please pray for the teachers of God’s Word to the children during the DVBS to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to minister to them effectively.
The Gethsemane Children’s Ministry (GCM) has been planning and actively working for several months to organise DVBS 2024. The programmes are designed for children to explore Biblical truths in an engaging and interactive way. They will include a unique blend of creative lessons, singing of spiritual songs, fun activities and meaningful fellowship to help children grow in their faith and build friendships.
Please pray for and cooperate with the GCM committee, that their efforts to nurture our children in a joyful relationship with God may be fruitful.
1 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/1-3-adolescents-depression-anxiety-only-1-10-parents-spot-symptoms
2 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/depression-anxiety-stress-1-in-3-youth-in-s-pore-had-had-very-poor-mental-health-says-imh-survey
Sermon Text: Psalm 94:1–23
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 10th November 2024
Our sovereign God calls individuals to church offices so that they may lead, guide, and build up the church according to His divine will. Scripture clearly affirms this divine appointment and the establishment of godly leaders to serve His purposes within the body of Christ.
We thank God for providing Gethsemane with faithful and capable men to lead and nourish the church according to His Word over the years. Let us also praise the Lord for the ongoing work of His Spirit among us, preparing those He has chosen for leadership in the coming three years. It is crucial that we, as a congregation, pray for those standing for election to the Board of Elders. Your support and prayers are integral to the election process.
Below is a summary of the candidates’ prior service in our church. While not exhaustive, many of you are well-acquainted with their dedicated service to the Lord as committed members and seasoned leaders over the years. Let us continue to commit them and their families to the Lord, praying that they remain humble and diligent in their lives and ministries, and be effective instruments in His hands. Our prayers can support them in being faithful and zealous in fulfilling His purposes.
Since 1990, Pastor Koshy has been preaching God’s Word in Gethsemane, and was ordained as the Pastor of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church in 1994. Since 1999, he has been leading the Church Session as its Chairman.
His primary areas of ministry include preaching and teaching God’s Word during Sunday worship services, Tuesday prayer meetings, and various fellowship gatherings, seminars, retreats, and camps of Gethsemane B-P Church. He regularly offers pastoral counselling to members and worshippers, and leads the Pastoral Visitation Ministry. Additionally, he provides pastoral supervision and leadership for the Bible Witness Media Ministry, serving as the editor of the Bible Witness Magazine, and overseeing The Gethsemane Care Ministry and all church fellowship groups. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Gethsemane Bible Witness Limited (GBWL).
He also actively trains men for ministry through the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) and Gethsemane Bible Institutes in the Philippines, Ethiopia, and India. He conducts lectures on Theology, Book Studies of the Bible, and other topics for GBI Online. Pastor Koshy also holds a special course in Pastoral Biblical Studies for those in preaching and pastoral roles. He maintains correspondence with our missionaries, and visits our church’s mission stations from time to time.
He is married to Carolyn, who serves the Lord by assisting him in church ministries and providing her services in various ministries like GLF, Bible Witness Web Radio, GCM, etc.
They have three married children: their eldest son, Pr Cornelius, serves as a preacher of the Word in our church, leading youth and choir ministries. Bro. Andronicus works as a media personnel with the Bible Witness Media Ministry (BWMM). Sis. Dorcas is married to Pastor Sujith Samuel, and they serve in Vizag, India. Pastor Koshy is also blessed with four grandchildren: Theophilus, Ahava (children of Cornelius and Abigail), Olivet (child of Andronicus and Esther), and Jedidiah (child of Sujith and Dorcas).
Since Gethsemane BPC’s inception in 1988, Elder Mah has been serving in the leadership of Gethsemane as an elder. He served as the Chairman of the Church Interim Committee till 1994, and of the Church Session (1995-1999).
He has laboured in various leadership roles at Gethsemane, such as Clerk-of-Session, Leader of Gethsemane Encouragers’ Ministry, Finance Committee Member, Building Committee Member, etc.
He teaches God’s Word in Catechism Class, Seniors’ Ministry, and The Gethsemane Care Ministry. He takes leadership in organising the Newcomers’ gatherings from time to time. Elder Mah has led several mission trips to places like Kuching, Pangasinan, Cebu, and India. He also serves as worship chairman on Sundays, and renders his advice and help in many areas of church administration. He has also been serving in GBWL’s Board of Directors as its Secretary.
He is married to Lean Choo. She has been serving the Lord in GLF’s committee for many years, and participates in many of our fellowships and ministries with Elder Mah. They have two children, Melissa and Matthew. Melissa serves the Lord in BWMM, and Matthew serves in the GCM committee and other areas of the church ministries. Matthew is married to Fidelia, and they have two children, Ethan and Kate.
In 2008, Elder Ng and his family joined Gethsemane B-P Church. Prior to that, he served as a deacon in Sharon BPC (1978-2002) and as an elder (2002-2008). He also served in Sharon BPC as a Sunday School teacher and as its Superintendent.
Elder Ng was elected as an elder of our church in 2013. In the Session, he has served as the Treasurer. He has also served on the committees of Gethsemane Adults’ Fellowship and Gethsemane Men’s Fellowship. He co-labours with Pastor in the leadership of the Pastoral Visitation Ministry, and actively participates in the Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry.
He also serves as worship chairman on Sundays, and renders his advice and help in many areas of church administration. He is a member of GBWL’s Board of Directors.
His wife, Sis Dorothy, and their two daughters, Sarah and Sharon, are also members of Gethsemane BPC. Sarah is married to Samuel Yong, and they both actively serve the Lord in our church. Sharon, who was married to our late missionary Dominino dela Cruz Jr, serves the Lord in our midst, together with her son Nehemiah.
Elder Francis and his family joined Gethsemane as members in 2008. Before that, he was a member of Life B-P Church (since 1988), and True Life B-P Church (2003-2007). Upon joining Gethsemane, he rendered his services in various church ministries.
He became a deacon in Gethsemane in 2011 and diligently served in the Session till 2021. He has faithfully served in the Session as the Clerk-of-Session and also as the Treasurer. He has been a member of the church’s Finance Committee.
He has served as the Camp Master in annual church camps, and is currently leading the committees of Gethsemane Adults’ Fellowship and Gethsemane Men’s Fellowship as their Advisor. He also leads the Gethsemane Defenders’ Ministry. He has also served along with Elder Mah in several past mission trips to our mission fields.
He sought theological learning through FEBC and graduated with a Certificate of Religious Knowledge in 2008 and a Certificate of Biblical Studies in 2010. Elder Francis has co-laboured with Elder Alan Choy to teach in our church’s Catechism Classes for the applicants for church membership.
He served as a Project Owner on the Gethsemane Media Centre’s building renovation committee, and is now a member of GBWL’s Board of Directors.
His wife, Stephanie, and their four children, Sarah, Michelle, Samuel and Moses, worship and serve the Lord in Gethsemane BPC, and actively participate in various fellowship groups and ministries. Sis Sarah is married to Jordy Kay, who serves on the GCM Committee. God has blessed Elder Francis with two grandchildren, Elias and Ansel.
Elder Low Boon Siang was saved and baptised in Gethsemane in the year 2001. As he grew spiritually, he served the Lord in various fellowships and ministries of the church: Youth Fellowship; Ushers’ Ministry; Young Adults’ Fellowship Committee; Audio-Visual Ministry; Men’s Fellowship Committee, and Church Camp Committees. He served the Lord in the Fundamental Christian Ministry of NTU and NIE (2006-2008), and the B-P Combined Youth Conference Committee (2007-2008).
Upon his election as a deacon in 2015, he was appointed to be a member of the Finance Committee. He helped to organise the 5th Missionary Conference held in Kuching, Sarawak. In the Church Session, from 2017-2019, he served as the Treasurer, and from 2019 to 2021, he served as the Clerk-of-Session.
As an elder, he actively led as an Advisor to the Young Adults’ Fellowship and Ushers’ Ministry. Since 2021, he has served as BOE’s Secretary and as a member of GBWL’s Board of Directors.
Through part-time studies, he has pursued theological training at Far Eastern Bible College and obtained the Certificate of Biblical Studies (CertBS). He teaches God’s Word to our children in Junior Worship and GCM, and regularly contributes to BWTV’s programmes for children.
His wife, Hui Lin, and their three children, Christopher, Caleb and Claire, are active members of Gethsemane BPC, and they participate and serve in many fellowship groups and ministries.
He was saved in the year 2000 through a tragic event, when his son of 8 years old, Vance, suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and was hospitalised in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He was led to the Foochow Methodist Church (FMC) by the 88-year-old Mdm Lim (mother of a good friend of his wife, Chow Lin), who was instrumental in his salvation. She ministered to Dn Ah Sang’s family while Vance remained critically ill. He was baptised on June 11, 2000.
In 2005, a former drug addict and FMC’s pastor together invited him to share his testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ in prison. By God’s grace, he has since served faithfully in the Prison Ministry.
Dn Ah Sang and his family became members of Calvary Pandan BPC on July 4, 2010. He served two terms as a deacon from 2013 to 2019, during which he oversaw the Visitation Ministry and actively served in the Ushers’ Ministry.
Since January 2010, he has pursued part-time theological studies at FEBC, where he has accumulated 84 credits and graduated with both a Certificate of Religious Knowledge and a Certificate of Biblical Studies. Additionally, he regularly attends GBI courses to deepen his theological understanding.
His family was led to join Gethsemane BPC on November 25, 2020. In Gethsemane, he regularly and actively participated in various fellowship groups and prayer meetings. He was appointed a deacon in Gethsemane BPC for 2021-2024. As a deacon, he served on the Pastoral Visitation team and was tasked with leading the Missionary Conference (June 2024). He also co-labours with our preachers and brethren in the Prison Ministry every Tuesday afternoon.
His wife, Sis Chow Lin, regularly participates in GLF and GAF. His son, Vance, also eagerly joins the prayer meetings, GAF and GMF with his parents, despite his severe health complications. As a family, they support the nomination of Dn Ah Sang as an elder of Gethsemane BP Church.
In preparation for his candidacy as an elder, the Board of Elders (BOE) conducted a comprehensive written examination and interview with him, covering all essential doctrines and practical matters. The pastor and elders have also provided him with guidance on effective service as an elder at Gethsemane. Having found him eligible according to Scriptural guidelines, the BOE has approved Dn Lim Ah Sang’s nomination as a first-time candidate for eldership at Gethsemane BPC.
Sermon Text: Psalm 93:1–5
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 3rd November 2024
Dear brethren,
Since the church was constituted and registered, our Annual Congregational Meetings have been times when we reflect with gratitude on God’s blessings and renew our commitment to serving Him with holiness and zeal. As we prepare for the ACM on the next Lord’s Day (Nov. 3), let us pray that we will gather with reverence and gratitude before our God. He has graciously blessed us with His patience, unwavering guidance, provisions, and oversight over the past year, which is a truly wondrous display of His faithfulness to our church. Let us come together with hearts full of thanksgiving and prayer.
As previously announced, the ACM documents, including the annual report and audited accounts, are available on our church website. If you encounter issues accessing them, please contact Dn Norefel promptly.
If you have any questions regarding the report or accounts, we encourage you to submit them as soon as possible, as mentioned in the past two Sundays. This will allow the respective elders to prepare answers ahead of time, ensuring a smooth and efficient ACM.
During this upcoming ACM, we will also hold the election of the Board of Elders, as required by our church constitution, to lead the church forward for the next three years, God willing. We thank the Lord for providing us faithful men to serve as elders. Pastor Prabhudas Koshy, Elder Mah Chin Kwang, Elder Ng Poh Kok, Elder Francis Lee, and Elder Low Boon Siang are willing to continue serving on the Board of Elders, according to the Lord’s call and direction upon them. Additionally, the BOE has approved Dn Lim Ah Sang as a new candidate for the Board of Elders.
We have been praying for these candidates in our church prayer meetings for the last three weeks, and we encourage you to continue praying for them earnestly. Please join us this Tuesday night (Oct. 29) for prayer as we prepare for the ACM and the BOE election. May the Lord’s Word concerning the ordination of elders to set things in order in the church (Titus 1:5), and their role to feed and rule the church (1 Tim 5:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4), be gloriously fulfilled in our midst – for His glory and for the strengthening of our church’s ministry.
Heartily in the service of the Lord,
Pastor
I thank God for leading me and my family to Gethsemane B-P Church, and for enabling me to serve along with the brethren here. I also thank God for enabling me to serve as a deacon in various areas the Board of Elders assigned me.
Sometime last year, Pastor Koshy, on behalf of the BOE, called and asked me to consider standing in for the office of an elder. With my many challenges, I hesitated, but Pastor advised me to pray about it and talk with my family.
Months of prayer and waiting upon the Lord for His confirmation were difficult and testing. The fear of failing to do the Lord’s work weighed heavily on my heart, especially now that I am no longer young. The growing responsibilities of caring for my ailing son and my wife in the years ahead added to the burden.
During one of the Sunday Evening Teaching Services, I was deeply convicted as Pastor expounded from 1 Samuel 22 on how King David, despite his own burdens while in the cave of Adullam, willingly accepted the additional responsibility of caring for his brethren and all his father’s house who came to him. I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:37 – “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” The good Lord also reminded me that He has delivered and cared for my family through many trials over the past 24 years. It is not who I am but who He is. He is the great I AM that I AM. I must trust Him to do His bidding to serve Him.
The call to the office of an elder is a high calling. As I am relatively new to Gethsemane B-P Church, there is much timidity, a sense of inadequacy and unworthiness in me. The Lord once again spoke to me through Pastor’s daily devotion taken from Jeremiah 1:7a – “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child…”
The Lord also reminded me how He had seen me through my inadequacy and fear since 2005, when the pastor of Foochow Methodist Church left me alone in the Prison Ministry only after a few months. Being young in faith, I found it difficult to continue in this ministry when external voices discouraged me. The Lord has helped me hitherto to serve in the Prison Ministry and to regularly bring His Word to the prisoners.
Through His Word and the reminders of His glorious works in my life and ministry, I was comforted and strengthened to yield to His calling to serve Him as an elder in Gethsemane BPC. With the Lord confirming His calling in my heart, my resistance wilted, and my heart has been at peace to yield to serve Him along with Pastor and elders of Gethsemane. When Pastor asked me again about my response to the BOE’s invitation to serve as an elder, I shared how the Lord led me to accept the call.
Since then, the Lord has helped me study the Scriptures to write my answers to the questions the BOE has given me on doctrines, my convictions, and my commitment to the Lord and the church if I am appointed as an elder. I thank God for His grace that has helped me to undergo the interviews with Pastor and (later) with the elders. I also praise God for the Biblical instructions and godly counsel I received from them from time to time, which prepared me to serve the Lord in the BOE, if confirmed during the ACM and election.
May God help me to serve Him humbly and faithfully.
Bro. Tan Eng Huat
Deuteronomy 8:2-3: “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”
As I look back over the past 40-plus years as a believer, I am deeply thankful for how God has elected and kept me and my family faithfully despite my countless shortcomings and failures. The above passage from Deuteronomy (and also Ps 63:5-7) reminds me of the importance of remembering how God has led me since my conversion, and hence of always being mindful of His longsuffering, grace and mercy, that I may submit to Him and His ways as revealed in His preserved Word. While God’s hand upon me was unbeknown to me in my earlier years, I have become progressively more conscious of the Holy Spirit’s patient guidance and instruction in my later years through the studies of His precious Word. I am thankful to God for leading me to Gethsemane B-P Church, that I may be further moulded through the faithful preaching and teaching of His Word.
When Pastor Koshy told me of the BOE’s consensus to nominate and appoint me as a deacon of the church, I was filled with much apprehension and uncertainty regarding the appropriateness. I could think of multiple reasons why I shouldn’t accept the appointment, namely the brevity of my membership and my personality. Being a reserved and taciturn person by nature, I would require more effort and time on my part compared to the current deacons, who seem gifted with ease of interaction and joy in serving the members of the church. I felt that I am not in the same mould, and would not be able to fulfil the role well. Moreover, I felt that I may not be sensitive or patient enough to meet the needs of others.
I conveyed my self-assessment to Pastor as reasons for declining the appointment. Pastor was moved to speak and counsel me further regarding the BOE’s unanimity in their desire to appoint me. After spending 3 weeks praying, ruminating, and meditating on God’s Word, the Spirit placed this burden on me to accept the nomination and appointment, and convinced me that I should not resist His prompting through the elders. Subsequently, I purposed in my heart to serve Him in this capacity. God has taught me that He will enable His children as He directs them and will reveal His grace and goodness as we step forward by faith and in faith. As I have enjoyed – and continue to enjoy – His innumerable grace, it behoves me to be a good steward “of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Hence, it would be a sin on my part to disobey His calling and will. While I would prefer to serve without the title of “deacon”, however, I should not succumb to my personal preference but to yield humbly to His will. May the LORD enable me to be faithful in serving Him (1 Cor 4:2).
Bro. Lijoy K George
I am grateful to have been raised in a Christian family, where my parents guided me to walk in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ from a young age. It was a simple faith in Christ, nurtured with morning and evening devotions, which laid a strong foundation for my spiritual growth. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” My grandfather was a true inspiration to me, demonstrating dedication and purity in life as a true believer.
God’s providence led me to work in Singapore and worship at Gethsemane B-P Church, which was a special blessing. I am thankful for the faithful teaching of our Pastor, which has helped me grow and be rooted in God’s Word. I also thank God for Dn Benny, who has been like a brother to me. Our mutual fellowship, together with our families, has encouraged us all to serve the Lord in Gethsemane BPC. The fellowship has nourished and supported my family as we navigated the challenges of our life.
Learning Covenant Theology has deepened my understanding of the richness of God’s promises and faithfulness to His people, and it helped me to realise how I need to continue to grow in the knowledge of His Word. God has also helped my family grow in faith as we continue to trust in His grace and learn from the Word to rejoice in worshipping and serving Him with the brethren in the church. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
In Gethsemane, the LORD has guided me to serve Him in several areas, and taught me more about service so that I may humbly surrender to His sovereign will always as He shows them to me. God’s work must be done in His way, and all we need to do is submit faithfully to Him. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I also thank God that my family has been a constant source of encouragement and support, even as I had yielded to serve Him wherever He had been directing me thus far.
When Pastor approached me about the role of deacon, I initially felt unworthy of the position. I shared my inabilities and fears. However, through prayerful consideration and encouragement from our elders and Pastor, I have found strength in God amid my imperfections. Their support and prayers have been invaluable, helping me to see that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
The LORD alone is God, and His mercy is sufficient. I trust that He will equip me to serve according to all His will. May the Lord help me always be willing, humble, and ready to fulfil my calling to serve Him for His glory.
Jeremy Cheah
My Journey of Salvation
I thank God for godly Christian parents who sought to bring me up in the ways of the Lord and baptized me as an infant. My journey as a Christian began as a young boy in Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, learning God’s Word in Sunday School and various camps the church organised. The messages preached and taught were just mere interesting stories then, and I only enjoyed church because I could play with my friends.
As I entered secondary school, my heart became more sensitive to the Spirit’s moving and became convicted of the sinful life I led. As a young child, I was often quick to anger, fast to pick up foul language, led a double life and committed many other sins. During one church camp message – taken from Colossians 4:6, which reads “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” – God convicted me of how wrong it was to indulge in using foul language with my friends in school. I knew that I was a wretched sinner, lost in sin and darkness, and needed spiritual cleansing in my life.
However, since then I was struck with another problem of inadequacy and pride. For the longest time as I was trying to “work out” my faith, I felt that I could never match up to the standard God had set. I thought I was not worthy of the salvation Jesus gave. Therein lies pride, thinking I could ever work my way to Heaven. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). When I finally realised “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9), God struck my heart and convicted me of the wrong idea I had of Christianity. Man can by no means work his way to Heaven. Salvation was given freely by God, and one only need to have faith in Him to receive salvation. So, at 19, I reaffirmed my faith in the Lord.
Seeking Transfer
It was in 2022 when I felt spiritually dry in my faith and needed growing. By God’s providence, He worked through a friend at my internship place. Through our fellowshipping in the Lord, I first came across the 5 points of Calvinism. At first, I grappled with the “U” and “L” of TULIP – Unconditional Election and Limited Atonement. How could God choose to save some and not others? Does that not make God unloving? As I sought counsel from several pastors (including Rev. Koshy), I finally understood this doctrine and became convicted of it. Man is totally depraved, destined for eternal damnation. But out of His love, God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to give us salvation. Furthermore, His salvation is sufficient for all, but only efficient for the elect who were predestined according to the foreknowledge of God. It is through this new conviction and belief in Calvinism that the Lord moved in my heart to seek transfer of church membership.
Through the Catechism and FEBC classes, I came to understand theology systematically. It is through these teachings that God revived me and helped me to increase in my understanding of Him, causing me to be in awe of Him and then, desiring Him more.
Since coming to Gethsemane slightly more than a year ago, I particularly love how the Word of God is expounded deeply and accurately. Furthermore, the teachings here at Gethsemane revealed to me much more sin problems in my life that I have to get rid of. One particular lesson taught during Youth Fellowship was from 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Paul was teaching the Corinthian church to prioritise expediency over a Christian’s exercise of lawful liberties. That reminded me that I needed to lead a more spiritually excellent life and not just one that is merely lawful, to edify brethren and witness to non-believers.
Over time, the Lord also graciously granted me opportunities to serve within the church in the YF, YAF and Lions Home Ministry, which made me feel welcome and at home. By God’s grace and leading, I hope to transfer my membership to learn, serve and grow with the brethren here in Gethsemane BP Church. I pray that the Lord will grant me more opportunities to fellowship with all of you.
Clara Lim
I thank God that He led me to attend Gethsemane BP Church in June 2023 through my sister, Celine. I previously worshipped at a charismatic church from 2019 to 2023, but decided to leave as I disagreed with certain doctrines, such as speaking in tongues and the need for a second baptism of the Holy Spirit. I also found it difficult to have a deeper understanding of God’s Word, as sermons were often brief, lacking in depth and clear exposition from the Bible.
I thank God for the sound and biblical preaching in Gethsemane, where I have gained a deeper understanding of God’s Word and critical Bible doctrines. Over the past year, I have learnt a lot and I am thankful for the warm fellowship extended by many here. I thank God for His grace and mercies, and I look forward to growing in my understanding of His Word and in my spiritual walk with Him.
Leong Wei Chen
At the mere age of 8 years old, I already knew about the Saviour Jesus from my maternal grandmother while she was lying on her sick-bed, as she was a professed Christian. She had never failed to share Bible stories with my cousins and I despite her illness. However, my mother did not believe but embraced Buddhism instead. I was so young back then and unsure of what to do, so I remained neutral until my grandmother died. I was not keen to embrace Buddhism as I felt in my heart it was wrong. So, I pretended anyway whenever my mother would ask me to go with her for temple prayers and visits, just for the sake of not being reprimanded. I continued to do this till I have almost forgotten the Lord.
Not much later, a senior in my secondary school shared the Gospel with me and invited me to church. From this encounter, I remembered my grandmother and was elated to go to church with him. For a while, I was intrigued by the people “speaking in tongues” and the bands playing dramatic music. I found it interesting and decided to be more active by joining a cell group. As I actively participated in their fellowship, I thought I had accepted the Lord as my Saviour. But after a few months later, all those whom I fellowshipped with started showing their true colours. They had no restrictions in dress codes, BGRs were commonly encouraged, and there were a lot of ungodly behaviours. Sadly, my senior backslided and was involved in crimes. As I witness one by one of my friends backsliding, that led me to “lose my faith” and not attend this church anymore. I tried to go to other churches but it felt the same, so I went back to my usual lifestyle with my mother.
“Fast forward” to my adulthood: I have known Sis Ayn since we were in the same secondary school. Somehow I got to know that her mother (Aunty Jean) was reaching out to my best friend’s mother to evangelise. I told my best friend and his mother to attend church with me, but they declined as they said they were Catholics. I decided to go regardless. Upon coming to Gethsemane, I was shocked at how solemn and reverential this church is. I have only truly started to learn the Word of God, understanding it with so much clarity, compared to the churches I have attended before.
By God’s divine will and timing, He has led me to Gethsemane to know that I am sinful, and in need of Him and true salvation. I was pricked from every sermon through Pastor Koshy. Thank God for Aunty Jean and her family in encouraging me, and for the fellow brethren who have prayed with me and for me. I am edified and blessed to witness the labour of the brethren for the Lord’s work as I attend the English Service, Filipino Fellowship, Evening Teaching Service and Tuesday prayer meetings. Praise God for enabling me to attend these services on the Lord’s Day despite my busy work schedules. As Matthew 6:24 says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Please pray that I may be granted day off on Sundays, and that I myself may desire to learn more of God’s Word and attend more church meetings for my spiritual growth.
I can now safely proclaim unashamedly, with confidence, that I am truly a child of God, saved through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen. I pray that this Good News which my mother has heard before, will cause her to turn to the Lord and believe as I did, according to God’s will and grace. May I grow more in the Lord to be a channel of blessing to others, and to be able to share the Word of God with more souls. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Sermon Text: Psalm 92:1–15
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 20th October 2024