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God works all things after the counsel of His sovereign will. He governs all events in the universe, including the evil devices of the wicked (cf. Proverbs 16:4) – except that He has no part in instigating or initiating sin. But He allows Satan and sinners to work against His people and Him. He takes their defiance as a challenge, only to thrash His enemies at the end. In fact, He can even bring up “the wrath of man” to praise Him, yet “the remainder of wrath shalt (he) restrain” (Psalm 76:10).

But in that great battle that the devil is waging against God, God’s children are often caught up in it, whether we like it or not. There is no sitting on the fence. Being on the Lord’s side, we have to face the challenge that is raised against God, embracing it with joy. We must be happy “fighters”, not in the sense of being belligerent and aggressive (looking for a fight), but in the sense of fighting “the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) and enduring “hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).

God Has Purpose in Believers’ Suffering

In this respect, the Holy Spirit’s comment of Job’s reaction to his sufferings is instructive: “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). Job was described by James as one who happily endured. 

The word (makarizo) for “happy” is the same Greek root word which gives rise to the adjective that is translated as “blessed” in the Beatitudes, like “Blessed are the poor in spirit”, “Blessed are they that mourn”, and so on (Matthew 5:3-11). Truly, we (biblically instructed) believers think of those who endure their sufferings as blessed people. We believe Job was a blessed man because he endured his suffering, for the resultant trying of his faith worketh patience (cf. James 1:3). James is bringing to the readers’ attention, the blessedness of Job’s patience, which is an honourable thing. In God’s sovereign scheme of things, patience and endurance are blessed traits which God wants His children to possess. 

Having established his heart in the Lord, though Job did question God’s will, he kept faith with the Lord and endured to the end. In the whole process, God was glorified and Job purified. Hence James highlighted “the end of the Lord”. Now, the Greek word (telos) for “end” here has the idea of end-result or objective. It is not referring to some sort of termination, for being the eternal Lord, God has no beginning or end. Rather, “the end of the Lord” is referring to the ultimate completion and fulfilment of God’s intent and purpose. So dear Christians, whatever trial you may be presently undergoing is never purposeless. And it is comforting to infer that it is not endless either! You may be having a difficult family life, or great financial problems, or debilitating health troubles, or a host of distressing issues, but please remember, that is what God has purposed. God will work out His purposes in His time and for His glory. In the meantime, “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3), which is certainly one of God’s purposes for our Christian lives. 

Indeed, the Lord has purpose in our lives. Our sovereign God is not a capricious God who does things according to His whim and fancy. He has a plan. He works out everything according to His plan; nothing happens by chance. He has decreed all things, including our lives and our works. In fact, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). 

Suffering as Part of Believers’ Preordained “Good Works”

It should not surprise us that as God’s children living in a hostile world, part of the “package” of our “good works in Christ Jesus” inevitably includes sufferings for Christ’s sake. Unbeknown to Job, his sufferings would constitute a very important spiritual work that God committed to him. God was very pleased with His servant’s spiritual maturity and complete surrender to Him as his Master (cf. Job 1:8), but Satan cynically insinuated that it was because of all the beneficial things God had given in his life. To prove His arch-enemy wrong, God then allowed Satan’s attacks on Job, but within certain limits (Job 1:12; 2:6). In this “good spiritual work” (of enduring under suffering) committed to Job by God, Job maintained his integrity and uttered sublime statements of faith; these are his “good works”. In fact, his several rounds of speech and counter-speech, in response to his friends’ absurd provocations, were beautifully poetic in Hebrew. They constitute a masterly piece of literary work in themselves! He used all his literary power, ability and skill to express his thoughts, and refute misguided theological clichés. 

Above all, Job’s patience amidst suffering was used by God to defeat Satan’s mockery, whereby God’s name and honour were exalted. But note that Job’s patience didn’t mean he was quiet all the time. Some people think patience means silent stoicism, without realising that God is a loving Father upon whom we can pour out our woes (cf. 1 Peter 5:7). Actually, Job was talking from chapter 3 all the way to chapter 31 (interrupted from time to time only by his three friends’ baseless accusations and rebuke)! Indeed, his speech recorded in these chapters of the Book of Job had left behind a rich legacy, benefitting Bible-readers and, particularly, suffering Christians, throughout the Old and New Testament ages. Job was truly God’s “workmanship”, earmarked for a deep “work” of sufferings.

Dear Christians, if you believe that God is sovereign, then you have to believe that God has appointed whatever troubles that come into your life. Accept your trouble as God-ordained. The rightful response to such an acceptance of God’s sovereignty is worship, like how Job worshipped: “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21b). Don’t resist! Don’t say, “I quit!” Accept your peculiar circumstance as what God had already determined even before the foundation of the world, “that we should walk in them”. And acceptance entails the worshipful confession that “The Lord is with me even in this.” 

Truly, as far as God’s challenge to Satan regarding Job’s integrity is concerned, Job passed the test with flying colours! Job sought / worshipped God for who He is, not for the things he could get out of God. Job was shown to be a worshipper of God, not of things. His faith was tested – he came forth as gold (cf. Job 23:10)! 

Hence, the apostle James commented that when believers perceive the “end (i.e. purpose) of the Lord” pertaining to the righteous’ sufferings, they cannot but see how “pitiful” and “of tender mercy” the Lord is. Indeed, the Lord “that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4), and is perfectly “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). To God be the glory. Amen.

Sermon Text: Psalm 72
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 10th March 2024

Sermon Text: Numbers 3:4
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 3rd March 2024

What is the greatest advantage or profit a man can have in his life? The most common answers would be: “great wealth”, “material comfort”, “fame and prestige”, “great power”, “excellent education”, etc. Certainly, no one can deny that there are real advantages in this earthly life if one has such worldly gains.

The Bible instructs Christians not to be sluggish but to work hard to earn their bread (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). Industrious Christians are also taught to be generous (Romans 12:13; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 6:18). While the Bible encourages us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3), it also promises that God would provide all the needs of those who seek His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

Nonetheless, Jesus sternly warned everyone who thinks that worldly gain is all that matters and who would even neglect the care of his soul to secure an affluent earthly life, “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” (Luke 9:25). By “the world”, Jesus meant all the pleasures, riches and honour that this world presents to man. If there is a man who possesses all the earthly glories but fails to care for the salvation of his own soul, he is, according to Jesus, a terrible loser because he let his soul be a castaway in hell. All his material achievements will not contribute anything at all to purchase a safe eternal destiny for him.

A man of worldly affluence may astonish his observers, winning for himself their admiration and praise. However, within him is a weary soul, crushed by the wrath of God against his sin and unbelief. So a man who lives just for worldly achievements has an awfully impoverished soul. All his wealth and stature are utterly powerless to save his soul and help him secure eternal peace.

God’s Word has long declared, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever)” (Psalm 49:6-8). Likewise, Proverbs 11:4 states, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath.” This is why Jesus said in Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Material wealth cannot purchase the redemption of one’s soul. All the wealth in the world will not be sufficient to redeem a man’s immortal soul.

Worse still, trusting in worldly possessions will lead to eternal peril. “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall” (Proverbs 11:28). One’s confidence in his wealth will keep him from believing and submitting to the Lord. This was graphically illustrated by the example of a rich young ruler who came to Christ seeking eternal life and yet refused to submit to His command to follow Him after selling all his possessions and giving them to the poor (Matthew 19:16-22). When he went away sorrowful, Jesus said, “That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24).

Besides, worldly gain accumulated through unrighteous and selfish means will provoke God to wrath. James, the apostle, forewarns, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days” (James 5:1-3). Man’s fascination with the worldly gain will make him a real loser of his soul to hell.

The danger of loving material prosperity is clearly and strongly cautioned against in God’s Word: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). Why would one covet after something that would afflict him with excruciating pain? Worldly pursuit can bring horrifying anguish upon a man’s soul because of his departure from the faith, resulting in remorse and guilt; painful recollections of his folly and the dread of the future wrath of God.

Just prior to the warning of the unprofitability of the world, Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23–24). These words of Jesus make it plain that there can be no spiritual progress if one is unwilling to make the sacrifices required by the Lord. A genuine Christian must always be willing to give up any earthly pursuit that would impede his desire to follow Christ.

Worldly affluence provides no guarantee of spiritual prosperity. Too often, especially when one is indulging in material gain and pleasure, it is a sign of his spiritual poverty. Jesus said, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

What then is the real profitability of being preoccupied with worldly glory? Nothing at all. No one who wants his soul to be saved and be spiritually empowered and enriched should ever make worldly achievements his priority. The world’s wealth cannot secure spiritual wealth and joy. To be totally occupied with the world’s prosperity is to become spiritually bankrupt. One’s unrestrained pursuit of earthly gain will leave his soul utterly famished. Great wealth is certainly no great gain.

John Flavel (1627–1691), an English Presbyterian pastor, puritan and author, offered an excellent illustration of the unprofitability of worldly preoccupation. He wrote, “’Two things a master commits to his servant’s care,’ saith one: ‘the child and the child’s clothes.’ It will be a poor excuse for the servant to say, at his master’s return, ‘Sir, here are all the child’s clothes, neat and clean, but the child is lost!’ Much so with the account that many will give to God of their souls and bodies on that great day. ‘Lord, here is my body; I was very grateful for it; I neglected nothing that belonged to its content and welfare; but as for my soul, that is lost and cast away for ever. I took little care and thought about it.’”

Let no one be fooled into thinking highly of this material world and its glory, and fail to care for the salvation and nurture of his soul. The world is full of corruption and seduction that endanger our souls. Its glory is both unreliable and fading. Hence, let us not love the world (1 John 2:15). Take heed of the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “Thus saith the LORD, 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” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

God’s Word instructs us in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

Paul stated at the end of the previous verse (v. 17) that it is “the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy”. If God is the One who bestows all good things on us, then He also has His reason to give us those good things. Our text for today’s meditation delineates God’s intention to bestow us wealth.

Firstly, it tells us that God bestows wealth on His people for a purpose: “that they do good, that they be rich in good works”. The love of money is the parent of all wickedness. J.C. Ryle said, “Nothing I am sure has such a tendency to quench the fire of religion as the possession of money.” We must not allow our wealth to affect our spiritual and moral commitment. Money is given unto us, that we may increase in “good works”. Good works are the fulfilment of the Lord’s will concerning us. Every work of self-gain and self-glory is evil work. Always remember that your money is to help you further God’s will. We can never be used or blessed by the Lord, if we do not fully commit to giving all for His glory.

So our Scripture text tells us that we must be “ready to distribute, willing to communicate”. When we receive money, most of us immediately think of keeping or saving it, if not multiplying it. But we are instructed that it is wrong to withhold from the needy when the Lord has not withheld it from us, though it was more than sufficient for all our needs. The Scriptural exhortation is: “distributing to the necessity of saints” (Romans 12:13), and “to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). More blessings come from giving than receiving (cf. Acts 20:35). As it is commonly said by preachers, “Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving!” The right mindset is: “Get all you can, save all you can, and give all you can” (John Wesley). Note this attitude of giving must be accompanied by “readiness” and “willingness”. The words “ready” and “willing” in v. 18 call us not to delay when it comes to giving to the needs of the Lord’s work or for the poor. We should give as we would receive – cheerfully, quickly and without hesitation.

If we give generously as God’s Word teaches us, we are assured in v. 19 that we will be “laying up in store for [ourselves] a good foundation against the time to come, that [we] may lay hold on eternal life”. Generosity is a good foundation for the rest of our time in this world and even eternity. Our Lord Jesus’ teachings corroborated this truth. He said in Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”. Jesus also taught us that He will reward us – “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). 

That is biblical investing of our lives and resources according to what the LORD has commanded – which is “investment with sure returns”!

Report from Rev. Reggor Galarpe (Gethsemane BPC, Cebu, the Philippines)

Dear Pastor, greetings to you in our Lord’s most blessed Name! Praise God for His sustaining grace upon us in the ministry of the Gospel. Glad to hear of the good report on the recent Malayalam Fellowship Retreat in Vizag through the report of Dn. Benny. Praise God for sustaining you in the many opportunities to teach and preach God’s Word among His people, and to fellowship among the brethren there in Vizag.

We praise and thank God for His grace as we carry on in the work of the Gospel. 

(1) Thank God for the ongoing studies in GBI-Cebu’s second semester. Praise God for the KJV Reference Bibles received from Mr. Yong (Pr. Joshua Yong’s father) that he sent for our students. He did mention to me his burden to send Bibles for our GBI students during the combined retreat here last December. 

(2) Thank God for the new resident in TGCM-Cebu. He was introduced to us by a Baptist pastor, who originally wanted to bring his younger brother into the programme. However, his brother was unwilling; he ended up bringing to us one of their worshippers. Praise God nonetheless! 

(3) As for the church, we thank God for the recent combined fellowship meeting we had last Sunday afternoon. It was held at TGCM premises. It was the first time for most of the brethren to visit TGCM after it underwent renovation last year. So, we take time to praise God and dedicate the premises to the Lord in thanksgiving. Thank God also for a good number of brethren who came for the meeting, and for the blessed time of learning God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship among us. 

(4) Also, I thank the Lord for sustaining our children’s outreach in the home of our Sis. Ophelia. By God’s grace, it’s been more than a year since we started reaching out to the children in the neighbourhood. It was originally held every Thursday afternoon, but was moved to Saturday afternoon, starting January this year. Bro. Johnny Rey and I take turns teaching the children, while Sis. Carol would prepare some activities for them.

In another update, I would like to inform you that Bethel BPC has invited me to minister among the youths in their YPG Camp, which will be held 7th-11th July this year. Praise God for this opportunity to visit the church and minister to our brethren there.

Lastly, we are praying for the upcoming Missionary Conference in June. The Lord will provide! Once again, thank you, Pastor, for all your prayers and support for us. Please convey our greetings to all our brethren there. 

Sermon Text: Psalm 71
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 25th February 2024

Sermon Text: Psalm 70
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 18th February 2024

King David spoke of his motivation to give generously in 1 Chronicles 29:13-14, “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.”

David uttered those words before the LORD after he had prepared, with all his might, the things needed to build the house of God. With the help of his people, he had gathered gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, onyx stones, glistering stones of diverse colours, and all manner of precious stones and marble stones in abundance. Beyond all these, David made a sizeable public love offering from his private estate to stir others with his example. His gifts included gold and silver, and 1 Chronicles 29:4 records that David gave “even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal”. David’s generosity was lavish. His generous giving served as a catalyst for the generosity of the people. Christian leaders will do well to remember that they will never see open-handed giving from their people if they themselves are not willing to take the lead in this as well.

David’s words uttered before the LORD as he dedicated his gifts to the building of God’s house, instruct us on how to be generous givers.

David’s heart was thankful to God for all the material blessings he had in his possession. He acknowledged that they were God’s gift to him. So, David said, “for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” We, too, must always be thankful to God for all our wealth and possessions, which He has bestowed upon us. Whatever we possess is what we receive from the LORD, so they belong to God. 

Our attitude concerning our assets is revealing. If we think that all of our possessions are ours, we will be unwilling to give generously. Scripture reminds us: “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). We need to start with an attitude recognising that our assets belong to God. “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). Then we will be motivated to give generously by having this attitude: “If He gave me all these things, what right have I to keep them from Him when His work requires them?”

May the same conviction be in us constantly, that we may never withhold what God has bestowed on us. Wealth and honour cometh from Him. So, when God’s work requires funds, let us quickly release what God has entrusted us with. It is only because of God’s enablement that we are able to give as generously as David did.

Report on Gethsemane Malayalam Fellowship Retreat 2024

Report by Dn Benny Skariah

We thank God for enabling Gethsemane Malayalam Fellowship to organise our first overseas retreat in Vizag, India, from 10th – 12th February 2024. A small team of nine from Singapore travelled to Vizag on Friday evening (9th February). We were gladly received by a few brothers from Vizag. After a sumptuous dinner, we had a good night’s rest. Pastor Koshy, Sis Carolyn, and a few other brethren from other parts of India also travelled to Vizag to join this retreat. On Saturday morning, about 70 participants gathered together at Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, Vizag City to be taught on the topic, “Doctrines of Grace”, by Pastor Koshy in English. In the afternoon, we had a special session in Malayalam. In that session, Rev. Sujith Samuel led us in a “Survey of the Book of Numbers”, where he highlighted the working of God’s grace in the Old Testament (cf. Numbers 6:22-27). In the evening, we spent our time visiting a few places in Vizag, went to the hilltop park in the city, and took a train ride to take in the beautiful night view of Vizag.

On the morning of the Lord’s Day, we joined our Telugu brethren in worship of the Lord and partook in the Holy Communion. Rev. Sujith Samuel preached to us on the theme, “Perseverance of the Saints”, based on John 10:27-30. His message was translated into the Telugu language by Pastor Bhagavath. In the afternoon, we joined the English worship service, where Pastor Koshy expounded on the topic, “Perseverance of the Saints”, from 1 Peter 1:1-5. He explained how the apostle Peter encouraged the Christians – who were under persecution, rejected by their society and displaced in various places – with the truth of God’s election of them. They were His beloved people whom He would preserve by His great power for the ultimate salvation in heaven. In the evening, we organised a fellowship dinner for all our brethren in Vizag, and 50 of us enjoyed a time of fellowship over food. 

Early in the morning on the last day of our retreat in Vizag, some of us, together with Rev. Sujith and Pastor Bujji Babu, travelled 40km from the city to view some lands for sale, with the intention to consider whether they are suitable for building a church-cum-Bible college and associated amenities. Please pray for God’s leading in this matter and for the necessary funds. Pastor Koshy and others went directly to Gethsemane Bible Institute in K. Kotapadu (30km from the city) to teach our students. In the afternoon, we all gathered together with some of our past GBI graduates who are currently serving the Lord in the nearby villages, and we enjoyed a good lunch prepared by our GBI staff. On our way from GBI to the airport, we visited the homes of our preachers, Rev. Sujith Samuel and Bro. Seraph McGregor, where we enjoyed the warm fellowship that their families offered to us.

“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3). We are truly blessed by this retreat, and we give all glory to our Lord for all safety, protection and provisions. We also thank God for the many brethren who have laboured much, especially Pastor Bujji Babu, Bro. Anand, Bro. Joyson, Bro. Bharath, Bro. Solomon (and many more), as well as for all who joined us, and for all who prayed for us!

In Acts 3:1, we see Peter and John going up together into the temple, “at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour”. God would use these two apostles to bring about healing in a man who was lame. “And he (the lame man) leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them (Peter and John) into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:8).

This miracle was wrought at the hour of prayer. A certain man, who was lame from his mother’s womb, was carried and laid at the gate of the temple on a daily basis (v. 2). He was there to ask alms. Asking of alms was a common thing among the poor people of the Jewish community. If they were blind, or lame (like this man was), they would normally sit outside the temple, where people often came to pray. Showing mercy to the poor and needy is something God has commanded both in the Old and New Testaments, so many worshippers would give alms to help these poor people to survive, including this lame man in question. But something else better happened to this man. For Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (v. 6). And then Peter “took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (v. 7). Amazingly, this man didn’t immediately run back home to tell the people, but he went into the temple together with Peter and John, to pray and praise God (cf. v. 8). The most important thing to him, upon restoration of his mobility, was to get into the temple to pray – not to go away to engage in self-centred pursuits, Brethren, why does God heal us? Why does He save us and give us all spiritual and physical blessings? That we should pray.

Prayer in the Leadership and Laity

Significantly, we can observe two categories of people mentioned here. Firstly, the apostles Peter and John (representing the leaders), who were observed to be going to pray. Peter was a man who would have a big role to play in the early leadership of the church. Before Paul appeared on the scene, Peter was the most celebrated among the early church leaders. John, another “pillar” of the church leadership (cf. Galatians 2:9), was seen on several occasions together with Peter in the Acts episodes. It seemed that both were the chief representatives of the apostles. This is corroborated in 8:14-15, “when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them (the Samaritan converts) Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost”.

These were two mighty leaders of the early church, who were able to stay together and serve God because they were prayerful people. Truly, the leadership of our church must be a prayerful leadership. There is something really special about the leadership that pray. God will use them mightily. But the converse is true – the leadership that cannot pray together is in great danger! Peter and John, though endued with so much power of the Holy Spirit, performing stupendous miracles, went regularly to seek God in the temple. It goes without saying why they went to the temple at the ninth hour. Was it to perform some miracle? No, but to pray! For it was the hour of prayer in the temple. They went there like any other worshipper – to pray! That, we believe, is the secret of their mighty ministry together as church leaders.

Secondly, the prayerful inclination of the healed lame man (representing the lay people) is also worthy of more than a passing mention. Because of Peter and John, he was also led to enter the temple to pray. A praying leadership will give rise to praying congregations. This is alluded to in Acts 1:14, where we see not only the eleven disciples, but also others (including “the women”) being mentioned as praying with them. This is significant in the ministry of the church. While it is a pastor’s duty to pray as an expression of his faith (in obedience to God who commands that we should pray), at the same time, it is also his duty to call people to pray for him. Take a leaf from the apostle Paul’s desire for the lay people to join him in prayer.

When Paul wrote to the Romans, he said in Romans 15:30, “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me”. Paul asked the people in the church to exert themselves in the spiritual exercise of prayer on behalf of him. He was unashamed about this matter of asking others to pray with him and for him. In Ephesians 6:19, we read that he had asked the Ephesian church to pray “for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”. Without question, for the church ministry to flourish, both the leadership and laity must strive together in prayer, so that, among other things, “the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). 

Prayer for Strengthening of Ministry

Belief in Christ and prayer are two sides of the same coin. Every believing heart is supernaturally, spiritually endued with the desire for prayer. There is not a believing heart that doesn’t pray. The greater the faith of a man, the greater his prayer habits. Dear church, we must not fail to pray if our ministries (both local and overseas) are to flourish. It is good to remember that Peter and John, who were going up to the temple to pray together, were working together for the spreading of the Gospel. When you pray together, you work well. Whether you are serving in a committee, or going for evangelism, or engaging in visitation of the elderly / needy brethren in church, it is vital to pray first. Otherwise, you may quarrel along the way, or your visitation may end up in disarray. Likewise, if you are singing together in a choir, or if you are working together in the PA team, or the internet media ministry, or the ushers’ ministry, or the refreshments team (which also oversee the Holy Communion preparations), etc., always pray first – and pray together frequently.

The attitude of prayer ought to be one of humility, and acknowledgment of weakness prevailing in us. It is not a time to show off our powers. Each time we come together as a church (even if it’s a small group of brethren), it is most necessary and fitting to pray to the Lord. It is not without reason that the Old Testament temple (and, as a corollary, the church) is called “an house of prayer” (cf. Isaiah 56:7). 

Prayer Requires Regular Appointed Times

If the church is to be a house of prayer, then there must be appointed seasons of prayer in the church. Notice that Peter and John went up to the temple regularly for prayer. There was a set time for prayer, which, according to Acts 3:1, was the ninth hour (i.e. 3 o’clock in the afternoon). The ninth hour was one of the set times for Jewish prayers. According to the Old Testament, there were morning sacrifices, and evening sacrifices in the temple (cf. Exodus 29:38-42), so the believing Jews all went to the temple to pray at those set times, as it was customary.

There is thus biblical precedent for the church to set aside a regular appointed time for corporate prayer – hence the weekly church prayer meeting, which is, in many ways, the “power-house” of the church. Sadly, there are people who don’t believe in the importance of prayer meeting. Worse still, there are people in churches today who don’t see the need for daily prayer, as individuals and as a family. They say there’s no evidence in the Bible for such daily devotion. Do they not know from Scripture how Job prayed for his children every day, even with sacrifices, in case they had sinned and thereby needed sanctification (cf. Job 1:5)? Have they conveniently forgotten the biblical instruction in Deuteronomy 6:7, where God says that a father should speak about God’s Word with his children while he sits, walks, lies down, and moves about with them? Have they not read the Book of Proverbs (especially chapters 1 to 8), wherein is impressed upon us how a father and mother should instruct the children in the Word of God? The biblical teaching is that such times for devotion / prayer are not just on a regular basis, but as often as possible! The same applies to the larger family of God, the church.

Truly, when a church makes full use of those provisions under God’s providence to pray (at set times and set places), there’ll be provisions of God’s blessings. While none of us today is an apostle and so won’t be able to heal people miraculously, we will be used by God to restore many to the joy of salvation, and to spiritual health. That, spiritually speaking, is the biggest miracle! Just like that healed lame man, who “entered … into the temple, … praising God”! That being the case, may we, as a church, pray always (Luke 18:1) and without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Amen.

Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:3–12
Speaker: Pr Kelvin Lim
Date: 11th February 2024