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Before Christ’s ascension, He commanded the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit’s promised empowerment, that they may be His witnesses all around the world. “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). For “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

In obedience to the Lord’s command, the apostles returned to Jerusalem (Acts 1:12a), and “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14). That first prayer gathering after Christ’s ascension, which began with just the eleven apostles, eventually grew to a total of about 120 (Acts 1:15). From that group of praying men and women who waited for the power of the Holy Spirit, sprang up the first New Testament church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1–47)!

Be Given to Prayer

The Lord’s instruction to the apostles to tarry in Jerusalem led them to a season of prayer, together with other believers. They prayed with hearts submissive to the Lord’s command, and with the joyous expectation of the Spirit’s might  that would empower them as witnesses to the Gospel in a hostile world. Though they hardly knew the details of what would happen, they knew for sure that life and the ministry ahead of them would be full of trials and sorrows. But their persistence in prayer would be instrumental in preparing them for all the challenges which they would face. Through constant collective prayers, the church overcame persecution, apostasy, temptation, and made significant progress in preaching the Gospel and advancing the church’s work.

The early church relied on God through prayer for all their spiritual and physical needs. They relentlessly pursued divine help in prayer. They prayed individually as believers (cf. Acts 9:10–12, 40; 10:9), and corporately as a church (cf. Acts 1:14, 24; 4:24–31; 12:5, 12). What a far cry from the contemporary church! Sadly, prayer is much neglected in the church at large today. In churches of our day and age, we hear of large crowds turning up for concerts, for entertainment, and even for listening to the testimonies of the rich and famous. Prayer meetings, on the other hand, attract only the faithful few. Lack of interest in prayer is the primary reason for the weakness of the contemporary church.

We must take care not to be drawn away from prayer by laziness, pleasure, business, etc. The dire consequences of neglect of prayer cannot be ignored. The present circumstances in which we live and serve are perilous to holy living that is acceptable to God. There are many powerful temptations and demonic doctrines that lurk around us. Only through much prayer can we keep ourselves holy for our Master’s use. Unless we are diligent in prayer, we will be overtaken by the adversary’s ploys to destroy us (cf. Luke 21:36). Truly, only when we are given continually to prayer will the church members’ personal life and the church ministries flourish spiritually.

Be Earnest in Prayer

That is why we read of Paul’s apostolic exhortation to the church in Colossae, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). We too must take heed of this injunction to pray with earnest perseverance and give ourselves unto prayer as God’s Word requires. Now, the Greek word (proskarteréō) translated as “continue” has the idea of “to continue to do something with intense effort, even with the possibility of difficulties along the way, until one has brought it to the wished-for end”.

So, firstly, our prayers must be earnest before God. Prayer should never be perfunctory. A casual or superficial attitude in prayer is akin to being irreverent before God. An indifferent heart in prayer is tantamount to mocking God’s holy and solemn presence. Wandering hearts and sleepy prayers are not befitting the majestic presence of our gracious God. Then, secondly, there must be devoutness and commitment to prayer. Jesus had said that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). This is not to say that we are to be always on our knees, but rather that the spirit of prayer should never be laid aside. We must have a prayerful spirit all the time. We must also delight in frequent prayers, whether they be short or protracted prayers. God must be frequently sought, for He alone is our help.

Scripture records many examples of men and women who prayed earnestly and without ceasing. We need not look too far. Even in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, the apostle mentions his co-labourer, Epaphras, as “always labouring fervently for you in prayers” (Colossians 4:12). Such constancy in prayer has been the secret of God’s servants who are God-honouring. Such is also the secret of a God-honouring, vibrant, fruitful church. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, a praying church will be empowered and guided to fulfil God’s glorious purposes concerning its work on earth. Believers will be built up in knowledge and godliness to serve the Lord in love, unity and peace, that the Gospel may spread far and near. The Spirit of God will invigorate a praying church to magnify the Lord, that more members may be added to the church as the blessings of the Gospel of Christ spread throughout the community.

Be Watchful in Prayer

In Paul’s apostolic counsel on prayer, we are also called unto watchfulness in prayer—“watch in the same” (v. 2b). The word rendered “watch” has the idea of “refrain from sleep”, “stay awake”, “be alert”, “be vigilant”. When physical tiredness and sleepiness prevented Peter, James and John from being awakened unto prayer, Jesus rebuked them: “What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40–41). Even physical fatigue is not a satisfactory excuse for failing in prayer. Christians must be awake unto the pressing matters of life and ministry, so as to bring them to God in prayer.

Besides, being watchful also entails looking out for what God has already blessed us with, which should evoke a thankful spirit in us. Whenever we pray, we must be full of thankfulness towards God. Admittedly, we are more prone to ask or complain than to give thanks. When we pray, we must be grateful for the blessings already granted, and for the promises He has given unto us. Beware: ungrateful men are not fit to pray! On the other hand, grateful men who depend upon God for spiritual wisdom and power to lead those under their care will pray without ceasing. Those who desire to be faithful in their God-given roles will be utterly dependent on God through prayer. Gratefulness and watchfulness would hasten them to the presence of God. They will be serious in their commitment to pray for their families and those under their charge, as well as to pray with them. They will also count it their special joy and duty to be with people who gather together to pray. Indeed, men of faith are not only given to prayer, but also earnest and watchful in prayer.

Conclusion

Most of us are not called to be preachers of the Word or to be leaders of the church. But all of us are called to be mighty in intercession. Like Epaphras, who was constantly mindful of his home church and toiled in prayer for the brethren (cf. Colossians 4:12), we too must pray. With burden, faith and thanksgiving we must pray. Let there be godly expectation of divine blessings as we pray for ourselves and our church. All of us can pray for one another—and that we must do.

It is not uncommon that Christians feel troubled about their struggle to fulfil their Christian calling to live a holy and God-pleasing life. Are you also feeling inadequate and helpless to be a faithful and fruitful Christian? Do you think Christian life and ministry surpass your human abilities and powers? Do the challenges and goals of Christian life and ministry appear daunting before you?

Feelings of inadequacy, resulting in doubt and anxiety, are typical of everyone who cherishes a genuine desire to do the will of God and please Him. Such was the apostle Paul’s concern. That great hero of faith made repeated assertions about his insufficiency. He asked in 2 Corinthians 2:16b, “And who is sufficient for these things?” He also wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”.

Paul’s sense of his personal insufficiency was an all-pervasive view of his life. When he said, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves” (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7), he was attesting to his total inability in the matters of Christian life and ministry. Brethren, there is no greater folly than to think that we possess the power to attain supreme spiritual heights within ourselves. Wise is the man who readily acknowledges – “O, how little is my sufficiency!” 

“But our sufficiency,” says Paul, “is of God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5b). So, the answer to the question, “Who is sufficient for these things?”, is all who trust in God, who is our sufficiency. In God, we have all sufficiency. In Him is all the wisdom, all the thoughts, all the love, all the power, and all the conquering energy which every devoted and serving Christian needs. His own inadequacy and lack of human resources turned Paul into an empty vessel that is to be filled with divine power and goodness for the blessed ministry of the Gospel. Paul did not rely on his natural abilities to accomplish his ministry. Instead, he ministered, trusting in divine empowerment. So, he wrote, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor. 2:4).

That our sufficiency should be of God is infinitely better than if it were of ourselves, for then our sufficiency cannot be questioned, doubted, interrupted, or depleted. If we had to bear all the burdens and challenges, we would soon be undone. But now, we are like a child who travels with his father, and his father pays for everything. Like a child who draws all his needs from his father’s constant provision, we must draw upon the inexhaustible resources of God so that we may be well-furnished to fulfil all our Christian responsibilities and duties. 

We can now expect to live a peaceful and princely life; our heavenly Father will provide for us from His all-sufficiency. Our sufficiency is of God; let us practically enjoy this truth. Like Paul, let us also learn to live by drawing on the Lord’s ever-sufficient grace. Consider Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

“We are poor, leaking vessels,” Charles Spurgeon wrote, “and the only way for us to keep full is to put our pitcher under the perpetual flow of His boundless grace. Then, despite its leakage, the cup will always be full to the brim.” Our sufficiency is of God! When it comes to God’s work, such as evangelism, we know we have no power to reach souls and save them. One might cry, “I feel it is a work too hard for me. I do not feel I’m able to win a soul.” Let him also continue to remember the truth that “our sufficiency is of God.”

Brethren, if God sends us, He will go with us to help us accomplish His work. When God calls a man to preach and gives him a message to deliver, He will also prepare the ears and hearts to hear and believe the message. He, who has called us, is able to fulfil the work He has begun in us (Phil 1:6). O, how blessed are those words for every servant of Christ working for His dear name: “Our sufficiency is of God!”

Thanksgiving Testimony of Salvation

(William Lee’s testimony of God’s gracious work in the salvation of his mother, Mdm Kong Mok Kum, before calling her home on 19 Jan 2024.)

When my mother was hospitalised in July 2020, she told me she wanted to have a Christian funeral service when she died. I explained to her that before a minister can conduct a Christian funeral for her, she must first accept Jesus as her Saviour. I also told her it would be a burial and not a cremation. She understood, agreed and accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She reaffirmed her faith when Pastor Koshy and Pr Daniel Lim visited her in the hospital, and she was baptised on 1 Aug 2020.

Over the next three years, she grew spiritually from faith to faith. When told she had cancer in September 2023, it did not devastate her because her faith was strong, and she knew that this was the beginning of a journey towards her eternal home in Heaven. She knew she must persevere through the suffering of pain as her body grew weaker physically. But God has been merciful to grant her grace to endure and hope to look towards the day when she closes her eyes for the last time on this earth and enters Heaven with joy unspeakable, beholding Jesus Christ, who loved and saved her. Revelation 21:4 says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

She has gone to a place that the Lord Jesus has prepared for her (John 14:3), where there will be no more darkness, suffering, pain and death. Up in Heaven, she shall join my father, and all who like them have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord, and have gone ahead much earlier to glorify Him in ceaseless praise.

Sermon Text: Psalm 69:1–17
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 28th January 2024

This article is necessitated by the pervasive influence of Charismatism in the church scene. The main purpose is to expose error and warn against the flood of erroneous doctrines now sweeping over the modern church in the name of Charismatism. In this article, the following pernicious notion of the Holy Spirit perpetuated by the Charismatics will be refuted, with overwhelming Scriptural support.

Charismatics Erroneously Teach: Not Every Christian has the Holy Spirit.”

The Charismatics teach that not every Christian has the Holy Spirit and would often ask other Christians, “Have you received the Holy Spirit?” The Bible clearly refutes that claim. On the contrary, Scripture unequivocally teaches that every Christian has the Holy Spirit, and that without the Holy Spirit no one would even be a Christian. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). Indeed, as this verse repeatedly declares – “ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit” (v. 9a); “the Spirit of God dwell in you” (v. 9b); and “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (v. 9c) – genuine Christians are never without the Holy Spirit.

The fact of the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence in every genuine Christian is proven by the following biblical teachings about His work in every individual Christian.

Holy Spirit Regenerates Every Christian

No one ever becomes a Christian except that the Holy Spirit works within his heart to convict and convert him. The Lord Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5; cf. Ezekiel 36:25-27). It is the Spirit who gives a sinner the power to repent and believe on the Gospel of Christ so that he may have eternal life. The Spirit regenerates and renews us – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

Make no mistake about it, it is the Holy Spirit who enables a person to know God’s love for him. As Romans 5:5 tells us, “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” In other words, it is the gift of the Holy Spirit in a Christian that helps him to know and rejoice in the love of God.

Holy Spirit Seals Every Christian

Moreover, the moment a person puts his faith in Christ, he is “sealed” by the Holy Spirit for eternity. This is affirmed by Ephesians 1:13, 14 – “In whom (Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Paul also reiterates this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:22, by saying that God “hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” By giving the Holy Spirit to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God “seals” or stamps them as His own possession. Hence, Scripture admonishes Christians to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). Without a doubt, the presence of the Holy Spirit in Christians right from the inception of their faith is an undeniable truth of the Bible!

The above few verses also tell us that Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit, which is given as an “earnest” of their ultimate redemption in heaven. The Greek word for “earnest” literally means “down payment” or “deposit of pledge”. That is to say, the Holy Spirit who seals Christians is the divine deposit in them, guaranteeing their eternal inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a “down payment” of the eternal joy and blessings that await Christians. This spiritual reality exists in Christians the moment they believe on Christ.

Holy Spirit Resides in Every Christian

The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in all Christians is further established when the Bible speaks of the Spirit indwelling them. In Galatians 4:6, Christians are assured that “because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Christians’ sonship is evidenced by the presence of the Spirit whom God has sent to them. Clearly, the presence of the Spirit confirms the bestowal of sonship. Hence, Scripture affirms that “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:14-16).

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Christians (cf. Romans 8:11b; 2 Timothy 1:14b) is such a solemn reality that Christians are given the biblical designation of “the temple of God”. 1 Corinthians 3:16 rhetorically asks, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” That question was repeated in 1 Corinthians 6:19, emphasising the truth of the Spirit’s indwelling in Christians – “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Gifts to Every Christian

The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers every believer in the New Testament with spiritual gifts to serve in the church. The apostle Paul wrote, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; cf. Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10). So, all Christians are gifted without exception. No believer is without at least one spiritual gift!

Having said that, individual giftedness is determined by God’s will, and not by human will. It is God who assigns spiritual gifts to believers as He deems fit. This truth is repeatedly taught in the Scriptures. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Again, 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (cf. v. 24). This tells us that the kind of gifts received is not determined by the believer, but by the Holy Spirit. Besides, a Christian may have more than one gift, as equipped by the Holy Spirit according to His pleasure. Be that as it may, the primary purpose of spiritual gifts is for the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 12, 17, 26; cf. Ephesians 4:12-13), and for God’s glory (1 Peter 4:10-11). It goes without saying that this is the Spirit-endowed privilege and Spirit-enabled responsibility of every born-again Christian.

Conclusion

From the above biblical facts, we see the falsehood of the claim that not all Christians possess the Holy Spirit upon salvation. The truth of the matter is that everyone who belongs to Christ has the Holy Spirit. A Christian without the Holy Spirit is a contradiction in terms; in fact, it is an impossibility!

Sermon Text: Psalm 68:19–35
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 21st January 2024

Psalm 73:28 - “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” 

The psalmist testifies that “it is good for me to draw near to God”. Drawing near to God is a pleasant and profitable experience for all God’s children. Psalm 65:4 says, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”

If it is good to draw near to God, we should hate all things that distract or prevent us from drawing near to Him. Let us not put any value on those things that hinder our coming to the LORD. They must be refused, no matter how attractive they may appear.

Let us always observe what is so plainly commended to us by the psalmist — “to draw near to God”. Since the LORD has forgiven our sins and reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, we can now come nigh unto Him. Hebrews 10:19 says we can have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus”. Whoever would come to the holy presence of God through Jesus the Saviour will never be rejected.

Let us put our trust in the LORD God, having the assurance that He will not reject us but will receive us to Himself and hear us when we call on Him. We can have absolute confidence that God will accept us. Hebrews 11:6 affirms that “he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

As he drew near to God, the psalmist further desired to declare all of God’s works. He said, “that I may declare all thy works”. In other places of the Book of Psalms, we see similar sentiments of God’s servants. For instance, Psalm 66:16, “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” Again, Psalm 71:17 says, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.”

As we worship today, may our souls draw nigh unto God with faith and consecration to His glory. Let nothing steal away our hearts from our utmost worship to the Lord. Let us also speak with one another concerning all that the Lord has done for us, so that we may mutually strengthen our faith and aid one another in our walk with the Lord.

A Report from Pr Kelvin Lim

Dear Pastor,

Greetings in our Lord Jesus’ blessed and holy name.

Time flies! Thanks to the LORD for seeing me through my third semester (Jul-Nov 2023) in FEBC. The LORD is good! He has helped me to improve my Grade Point Average (GPA) last semester. I registered for 8 courses with a total of 13 credits as required for a full-time student. Colossians 3:14 – “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” – was my theme verse for the semester. 

I am thankful to the LORD for many spiritual lessons learned within and without the walls of FEBC. One memorable lesson would be the provision of the LORD! He had provided the necessary funds for me to join Rev Clement in a Holy Land study pilgrimage in July 2023, just before the college reopened. Not only this, but other needs as well. For example, Pr Cornelius graciously agreed to cover my preaching duties in The Gethsemane Care Ministry (TGCM) on Tuesday mornings during the semester. Furthermore, concerning my family, the LORD has provided our every need! He alone is my Provider. “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone” (Psalm 86:10).

FEBC organised a Gospel rally on 1st September 2023, with Rev Clement as the speaker and Rev Zhu as the interpreter. This event was live-streamed, and I thank God for two newcomers for the event, one of whom has been attending True Life BP Church. The LORD has taught me precious lessons from the preparation to the execution of the event. I thank God for the charity shown among the committee brethren, which helped to bring the event to pass!

My difficulties faced during the semester were the Hebrew and Greek languages courses. There were some occasions in the Hebrew class when the quiz was either a fail or pass. Thank the Lord for His grace is ever sufficient to sustain me in the class. As for the Greek class, the LORD gave me strength to read aloud His inspired words. The translations of the texts and discussions thereof in class has helped me to see the richness of God’s Word. The LORD has subsequently given two opportunities for me to preach with this knowledge of Greek. I expounded on the word “life” from John 5:24 in the Chinese service, and on the word “thank” from Philippians 1:3 in the evening service.

The LORD has blessed my prison ministry. There are some Muslims in my Bible study class. God willing, in the coming year, there might be Muslim converts coming to worship the LORD with us in church. Two of them have professed Christ publicly. They have been approved by the Prison authority to attend the weekly Bible study and Chapel service. One of them has indicated to me his desire to go through water baptism. Praise the LORD! This is the work of God alone. 

May the LORD continue to guide me in serving Him both in the college and the church for His glory!

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:18).

Sermon Text: Psalm 68:1–18
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 14th January 2024

Sermon Text: Psalm 67
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 7th January 2024

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). By those words, the psalmist testified that worship time in God’s house is the best time of his life, and that the house of God where the worship was held was the best place he would love to be in. To a child of God, no activity or place in this world is as wonderful as the time and place of worship of God. 

Firstly, about the psalmist’s presence in the house of God, he says that there is no time like the time spent in God’s house! “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.” One day in the house of God (“thy courts”) was more beneficial than living a thousand days elsewhere in this wicked world! So, the psalmist said, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God”. Even serving the Lord at the door of God’s house is a very great and delightful experience. 

Our minds are drawn to His greatness and goodness when we are in His courts. In such times, our minds are filled with reverence and awe for His greatness, and gratitude and joy for His goodness. We also delight in remembering His wonderful and mighty works in His house. Thinking of His works grants us confidence and courage. 

Today, when we come to the Lord’s house, which we call “church”, we are blessed by hymns, prayers, and reading of the Scriptures. The opportunity to meditate on His glorious truths revealed in His Word helps us to increase our knowledge of His will, which will guide us to live in accordance with His purposes and for His glory. Then, through the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, we rejoice in the blessed communion with our Saviour! How wonderful it is to draw near to God in His house!

So, David said that even serving at the door of God’s house is better than enjoying luxurious pleasures offered in houses of wickedness. “God’s (so-called) worst is better than the devil’s best!” God’s doorstep affords a happier rest than the majestic pavilions of sinners living the high life and pursuing a lifetime of luxury!

It has been said, “Time spent in worship is time best spent.” Indeed, “a day in thy courts is better than a thousand”, that is, than any number of days elsewhere. The blessedness of dwelling in God’s house is incomparable to any other place of people’s gathering.

Let every child of God esteem the worship of God very highly, and prepare daily to be in the place of worship. Let us look forward to delighting in God’s glory, grace, and truth proclaimed on the Lord’s Day and other solemn gatherings of His people before His presence.  

Additional Testimonies of Participants of 23rd BW-GYF Retreat

Samuel Teo (Kuching)

I thank God for the opportunity to join the 23rd BW-GYF Retreat in the Philippines. The retreat brought me great spiritual encouragement through the faithful preaching of God’s Word, as well as the sweet fellowship with the Filipino and Singaporean brethren. The five sermons on the theme “Prepare to Meet Thy God” – in Salvation, in Sanctification, in Chastisement, in Rapture, and in Judgment, drive home the importance of living our lives sanctified, holy and separated unto God. This is so that we may be prepared to meet Him here in this present life as we serve and live for Christ, and also when we meet Him when He comes again. 

Visiting the mission churches in Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio and Bohol, and witnessing the various great works and missions in places across the Philippines made me rethink about how I can serve God more here in my hometown – Kuching. Truly, there is more to be done for the Lord’s kingdom here on earth, as “…The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). 

I pray therefore that the Lord will help and guide me in my spiritual growth to be prepared for His service, according to His divine calling until the day He returns!

Noel Resuma

I praise and thank God for the rare opportunity He has given me to join the recent BW-GYF retreat in Cebu, the Philippines (18-22 December 2023), together with my eldest son Norefel, his wife and children. Since this was my first time attending a retreat, I was very excited about it. To me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of the following: 

1) It was a “heart-pricking” experience and a wake-up call after hearing the five messages from our pastors and preachers about preparing oneself to meet God in salvation, sanctification, chastisement, rapture and judgment. 2) It allowed me to visit and see different places like Bogo and Bohol in a short time. 3) I was quite amazed at how well the activities went, and also at the discipline, active participation and cooperation of all the participants in moving about to the different meeting venues (with everyone, young to old, sticking to the timetable). 4) I had tears of joy hearing the wonderful voices of the choir singing beautiful hymns of praise and worship, which made me feel God’s presence during that time. 5) Lastly, I was touched by the sincere fellowship among the Filipino and Singaporean brothers and sisters, as if we have already known one another for a long time. 

Thank God for the 5 days of fellowship but as the saying goes, “there is always an end to every good beginning”, and I was saddened to see our brethren departing to return to their homes in Singapore and other parts of the Philippines (Cebu, Pangasinan). Moreover, I’m saddened that my son and his family have to leave me without knowing when we will see one other again. But I find comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ by reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” May the Lord bless us all.

Elder Eliezer Ortega

The Lord be praised for the recent BW-YF Retreat. It was a time of spiritual nourishment and showers of blessings. The messages during the retreat were great blessings and have better prepared me to meet God. I thank God for enabling the preachers to preach the Word of God for our learning and edification.

Blessed be the Lord for the apt and fitting messages of the hymns and carols sung by the Gethsemane B-P Church Choir, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir of Singapore. The Cantata was a time of great contemplation on the condescension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And how my heart greatly rejoices of the blessings of “Good Tidings of Great Joy”! Equally rousing is the message from John 1:1-14, preached by Pastor Koshy. All glory be unto God! Praise the Lord for how He has enabled the members of the choir to sing the hymns and carols despite their coughs, colds and sore throats. The Lord is good and He is to be praised in using every member of the choir for His glory. Thank God for the strength, patience and wisdom upon Pr Cornelius in leading the choir. It was indeed a great blessing to have attended and heard the Christmas Cantata, as what one septuagenarian Christian visitor exclaimed after the Cantata in Bogo, “Never had I heard such a moving and wonderful Cantata!”

All glory be to God for the wonderful and blessed time of fellowship with all the brethren, both “new and old faces”. I praise the Lord for the presence and fellowship of the brethren which have given us great joy and encouragement. Praise the Lord for all the words of encouragement and blessings!

Truly, how great Thou art, LORD!

God’s promise of the spiritual progress of His people is unambiguous. Consider the words of Psalm 92:12-14, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing”.

O, how refreshing and reviving are those assuring words in the Scriptures! Our progress in our pilgrim journey is not an unrealistic expectation, but a reality that God has promised. Like the palm trees and cedars of Lebanon, which steadily grow in their differing climatic and soil conditions, God’s redeemed people will grow where God’s providence would plant them. Even if their circumstances are hostile, like the arid and barren wilderness, they will flourish like the fruitful palm trees in the desert. 

Each day of our life in Christ is meant to be a pilgrim’s progress!  So let us not give ourselves to despondence or doubt, fatigue or fear. The great thing we must strive for is growing perpetually in the Lord, even amid hostile circumstances. Learn increasingly how good and great the Lord is, by increasingly trusting the Lord and casting your cares on Him. As Scripture says enthusiastically to all believers, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18).

In the new year, may we desire to grow in the Lord. Let us desire more grace and knowledge of the LORD. Let us seek the LORD always. Then, in the new year, we shall flourish and yield more spiritual fruit for the Lord’s glory. Blessed New Year!

A Report of God’s Blessings on the 23rd BW-GYF Retreat

Report by Pr Cornelius Koshy

We thank God for a wonderful gathering of about 160 brethren who gathered in three cities in the Philippines, from the 18th to 22nd December 2023, to hear God’s Word being preached (on the theme: “Prepare to Meet Thy God”), to visit brethren in Cebu City, Bogo City and Tagbilaran City, as well as to sing at the Christmas Cantatas held in these three cities. 

As dawn broke on the morning of Monday (18 December), about 120 participants arrived in Cebu City from Singapore, as well as from different cities in Bohol, Negros and Luzon (Pangasinan and La Union). It was a joyful reunion of many brethren whom we had not seen in a long time! After a much-needed rest from a night of travel, we moved to a larger hotel where the five meetings of the Bible Witness Retreat would be held. Rev. Reggor Galarpe, Rev. Donald dela Cruz, Pr Edsel Locot, Pr Eliezer Ortega and myself preached a sermon each on the theme: “Prepare to Meet Thy God”. We thank God for many local brethren from Cebu City who joined us for the retreat.

On Tuesday (19 December) night, many more came to attend the first of three Christmas Cantatas entitled, “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”. These are family members and friends of brethren from Gethsemane BPC (Cebu). We thank God for preparing 42 singers from the Gethsemane Church Choir, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir with good health and the voice to sing. These singers diligently practised in the weeks preceding the retreat and, together with the Bible Witness Media Ministry, we thank God we could present six medleys under the themes, “How Great Thou Art!”; “How Great Our Joy!”; and “How Great Thy Coming!”. Pastor Koshy, who was with us in the retreat, exhorted us on “10 Wonders of Christ”, taken from John 1:1-14.

Wednesday (20 December) was a day of much travelling by land. After a sumptuous lunch prepared by brethren from Cebu church, followed by a quick visit of their worship premises at 13 First Street, Happy Valley, a convoy of three 45-seater coaches travelled about 100km northward, to Bogo City. Because of heavy traffic during the Christmas season, our journey by coach took about four hours, and we reached the meeting place in Bogo just in time for the start of our second Christmas programme. We were delighted to meet some brethren and many of their relatives and friends who patiently waited for our arrival. That night, though the choir members were tired from the day’s travelling, God strengthened the singers and musicians who sang and played in the second Christmas Cantata! In his sermon, Pastor Koshy challenged all to consecrate themselves to Jesus who condescended for us. After some fellowship with the brethren, we had to quickly travel back to Cebu City, and we thank God for a much faster journey back.

We started Thursday (21 December) bright and early! By 6am, we were all up, preparing for our ferry ride to Bohol Island. We thank God for clear skies and for an uneventful 2-hr sailing to Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Upon arrival, we travelled another 1½ hrs by coach, for lunch and some sightseeing of God’s beautiful creation at The Chocolate Hills – a geological formation of over 1,000 small green hills. Many climbed up a long flight of stairs to enjoy the panoramic views from a high vantage point. We then returned back to the city to rest at the hotel, in preparation for the third and final Christmas Cantata. We thank God for the Bohol brethren, and some others from Trinidad BP Mission Church (a church supported by True Life BP Church), who joined us. We thank God for Pastor and the choir who once again ministered to all of us. 

On the final day, Friday (22 December), the team returned to Cebu City. After lunch and some rest in SM Seaside City Cebu, the team bade their farewells to the brethren from Cebu – some greeted us at the mall, while others came all the way to Mactan-Cebu Airport. 

Truly, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3) All glory be to God for this golden opportunity we have enjoyed to fellowship with and minister to our brethren in the Philippines. We thank God for the Bible Witness Team, the Gethsemane Youth Fellowship Committee and Auxiliary Committee, in organising and executing the plans; as well as for all who gave cheerfully to expenses of this retreat, for all who joined us, and for all who prayed for us!

Testimonies of Participants of 23rd Bible Witness-GYF Retreat

Elder Alan Choy

This year GYF-cum-BW retreat in Cebu (from 18 to 22 December 2023) was a blessed time of feasting on God’s Word and celebrating Christmas with the brethren in the Philippines mission churches. It was a great joy hearing all the preachers ministering God’s Word to us, and testifying of God’s wonderful works in their lives. “Prepare to Meet Thy God” is a most timely topic in these last of the last days before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot continue to carelessly live our lives without preparing to meet our God.

Praise God for a good number of about 100 brethren from Singapore visiting the mission churches in Cebu, Bogo and Bohol (via plane, coach, ferry) to see God’s hand upon the work in that part of the mission field. It was a testimony of the Lord’s goodness. The brethren in all these mission churches had invited their friends to come to hear our choir sing Christmas carols and the Gospel message by Pastor Koshy (taken from of John 1). May the uplifting singing by the choir and the Gospel messages preached, turn many to Christ in time to come. It was good to see our youths having good time of fellowship with the youths in Cebu, playing games and communing with one another. The Lord’s name is to be praised.

I had a good time of fellowship with the TGCM brethren in Cebu. What a great testimony of God’s working in transforming some of them from their broken past to a joyous life in Christ! Thank God for our missionaries and TGCM brethren, who worked hard to ensure our smooth transit from point to point and see to all our basic needs being met. Thank God for good weather and journey-mercies for the entire delegation during the trip, including the ferry ride to Bohol. Blessed be His name. 

Eng Huat and Beng Yan

Praise and thank God for safety and good weather in our travelling to various places during the trip.  We are blessed by the faithful preaching of the five messages which are a timely reminder to us to be prepared for the Lord’s return. We are encouraged by the diligence and hard work of the choir that sang beautifully and joyfully to glorify the birth of Christ. Pastor’s Gospel messages that were preached – in a quite different yet refreshing manner – remind us of God’s precious gift of Christ and His salvation grace, which make Christmas very meaningful for us. 

The long trips between the different venues in Cebu city, Bogo and Bohol showed us the difficulties and hardship that our brethren in the Philippines face each week as they serve the Lord in worship. Thanks to all who planned the trip so well, and to all who took care of the logistical arrangements. Everything was carried out very smoothly. Praise and thank God for the sweet fellowship that we had with brethren from Singapore and the Philippines. All praise and glory to God in the Highest!

Judy Chan

I want to praise God for a very memorable retreat, this being my first time joining the youths! It’s an honour to be able to sing with the youths and the children! I also praise God for helping the choir to sing assuredly, trusting in God’s help for His glory! Upon watching the recording shown during the Christmas service on 24 December 2023, and hearing Pastor’s preaching, I can only give praise to God for sustaining the choir to sing effectively for Him amidst ‘challenging’ circumstances (long travels, lack of rest, etc.). We can sing because God helps us to sing for His glory. All glory be to our great God! 

We praise God for His enabling grace upon Pr Cornelius to effectively lead the choir, our wonderful pianists, and the brethren who did the set-up / recording, as well as Bro Yeh Wen who prepared countless ‘MIDI’ so we could learn and prepare to sing! The youths were so helpful in helping me to understand the scores, especially Sis Mehetabel and Sis Jesimiel who recorded some parts to help me learn. Moreover, by God’s providence, I only became sick after the third presentation. That resulted in me having to be ‘transported’ with another sister-in-Christ who was also unwell, which granted me an opportunity to fellowship with her! Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all brethren a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year, one which is filled with peace and joy from the Lord!