Sermon Text: Psalm 11
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 22nd May 2022
Sermon Text: Psalm 11
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 22nd May 2022
Written by Pr Cornelius Koshy
On Monday, 16 May 2022, 40 youths, 16 young adults and 3 members from the GYF committee spent the public holiday together on an outing to Pulau Ubin – our first outing in two years! This was also the first time the newly formed GYF Auxiliary Committee (comprising Bros Amoz Choy, Gideon Lee, Marcus Chee, Rayson Tan) were involved in organising activities for the youth fellowship.[1] We thank God that the Aux Comm did an excellent job in meticulously planning the entire day's itinerary and activities. Moreover, we thank God for the young adult helpers who assisted as group leaders, group overseers and game masters. They were committed in their respective roles and looked after the youths' safety throughout the trip. We thank God for cloudless skies and a crowd-less island where we could enjoy the day together!
The day began at 9.00 am, in GMC Seminar Room. Pr. Cornelius led the youths in a devotion from Job 39, which recorded God's wise works in the animal kingdom, giving some creatures more strength than others (Job 39:9-10), and removing wisdom from some creature (39:17). After being split into four groups, and playing some ice breaker games, the youths left GMC at 10 am on a chartered coach to Changi Ferry Point Terminal, where they were greeted by more young adult helpers. We had packet “brunch” along Changi Point Coastal Walk before embarking on five bumboats to Pulau Ubin. We thank God that there was no queue at the ferry terminal! We were concerned because the queues for the bumboat were 1.5 hours long a week before. We prayed and the Lord answered our prayers!
Reaching Pulau Ubin at 11.30 am, the youths began trekking along the undulating paths of Pulau Ubin, on both tarmac roads and stony paths, to reach the game stations between Jelutong Campsite and Mamam Campsite. Youths also had to complete side-tasks, such as spotting certain species of flora and fauna, as well as engaging in challenging opposing teams with games along the way. We thank God for protecting the youths from harm and danger throughout, and especially for supplying strength to Elder Choy and Dns Diana who also trekked the entire route! On average, we all trekked 8 km on the island.
All activities ended by 4.30 pm, and the youths regathered for prizes and refreshments. The last bumboat left Pulau Ubin at 5.30 pm, and the youths were refreshed yet again with sugarcane juice from Changi Village. Some left directly from the jetty, while others boarded the chartered coach which had two alighting points – at Pasir Ris and Bishan MRT stations respectively. We thank God for withholding the rain till the very end, and for everyone's participation and mutual help. We also thank God that Bro Hans' two friends were able to join us in this outing. God willing, they may join us in future for Gethsemane Youth Bible Hour on Saturdays. Our grateful thanks to all who have prayed for and supported us on this trip. May the meditation of the Word and the shared fellowship work in the youths' hearts to bring about God-honouring fruits in due time (cf. John 15:1-5). We also pray that the bonds formed among the youths will continue, so that Christian charity may abound among us (Psalm 133:1). We look forward to the overseas Youth Retreat at the end of the year, God willing, from 26 to 28 December.
[1] Formed in March 2022, the Auxiliary Committee assists the GYF Committee (Pastor, Elder Choy, Dns Diana, Pr Cornelius) by executing the plans made by the GYF Committee. The Auxiliary Committee does not hold autonomous authority over the fellowship. The Aux Comm is given specific leadership over their assigned areas of service, and are to be exemplary in all manner of conversation.
This is an exposition of the story of Christ’s miraculous feeding of the five thousand. This event is very rich in spiritual lessons for every child of God. Perhaps that is the reason why this miracle of Jesus is recorded in all the four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13).
There were more than five thousand people who were as hungry as hunters, and there was no way of providing enough food for all of them. To make things worse, it was also not possible for the people to get back to their homes quickly, as they had come from very far to be with Jesus.
The disciples felt helpless and anxious about the situation. But our blessed Master was not ruffled by this enormous need of the crowd to have food to eat. He was compassionate and concerned, yet calm and confident. So John recorded, “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do” (John 6:5-6).
The Lord Jesus Christ knew exactly what He ought to do to feed that huge hungry crowd. He knew what He would do to solve that desperate situation. He had all the knowledge and power to feed everyone in the crowd and send them home, full and satisfied. Then, a very canny Philip tried to answer Jesus’ question, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” He quickly did a calculation of the cost of food for such a large crowd, and said to Jesus, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little” (John 6:7).
Why did he mention that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not be enough? In fact, it was a large sum of money, which was about eight months’ wages. (One denarius was a day’s pay for a common labourer; two hundred denarii therefore represent about eight months’ wages.) It was sufficient to provide for a large family for more than eight months. But even such a large sum was not enough to feed this huge crowd. Philip could not think beyond the mundane activities of the market place. He was totally lost, and he had no idea how they could carry out their Master’s wish to feed the hungry crowd. Philip needed to believe that the Lord is able to do that which seems impossible in his mind.
Suddenly, the Lord’s work of provision began to unfold. “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto Him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” (John 6:8-9). Andrew brought to Christ a boy who had five barley loaves and two small fishes.
This was so much lesser than Philip’s mention of two hundred pennyworth of food. The boy’s food was extraordinarily disproportionate to the need. Then why did he mention the boy’s five loaves and two small fishes? It must have been an amazing intervention of God’s providential hand. Against all logic, as it appeared, Andrew talked about what he had found.
Again we must wonder, “How did he find the boy in the crowd?” “Who was that boy?” “Was he a peddler who tried to make some money after having sold all he had except the five loaves of bread and two fishes?” “Or was he a hungry boy in the crowd who was about to eat the food packed by his mother?” We have no answer to these questions.
Nevertheless, we see the providence of God helping Andrew meet this boy in such a huge crowd and then bring him to the Lord. Is it not also amazing that the boy was willing to part with his food? Let us, therefore, believe in His providence. To meet the needs of His work, the Lord can even use a little boy.
The boy was willing to part with his food. There is no doubt that he gave the food to the Lord, for we read that “And Jesus took the loaves” (v. 11). The boy was not selfish, but generous. If the lad had considered his own need as most important, he would not have given that food to Jesus. But now because he had given his food to Christ, it became a blessing for him as well as the thousands who were around him.
Until the boy expressed his willingness to give his food for Christ’s use, he was an unknown lad to most people. So Andrew introduced him to Jesus, saying, “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes” (v. 9). But his anonymity was not a hindrance to his contribution.
So, may you be rest assured that if you are willing to serve God, you need not be afraid that obscurity will ever prevent you from doing it. Do not say, “Nobody knows me, I don’t think I can be of any help to the huge challenges before us.” Just come forward to do what you are capable of for His glory. If you would avail yourself to the Lord, God would use you for great purposes.
The boy’s gift appeared very trivial. Andrew commented, “What are they among so many?” Likewise, some may judge your contributions to be very small too. Now, I dare say, do not let anybody, even Satan, discourage you from giving of yourself to the Lord. You may hear voices such as, “What is the use of you trying to do anything? You cannot serve God.” Do not let any such discouraging voices affect you.
God will honour your loving and ready gift to Him, even though man might first despise it. You may face the derision of men, but afterwards you will be used of God. Let us take note that though some considered the boy’s gift as rather insignificant, the Lord Jesus Christ thanked God for the boy’s food and then commanded it to be distributed to the people who were seated. His blessings made the small gift of the boy sufficient for all the people who were gathered around Christ. The miraculous provision continued until all the five thousand were fed and twelve baskets full of bread were left over.
Jesus cares for the hungry and needy through every contribution that comes out of a willing heart. He manifests His goodness and glory through our gifts to bless the humble and the needy. Praise the Lord!
Sermon Text: Psalm 10
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 15th May 2022
Man’s tendency to boast about himself has been on shameless display on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The craze of snapping self-portraits and posting them on social media has caught on with a generation enamoured with self-promotion. Some even say, “My day is not complete until the selfie is posted.” Alas, the narcissistic tendencies of man have found a platform for free expression in social media! Self-centredness and an excessive desire to be admired by others are plaguing our modern society.
Though self-boasting seems to give self-satisfaction, those who are engaged in it are unaware of its maladies. They are deluded by the vainglory of self-praise. They pride themselves on their looks, abilities, achievements, willpower, and self-righteousness. Scripture warns us that “in the last days perilous times shall come” when “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,” etc. (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
To boast about oneself is to talk in a bragging manner, and is manifested by prideful speaking about oneself and about the things one possesses or does. God disdains this and regards it as vile and abominable. A boastful person is depicted as wicked, materialistic, arrogant, vulgar, accursed and suchlike. “For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity” (Psalm 10:3-7).
Scripture tells us that prideful, swelling speech characterises Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15), Antichrist (Daniel 7:8, 11, 25; 8:11; 11:36-37; Revelation 13:5-6), false teachers (2 Peter 2:18; 1 Timothy 6:4), and many churchgoers of the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-2; Jude 16), as well as all that are wicked (Psalms 17:9-10; 73:8-9). The apostle Paul classifies the proud and the boasters in the same category as the haters of God (Romans 1:30). It is then obvious that the persistent habit of self-boasting is a sure mark of the unregenerate person. Hence, no child of God should indulge in it.
Self-boasting is a sin that affects people of all ages – children, youths and adults alike. The book of Proverbs cautions us against boastful speech. It is depicted as foolish utterances of an egoistic person, which will surely lead him to his own dishonour. The overall perception about boasting that the wisdom of Proverbs gives, is that it is not only unwise but also destructive. Self-exaltation will not lead to real, lasting excellency or advantage. So, God’s people are exhorted to avoid all forms of prideful talk. Consider the following admonitions from the book of Proverbs:
From the above selected admonitions from Proverbs, God’s people indeed must beware of and avoid all forms of boastful speech. Finally, we must also realise that prideful speech leads to violence and punishment: “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride” (Proverbs 14:3a). The foolish talk of a person, who is arrogant, hardened and thick-headed in his ways, results in him being punished with a rod. Unguarded words of arrogance can also engender violence, and can act as “a rod” hurting others. So, let us guard our speech, and let it be rid of a self-exalting spirit that troubles others and ourselves.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This apostolic charge to Timothy has reverberated down the ages to us through the pages of the Holy Scriptures. This is the mandate to the church and her leaders to pass down the sound doctrines of the Scriptures to each coming generation.
From the time the Lord called me and appointed me as the pastor of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, it has been a passion in my heart to be obedient to the mandate of 2 Timothy 2:2. Having been in the ministry for about three decades, my prayer and passion to be an instrument in God’s hand to fulfil this biblical mandate has only increased. Hence, I am grateful to God for the opportunity to be part of the ministry of Far Eastern Bible College to this day – and in addition, for our church’s efforts to establish GBI ministries around the world in preparing a new generation to carry on the work of His Gospel kingdom.
During the past two and a half years of the pandemic, the Lord has continued to enable me to teach and guide online those who join GBI’s Pastoral Biblical Studies (PBS) in matters of theology. This course was conducted with the special intention to equip and strengthen those whom God has called to proclaim the Word and feed the flock. Six preachers (from Singapore, China, the Philippines and India) have been joining this weekly study. We pray that they will all be faithful expositors of God’s Word in their God-appointed places, and be instrumental in God’s hand to prepare another group of godly men for the ministry in the years to come.
Please find below the testimonies of two participants who had joined the Pastoral Biblical Studies. God willing, more testimonies will follow in the coming weeks’ bulletins.
—Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Pr Kelvin Lim
Thanks be unto the LORD for the privilege to be part of Gethsemane Bible Institute’s Pastoral Biblical Studies (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Pr Donald dela Cruz
I praise the Lord for enabling me to join the Pastoral Biblical Studies of Gethsemane Bible Institute. I appreciate the many lessons I’ve picked up during the duration of the online course. Our current class is about the preservation of the Holy Scriptures. Generally speaking, nobody in the Christian realm questions the inspiration of the Holy Bible, except liberal scholars and their followers. However, it is not the case with the preservation of the Scriptures. The majority of Christians today do not believe that God has preserved the Bible in the original languages. The most striking lesson to me in the current course is that “God will preserve His inspired Words for the sake of His people.” The reason is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “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.” Herein we have the divine promise concerning not only the inspiration, but also the preservation of the Scriptures. If God would have allowed the perversion of His Word, then in the present times, we would not have His perfect Word to enable us to be “throughly furnished”!
Studying God’s Word in preparation for the ministry is very different from studying while you are in the ministry. The topic was already discussed when I was studying full-time at FEBC. While I am familiar with the topic, the re-learning of the doctrine of the Scriptures provided a wide perspective of its significance and benefits in the ministry. The topic becomes relevant to me because of my experiences while serving in the ministry. I have seen cultic churches, such as Mormons, deceiving people with their strange doctrines. Some people in my locality asked me about their claims on the Book of Mormon and others. I replied that God has only given us one Book for our instruction and that is the Holy Bible. I warned them that the Mormons exalt the work of a man (Joseph Smith’s book), rather than the work of God (the Bible). That alone should ring alarm bells in the hearts of true believers!
I had also encountered a Christian who has read the work of Peter Ruckman. He was so impressed by the writings of Ruckman that he adhered to his doctrine that the King James Bible (English Translation) is superior to the Scriptures in the original languages. Praise God that I was refreshed by the online classes on how we come to the position that the Hebrew and Greek Texts underlying the KJV Bible are the preserved texts of the inspired Scriptures. I highlighted to him that when Jesus and the apostles spoke about the Scriptures, they always referred to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. Inspiration for Bible inscription (the Spirit-inspired writing of God’s revelation) ended with the Book of Revelation, and therefore the KJV Bible is a faithful English translation of the inspired original language texts.
I praise the Lord for the manifold blessings I have received from these studies. As an additional blessing, I am also strengthened by the testimonies of the other missionaries. I am full of joy when I see other preachers attending the classes, especially the Lord’s servant from China. There are many unique struggles in every mission station. Hence, to have this opportunity to hear about God’s work in other “corners” of His vineyard is very refreshing. Praise the Lord for sustaining His servants!
Sermon Text: Psalm 8
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 1st May 2022
Sermon Text: Psalm 7
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 24th April 2022
Today, with much thanksgiving to God, we publish the testimonies of the first batch of three students who are completing their course in GBI, Vizag. We praise the Lord for the enabling grace upon Pr Sujith Samuel who has laboured assiduously for the past 5 years to set up churches and GBI in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) and its vicinities. Let us pray earnestly for open doors for those who are trained to preach.
Pastor Murthy James
Greetings in the name our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! I’m Pastor Murthy James, a student who is completing the course in Gethsemane Bible Institute.
Firstly, I thank God for the opportunity to study in GBI. I feel very blessed to complete the course in this institute. During the course, I have learnt a lot of spiritual truths that help me a lot in my biblical thinking. As I attended the lectures on many doctrinal subjects during the course, they gave me a clear-cut understanding of the Scriptures. Really, this period of study in GBI has been a very wonderful period in my life that enhanced me spiritually to serve the LORD.
I was very motivated to learn about TULIP (5 points of Calvinism), and I am still very excited about the truths it imparted to me. Oh, how essential are those doctrines! It taught so clearly God’s election, depravity of man, salvation by faith alone, the eternal security of believers, etc. In addition, I greatly benefited from the course on Systematic Theology taught by Rev. Dr Prabhudas Koshy, who explained theological topics in a very efficient and devotional manner. While learning the doctrine of Ecclesiology, I learned biblical truths concerning the church and its government, which would certainly help me in my pastoral ministry to organise and guide the church. The classes on the doctrines of Pneumatology, Eschatology and all the other topics were interesting, and helped to mould my Scriptural understanding on those topics.
Likewise, learning Westminster standards, taught by Pr Sujith Samuel, a faithful servant of God, was also a great experience in His Word. Every subject (including the online courses from FEBC) of each semester was very profitable. The topics taught were essential, which deepened my understanding of the Holy Scriptures and also increased my spiritual devotion. Learning from God’s revelation in His Word filled me with fear towards God and excitement to serve Him.
As I graduate, I thank God for His help and guidance through the entire course. I am also thankful to each faculty member who has taught me with utmost efforts and with God’s love. May God bless the organisers of GBI, and use the ministry of GBI to expand His kingdom on earth. Please pray for me and my ministry work.
Kattu Praveen Kumar
My name is Kattu Praveen Kumar. I was born in a Christian family and I lived in K. Kotapadu village for 34 years. After receiving Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, I was later baptised on 8th April 2007. In 2008, while I was fasting and praying, I was overwhelmed by the reading of the Word of God from Psalm 45:4 – “And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.” It excited and strengthened me, filling me with a great desire to be in God’s ministry, and I began to consider God’s work and the church ministry.
In those days, my idea of ministry was to do whatever I can in the church, like cleaning the church and preparing everything for the worship, helping the poor and needy who are within and outside of the church, preparing and encouraging the believers for outdoor evangelistic meetings, etc. I would also do my best to help the families of those who went to be with the Lord, and those who are getting married with necessary arrangements. However, I was not spending much time in reading and studying the Bible on my own. In 2015, I attended a 6-day seminar conducted by Haggai International. In that seminar, I have learned about integrity, leadership and evangelism. Then I experienced great struggle in my heart to choose between my job and the ministry. There was a lot of pressure from my family, but my desire was to be in the ministry. In that same year, my elder brother Vinod sent me to a Bible college run by the Church of Christ in Visakhapatnam. However, I could not agree with their doctrinal stand, and I stopped going to the college.
Then in 2017, when Pr Sujith Samuel came to Kotapadu, my native village, I heard his message. When we conversed, he encouraged me and asked me to spend some time with him in fellowship. This was also the time that I was studying the books of Ezra and Nehemiah with my church youths. Through that study, my desire to serve the LORD in the ministry started increasing. When Rev. Prabhudas Koshy came to Visakhapatnam in June 2018, he asked me, “Are you ready to serve God?” I replied him that I was ready. Then Pr Sujith encouraged me to study in the Bible Institute, which he started in the city. With his encouragement, I enrolled in GBI, and I was the first student there. Although I had to stop (after only one week) due to some severe problems, God gave another opportunity a year later (July 2019) to return to GBI and continued with my studies. By the grace of God, I studied for the past three years in GBI.
It was, firstly, an opportunity to correct myself in many areas of my life according to His Word. Through GBI, I came to understand what the ministry of the church is all about, and the importance of the Word of God in the ministry of the church. I learned how to study the Word of God, how I should apply its truths in my life, and how I should preach it in the church. I am also thankful to learn how to preach the Gospel to the unbelievers. All these encourage me a lot to look forward to the ministry.
I thank God for the following who have been used by the Lord: our local pastor, Rev. G. E. Stephenson, my family who encouraged me to undergo training, and especially Rev. Prabhudas Koshy and Pr Sujith Samuel for giving me the privilege to study at GBI (even though my study was disrupted for a year).
Joyson Kumar Chinchani
My name is Joyson Kumar Chinchani. I am from the state of Odisha. Though I was born and brought up in a Christian family, I was lost in the world, living a worldly life. By the grace of God, on 22nd November 2010, I was led to attend a prayer meeting and listened to the Word of God. I was convicted of my sins there and then, acknowledging that I am a sinner. I sought God for the forgiveness of my sins that I have done in my past, and I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour.
Then I wanted to know more about Jesus Christ. I started to desire to attend a Bible college to learn more of His Word. By the grace of God, through my elder brother, in 2011, I had an opportunity to study in a Bible college in Secunderabad. While I was studying there, I got baptised. I studied there for two years. After completion of my studies, I did not join any ministry, but took a job in a company because of the severe financial crisis my family encountered.
However, I was sure about my calling to serve the Lord in the ministry. In the year 2017, through my elder brother, I came to know Pr Sujith Samuel and Rev. Prabhudas Koshy. My brother and Pr Sujith conducted a pastoral training in my hometown. The teacher was Rev. Koshy. When I had an opportunity to talk with Rev. Koshy, he asked me to come to GBI, which was being organised in Visakhapatnam, and study His Word. I was happy that such an opportunity was available, and immediately I said “yes” to it.
Subsequently, on 6th August 2018, I joined GBI. I am thankful to God for learning His Word in GBI. By His grace, I am about to complete my course, and I wish to serve God according to His will, seeking His guidance upon me and my family.