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(Starting today, in commemoration of the Reformation of the 16th century, we will be publishing portions of Pastor Koshy’s message, "Defence of the Word by the Church", preached in the 4th Missionary Conference of Gethsemane B-P Church [June 23-27, 2014]. The message was based on Jeremiah 23:16 -22. May the Lord keep our church faithful in the proclamation of His Word.)

The record of Jeremiah 23 demonstrates to us how those who profess to be God’s people can become miserable custodians of God’s truth and glory. From this account of Israel’s wretched failure to be keepers of God’s Word, we can draw some precious lessons on how we ought to conduct ourselves as "the pillar and ground of the truth".

Be Faithful Believers

Notice how vexed the LORD was when he spoke the words in Jeremiah 23, because the house of Israel and its prophets have failed to remain faithful to God’s word. His prophet Jeremiah said, "Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD" (vv. 9-11).

Surely, the disobedient and unfaithful men in the church cannot be defenders of God’s Word. When we do not give ourselves to knowing and obeying His Word, we dishonour the majesty of His Word. Indifferent and disobedient churchgoers are actually troublemakers in God’s house. They become agents of the enemy of God in His house. By their disobedient conduct, they promote disorderliness, unholiness and defiance in the church.

My dear friends, I will not neglect to put you in remembrance of the church’s duty to hold up God’s Word by her faith and obedience; that is how the church ought to defend it. We do not have to do anything extraordinary to defend His Word. Just believe all that His Word says and do all that it commands. When the LORD in His Word says to the preacher to rebuke the people’s sins, he should do just that. When the LORD says, "Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us", you should just obey His Word to you! When His Word commands you to stop loving the world, or beware of loving your parents, spouse, children or siblings more than the LORD, you should readily obey it. If, through His Word, the LORD calls you to give up your life’s career to be a preacher, pastor, missionary or a full-time church worker, you must yield immediately to it. If you have done as the Word of God commands you to, then you have defended God’s Word by your life.

When you hear the LORD’s voice and respond to it as the majestic Word of God, you have allowed His glory to shine through you. Thus, you become a faithful servant of God who gives of himself to do what He requires. On the other hand, if you do not align yourself with God’s Word, you are not a defender. You may teach apologetics or theology, and you may even be a theologian or a polemical writer of Christian articles yourself, but if you are disobedient to His Word, you will never be its defender.

Be Faithful Preachers of His Word

Further note some mind-boggling indictments that the LORD has uttered through Jeremiah. "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you" (Jeremiah 27:16a). Why would God tell the people not to listen to their prophets? Because "they prophesy a lie unto you" (Jeremiah 27:16b). Moreover, according to verse 16, "they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD." Everyone who speaks out of his own heart and disregards the truth God has revealed, is a "corruptor" of God’s Word. He is a deceiver of God’s people, certainly not a defender of God’s truth, for he gives credence to his own thoughts over God’s thoughts.

The pulpit is not a place for anyone to show off how clever he is, how smart he is, or how witty he is. This is God’s platform; this is a sanctified place! Too many preachers often desecrate this hallowed place by their self-asserting, selfpromoting words, which detract from the truths of God’s Word. They are engrossed in showing off their own intellect and self-righteousness, and in asserting their personal authority. They use the LORD’s name, His church and even His Word for their despicable self-aggrandizement. Such men are abusers of holy things, even His Word and the church. They are not defenders, but defilers of God’s Word.

I readily confess my fear that we who are preachers, if not watchful, tend to serve our minds rather than the will of God. When our preaching becomes a showmanship of our intellectual abilities and oratorical skills, we pervert God’s glorious truth. God forbid that we preach to promote ourselves! Our hearts must love God’s truth. We must give all glory, honour and praise to Him. Let every preacher pray that he will not stand in the pride of his intelligence, but utter the words of God accurately in humble obedience, without distorting them. That is the way we defend God’s Word. We must cease from prideful human intelligence if ever we were to be defenders of God’s Word. So let every preacher pray, "O LORD, teach me and make me to know what Thou hast spoken in Thy Word, and let me only declare that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Word."

Be Rebukers of Ungodliness

In verse 17, we notice that the LORD was angry with the prophets of Judah because they didn’t defend the righteousness and judgment of God’s Word by preaching against the evildoers: "They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you." They would say to those who were walking wickedly, "God’s peace be with you"! Instead of rebuking them and proclaiming God’s judgment against their sins, they cheered them on by assuring them that no evil would befall them. God detested those pastors of Israel who spoke words of peace to evildoers.

Because of the prophets’ and priests’ tolerance of wickedness among the people, the LORD had earlier severely censured them: "For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD… I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (vv. 11, 14). Those religious leaders were men-pleasers rather than God-pleasers. They craved the support of worldly men over God and His righteousness. They permitted and promoted carnal pleasures among men in place of God’s truth, righteousness and judgment. In direct defiance against the Lord’s clear message, they would rather not upset the hearts of the wicked ones among the Israelites!

Jeremiah’s time reminds us of our woeful situation today. Preachers and pastors are increasingly hesitant to rebuke the worldliness and ungodliness in the church. Though many preachers deliver excellent expository sermons with eloquence, scarcely any applies the truth of God’s Word to the lives of the people in order to confront and convict them of their sins. Preachers’ hesitation to rebuke sin has sadly resulted in the worsening moral condition of the churches of our time. As few men on the pulpit today rebuke sin and exhort people to a modest, chaste and holy life, should we be surprised that evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, even in churches? Increasingly, we see churches turning into entertainment centres or academic forums, rather than places of transformation of sinful men unto the LORD’s glory.

It is utterly important that in our churches, we are committed to urge one another unto purity of life through the obedience of God’s Word. If we develop an accepting attitude towards those living wickedly among us, by rationalising thus: "O let us not make a fuss about it. After all, you know, people are prone to err", we despise and defy the glory of His Word that demands repentance from evil ways and consecration towards godly living. Do not forget, God hated the prophets for despising His truth when they refused to reprimand the wickedness of Israel. By not insisting on Scripture’s demand for personal holiness, they poured contempt on its holy commands. They thus failed to defend the demands of Scripture. The preacher’s hesitation and refusal to denounce sin is a direct challenge to the authority and wisdom of God’s Word.

If we are ever going to be defenders of God’s Word, let every man, who is the head of the family, nurture his family according to God’s Word. Let him also pray, "O LORD, sanctify us by Thy Word. Sanctify me, sanctify my wife, sanctify my daughter and my son." Let every man, every family and every church wield God’s sword to fight off every sin. Let every preacher, every elder, every man and woman, every youth and every child in the church resolve to fight off sin according to His Word. Nothing glorifies God and His Word more than our willingness to battle against sin and falsehood.

About a week ago, I was conversing with a young man in his mid-twenties who was brought to me by a youth in our church to seek biblical answers to his many questions. As our conversation progressed, I quickly noted that he was a canny and good-mannered young man who wanted biblical answers to his questions. After some discussion, he shared with me his experiences of some "rough rides" that left him distressed at times. I realised that if he had properly understood the good counsels of the Gospel according to the Scriptures, he would have been a well established soul. So, I offered to meet him and explain the Scriptures to him again, that the power of God may order and strengthen his life.

Many harbouring the hope of a happy and stable life pursue a materialistic, worldly life at the expense of the spiritual well-being of their souls. Such a godless pursuit of worldly prosperity and greatness leave them in great confusion and distress. Regrettably, some within the church even erroneously teach their children to give priority to such worldly pursuits.

Beloved, there is nothing that can stabilise our souls like the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Romans 16:25, Paul says of the Almighty God: "… him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ …" These words are from the apostle Paul’s final doxology in his epistle to the Romans. He wished people would know the power of God in the Gospel so that their lives may be steadied in accordance with the glorious will and purposes of God.

When the truth of the Gospel is set forth by faithful preachers like Paul, God works with His mighty power in the hearts of those who receive the message with faith. God will establish those who trust in Him through the truth of His Gospel. The word "stablish" (stērizō) means to make firm and stable. In the context of Romans 16:25, this word refers to one’s mind being settled and firmly rooted in the truth of the Gospel.

The unbelievers and the uninformed have neither conviction nor confidence about their salvation, or God’s purposes in their lives. Only when people’s minds are filled with the knowledge of God’s gracious Gospel, then will they be steadfast in their thoughts and emotions. Through the Gospel, God will establish the minds and hearts of those who would come to Him in obedient faith. No one but a Christian can be certain about his soul’s salvation and be filled with the peace that surpasses all understanding. Only with Christ as the Guide can souls be unperturbed in this world of many evil, sufferings and sorrows.

True followers of Christ can testify, like Paul, "… I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). So dear reader, put your trust in Christ and His Gospel, and take your steps according to His counsels in the Scriptures.

Certainly, God "would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19). Amen.

Thanksgiving Note from Kerala

To the Pastor and Members of Gethsemane B-P Church, Singapore:

Dearly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). It is with great joy in the Lord that I write this letter to the brethren in Gethsemane B-P Church to express my gratitude and appreciation for the love and kindness you have shown to the flood-affected people in Kerala.

In August 2018, Kerala experienced torrential rain that resulted in landslides and unprecedented severe flooding not seen in recent history. The situation was made worse when about forty dams in the state had to have their floodgates opened! From south to north, all the rivers of Kerala (about 42 of them) overflowed their banks. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and stay in temporary shelters. While a few hundreds lost their lives, thousands more lost their homes and possessions. Most of the home appliances, furniture, bedding, valuable documents, etc. in the flooded homes were destroyed, either because they were washed away or damaged beyond repair. During this period of flooding, severe disruptions to communication services and to supplies of electricity, drinking water, food, etc. were experienced, leaving people in utter distress and suffering.

As the news of this flood spread all over, helps from different agencies started to come in to Kerala. However, they were mostly controlled by the State Government. We thank God that various churches and Christian individuals also stepped in with supplies of food, water, clothes, blankets, medicines, etc. Yet, they couldn’t meet all the needs of those who have lost much of their life-savings. Even to this day, many people are suffering, and are struggling to rebuild and recover from their losses and damages.

It was at such a needy time that Gethsemane B-P Church’s helping hand was extended to these suffering people through your "Kerala Relief Fund". Your very generous help through the "Kerala Relief Fund" is distributed to the most deserving among our fellow believers and others. Already the amount has been distributed to about forty needy families, with a few more pending to be helped with this fund. I have been greatly helped in the distribution of funds by Bro Benny Skariah and Bro Lijoy George (members of GBPC, Singapore), who originally belong to Kerala State. They helped to transfer the apportioned gifts directly to the bank accounts of the deserving people, whose names I have passed to them. As suggested by your pastor (Pastor Koshy), I have been co-ordinating this fund distribution from here. Indeed, it was a great joy for me to be of some service to the suffering on your behalf.

The recipients of the gifts have been calling me to express their special thanks to GBPC. Hence, on behalf of all those who have received help, I hereby write to express their heartfelt THANKS AND APPRECIATION to all the members of GBPC and the church leaders. Thank God and may His name be praised.

We do earnestly pray for the pastor and the members of the Gethsemane B-P Church, and for the various ministries that you are doing for the extension of His kingdom and for His glory. May the Lord "make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:21).

Truly in the bond of love in Jesus Christ,
Bishop Dr M. K. Koshy

Being joyous is not walking around with a big grin permanently fixed on our face. Neither does it mean possessing an upbeat positive temperament, nor exhibiting a bubbly and excited appearance before others. Rather, I am referring to real joy, which is an inner experience. Do you have that heartfelt joy in your life?

We are Created and Redeemed to Rejoice

If we are Christians, then we should know that joy is our inheritance promised by our Saviour and Lord. It is God’s desire that we should be joyful people. He didn’t create us to be wretched and miserable, but holy and happy. In fact, joy was one of the things that characterised the original creation. In Job 38:7, God challenged Job as to whether he had any memory of the "morning stars" that sang together and all the "sons of God" that shouted for joy at His creation. We can assuredly say that Adam and Eve were full of joy as they lived in the sinless garden of Eden, which was very good prior to their fall.

Of course, sin had smashed the experience of man’s joy and brought in disappointment, fear, sorrow, guilt, condemnation and death, but God’s work of redemption through Jesus Christ has reinstated that joy and taken it to even greater heights. This joy doesn’t belong merely to the in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11).

In All Circumstances, Joy is to be Ours

Writing from the seclusion and afflictions of his imprisonment in Rome, Paul exhorted the Philippian Christians, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). Paul did not teach that we would only "catch" tantalizing tastes of joy when we are singing our favourite hymns on a Sunday morning. Rather, Christian joy is to be always present in our lives, regardless of our circumstances.

Joy is to be a Christian’s normal experience. It is not meant for our occasional pleasure. Paul instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to "Rejoice evermore." The New Testament writers, James and Peter, also join Paul in assuring us that we can be joyous even when trials come our way — "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2); "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings" (1 Peter 4:13).

Source of Our Joy is the Lord

The Bible instructs us to find joy in the Lord and in all that He has done for us. There are, of course, many legitimate sources of joy in our lives. God has given us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). Undeniably, there are immense joys associated with families and friends, with good health and personal freedom, with holidays and hobbies, with successes and victories; these joys are, to be sure, real and precious. However, if the joy of our life is resting on these, then
it is on fragile foundations. That joy can be shaken by crises in life like illness, bereavement, redundancy and accidents!

That is why the Bible fixes our joy on the unchanging God. Isn’t this what the prophet Habakkuk emphatically pointed out to us in the Old Testament? "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I future; we should be shouting for joy now! Paul reminded the Roman Christians that "we also joy will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Boundless Joy is Promised!

In John 15:11, Jesus said concerning the purpose of His words that "your joy might be full." Peter says that Christians can have "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8).

God holds out full joy to us always! Perhaps some of us are falling somewhat short of the joy that God has offered to us. Each of us needs to examine himself as to whether his joy is complete.

Means to Appropriate the Divine Gift of Joy

1. Remember that our names are written in heaven. Jesus said, "But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
2. Learn and obey God’s Word. Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11, cf. 1 John 1:4).
3. Believe / Depend on the Lord at all times. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15:13; cf. 1 Peter 1:8).
4. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. When we yield to the Spirit’s leading, we will be filled with spiritual joy. Acts 13:52 tells us that "the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost."
5. Look forward to the great joy and glory at the return of Christ. 1 Peter 4:13 reminds us, "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (cf. Matthew 5:12).

Dear Gethsemaneans,

Our church’s ACM will be held today at 2.00pm. Please remember to attend.

Come with a heart of thanksgiving to God for all His wonderful grace that has guided, provided and preserved us throughout the past financial year. In a business meeting such as this, we, being a church, must always maintain a God-honouring, thankful spirit for all that He has done among and through us. All that we have contributed, and all that we have rendered in service, are entirely the outworking of divine grace. Each of us should say before the Lord, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

May the Lord grant us an orderly, cordial and profitable meeting, wherein every communicant member of the church conducts himself or herself according to the operations of the Holy Spirit. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). By God’s grace, all these years when we held our ACMs, reverence, decency and orderliness had been the order of the day! May it be so even today.

Remind Ourselves to be Thankful

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2).

These are the first two verses of a psalm of praise which glorifies the LORD for all His gracious blessings. The object of praise in this psalm is the LORD; that is clearly set forth right at the beginning of the verse, where it says: "Bless the LORD". The LORD is worthy of our praise at all times. As Psalm 145:3 tells us, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised" (cf. Psalms 48:1; 96:4; 147:5).

Our blessing the LORD is a grateful acknowledgment that He is the source of all our blessings. When we joyfully recognise and exclaim that the LORD has done great things for us, and praise Him for His blessings, we "bless the LORD". Each of His children must say, "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1; cf. Deuteronomy 8:10; 1 Chronicles 29:20; Nehemiah 9:5; Psalms 16:7; 26:12; 34:1; 103:1-2, 20, 22; 104:1; 115:18; 134:2; 135:19-20).

Like the psalmist, we must exhort ourselves, saying, "Bless the LORD, O my soul". The psalmist has summoned all his powers and passions to praise the LORD – "and all that is within me, bless his holy name." Every genuine worshipper would employ his heart, his mind, his emotions and all his strength to render praises to the LORD.

Not just once, but twice did the psalmist urge himself to bless the LORD. He added another reason for the worship of the LORD, namely, the fact that the LORD is holy. So he says, "bless his holy name". It is most reasonable that we bless the LORD, for He is holy. Before the LORD who is holy, we must bow in humble and solemn prostration. Like the seraphims, the angelic hosts that surround the heavenly throne, we must worship the Lord, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whose earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3). Psalm 99:5 also teaches us: "Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy."

Another major reason for our thanksgiving arises from the divine favours that we have received. Thankfulness leads the beneficiary to worship the Giver, who is the LORD. Thus, for a third time, the psalmist says, "Bless the LORD". Such repetition denotes the earnestness of his desire to express his gratitude.

Besides, he stirs up his soul to employ itself in grateful worship of the LORD – "O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." The worship of the LORD must arise from the inner man. It is a soulwork. Jesus reprimanded those who engaged in "lipworship". Citing Isaiah, He said, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me" (Matthew 15:8; cf. Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31). No worship exists when the heart is not sincerely and earnestly employed in praising the LORD.

In Deuteronomy 8:10-14, the LORD warned Israel against forgetting His benefits – "When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God ..."

Recollecting and recognising the LORD’s help, guidance, rebuke, promises, spiritual blessings, physical provisions, strength, hope, etc. will provide genuine impetus for the worship of His name. Grateful emotions make the soul yearn to bless the LORD. Recognition of the LORD’s blessings in his life caused the psalmist to cry out: "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people" (Psalm 116:12-14).

In order to mould oneself to be a better worshipper of the LORD, one should awaken one’s memory to the benefits one has received from the LORD. Our memory is like a large storehouse. Recollection will bring to our present awareness those things stored up in the memory, producing powerful emotions of gratitude and worship in our hearts.

"Let all your things be done with charity" (1 Corinthians 16:14).

What will it be like if someone around you always deals with you without love? Undoubtedly, you will be traumatised by his rude, harsh and hurtful attitude towards you. It will be an unbearable situation for you. This is exactly what the apostle Paul wants us to avoid in our dealings with others. The remedy for all unpleasant and intolerable situations in the church is this: that all things be done with charity.

If there is no love, we will be irritable, aggressive and quarrelsome. But love keeps us humble in our success and compels us to serve the needy ones with kindness. Love renders us gentle and considerate towards those who are immature and ignorant. It keeps our strong conviction of truth from becoming obstinate dogmatism, and our commitment to righteousness from becoming smug self-righteousness. It further keeps our firmness from becoming hardness, and our moral strength from degenerating into a domineering spirit. It keeps our maturity gentle and considerate.

Moreover, love keeps us calm in tough and provocative situations. "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Love restrains those who have been wronged and have the power to take revenge on their offenders from working out their vengeance. Love never retaliates, for it is patient. Love is a powerful regulator of all ill feelings!

The love of God that worketh in Christians will not teach us to be self-loving. Its greatest concern is the welfare of others, as demonstrated by Christ, our Saviour – "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). So we are admonished to "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Ephesians 5:2; cf. 1 John 4:7-11).

Love also teaches us to be kind towards others. It makes us gracious, useful and willing to serve others. It motivates us to give anything that would help others in their needs. It equips us to be generous (cf. Matthew 5:40-41). In this evil and tumultuous world, genuine love readies us to exercise kindness and generosity.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God"(1 John 4:7). We are able to love one another, "because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Pangasinan Report: Aftermath of a Great Typhoon

Dear Pastor Koshy,

I thank the Lord for keeping all the brethren safe when the super typhoon hit northern Philippines last week. The typhoon was at its strongest last Friday night till Saturday morning. The wind was very strong and sounded like a loud whistle. Thank God that the government had warned the people a few days before; therefore we were able to prepare for it. The brethren in Pugaro tied their houses and roofs to trees and concrete structures because their houses are mostly made of light materials. I was worried for our people in Pugaro because they live near the seaside and are in the "danger zone". On Friday morning, I contacted the person-in-charge of PIMSAT College as to whether we could rent two of their classrooms for a few days. I was planning for the brethren to use these rooms as an evacuation centre, just in case. Unfortunately the PIMSAT authorities declined our request.

Because of the pressing need, I called Bro Roger and offered them to stay at the Mission station. To avoid conflict with PIMSAT College, the access gate to the college would be locked. But Bro Roger told me that the evacuation centre nearby was already at full capacity and they would rather just stay at their houses. I tried to convince him to evacuate, but he replied that he was too embarrassed to come because they had no food to sustain them while staying with us here. I replied to him that it was not a problem; if ever our provisions dwindle, the Lord would provide for us. Anyway, he told me that they would consider to move if ever the wind became unbearable.

That same afternoon at 4.00pm (when the wind was really strong), my family and I went out to buy additional food to anticipate the brethren’s coming. (These provisions were later distributed to the brethren last Sunday night since they couldn’t join us in the mission station during the storm). On Friday night, we experienced the howling wind starting at 1.00 am, which lasted until 5.00 am. During the storm I was keeping in touch with the brethren in Pugaro. Thank God for keeping them safe.

I assumed that the Pugaro brethren were most vulnerable because of their location, but I was wrong. At the height of the typhoon, Sis Cecile from Singapore updated me about the brethren’s situation through social media. She told me that the brethren were experiencing landslide in their area because of the strong water current in the river nearby. They tried calling "911" for rescue, but the rescuers were not able to reach their place. The roads and bridges leading to them had already been declared "not passable" because the flood had reached 6 feet deep! Deep in the night, Sis Cecile asked me if I could call the town’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management to request for the rescue of the brethren. I called the office and talked to the person in-charge, but they were sorry that they couldn’t send any personnel because of the severity of the flood. They could only advise them to stay away from the landslide area. So, all the brethren took refuge at their relatives’ homes, farther away from the landslide area.

Thank God for preserving all the brethren. The wind and rain got weaker on Saturday morning, but there were fallen trees everywhere. Many roads were blocked by debris and flood waters. After the strong typhoon, the Pugaro brethren started to fix their houses, but the brethren in Binday were still worried about their livelihood and safety. A big chunk of land had been carried away by the water, together with their houses! Their irrigation canal was also destroyed, affecting their livelihood. To get a clearer picture of the grim situation, the cliff which was previously about 300-400 metres from the house of Bro Mario Naranjo, is now just 50 metres away!

Because of the typhoon and flooded roads, I decided to cancel the worship service. All the brethren also were tired and needed time to clean up their homes and transfer their things back to their homes from the evacuation centre. My family and I worshipped the Lord through the live broadcast. I thank the Lord for giving us a concrete place on a higher ground. The damage (only to the roof in the porch area) in the mission station is just minimal.

(Damage to the roof of the Mission Station’s porch area)

In the past week, there were several disconcerting news that our church leadership had to deal with, notwithstanding the heavy schedules of work and ministry each of them had to attend to. Much of those demanding challenges have to do with our interactions with the authorities with regard to the Building Project, and our preparations (especially pertaining to the audited accounts) for the ACM. Personally, it was a very stressful period and I felt very constrained and of little strength to wade through all the challenges. But I praise God that He has strengthened me with His good Word during my “quiet times” with Him. The two portions of the Scripture that the Lord gave me were Revelation 3:7-8 and Psalm 31:24.

I have expounded the first passage, Revelation 3:7-8, during last Tuesday night prayer meeting – “… These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

Now I would like to exhort you from Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

The Lord provides us with an antidote to the sad hearts of believers who are undergoing trials and temptations. They are exhorted to “be of good courage”. It is not at all uncommon that God’s people become weary and disheartened in this world. Spiritual and moral courage is much needed to inspire our hearts to do right, especially in adverse circumstances. In most scriptural instances of the exhortation to be courageous, it is coupled with the exhortation to be strong. When courage is gone, the heart would melt in the fear and heat of adversity. So the exhortation is given: “Be strong and of good courage.”

In Deuteronomy 31:6, the Lord through Moses told the people of Israel, who had to battle against the giants who dwelt in their promised land, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Their new leader, Joshua,who had to lead Israel to conquer the promised land, was also told in Deuteronomy 31:7 to “Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.” This exhortation to be strong and of good courage had been repeatedly given to Joshua and Israel (Joshua 1:6, 9, 18; 2:11; 10:25).

Christians have very many duties to tend to, which can be often arduous. We have heard troubled Christians crying out: “How could I overcome these problems and fulfil all my tasks?” or “I am already exhausted. Where shall I get the strength to do these things?” Be that as it may, every Christian must remember the exhortation, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

In our verse, we are given the divine promise that “he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” God would give us His supernatural aid, strengthening our hearts with His gracious favour. We must not let our hearts become pessimistic. Let not doubt and gloom fill our hearts. We must hope in the Lord. Distrusting hearts will grow weary and fearful. Trusting in God’s promise, let us behave valiantly for the Lord. Expect trials. Remember the promises. Maintain faith. Serve the Lord.

Thanksgiving Notes (15th Bible Witness Retreat)

Dear Pastor,

Greetings in our Lord’s most blessed Name!

Pastor, once again I want to thank you for the privilege extended to me in joining the Bible Witness Retreat. I thank the Lord for the manifold blessings received in listening to all the messages you have preached (from establishing the concept of God / Jesus as King, expounding on the Gospel of the Kingdom to the very clear presentation of the Biblical covenants being a unity under the umbrella of the Covenant of Grace, as against the Dispensationalist view, with all appropriate applications to us), and for the opportunity to see firsthand the progress of the work our brother, Pr Sujith, is doing for the Gospel in Vizag, India.

Likewise, I thank the Lord for the opportunity to minister to our brethren in Singapore in the main service (English), in the Filipino Fellowship, and even at TGCM morning devotions. By the way, two Sundays ago, there were 6 newcomers (first-timers) who came to the Filipino service. They came to know of our church through one Filipino brother whom they had met at the food-court; since then, they have been visiting our church website to listen to the messages and finally thought of coming for the service last Sunday. I was with Bros Norefel and Arnold when I talked to these newcomers, and I encouraged them to follow up on these 6 souls. They, who by their own admission used to attend a Charismatic church, had expressed their desire to learn more of God’s Word. I have also informed Pr Dennis about it.

With all these blessings received, I give all the glory and honour unto God!

Respectfully,
Reggor

Testimony of Elder Alan Choy

All praise and glory to the Almighty King and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has granted us great spiritual blessings and safety in our visit to see the Gospel work in Vizag, India, during the Bible Witness Retreat. Thank God also for the privilege to be able to feast upon the Word of truth pertaining to the “The Gospel of The Kingdom”, as exhorted by our pastor. God had declared war against Satan and proclaimed the first good news for the salvation of His people right at the beginning in Genesis 3:15. God, our eternal, sovereign King, has prevailed over the kingdom of Satan (cf. John 16:11), with the ultimate victory through Jesus Christ. We have the full assurance of faith, together with all the redeemed of the Lord eternally secured into God’s Kingdom. All glory and honour unto our King eternal!

May we continue to pray for our brother, Pr Sujith Samuel, in his teaching of the Word of God in Gethsemane Bible Institute (GBI India) in Vizag, in particular to the students, Bros Henjit, Joyson and Devakumar. The first two have come with their families to stay, while the third brother comes daily to learn God’s Word in GBI India. Pray also for another brother, Praveen, that he may be able to return to learn God’s Word at GBI India again.

Due to time constraints, we were not able to see the work in Odisha. Nevertheless, we pray that GBI India will bring the Gospel to the people there. Thank God for the opportunity to meet with Pastor Stephenson and his wife Anupama who serve among the hill tribes of Majivalasa, as well as Bro Abraham, his wife and his son who serve in the remote village of the Asha Kiran Hospital. We rejoice because our Almighty God is able to bring His Word through His servants wherever He pleases. Nowhere is too remote that God cannot reach. Let His glorious name be praised!

Report co-written by Bro Cornelius Koshy and Bro Titus Ho

WWe thank God for the 15th Bible Witness Retreat held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India from 3rd-5th September 2018. Altogether, 42 participants from Singapore, joined by approximately 25 local Christians and missionaries, attended a series of eight messages preached by Pastor Koshy on “The Gospel of the Kingdom”.

It was indeed a joy to once again meet up with our missionary, Pr Sujith Samuel, as well as his many Christian contacts whom he has come to know over the past year of ministry in Vizag (like Bro Deepanker and his family, who also participated in Gethsemane’s church camp in Penang earlier this year). We thank God also for the opportunity to meet with our three new GBI students, Henjit, Joyson and Devakumar, as well as a familiar brother to Gethsemaneans – Philip Cherian. Moreover, a few other pastors and missionary workers from Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring state of Odisha travelled long distances to be part of this retreat – praise the Lord!

On the first afternoon of the retreat, our team excitedly visited the newly rented two-storey house for future church worship and fellowship meetings. It is a beautifully designed and well-maintained house surrounded by lush greenery, and is a short 15-minute journey from the city centre. At present, Henjit’s and Joyson’s families reside in this house. This is because they, being from Odisha and having come to Vizag for full-time studies at GBI, are in need of a place to stay. Our team then visited Gethsemane Media and Bookroom, a commercial space on the third floor of a building located in the heart of Vizag city. It is a well-renovated space which suits well the classroom needs for GBI lectures. Pr Sujith lives in a room within this space, and coordinates the administrative matters of GBI and Gethsemane Media from this place.

On the second day of our retreat, we visited three village churches and a school in the rural village areas of Visakhapatnam, which are about 1½-ride from the hotel. The first church that we visited is pastored by Pastor Devakumar. It is a simple hut, which is surrounded by the other villagers’ houses. From there, we proceeded to visit another church, which is located in the house of Pastor Premkumar and his son, Leonard. The church is still undergoing construction to build a second floor for worship purposes. Pastor Premkumar has been holding the fort faithfully for 40 years, and now his son, Leonard, is a youth leader in the church. The last church that we visited is pastored by Pastor Stephenson, who is a relative of Pastor Premkumar.

The third and final day was a treat to the retreat participants, for we were brought on a visit to the beautiful beach front of Vizag, at Tenneti Beach. From there, we subsequently made our way up to a vantage point on a hill for a panoramic bird’s eye view of the city, before ending the trip at a restaurant for some local biryani.

Overall, we thank God for such a wonderous opportunity to see the Lord’s work being done in the Lord’s field in Vizag. Although the beginnings are small and humble, we rejoice in the knowledge that the kingdom of God is likened to a mustard seed which, in the Lord’s timing, will grow into a huge tree where birds of the air will flock to make their nests (cf. Matthew 13:31-32). May the work that has begun in Vizag blossom and flourish into an effective Christ-centred Gospel work of God’s kingdom!

Gethsemane Media Office and Bookroom (on the 3rd Level of the Building)

Thanksgiving Note from Pr Sujith

Dear Pastor,

I am really thankful to the Lord for the 15th Bible Witness Retreat on the topic of “The Gospel of The Kingdom” conducted in Vizag. From the very beginning, God’s guidance was evident in the organising of this retreat. By God’s providence, we managed to get a good hotel, where they offered their best service. In this regard, I am particularly thankful to God for Dn Kwok Wah, Bro Benny Skarih and Bro Lijoy for the help rendered to organise this retreat.

Truly, thank God for helping you to teach God’s Word on all three days. Those who participated really enjoyed the systematic teaching from God’s Word. The retreat was specially blessed by the participation of around 25 guests from outside. They really appreciated the teachings and fellowship extended to them. The visits to mission stations and local churches were further encouragement to local pastors and missionaries serving in the villages.

I am particularly thankful to all those who came down to learn God’s Word. I was really happy to meet and fellowship with many of our church members again. Thank you so much for the support, prayers and encouragement given for the work here. May Lord bless our efforts to spread the Gospel here.

In Christ,
Sujith

God regenerates us by His Spirit by granting us repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, that we might be His children (John 1:12; Romans 8:14; Galatians 3:26; 4:6). From the time we are led by the Spirit to be His children, He leads us forward - “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

Being stirred in the heart by the Holy Spirit, every child of God desires and pray for divine leading in his daily life. They pray like David, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5; cf. Psalms 5:8; 27:11; 86:11; 119:27; 143:8).

The assurance and counsel of God to every one of His children is: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). It is certain that divine direction will be given to all those who humbly trust in the LORD for His direction. “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9; cf. Psalm 23:3).

But those who follow their own ideas without acknowledging God’s promise to direct them by His truth will face the outcomes of their folly. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26a). Refusal to cease from self-driven, self-pleasing ways to trust and obey God’s truth and guidance for direction in life, is depicted as being spiritually dead – “For to be carnally minded is death” – while the wonderful promise to those who are “spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6; cf. Ephesians 4:17-21).

God seeks His children’s willing obedience, which is the obvious expression of their profound faith in Him. When He teaches and instructs us by His Word and His Spirit, He expects that we fully trust and apply His instructions in our lives so that we may be led forward in His blessed ways. In Psalm 32:8-9, the Lord says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” He tells us not to be like certain stubborn beasts which have to be always put under restraint, but as obedient children who joyfully follow His ways.

The prophet Isaiah describes the Lord as standing by our side, as it were, ready to tell us which direction we should go – “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). He speaks to us through His Spirit’s leading of our heart. Again, the Lord assures us through Isaiah, “Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” (Isaiah 48:16-17).

Our finite minds do not possess the necessary abilities to know, discern and perform all of God’s will concerning our lives. Jeremiah acknowledges, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). We need to pray, trust and submit to Him humbly. Then the Lord will lead us each step of the way by His Spirit and by His gracious providence.

Most of the time, the Spirit will guide us through the Word by rebuking, correcting, encouraging, comforting, illumining, instructing and convicting us. But when we are faced with situations which are beyond our powers, He will guide us forward by His sovereign, supernatural works. To everyone who is genuinely submissive to God, He will provide His sure help and guidance. He will supernaturally direct us through His path.

God’s leading of His people, whether it be individually or collectively, is not only promised and taught in the Bible but also demonstrated through the experience of His people. Please rejoice and be strengthened as you read the following biblical records of God’s leading of His people:

• Nehemiah 9:20 succinctly testifies of the Lord’s guidance through the Spirit and His miraculous provisions for His ancient people of Israel – “Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.”
• Psalm 77:20 tells of God’s leading of Israel by the hands of her leaders – “Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
• Psalm 78:52-53 likewise reiterate the same truth: “But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.”
• Psalm 80:1; 136:16; Exodus 3:10; 13:21; 14:19; 15:13; Deuteronomy 11:5; Isaiah 63:11-12; Hosea 12:13; Acts 7:35-36 give further instances of God’s unswerving leading of His people.

Much of humanity is under “the god of this world” who “hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus expressly said to the unbelieving Jews, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Being misguided by Satan, people walk not after the truth of God.

In the Garden of Eden, when the first parents at the behest of Satan rejected the truth of God, sin began. Sin continues to abound whenever people rejected God’s revealed truth in the Bible. Concerning two defiant challengers of God’s servant Moses, Paul said, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Timothy 3:8). In Romans 1, the apostle Paul points out that wherever people “changed the truth of God into a lie” (verse 25), there will be a proliferation of vile sins, such as idolatry and homosexuality.

In our times, many think that there is no such thing as absolute truth, especially about religious truth. Some think about religion as simply a matter of personal preference like food, sport or art. Even among those who call themselves Christians, there exists a cynical aversion to accepting Biblical doctrines and instructions as absolute truths to live by.

But the Bible declares concerning “the church of the living God” that it is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The church is responsible to proclaim and preserve the truth, which God has given His people in His Word. The church is expected to hold forth the truth, to immovably, unshakably live, uphold, guard, and proclaim the truth of God’s Word. The people of the church must know they are called not only to believe in God’s perfect, authoritative truth as revealed in the Scriptures, but also to conduct their lives according to God’s truth. Christianity is a life in the truth!

Christian Life is Walking in the Truth

Christians must know the importance of truth in their lives. The truth of God must govern their thinking, speech, conduct and teachings. The integrity of Christian life lies in its conformity to the truth of God’s Word!

The apostle John has written about his special joy concerning those who lived according to the truth. “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father” (2 John 4). Again, he wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).

God has given us His perfect truth through the Bible in order that we may not only know it and believe it, but also live by it. In the New Testament, the word “walk” is often used as a metaphor for the manner and activity of one’s life. Hence, the phrase “walking in truth” denotes how a Christian’s life ought to be controlled and guided by the truth.

In fact, John emphatically mentioned that their “walking in truth” was just “as we have received a commandment from the Father” (2 John 4). It is our heavenly Father’s will that we walk in the truth. So, living according to God’s truth is not optional for Christians. God has revealed His truth in the Bible, that we may be freed from ignorance, unbelief and disobedience to His will.

Christians who have received the truth of God in the Bible have a great responsibility to live according to the truth. The more clearly and bountifully He provides us with the truth of His Word, the greater is our responsibility to believe and obey it.

As a faithful minister of God’s Word, John commented, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” The ultimate goal of every true pastor or preacher is to see that his congregation walk in the truth of God. A pastor’s job is not to charm his congregation with an excellent exposition of the Word, but to diligently encourage, guide and help his people to believe, love, and obey the truth. He himself must be an example to the congregation as to how a Christian ought to walk in the truth. While a pastor’s great grief is that his people walk ignorantly or indifferently or rebelliously concerning the truth that God has revealed to them, his greatest joy is that they walk in the truth.

My beloved Gethsemaneans, are you walking in the truth? Are you moving along in life according to the biblical truths, or according to the fleshly and worldly ideas and goals?

Every one of us must be firmly planted on the solid foundation of the truth so that none will be led astray by the temptations of sin, false doctrines, trials or persecutions or any other device that is implemented against us by the enemy.

Let us live the truth! Let our habits and practices be all governed by His truth. Like the “elect lady and her children” who manifested abundant evidence of being consistent followers of Christ and His truth, as commended by the apostle John (cf. 2 John 1), may you also abound with evidence of a life in truth.

Biblical Christianity is all about the absolute truth. It possesses the truth which is revealed by the God of truth. It declares the perfect truth. It promotes a life lived according to the truth. It guarantees the blessings of the truth. Hence, it is not a search or expedition for the truth. Neither is it an evaluation of what might be the truth. It seeks no verification of its declarations by experts.

We Worship the God of Truth

We worship the “God of truth”. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4). He is “abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6; cf. Psalm 86:15). Indeed, as the psalmist said, “O Lord, … thy truth reacheth unto the clouds”
(Psalm 108:3-4 cf. Psalm 57:10).

God, the Triune - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – is indeed Truth. God, the Father, is the “LORD God of truth” (Psalm 31:5; cf. Isaiah 65:16). He speaks only truth – “… O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true” (2 Samuel 7:28). Numbers 23:19 instructs us that “God is not a man, that he should lie”. How wonderful it is that we can trust all His words, for He is the “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). God always speaks the truth.

God, the Son - our Lord Jesus Christ - is the Truth. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The apostle Paul also said that “the truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). Moreover, Jesus insisted that He always told His hearers the truth (cf. John 8:45-46). In John 8:14, Jesus claimed, “Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true”. Jesus was also a witness to the truth. He said, “for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37). He is also called “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14).

The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 5:6). In particular, the Holy Spirit was to reveal to the apostles the inspired truth of the New Testament (John 14:26; 16:13). Peter, the apostle, wrote concerning the inspiration of the Old Testament that “… the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21; cf. 2 Samuel 23:2; Nehemiah 9:30; Ezekiel 11:5; Zechariah. 7:12; Mark 12:36; Acts 28:25; Hebrews 1:1; 3:7; 9:8; 10:15; 1 Peter 1:10-11). The Spirit is also the revealer of spiritual truth to believers – “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).

We Have the Truth of God

The Bible (of 66 books) in our hands is God’s inspired, infallible, inerrant and preserved truth. We have perfect confidence in the Bible – confident that all that it teaches us is true. Jesus affirmed this as He prayed to the Father that “thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Likewise, God’s servants, whom the Holy Spirit has used to write the Bible, testify repeatedly of the fact that the Bible is true and trustworthy. Consider the following verses:

• Psalm 119:160 – “Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:7 – “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.”
• 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
• James 1:18 – “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

The Bible, being God’s perfect truth, is precious and more valuable than any earthly riches. The psalmist spoke of it thus: “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Psalm 119:72). Again he said, “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold” (Psalm 119:127).

We who have the Bible must cherish it. Hold on to it at all costs! Proverbs 23:23 exhorts, “Buy the truth, and sell it not.” Do you esteem God’s Word, the Bible, to be greater riches than all the wealth in the world? The truth of God’s Word is an exceptionally desirable possession. The truth of God’s Word alone provides us with divine wisdom and counsels. Do not stand to chaffer about it; promptly make it your own!

God’s truth is eternal, for “the truth of the LORD endureth for ever” (Psalm 117:2). It grants salvation (Psalm 69:13; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25); sanctification (John 17:17), spiritual freedom (John 8:32), genuine worship (John 4:23-24) and rejoicing (1 Corinthians 13:6).