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In proclaiming the coming birth of the Messiah, Isaiah the prophet announced several distinctive names whereby He will be known, the first two of which are "Wonderful" and "Counsellor". Should these two words (without the comma in between) be taken as one name (with the former descriptive of the latter), thereby giving rise to "Wonderful Counsellor"? Or should we regard these as two separate names (retaining the comma) as in the KJV rendering? Even Bible commentators are divided over this matter.

The Puritan preacher Matthew Henry, as with many other commentators, takes the KJV rendering of two separate names, and rightly so, for Christ indeed is wonderful as He is, apart from any characteristic or office that may be attributed to Him. Yet as Matthew Henry also highlighted: "Some join these (names) together: He is the wonderful counsellor, a wonder or miracle of a counsellor; in this, as in other things, he has the pre-eminence; none teaches like him."

In carrying the name "Wonderful" upon His person, would this not then be descriptive of His function? For indeed, who can be a Counsellor as wondrous as Christ? One can take a hint from the same prophet who announced these names. "This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (Isaiah 28:29).

And so unto us a Son is given, who will be the Counsellor so wondrous because of a host of reasons:

1. His counsel is eminent: "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?" (Isaiah 40:13-14).
2. His counsel is powerful: "Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect" (Psalm 33:8-10).
3. His counsel is wise: "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (Isaiah 11:1-2).
4. His counsel is infallible: "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isaiah 46:9-10).
5. His counsel is eternal: "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations" (Psalm 33:11).
6. His counsel is immutable: "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath" (Hebrews 6:17).
7. His counsel is holy: "But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings" (Jeremiah 23:22).
8. His counsel is truth: "O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1).
9. His counsel is great: "Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jeremiah 32:19).
10. His counsel is complete: "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" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The counsel of the great and wonderful Counsellor is all these and more! Christ is the sum total of all knowledge, all wisdom, all guidance, all direction, all truth, all discernment and insight. He knows everything about all things and He is never wrong. All knowledge of the past, present and future belongs to Him. He even knows what is inside our hearts and minds. Indeed, the Lord, our Wonderful Counsellor, is beyond compare!

On that very first Christmas night, Christ was born in Bethlehem in a manger as God’s gift to us. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…" This brings us right to the heart of the Gospel in John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We only need to believe everything about Jesus and receive Him into our lives as our Lord and personal Saviour.

As we believe in His every word which is recorded for us in the Scriptures, we will have the whole counsel of God to guide us till we see Christ in glory. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24). Then let us echo that sweet melody of the psalmist, "I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons" (Psalm 16:7). Indeed, as the hymn writer William H. Clark puts it:

His name shall be the Counsellor,
the mighty Prince of peace,
of all earth’s kingdoms conqueror,
whose reign shall never cease.

Truly, "Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

O

f the titles of Christ mentioned in Isaiah 9:6, let us consider the very first – "Wonderful". The word "wonderful" is often used as an expression to describe something that is beyond the common or the ordinary. It speaks of something that is altogether unlike anything else. It describes something or someone too marvellous even to comprehend, and is synonymous with words like magnificent, amazing, fantastic and astonishing. Indeed, everything about Him is wonderful! Let us briefly consider a few wonderful truths about Him:

1. Wonderful in His person – The truth about Christ’s nature being 100% God and 100% Man is a thing beyond comprehension. It is simply amazing that He that is to be born a "child" and to be given as a "son", is also "The mighty God" and "The everlasting Father". In His being "a child" and "a son", Christ’s perfect humanity is portrayed; and in His being "The mighty God" and "The everlasting Father, His absolute deity, complete with His omnipotence and eternity, is manifested.

Another aspect of His person to take note of is the wonderful truth about His birth, which is His virgin birth. Isaiah 7:14 declares: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (cf. Matthew 1:23). Even Mary herself, when she was told by the angel Gabriel, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS", could only say, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:30-31, 34). Simply, His birth is too wonderful and beyond comprehension!

2. Wonderful in His prophesied coming – Shortly after the fall, we are given a glimpse of the Messiah’s coming when God said to the serpent in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The woman and her seed were further revealed in Isaiah 7:14, where the woman was identified as "a virgin" and her seed "a son" whose name shall be called Immanuel (whom we would know more about as revealed in Isaiah 9:6!).

These, as with all other Old Testament prophecies of Christ’s coming, were plainly proclaimed in the following New Testament passages: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:21-23); "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11); "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (Galatians 4:4). All the wonderful prophecies of the coming Messiah were fulfilled in this "child"!

3. Wonderful in His preaching and teaching – During His earthly ministry, we often find the Lord Jesus engaged in the ministry of teaching and preaching that always left His listeners in awe. We read in Mark 6:1-2 – "And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?" (cf. Matthew 7:28-29; Luke 4:31-32).

Even when He was young, at the age of twelve, Jesus was found in the temple having a discussion with the experts of the Law as recorded in Luke 2:46-47 – "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." In John’s Gospel, we read of the chief priests and Pharisees sending officers to arrest Jesus. Instead of taking Him captive, they were captivated by His words as they paused to listen to His preaching (John 7:32-44)! When the officers were asked why they had not brought Jesus with them, they replied, "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46). All His listeners were held in awe, being astonished at His teaching and amazed by His preaching.

4. Wonderful in His power – While He was on earth, Jesus performed many miracles, signs and wonders that would authenticate His Messiahship and, in a way, affirm His omnipotence. In the gospels, we read of His power to heal sickness and diseases, even bringing the dead to life again; His power over nature (walking on water, calming the winds and the waves, etc.); and His power over unclean and evil spirits. We read in Matthew 4:23-24 – "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them" (cf. Matthew 12:22; Mark 1:25-27, 32-34; Luke 4:40). John the beloved apostle, attesting to the great and mighty works of His Master, wrote in John 21:25 – "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." Above all, Jesus has the power to forgive sins! In one account, we read of one paralytic brought to Jesus by his four friends: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark 2:5; cf. Matthew 9:2; Luke 5:20).

5. Wonderful in His purpose – We can think of many verses that tell us of the purpose of Jesus’ coming but these two verses would suffice: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21); "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). His name speaks well of the purpose of His coming, for Jesus Christ means the "Anointed Saviour".And speaking of His name, Acts 4:12 says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." One may ask, "How did Jesus accomplish His purpose?" Jesus accomplished salvation for us by His perfect obedience as seen in His willingness to offer Himself as a sacrifice without blemish and without spot to be the propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2, 4:10; 1 Peter 3:18). Jesus sacrificed Himself for sinners like us as He is our Wonderful Saviour!

There is no other person who is willing to do it as much as there is no one else who is able to accomplish such a great purpose. Romans 5:6-8 – "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Just as He is wonderful in His person, prophecies, preaching and power, Christ is also wonderful in His purpose – for He is our Wonderful Saviour! The thought of Jesus as the Wonderful Saviour has been the favourite theme of many hymn-writers. Oh how we love to sing them! So wonderful is Jesus that the apostle Paul can only say, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15)! Truly, everything about Jesus is wonderful, just as the prophet Isaiah has declared, "…his name shall be called Wonderful."

Dear brethren, we have much to praise God for He has shown such wonderful mercy to call us to do His will as part of Gethsemane B-P Church. It is His goodness that has added more souls and ministries to our church. It is He who has opened the doors of the Gospel before us year after year. It is the Lord who has provided us with all the necessary resources, and permits from the authorities to purchase 33 Ubi Crescent to house our Gospel work.

We must exalt the Lord with much thanksgiving of heart in the coming weeks and months, as we embark on the renovation works of the new premises. During our Tuesday night prayer meeting, we must get together to exalt Him for answering our petitions before Him. We had sought the Lord for His help with fasting and prayer; He has enabled us to meet all the needs and to overcome all the challenges over the past 5 years in the accomplishment of this task. Please write down your thanksgiving to the Lord and come prepared to share them with the brethren. We will start the testimony session (of thanksgiving for the new premises) this Tuesday night onwards.

To help us prepare for the thanksgiving sessions, I hereby publish the following devotions based on Isaiah 25:1 - "O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee. I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."

The prophet Isaiah gives himself wholly to the worship of the LORD. He appears to be totally consumed by the desire to glorify the LORD. Nothing is more important to Isaiah than exalting his God. Every child of God must be gripped and driven with this singular passion to exalt the LORD.

Like Isaiah, Moses said in Exodus 15:2, "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him." Similarly, David said in Psalm 34:3, "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together". In Psalm 99, the psalmist twice exhorted, "Exalt ye the LORD our God" (vv. 5, 9).

What place has the worship of God in your life? Have you consecrated yourself wholly to praise and magnify the LORD? Do you promptly join the church to worship the LORD? Do you joyfully participate in the service of God? Are you mindful to exalt the LORD as your God through daily private and family worship? Have you been mindful to speak of the LORD’s goodness before your family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbours? Oh, how greatly it would please the LORD, if you would dedicate yourself to glorify Him! Jesus exhorted us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Isaiah’s consecration to exalt the LORD proceeded from his love for the LORD. With great delight, he said, "O LORD, thou art my God". He unreservedly acknowledged the LORD as his God. There was no hesitation on Isaiah’s part to declare his allegiance to the LORD. It was his absolute joy, honour and privilege to have the LORD as his God.

Like the prophet Isaiah’s testimony, the testimony of God’s people should be heard and seen everywhere. Every believer must be ready always to testify that the LORD is his God. Let our attachment to our God be known to all, both friends and foes. None of His people should be reluctant in affirming his relationship with the LORD. Our heart’s love for the LORD must be openly confessed. He takes note of our open avowal of love and adoration for Him, and shall speak of it even in eternity. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32; cf. Luke 12:8).

Praising God is the outflowing of a thankful heart. When a heart is full of gratitude towards God, it hastens to bless His name. A thankful heart is resolute to praise God’s name, just as Isaiah said, "I will praise thy name". Here the prophet was determined to praise God. Isaiah was about to proclaim the great wonders which will occur upon the establishment of the LORD’s kingdom on earth. In chapter 25, Isaiah (speaking in the first person) described the great wonders which will occur when the LORD’s kingdom is established on the earth. His heart, being full of adoration and thanksgiving, was greatly excited to express itself to magnify the LORD. It is those who are so stirred up within themselves to praise God that will stir up others also to do the same. Isaiah thus began with an intensely personal affirmation that the LORD is his God. He had already laid claim that the LORD is his God; he had earlier said, "O LORD, thou art my God". Such acknowledgment of the LORD as one’s God provides the desire and motivation to exalt Him.

Having in his heart the knowledge of the great wonders of God which will occur when the LORD’s kingdom is established on the earth, the prophet determined to praise God. Here he gave two specific reasons for praising the LORD. The first reason for exalting the LORD is that He "hast done wonderful things". In fact, Scripture presents our God as "the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things" (Psalm 72:18). Even when the LORD acts to chasten us or try our faith, we must confess that all His works are wondrous. His works are perfect, great (cf. Psalm 92:5), marvellous (cf. Psalm 139:14), powerful (cf. Psalm 111:6), merciful (cf. Psalm 145:9), holy (cf. Psalm 145:17), and in truth (cf. Psalm 33:4).

The second reason for Isaiah’s dedication to the LORD’s praise is that His "counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." The ancient counsels of God’s Word are perfectly trustworthy. All that God has revealed in the days of old remain steadfast and true even today. Not a word of His revealed counsels shall fail. The fact that His promises and prophecies continue to be fulfilled assures us of the veracity and profitability of all the counsels of the Scriptures. Isaiah later declared that "the LORD of hosts… is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (Isaiah 28:29). Praise the LORD!

We thank God that the purchase of 33 Ubi Crescent by Gethsemane Bible Witness Limited (GBWL) has been completed on 15th November 2018. The Board of Directors (our church elders) will now proceed with the tender, with the help of the team of church brethren whom the Session has appointed to work on the renovation matters. Please pray for all the renovation works to be completed in good time and for the operation of GBWL to begin at the soonest viable date.

Our church’s Filipino connection started at the turn of this millennium when the Lord led some Filipino brethren to our church. Among them were Rev. Reggor Galarpe, Pr Dennis Kabingue, Bro. Brian Bono and Bro. Kent Limosnero. With these brethren coming together for fellowship, Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship (GFF) was inaugurated on 28th October 2001. Since then, the Lord has prospered our ministry among the Filipinos in Singapore, and even in the Philippines. Today, we thank God for not only about thirty brethren who regularly attend GFF, but also for the five mission churches, as well as GBI-Cebu and TGCM-Cebu, in the Philippines.

We pray that the Lord will continue to use GFF to reach more Filipinos with the truth of God’s Word. In Singapore, there are many Filipinos who have come here to work. Our church can continue in reaching them through evangelistic efforts and by providing good Bible studies and fellowship. Through those who become part of our ministry, if the Lord permits, we can continue to reach many cities, towns and villages of the Philippines with the Gospel. There are also those who leave Singapore to immigrate to other parts of the world, such as the US, Canada, UK and Australia. We pray that the Lord will use them to be faithful witnesses wherever His providence leads them.

Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship has been a far-reaching Gospel work. So, let us pray for its continuity and growth.

My prayer for you, dear Filipino brethren who have been part of Gethsemane, is that you will continue to grow in the truth of His Word so that you become joyful and glorious witnesses of Christ here in Singapore, and back in the Philippines, or wherever the Lord leads you. May yours be a testimony like that of the Thessalonians - "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing" (1 Thessalonians 1:8).

Greetings from Rev. Reggor Galarpe, Cebu, the Philippines

To our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ (our "Kababayan") in Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship,

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

On this happy occasion of your 17th Anniversary, we join you in remembering the Lord’s goodness, and rejoicing and praising His Name for yet another year of fruitful service for Him.

We rejoice in hearing of the recent additions among you. I had the opportunity to meet some of them when they attended the fellowship meeting for the first time in
September, and I’m glad to hear that there have been more who followed thereafter. It is the Lord’s doing – all praise and glory be unto Him!

To our dearly beloved brethren at the Filipino Fellowship and to our dear brother, Preacher Dennis Kabingue, may you be encouraged to press on in the work of the ministry. Look back and remember when the Lord called you and for what purpose He has called you. Then resolve in your hearts to serve the Lord to the very end!

I would like to take this opportunity to greet our beloved Pastor for all his labours and love for the Lord’s work and His people. Pastor, thank you so much for "your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name…" (Hebrews 6:10). Please know that we are praying for the Lord to sustain you in all your labours and struggles along the way.

Also, I want to greet the Church Session and all Gethsemaneans, thankful for all your prayers and support for the Filipino Fellowship in all these 17 years.

To our Kababayan, may the Lord richly bless you and continue to prosper your labours and enable you to do even greater things for His glory.

Blessed 17th Anniversary to you all!

Yours in Christ,
Reggor B. Galarpe
Gethsemane B-P Church (Cebu)
Cebu City, Philippines

Dear Rev. Koshy and the Session of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, Singapore,

Heartfelt greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Praise God that you are all well and that the work of the Lord in your midst is prospering. The mission church here in Ethiopia is also progressing well. Below is a brief update on the progress of the work of the Lord here in GBI-Ethiopia.

We praise God for the continued support we have been receiving from Gethsemane BPC to provide for the various works of the ministry in Ethiopia. May the Almighty God bless Gethsemane for the work of love she has been doing for the sake of Christ’s name. It is our prayer that your sacrificial giving and prayer support will bear enduring fruits that will bring glory to our blessed Lord and Saviour.

Here are some updates and prayer requests:

1. Update on the work in Gethsemane Bible Institute (I have attached some recent photos of our class activities.)
   1. By God’s grace, the teaching and learning process is going on well. At the beginning of this year, we had 7 trainees in the full-time and 16 trainees in the part-time programmes. Out of this number, 3 part-timers had dropped out.
   2. Last term, 2 full-time and 4 part-time students finished their training. God willing, these 6 students will be graduating on 16th January 2019. This will be the 3rd graduation of GBI-Ethiopia.
   3. This new term, by God’s special blessing, we have received 24 new full-time and 4 new part-time students. This is the largest intake since GBI has begun. Now, we have 29 fulltime and 14 part-time students in our GBI training programmes. God willing, we will have more full-timers next term.
   4. Full-time students receive fully-subsidised training, as their tuition and boarding fees, as well as expenses for handouts, are all covered by the financial support we receive from Gethsemane BPC. For their meals, some of the full-time students are supported by their sending churches while others are supported by GBI.
   5. The main expenses that we incur in GBI include buying stationery, printing and copying notes (which students receive for free), buying different office equipment, books for library and graduation gowns, as well as buying beds and utensils for boarding students, buying sanitary supplies, supporting needy students, giving honorarium for instructors, etc. God has been graciously providing for all the needs of the ministry through the sacrificial giving of Gethsemane BPC. Praise God for His timely and gratefully received gifts through His people!
2. Prayer requests for the following items:
   1. For good health, strength, and spiritual wisdom for instructors (Rev. Ephrem, Preacher Engida and Dn Imane).
   2. For the transformation of the lives, hearts and minds of students so that they may know the Truth assuredly, love it wholeheartedly and live it out faithfully.
   3. For the students, that they may be in good health, in unity and harmony among themselves, and display Christ-likeness to our members and people around them.
   4. For the new students who have applied to join GBI next term, God willing.
   5. For more faithful, called and qualified instructors to join GBI faculty. There is a dire need in these perilous times to train more of God’s servants. At present, all the class work is being carried out by the three of us, who are also occupied with other pastoral duties in the church.
   6. For especially the connection of the power line that has been delayed till now because of the corruption in the government.
   7. For provision of other qualified and faithful instructors for GBI. Truly, teaching full-time, evening and Saturday classes by a few of us has been challenging. (Yet, praise God for all the grace He has given us each day!)
   8. For God’s provision for the different expenses of the work of the Lord in GBI.
   9. For the 3rd graduation exercise to be held on 16th January, 2019.

Please convey our regards to all Gethsemaneans and friends.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Ephrem Chiracho
(on behalf of Gethsemane BPC and GBI, Ethiopia)
22 October 2018

(In commemoration of the Reformation of the 16th century, we continue to publish portions of Pastor Koshy’s message, "Defence of the Word by the Church", based on Jeremiah 23:16-22. It was preached in the 4th Missionary Conference of Gethsemane B-P Church [June 23-27, 2014]. May His Word be faithfully preached in our church.)

Be Steadfast in His Counsels

In verse 18, the Lord probed the Israelites with these searching questions: "For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?" What an incriminating interrogation! The Lord was challenging the Israelites to prove to Him if they had firmly followed His counsel. But they had exhibited nothing whatsoever to show their unwavering commitment to His counsels.

Those questions will not go down well with churchgoers of our time. They would retort, "Wait a minute! Do we not boldly confess that the Word of God is inspired, inerrant and infallible? Haven’t we affirmed that God has preserved His Word? If we haven’t, then who have stood in the counsel of the LORD? Why question us then? We stand for the Bible, and have perceived that it is His Word. We affirm that not even a jot or tittle shall pass away. Why ask us, ’who hath marked his word, and heard it?’ Take a look at our Bibles – we have underlined His commandments and promises.

We have taken down notes. Why mock us, even though we love His Word?" Similarly, one who is a preacher might say, "I have been trained in a biblical, reformed, fundamental Bible college. I am known as a preacher of God’s Word. I take pains to expound the Bible according to the historical, grammatical contexts of its passages." Nevertheless, the LORD’s question needs to be answered – "who hath stood in His counsel"? Having heard and known God’s counsel, have you remained true to it?

To be honest, many of us in this congregation ought to mourn over our transgressions of His counsels – "O LORD, we heard your voice and yet we didn’t stand in Thy counsel. We have so often veered from Thy ways. You told us to watch and pray, but we had not obeyed, and had fallen into temptations. Against Thy instructions, we held on tightly to our possessions and refused to give in support of Thy work. You told us to go and evangelise, but we ignored Thy commission. You told us to be a pattern of godliness to Christians around us, but we stubbornly walked in the ways of the world. You asked us to separate from ungodly relationships, but we still continued in them."

Have you stood in the counsel of the LORD? Have you marked His Word? God is not asking if you have underlined certain verses in your Bible, but rather if you have kept and not forgotten His Word to you. If you were all required to stand up and declare truthfully whether you have kept your pledges made upon your joining the church, what would you say? I daresay hardly anyone among us would be able to say, "I have marked all His words and kept them all." We have not marked or obeyed all His words. We have not kept our pledges made in accordance to His will concerning us. We have previously said, perhaps with great fervour, in response to His Word: ’LORD, this will we do.’ So today, God searches our hearts with His piercing questions, "Did you stand in My counsel? Did you mark My Word? Will you defend My Word with your life?"

Be Not Pretenders

In the next 2 verses, we note how intensely God expressed His anger to the unfaithful prophets and people: "Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly" (vv. 19-20). Indeed, who could withstand such fury of the LORD? Before such consuming wrath, we can only plead, "O Lord, have mercy, hide Thy face against our sins." The LORD again reiterated His strong displeasure of the prophets of Israel in verse 21, "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." The LORD was upset with the prophets for taking the office without being called and appointed by Him, hence His damning denunciation: "I have not sent these prophets"!

A similar phenomenon of an increasing number of false teachers and pastors is seen in Christendom today. Is there a preacher or missionary in this conference who is not sent by God? Is there a preacher who has come by his own will? Is there one sent by the devil? Is there a man here who is considering the office of the church without having a clear calling from the LORD? You might think me to be uncharitable, ill-natured and hurtful in raising these questions. But recall how Jeremiah had to proclaim the LORD’s scathing pronouncement that "I have not sent these prophets". It was Jeremiah versus the entire association of prophets! It is imperative for all of us to understand that a divine call is indispensable to be a preacher of God’s Word. God must first beckon him, equip him with the necessary gifts and qualities, and then train him in His Word to be a preacher. No one should try to become a preacher, without the LORD’s clear appointment. No one can say, "Trust me, I am confident that I will make it."

One who is called by the LORD will not only have an inner conviction of God’s call, but also the external evidence of spiritual qualities (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9) and the necessary spiritual gifts (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). Bible colleges cannot make one a preacher. Rather, Bible colleges can only aid those who are called to gain knowledge through godly and faithful teachers. In this respect, pastors are to be careful not to lay hands upon a man who has not proven his calling. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22), so wrote Paul to Timothy. I dread the possibility of unwittingly ordaining a person whom God didn’t ordain. Beware of men who rush to become pastors, men who quickly want to put on the "clergy cloak", even though there is little to prove that they are called. None should pretend that he is called.

Dear Gethsemane churches, let us not delight in the number of preachers we have, but pray that they are called and equipped by God. I would ask all the preachers and missionaries present, to examine whether they are truly in the ministry in obedience to God’s call. Is it because the Lord has called you that you are a preacher? Is your heart led by the Spirit? Or is it your own carnal and materialistic thoughts that teach you what to do? If your heart is not guided by the Blessed Spirit and Truth, you had better step down from your post. Let us also pray that God will prevent us from ordaining a man who is not called by Him. May our "sweat and blood" not go into supporting a man who is not called by God. Do not rush to ordain men into the ministry. Your heart will be broken, and you will be dragged into places and situations that you should never be in. Pretentious, ungodly men cannot lead you into righteousness and truth. They will corrupt you; you will then cry and weep, and howl in great misery. May God be merciful to protect our churches. Let His Word defend us!

(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.