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READ:

Deuteronomy 3:22

²² Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

EXHORTATION:

Moses had been recounting how the LORD God had granted Israel victory over Sihon (the daunting king of the Amorites) and King Og of Bashan (a huge giant whose bed was made of iron and measured 13 feet long by 6 feet wide [Deuteronomy 3:1–11])! Moses’ purpose for narrating those stories of Israel’s resounding victories was to assure Israel that their LORD God had been their unfailing strength and help in all their battles. He then narrated how the LORD had granted the request of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

By narrating all of the past events in which the LORD had guided them, Moses also sought to build up Israel’s trust in God for the future battles they would face as they entered the Promised Land. At that time, Joshua was given a special commission – “Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you” (vv. 21-22). Since Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, Joshua was commanded to courageously lead God’s people to conquer it. Many of the people who dwelled in the land were gigantic in stature. They lived in walled towns and fortified cities. But Joshua and the people should not fear them. The LORD will fight for them.

Fear is a terrible hindrance to our advancing and accomplishing of our God-given duties in God’s kingdom. Fear numbs our hearts and bodies with doubt and anxiety. Hence, God requires us to rise up in confidence in Him to do the work of His kingdom. The work of evangelism and worldwide missions need men of faith and devotion to spread the Gospel. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Churches need faithful pastors to feed the flock in these days of many false teachers who destroy the flock. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2). We need dedicated, godly men to do the LORD’s work with sacrificial and joyful giving and service (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Let us, with tenacious trust in our God, renew ourselves to serve Him, and fearlessly give ourselves to fulfil all His will concerning us.

READ:

Matthew 1:23b

^23b And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

EXHORTATION:

Jesus, the virgin-born Son, shall also be called “Emmanuel”. This was predicted by the prophet Isaiah. The ancient people of God had been awaiting the fulfilment of this amazing prophecy with great anticipation.

Though it says here that “they shall call his name Emmanuel”, we know of none in the Bible who calls Him by that name. He has been addressed mostly by the name “Jesus”. The meaning of the statement is not that he would be commonly known and called by such a name. Instead, the actual intent of this statement is that people would acknowledge the truth about Jesus, which is revealed by the name “Emmanuel”. This Hebrew name “Emmanuel” means “God with us”. Not only His supernatural virgin birth, but also His presence, His words, His works and all about Him, would give evidence that He is God who has come to be with man.

The apostle John in his Gospel gave witness to the fact that Jesus is God who dwelt with man, when he declared: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

In Christ, the actual presence of God has come to be with His people. It is not His shadowy presence, as it was before. As Paul says in Colossians 2:9, “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He also said in 1 Timothy 3:16 about Jesus – “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Certainly He would not be a properly qualified Mediator if He did not unite both divine and human natures in His Person, and thereby bring men into an alliance with God.

According to the apostle Paul, Jesus is God who became man to be our divine Mediator. In 2 Corinthians 5:19, he wrote: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” In 1 Timothy 2:5, he further declared, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”. Without Christ, we are alienated from God; but through Christ, we are now reconciled to God. Everyone who trusts Jesus can now call Him “Immanuel”.

READ:

Matthew 1:23a

^23a Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son.

EXHORTATION:

The birth of Jesus had been a long-awaited event for God had revealed various facts related to His birth through the prophets of old. The prophets and saints of God lived with a holy curiosity about the manner of His condescension into this world. In 1 Peter 1:11, we read about their curiosity: “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”

In our text, Matthew introduces his first quotation of Old Testament fulfilment. He quotes Isaiah 7:14 – “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son.” These words of Isaiah can rightly be applied only to the virgin Mary and her son Jesus. They refer to no other. A considerable number of recent commentators erroneously suggest that the Hebrew word used by Isaiah for “virgin” (‘almah) simply means a young woman of marriageable age, and hence “son” refers to a child of his day — e.g. Hezekiah as the royal son and heir to King Ahaz’s throne, or Isaiah’s son Maher-shalal-hash-baz (cf. Isaiah 8:1, 3), or some anonymous child to be named Immanuel. Those who say the words of Isaiah 7:14 refer to Ahaz’s wife and his son Hezekiah, or to Isaiah’s wife and their son, or to someone else other than Mary and her son, are in serious error!

Firstly, this prophecy predicted the miraculous conception by a virgin. Such a thing had never happened in the history of Israel or the world, except in the case of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prophecy is introduced with the word “Behold”! It denotes that the event predicted is something extraordinary and wonderful. When Isaiah foretold this prophecy, he also introduced it with the word “sign” (’owth), which means “wonder” or “miracle”. There was no miraculous conception or birth in Isaiah’s time. Secondly, Matthew translated the Hebrew word ‘almah (a virgin) into the Greek word parthénos, which can only mean “a virgin”. If a married woman was meant by the Hebrew word ‘almah in Isaiah 7:14, why should an ordinary birth be regarded as a “sign”? Moreover, it is only fitting that a supernatural birth had been predicted and fulfilled for the provision of divine salvation by a divine Saviour. If Christ’s birth was just like that of all other individuals, then He would have the original sin of Adam and could not be our Saviour. Christ’s virgin birth precisely proves that He is our sinless divine Saviour!

READ:

Matthew 1:21

²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

EXHORTATION:

These words were announced by the angel of the Lord to Joseph, the espoused husband of Mary. Joseph was very troubled in his heart because “before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (v. 18). “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily” (v. 19). He chose not to create a public scandal by exposing her condition. Instead, he decided to “divorce” her quietly.

Then an angel told Joseph in a dream that Mary’s condition was not caused by a man, but through the Holy Spirit. The angel said to him, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” (v. 20; cf. v. 18).

The Child that Mary carried in her womb was a unique Child. The angel then informed Joseph that “she shall bring forth a son”, and instructed that Joseph should “call his name JESUS”. The angel also proclaimed the reason why the Child should be called “JESUS” – “for he shall save his people from their sins.” These words would have brought to Joseph’s mind the promises of God which the prophet Isaiah had declared about 700 years ago – “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 1:23; cf. Isaiah 7:14).

The child’s name “Jesus” expressed the fact that He will save His people from their sins. His people are all those who would genuinely believe on Him (cf. John 3:16). They are the elect of God; Jesus came to be their Saviour. 33 years later, it was this same Jesus “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Saving His people “from their sins” was the grand purpose of Jesus’ birth. It is not to save men and leave them in their sins that He came and died, but to save them from their sins. Any notion that those whom Jesus saves will continue in their sins is a false teaching! Jesus’ grand design was to deliver His people from their sins. He leads them out of the bondage and curse of sin into the joy of salvation, and guides them in the path of righteousness.

READ:

2 Timothy 2:24

²⁴ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.

EXHORTATION:

The term “the servant of the Lord” here refers to the one who is called and appointed by the Lord to feed His flock through the preaching of His Word. Timothy, to whom the letter was written, has been ministering to the church in Ephesus. Timothy has to confront not only false teachers and disobedient members of the church, but also those who incite unprofitable arguments and disputes. So, the apostle Paul gave advice to Timothy on how to handle “foolish and unlearned questions” that would “gender strifes” in the church.

Timothy was reminded that as a servant of the Lord, he “must not strive”. The Greek word for “strive” (máchomai) is commonly used to denote fighting in a battle, or striving or disputing with words in a private quarrel. Not only here in this instance, but also on several other occasions, Paul emphasised that Christian leaders ought not to be quarrelsome. In 1 Timothy 3, while enumerating the qualifications for an elder, Paul wrote, “Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous” (v. 3). In Titus 1, a further list of the qualifications for an elder is given: he is to be “not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker” (v. 7). Every pastor, elder and teacher, being a servant of the Lord, is to be “gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient”.

Note that Paul is not averse to fighting against false doctrines. We must contend and fight for the truth that “was once (for all) delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). In Ephesians 6:12, Paul exhorts: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” In fighting against Satanic forces with the spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:1-4), we must not end up quarrelling with opponents. True, in fighting for the truth, we uncompromisingly reject falsehood and sin, and boldly speak the truth. But we must be “gentle unto all men”. Let us take note that Paul says “unto all men”. We must be gentle even to those who oppose us! In the next verse, Paul tells us the reason for such gentle demeanour required of the preachers of the Word – “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25). Gentleness in demeanour is requisite to being “apt to teach” others.

READ:

Luke 12:32

³² Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

EXHORTATION:

The Lord Jesus Christ is the loving Shepherd of all those who follow Him in faith and obedience. Jesus referred to His followers as His flock. Concerning them, He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Interestingly, He called them “little flock”, referring to the fact that they were few in number and defenceless on their own against their foes.

Jesus referred to them as “little flock”, not to ridicule their small frame or frail existence in this hostile world, but to tenderly assure them of God’s love. He knew how terrified they would be at the sight of the cruel and ravenous enemies surrounding them. Without the strength and means to defend or escape, they would be frightened and discouraged. So their kind Shepherd instructed them not to fear. He calmed their anxious, troubled hearts, saying, “Fear not, little flock”.

Throughout Scripture, the Lord has encouraged His people not to fear. In fact, Scripture has exhorted believers about 84 times to “fear not”, or “fear ye not”, or “fear thou not”. Let us not fear temptations, trials or sufferings or even death. Fear can wreck our peace and effectiveness. So our Lord does not want us to live in constant dread of troubles.

It is the Lord’s instruction that we constantly think of the heavenly Father’s good pleasure towards us. So He proclaimed, “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Instead of thinking of those things that cause fear, we should think of the good pleasure of our God that gives us His kingdom. Instead of giving in to slavish fear, we should think of His goodness towards us which makes us heirs of His kingdom through His Son. Our minds must dwell upon God’s tender love towards us. Troubles may come upon us, but they will never succeed to hinder our heavenly Father’s love and goodness towards us.

We are now heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. As Paul said in Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Let us endure the trials that would come our way as they only prove that we are not a people of this world ruled by Satan, but rather, heirs of God’s eternal kingdom.

READ:

Deuteronomy 6:5

⁵ And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

EXHORTATION:

Jesus referred to this commandment as “the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). The very first thing we notice here is that the LORD our God asks for our love. The Almighty craves the affection of His people. His heart rejoices to see that all whom He has redeemed would love Him. The LORD regards Himself glorified when His people love Him wholeheartedly.

He commands their love because He loves them and presents Himself to each one of them as “the LORD thy God”. The LORD has revealed Himself as the only true God, thus delivering His people from the deception of their own hearts and false religions. It is after the proclamation, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”, that He commanded that His people love Him. His people must love Him because He has proffered Himself as the true God to them. On their own, they would never have found Him to be the true God. It is His peculiar love for them which made Him declare unto them that the LORD is God, and there is none other.

Oh, how we ought to love our God for He has made Himself known to us and has also reconciled us to Himself through the offer of His Son for the forgiveness of our sins. We have Him now as our God for He has covenanted Himself to us by the blood of His Son. He is no more unknown to us; neither are we alienated from Him. He has given Himself to us that we may enjoy Him forever. His perfections, His power, His providence, His grace, and all His wondrous virtues are for us to delight in. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The LORD also instructed His people as to how they ought to love Him. He said that they ought to love Him “with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” He who loves God with all his heart, loves Him above all else. Such a man is ready to give up or suffer anything to please and glorify his God. He is totally dedicated to the LORD with an undivided heart. He who loves God with all his soul and with all his life is ready to give up even his life. He would rather endure his sufferings and accept death than dishonour his God. He who loves God with all his strength exerts all the powers of his body and soul in the service of God. Total submission to God’s glory is the mark of one’s love for God.

Beloved in the Lord, 

During this Christmas season, let us move beyond tradition and celebration to worship Christ Himself, whose holy birth we commemorate. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Heaven’s proclamation raises our hearts beyond sentiment, and sets them upon salvation – for Christ was born not merely to be admired, but to be trusted, obeyed, and adored. 

The Child in the manger was the eternal Son, given for sinners, clothed in humility, that He might clothe us with righteousness. The angels praised God; the shepherds made haste to see Him; the wise men fell down and worshipped Him (cf. Matt 2:11). So, we too must hurry to worship and praise the Saviour who was born. Christmas worship is not passive; it is a reverent response to God’s gift of a Saviour. 

Therefore, let us worship Him with joy and holy awe. Let our hymns be sincere, our prayers fervent, and our hearts fixed upon Him. Set aside the noise and haste of the season, and behold the Lamb of God. May Christ be exalted in our homes, our church, and our lives.

On Christmas Day, this coming Thursday, we shall gather not empty-handed, but bringing hearts bowed in faith, gratitude, and submission. This holy day reminds us that God has kept His promise. The long-awaited Seed has come. The Light has entered our darkness. The Word has been made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. 

Let us lovingly invite our relatives and friends to hear of our blessed Saviour. In a world worn down by sin and sorrow, Christ alone can cleanse sinners from guilt, reconcile them unto God, and give a living hope that reaches beyond the grave.

“O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.”

Testimonies of New Membership Candidates

Juliana Li

My uncle brought me to a Brethren church when I was four years old. I attended Sunday School till the age of 14. Along the way, a Sunday School teacher had led me in saying the “sinner’s prayer”. I held to the simple belief that God, as my Protector and Provider, was in control of my life. I was also blessed because I did not experience persecution from my family, nor did I have to follow other religious practices.

After the dissolution of that church, I thank God that through my aunt, He subsequently led me to a Bible-Presbyterian church, where I could learn and understand His Word through systematic teaching in sermons, Bible classes, fellowship meetings and camps over the next two decades. I am grateful to the Lord for the godly influence that He has placed in my life.

Finally, I thank God for His goodness and grace in seeing me through all these years and for leading me to Gethsemane BPC, where there is sound preaching, teaching and faithful service by the leaders and members. It is my prayer that I serve Him faithfully all the days of my life.

Joshua Loh

I was brought up in a Christian family, and had the blessing of growing up in Calvary Pandan B-P Church. Over the years, I was nurtured in the faith and was taught to love God’s Word. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour while undergoing Basic Bible Knowledge Class, and was baptized when I was 17 years old.

By God’s providence, He led me to Gethsemane B-P Church. Here, I have been joined by my fiancée (who comes from a Presbyterian church), to worship the Lord. After much prayer, discussion, and seeking of counsel, we both agreed that we could worship and serve the Lord here together in unity. From our first visits, we were warmly welcomed and ministered to, through faithful preaching, reverent worship, and a shared commitment to the truths of God’s Word. We thank the Lord for guiding us to a church, where we can grow together as a couple, grounded in sound doctrine and united in service.

Joanne Tey

When I was about ten years old, my aunt bought me a set of Bible story books. That was how I first came to know about the Bible and learned of God’s Word. Though I was young, those stories planted a seed in my heart.

Many years later, when my daughter was six, she asked me, “Mum, where can I continue Bible study?” She had been attending a church kindergarten, and her question stirred something within me. I turned to my aunt — who has always borne a faithful testimony of what a true Christian is — and she brought me and my children to Gethsemane B-P Church.

Thank God for Pastor Koshy’s preaching. His sermons were clear and faithful, expounding God’s Word plainly and boldly. I was also inspired by his testimony of how God has worked mightily in his life. As I continued to learn more from God’s Word, I came to know that Jesus Christ is truly our Saviour and Redeemer. I realised my need for His forgiveness and grace. In prayer, I received Him as my Lord and Saviour, and I desire to walk with Him daily, striving to be more Christ-like in all that I do.

I thank God for the love and warmth of the church — for the elders, preachers, deacons, and members who have welcomed me and my family with open hearts. Coming to church now feels like coming home, to a place where I truly belong. All glory be to God, who has led me, saved me, and called me His own.

Tan Bong Chee

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9).

I am 72 years old. For most of my life, I was an idol worshipper, following the traditions passed down to me. Although I was religious, deep in my heart there was no true peace or assurance, especially as I grew older and began to think more about life, death, and eternity. 

Two years ago, I started attending the Gethsemane Chinese Service every Sunday. As I listened to the preaching of God’s Word, I gradually came to understand who the true and living God is. Through the messages and the love and warm fellowship shown by the brothers and sisters, my heart was deeply encouraged. God’s Word also revealed my sins to me, and I felt a strong conviction that I was separated from God and in need of His forgiveness. I realised that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again, and that salvation is not found in idols or good works, but in Jesus alone. 

With a humble and repentant heart, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. From that day on, I am a child of God, experiencing a new peace and joy in my heart that I had never known before. 

Today, I have a strong desire to be baptized as an outward testimony of my faith in Jesus Christ. I also sincerely desire to follow the Lord for the rest of my life, to learn His Word, obey His teachings, and trust Him daily. I thank God for His grace and patience in leading me to salvation at this age of my life. All glory be to God.

Sermon Text: Psalm 119:161–168
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 21st December 2025

READ:

Amos 5:14

¹⁴ Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

EXHORTATION:

Earlier in this chapter, the prophet had repeatedly exhorted the Israelites to seek the LORD (vv. 4, 6, 8). This verse further explains the implications of the exhortation to seek the LORD. Those who seek the LORD will also seek to do His good will.

The “good” that God’s people ought to seek is not what they think is good, but what the LORD has revealed as good. All that His Word requires of us is good, which we must seek diligently to perform. The LORD said through Moses in Deuteronomy 12:28, “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.” The prophet Micah was also tasked by the LORD to instruct His people: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

Yet the people were not only doing evil, but also seeking it diligently. They rejoiced in all that which God detested. They sought out evil and the occasions for it. As long as they sought evil, they would not seek good. So they must first put away evil. As Isaiah has written, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17).

God’s people must be singular in their pursuit of good. They must seek good with total commitment. Unmitigated adherence to good and complete severance from evil is what God commands. In Romans 12:9, the apostle Paul instructs, “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” The LORD requires that His people seek good wholly, not only occasionally. “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10a). “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).

Pursuing the LORD and His good will have the guarantee of the highest blessings in the lives of God’s people. It has the promise of everlasting life and divine friendship. The “God of hosts” will be with them to guide, guard and garnish their lives with His blessings. He who follows the good ways of the LORD, has the LORD for himself.