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Gethsemane Young Mothers is a special ministry of our church that ministers to the spiritual needs of the young mothers in our midst. But it is also attended by other Christian young mothers. One of them is Sis Chui Yin. She worships in Calvary Pandan BPC together with her husband, Jack and their two little children. Both Jack and Chui Yin are medical doctors. However, in order to fulfil her biblical role as a wife and mother (Titus 2:4-5; 1 Timothy 5:14; Psalm 113:9; Psalm 128:3) she became a homemaker. Recently, her pregnancy led to a severe medical condition and the loss of her child. The testimony of God’s help in her trial was published in Calvary Pandan weekly; and it was brought to my attention by Sis Low Hui Lin. For the glory of God and for the edification of all the young mothers in our midst, I publish the WhatsApp message I received from her on Friday and also her testimony below.

Dear Pastor Koshy,

Thank you for your concern. I’m doing fine, resting at home and waiting on God for full recovery of strength and health. All these weeks that I have been confined to the bed whether at home or in hospital, I have been greatly blessed by being able to tune in to the live streaming of Sunday worship service of Gethsemane B-P Church. While seeking God’s will for me and my baby, I remembered the few messages I heard at Gethsemane Young Mothers’ meetings, especially about God’s gift of children with disability, and also about bearing the death of children. I thank God for your faithful service in teaching us how to bear these trials in motherhood. It was by God’s grace that I could have attended those meetings earlier in the year. I look forward to being able to join Gethsemane Young Mothers again when I can.

At 6am on 17 June, I had to be rushed to KK hospital, where investigations confirmed that my water bag membrane had ruptured, and I was leaking amniotic fluid from the water bag. I was in my 18th week of pregnancy.

Doctors advised that the prognosis was grim. My womb was susceptible to infection and prone to pre-term labour. Baby would be extremely premature. Even if by some miracle the pregnancy could be sustained for many weeks more, the baby would most likely be born with multiple problems of prematurity and chronic lung problems.

Doctors advised for termination of the pregnancy in view of the poor outlook. We declined and started on the long journey of waiting on the Lord, hoping that the pregnancy would be sustained. I was admitted to the hospital for complete bed rest, rigorous round of antibiotics and regular monitoring.

At that time, I had not fully understood what was to come. All I knew was the precious promise in God’s Word that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Amidst all the uncertainty, these precious words brought peace.

The difficulties of the path ahead soon revealed themselves. I was fearful of moving as I didn’t want to worsen the leaking. Enforced bed rest was also a difficult adjustment. I lost my physical freedom, the comforts of life, my “modesty”. I needed to depend on nurses to help me with all my basic needs. I had always been the main caregiver of my 2 older children, and was frustrated that I could not take care of them, and frustrated to see how my family members had to struggle to take care of them, and shuttle to and from the hospital to see me.

Doctors advised that there was nothing they could do to save a foetus at this gestation age. The baby was deemed pre-viable. The pregnancy had to be sustained till 24 weeks minimum for there to be any hope for this baby.

At that time, in the 18th week of pregnancy, 24 weeks seemed like an impossibility.

I felt discouraged and frustrated by the helplessness I felt. Clinging on to those precious words that all things work for good, we trudged on, and I soon realized that it was to be a season of rest and waiting on God. The enforced bed rest gave me much time to read and reflect on God’s Word. I started to read the Psalms. Psalm 4, a psalm of David, verse 4: “Stand in awe and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still…” encouraged me to persevere in the adversity, and to purpose in my heart to not have a sinful response, but to be still before God. Several psalms later in Psalm 22:10, another psalm of David, where he proclaimed unto God, “thou art my God from my mother’s belly…” – these words brought me much comfort because they reminded me that God is the God of the baby in my womb, and He will watch over him.

In this first hospitalization, there were many other problems. For the first 2 weeks, Jack still had work commitments, including 24-hour overnight shifts and the care of the children would be a problem. But truly, day by day, God's grace was sufficient. And we had no lack. There were times where at the last hour, Jack would be relieved of his night duties and released to go home at 6pm. His subsequent night calls were also assigned away to other colleagues so he only needed to go in for the day's work, and could return home in the night to manage the children, and even bring me some supplies from home. Some time back he had already planned to clear long leave for the entire months of July and August and this worked out perfectly, enabling him to take care of the children.

Day by day God provided everything that we needed, and we truly experienced the sufficiency of His grace.

At this time, I was greatly encouraged by 1 Peter 4:19, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” I rested in God’s faithfulness, and slowly counted the days as they crawled by…

With much prayer, God sustained us for 5 weeks, and I even managed to be discharged home for 2 weeks for a short reprieve from the hospitalization. We were hopeful as we approached the 24th week – the golden age of viability.

In the wee hours of the morning of 24 July, at 23 weeks and 6 days of gestation, at the brink of foetal viability, I was awakened by contraction pain and bleeding from the womb. We went back to KK and I had to be hospitalized in preparation for a possible premature delivery. The neonatologist came to see us, and advised that while baby was at an age where it was medically acceptable to resuscitate him, severe neurodevelopmental deficits would be expected in the babies that do survive. He advised that the outlook would be much more favourable if the baby could make it to 26 weeks of gestation.

Medically, it was a tumultuous week. I had recurrent episodes of contractions and was sent to and from the labour ward for monitoring for the onset of labour and imminent delivery of the severely premature baby. Many of these episodes happened when I was alone, sometimes in the dead of night when there was no one I could turn to for help or support, because close friends, and husband were asleep. Spending many hours at the labour ward also meant no visitors except for my husband who came when he could, no proper rest because of the constant monitoring and frequent doctors’ rounds.

It wore me out physically, and emotionally I felt defeated.

After 4 trips down to the labour ward within the first 72 hours of admission, I had a final blow that required me to be sent down to the labour ward for the 5th time that week.

I was back in the general ward and was taking a quick shower when I started feeling giddy and close to losing consciousness. I felt helpless but thankfully, I did not lose consciousness, and managed to dry myself and get back quickly to bed.

Because of this near fainting episode, investigations were performed and revealed an abnormal heart rhythm, and I had to be sent down to the labour ward again for close monitoring and a cardiologist review. I lay there for many hours watching the cardiac monitor which displayed long runs of an abnormal heartbeat which I could feel as a discomfort in my chest. I recognized that I had been having these abnormal sensations for the past months of pregnancy, but had not recognized that it was abnormal.

All this while the struggle had been for the survival of my baby, but this new diagnosis that there has been something wrong with me was a great blow. And I understood how frail and weak I was. It was the final blow to an already very battered confidence.

At this time, I drew comfort from the words in the hymn “How Firm a Foundation”, for the hymn reflected the words from Isaiah 43:1-2, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

God was teaching me not to be afraid.

With those events, the 24th week slowly and painfully went by. And we continued to wait on God, and prayed to reach 26 weeks.

On 10 August, at 26 weeks and 2 days of gestation, things took a drastic turn for the worse. I developed a high fever, and had regular contractions. Womb infection was the likely cause and it was clear that it was time, and the baby would need to be delivered quickly.

I underwent an emergency caesarean section and our baby was born that night. His scores were very poor at birth, but God preserved him in the initial 12 hours of his life while I struggled to recover from the general anaesthesia and post operative blood loss and pain. I managed to go and see him in the ICU. Soon after, he succumbed to overwhelming infection and had massive bleeding in his brain and lungs and he passed away. I managed to see and hold him as he took his last breaths.

When he died, I was deeply saddened but I had peace in my heart. What I went through in the preceding weeks of seeking and waiting on God’s will and timing, pleading in prayer for this baby, contemplating different permutations of bad outcome, and reflecting on the hand of God in our lives, receiving comfort and instruction from God’s Word and receiving God’s goodness and grace day by day, and the eventual unspeakable peace that God gives, has led me to the undeniable conclusion that this is God’s will and His will is perfect.

The testing was severe, but the journey has been blessed in many ways. God had provided wonderfully along the way and I have so much to be thankful for. I have no time to go into the details but God was with me, and we truly had no lack.

He knew my weakness and gently led me and provided for me each step of the way. He took away all the crutches I had in this life, whether material comforts, personal freedom, solace from family and friends, health and life itself, and led me to the lowest point, so that I could see clearly, and experience the fullness and sufficiency of His grace and love. And today I can say to you: God is love. He gives peace. His timing is perfect. He knew everything. His will is perfect.

To my dear family and friends, and especially my brother Ern, I know many of you grieve with us. Take heart, for we do not grieve as those who have no hope. For the Bible tells us that his soul is with God, and though we do not have a chance to be together in this transient earthly life, we will see him again in heaven for all eternity. This child has been spared the toil of this earthly life, and he is in the presence of God.

To brethren who are facing fearful uncertainties, I want to encourage you not to lose heart and not to be afraid. We are fearful because we do not know what lies ahead, but God knows, our paths have been determined and His will for our lives is perfect.

To brethren who are suffering while waiting – When I look back at the past events, I can see how they have been orchestrated so well, every single step.

Our baby was born at a time when we had the full support of our family. God provided for Jack’s long leave these 2 months (which was planned way before anything happened), and my parents who had an unplanned travel cancellation exactly in this period and have been available to help. As someone who is usually slightly obsessive with planning, I am truly humbled by how impeccable God’s timing is. And so I want to encourage you to be patient and wait upon God’s timing. His timing is perfect. I have truly experienced this.

To those of you who do not know Christ – I believe with all my heart that there is a God who created us, and who holds our lives in His hands. And He gives peace and security amidst the storms of life. And I hope that everyone can experience this too.

When I left KKH on Tuesday, after 8 tumultuous weeks, I had peace in my heart. I thank God for everything that He has given us, even life itself, health and strength, being able to get into the car and go home, being able to sit at the table to eat, seeing how the 2 children have grown in my absence, how God has preserved them, and me.

All we have is by the grace of God and He has given me new eyes of thankfulness.

We didn't have a name for the baby when he died, and only named him after. I wanted to name him wen xi - for 喜乐. Joy, for the joy that he brought us, and the joy he has in the presence of God right now.

But we changed it to 文悦 - 悦 for 喜悦 which has the same meaning of joy. Most of you know our two older children by their English names, but their Chinese names are actually 文杰 and 悦祈. So Wen Yue has one character from each of his siblings’ names. He will always be a part of our family, and the memory of him will live in our hearts.

This child was a precious gift from God. Even though he did not live long, 26 weeks and 2 days in the womb, and 2 days in the world, his short existence has shown me how God's will and timing are perfect, and a powerful reminder of God's grace and tender mercies. I will never forget these past 8 weeks, all those days and nights I struggled and waited, where for me and that little baby in my womb, we had no one and no help but God alone.

His life was not given or lived in vain. My child has now been promoted to glory, and my faith in God is strengthened.

All glory be to God.

Introduction

No one should ever barge into any area to serve God. God is the One who calls Christians and puts them in particular areas to serve Him. He endows every member of the church with spiritual gifts, “dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11), so as to serve Him. Since God is the One who has given to each Christian a particular area to serve Him, Christians must therefore remain faithful in service till the end. Christians must be unwavering and steadfast to the work that God has given. God requires every Christian to have a constant and loyal commitment to the tasks appointed by Him.

The quality of being faithful in service unto God has always been important, all the more so today, as it is very common to see people giving up serving God. Full-time workers of churches who have been serving God for many years quit. Bible-college students give up studying before their graduation. Christians who are on duty rosters grow tired in their service and find excuses to give up. These people may once be full of enthusiasm and excitement when they first started to serve. However, they lose their zeal and passion over time and finally, they leave the stations that God has given to them.

On the other hand, although many Christians may remain in service unto God, they start to cut corners and give less quality work. Being faithful does not also just mean remaining in service, it includes maintaining a high quality of the service too. Christians who are faithful to God in their service will not do a slipshod job but will complete their work to the best of their abilities. If one remains in service but produces careless and lowquality work, it will not please God at all.

The book of Malachi was written especially to priests who were serving God. God was very displeased with the priests during the time of Malachi. This is because the priests dishonoured God in their service by not offering to God the best. The priests offered to God “polluted bread” (Malachi 1:7), which was food unfit to be offered to God. It was either not made of good flour or not made the way God designated it to be (Leviticus 24:5-7). The priests also sacrificed animals that were blind, lame and sick (Malachi 1:8a). God expressly commanded in the Mosaic Law that animals with any imperfections must not be sacrificed (Deuteronomy 15:21). They offered unto God what they would not even offer to their governor (Malachi 1:8b). By their actions, they poured contempt upon God. In response to their unfaithful service, the Lord sent Malachi to confront them. God wanted them to know what was unacceptable by highlighting the characteristics of the unfaithful servants (Malachi 3:13-15). As we look at this passage, let us examine ourselves to see if such characteristics are found in us.

Characteristics of Unfaithful Servants

Being bold to go against God

Unfaithfulness begins when Christians lose the fear of God in their hearts. Christians start to be unfaithful by daring to go against God. Like the priests during Malachi’s time, unfaithful Christians are bold enough to use words that are “stout” against Him (Malachi 3:13). They are not afraid that God hears the strong words that are uttered against Him even though they know that God is omniscient. God may not react to the complaints directed at Him at first, but it is all due to His mercy. Instead of repenting, some may even grow bolder in their words against Him.

Furthermore, the priests during Malachi’s time who were bold to go against God did not fear to take a further step by denying what they had done. When confronted, they said, “What have we spoken so much against thee?” (Malachi 3:13). Instead of confessing their faults, they justified themselves.

One sure way of checking if we have been unfaithful to God in our service is to reflect on the words that we say about our service. Have we been expressing thankfulness to God for counting us worthy to serve Him in the area that He has placed us in, or have we been complaining about our God-given duties? If we had expressed unhappiness regarding our service, it is very likely that we have not given God the best in our service, or we may have already abandoned it. If we have not left our area of service, it is just a matter of time. Also, when godly men confront us about our lack in our service unto God, do we put up a defence even though we have been blatantly wrong?

Being covetous of earthly rewards
Besides having the boldness to go against God, unfaithful Christians look for earthly reward or selfgain for their service. The priests said in Malachi 3:14, “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” The priests saw no returns for serving God even though they mournfully served the Lord in tears. Instead of being enriched, they became impoverished or disadvantaged. They measured the returns for their service in terms of material gain.

Furthermore, the covetous priests also envied others who were more prosperous even though they did not serve God. They regarded the proud people who did not submit to God as blessed, and the wicked people as well-established. They cried foul over the undeserved deliverance of those who went against God (Malachi 3:15). To the priests, their service to God had not paid off at all.

For unfaithful Christians, the motivation behind service is self-gain. They may be looking for recognition and praises from others, or perhaps some form of monetary rewards. There is some selfish ulterior motive behind serving God. If such rewards are not received, their service unto God will wane or stop.

Christians must not demand such earthly gain from God when they serve Him. For God is faithful and He would accordingly reward in the manner that He deems best. Hebrews 6:10a promises Christians who serve Him, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name”. And even if you give a cup of cold water in His name, you will not lose your reward (cf. Mark 9:41).

Conclusion

Therefore, let us serve God faithfully by having the fear of the Lord in our hearts when we carry out our duties. May God be gracious unto us so that we can “serve (Him) acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). For we serve an awesome and great God who is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). Even when no one may notice or praise us when we serve God, He will remember our labour that we render unto Him. Colossians 3:23-24 read, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

(Previously published on 9 March 2008)

With a view to a more careful adherence to the Biblical model, which I have showed you last week, I would suggest that children who are in primary 4 and above – though there need be no arbitrary distinction as some younger children might well be able to be present at an earlier age – should be present in the public meetings of the church (especially on the Lord’s Day). I would also suggest that parents consider bringing children to midweek prayer meetings, as much as possible.

The children should sit quietly and attentively, endeavouring – to the best of their ability – to participate reverently and intelligently in the various exercises of worship. To attain such a goal requires that parents be diligent and thorough in preparing their children for attendance at and participation in the public meetings. In order to help parents and the church accomplish their Biblical responsibility, please consider the following guidelines, which I hope will act as an aid to such preparation. (The ideas reflected in the following sections are not entirely mine. I have adapted some from various books and articles, with changes to suit our congregation.)

Practical Suggestions

• Conduct family worship daily. This can be just a 15-minute spiritual discipline for the family, where everyone sits together to sing a song, read the Scriptures and pray. This spiritual exercise is a good avenue to teach your children the behaviour expected of them during the Sunday Worship.
• Seek to order things in your home so that children have adequate rest on Saturday night. We ought to be at least as concerned that children get enough sleep as on a school night, and have adequate time on Sunday morning to prepare to leave the house, so that they are in every respect ready for church.
• Aim to arrive in good time (perhaps 10-15 minutes before the service begins), and be in the appropriate place for worship as soon as reasonably possible. Remind your children in advance the behaviour that is expected of them in Sunday school, the worship service and/or the prayer meeting.
• Accomplish necessary tasks (such as getting a drink or using the toilet) before the start of the service. Advise your child not to run in and out of the worship hall, because leaving the worship (even for legitimate reasons) is a distraction, at least to those nearby. Such a departure will also disrupt your child’s and your worship of God. It will impair your ability to follow, understand, and therefore benefit from the preaching of God’s Word. The logic and continuity of Biblical preaching is lost when there are interruptions in the hearing of it. Seriously consider the possibility of refusing your child’s desire to leave the meeting place.
• Train your children to be good listeners. Instruct them to sit with good posture and focus their eyes on the one leading the service or preaching. When the Scriptures are read, have them turn to the text and follow in their own or your Bible. Likewise, help them turn to each hymn and follow from the hymnbook, helping them as required. With older children, consider such means of helping them to concentrate as taking notes.
• Encourage children to continue behaving well (e.g. not making excessive noise and shouting), even immediately after a public meeting. Help children to behave politely to one another and to adults (holding open doors, helping with tasks, etc.), and to behave in a friendly fashion to visitors, particularly children who are visiting.
• As much as possible, follow up on the preaching and teaching with your children (during the drive home, lunchtime, or family worship), by asking them appropriate questions.
• Remember also the power of our parental example (good or bad) in preparing for and participating in the public meetings of the church. If we have not been the best example, we need to humbly correct ourselves. If necessary, explain to our children why correction is needed and how to make the correction. This is the only way you and I can guide our families to a better worship of God.

Nursery to Primary 3

• In this category, most of the older ones (Primary 1-3), if properly guided, will be able to sit through the worship without causing disruptions. Right now, we have a special Junior Worship lesson conducted for this group during the sermon time, so that they may be taught the Word in a way they can comprehend.
• While they are present during the first part of the worship service, they must be instructed to have proper attitude and behaviour. If the parents are unable to attend to them, let the Junior Worship teacher or another adult sit with the children to guide them.
• It is important that we insist on good attitude during worship. If your child becomes restless or behaves inappropriately, remember to deal with him in a way that will not disrupt the focus of the other worshippers. There is no need to leave the worship at the first sign of disturbance from your child; the congregation should appreciate that a very young child does not always behave perfectly. If there is no alternative, take your child out of the service. Ensure that this is not seen as a ‘reward’ for disobedience. If possible, deal with the particular issue appropriately and immediately, and then return to the meeting room to continue participating in the public worship of God.
• If it is predictable that you will need to take your child out of a service to train or discipline him, aim to take seats near the doors of the meeting room, where you can get in and out with least distraction to others. When leaving or entering, try to do so with a minimum of fuss and noise. Other members of the church – ushers, for example – might be able to render a helping hand to you. Return to your seats as soon as possible with minimal distraction.
• Remember that the children are to participate intelligently in worship. Diversionary activities (drawing, writing, reading other children’s books, playing, etc.) are not part of the worship of God. Neither is eating nor drinking (except for the Lord’s Supper). All these can be distracting for the child, yourself and others. These things will undermine a child’s active and intelligent involvement in the worship of God.

Infants and toddlers

• Toddlers are often restless and fidgety. They are also prone to cry aloud. Parents of infants and toddlers are invited to use the “cry-room” section. If you are in the main worship hall, please be seated near the door, so you can easily exit the worship hall to attend to your child who is crying. If your child is getting unusually restless, please consider using the “cry-room”. Or you may take your child out of the worship hall with as little disturbance as possible. Please seek help from the ushers, if you need assistance. Quietly return to your seat as soon as possible after attending to the child.
• Parents who are in the “cry-room” must remember not to engage in conversation or activities that will distract others from concentrating on the worship. Let us endeavour to keep the solemnity of worship at all times. As much as possible, make sure that your movements and activities are least disturbing to others around you. Let all parents be mutually helpful and forbearing.

The Lord calls out to all our children, saying, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (Psalm 34:11). “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts” (Isaiah 28:9). Parents, come with your children to worship the Lord!

(Previously published on 2 March 2008)

This topic has been a great concern in my heart for a long time. As I have recently mentioned in the church, I strongly believe that we must let our children join the main worship service with the adults as early as possible. There is no biblical warrant for separating children from the main worship, especially those who have grown beyond their toddler stage. I sincerely think that there is great godly wisdom in integrating our children into the main worship, especially those who are 8 years old and above. (In fact, most children can be trained to sit through the main worship service from the age of 6, and some even earlier.)

Biblical Evidence of Children in the Main Congregation

When God’s people in the Old Testament were required to come together to worship the LORD in the hearing and exposition of the Law, the children came together with them. Children were neither excluded nor segregated from the adults who came for worship. The following are some examples of adults and children coming together to hear the Word of God.

At the renewal of the covenant in Deuteronomy 29, we are specifically told that the “little ones” were present together with all the adults and even dignitaries. “Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: that thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day” (vv. 10-12). The word translated as “little ones” refers to little children.

Similarly, at the sabbatical year convocation, we are told that men, women, strangers and children were instructed to gather. “When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: and that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it” (Deuteronomy 31:11-13).

Then again, in Joshua 8:35, we are told that “There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.” And again we read of similar gatherings during the time of Jehoshaphat – “And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children” (2 Chronicles 20:13).

In Nehemiah 8:2-3, we read, “And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” Here the phrases “all that could hear with understanding” and “those that could understand” were not referring to adult men and women, because they were already mentioned. So these would be children who were able to perceive what was being read from the Law and also the exposition.

In chapter 12 of Nehemiah, we are told of a thanksgiving service held in the house of God. Children are mentioned along with the adults as rejoicing before the Lord – “Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off” (v. 43).

Just imagine all these happened long before the day of cushioned pews and air-conditioned sanctuaries!

What’s more, in the New Testament, during the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, we see no segregation of children from the adults when people gathered to hear them preach or for worship. The entire family would worship the Lord together. When the people gathered to hear our Lord, the young children were usually present too (cf. Matthew 14:21; 15:38). On one occasion, we are told that the people began bringing their young children to the Lord to be touched by Him (Mark 10:13). For some reasons, the disciples tried to stop them. They even rebuked the parents. “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).

There is little doubt that the practice of having children in the worship service was the norm in the early church. This is corroborated by the fact that the apostolic epistles, which were read during congregational worship in the early church, addressed the children directly (cf. Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; 1 John 2:12; etc.). In general, the biblical pattern is that the Christian family ought to worship together.

Exclusion of Children from the Congregation is a Modern Innovation

In many churches today, bringing children into the full session of the main worship is postponed as long as possible. After Junior Worship, children are provided with Teen and Youth worship services. All these are held separately from the main worship services. As they grow up, they are rather unwilling to participate in the Scriptural form of worship. They look for fun and entertainment, such as what they were given in their Children and Teen worship services. They dislike the solemnity of biblical worship, and prefer a light-hearted and entertaining worship service.

Today, we may be considered radical for suggesting that children go to “big church”. Some would surely consider it to be an impractical thing. I will not be surprised if we also would receive such responses. Over the past 50 years, the church has been encouraging parents to be segregated from children during worship time. In many churches, children are left at home alone, while parents go for prayer meetings.

By the grace of God, in Gethsemane we have seen the blessings when parents encourage their children to join the main worship and even prayer meetings. Though there are difficulties, it is possible to overcome them if we (parents and the congregation as a whole) are willing to train the children to worship our sovereign God with patience and forbearance. Can we teach our children to worship God as we teach them to walk, talk and tie their shoelaces? Certainly. But first, we must see it as a biblical pattern which we must be committed to.

God willing, I will discuss more of the practical aspects of “Children and Worship” in the next article. Let us continue to pray that our children would grow up to be a generation that will worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

On 6th August, three elderly folks from Lions Home for the Elders (Bedok) will be baptised. They turned to Christ upon hearing the Gospel brought to them by those who serve in the Gethsemane Lions Home Ministry. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

We praise God for the commitment and zeal of all who serve in this Gospel outreach ministry, led by Pr Jeremiah Sim. “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15b).

Sometime ago, I saw a report that said, “In 2005, one out of every 12 Singaporeans was aged 65 or above. By 2030, they will number one in five” [Committee of Ageing Issues 2005, Report on the Ageing Population (Singapore: Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, 2006)]. Today, many elderly are decrepit, lonely and shut up in their homes, in nursing homes, or in old-folks’ homes. Through your visits to the elderly, you can bring the Gospel to the unbelieving, and be a channel of Christian fellowship and cheer to the believing old folks. Sunday afternoons and evenings can be a good time to visit old folks. How wonderful it would be if more of such ministries to the elderly in our society can be carried out! “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10)

Let the Strong Help the Weak

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e then that are strong” says Romans 15:1, “ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” It is God’s design that we strengthen and edify one another through mutual care.

The first counsel that Paul gives in our text is let the strong help the weak. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak”. Paul’s use of the word “ought” (opheilo in Greek), which means “owe” or “be a debtor”, suggests that the strong ones must feel an indebtedness to God to help His weak children. The word “bear” (bastazō in Greek) has meanings such as “carry”, “endure” and “support”. Hence, it is the duty of every Christian to bear patiently with the weaker ones around him and help them to walk and grow along with him. He who is spiritually strong should neither despise nor neglect those who are weak. Instead, he graciously renders himself available to support and help them. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye” (Romans 14:1). In 1 Corinthians 12:22-24 we read, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked”.

Paul’s second counsel for Christians is “not to please ourselves”. A Christian should not be self-centred if he is to help others as God expects. A person’s spiritual maturity is evidenced in his willingness to give up his rights so that others may be helped. We must be willing to deny ourselves if we can promote others’ happiness in doing so. Our conduct should not be motivated by our personal happiness or gratification, but rather by the welfare of others. We must, like Paul, be able to sincerely say, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more... To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22).

Every true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ knows deep in his soul that it is his solemn duty from the Lord to pray for full-time Christian workers. Who among us would forget our Lord’s earnest words - “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2)?

Those words of Christ confirmed in my heart His call in 1982 that I may serve Him as a preacher of His Word. Since then, those words of Christ have also placed in me a deep desire to see many others also serving the Lord for the salvation and edification of souls. After my marriage, my wife and I prayed that the Lord would call our children to serve Him full-time according to His good pleasure. Both of us were so deeply convicted of the gravity of the need for more labourers in the work of the Lord that we could do no other but desire, pray and dedicate our children to the Lord for His service. We are grateful to the Lord for all, both in our church and elsewhere, who have been praying along with us for the same burden.

About two months ago, when our firstborn, Cornelius, related to us of his conviction of God’s gracious call to serve Him full-time, both my wife and I were overwhelmed with powerful emotions – unspeakable joy and also overwhelming burden. It is not possible in this brief note to describe all those feelings. As we praise God for giving the conviction to Cornelius, we pray earnestly that he will remain faithful to the Lord, that he may do all His good pleasure in the Gospel work. We are grateful to the Lord for Gethsemane BPC’s prayerful support, which we, as a family, have been abundantly receiving as we serve Him in this beloved church. Please read Cornelius’ testimony of call to full-time service below, and kindly remember him in your prayers that God would equip him with all grace and knowledge to serve Him all the days of his life.

My Calling

To my spiritual family in Gethsemane,

Ihave received God’s call to give my life to serve Him, and I am very sure of it. I am certain because I heard His call through His unmistakable Word. I tried to resist it, but the call was irresistible. With such an irrepressible call into the ministry, I must needs bid His call. During our prayer meeting on Tuesday (11 July 2017), I testified how God worked through His Word to:

1. alter my perspectives towards consecration and God’s sovereignty;
2. allay the fears I had towards my abilities and the demands of the ministry; and finally
3. move me to accede to God’s call to serve Him full-time.

Today’s publication serves as a written and summarised testimony of how I came to know God’s will concerning full-time ministry.

The Specific Call and Its Context

“… but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8).

The context to this verse, found in 2 Timothy 1:5-9, deals specifically with Timothy, who is already a servant of God, serving alongside Paul. Timothy, however, needed spiritual strengthening, and Paul was God’s appointed encourager to Timothy. Just as Timothy was exhorted by Paul in v. 8, “be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God”, I hear the Holy Spirit’s convicting call to me through Paul’s words to Timothy.

My Circumstances

By the providential leading of God, He has earlier led me to two passages which prepared me for this final and third call in 2 Timothy.

Firstly, from 1 Samuel 1-2, my perspectives were altered when I learnt, from Hannah’s life, that the consecration of a child is an acknowledgment that God is the Giver of life. By consecrating Samuel, she was affirming her trust that God is sovereign, and that He will provide. From the life of Samuel, I was rebuked by his life of pure obedience. Never once did he murmur against the sovereign will of God, but obediently he served in the house of the LORD in Shiloh. His obedience was unquestioning; it was swift; it was unwavering; it was lifelong – the theme of obedience recurs in 1 Samuel and culminates in the famous verse: “… Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22b).

Secondly, from Ephesians 1:3-12, my fears of the ministry were adequately allayed when I learnt that all spiritual blessings are promised to me, and that the salvation I have in Christ Jesus is the security (or evidence) that I will be equipped with spiritual graces necessary for an effective ministry.

The Spiritual Strengthening

In 2 Timothy 1:5-7, Paul exhorts Timothy to remember the unfeigned faith of his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. Timothy had personally witnessed their unrestrained service, and here Paul encourages Timothy to stir up the gifts in him for God’s service, with the lives of his grandmother and mother as living examples that God will be with him. Paul then reminds Timothy that God has not given him a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. The vestiges of fear that resided in Timothy’s faith had to be eradicated with the remembrance of the faith of Lois and Eunice, and with the trust that God has given us the spirit of power, and not fear.

These passages were thus providentially given by God to prepare my heart to receive the call in 2 Timothy 1:8.

Qualification

I must qualify that the term “afflictions” in 2 Timothy 1:8 does not merely refer to the generic category of trying and painful encounters of every man, but the specific trying and painful experiences that meet the preacher of the Gospel. Paul writes to Timothy, using the singular second-person pronoun “thou”, thus directing his exhortation to Timothy and not to the body of believers at large. If Paul had intended the “afflictions” to refer to the broad experience every believer would face, he would have used the plural second-person pronoun “ye”. It is clear, from Timothy’s position as a servant of God, that the “afflictions” here refer specifically to the painful experiences that come with being a “partaker” or servant of the Gospel of Christ.

The Call Reaffirmed

Knowing that these verses refer specifically to the ministry of the Gospel, I am convinced that the LORD is calling me into the ministry. The LORD calls me to be like Timothy (a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel of Christ), to suffer so that the truth of the Gospel may continue in the church and be preached to all; to preach the Word of God for the salvation of sinners and for the sanctification of believers; and to be an instrument through which the power of God – the Gospel – may work effectually to the salvation of many.

An Accompanying Promise

Afflictions notwithstanding, the LORD calls me to serve Him “according to the power of God”. That is to say, the afflictions of the Gospel will not exceed the power of God that He equips me with; there will be no affliction without the accompanying empowerment of God! This promise is assuring – that the spirit of power, which displaces the spirit of fear, will steer and propel me forward in the ministry, come what may.

May God be merciful to sustain me in the ministry, that I may be used effectively for the sake of the Gospel, and for His glory.

In service to God who has called me,
Cornelius Koshy

In View of the GBI Course on Eschatology

Christians live on earth with an anticipation of a “blessed hope”, which is spoken in Titus 2:13 – “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”.

The Christian’s hope of Christ’s return is called “blessed”. The word “blessed” denotes all the blessings of His divine presence (cf. 1 Timothy 1:11; 6:15). What a blessing it is to have such a hope! Eternal blessings await Christians at His coming. When He comes, we shall be eternally delivered from all the temptations and trials of this world, and shall enter into eternal sinless perfection, joy, bliss, rewards and glory. We live every day with that sure hope. So, we long for His return. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

There has been some debate as to whether “that blessed hope” and “the glorious appearing” of Christ are two different events, namely Rapture (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:6-17) and His return to this earth at the end of the seven-year Tribulation (cf. Revelation 19:11-21). But there is little in this verse’s context to suggest that Paul was distinguishing those future events in connection with Christ’s return. Paul was simply saying that we are looking for the blessed hope, which is the appearing of the Lord. Although we understand those events of Rapture and His subsequent glorious return to rule the world for a thousand years (cf. Revelation 20:1-10; Isaiah 2:1-4; 11; Ezekiel 37; Daniel 2:44- 45; 7:13-14; Zechariah 14) as distinct, Paul is here referring to the return of Christ as a whole, and not its various stages. The blessed hope is a fixed historical reality which we long for.

The prayer of the apostle John at the end of the book of Revelation should characterise every Christian’s hope: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). Biblical Christian faith teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13).

Do you eagerly long for Christ’s return? Many Christians, who are caught up in enjoying the good things of this life, neglect their preparation for Christ’s return. On the other hand, many other Christians, who are experiencing suffering or persecution, or who are more elderly and infirm, exhibit great enthusiasm and intense longing for His return. It is then necessary that Christians take great caution to avoid being entangled in the worldly affairs and failing to be ready for Christ’s return. To “be ready” for Christ’s return (Matthew 24:44), we ought to be faithfully obeying Him in the present, actively engaged in whatever work He has called us to. We must lead our lives carefully so as to hear Jesus saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Do you know what the Scriptures say about the events of the future, especially things associated with Jesus’ return? The study of future events is often called “eschatology”, from the Greek word “eschatos” (ἔσχατος), which means “last”. The study of eschatology, then, is the study of “the last things”.

Christians are given a special privilege to know the major events that are yet to come. About the events which the Bible prophesies, we can have absolute confidence because God is never wrong and He never lies. We must know, for it is our “blessed hope”. Unlike the unbelievers, we don’t have to wonder how things will turn out. Although we cannot know everything about the future, God knows everything – and He has revealed the chief things that we need to know about the future in the Scriptures.

The course on Eschatology will be covering the following topics and more:

• The Rapture
• The Tribulation
• The Millennial Reign of Christ
• The Resurrections
• The Eschatological Judgments
• The Eternal State: Heaven and Hell

Only very few seats available. Please hurry to sign up!

Living in debt has caused not a few lives and families to be cast into horrible pits of disarray and troubles. Have you not seen heart-breaking news headlines, like “Debtridden farmers end life”; “Debt-ridden students opting for ‘sugar daddies’ to pay rent, tuition, etc.”? Before anyone casually responds by saying, “Well, those reports do not really show that loans and debts really affect people at large”, let me assert from anecdotal evidence and my counselling encounters that living in debt is a widespread problem that affects even Christians.

In recent months, I have had conversations with some youths who have been troubled by the burden of bank loans taken by their parents or by they themselves for their tertiary education. This phenomenon of our time is an omen of severe spiritual, financial, familial and social troubles that will oppress and wreck our people in the days to come.

Borrowing pressurises one into hurtful options

Under the intense pressure of debts, young people are increasingly becoming desensitised to and undiscerning of the perils of get-rich-quick offers from cunning men. Desperation to liberate themselves from the shackles of debts is pushing them to look for huge financial rewards. Many of them fall victim to rich, filthy men and women who, having offered enormous financial rewards, take advantage of their vulnerability. They abuse these obtuse youths for their carnal pleasure, and even endanger them for greater material gain. What’s more, some of those youths do not anymore think that such a lifestyle of loose morals is hazardous, and have even adopted for themselves ungodly living for greater material gain!

Certainly, not all debt-ridden youths have fallen into such dangers. Yet, many other kinds of hazards surround them. A young lady, who is a recent university graduate, tearfully shared with me of her many struggles because of the student loan her parents have taken to send her to university. While she desires to be married and be a homemaker, which is also the desire of her husband-tobe, the parents insist that she should not get married immediately, but that she should first focus on earning money to pay off the debt and then consider marriage and family life. Now, that would take years! Oh, the dreadful snare of debt that stops young women from fulfilling the divine injunction – “… that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (1 Timothy 5:14; cf. 1 Corinthians 7:9; Hebrews 13:4a).

Debt is not only delaying some young people from getting married early in their adulthood, it also burdens those who enter marriage life. Many begin their marriage with loans and credit purchases to start off their life together in fancifully-renovated houses filled with expensive furniture, appliances, cars, etc. Lenders often require repayment of debts with their stipulated interests. Interests charged are often high, making it difficult to repay the loans quickly. Repayments of loans are even harder for the poor borrower, adding more trouble to the needy – hence the saying, “Need is a frying-pan, but debt is the fire.”

High financial burdens on borrowers drive them to live a life that is addicted to moneymaking, which soon negatively affects their spiritual pursuits and family unity. Worry and fear, arguments and quarrels, materialism and spiritual deterioration, and suchlike soon overwhelm them. Neglect of family relationships, children’s care, etc. soon bring about many sorrows in their lives.

Even then, sadly, many blindly believe that living on borrowed money is wise financial planning. However, according to the biblical teachings, it is a fallacious notion. Though the Bible acknowledges that the poor may be compelled to borrow in their emergencies, it does not encourage borrowing. More often than not, the Bible warns strongly against borrowing.

Biblical warnings against borrowing

The Biblical wisdom is that we “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another” (Romans 13:8a). Nowadays, many financial pundits will tell you that leverage – the use of borrowed money to buy assets for appreciation – is the way to prosperity. But be warned that such an advice is contrary to biblical wisdom. Absolutely nowhere in the Scriptures are we advised or commanded to use debt to accomplish God-given financial objectives.

Even if one is able to get interest-free loans from relatives or friends, the Bible forewarns of painful consequences. Borrowing money from someone is certain to change the relationship with that person. Proverbs 22:7 cautions that “the borrower is servant to the lender.” Even if one were to borrow money from parents or siblings or children, the relationship will soon sour.

So, the Bible warns us not to put ourselves in a surety situation. Proverbs 11:15 advices, “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.” Likewise, Proverbs 22:26-27 says, “Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?” In other words, if a person puts up security for another, he will suffer, but he who refuses to pledge is safe. The Biblical advice is that we had better not be a guarantor for others’ debts. If you’re in a surety situation, like having taken a student loan for your child, the Bible’s advice is that you had better pay it off and get out of it. It is very unwise to take a huge loan for any enterprise, without having the means to pay back.

Also, be warned that there is no promise in the Bible that God will bail you out of the unwise debts you have accumulated. Some Christians who unwisely borrow seem to think that the promise of Philippians 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” – would solve their debts. That promise is not a divine guarantee to cancel the consequences of unwise borrowing. Those who think that their decision to borrow money is an act of faith should know that God has never said that He will provide for His people’s needs through moneylenders. How sad it is that many Christians look to moneylenders as their provider! They have made moneylenders their god who would allow them to achieve all the desires of their hearts. Rather, the promise of God is that He will provide for all our needs (cf. Psalm 23:1), and not all our cravings and greed. The Bible teaches us that “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

Certainly, it is best to bear our troubles with much prayer, and overcome them through hard work and wise planning. Entering into debt, especially borrowing beyond our means to pay back, is unwise and can lead to more severe troubles. As much as possible, be debt-free.

There are some brethren among us who are facing destabilising problems, and excruciating pain and sorrow. Here is a WhatsApp message that I received recently:

“Hi Pastor Koshy, so sorry that I have to pull out of the Missionary Conference… due to post-shingles pain. It has been 67 days since I contracted shingles. S-virus is eradicated but post-pain persists. No improvement. Pain has been erratic – from a scale of 5/10 to 7/10 every day. Some relief (of a few minutes) every now and then from the GRACIOUS LORD, otherwise a throbbing or triggering pull. Night-pain is more intense but the Lord gives me 5-6 hours of sleep, though sometimes broken by pain. I have stopped taking painkillers as they don’t work on me. I endure the pain, often with crying.

My doctor said that shingles surfaced due to my weak immune system. Now, the nerves cut up by the virus are raw and are also trying to repair themselves by joining back. In so doing, they tug and pull. Now I understand fully what is “nerve-wracking”! Post-pain may take months or years to recover, depending on individual and age. There is no sign of improvement and I fear further weakening. I hope to listen to live webcast, if possible. Don’t call me as I will cry while talking to you. Nevertheless, I have become clearer in what it is to “count it all JOY when we fall into diverse temptations”, and what is meant by “the JOY of the Lord is my strength”. Still struggling to actualise it. I have also understood what you always say about God giving us His grace. It’s Him giving us His divine strength to go through our afflictions, right? I have been praying for you more often as I could not sleep sometimes. God bless.”

What shall we think in such times of afflictions? How shall we respond to our troubles? I would call your attention to the words of James: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11b).

Job was an exceedingly tried man. He endured his trials with patience. Job would not have manifested patience if he had not suffered his extraordinary afflictions. If he had not known such extraordinary sufferings, his fame would not have been heard down the ages.

Job was patient when all his ten children were killed without warning. Oh, to have patience amidst bereavements! He was patient when all his wealth was taken. Bearing all his losses patiently, he said in worship of the LORD, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). When his own body was full of boils (from head to toe), he patiently endured the tormenting bodily pain with which he was afflicted. Still, that was not the end of the agony he had to endure. Then there was also mental and emotional distress brought on by the conduct of his wife and friends. He was insulted when his wife tempted him to “curse God, and die”. And then Job’s friends, whom he later called “miserable comforters”, rubbed salt into the wound with their unwise remarks. In the midst of all these, he also suffered sleeplessness!

The patience of Job is held up as a powerful moral and spiritual example among men. If Job could remain patient under trial and affliction, why should we not be too? He was but a man; what was wrought in one man may be done in another. True, he had God to help him, but so have we. Like Job, we must patiently wait on the Lord for our deliverance.

Though Satan afflicted Job, God was with him through it all. God was not absent while His servant suffered. The unseen hand of God was sustaining and nurturing Job in the midst of all his suffering. The Lord was with Job right to the end of his trials. Thus, James could declare, “Ye…have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy”.

As it was with Job, the Lord in His mercy will see us through in all our trials. The Lord, who allows us to be tested, will also strengthen us to endure our afflictions. Such is the experience of all afflicted saints. We do well to remain patient under our trials, for the Lord is ever working in us to build us up as His patient, blessed children. Let us therefore submit to all His sovereign and gracious dealings with us in our trials.