Introduction

The spiritual frontline is not one to be trifled with. It is where spiritual warfare occurs almost all the time, and throughout the life of a genuine believer in Christ. The outcome thus hinges on how a Christian fights these battles. Just as any physical warfare is of a matter of life and death, where great amounts of resources, thoughts and efforts are being put into fighting it, a Christian must also fight his spiritual battles valiantly with the help of God. If a Christian slackens in spiritual warfare, the adversary, who pounces at any given opportunity, will easily catch him or her unawares.

One of the many spiritual battles that a Christian has to fight is the battle against “spiritual sleepiness and drunkenness”. It is the attitude of being insensitive towards godliness and not living a life that is all-pleasing to God. Spiritual sleepiness and drunkenness is the behaviour of unbelievers who are not at all ready for the imminent coming of Christ. It could also refer to living an active life of revelry and unrestrained enjoyment of sins. But a Christian fights against all such dispositions towards sins. Christians ought to be watchful and to be battle-ready. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 tells us that the means to be sober is to put on “the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”. It is unthinkable for any soldier to go to war without his gears. So, let no Christian go to his spiritual battles without putting on the armour that God has provided. What then is this Christian armour that God has provided for the Christian soldier?

Breastplate of Faith and Love

A breastplate is an important piece of ancient military armour. The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary provides the following information about this ancient piece of armament:

With the rise in popularity of the arrow and with its speed of flight and imperceptible approach on its victim, the mail came to be more and more necessary to cover the torso. Fish scale-like construction of small metal plates sewn to cloth or leather was the breastplate for the ancient soldier. These scales could number as high as 700 to 1000 per “coat.” Each coat obviously could be quite heavy and expensive to produce in volume.

This piece of breastplate was a central piece of a Roman soldier’s armour. It protected the torso, which contained vital organs like the heart and lungs. The breastplate was used as the main piece of defence in war.

A Christian soldier must put on this breastplate at all times. Arrows fly in all directions in a battlefield. It is impossible to predict from where and when the arrows would fly towards the soldiers. This often leaves soldiers helpless and defenceless. However, as long as this breastplate is put on, a soldier will have the best form of defence he needs. Likewise, Christians cannot predict when the enemies of Christ will attack him. Yet when they put on this “breastplate of faith and love”, they are able to withstand spiritual attacks. Christians are also exhorted to put this on continuously as the tense for “putting on” in verse 8 is in the continuous. This continuity also connotes that Christians are in constant spiritual warfare. Unlike ancient soldiers who could put down the heavy breastplate once they left their battlefields, Christians must always have their spiritual breastplate on them.

The first element of this breastplate is faith. A Christian must always act in the faith that God has granted him for his salvation and Christian life. He will remember his Christian position and will only do things that are in accordance with his faith. This is how a Christian ought to defend himself against spiritual attacks at all times. A Christian who is not sober and watchful forgets that he ought to act as a follower of Christ. When the fiery arrows of temptation are shot in his direction, the “sleepy” and “drunken” Christian is caught off-guard. Being unguarded, the poor Christian will be pierced by the arrows without mercy and be defeated. On the contrary, a watchful and sober Christian will always be prepared for any spiritual attack because he is aware of the dangers lurking around him.

The second element of the breastplate is love. A Christian soldier who wears this breastplate has an unwavering love for God. His love for God never diminishes. A constant love for God guards against all fiery arrows of temptations that are being shot at Christians. It provides a strong motivation for resistance against temptations. This is because a Christian who loves God cares most about his relationship with God. He does not seek to gratify himself. His love for God will rouse him to resist temptations. In the face of temptations, a Christian who bears in mind his love for God will ask: “How can I do this wickedness against my Lord whom I love? Will what I do grieve His heart or disappoint Him?”

Helmet

The next piece of defence armour is the “helmet, the hope of salvation”. It is a vital piece worn by soldiers for the protection of the head. Blows aimed at the head could be fatal. Thus, helmets were made of metallic material, like bronze and brass lined with leather, to take these blows. Usually, the helmet is the last piece of armour a soldier will put on before he heads out to war. A meticulous and prudent soldier will not forget his helmet even when he rushes out to war. Even though he has made all other preparations and worn all other parts of the armour, he will not go to war without his helmet.

The helmet of a Christian is his hope of salvation. Christians who wear this helmet are assured that the Lord has saved them and that they will have the final victory. Soldiers must have the hope of victory in any battle that they fight. Having done all the preparations for war, a soldier must go with the hope of victory, and not with an attitude of fear and defeat. A Christian also cannot afford to be a sceptic, filled with doubt and fear. He is called to be an overcomer. This is echoed in 1 John 5:5 – “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” All Christians are called to be victorious in their battles. No matter what the devil does, he will not prevail against Christians in their full battle order. Christians must fight their spiritual battles with the mindset to win. Christians must gird their armour on and sound the battle cry as they fight their spiritual battles confidently

Conclusion

With God as the Captain of the Christian army, let all Christian soldiers go forward and face their spiritual battles readily and steadily, as declared by the hymn, “Sound the Battle Cry”:

“Rouse, then, soldiers, rally round the banner,
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward, forward, shout aloud, “Hosanna!”
Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.”

Greetings to you all in the blessed Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord’s Name be praised in all His marvellous works which He has done in our midst. By the grace and mercies of the Lord, the Gethsemane B-P mission churches in Bogo and San Antonio have been hitherto sustained by the Lord. Recently, we just had the 8th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the Gethsemane B-P Mission Church, Bogo (which was held on 24 July 2016). We praise the Lord for preserving the church. The church had undergone some difficulties whereby some ended up leaving the church, but the Lord has been faithful in even adding regular worshippers into our midst. Praise the Lord for the preaching of God’s Word from Pastor Reggor that challenged the church towards revival. May God’s people respond rightly as the Lord does a great revival in our midst.

About a month later, the Gethsemane B-P Mission Church, San Antonio, held her 7th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service on 21 August 2016. The Lord has been gracious to send into our midst brethren from the Cebu church to rejoice together with us, granting us a blessed time of mutual encouragement. Thank God for the many children who came – these children are from the children’s outreach of the San Antonio church. The brethren were exhorted from God’s Word by Pastor Reggor on maintaining the right perspective in service. Praise the Lord for brethren who continue to be stedfast and joyful in their service to the Lord. The Lord is merciful and gracious in adding to the church two new members, Zoey Jimenez and John Paul Narandan. May they grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ unto maturity.

All glory and praise be to the Lord for using our late Preacher Dominino some years back to start these two mission churches. Praise the Lord for his faithful service to these churches until he was taken home. Praise be unto the Lord for His continuing grace in nurturing these two mission churches. Indeed, “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth forever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion” (Psalm 111:3-4).

Praise the Lord for the loving and unfailing support of the Gethsemane B-P Church, Singapore, to our two mission churches. Thank God for the love and support of the church and brethren in Singapore. We know that the Singapore church has her own burdens, yet your liberality abounds! It is also heart-warming to know that your church remembers us in your Tuesday night prayer meetings. Praise the Lord for helping us carry the burdens of the two mission churches and cast them upon the Lord.

Please do continue to pray for us as we look forward to another blessed year ahead of us. May the Lord be pleased to continue to use these two mission churches to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the saving of souls and for the glory of His Name. May the Lord grant us His grace, that the brethren will continue to abide and grow thereby in Jesus Christ and His Word.

Lovingly in Christ,
Eld Eliezer Ortega

“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).

Greetings in the blessed Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

I praise God for keeping His church, my co-labourers, my family and me in faith and good health to continue His work. The Lord of the harvest has been very gracious in sustaining us and providing the direly-needed resources for the work He has entrusted us. Moreover, I thank God for your labours of love, constant prayer and support for God’s work in Ethiopia whereby the Almighty is fulfilling His purpose in our land.

Spiritually speaking, the Evangelical Churches in Ethiopia are passing through great tides of apostasy, charismatic delusion and moral declension. While we do not expect things to get better in these last days, we are called to hold forth the Word of Life, live blamelessly and shine as Christ’s lights “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation” (cf. Philippians 2:15-16). Despite some “dropouts” from God’s army in our church, I praise God for upholding us to stand against all these unbiblical tides, and also for all the brethren who stood by us in prayer and selfless giving.

Following is a brief update on God’s work in Ethiopia:

Work at Alemgena

  i.  Church

By God’s enabling grace, Gethsemane has been shining forth the gospel light of Jesus Christ over the town and its environs. In our weekly evangelism work, we usually do a person-to-person evangelism whenever conducive. We also give out tracts (especially “An Appointment to Keep”, translated into Amharic and Oromo). God rewarded our efforts by a few who have professed faith in Christ. As we press on in the days ahead, may God bring in greater harvest.

Besides, Bro Bayera (a graduate of GBI) has begun a mission work in Sebata Awas, Gora Kebele. Some people have shown interest in the Gospel. But due to the recurring uprisings in Oromia region, he could not fully carry out house-to-house evangelism as planned. We are prayerfully doing all we can to get the breakthrough. Once we get a number of converts, he will settle there and continue the work. Please pray for this work.

 ii.  Gethsemane Children’s Ministry

This ministry provides an opportunity for the poor and disadvantaged children in our community to learn to read, write and understand basic arithmetic. This year, 29 children completed their education, which is provided free. Next academic year, we will have 3 classes: Nursery, KG1 and KG2, with about 45 poor children benefiting from this gratis service. 3 of our church members (1 volunteer and 2 paid staff) are serving in this ministry. This ministry has allowed us to give the Good News both to the children and their parents. It is our prayer that God’s special favour be on this work to yield rich spiritual fruits in days to come. May God use the seed sown in their hearts to bring them to salvation.

iii.  GBI, Ethiopia

“Thou … be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

GBI exists to train and prepare faithful Christian leaders, preachers and teachers for the Church of Jesus Christ. It strives to achieve this by equipping them with sound biblical and theological instruction, training the heart to develop biblical virtues, and providing vital skills needed for effective preaching and teaching of God’s Word and biblical leadership of the church. Thus, GBI is a firm ground which the Lord has given to Gethsemane to disseminate the Reformed and Bible-Presbyterian Faith, to counteract the apostasy in our land, and to prepare faithful, devoted, skilful ministers for the work of the Gospel.

After 4 years of training, 2 have graduated with Diploma in Theology on 29th November 2015. One of the graduates, Pr Dejene Daka, went back to the rural church and is now serving as a pastor in a local church in Wolayta Zone. The other is our church member, currently serving the Lord fulltime in Alemgena. Praise God for His unspeakable gifts. In GBI, Ethiopia, we have 3 programmes:

1. The Full-time Programme: has 3 terms of study annually, covering 7 courses each term. Dn Imane, Pr Engida and I take the teaching duty. This term, we had 12 trainees in this programme. (3 others withdrew because of family problems, and hopefully, they will be back next year).
2. The Evening Programme: for those who cannot come for full-time study. This year, we have 6 students in this class, where they take 2 to 3 courses each term. Currently, I am the sole instructor because of Dn Imane’s part-time study at Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology.
3. The Distance Programme: for those who come from far. They come on alternate Saturdays for a full-day training. Each term, they take 4 courses; Dn Imane and I give 2 courses each. Although 11 trainees began this year, only 7 completed the 3rd quarter while 4 dropped out because of personal problems.

May the Lord bless these efforts for the glory of His Name, the edification of His people and the salvation of sinners. I truly thank God for all the brethren who earnestly pray for and sacrificially give towards this work.

Work at Addis Ababa

Pr Engida is in charge of the work in Addis. He takes all the duties related to the spiritual care of the flock there. Dn Imane and I will go there monthly to help the work on alternate Sundays. We use a rented house for our services and for Pr Engida’s family’s residence. Finding a willing property owner with an affordable rental, has been our problem these past 2 years. The current owner, under pressure from pagan neighbours, had told us to leave as we just completed a 1-year term of leasing this month.

Each move brings its own difficulty. In any case, this time we almost could not get a proprietor who is willing to lease property for church service. After a month of desperate search, we found a property which is leased out on a 6-month term of payment. Though the owner is a member of an evangelical church, he is not willing to let us use it on a 3-month term of payment. This puts us in a most difficult situation. Yet, we have no option but to take it. This shows us that the time ahead is more difficult than we imagine. We need prayers of God’s people, that God may intervene in all our difficulties to sustain the ministry in Addis Ababa – for God alone has the solution to this problem.

Our Encouragement, Challenges and Prayers

• We praise God for the fellowship of Gethsemane B-P Churches in Singapore and the Philippines, and other like-minded brethren who stood with us thus far in carrying out God’s work.
• We need more faithful and able workers in GBI and more called ones to come in for training.
• We need God’s grace and wisdom to watchfully guard against the influx of unbiblical doctrines and practices in these last days.
• We need God’s providence towards the Gethsemane Children’s Ministry as it is serving the poor children in our community, gratis (and yet, we need to pay the teachers).
• We need God’s mighty work in the hearts of our members to engage themselves in witnessing to their friends, neighbours and family members, to promote church growth.
• We need God’s Hand to intervene in the problem of finding an affordable rental for the use of our Addis congregation. The extra 3 months’ payment that we have made for the premises, put us in a situation whereby we will not be able to pay our workers. We can do nothing but cry to the Almighty God to intervene!
• More than anything, we need God to revive His work in the hearts of the full-time workers, that we may exert ourselves wholly to fulfil our most holy calling!

The Excellencies of Christ’ is the topic of the upcoming Bible Witness Retreat (7-9 Sept). As it has been with every previous BW Retreat, the lectures in the coming retreat would also be the culmination of a series of study on a theme which I have undertaken. In the last BW retreat, the study and the lectures were focused on the Doctrine of Christ. It has whipped up a greater desire to learn of the excellencies of Christ as revealed in His Word. So I have been prayerfully learning and preparing to share with you in the upcoming retreat on the remarkable truths of Christ’s glory. As I look forward to the retreat, I pray that God will bless us with richer knowledge of His glorious Son.

The excellencies of Christ afford an inexhaustible and soul-satisfying study. To the apostle Paul, the knowledge of Christ was a cause that he would undertake at the expense of all things in life - “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8). Nothing in the world is of any comparison to His infinite glory!

The excellencies of Christ arise from the fact that in Him dwelleth all divine and human excellencies. The beauty of the divine attributes is found in Him in all fullness - “in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). He is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Also, whatever perfection of human virtues is also found in Him, for He was “holy, harmless, undefiled” (Hebrews 7:26), “without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:19). He is the transcendent God, yet He condescends to reach us. In Christ our Lord, we find the beauties of divine majesty and meekness of a perfect man, for He is the Lion and also the Lamb (Revelation 5:1-10).

The knowledge of Christ’s superlative excellence is sure to evoke within us an all-consuming passion for Him and His glory. The meditation of His excellencies would make all the glittering luxuries and glamour of this world grow pale and dim, while stirring our souls to crave for richer knowledge and experiences of His glories. However high we may rise in the knowledge of Christ, still there will be the inexhaustible riches of His excellence.

So, let us therefore eagerly come to His presence to learn of Him.

Brotherly Conduct of Christians

Prabhudas Koshy

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

This verse begins with the connective particle “wherefore”, which refers us to James’ discussion in the preceding verse that God begat Christians according to His will by the truth of His Word. All genuine Christians are the children of His family. In this regard, James addressed fellow believers as “my beloved brethren”. Then he exhorted them as to how they should conduct themselves as children of God’s family.

The first conduct of a child of God that James teaches, is that he ought to “be swift to hear”. The primary emphasis of this advice is that every Christian ought to be eager and ready to hear God’s Word. Listening attentively to the instructions of the divine truth, by which every Christian is begotten, is crucial in the life of God’s child. His foremost calling is to be a student, rather than a teacher, of God’s Word. He must be teachable and have a great appetite to feed on God’s truth. A holy curiosity and a receptive spirit are paramount if he is to grow in the knowledge of God.

is certainly not an advice to promote some kind of unsociable reserve. There is no virtue in being uncommunicative. We are not forbidden from speaking altogether. We are not taught to abstain from speaking entirely, but to be slow to speak. The admonition is against talkativeness and hastiness to be a teacher. Such restraint in speech has been taught in the wisdom books of the Bible. Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Proverbs 17:27 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words”. In Ecclesiastes 5:2, we are warned: “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God.”

The third conduct of a child of God that James teaches, is that he ought to be “slow to wrath”. Quick-temperedness and fiery outbursts will lead to many great and heinous offences and sins. So we are to control our temper. Moreover, to be a good learner of God’s Word, one needs to be patient in spirit. Let us not be angry, especially when we are rebuked and corrected by His Word. Proverbs 14:29 reminds us, “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding”. He who is slow to anger shall attain wisdom and honour, but the wrathful man, only foolishness and shame.

Whether it be a custom, habit or game, Christians must “not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12b). We should be cautious to avoid being enslaved by anything, even if it seems lawful. As Christians, we must ask ourselves: “Will this enslave me? Will this hinder or profit my spiritual life?”

With Pokemon Go’s arrival in Singapore, I must warn our children, youths and adults against being brought under its spell. Pokemon (originated in Japan) was introduced to the rest of the world in the mid- 1990’s. Its new version, Pokemon Go is an “augmented reality” game. Players would chase Pokemon cartoon characters in real world environments using their smartphone camera and a phone app. Reports show that some churches in the US have become ‘Pokemon Go gym’ locations, where players (known as trainers in the game) gather to battle against one other. It would not be too long for such things to happen in Singapore churches too!

Why should we dissociate ourselves from this fantasy game? Firstly, it is not all that innocuous as it is made out to be. Christian writers have warned about its troubling similarities with some occult practices. (By the way, “Pokemon” is short for “pocket monster”!) Its hundreds of cartoon characters depict demonic creatures - including a fictitious creature (Gengar) displaying power to curse Pokemon players, thus teaching children that cursing through magic is OK. Though promoted as an amusement, in reality, it is a promoter of occultism - clairvoyance, summoning of spirits, practice of mind-control, dabbling in magical arts, etc. It also promotes ungodly activities like gambling. The more immersed you are in the game, the more severe the spiritual maladies! Secondly, though there is no official report of Pokemon players becoming demon-possessed or witchcraft practitioners, it is not a harmless game. There is much evidence that it affects the mood and behaviour of those given to it. Moreover, it can also cause not a few physical dangers! Just last week, media reports highlighted some bad, dangerous behaviour of these gamers.

There is nothing wrong with having some fun using our imagination. But when it involves characters and activities of occult themes, our minds will be gradually influenced to ignore Scripture’s prohibitions and be open to spiritual dangers. Due to its subtle power to negatively affect our behaviour and spiritual integrity, we must dissuade our children and youths from playing Pokemon Go. What we and our children need is not fun with the occult, but godly discipline that turns us from worldliness to Christ. Brethren, avoid all things that are not spiritually expedient.

The Gethsemane Care Ministry (TGCM) –
stark illustration of the power of the gospel

We are all sinners. The problem is that not all of us think so. Worse, some even think themselves to be less a sinner than others. Without the problem (i.e. sin), scarcely would the cure be appreciated.

TGCM is a ministry that preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ to ex-offenders. Upon their salvation, TGCM is the platform which nurtures these men in the knowledge of God’s will, and works out the transformation in their lives. The TGCM brothers were those with a bad past. Vice, wickedness and sin ruled their lives in a more manifested way than most of ours. Some bad things we thought of, these brothers did. Some evil things we cursed, these brothers performed. Some things so blatantly horrible that we shun, these brothers embraced. These are the men whose “sinsickness” had plagued them so sore that the efficacy of the cure is most appreciated.

Truly, the Bible did not make any unwarranted claim when it said that the Gospel of Jesus Christ – of His substitutionary, atoning work which He did by coming to be born a man, to live, die, and ultimately rise again – is the power of God to save all. There is no sinner whom the blood of Christ cannot cleanse if only the sinner genuinely repents. Believe in your heart what Christ has done to pay for the sins on your behalf, confess the Lord, and forsake your sins - that is the repentance of the Bible. TGCM brothers are testament of that promise.

There is nothing that can pick a poor lost sinner, change his heart, and turn his life around the way the Gospel of Jesus Christ can. Those tender words of Jesus, “Follow me” will resound into an irresistible call for sinners to forsake all the sins of the world and come to a Saviour. The call to leave sin and death, and to plead before a furious and all-righteous Judge is also an appeal before the most merciful and loving God. The ways of darkness that once gave joy now lose their glamour, relative to the joy of being reconciled with God! Oh, peace with God the Judge! Free from the guilt of sin, and free from its bondage! There is nothing other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ that may impart such elation to those who receive its cure. Upon salvation, living is now for Christ, according to the Bible. There is no stronger motivation.

Other modes of “restoration” or rehabilitation without the Gospel may change the manifestation of sin. One wrong is substituted with other less severe wrongs. Illegal wrongs are replaced with “legal” wrongs. Or perhaps wrong is momentarily avoided, in the light of punishment if committed. But the heart is not changed; the root issue is not addressed; there is still no purpose in life. Some may retort that many have since found families or businesses which now provide meaning and purpose to live changed lives. Yet, if these are removed (which are easily lost), the sinner is reverted to his former state. But the joys of salvation and peace with God, none shall ever take away! Even in death, nothing can change God’s love towards us, and His forgiveness of our sins. Truly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power to change lives. God Himself works within the hearts of the TGCM brothers, sanctifying them day by day for His purpose.

There is no news as beautiful to great sinners than that there is a great Saviour. And who are great sinners? The TGCM brothers undoubtedly are. But so are we, and so am I. Just because we haven’t done what (or as blatantly as) they did, doesn’t make us any less a sinner in the sight of God. All have come short, as the allrighteous and holy Lord accepts nothing but perfection. We do right indeed to praise and glorify God for the greatness of His Gospel to change the lives of such great sinners as these ex-offenders. But equally praise God for the greatness of His Gospel to save us, who are just as great sinners too!

Sometimes, because we think of our sins as less severe than they are, we appreciate the cure less than we ought to. But by God’s grace, He sends a stark contrast for our contemplation. By almost all definitions, TGCM brothers have been great sinners in need of the powerful and most precious Gospel. This contrast allows us to fully appreciate the greatness of God’s gift of salvation, and the efficacy of His saving grace. But in God’s sight, we are as great sinners as they. So, this same Gospel saves us too, if only we believe.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Sinner, repent and find mercy in the Lord!

(A youth who attended the TGCM 11th Thanksgiving Anniversary Service)

As Singapore celebrates its 51st National Day, it is good that we, Christian citizens and residents of Singapore, know our godly duties in this nation and rededicate ourselves to them.

• We must give glory to God as the One who reigneth supreme over our nation. As Psalm 67:4 declares, “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.” In the midst of our joy and celebrations, we must not forget that “the LORD is high above all nations” (Psalm 113:4a). So, all that we do during this happy occasion must be done for His glory and in the fear of Him who reigns above us. We should not be found in any event or activity that defies His holiness and great sovereignty.
• We must not be prideful in our prosperity and achievements. It is very easy for our hearts to become boastful, and glory in ourselves and our accomplishments. Humility can quickly vanish from our hearts, and our minds become swelled up with undue pride and misguided self-righteousness. Let us remember that His Word cautions us that “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. … All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. … That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity” (Isaiah 40:15, 17, 23). The words of the great king Nebuchadnezzar, who was severely dealt with by God for his pride, remind us: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35).
• We must praise God who has mercifully nourished, protected and blessed our nation. All good blessings we enjoy in this country are of the LORD. Let us gratefully worship the LORD. Scripture commands, “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 117:1-2).
• We must thank God for the freedom to worship Christ our Saviour and Lord, and to serve Him in a Biblical manner. Let us remember Christians in other nations, where they face severe restrictions, hostility, physical persecution and even death. Many of them are fleeing their own countries to live as Christians. Oh, what a blessing it is that in Singapore, we can enjoy religious freedom!
• We must thank God and pray for the government of Singapore to continue to rule this nation with equity and justice. The apostle Paul instructs us: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
• We must show respect to the higher authorities and pay our dues to the government. Consider the solemn exhortation of Romans 13:1- 7, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
• As citizens of our country, we must “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2b). In our communities, we are to be courteous, friendly and kind-hearted people. We must not be troublemakers, but rather “Follow peace with all men, and holiness …” (Hebrews 12:14a).
• As Christians, we must witness Christ to the unsaved around us so that more from Singapore may escape their sins and judgment through faith in Christ. We must go beyond our nation, even to the ends of the earth, for “… ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8b).

A Testimony

Dear Pr Jeremiah Sim (preacher-in-charge of the Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry),

In the blessed Name of Jesus, warm greetings to you and your wife. I also greet all the members of the Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry group. I hope and pray that this letter may find you all in the best of health.

I cherished those days when I was with you because it was during those times that I realised how good and great our God is. I am greatly thankful to God that He has since extended my life, not to suffer but to enjoy.

I am very grateful to our loving and merciful God for blessing me with loving and caring children, who are serving in God’s ministry. They are my only treasure here on earth. I do not have glittering gold or abundance of money but I have Jesus. And in Jesus, I have what the world cannot give and this is the eternal life that all His children will enjoy after this life. Jesus has said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions … And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). That is His promise, and I trust Him.

Truly, as the hymn goes, “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take Him at His Word”. I thank God for His words in the Bible. Verses like Psalm 37:4; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 46:4 and Philippians 4:6 have helped me overcome my peculiar problems and made my trust and faith in God stronger, especially now that I am old.

I encourage those who are in your old age like me to learn more Bible verses and apply to your daily life – you’ll be spiritually stronger and more refreshed physically. When the spirit is strong, so is your body.

Thank you also for the gift of a computer. God really has His amazing ways in answering prayer (Psalm 37:4), very often through the giving from good friends. Undoubtedly, God is really faithful to His Word.

I am hoping and praying that I can come back and be with you again, God willing. Again, thank you very much. Praise be to our God, hallelujah! To God be the glory.

In Jesus’ Name,
Rebecca Delina, the Philippines
(She is the mother of Eric Delina)

These days, confronting falsehood and sin head-on is no more regarded as a necessity or as helpful. Instead, confronting error and ungodliness is frowned upon and condemned as hurtful behaviour. The tragic result: in Christian families and churches, a culture of resigned acceptance of worldliness has since taken root!

The attitudes of relativism and political correctness have become so common among Christians that many of God’s children are left without reproofs of life and proper warnings, leaving them to be ruined by their errors and sins. The crowd-pleasing mindset of Christian parents and church leadership alike has left both their children and flocks vulnerable to the most vicious perils of unchecked worldliness. The moral and spiritual integrity that is required of Christians and churches are hard to find in these days.

The hesitation of preachers and parents to confront the sins of their congregations and children are like that of the days of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter” (Isaiah 56:10-11).

“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 6:13-15).

“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand” (Ezekiel 33:6).

By their silence, leaders and parents have consented to the incursion of worldliness. Their lack of determination to confront and fight against sin at all costs has made them thorough compromisers. They have permitted immodesty, fornication and materialism in their homes and worship places without firmly and decisively acting against them biblically. Even in so-called fundamental, conservative churches and their homes, there are so much goings-on that would surely be condemned by the Lord.

Brethren, remember the biblical admonition: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). Not to reprove works of darkness is to be in fellowship with them. It is either confront or conform!

A deep, death-like spiritual slumber has befallen the church and Christian homes. Without a doubt, the moral and spiritual situation surrounding us is dreadful and calamitous. It is the Laodicean spirit, which was rebuked by our Lord Jesus Christ – “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ...thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17).

A spiritual awakening is desperately needed among Christians to know and appropriately deal with their death-like spiritual slumber. We must regain our fervour for truth and holiness. We must boldly and decisively deal with sin and error in our homes and church. Take heed to Paul’s admonition: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:11–14).

Are there some among you, who are members of Gethsemane, living in worldliness and sin? Are there some parents in our midst who have lost all your moral compass and courage to confront the worldliness and materialism in your family? If you fail to confront, the only outcome is that you and your home will serve the world more than Christ.

Are you a person who is irked by the preaching of the Word against sins that are rampant in our midst? Do you then advocate that the preacher should not rebuke sins of the people, because that is very disconcerting to people? If you are such a person, you need to know that your attitude is totally unbiblical – for the Bible specifically commands the preacher thus: “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:15); “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

If we fail to confront sin and falsehood, we will soon conform to them!

In our world that teaches its youths to pursue self-honour, giving honour to whom it is due is not at all seen as an important virtue. A great many people do not even bother to think about the need to show respect and honour. Nothing is as dishonourable as one’s neglect of giving honour to those whom the Bible says it is due.

The Word of God teaches us in Romans 13:7 that we are to “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” Giving honour to those whom it is due is an obvious duty of Christians. The freedom that Jesus gives to us does not cut us loose from our obligation to show respect and love to those in places of respect. Rude and disrespectful attitudes, words and actions from Christians are unworthy of Christ.

Esteeming others is our duty, whether it be in family, church or society. “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Peter 2:17). Paul exhorted the Roman Christians: “in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). The Bible repeatedly teaches us to have that beautiful attitude, which is a promoter of Christian fellowship and also a preventer of bitterness, jealousy and quarrels among the brethren.

Hesitation to show respect is not fitting to the spirit of genuine Christianity. So I would like to urge all Gethsemaneans to cultivate a respectful spirit. We must not be passive in giving honour to others. We must be joyful and quick to show our respect for others. Be enthusiastic in greeting others, for we are told, “greet ye one another” (1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Peter 5:14).

The church is particularly commanded: “Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints” (Hebrews 13:24). It is the duty of every church member to be diligent to show his appreciation for the spiritual leadership given to them with respectful greetings extended to pastors, elders and preachers. This instruction is emphatically taught in Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Those who show respect to God’s servants, as Scripture exhorts, are assured of special blessings that would profit them.

Cultivate Good Speech

“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15:23).

This saying is set in the context of having wise counsellors. There is great profitability in listening to men who can provide wise advice about matters of life, including both spiritual and mundane matters.

It is unquestionably God’s will concerning us that we be wise in speech to exhort and edify one another. God wants His people to cultivate wise speech. God’s Word sounds out His great expectation concerning their communication with one another. “The lips of the righteous feed many” (Proverbs 10:21). Also, “the tongue of the wise is health” (Proverbs 12:18), i.e. wherever wise speech is maintained, the affairs of life will be healthy. Moreover, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life” (Proverbs 15:4); thus when the tongue is guided by the Spirit of God and by the words of Holy Scripture, it will elicit wise thoughts in the hearers.

In every Christian home, godly conversation must always be maintained. Parents are expected to be wise teachers of their children at home. They must teach their children God’s truth (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 11:19). Furthermore, children are warned against swearing against the parents. “Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness” (Proverbs 20:20).

The Christian’s duty to exhibit gracious, wholesome speech is repeatedly exhorted in the epistles of Paul. In Ephesians 4:29, he admonished, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” By the same token, he said in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” The provider of an apt answer will indeed have great joy. His own conscience will rejoice that his words have been helpful; on top of that, the gratefulness of the hearer will also be a reason for his joy.

We should be careful not only about the content and manner of our speech, but also about the timeliness of our speech. “A word … in due season, how good is it!” Our words should befit the situation. A piece of advice, given at the right moment and in the most suitable manner, will be very profitable to the hearers. So before we speak, let us examine whether our words are truthful, edifying, gracious and appropriate.

It is our honourable duty to recall all good things that the LORD has done amongst us and give praise to Him duly. Scripture frequently exhorts us, as His people, to give thanks to the LORD. One of many such exhortations is 1 Chronicles 16:8- 10: “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”

Over the past 13 years, the Lord has nurtured in our midst an effective Gospel ministry to the Chinese-speaking relatives of our members and friends. It has pleased the Lord to use it to bring several of our dear ones to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also to nurture those who have believed in Christ through the Word and fellowship. Therefore, in gratefulness to God, we will worship Him in a combined worship service of the English and Chinese congregations.

Preacher Daniel Lim, who ministers God’s Word amongst our Chinese-speaking brethren, has been faithfully and zealously serving the Lord for about 11 years. He not only regularly preaches God’s Word during worship services on the Lord’s Day, but also holds Bible studies after worship service, and whenever brethren need them. He also regularly visits the sick and those who are in need of encouragement. On Tuesday nights, he leads brethren from the Chinese Ministry in Bible Study-cum-Prayer Meeting. His ministry is also extended to Gethsemane Seniors’ Ministry, The Gethsemane Care Ministry and Gethsemane Prison Ministry. The Lord also strengthened him to regularly travel to Malaysia and preach in the Chinese ministries of Kemaman Life B-P Church, Terengganu, and Calvary Jaya B-P Church, KL. Let us pray regularly for Pr Daniel Lim, that He may serve victoriously for the Lord.

We are also grateful for the brethren who co-labour with Pr Daniel Lim in Chinese Worship Service on every Lord’s Day, and also on other occasions. We gratefully remember and praise the Lord for all those who serve as worship chairmen, pianists, ushers, helpers, etc. May God be your special joy and strength in your wholehearted service.

Let us serve Him as we are exhorted to do in His Word. Please consecrate to serve Him according to the following Scriptural exhortations.

Serve Him whole heartedly

• Deuteronomy 11:13 – “… serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (cf. Joshua 22:5).
• 1 Samuel 12:24 - “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart.”
• Luke 16:13 – “…Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (cf. Matthew 6:24).

Serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind

• 1 Chronicles 28:9 – “serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind”
• 1 Samuel 7:3 – “prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only.”

Serve Him with sincerity and in truth

• Joshua 24:14 – “… serve him in sincerity and in truth….”

Serve with gladness

• Psalm 2:11 – “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”
• Psalm 100:2 – “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”

Serve Him with humility

• Acts 20:19 – “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind…”.

Serve Him with fervent spirit

• Romans 12:11 – “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”.

客西玛尼笃信圣经长老会 华文部 十三周年感谢神恩惠

亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹，

感谢我们在天上的天父对我们 客西玛尼笃信圣经长老会华文崇拜 在过去十三年的恩待，供应与赐福。 十三年的光阴有如早上的露水，太 阳一升起就消散无影无踪。然而在 这岁月不留人的日子里，神大能的圣 手不停地保护着我们，神的信实，慈 爱更没有停止，离开，每天都是何等 的丰富。在这一年里蒙神在他的管 教里，让我们对神建造我们生命，经 历，跟神话语的认识可说是何等宝 贵生命的领悟，而且对神要我们在主 里所当活的生命与行的事借着圣经向我们启明白好让我们行天家道路有目标，尊神的旨意行。 天父是配得一切的感恩与荣耀，我们在这欢庆的十三年周年一起来崇拜感恩，愿父神加多您 的恩惠在我们每个儿女身上，让我们多一些的依靠，爱主，行在神喜悦的道路里，更体贴父神 的心意将您爱世人，为世人成就了救赎恩典，借着主耶稣基督十字架的舍命第三天复活，让世 人认识您唯一真神，凡信靠您的必不灭亡反得永生。愿主在我们这些软弱的器皿来盛满您的恩 赐，智慧，生命，让我们在新的一年里都协力跟随，侍奉主，愿主圣名常得赞美与荣耀。

主内
林和昌传道

Greetings from Perth, where I have been ministering God’s Word, together with my wife Carolyn, to the brethren of Bible-Presbyterian Church of Western Australia. The church camp ended on Thursday afternoon. The study of the Word was based on the theme, “Sanctified and Meet for the Master’s Use”, taken from 2 Timothy 2:21. The Lord has helped me to preach altogether 9 sermons on the theme in the camp, including the sermon during the last Lord’s Day service. I am personally blessed to have an opportunity to study, understand, and preach on that particular theme – firstly for my own sanctification and profitable use in the Lord’s Hand, and secondly for all the people of God gathered in the BPCWA Church Camp. Carolyn, who taught the children during the camp on the same theme, also rejoices in His enabling grace that strengthened her to serve Him.

Here in the camp, we also had the company of the Cho family (Wai Mun, Jolyne and Benjamin), and Sis Elizabeth Poon from our church, and a couple of families from Truth B-P Church, Singapore. Bro Benjamin Cho will be enrolling in a university here to pursue his studies; so we thank God that he can find pastoral care and church fellowship in BPCWA.

I write this letter on Friday morning from the church’s guest house (named Jeremiah House), where we will be staying till we return to Singapore on Tuesday (12th July). I have several more scheduled programmes of teaching God’s Word to fulfil before I return - a family seminar (with three sessions over two days), a combined fellowship gathering, and a Church Session retreat. I am grateful to know that you have been praying for our ministries here earnestly. We too pray daily for all the ministries of our church and all of you.

I take this time to convey the greetings of Rev & Mrs Joseph Poon, together with the brethren of BPCWA, to all of you. God willing, I will be with you during this Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting.

Meanwhile, may the following exhortations strengthen you in your pursuit of God. I am sharing them that you may be further encouraged to seek a closer walk with the Lord.

Yearn for God

Cultivate a deep desire for God like the psalmist who said, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Psalm 73:25). The psalmist, by using a very persuasive Hebrew device of a question and an assertion, here expresses his deep and firm love for God. He is supremely satisfied in God. He desires no one more than the LORD whom he has been trusting. Such should be the sentiment of every child of God towards God.

By asking “Whom have I in heaven but thee?”, the psalmist exalts God above all the angels and the souls of the departed who are in God’s presence. None of the angels – not even the archangel – is worthy of such complete trust and adoration which the psalmist has for God.

Similar sentiments of affection and adulation towards the matchless greatness and glory of the exalted God of heaven have been confessed by many of His servants. Moses said, “O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might” (Deuteronomy 3:24)? King Solomon testified, “LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart” (1 Kings 8:23). Similarly, Job affirmed in the face of mistrust and false accusations, “Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high” (Job 16:19). The psalmist also openly sang, “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD” (Psalm 89:6)?

Truly, “great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods” (1 Chronicles 16:25). May we, too, “praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (Psalm 148:13).

The unparalleled greatness and goodness of our God also cause the psalmist to unequivocally declare, “there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” He would go to no one but his God for the help he needs. He is assured that the God of heaven is very gracious and will condescend to aid him in all his difficulties and struggles. The matchless greatness and goodness of God make His child crave for His presence and support. May we truly say, “The Lord is with me; I am satisfied in Him.

Others may depart, but you must draw unto the Lord

The apostle Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68b). These were the words of Peter to the Lord Jesus Christ at a time when “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66). The Lord Jesus then confronted the twelve: “Will ye also go away” (John 6:67)? It is in answer to this query that Peter, with his characteristic fervour and promptness, declared: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

Many followers of Christ had been offended at His doctrine. They used their own feeble sense, without the aid of the Holy Spirit, to judge His wondrous words of life. So they ended up saying, “This is a hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60). They were not saying that His saying was hard to understand, but that it was hard for them to agree with or accept. His words were displeasing to their unbelieving hearts. They took offence at His statement: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life, in you” (John 6:53). They misrepresented His doctrine by critically looking at the “letter” of His profound saying, without perceiving the “spirit” of His words. How rash and foolish of them to choose to leave Him immediately! If only they had a little more patience to tarry with Christ!

Upon their departure, Jesus turned His attention to the twelve. The sudden departure of the multitude must have troubled the disciples. However, Jesus asked the bewildered disciples a probing question: “Will ye also go away?” He tested the genuineness of their decision to stay with Him. He wanted them to affirm their faith in Him and renew their allegiance to Him. The Lord compelled none to remain with Him against their will. He wanted each of them to make his choice whether to follow Him or not. Yet even among the twelve, there was one who would leave the Lord in order to betray Him (cf. John 6:70, 71).

When faced with the departures and betrayals of nominal Christians, we should not be unduly alarmed. Like Peter, we should seize the opportunity to reaffirm our faith and commitment to Christ. We too must boldly make our confession: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” Let us also have a firm resolution to adhere to Christ, our only Saviour and Lord. We ought to follow our Lord even when others leave Him. We seek no other companion more than our Saviour and Lord.