Nathanael Chung (Kuching)
I am thankful that I was able to attend the BW Retreat this year, especially with my exams being the very next week after the retreat. However, I learned to put my full trust in God that He will help me perform well, despite giving up a few days’ worth of revision so as to learn His Word. I was already aware that repentance is of significance to the life of a true Christian. However, the emphatic teaching that Christianity without repentance is like “a house without a base” drove home to me the importance of it even more. I am truly grateful to God that He has blessed Pastor Koshy to be able to preach so clearly to us. I pray that God will continue to help me keep the lessons I have learned in my mind at all times, so that I may be a better servant to Him.
Carolyn Koshy
I thank God for His provision, that my family can be in Kuching to attend the first BW Retreat held outside Singapore after several years of Covid restrictions. Many precious lessons have I learnt from the theme, “The Doctrine of Repentance”, of which I will only dish out some very important portions expounded by Pastor that have blessed my physical and spiritual well-being.
2 Chronicles 7:14 defines what repentance is – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Repentance is acknowledgment and confession of our sins, as we also understand from Psalm 32:5 – “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” We must then forsake our sins like the psalmist who said in Psalm 18:23, “… I kept myself from mine iniquity.”
Genuine repentance will bring forth “fruits worthy of repentance”, or else as Jesus warned, “the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Luke 3:8-9). Genuine repentance will also propel us to do the will of the Father (cf. Matthew 21:28-31).
Proverbs 28:13 warns those who do not repent: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Reluctance to repent brings divine chastisement, as Psalm 32:3-4 tell us: “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.” Psalm 38:3 illustrates the agony of unrepentant sins – “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.”
God’s children have to recognise sins and their defilement, and the need to constantly repent as Paul has written, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14, 24-25).
God promises great blessings to His repentant children - “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19)!
Last Thursday (22nd Sept), the following email from Pastor Reggor Galarpe arrived, informing us of an unexpected provision of a vehicle for the church in Cebu. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Dear Pastor Koshy,
Greetings to you in our Lord’s most blessed Name! With much thanks to our Lord, I would like to share our joy for the Lord’s provision upon the church.
Around lunchtime today, a sales agent from Hyundai knocked on our door to inform us of a delivery of a brand new van, addressed to Gethsemane BPC-Cebu in the care of my name. Initially, I was shocked and suspicious, knowing of the many scams around. But the agent showed me all the documents, even the official receipt that proved it’s fully paid for (PHP 1,315,000.00). It so happened that Eld. Eliezer was around as he had class at GBI that day. I asked him to come down, and together, we received the unit and listened to the agent as he oriented us with the vehicle’s features.
We tried to ask the agent who paid for the purchase, but he said he didn’t know as his manager only told him to deliver the unit. We will try to check with their office, so that we can acknowledge and convey our thanks to this “mysterious” generous person!
But one thing I’m sure of, is that it is the Lord’s provision! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Respectfully yours,
Rev. Reggor