Sermon Text: Philippians 4:14–20
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 30th March 2025
Sermon Text: Philippians 4:14–20
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 30th March 2025
At the start of this year, the Gethsemane Youth Fellowship held an online meeting to encourage and cheer on our young men who are about to enter National Service, as well as those currently serving as NS men. My message to them, titled “A Call to Serve with Faith and Honour”, was published in our church bulletin on January 5, 2025.
A key highlight of that meeting was the testimonies shared by five young adults who have completed their National Service. Their insights were profoundly instructive, offering warnings and guidance about the unique spiritual dangers faced during NS. These testimonies also provided invaluable advice to help young men prepare for and overcome the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of their service.
To edify and equip our young men who will soon don the uniform, we are publishing these testimonies in this week’s and next week’s bulletins. May they inspire and prepare our youths to stand firm for Christ as they serve the nation. Let us uphold them in prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen their faith and testimony in this critical phase of their lives!
By Galen Demetrius
This may come as a surprise to everyone, but during the medical assessment phase, I successfully downgraded my PES (Physical Employment Standard) status. This was in 2011. However, in 2012, I decided to enlist as a Regular Officer. In order to do so, I successfully proved to the medical officers that I was physically fit to upgrade my PES status. Eventually, I began my time as a soldier in 2013, in Basic Military Training (BMT). After I completed BMT, I was selected for a prestigious course for the next 1 year and 10 months.
To sum it up, I experienced many ‘ups and downs’, both good and bad, and I have endless stories to tell. I hope this testimony will prepare you to spend your waking and sleeping hours as a child of God in the army.
In total, I spent 7.5 years in MINDEF. I started out like everyone, in BMT, but slowly realised that I could endure very tough training courses in the army. Course after course, I felt that I had achieved all by my own strength. I enjoyed celebrating my success, especially the achievement of ‘top graduate’ of the course. I enjoyed people’s acknowledgment of my achievements. My achievements gave me my identity. However, after some time, I got lonely. My joy was short-lived. I realised that people only valued me for what I achieved, and not for who I am. If I stripped away all my achievements, if I did not pass the course, if I was not the top graduate, who was I? I soberly realised that my identity is in Christ, not achievements. I learnt that to be a leader is not about achieving this and that, nor about successfully leading a group of well-trained soldiers, but it’s about serving those who are under us. And that is exactly who Christ is! Jesus left His throne, humbled Himself as man, and suffered the agony of the cross for our benefit.
Although there were many other struggles, such as managing my spending, and distractions like vices and carnal talk enjoyed by colleagues, finding my identity was one of my biggest struggles.
Nevertheless, these were the experiences that God had allowed me to go through to mould me to be more like Him. When we face situations wherein we must choose between God and the world, and when we are met with opportunities to show Christ’s love and care to those around us, will you sacrifice even your last drop of water for your bunk-mate who is thirsty? Will you sacrifice your shower time to ensure your men get to rest early? Will you lend a listening ear to your friend in the army who just broke up with his girlfriend, knowing that it might be a Gospel opportunity?
Your actions will show whether you are God’s holy people who are willing to sacrifice our rights because of our Saviour’s sacrificial love for us. You will encounter people from shocking backgrounds which might make you uncomfortable. But always remember, that everyone is made in God’s image and they need to hear the Gospel. You will be spending your next two years, day in and day out, with this group of people. This is a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them - don’t waste it.
Don’t think that there’s a long life to live given your very youthful age. Indeed, it is God who gives breath and takes it away. In my time as a Regular Officer, I have witnessed two buddies in the force who die from suicide and cancer. So, while you spend time with your friends, be sure to share the Gospel with them.
“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Cor 10:24).
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
Be a soldier for Christ first!
By Benjamin Cho
I’m thankful for this opportunity to share my testimony. Reflecting on my NS (National Service) life has allowed me to see God’s mercy in chastising me during that season. After careful thought, I have identified three main struggles:
Spending too much time in secular relationships.
Shift work (closely related to point 1).
Not establishing my Christian identity.
I will relate my struggles and propose a solution that I should have acted on, but unfortunately did not.
1: Spending too much time in secular relationships
I had two groups of secular friendships then: my relationship with friends from Polytechnic and my relationship with my NS team.
Poly friends: I met with a group of worldly friends with whom I lacked the discipline to distance myself. We stayed near one another and spent a lot of time together. Naturally, we were very close for a long time, and it was so throughout my NS days.
NS Team: In NS, I was assigned to a ground team with a shift schedule of “1 / 2 / off / off”. “1” represents a day shift, “2” a night shift, and each shift averaged 14 hours. Additionally, I had mandatory monthly training sessions and occasional team bonding activities during off days. All in all, I spent 70-80% of my waking hours with my ground team, and the remaining time with my secular friends from Polytechnic.
In most circumstances, a person will naturally be more attuned to and aligned with whom they spend most time. I spent a great deal of time in the company of these two groups. With my weak and immature faith, it was of a little surprise that this was a period of spiritual lethargy for me.
2: Shift Work
The shift work schedule compounded my struggles, as it meant that I could only attend Sunday worship twice a month. The first opportunity of the month to attend Sunday worship fell on my first day off, and the second opportunity fell on my second day off. My first day off was directly after a night shift, which ended about 8-9am on Sunday. So, I often missed the worship service to recuperate after the night shift.
As such, I only attended Sunday worship service once a month. I did not have the discipline to go for fellowship meetings held on Saturdays. Although I was in church once a month, the faithful preaching from Pastor often pierced my heart, leaving me determined to repent and walk aright. However, due to the sheer amount of time I spent in secular relationships, I frequently fell back into spiritual lethargy.
Solution for 1 & 2: Breaking off secular relationships alone is not sufficient, for the temptation to resume your relationship with them is difficult to overcome. One has to replace secular relationships with Christian relationships. I have noticed that even the warmest of secular friendships crumble when the ebbs and flows of life take us to divergent paths. I had foolishly invested much time and effort into these secular relationships, which ultimately proved fruitless in a few years.
Christians should invest their time and effort in God-honouring relationships that will never fade, so as to encourage, exhort and edify one another, for these efforts will bear eternal fruit. This is not to say secular relationships are to be avoided entirely, but a Christian’s first and foremost interaction should be within the body of Christ. May Christians prioritise relationships of eternal value, compared to secular relationships which are like a transient and fleeting shadow. Furthermore, replace bad habits with good habits. Discipline oneself to attend fellowship meetings and worship services, and find opportunities to serve the Lord. Service is not only a time of rededication, it also inculcates a sense of responsibility so that slothfulness can be replaced with service to God.
3: Not establishing my Christian identity
Whenever one is spiritually lethargic, there will be compromise in one’s spiritual walk, and sin will definitely abound. I recount a personal struggle I experienced during my NS: NS men were to write log sheets, to account for what we did during that shift. However, on the log sheet, it would be written that we were patrolling a certain location at a certain time, but we were actually resting. Despite my heart feeling grief from the false logging, I too struggled with the desire to sleep in the wee hours of the night instead of doing the duty, thus I did not voice my opinion on the matter.
Solution: Establish your Christian identity at the very beginning. I should have talked to my leader to make known my feeling towards lying on the log sheet, and work out a solution with him. As 1 Cor 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I actually recalled a solution that the Lord had placed in view of this situation. I had a second in-charge leader who was strict, and had a ‘by-the-book’ working ethic. I had the opportunity to experience it because occasionally I was partnered with him. Even though I was thoroughly exhausted by the end of every shift with him, the log sheet was true. I believe if I had talked to my leader about it, I could have been permanently attached to my second in-charge.
Young men who are about to enter NS should establish their Christian identity firmly, and as quickly as possible. Bring your Bible to your camp and read it in your bunk, make known to your camp-mates that you are a Christian. When you feel tempted to sin or are about to sin, the presence and observation of your NS mates who know that you are a Christian, will remind you of your responsibility to maintain a God-honouring testimony, so that the name of Christ will not be shamed.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1).
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
According to the Scriptures, the church is vital in training men for ministry. Below are some key aspects of the church’s role in preparing men for ministry.
Spiritual moulding of men for ministry is one of the essential functions of the local church. This process encompasses discipleship and character formation. Through the faithful preaching of the Word, fervent prayer gatherings, and the fellowship of the saints, the church serves as a divine instrument for shaping and nourishing believers’ lives, especially those whom God calls to the ministry (Ephesians 4:11–13; cf. 1 Timothy 4:6-13; 1 Tim 5:22). Men for the ministry ought to be spiritually shaped within the church, with the help of Biblical teaching and example of godly leaders. Regular evaluations and spiritual “check-ins” ensure accountability and a strong foundation for a faithful ministry.
Recognising and developing spiritual gifts suitable for ministry are done within the context of the church. The Holy Spirit works through the church so that the spiritual gifts of His chosen men for ministry are identified, cultivated, and deployed for the glory of God, and the building up of the body of Christ (Acts 13:2; cf. 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6). Pastors and elders should assess spiritual gifts, character, and a genuine desire to serve.
Biblical instruction and theological training have been through the sound teaching of godly men within the church, helping prospective ministers understand Scripture deeply and apply it effectively in their lives (2 Timothy 1:13; 2:2; 3:14–17). Sunday schools, Bible studies, and dedicated ministry training programmes of the church can serve as platforms to equip men for the ministry.
Practical ministry experience should be intentionally provided by experienced pastors and preachers of the church through one-on-one discipleship and pastoral care. It enables aspiring ministers to model themselves after godly examples, equipping themselves to effectively apply sound doctrine to the lives of God’s people, thereby fostering spiritual growth. The mentoring process allows young leaders to learn through example, receiving correction and encouragement. Furthermore, churches should provide opportunities for hands-on ministry, such as preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and administration. Real-life involvement helps refine skills and build godly courage under the guidance of seasoned leaders (Luke 10:1–11; 2 Timothy 1:7-14).
Ordaining and sending out of men who are called to the ministry are done by the godly pastors of the church. They lay hands on those called, prepared and equipped to be ordained to the ministry, commissioning them with prayer and affirmation, as seen in the early church (Acts 6:6; 13:3). Prayer and encouragement strengthen men for the challenges of the ministry (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The church’s support must continue even after sending, through ongoing relationships and resources. By faithfully carrying out these roles, the church ensures that men entering the ministry are well-prepared to lead, serve, and shepherd God’s people according to His will.
Pastor Michael Zhu
I am deeply grateful to the Lord for the precious opportunity to study and be equipped further in my pastoral ministry. The recent course on Eschatology has profoundly enriched my understanding of Biblical truths on this subject, and brought significant blessings to my personal spiritual growth, family life, and church ministry.
Through the study of Eschatology, I gained a deeper appreciation of God’s sovereignty over history and His ultimate plan of redemption. This unwavering hope in God’s promises has strengthened my patience and confidence in shepherding the flock, especially during challenging times. It has equipped me to guide the congregation to fix their eyes on God’s eternal kingdom and live faithfully in the light of Christ’s return. The course also helped me teach the congregation how to embody an eschatological faith—serving diligently in the present while eagerly anticipating the glory of Christ’s second coming.
In my family life, the hope of eternity has encouraged me to cherish relationships more deeply. It has inspired me to nurture my children with a focus on eternal values, and to pray and serve together with my spouse in unity. Within the church, this course has motivated me to prioritise the spiritual growth of my brethren, helping them face today’s challenges with their hearts anchored in the unshakable hope of God’s kingdom.
I sincerely thank Rev. Koshy for his dedication and the immense wisdom he imparted to us through this course. May the Lord continue to bless this programme, using it to strengthen more servants of God and bless His church for His glory. Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Donald Dela Cruz
If one reads the newspaper, he will be aware of the events of the world; but if one reads the Bible, he will understand why those events are happening. The world’s current events make sense after learning about end-time events. Biblical prophecy asserts that plagues and wars will intensify as the second coming of the Lord Jesus draws nearer. Thus, COVID-19 and the wars around the world happening today are confirmations of God’s infallible Word. Even God’s beloved Israel is in the midst of war and conflict, as declared in His Word.
In the church setting, I praise the Lord for giving me a clearer understanding of the end times. This more precise understanding will translate into profound teachings / doctrines which the congregation will receive from teachers, who have been PBS students. After all, God’s teaching must reach His people with all purity. I am praying that I can clearly impart and explain the lessons that I have learned to the brethren.
Personally, I see God’s sovereignty and faithfulness amid these events. It is true that the world will not get better; nevertheless, it brings comfort to me because all events have been ordained by God even before they happen. This simply means that my Heavenly Father is in full control. Praise the Lord that He is in control to preserve and protect His people for Himself.
Praise the Lord for sustaining GBI Online, and giving Pastor Koshy the strength to take up the tedious task of teaching theology to all of us every Monday morning.
Pastor Jied
I would like to express my appreciation for Pastor Koshy’s service in the Lord’s vineyard, especially regarding the Pastoral Biblical Studies that we had with him. It has been a very encouraging and blessed time to learn from God’s Word. I appreciated the divine promise of things to come and how we, as a church, should be prepared and long to meet the Lord. The lessons we learned help us to serve the Lord more fervently, knowing that our labour will not be in vain in Him. Praying for the ministry and all the brethren – to Christ be the glory. Amen.
Pr Seraph McGregor
In His providence, the Lord brought me to Gethsemane Bible Institute in Vizag in 2021. I consider it a great blessing to be part of a ministry such as this, which strives to be faithful to the Word of God in every way. One of the areas in which this can be seen is in the fact that pastors, preachers and missionaries alike, who already are Bible college graduates, continue learning God’s Word with an objective to sharpen and deepen their understanding of Scripture in order to preach it effectively and with clarity for the benefit of the church. Therefore, I am very grateful to God for the Pastoral Biblical Studies (PBS) classes.
Over the past three and a half years, I have studied three topics in the PBS classes: Doctrine of Revelation and Scriptures, Covenant Theology, and Eschatology. The first course was helpful because it brought to my remembrance the very important doctrines of the inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy and preservation of Holy Scripture. It is inspired or God-breathed, and therefore, it is trustworthy and life-giving.
Studying Covenant Theology was another interesting part of PBS. It helped me not only better understand the covenants by studying each one in detail, but also to study and understand them from a premillennial standpoint, which I had not studied before.
The current topic which we are studying in the PBS class is Eschatology. The study of this topic has particularly helped me as I have gained a better and clearer understanding of Premillennial Eschatology, and I have come to respect this position. It also helped me better understand passages in the Book of Revelation and elsewhere in the prophets with a more literal approach to interpreting the text. This will also help me share what I have learnt with others more clearly. Furthermore, I initially leaned more towards the amillennial view of Eschatology, but that is now changing, and PBS classes have contributed to it. I sincerely seek to explore and learn more about this subject before arriving at a particular conclusion that is aligned to being taught and informed by the Word of God. May the Lord help me and guide me.
I share with you today an exhortation drawn from the timeless truths of God’s Word for our young men who are about to join the National Service (NS). GYF organised an online meeting for them yesterday, during which I gave this exhortation.
By God’s providence, you have been enlisted to serve the nation and are about to embark on a period of training and preparation. Throughout history, men have been called upon to rise, defend, and serve their nation. And now, in His sovereign plan, God has arranged for you to step into this responsibility. This is not a mere coincidence but a divine appointment—a significant stage in your life where your faith and character will be tested and refined.
As you prepare for the journey ahead, I want to share with you four essential spiritual mindsets that will serve as guiding principles throughout your national service. Military service is not merely a profession, but a sacred duty that calls for spiritual resilience, unwavering faith, and Christ-likeness.
The Lord says, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them ...” (Deuteronomy 31:6a). Courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of faith in God and His promises amidst fear. On the battlefield—whether physical or spiritual—God calls men to remain steadfast, not swayed by fear but anchored in unwavering trust in Him. Therefore, we are commanded to strengthen ourselves by holding firmly to His Word. Do not allow circumstances or experiences to shake your confidence nor instil fear in your heart.
Courage is not a reckless (or foolhardy), daring attitude but a disciplined and obedient approach to life, especially in the face of temptation and trials. A soldier must be disciplined and obedient to his commanding officer, and likewise, Christians must remain disciplined and obedient to our Heavenly Commander. As Scripture says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). A good soldier will be disciplined and obedient, equipping himself to face challenges, endure hardships, and remain steadfast in moments of crisis. Young men, train your bodies, discipline your minds, and guard your hearts with diligence and faithfulness.
“For the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6b). God does not send His people into battle without His presence accompanying them. Just as commanders lead their troops into the fray, God Himself promises to go with you. When fear creeps in, the nights are long, and the conflict seems insurmountable, remember: God is with you! In moments of doubt or exhaustion, you can commune with Him in prayer, draw strength from His promises, and rejoice in the assurance of His unwavering presence.
The army may offer you rewards, promotions, and financial incentives, but do not let these become the driving force behind your service. Never covet them nor pursue them through dishonest or deceptive means. True excellence is not measured by rank or accolades, but by spiritual and moral integrity. Our country needs righteous men, for Scripture says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Young men, your integrity and character will speak louder than your words. Serve with honour, truthfulness and respect. Be an example to others in speech, action and attitude, reflecting the light of Christ in all you do.
Reuel Resuma
I thank God for enabling me and my family to attend the YAF-YF Retreat, and for the retreat committee who laboured much to prepare and manage the programme well. I thank the Lord for the 7 groups which sang praises to Him, as well as for the three preachers: Pastor Koshy, Pr Samson, and Pr Cornelius, who expounded on the theme: “Living by the Spirit”.
Pr Cornelius preached about the “Person and Personality of the Holy Spirit”. I learned that the Spirit is not a thing, but a Person. He reveals His divinity through His personality. The Holy Spirit’s personality is shown in His intellect, emotion, and will. He also guides, strengthens, assures, communes with, and convicts the believer. The right response to the Holy Spirit is to fear and reverence Him as God. Pr Cornelius also preached on the fruit of the Spirit, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. Nine traits are mentioned: “love”, the essential nature of God; “joy”, the privilege and duty of every believer; “peace”, which stems from our justification by faith in Jesus; “longsuffering”, which is patience in suffering; “gentleness” and “goodness”, which are displayed in words and deeds of kindness; “faith”, our trust in God by the working of the Spirit; “meekness”, which is not being a pushover, but being sensitive to others, yet still standing firm in our convictions; “temperance”, also known as self-control, which is the believers’ wall of defence against sinful desires. We must honour God with our body, taking captive every thought for Christ, and fleeing from temptations. The fruit of the Spirit is singular, and is contrary to the works of the flesh. Without the Spirit’s help, we cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Thereafter, Pr Samson taught us in 2 parts, about the “Work of the Holy Spirit”. Since the Holy Spirit has many roles, His works are many. He is the One who orchestrates our regeneration, quickens the believer, and gives new life. He baptizes us spiritually, and seals us. He indwells in us at the point of our salvation, and never leaves us. He adopts, fills, empowers, equips, and illumines us. He also bestows spiritual gifts upon and comforts the believer.
I learned from Pastor that, though we are still in our sinful flesh that constantly tries to make us sin, we are not to walk after the flesh. Because of this, there is a war in us waged by the flesh against our soul. Paul reminds us that “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). The flesh is against God, and when we lived in the flesh before our regeneration, we were against God and was under God’s condemnation. Now being justified by faith in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to help us to fight against the lust of the flesh. Even though our life will always be a constant battle against the flesh, if we yield to the Spirit, we can overcome the flesh.
I thank the Lord for all the things I have learned during the retreat, and also for the fellowship we had with the brethren in Kuching. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14). All glory and praise be to God!
Christopher Low
“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 106:1).
I thank God for helping my family and me to attend this year’s YAF-YF Retreat on the theme: “Living by the Spirit”.
In the 1st theme message, I learned that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are equal in essence, glory, and power. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit, as the Bible says in Ephesians 4:30 – “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
In the 2nd theme message, I was taught that regeneration is the act of the Holy Spirit alone. He quickens elect sinners and makes them spiritually alive. Regeneration is once for all divine work; it is not repeated.
The 3rd theme message taught me about the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctifying believers and transforming them to be more like Christ. The Spirit also empowers us to serve God faithfully.
In the 4th theme message, I learned about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. We must bear these various traits in our lives.
In the 5th theme message, I learned about the peace we have through our Lord Jesus Christ. His mercy keeps us from falling. Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
The 6th theme message reminded me that the carnal mind is against God. We must not follow worldly trends or philosophies, but walk after the Spirit.
In the final theme message, I learned that sin will always try to pull us back, and we will face trials and temptations. But after salvation, we are made into new creatures in Christ and have the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome sin.
I thank God for Pastor, Pr Cornelius, and Pr Samson, who preached God’s Word faithfully. Praise God also for the seven choir groups that presented songs, and for everyone who worked hard to organise the retreat. I thank God that I could join a choir group and sing for His glory. I have learned many wonderful lessons during this retreat. I pray that God will help me live by the Spirit and walk closer to Him every day. All glory and praise be unto God!
Caleb Low
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD” (Psalm 113:1). I thank God for giving me the opportunity to attend the YAF-YF Retreat on the theme: “Living by the Spirit”. I would like to share some lessons which I have learnt from theme message 4 on “The Fruit of the Spirit”.
I learn that we are to love God and others, to be joyful, and to have peace with God, personal peace, and peace with others.
I am also reminded to be longsuffering, slow to anger, and to be gentle and do good to others. As Galatians 6:10 exhorts us, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
We must have faith in God and trust Him. We must be humble, “with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
Lastly, we must have temperance, i.e. to have self-control.
I pray that God will help me to live out the fruit of the Spirit every day. I want to show love and kindness to my family and friends, to be patient when things don’t go my way, and to trust God in everything. I also want to have self-control in how I speak and act, so that I can be a good testimony for Jesus. May God help me to grow more like Christ!
Nathan Resuma
I am thankful to God that my family and I could attend the YAF-YF Retreat in Kuching, as well as for the fellowship among brethren from Kuching and Singapore, and for the lessons I have learned from Pr Cornelius, Pr Samson and Pastor Koshy.
I learned from Pr Cornelius on the “Person and Personality of the Holy Spirit”, and how it is fundamentally important for Christians to understand that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, who reveals His divinity through His divine personality. He has intellect, wisdom, emotions, and the will to decide and choose, and He can be obeyed, mistreated or abused through actions, such as blaspheming or lying to Him. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, yet and is equal to both of them. From this, I learned that Christians must worship Him accordingly, and not sin against Him.
I learned from Pr Samson on the “Work of the Holy Spirit”, concerning how He has been working since the beginning of time, and on how He works in believers. Pr Samson taught us how the Holy Spirit regenerates us to make us alive unto the call of salvation, baptizes us into union with Christ at the point of conversion, seals us by His presence as an assurance of our redemption and salvation, indwells all believers of the Old and New Testaments, graciously adopts us and give us the rights of God’s family, bestows spiritual gifts unto believers, never fails to intercede for us, and comforts us. Along with these, I learned that the Spirit calls, fills, empowers, and equips God’s servants for the ministry.
I also learned about the “Fruit of the Spirit” from Pr Cornelius, and how that Christians must live a fruitful life by partaking of the virtues of godliness. We must obey the Spirit’s working in us, so that the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23), can be strengthened and preserved. The fruit of the Spirit is different from but works hand in hand with the gifts of the Spirit, for without the fruit, the gifts are poorly applied. Fruitful character and godly traits come from devotion to God, and results from the Spirit’s working in us.
I learned from Pastor on the main theme, “Living by the Spirit”, that we need the Spirit to convict us of sin, to bring us to Christ, help us against temptation, and teach us to follow Christ. For In our life, there is a conflict – flesh warring against our souls. Furthermore, we are not free from Satan’s attacks. However, we can rely on the Spirit to help us against flesh and Satan’s temptations. We must be willing to obey the Spirit’s bidding, surrender to God, and be spiritually minded by walking after the Spirit. We must never degenerate into carnal mindedness, but fight against it with the Spirit’s help, and let Him lead us to be more than conquerors for Christ.
Finally, I thank God for another opportunity to encourage the church in Kuching, and for the camp committee in the planning of this retreat. To God be all the glory.
Juffrey Balicao
Praise the LORD for the recent YAF-YF Retreat held in Kuching, on the theme: “Living by the Spirit”. It is by the Lord’s mercy and grace that all participants were sustained, preserved, and fed with His Word. He also blessed all the participants with a good time of fellowship during the breaks and game session, and in meeting the brethren at the Kuching mission station.
This year-end retreat is particularly noteworthy for my family and me. Firstly, I thank God for allowing me to serve as a member of the retreat committee. The Lord guided, strengthened, and gave wisdom to every committee member to fulfil their duties. Thank God for the spirit of unity and humility to serve Him and His people during this retreat. Additionally, I thank God for the good voices of the brethren who presented song presentations during each theme message. Furthermore, the Lord has blessed my family by enabling us to join this year-end retreat and be reunited. Thank God for the provision through the church, which sponsored both my family’s retreat fee and flights. This was our first visit to the mission church in Kuching, and our first time having fellowship with the brethren there.
During this 3-day event, the Lord blessed us with spiritual blessings through the preaching of His Word. The 1st theme message was delivered by Pr Cornelius and focused on the “Person and Personality of the Holy Spirit”. He thoroughly explained the Holy Spirit’s attributes of personality (intellect, emotions, will) and the Holy Spirit’s actions in the believer’s life (guiding, teaching, testifying, convicting of sin, interceding, restraining, sanctifying, equipping for service, calling for special service, assuring salvation). As Christians, we should know the workings of the Spirit and worship God accordingly.
For the next two theme messages, Pr Samson focused on the works of the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that every genuine believer has the Holy Spirit, and He is constantly working for the perfection of the believer’s faith. In the 4th theme message (by Pr Cornelius), we were taught about the two opposing forces in a believer’s life: the Spirit and the flesh. If you are led by the flesh, you shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Conversely, if you are led by the Spirit, you will be fruitful in the kingdom of God. With the nine traits listed by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:22-23, we are encouraged us to bear all of the godly traits and to manifest them until we are perfected by the Lord.
Lastly, Pastor Koshy preached the remaining theme messages on “Living by the Spirit”, based on Romans 8:1-14. The Holy Spirit has quickened us from the deadness of sin, liberated us from the bondage of sin, and made residence in us permanently. He also leads believers to desire and passionately love and serve Christ. Spirit-minded believers must be Spirit-functioned and minded individuals. May we continuously fight against the works of the flesh with the help of the Holy Spirit, and walk constantly in His leading. All glory to God!
Stephanas Tan Yeh Wen
By God’s grace, my family attended the recent Kuching YAF-YF Retreat without much hindrance or sickness. Thank God also that the seven presentation groups (who had prepared tirelessly) were able to present their respective items well, even though some had fallen ill during the course of the retreat. May the Lord be pleased to use their music to edify both the musicians and the congregation.
Familiar doctrines, such as sanctification, calling, equipping, were given greater and more personal emphasis during this retreat. What blessings such doctrines and their implications bring to me! It is comforting that I am able to confess my sins and to trust in Jesus (the very first work of the Spirit in us) – only because of the Spirit that works in me, and not of myself. It is the Spirit that sanctifies me, calls and consecrates me to ministry, equips me with the relevant gifts and right attitudes to serve Him, and even grants me grace to be faithful – not of myself. Praise God that it is the Spirit alone who saves and empowers us!
One practical implication from the doctrines of the Holy Spirit is an emphasis in using the Word of God in evangelism, through which the Spirit of God works in order to bring about salvation. Another is to pray for the illumination of the Spirit upon the preachers and the listeners – for no theological degree nor human intelligence can grant such knowledge to our minds and hearts. Yet another is to trust wholly upon the Word of God in all that we say and do - for it is perfectly inspired and perfectly preserved by the Spirit for us!
Thank God for the messages addressing the gifts which the Spirit has bestowed upon us, as well as the nine traits of the fruit of the Spirit. What a reminder that we should take every opportunity to serve God, no matter how small or laborious, with much joy and thanksgiving, and not out of forced obligation (1 Corinthians 15:58) – relying upon the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of the Spirit! May we not limit ourselves to ticking off a checklist, but to consider the list of 9 traits as non-exhaustive.
I also praise God for the reminder that the love borne as part of the fruit of the Spirit and the world’s love is not the same. Though the world has hijacked the term “love” to disguise their lust, yet nothing is further away from biblical love. Such a difference may be seen by the phrase, “preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). So often we emphasise on what others can do for us, rather than what we can do for others! How often have we then imbued the love of the world, rather than bearing biblical love in ourselves! Oh, that we should have more of Christ’s love, and put off, yea, detest, despise, even hate the lust of the world that has clothed itself with the term “love”.
May the Lord be pleased to apply these lessons continually in my life for the benefit of others around me.
The BOE has been prayerfully discussing and considering the appointment of new members to serve on the committees of our church’s various ministries and fellowships. By the Lord’s guidance and grace, the BOE has finalised the selection of committee members to serve for the next three years (2025–2027). These newly appointed committee members will assume their responsibilities for planning and organising programmes, in alignment with the instructions provided by the BOE from time to time, following their installation on the first Sunday of January 2025.
In the interim, the BOE directs all current committees to plan the meetings and activities for the first four months of 2025, as the newly assigned committees will be responsible for organising those activities starting in January 2025. We thank the Lord for the dedication and faithfulness of the brothers and sisters who have diligently served as committee members in their respective ministries and fellowships. Their wholehearted efforts and fervent commitment have been a blessing to the church. May the Lord richly reward each of them for their labour of love and faithful service in His kingdom.
Church committees advance the church’s mission through prayerful decision-making and a Christ-like attitude. To ensure that their service is consistent with our church’s biblical principles and goals, they should plan and organise all the activities according to the BOE’s directives. For this purpose, every committee functions under an Elder of the church who serves as an Advisor. All who serve in the committees need to be mindful that they ought to be submissive to the biblical authority of the Pastor and the BOE, as our church’s constitution stipulates:
Article 12.2—The spiritual oversight of the Church in matters of doctrine, principles of government, church elections, admission and discipline of members and the administrative oversight of the Church shall be the specific responsibilities of the BOE.
Article 15.7—The Lead Pastor shall be the ex-officio member and advisor of all committees connected with the Church, except that he may delegate such role to a Pastor or an Elder.
May the Lord help all the new committee members to be diligent and servant-hearted to serve together in unity. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Committees must ensure their actions and policies align with biblical principles, avoiding compromise with worldly standards or practices. Committees should welcome input from church leaders, pastors, and other members to ensure well-rounded and informed choices. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Decisions should always be guided by the Word of God. Hasty decisions can lead to mistakes. Committees should take time to seek God’s will, trusting His timing rather than reacting impulsively to circumstances. Every decision should be evaluated, based on whether it glorifies God. Committees exist not to promote personal agendas, but to advance God’s kingdom and honour His name.
Chinese Service
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Pr Daniel Lim
Eld. Alan Choy
Dn Gan Chin Hwi
Bro. Francis Tan
Filipino Fellowship (GFF)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Dn Norefel Resuma
Bro. Anthony Evangelista
Bro. Jordan Ballega
Bro. Juffrey Balicao
Malayalam Fellowship
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Dn Benny Skariah
Dn Lijoy George
Bro. Joish Paul
Pastoral Visitation
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Eld. Ng Poh Kok
Eld. Lim Ah Sang
Dn Tan Eng Huat
Bro. David Tan
Evangelism Outreach (GEO)
Eld. Low Boon Siang (Advisor)
Pr Jeremiah Sim
Bro. Chan Tuck Whye
Bro. Gerry Lee
Seniors’ Ministry (GSM)
Eld. Mah Chin Kwang (Advisor)
Eld. Ng Poh Kok
Pr Jeremiah Sim
Pr Daniel Lim
Men’s Fellowship (GMF)
Eld. Lim Ah Sang (Advisor)
Dn Lijoy George
Bro. Benjamin Cho
Bro. Ignatius Law
Bro. James Chen
Bro. Jomart Tindaan
Ladies’ Fellowship (GLF)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Sis. Julie Skariah
Sis. Lim Chow Lin
Sis. Low Hui Lin
Sis. Merisa Teong
Sis. Tan Beng Yan
Children’s Ministry (GCM)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Bro. Jordy Kay
Bro. Matthew Mah
Sis. Charlene Mae Abrena
Sis. Choy Luan Kheng
Sis. Rhodora Resuma
Adults’ Fellowship (GAF)
Eld. Francis Lee (Advisor)
Bro. Andrew Teong
Bro. Aron Ong
Bro. Lim Peng Kwang
Bro. Matthew Mah
Bro. Shaun Ng
Dn Benny Skariah (Mentor)
Youth Fellowship (GYF)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Pr Cornelius Koshy
Dns Diana Chan
Bro. Amoz Choy (Auxiliary)
Bro. Gideon Lee (Auxiliary)
Bro. Marcus Chee (Auxiliary)
Bro. Rayson Tan (Auxiliary)
Sis. Judy Chan (Auxiliary)
Young Adults’ Fellowship (GYAF)
Eld. Low Boon Siang (Advisor)
Bro. Andronicus Koshy
Bro. Benjamin Chong
Bro. Goh Yong Wei
Bro. Matthew Peh
Bro. Raphael Ko
Young Mothers’ Fellowship (GYM)
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Sis. Jenice Chee
Sis. Joey Peh
Sis. Law Sze Huey
Sis. Tan Hua See
Sis. Sophia Zhang (Mentor)
Sis. Tay Su Ling (Mentor)
Encouragers’ Ministry (GEM)
Eld. Mah Chin Kwang (Advisor)
Dn John Zhang
Dn Lijoy George
Dns Diana Chan
Bro. Edward Wong
Sis. Lee Kim Lei
Defenders’ Ministry (GDM)
Eld. Francis Lee (Advisor)
Pr Samson Hutagalung (Consultant)
Pr Cornelius Koshy
Dn John Zhang
Dn Tan Eng Huat
Bro. Jonathan Tay
Church Library
Pastor Koshy (Advisor)
Bro. John Peh
Sis. Chairine Chayadi
Sis. Chong Shu Mun
Sis. Jenice Chee
Sis. Ruby Seng
Sis. Yeo Geok Hien
Ushers’ Ministry
Eld. Low Boon Siang (Advisor)
Dn Benny Skariah (Overall IC)
Bro. Marcus Chee (2IC)
Bro. Matthew Peh (AV IC)
Bro. Cayson Chok (SingPost Store IC)
Sis. Sarah Yong (Sunday Slides IC)
Sis. Karen Quek (Sunday Refreshment IC)
Dn Norefel Resuma (Holy Communion Coordinator)
Sis. Yeo Geok Hien (Holy Communion Preparatory Team Leader)
Since 2012, the Gethsemane Youth Choir has provided a platform for young people to learn disciplines of godly fellowship, service, music, and co-labouring. Through the hymns and songs, they also learn biblical doctrines and principles. Through the presentation of various hymns on Sundays and special days, our young people actively worshipped God and proclaimed His truths through their music.
The songs that the youth choir practise and sing are carefully chosen, based on their sound biblical themes and teachings. The contents of their songs are edifying to them and their listeners. Ephesians 5:19-20 admonishes, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Singing Scriptural hymns and spiritual songs can deepen young people’s understanding and appreciation of their faith in the Lord and His truths.
During their practices, the biblical truths expressed in the songs are explained and emphasised, so that their singing and lives may be anthems of His praise. The biblically sound songs that the choir learn and present before the congregation, teach the youths biblical stories and truths that are retold in their songs, helping them to grow in faith.
The youth choir also fosters a sense of Christian communion and cohesiveness among the youths as they work together to praise the Lord. They become focused on encouraging one another, and work with one another patiently and prayerfully. Indeed, there are many challenges and frustrations that they have to handle with the help of the Holy Spirit, so that they may not be discouraged and defeated in their service in the choir. To work together, they must overcome juvenility, personal misdemeanours, immaturity, etc. Singing harmoniously in the youth choir requires learning to serve together.
GYC has been used by the Lord for the spreading of the Gospel truths beyond our congregation and country. They have travelled to other countries to sing about the salvation and glories of our Lord Jesus Christ. They also regularly sing for the BW Web Radio and BWTV to proclaim Christ and His glorious truths around the world. May our youths continue to rejoice and praise the Lord with their melodious songs. May the voices of our youths be heard praising Him always in all places!
We should earnestly pray for this ministry of our youths, that the Lord would preserve everyone from Satan’s devices and empower them by His Spirit to render their service to God in an acceptable and honourable manner. We must also pray that they will develop godliness and responsible conduct in all areas of their lives so that they will be sanctified vessels for His glory.
May our prayer be like Psalm 148:12-13, “Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”
Under the guidance of the GYF Committee (Pastor, Eld. Choy, Pr Cornelius, Dns Diana Chan), an appointed mature youth with musical ability will prepare the GYC to present songs during various church functions. By God’s grace, Pr Cornelius Koshy led the choir from 2012 to 2019 and Bro. Amoz Choy from 2020 till today. We thank God for their dedicated service in the choir for the Lord’s glory.
From this month onwards, Bro. Titus Ho will lead the choir in its preparations and presentations. Bro. Titus will be guided by Pr Cornelius, who has been appointed to minister to our church’s youths. Let us pray for Bro Titus that God will help him to serve faithfully in the days ahead.
I would like to encourage all the youths to lovingly support and cooperate with Bro. Titus, and serve the Lord as a dedicated team of singers. To be honourable singers for the Lord, let your lives be disciplined and holy. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be continually praised by your joyful singing.
Dear Pastor Koshy,
The Lord has sustained Gethsemane B-P Church, Pangasinan, for the last 10 years. We celebrated our 10th Anniversary last Lord’s Day because of God’s faithfulness. Almost 100 people came to witness the goodness of God. Praise the Lord for bringing Rev. Reggor Galarpe as the Lord’s messenger. The Lord also brought Pr Kelvin Lim to see the Lord’s work here in Pangasinan. Many brethren from many places came to rejoice with us. Our brethren from San Fernando, La Union came together with Bro. Jordan (Gethsemane Filipino Fellowship) and Bro. Julius del Rosario (Negros). Thank God for bringing them safely as they travelled back and forth.
Rev. Reggor preached on the topic, “The Church and Its Deacons”, from Acts 6:1–7. It is a timely message because the occasion was also the installation of the newly elected deacons. The Lord raised Brothers Jumar Balicao and Kyt Bince (together with their families) to serve in this office. Praise the Lord for giving us more hands to plan for the activities of the church. When the elected deacons came to the front, with their families standing behind them, Rev. Reggor asked them several questions to confirm their commitment to God. After the affirmation, Rev. Reggor gave them the charge and installed them as new deacons of Gethsemane B-P Church, Pangasinan.
There was infant baptism after the deacons’ installation. I explained to the congregation why we baptize infants. It is because children are part of the covenant and I cited Genesis 17:7 and Acts 2:38-39 as basis of the practice. I then called the parents to come forward, and asked them a series of questions to affirm their faith and commitment to introduce Christ to their child. Following that, I baptized Daniel Koa Bince (son of Dn Kyt and Sis Charlene), with Dn Jumar assisting me. Praise the Lord for the faith of the parents!
Indeed, “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3). As I look back at the last 10 years, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). Without the grace of God, the church would not survive. We had many problems but the Lord has sustained the church. Satan tried to divide and infiltrate the church, but the Lord kept us all together.
I want to express also my thanksgiving to Gethsemane B-P Church, Singapore and her leaders. The church is very willing to be the channel of God’s blessings. Thank God for the generosity and commitment to support the work here. We can focus to grow and learn because of your charitable kindness. Your unwavering support, both financially and through prayers, is much appreciated.
Lovingly in Christ,
Rev. Donald dela Cruz
The church of Jesus Christ needs godly men in the pews and pulpit whom He can count on to do His will and purposes in the church. When people within the church increasingly become materialistic, selfish, prideful, pleasure seekers, haters of the truth, and irreverent of God, we need to pray for godly men in our congregation. Very few men are genuine lovers of Christ and His righteousness these days. We live in a pernicious time, and hence we need to pray as David pleaded, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men” (Psalm 12:1).
God seeks those whose hearts are right with Him to take up the church’s offices, such as pastors, elders, preachers, deacons, etc. His chief concern is not about abilities or skills, but spiritual character. Hence, 1 Timothy 3:1-13 enumerates the spiritual and moral qualities required of elders and deacons who serve in church leadership.
God expects those who serve Him to be men of devout hearts. He delights in the humility and loyalty of the leaders of His people. In the Scriptures, we see God’s commendation of pious and zealous men who served Him. Here are some examples:
There is no greater honour that our church can receive than the godliness of its members and leaders. On the other hand, when the congregation is least concerned about godliness, the church will be scandalised, dishonoured, and degraded.
We praise God for the successful launch of Bible Witness TV on the 1st of September 2022. We are very grateful to note that people have started to watch it from around the world. Let us earnestly pray for the team that work daily on making the programmes available on BWTV for the edification of God’s people all around the world.
We would like you to introduce BWTV to your friends. You may send the following information to your contacts.
How to access:
If you use a smartphone or tablet, access it through our Church App (Gethsemane BPC, downloadable from your app store) for the best viewing experience. You can also view BWTV on a larger screen by casting from the app to your smart TV.
If you use a laptop or personal computer, you can watch BWTV on biblewitnesstv.com.
Notes received:
Dear Pastor,
Just a short note to add on to the many notes that you must have received, praising and thanking the Lord and you in leading the Bible Witness team over the many months culminating in the launching of Bible Witness TV. What a joyous occasion on this blessed first day of September 2022, to watch and be blessed by these wonderful videos! These videos showcase very well the often-quoted statement, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God”, in the minds and hearts of all who laboured for Him in this endeavour. May the Lord be gracious to grant more great things for His glory.
—Elder Mah Chin Kwang
We praise God for the effort made in getting WebTV live. Thank you, Pastor. Please share with the BW team that we are praying for the good work they have done and thank God for their efforts.
—Bro. Lijoy K George
Studying the Scriptures and serving the Lord Jesus Christ are integral to the life of those whom the Lord has called into the ministry of the Word. Serving God ought to be supplemented with studying of the holy Scriptures so that the servants of God will know and do His blessed will rather than their own! While every born-again Christian has been redeemed to serve the LORD, not all are called into serving Him in the ministry of the Word. This ministry of the Word is to be complemented with continuous prayer (cf. Acts 6:4). Therefore, I am very thankful to the LORD my God for opening this door of learning again to me in the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC), with the support of our beloved Pastor and the Board of Elders in Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church (GBPC).
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven … and a time to build up” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3b). “Re-signing” to study God’s perfect Word in FEBC is indeed a God-given privilege! One reason for returning to study is to equip myself and be rooted and built up in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord and Saviour. Re-learning the biblical doctrines of the Reformed faith which I have been taught will surely strengthen the foundations that were earlier built. It would be like the reminder of Paul to Timothy, “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 2:2). It will be very refreshing for me to hear again those wonderful teachings which we profess and hold on to! Moreover, there might be things for me to unlearn as well if I have unconsciously come to know them. Jesus said, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2). In the process, there would be some painful pruning or “sharpening”, yet it is needful! “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). In this regard, I long for your continuous prayer that the LORD sustains me both in college and in church for the next three years. It is a heavy responsibility to study the Word, not to mention to serve the LORD at the same time.
Next, there is nothing more meaningful and interesting in the life of a person called of the LORD into the ministry of the Word than the study of theology. To study the Bible continuously is joy unspeakable, especially when doing so with a grateful and prayerful heart together with many others. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). Indeed, I am very thankful to the LORD for this opportunity to return to my alma mater, FEBC, to continue and complete the Master of Divinity (MDiv) programme, which I had started but left stranded for a while. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). As much as there is joy within, fear is not absent either! The concerns regarding the ability to cope with all the demands during the course of study, especially in the subjects of Greek and Hebrew, are real but I trust in the LORD for help. For His grace is ever sufficient, and He “is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
The ministry of the Word to the inmates in Changi Prison Complex continues on Wednesday afternoons and sometimes on other days. The LORD is pleased to bless this work and has brought some of those inmates to our midst. Among them is Bro Vijay, who is attending our church service on Sundays and studying in FEBC on Thursday evenings. Moreover, teaching children from the Gospel of John during GCM on Saturdays, held concurrently with various fellowship gatherings, remains unaffected. May the LORD be pleased to save the souls of our young ones through the teaching and preaching of His infallible and inerrant Word, and even to call some to serve Him one day!
Serving the LORD gladly must be the desire of every born-again believer. It is the reasonable service of every saint to learn good doctrines of the Bible, and to present himself according to the truth thereof to serve God as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him (cf. Romans 12:1-2). Moreover, having learnt all these wonderful teachings from godly men in the faith, let us pass it on to the next generation for the blessings of God’s people, and for the extension of His kingdom here on earth. May the LORD our God be praised as all glory and honour belong to Him, the living and true God!
Dear brethren,
It was indeed a special blessing of our Lord that we could witness, as part of our church camp, the ordination of Donald dela Cruz and Sujith Samuel into the pastoral ministry last Thursday (16th June 2022). Both of them had completed their theological training at Far Eastern Bible College, during which time they attended and participated in Gethsemane BPC’s ministries. Rev Donald dela Cruz started the Gospel mission work in Pangasinan, the Philippines, in June 2014, while Rev Sujith Samuel began his evangelistic work in Vizag, India, in June 2017. Knowing the need for ordained ministers in both of their places of ministry, our Board of Elders recommended that they should be ordained. We thank God for the Ordination Council that had been convened, which was made up of Rev. Dr Jeffrey Khoo (True Life BPC), Rev. Ephrem Chiracho (Gethsemane BPC, Ethiopia), Rev. Reggor Galarpe (Gethsemane BPC, Cebu, the Philippines), Rev. Paul Cheng (Bethel BPC, Melbourne, Australia) and myself. The presence and exhortations of each of them, as well as the prayers for the ordination of both men, were most encouraging and much appreciated.
Having witnessed the ordination of the two men, let our thankful hearts endeavour in prayers for them. The Word of God expects us to support them in constant prayer. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 exhorts us, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you”.
The apostle Paul often requested brethren to pray for him and his fellow labourers in the work of the Gospel. On many other occasions in his letters, Paul asked for prayer. In Romans 15:30–32, he asked for prayer for continuing and extended ministry, as well as for fellowship with them. In 2 Corinthians 1:11, he mentioned their prayers as integral to his ministry. In Ephesians 6:17–21, he sought their prayers, that he might speak boldly for Christ. In Philippians 1:15–20, he affirmed their prayers as a source of strength in his witness in and through his imprisonment in Rome. In Colossians 4:3–4, he solicited their prayers for an open door for his preaching (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:25; Hebrews 13:18).
Though the apostles were called, equipped and endowed with the Holy Spirit and extraordinary miraculous gifts, they humbly beseeched the people of the church, both young and old, to pray for them. If Paul (with all his unique, miraculous apostolic gifts) required the prayers of God’s people, how much more preachers and pastors of our time need the prayer support of the church. Those who lead the church should not forget their need for spiritual support from the congregation. One’s office of leadership in the church, or spiritual gift, or past successful service, does not make one self-sufficient for the work of the ministry. Mutual support, particularly prayer support, is vital for the success of one’s service.
Every member of the church, being joined with one another as the body of Christ, is to supply each other that which is needed. The eye cannot say unto the hand, “I have no need of thee”; nor the head to the feet, “I have no need of you” (1 Cor 12:21). Mutual support, according to the ability that God has given, is vital for the efficient operation of the whole church.
The apostle desired prayer, particularly for the ministry of “the word of the Lord”. Prayer, both requested and offered to God, recognises God as the Source of the progress and success of preaching. It is a great danger to attribute the success of preaching to the preacher’s talent and not to rely on God’s help, as that would ascribe to man the glory due unto God alone. Every Christian who hears the preaching of God’s Word must remember that he is in the presence of the preacher’s God, rather than the preacher himself. The blessing he receives through the preaching of the Word is God-sent. So, when he prays for the preacher and his preaching, he links the pulpit to the throne of God, the true fountain of all spiritual blessings.
The object of praying for the preacher is that the Word of God “may have free course, and be glorified”. Paul is here using Greek words that evoke the memory of the ancient Greek runners’ success and honour. Christians must desire and pray for great success through the faithful and fervent efforts of the preachers in turning sinners to Christ and establishing faithful churches for the edification of saints (cf. Psalm 67:1-3).
The prayer request for the ministers of the Word has nothing to do with personal well-being as an end in itself. The request is made that the ministry committed to them might continue and expand. Paul could not separate his ministry from the prayers of his brothers and sisters in Christ. Regular prayer support from caring friends is a great asset to every minister of the Word. Blessed, indeed, is the pastor who receives the continuing prayers of the people.