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A Thanksgiving Reflection on Giving in Our Church

Over the past thirty-eight years of our church, God has blessed us to witness a powerful truth continually. Our growth in both local and foreign Gospel work has been significantly advanced through the generous and sacrificial giving of our members and friends.

Time and again, when God opened doors for us to proclaim Christ, whether through church planting, missionary support, evangelism, or strengthening of our home ministries, it was your Spirit-led giving that made those efforts possible. Brethren, moved by a desire to see the church advance in her endeavours for the expansion of the Gospel, have consistently responded with open hearts and open hands, giving not only out of abundance, but often through personal sacrifice.

We saw this once again just two weeks ago. When we brought before you the urgent need to meet the deficit for the current financial year, your response was swift and gracious. Many gave cheerfully and promptly, and by God’s grace, the entire shortfall was fully covered.

This is no small matter. It is a clear mark of God’s hand upon our church, working mightily through us as we walk in faith and obedience, with hearts set on seeking first the kingdom of God. Such generosity not only strengthens the ministry, but also fosters unity, faith and joy within the body.

Let us continue in this spirit. This new fiscal year, we have much more to accomplish in the local and foreign Gospel endeavours. God has given us these opportunities, and we should not hesitate to undertake them. For as we give, we grow in grace, Gospel missions, and eternal fruit for the glory of God.

The Practice of Church Giving

Giving in the church encompasses more than finances. While tithes and offerings are important, the New Testament calls the church to a wide-ranging generosity.

Giving Financially

Paul exhorted the Corinthian church to be intentional and cheerful in their giving: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

Our giving should not be under compulsion, but it should flow from a grateful heart. 

Giving Time and Service

The church must also give of her time and spiritual gifts in service. The apostle Peter exhorts: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). 

Every believer has been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, not for self-exaltation, but for the edification of the body and the advancement of the Gospel. When the members of Christ’s church offer their time and talents willingly and joyfully, the whole body thrives. 

Whether one has the gift of teaching, serving, encouraging, leading, praying, showing mercy, or organising ministries, each has a role to play in building up the church. A giving church is a working, serving church. And a serving church is a growing church.

Spiritual gifts left unused are like lamps hidden under a bushel. But when offered to the Lord, they become instruments of divine grace, pointing others to Christ and strengthening the household of faith. 

Likewise, time is also a sacred gift from God, woven with divine purpose. Each moment carries opportunities ordained by His providence—to serve, to grow, to bless, and to glorify Him. To value time rightly is to recognise that every hour holds a doorway to obey the will and purposes of the One who orders our steps. The stewardship of God-given time and gift is not optional; it is a sacred trust. 

Giving Love and Forgiveness

Perhaps the most powerful gift a church can offer is genuine love and forgiveness. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The early church’s growth was fuelled by her passionate love and hospitality. They broke bread together with gladness and singleness of heart, bearing one another’s burdens, meeting one another’s needs, and welcoming strangers as family. Whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, male or female—all found equal footing at the foot of the cross. This Christlike love was the fragrance of the early church, drawing multitudes who longed for truth and hope. When the early church practised this kind of generosity, the results were astonishing: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). Their giving created unity, eradicated need, and built mutual trust in the community.

In these days of selfishness and bitter quarrels, genuine love is very rare in this world. Even in churches and Christian families, many people cease to express genuine love and forgiveness. But the church that yields to the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord has abundantly supplied to His people, can produce the spiritual fruit of love (cf. Gal. 5:22-23).

The Promise of Church Growth

Scripture consistently connects generosity with an increase in the church’s spiritual vitality and outreach effectiveness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 directly links generous giving to both spiritual abundance and fruitfulness in ministry. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”. Those who give cheerfully are promised sufficiency and grace to abound in good works, including outreach and service.

A giving church attracts, not by marketing or manipulation, but by the compelling testimony of God’s love in action. Acts 2 presents this model: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship… And all that believed were together… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:42, 44, 47). Notice the connection: They gave. They fellowshipped. They taught. And the Lord added. Gospel growth is God’s work, but He uses the faithful generosity of His people as His instrument.

Hindrances to Giving and Growth

When a church fails to give, her growth is severely curtailed. The Laodicean church in Revelation claimed to be rich, but Christ rebuked them: “Because thou sayest, I am rich… and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor…” (Revelation 3:17). They had ceased to give from the heart. Their spiritual stagnation came from misplaced trust in material wealth. A stingy spirit leads to spiritual starvation.

Hoarding, fear, distrust and selfishness will choke the life out of a church. But the spiritual increase promised will be enjoyed when biblical giving is maintained – freely, cheerfully, and faithfully.

Conclusion

The church of Jesus Christ is called to be a giving body because she represents the giving Saviour. The more she pours out in love, generosity, time and service, the more she will be blessed by God with spiritual vitality and numerical increase that God promised.

It may surprise some to learn that some of the fiercest attacks against God’s Word arise not from secular critics, but from within the church itself. When unbelievers scoff at Scripture, we expect it. But when pastors, leaders, and professing Christians disregard, distort, or diminish the Bible’s authority, the damage is severe, the betrayal more grievous. In such times, the church must not retreat, but rise—humbly and courageously—to defend the unchanging truth she has been entrusted to uphold. As 1 Timothy 3:15 declares, the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Yet, in doing so, we must ask ourselves: can frail, fallen men truly “defend” the Word of the living God? Scripture itself portrays the Word not as something fragile needing rescue, but as fire, as a hammer that shatters rock (Jeremiah 23:29). It is not God’s Word that needs us; rather, we desperately need the Word. The Lord is our Defender, and His truth is our shield (Psalm 91:4). To presume that the Bible will fail without our help is both proud and perilous. We are not called to uphold it as if it were weak, but to declare it faithfully, for it stands forever (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25).

We must therefore approach the defence of God’s Word with deep reverence, not misplaced confidence. Scripture warns that those who speak for God must be sanctified by Him. “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes?” God asks the unclean in Psalm 50:16. None of us, by nature, is worthy to handle His Word. It is only by His mercy that we are made fit.

So the right posture is not pride but petition: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, that I may serve You.” Let every preacher, teacher, singer, and giver say, “God has helped me.” As Paul testified, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). All our labours for the truth must be grounded in grace.

We do not defend the Word because it is weak, but because we have been entrusted with it. And we do so not in our own strength, but in humble dependence on the God whose Word endures forever.

Worthy Defenders of God’s Word

The record of Jeremiah 23 is a sobering reminder that even those who profess to be God’s people can become miserable custodians of His truth. Israel’s failure to uphold God’s Word stands as a warning to the church today. Some precious lessons gleaned from Jeremiah 23 are shared below that we, who are called to be “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), must consider carefully to be worthy defenders of God’s Word.

Be Faithful Believers

God’s displeasure towards the people of Judah was powerfully expressed in the words of Jeremiah: “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD” (vv. 9-11).

The people, prophets and priests in God’s house, who were meant to uphold God’s truth, are declared profane because they are even found with their wickedness within God’s house. The land is described as mourning and drying up because it is “full of adulterers”, symbolising widespread moral and spiritual decay. Those who fail to obey and honour God’s Word become enemies within the house of God.

Even today, passive, indifferent, and disobedient believers undermine the testimony of the church. Faithful defence of God’s Word begins not with grand arguments but with simple, unwavering obedience. When God’s Word commands, we obey. Whether He calls us to rebuke sin, forsake worldliness, or abandon personal ambitions for His sake, our response must be immediate and complete. Obedience is the most basic and robust defence of God’s truth.

Faithfulness to Scripture is essential. The church must uphold truth, pursue holiness, and reject compromise. Without this, even places meant for worship become corrupted. God’s people must remain vigilant, obedient, and reverent.

Be Faithful Preachers

Jeremiah also denounces false prophets who speak “a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:16). God’s Word concerning those false prophets: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”

Preachers who substitute their own opinions for God’s truth corrupt their sacred office. They are deceivers of God’s people, certainly not proclaimers and defenders of God’s truth, for they give credence to their thoughts over God’s thoughts.

The pulpit is not a stage for personal display; it is a platform sanctified for proclaiming the unadulterated Word of God. Preachers must renounce all pride and pray: “O LORD, teach me and make me to know what Thou hast spoken in Thy Word.” True defenders of the Word are those who humble themselves under its authority and declare only what God has said.

We must learn to discern truth carefully, test all teaching by Scripture, and reject flattering lies. True spiritual guidance comes from God’s mouth, not human imagination. God’s people must value truth over personal prosperity, prestige, pleasure and popularity.

Be Rebukers of Ungodliness

God abhorred prophets who told evildoers, “Ye shall have peace.” Unmasking their role in promoting sin, Jeremiah declared, “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. (Jeremiah 23:17). Instead of confronting sin, they comforted the rebellious. Such tolerance of sin invites God’s wrath.

The church today must resist the temptation to soften God’s standards for the sake of acceptance. Pastors and elders must courageously call sin what it is. Fathers must lead their families in righteousness. Every believer must take up the sword of the Spirit to fight off sin. The refusal to rebuke sin is not compassion; it is compromise, and it undermines the authority of God’s Word. 

Be Steadfast in His Counsels

God asked through Jeremiah, “For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?” (Jeremiah 23:18). Those words reveal that not all who claimed to know God truly listened to Him. They may outwardly profess loyalty to His Word by reading it, quoting it, even preaching it. But their lives tell another story. Their conduct, choices, and priorities show an insulting indifference to God’s commands.

Today, many profess to uphold the counsel of the LORD, yet their lives betray indifference to its commands. Marking our Bibles with underlines is not the same as marking God’s Word in our hearts. Some underline verses in their Bibles, memorise Scripture, or attend faithful churches, yet their hearts remain cold, their actions unchanged, and their wills unyielded. They treat God’s Word like information rather than divine instruction. This is not standing in His counsel; it is standing near it without being shaped by it. Such a disconnect is dangerous.

To truly stand in the counsel of the LORD means more than hearing His Word—it means submitting to it in reverent obedience. We must measure our love for God’s Word by our faithfulness to it. Have we truly stood in His counsel? Let us search our hearts and confess, “O LORD, we have heard Thy Word but have not stood in Thy counsel. Have mercy on us!” The evidence of true defenders of the Word is transformation, a people turning from evil and walking in truth.

Be Not Pretenders

The Lord declared, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21). These men claimed to speak for God without His calling or appointment. These prophets acted with zeal but lacked divine commission. The lesson is clear: not everyone who runs in God’s name is sent by Him.

Today, pulpits are filled with self-appointed preachers who lack divine calling. A true preacher must have an inward conviction of God’s call, visible spiritual maturity and the gifting affirmed by the church. Bible colleges cannot confer a divine call; only God can. Churches must be discerning and prayerful before ordaining anyone to ministry. It is dangerous and grievous to support a man whom God has not called. Pretenders will only lead the flock astray.

Ministry without divine commission dishonours God and misleads His people. Today, we must guard the pulpit and spiritual leadership from men of ambition-driven service. Ministry must be grounded in God’s calling, shaped by His Word, and empowered by His Spirit, not by personal desire or public approval.

Conclusion

How then do we become defenders of God’s Word? It begins with allowing the Word to defend and sanctify us. We do not fight for the Bible by our fleshly strength, but by the spiritual weapons God provides (2 Corinthians 10:4). We must be moulded by the truth we proclaim. Our confidence is not in our intellect or ability, but in God’s grace and calling.

Moreover, the church as a whole must submit to the authority of Scripture. Let every member be a Berean, testing what they hear against the Word. Let us never forget the tragedy of unfaithful men who publicly upheld the Bible while privately denying it. Anyone who disobeys the Word ridicules it and discards it with contempt.

As Jeremiah 23:22 says, “But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way.” The evidence of true defenders of the Word is transformation—a people turning from evil and walking in truth.

Finally, let us remember Paul’s words to Timothy: “That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Our identity as the church of the living God is proven in our role as the pillar and ground of the truth. We uphold the glory of God’s Word by living under its rule. Only then are we deemed worthy defenders of His truth.

Many of us were deeply saddened and troubled upon hearing the sudden news of Pastor Reggor Galarpe’s ill health. Concerned, I reached out to him by phone. Though he was enduring physical pain and facing the uncertainty of biopsy results, his voice remained calm and unwavering—bold in the Lord, as always. Despite the looming prospect of medical treatment, his heart was steadfast, eager to continue serving the Lord, whatever the outcome.

During our conversation, he mentioned an article he had written to inform and comfort the Cebu congregation while he and his family waited for the test results. We are privileged to share that article within the pages of this bulletin. This reflection was penned in the “shadow” of affliction, yet lit by faith.

As I reflected on Pastor Reggor’s ministry in Cebu and how the Lord has used him to strengthen mission stations across the Philippines for more than 20 years (since 2003), I was reminded that those called to serve Christ are often called to serve Him in seasons of unusual hardship. The apostle Paul testified to this very reality, declaring, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me…” (Acts 20:19).

To serve the Lord in times of comfort is commendable, but to serve Him in seasons of affliction is extraordinary. The apostle Paul, in his farewell discourse to the Ephesian elders, pulled back the curtain on his ministry to show that it was accomplished not in ease, but with tears. He described it as a path that had been walked in suffering, hardship, and perseverance.

In “serving the Lord with all humility of mind”, Paul knew that divine strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul’s humility was not false modesty, but the fruit of a heart surrendered to divine grace. His Christ-centred service was marked by submission even amidst intense trials.

His service was also “with many tears”. They were not tears of defeat, but of intercession, of burden-bearing for the souls entrusted to him. These tears speak of the depth of his pastoral heart: a man not indifferent to pain of others, but willing to be poured out for others.

The phrase, “and temptations, which befell me”, reveals the severity of his afflictions. His calling placed him directly in the path of danger. Yet he remained unmoved, being focused on his calling as a preacher of the Word.

The servant of Christ is not spared from – but strengthened amidst – affliction!

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Going Through Series of Tests

Rev. Reggor Galarpe

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). 

For some time, I have been bearing with occasional backache – a kind of painful sensation that many would consider as “panuhot” (bloatedness), which can be easily relieved by applying some liniment. It was no big deal until I started to feel pain on my right upper quadrant (right side of chest and abdomen); that was when I went for a medical check-up in September last year. I thought that it might have something to do with my internal organs (kidney, liver, gall bladder, etc.). I was ordered to go for the usual blood tests, plus ultrasound scan of the whole abdomen. All these revealed no “alarming” result, meaning everything’s fine inside – praise God!

However, the “on and off” pain continued, so the doctor advised that I go for the CT scan (whole abdomen). For some reasons (one of which was the cost), I thought of delaying it for some time later, hoping that the pain would be gone, but it persisted, though still manageable with the “ever-dependable” liniment. Then, in April this year, I noticed a swelling on my back. With all that was going on at that time, especially the preparations for our Combined Church Camp, I thought of seeing the doctor only after the event was over.

Indeed, a week after the camp, we went to see the doctor and I showed her the swelling. The initial impression was somewhat comforting, as she thought that it could be an accumulation of fat tissues. I was advised, in addition to the usual lab tests, to undergo another ultrasound (this time for my back), and also chest x-ray to see if it has affected my lungs. While the x-ray result was normal, the ultrasound suggested further imaging. Thus, the following week, I was scheduled for the CT scan of the whole abdomen (with contrast).

Again, I take comfort that all the internal organs are generally in normal condition, except for the swelling (caused by a mass), in which the result suggested tissue correlation. The doctor explained that the mass would have to be removed and be subjected to examination. I was referred to a surgeon and had been to his clinic last Wednesday. As per doctor’s advice, he will be taking some tissues from the affected part (a procedure that will be performed “out-patient”; no need for hospital admission), and have it examined to determine its nature. And from there, he will consider the treatment procedure, and work on reducing the size of the mass and then its removal.

In the midst of this, many things come to mind, but we (me and my family) look up to the Lord for His mercy and grace, yielding to His sovereign will and purpose. Humanly speaking, times like these can be very troubling and disturbing. But for us God’s children, they are occasions to seek and find (even rejoice) in God’s comfort. 

Come to think of it, it is in such times that we experience the goodness of the Lord in a very special way, and that we are drawn closer to the Lord and His Word, ever realising how helpless we are and how desperately we need the Lord!

The Devil’s Diabolical Instigation of Believers’ Distrust of God

In this battle of Satan against God’s sovereignty, he often targets God’s dear servants. In the case of Job, he schemed to “touch all that he hath” (Job 1:11), and later to “touch his bone and his flesh” (Job 2:5). His intent of “touching Job” in order to cause trouble in his life was that he may turn Job against God by causing him to curse God! Usually, with most believers, he would try to “take them out” through sinful temptations. He does this relentlessly through the allurement of sensual living and the unholy pursuit of creature comforts through affluent lifestyles, which many – even godly people – find so hard to resist. However, sometimes the devil may find it difficult to trap believers by temptation alone, as in the case of godly and spiritually well-exercised saints (like Job). When he can’t get a foothold in their spiritual lives to cause damage to their testimony, he would unleash his second ploy, i.e. through unimaginable pain and sorrow. The ultimate intent of such fiery trial was to turn people against God. In one way or the other, the devil is constantly trying to instigate believers’ distrust of God’s sovereignty.

In the case of Job, the cruelty and sadism of the devil was clearly seen when he challenged God to grant him permission to attack Job concerning his possessions and his body. In one day, all his vast numbers of sheep, camels, oxen and asses were wiped off, and all his ten children were crushed to death in a collapsed house caused by a whirlwind (Job 1:13-19). In another day, his whole body was wrecked with sore boils, resulting in excruciating pain and agony, so much so that his abode became next to a heap of ashes outside as he could not stay in the house due to his disease (Job 2:7-8). Through all these, the devil was instigating Job to curse God “to thy face” (Job 2:5b) and bring dishonour to His name! Thank God Job endured – in all this Job neither “charged God foolishly” nor did he “sin with his lips” (Job 1:22b; 2:10c).

Dear Christians, truly there are times when we struggle to explain the cause of our sufferings. Frankly, so many types of trials and calamities befall God’s people that we can’t fathom the exact cause(s). But would there ever be a trial upon God’s people if God does not permit it? It is important to understand that God always has a hand in the troubles we experience. In God’s sovereignty, He “opens the floodgates” of trials for you to suffer. You become, as it were, the “battle front” being engaged by the merciless devil. This is not because God has abandoned you, but rather, He counts you worthy to suffer to prove His supreme point that His arch-enemy cannot do anything to completely usurp His authority.

Oh, this is a most formidable “battlefield”! But beloved believer, persevere and stand firm. Knowing that God allows your trials, may you “watch thou in all things, endure afflictions” (2 Timothy 4:5a) and “greatly rejoice … through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). So, if you are in the midst of some unexplainable trouble, be assured that God’s sovereign hand is there. It is not that He has turned against you, but He has only taken away your “fence” which has protected you all this while. By God’s sovereign will, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”, being “persuaded, that neither death, nor life … nor principalities, nor powers … nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39)!

The Devil’s Subversive Undermining of Believers’ “Integrity”

Unfortunately, the reality is that many who suffer horrendously or see the righteous suffer undeservedly may conclude in their heart that there is no God; or if God exists, He is one with limited power. Their initial enthusiastic faith in a loving God quickly “vaporises” in the fiery furnace of sufferings. Many such professing believers end up as agnostics. They fail to “hold fast their integrity”, unlike Job (cf. Job 2:3), and lose trust in a sovereign God. That is exactly Satan’s diabolical objective – to prod believers to defy God’s sovereignty.

To thwart the devil’s undermining of our “integrity” (through the use of intense sufferings upon believers), we do well to consider Job’s reaction. Job’s horrendous trials did not distract him from the sovereignty of God; God was still the object of his heart’s love. He cherished and worshipped God even in his abject poverty and suffering. Take note of his heart’s confession in Job 1:21, “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” He didn’t utter these words out of bitterness that God did not care for him, but out of worship and deference to – not in defiance of – God’s sovereignty (cf. Job 1:20). Scripture says “he holdeth fast his integrity”.

What is Job’s “integrity”? It is his firm belief that God is sovereign, even in his troubles. Things had not spun out of control; nor had God difficulty in keeping chaotic situations in check. He refused to react according to his downcast emotions. Job’s integrity is that he had always ordered his life by subjecting it to God’s sovereignty. His was not a mere intellectual faith; his was a faith with works (cf. James 2:17-18). He had experiential faith, hence he spoke with experiential knowledge that God is sovereign. His unshakeable conviction of God’s absolute sovereignty in all aspects of his life and the world around him, helps him to have proper behaviour in his doings and dealings. That is the believers’ integrity, which the devil is constantly trying to undermine.

Conclusion

The apostle Paul hits the nail on the head when he warns Christians in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. The devil is constantly on the prowl. He is not going to stop his attack just because his wicked ploys were thwarted from time to time by godly saints who, like Job, hold fast to their integrity amidst their suffering. He is going to take this battle till the end of time; in the meantime, you and I are his targets. The way to continue to fight the battle when the devil, by God’s permission, comes to “touch” or trouble us, is to stay in submission to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). That’s where our safety is. Even if he would tear us apart, stay under the mighty hand of God in total submission to Him, knowing that God will not allow the devil to utterly destroy us.

Thank God, there is ultimate victory for us, for God is still in control. We cannot be subdued because our sovereign God is watching over us! Remember, Satan is already a defeated foe. The devil can battle against God’s dear child, but not beyond what God allows (cf. Job 1:12; Job 2:6). May we then, by faith, continually trust in and uphold God’s sovereignty over our lives, come what may – that is how we glorify God in this formidable but conquerable “battle front”.

Apart from God and Job, the one major character in the first two chapters of the Book of Job is, undeniably, Satan. In these first two chapters alone, Satan is referred to some 13 times. Thus, Christians cannot just pass over this character. We need to take a good look at this character and the way he functions.

The name “Satan” in Hebrew means “adversary”. He is God’s enemy, as well as the enemy of God’s people. He is the unceasing, untiring adversary of both God and man. His hatred towards God knows no bounds. He has no regard for God and would throw any challenge at Him, as demonstrated in his temptation of Christ in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). That is how cunning and wicked this adversary is. He would go against God to the very end, as is clearly seen even at the end of Christ’s millennial reign on earth, when the Lord would chain him and cast him into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). Meanwhile, there is a cosmic battle (of cosmic proportions) being raged by Satan against God, whereby believers often get “caught in the crossfire” (cf. Job 1:8-19)!

So, whether we understand it or not, we are all caught up in this great battle that the devil is waging against God. Yet God is not a helpless onlooker who could only stand idly by and watch as events unfold. He is actively involved in defending, protecting and guiding us in the midst of this terrible battle. No evil (whether natural or man-made or satanic) may encroach upon us outside of His jurisdiction (cf. Job 1:12).

Be Not Ignorant of the Devil’s Devices

Be that as it may, the devil is constantly trying his level best to deal a “knockout blow” to believers that would keep them downcast and in deep despair, and ultimately instigate them to deny God’s sovereignty (cf. Job 1:11b; 2:5b). As the apostle Paul warns us, we must not be “ignorant of his devices”, lest “Satan should get an advantage of us” (2 Corinthians 2:11). From the episode of Job’s sufferings, we see in a very clear manner how the devil uses us as his “arena” in his battle against God. One of his most diabolical and favourite tactics is to turn the ones whom God has created in His own image (even mankind) against Him. Oh, we must not be ignorant of this cunning device of the devil, which he tried viciously against Job! From our biblical understanding of the Book of Job, the devil is trying to challenge the sovereignty of God over Job’s life. This should not surprise us as he has always been a “challenger” and usurper since time immemorial, soon after he was created. He had been an angelic being of heaven, one of God’s created angels; in fact, he was the chief of the cherubims.

In Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-17, we read of the condemnation and downfall of the devil. When he, being lifted up with pride, rebelled against God and tried to usurp God’s authority, he was cast down to this earth (cf. Revelation 12:9). Since the day he was cast out of heaven, he has been constantly trying to usurp God’s glory. According to his warped and malicious mind, the best possible way to usurp God’s glory is through mankind by instigating their defiance of God’s authority. That’s disobedience, which was the first sin of mankind! Having succeeded with Adam and Eve, the devil is still trying to do the same with their descendants – but in different ways. He uses different things in different people’s lives to bring about defiance of God’s sovereignty.

In a myriad of ways, the devil is trying to captivate believers’ souls to love things other than God. Whether it be our studies and scholastic pursuits, our job, profession and career prospects, our children, our house, or even our physical appearance, the devil wants to take our allegiance away from God through all these distractions. His is a twisted theology – “worship God in order to get the things that you love”. That is precisely the “prosperity theology” promoted in Charismatic circles. Worship God to be rich, powerful, famous, prominent. That’s false religion! Rather, true religion is coming to God as our true wealth, He being the greatest Lover of our infinitely precious souls. We cannot love anything more than God if we put God as the object of our heart’s devotion. Didn’t Jesus say, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30)? In getting believers to love material things, possessions, position, status, relationships, etc. more than God, Satan’s ultimate objective is to usurp God’s sovereignty over believers’ lives. Oh, be not ignorant of the devil’s devices!

The Devil’s Malicious Disdain of Believers’ Submission to God’s Sovereignty

Now, it must be categorically stated that God has no problem giving material prosperity and abundance to His children, if He so chooses. This is reflected in Job’s possession of great substance and his prominent status in the society of his time (Job 1:3). But that is not what God is most happy about with His children – not wealth and health. There is something else that He is more concerned with. In commending Job before the devil, God said, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8). God specifically mentioned four outstanding spiritual virtues of Job, namely his blameless life (“perfect”), his righteous character (“upright”), his reverence of God (“feareth God”), and his careful shunning of sin (“escheweth evil”) which reflects his purity of heart. Instructively, God did not commend Job regarding his material abundance, house and animals, or his efficiency in managing wealth. But look who’s talking about all these? “Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land” (Job 1:9-10).

In his reply, the devil blatantly sidestepped God’s focus of His discussion. God is talking about Job’s spiritual maturity, well-being, wholeness, integrity. But the devil wanted to draw attention away towards material things – “his house”, “all that he hath”, “work of his hands”, “his substance”. The devil was saying that everything was going well for Job – his business was good, his family was flourishing, he was in good health. His insinuation was that Job’s piety was all because God had put a protective “fence” around him. Malicious as he is, the devil then put forward a challenge to God. He sadistically added that if God were to “touch” (i.e. to destroy, to cause maximum damage to) all that Job had, Job will defy, rebel against and “curse” God, not fear and worship Him (Job 1:11)!

Herein is the intense and fierce conflict between God and Satan. God is watching over His servant and rejoices in His servant’s recognition of His sovereignty over his life, as well as his complete surrender to God as his Master. This harmonious and perfectly maintained “Master-servant” relationship provokes Satan. How vicious Satan is! He cannot stand the sight of God’s servant being at peace with his heavenly Master. He is full of jealousy, wrath and hatred. “Sovereign God and submissive servant” – this is the relationship that is under attack! Satan regards it with contempt and disdain: “Doth Job fear God for nought?” He could not – and will never – accept that anyone could love God so intrinsically without thinking of getting any external benefit in return. He wanted to prove God wrong.

(To be continued next week)

Christian life and ministry is a call to sacrificial service to God. Our pattern is the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ! “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).

During His public ministry, Jesus specifically pointed out to His disciples “how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matt 16:21). Jesus willingly endured His afflictions and death for our salvation, in accordance with His Father’s will. So, shouldn’t we, His followers, be ready for suffering and even death in service to God? Paul, the prisoner for the Gospel, urged Timothy, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8). Are you willing and ready to endure afflictions for Christ? We only achieve great things for Christ’s kingdom if we serve Him by willingly enduring afflictions, and even death!

During World War II, eleven missionaries were martyred on the Island of Panay in the Philippines. One of these was Dr. Francis Rose – who had penned the following poem that is commonly called “The Martyr’s Hymn”:

All human progress up to God
Has stained the stairs of time with blood;
For every gain for Christendom
Is bought by someone’s martyrdom.
For us he poured the crimson cup,
And bade us take and drink it up.
Himself he poured to set us free.
Help us, O Christ, to drink with thee.
Ten thousand saints come thronging home,
From lion’s den and catacomb.
The fire and sword and beasts defied;
For Christ, their King, they gladly died.
With eye of faith we see today
That cross-led column wind its way
Up life’s repeated Calvary.
We rise, O Christ, to follow Thee!

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Letter from Elder Eliezer Ortega

Dear Pastor Koshy,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord for His goodness upon the churches here in Bogo and San Antonio. The Lord has been gracious and merciful to keep and preserve the two churches. The Lord be praised for the loving support of Gethsemane BPC, Singapore to the missionary-in-charge.

We recently had our 1st Annual Congregational Meeting on 17 September 2023. We thank God for all that the Lord has done in and through the church, looking forward to God’s blessings upon the plans of the two churches. Praise the Lord for His gracious provision through the loving support of the church in Singapore and the faithful giving of the brethren. Through these, our two churches’ expenses for the past fiscal year have been met and sustained. All glory be to God!

Praise the Lord for opening doors of opportunity for us to teach the senior high school students in Binabag National High School. Initially, we were given a one-hour slot (8.00am–9.00am) every Friday to teach the Word of God to the students. After the teaching session last Friday, we were asked if we could teach other students at another time slot (10.00am–11.00am). The Lord has graciously granted us opportunities to teach the Word of God and preach the Gospel. God willing, we will be teaching in two separate time slots this coming Friday (6 October). For the first time slot (8.00am–9.00am), the number of students is 32, and we expect the same number for the 2nd time slot (10.00am–11.00am). Praise the Lord for such a blessed opportunity!

By the grace of God, the brethren in Bogo and San Antonio are doing well. Though some are sick and have not been attending church, some newcomers have come and worshipped with us. Thank God for the planned Christmas meeting in Bogo on 20 December 2023. We look forward to attending such meetings and fellowshipping with the brethren.

Once again, thank you very much, Pastor Koshy and the Board of Elders, for your loving support to us. Praise the Lord for His goodness.

Sincerely in Christ,
Elder Eliezer

Beloved flock of God in Gethsemane BPC,

At last, I also got a taste of what COVID-19 is like, though certainly not in the worst form that took the lives of millions worldwide! Oh, how great is the mercy of God (cf. Lam. 3:22)!

Many of you have sent Whatsapp messages to my wife and me, to encourage us and assure us of your prayers! We are grateful to our elders, preachers, deacons, members and friends, and even children who earnestly prayed for us. Your weekly preacher is still weakly. So, I will not attend Sunday’s worship services and other public activities. If I feel strong by God’s grace, and test negative on Tuesday, I hope to see you all during the prayer meeting.

I was not able to update all of you. I took an opportunity on Friday afternoon, as I found a bit of strength in my body to sit up for a while, to type this pastoral letter to inform all of you briefly about my COVID experience and my present condition.

Last Monday (3rd October) afternoon, I felt tired and feverish. So, I left GMC around 4 p.m. for my home. In the night, the fever shot to 38.9°C. I was also feeling severe aches all over my body. The next day, the fever was unrelenting even though I had taken Panadol six hourly. Later in the day, the self-administered ART showed that I was COVID-positive. More symptoms of COVID flared up on that second evening. The second night of sickness was not easy, with severe throat pain, phlegm, high fever, a stiff lower back, fatigue, etc. Drinking water was a painful experience! I visited the doctor in a unique COVID facility in Tampines Polyclinic on Wednesday. The doctor gave me medications to deal with my COVID symptoms. However, because of my long-term diabetic issues, the doctor recommended that I take PAXLOVID, an antiviral drug, to treat COVID-19 in adults at increased risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. But the clinic advised me to return on Thursday to collect the medicine. I am on Paxlovid until Monday.

The most significant work the LORD has done in me during the last week of sickness and trial was to draw me closer to Him on my bed of affliction, to resolve to serve Him more promptly and passionately if He heals and strengthens me again (cf. Isa. 40:31; Psa. 27:14).

As you gather today, I shall join you in spirit to worship our gracious God. God willing, I hope to listen to the live webcast from home. May God bless our preachers (Cornelius Koshy, Kelvin Lim and Ho Kee How), our elders who lead the worship services, and every one of you who worships and serves the LORD with a reverential and joyful spirit. The LORD Himself bless you.

Desiring to come back strong for the service of the LORD,
Prabhudas Koshy

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Afflicted? Then Commune with God

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13).

In a local congregation of believers, a variety of experiences may be found at a given time. While some people experience severe afflictions, others are presented with reasons for jubilation. It is also true that all alike are subject to afflictions and happiness. Both those types of experiences can be in different persons or in the same individuals at the same time. And sometimes, change from one extreme to the other can happen suddenly.

Extreme circumstances, if they occur to people whom we love earnestly, can affect our thinking. With varying events, our emotions will also rise and fall accordingly. Such divergent experiences in our congregations would make us wonder whom we should attend to and how we should respond to those situations. As a matter of fact, such extreme situations can happen simultaneously or successively in our church or personal lives.

Christians are urged to carry out their corresponding duties in those varying circumstances. Appropriate spiritual responsibilities, which are mentioned in our text, have to be discharged readily. If we readily carry out our biblical duties, we can minister to people in varying circumstances in the most befitting manner.

What should we do when we find others or ourselves in trying circumstances? The apostle James advises us to pray. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.” We should pray, asking God for the wisdom we need to understand the situation and manage it to bring glory to His name (cf. James 1:5). We can pray for His grace to endure troubles (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10). We can also pray if it is His will, that He will remove the troubles. Through prayer, we not only communicate our needs to God but also commune with Him. One of the major divine purposes of our afflictions is that we may draw closer to Him in prayer.

What should we do when we find others or ourselves in a situation of joy and gladness? James says, “Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” Psalms are thanksgiving, worshipful songs to the Lord. Singing psalms to the Lord is the most preferred way of praising and worshipping God for all His benefits in our lives. Joyful experiences are given to us so that a worshipful spirit may be built up within us. While afflictions are sent to teach us to pray, happiness is bestowed so that we may learn to praise Him.

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 10 May 2020

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 3 May 2020

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 26 April 2020