Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Matthew 26:69-75 (KJV) 69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
(1) 2nd Anniversary Thanksgiving Service
Thank God for gathering His people last Lord’s Day in thanksgiving on the occasion of Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church 2nd Anniversary.
Thank God for bringing Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa, our Pastoral Advisor, to rejoice with us. Dr Tow led us in pastoral prayer.
Two years is a milestone in the life of an infant church. Thank God for keeping us and sustaining the work. The Lord enables us to hold prayer meetings and worship services week after week. Great is His Faithfulness. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue this good work for His glory till He comes.
When Jesus sent His disciples forth to preach the gospel. He prepared their hearts to expect persecution and inevitable suffering. They would suffer for His name’s sake. He sends them forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. There would be imminent danger. But He also promises them His take care for them. Jesus tells them that if God would take care of the sparrows, surely they are more precious than many sparrows. In fact, all the hairs on their head are numbered. And Jesus sets the example for suffering for the sake of the gospel. The Apostle Peter encouraged believers to learn from the example of their Master, Jesus Christ. He denied the Lord three times and was forgiven and restored after Jesus’ resurrection by the Lake of Galilee. He served as one who has failed the Lord before. He writes to encourage us to persevere in service despite suffering.
The Apostle Paul offers us the blessed Christian hope of a glorious future to encourage believers to persevere in their walk with God. He was brought to see the glory of heaven. This was his testimony:
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
We are adopted into the family of God by the new birth. As heirs of God, we enjoy the privilege and blessing of being God’s children. For every need that we have, we can call upon the heavenly Father for help. We have access to the heavenly Father through Christ. We have not fully experience the blessings of being heirs of God. When Israel entered the Promised Land, God instructed Joshua to allot the land according to their tribe and family as an inheritance. With the land, each family finds shelter and sustenance. Our heavenly inheritance will far exceed any earthly inheritance. Jesus tells us that He has gone ahead to prepare a heavenly mansion for us, and He would return to bring us there.
The Holy Spirit bears witness together with our spirit the immaterial part of us, to testify that we are the children of God. This affirmation in the heart comes with the understanding that our sins have all been forgiven in Christ. There is no rebuke in our conscience. All our sins have been washed clean in the blood of Jesus Christ. God’s peace and joy abides in our heart.
2 Kings 3:1-27 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
A true child of God is led by the Holy Spirit. A true child of God is adopted into the family of God by the Holy Spirit. He address God the Father by a term of endearment – Abba. It signifies closeness, it suggest intimacy. When a child is legally adopted by his foster parents, he receives the legal rights of inheritance and the position of being a son or a daughter to the parent.
The true child of God would not seek to grieve the Holy Spirit by yielding to sin but would allow the Holy Spirit to hold sway over his life. The test of being Spirit-led is an inner strength to say “no” to sin! This is possible because this child of God prays unceasingly – Psalm 32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. He understands his vulnerability dare not wander from the influence of the divine Spirit. God’s blessing is upon these His children. May we seek to be Spirit-led this new day as we seek His unfailing grace to aid us! Amen.
The Christian is instructed to subdue the flesh. The word “mortify” means “to put to death”. Do not allow the flesh to take over, kill it. This battle between the flesh and the Spirit is an on-going one. Be always filled with the Spirit. The life lived in the Spirit receives God’s blessing. The life lived in the flesh receives God’s cursing. Realize that God has freed us from the bondage of sin through Christ. It is a debt we owe to Christ for sacrificing Himself to save us. Are we not grateful for what He has done? Indeed, Christ’s sacrifice is despised in our heart when we yield to the flesh. However way we may try to justify our sin, we are guilty!