Nehemiah 10:1-39 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,.. 28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; 29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

Let us learn from these verses, how entirely our times are in God’s hands. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us this lesson by His reply to those who bade Him depart, because Herod would kill Him. He said, “I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow.” His time was not yet come for leaving the world. His work was not yet finished. Until that time came it was not in the power of Herod to hurt Him. Until that work was finished no weapon forged against Him could prosper.

There is something in our Lord’s words which demands the attention of all true Christians. There is a frame of mind exhibited to us which we should do well to copy. Our Lord, no doubt, spoke with a prophetic foresight of coming things. He knew the time of His own death, and He knew that this time was not yet come. Foreknowledge like this, of course, is not granted to believers in the present day. But still there is a lesson here which we ought not to overlook. We ought, in a certain measure, to aim at having the mind that was in Christ Jesus. We ought to seek to possess a spirit of calm, unshaken confidence about things to come. We should study to have a heart “not afraid of evil tidings,” but quiet, steady, and trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7)

Psalm 100:1-5 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

(1) Thanksgiving and Rejoicing

Psalm 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

We remember God’s goodness and His grace as we commemorate Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church’s (BHBPC) First Anniversary.

The psalmist says in Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

This is a picture of worship in ancient Israel. The people of God would enter the gates of Jerusalem and into the temple to present thanksgiving offerings.

Nehemiah 9:1-38 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning – From the Story of a Shipwreck

Dwight L. Moody, famed evangelist of the last century, often told the moving story of a ship nearing the Cleveland harbour during a violet storm on Lake Erie. The waves rolled like mountains and not a star was to be seen, a boat, rocking and plunging, near the Cleveland harbour.

Psalm 90:1-17 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

(1) Joy to the World

Christmas is the highest point of human history because it marks the fulfilment of God’s plan to save mankind from the curse of sin. Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ alone can save us from our sins.

At our Christmas Praise Service, we rehearsed the great joy of our Saviour’s birth. The joy of Christmas begins with the joy of salvation. May we be strengthened to go out to share the good news to a dying world.

(2) Remembering God’s Goodness in 2014