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

Luke 2:1-20 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.