Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus – From a Husband’s Tragic Drowning
Louisa Stead (1850-1917), her husband, and their four-year-old daughter Lily went to enjoy a sunny day on the beach on Long Island Sound.
While they were having their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea.
Thank God for 70 campers gathered for our 4th Annual Family Bible Camp at the Pan Pacific Singapore.
The theme of our camp is “The Making of a Spiritual Man”. There were eight messages to speed us along our spiritual journey till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)
So Shall We Ever Be With the Lord
(1 Thessalonians 4:17)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This is the glorious future of God’s people. It is the day the praying church of God awaits with great expectation. The day our Lord Jesus Christ returns to receive His saints into everlasting gladness. Our text tells us, “So shall we ever be with the Lord.” We want to spend time to meditate on this truth, that we may be comforted in our a hearts in our present temporal sojourn here on earth. The days of our lives are but a vapour in the light of eternity. God wants His people to see time with a heavenly perspective so that we may live wisely in the light of that day. Several thoughts arise from this truth.
(1) Meeting Our Needs Through Prayer
“Ask, and it shall be given you.” (Matt. 7:7a)
There is the needful supply of mercy and grace at God’s mercy seat, at the throne of grace, with Jesus. It’s there that our weak and often wounded souls are healed, strengthened, supplied, sped along in the paths of righteousness. Have we been too discouraged even to ask, too weak to knock, too faint to seek? Do not be, for there is an inexhaustible supply to meet our every need with Jesus. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 22:28). Perhaps it has been the exacting demand in the workplace, or is it in school, or at home that has taken a toll on you? Will you lift up your eyes to Jesus, from whence comes your true help!
Fleeting Riches
Proverb 23:4-5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
There is something deceitful about the material wealth of this world. In all our endeavours, this proverb warns us against labouring to be rich.
Verse 5 says “riches certainly make themselves wings” (this is a term of emphatic “certainty”). Riches that come to us can also be taken away from us.
The command in these two verses is the word “cease”. Cease from our own deception that labouring for riches is what life is all about.
As we look at the world today, we see how material wealth and riches are highly esteemed. The rich are portrayed as people having a good life and respected by the world. And because of this, many desire to become rich.
(1) My Faith Looks Up to Thee
-In a Time of Illness and Loneliness
Ray Palmer (1808-87) experienced hardship early in life, having to leave school at the age of thirteen to work in a dry-goods store in Boston. He soon came to faith in Christ. His faith led him to complete school, graduate from Yale, and go on to the ministry.
Following his studies, he was overcome with illness and loneliness. At the age of twenty-one, in the midst of despair, he sought comfort by writing a poem. His composition came as a spontaneous expression of a deeper inner experience of the presence of Christ and a realization of what Christ meant to him and to the world.
Palmer had no idea that his words would be used as a hymn. But the poem was brought to the attention of Lowell Mason, one of America’s great hymn-tune composers. He wedded the words to the now familiar tune Olivet, sending Palmer’s poem around the world to become one of Christendom’s greatest hymns. The hymn is a prayer of faith. It acknowledges Christ as our Saviour and source of grace and inspiration.
Tribute to Mothers and Grandmothers
2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
When the Apostle Paul saw the faithfulness of his spiritual son Timothy, to the Lord Jesus Christ and His cause, he attributed it to the patient devotion and training given by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois.
Both mother and grandmother demonstrated genuine, unpretentious and sincere faith in the things of God. They painstakingly taught Timothy.
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The influence of a godly mother and grandmother bore fruit in Timothy’s life.
(1) How Amiable Are Thy Tabernacles
Psalm 84 speaks of the blessedness of the man (v4, 5, 12) who dwells with God in His house. It is a meditation that brings great joy and peace to the heart.
(a) God’s House (v 1-4)
1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
God’s house is described as lovely (v1). It satisfies the soul (v2). It is also a place of rest (v3), a place of blessing (v4a) and a place of thanksgiving (v4b).
(1) Webcast and Audio Ministry Update
There were 656 webcast listeners in March 2017 covering 21 countries and 37 states of the USA from Sermon Audio. 218 listeners were from USA, 87 listeners from UK, 62 from Canada, 89 from Singapore, and others. The total MP3 audio and video downloads in February 2017 were 777 and 91 respectively. Since July and August 2016, BHBPC video sermons have been uploaded on You-tube and Facebook respectively under the name “Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church”. This gives greater access and options to viewers and listeners.
Viewers can tune into the live stream via the “Live” tab of BHBPC website www.blessedhope.sg, BHBPC Facebook page and the Church Mobile App. at www.sermonaudio/blessedhope.
“Live” webcast schedule:
Worship Service (every Lord’s Day, 3pm). Adult Sunday School (every Lord’s Day, 5pm) (no class on 5th week).
Bible Study (every Wednesday, 11am). Prayer Meeting (every Wednesday, 8pm).
Easter Sunrise Service
The most significant day in human history is the day when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, rose from the dead. Harold W. Hoehner in his book “Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ”, gave the date to be 5 April A.D. 33. On that glorious morning, death is conquered, hell is vanquished, and heaven won!
All who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead shall be saved. Saved from the judgment of hell fire and be given eternal life in heaven. This is the gospel or good news of peace and glad tidings that we proclaim with great rejoicing to a world without hope.
The late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones articulated it well, “There can be no more urgent question at this present time than just this: What is Christianity? I say that because this gospel is the only hope in the world today. Everything else has been tried and found wanting. Everything else has failed. You will not find hope with the philosophers or with the statesmen, and you will not find it in the so-called religion of the world. Here is hope, and here alone.”