Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(1) Blessedness of Growing in the LORD (Psalm 119:97-144)

The psalmist experienced the good hand of God in his life. The LORD delivered, comforted, loved, chastened moulded, helped and upheld him through life’s pathways. The LORD was very real in his life. He could not see the invisible God but he experienced His abiding presence. He drew close to God by meditating on His Word. He saw the value of God’s Word throughout his life’s journey.

Ezra 4:1-24 (KJV)

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

1 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Ezra 3:1-13 (KJV)

1. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

Matthew 10:16-23 (KJV)

16. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

17. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

18. And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

19. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

(1) Blessedness of Embracing God’s Word in Daily Living
Psalm 119 tells us the key to victorious living is an applied knowledge of God’s Word in our lives. Indeed, life is full of troubles, tears and sorrows. This is a fallen world that we live in. Yet there is peace, hope and joy in the Lord.

Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm with each of the 22 sections of 8 verses beginning with succeeding letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is done to facilitate learning – it is an aid for those who take up the challenge to memorize all of the 176 verses.

The preface of the psalm in verses 1-8 introduces the theme – blessedness of embracing God’s Word in the believer’s daily life. It was a constant prayer in the psalmist’s heart – “5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes.” There was a purposeful resolve to walk with God which led to a conscience without rebuke, “6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”

Ezra 2 (KJV)
Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

(1) A Year Since Our First Prayer Meeting
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our first prayer meeting at the Praise Chapel was conducted on 15 August 2103. It marked the beginning of our gospel work at the Diary Farm area.

Thank God for gathering His people every Wednesday night at 8pm for prayer since then. We can testify to many rejoicings of answered prayers.

God’s people are spiritually refreshed and strengthened. The Scriptures are opened and God’s people are instructed. In the past year, we have studied the book of Exodus, Daniel and have just begun a new series on the book of Ezra.

Ezra 1 (KJV)
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.