Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Hymns: RHC 339 When I Fear My Heart Will Fail, 542 Saved by Grace, 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
PSALM 124
IN PRAISE OF GOD’S WATCHFUL CARE
OUTLINE
(1) He Cares (v1-5)
(2) Thanksgiving for His Care (v6-7)
(3) Confident of Future Care (v8)
Hymns: RHC 335 Keep On Believing, 337 Never Give Up, 306 Pass Me Not
PSALM 63
1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou artmy God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so asI have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness isbetter than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as withmarrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise theewith joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, andmeditate on thee in the nightwatches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those thatseek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Psalm 63:1-11 (KJV)
PURSUING GOD
OUTLINE
(1) Seeking God Early (v1)
(2) Seeking His Presence (v2-4)
(3) Strengthened (v5-7)
(4) Determination and Resolve (v8)
(5) The righteous is not forsaken but vindicated (v9-11)
INTRODUCTION
David was trained in the pursuit of godliness by the providence of God in the wilderness. He was a fugitive, living in constant threat to his life. It was there in the wilderness that he was taught the lesson of spiritual discipline to be constantly in touch with his God. He wrote many psalms recounting his spiritual encounters with God. David learned how to deal with his emotions, his depression and his weariness in the wilderness.
Hymns: RHC 136 Come Ye Thankful People, 183 Jesus Paid It All, 43 God Is Still On the Throne
Psalm 93
1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
Psalm 93:1-5 (KJV)
THE LORD IS STILL ON THE THRONE
Hymns: 542 Saved by Grace, 445 O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee, 411 Stand Up for Jesus
Hebrews 11:35b-40 (KJV)
KJV Hebrews 11:35b … and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Heb. 11:35b-40 KJV)
The Others’ Faith
OUTLINE
(1) Suffered Without Recourse
(2) Suffered Without a Better Promise
Hymns: 320 – ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, 335 Keep On Believing, 339 When I Fear My Faith Will Fail
Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell … of the prophets 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again:
The Prophets’ Faith (2)
OUTLINE
(1) Experience God’s Mighty Deliverance
INTRODUCTION
The writer of Hebrews sought to inspire his readers to understand the substance of faith through the trials of faithful men in the past by showing us their actions of faith.
We notice these trials were life-threatening. Exercising faith involves entrusting and surrendering our lives to God’s care even in the sight of imminent physical danger. Faith overcomes even men’s greatest fears, of pain, suffering to the point of death.
How is it possible to be still and not fret in the face of mortal danger? This is the substance of faith that the writer is drawing us to take hold of for our own lives, in our times.
Jesus gives words of comfort and encouragement to the persecuted in Matthew 5:10-12, “10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12 KJV)
Heavenly reward seemed so distant from the suffering saint, yet this is the substance of faith that God has us to take hold. The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides us with the substance of faith to have strong hope in the face even of the prospect of death.
Hymns: 418 O Jesus, I Have Promised, 337 Never Give Up, 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Hebrews 11:32g (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of prophets …
The Prophets’ Faith
OUTLINE
(1) Courage to Stand and Speak for God’s Honour
INTRODUCTION
God raised prophets, in the Old Testament time, to be His voice to His people, Israel, and to the world at large, as a witness to the words and works of the living and true God for His honour and glory. The prophets raised by God declared the will of God to His people so that they may be instructed to know the perfect will of God. Some were writing prophets like Moses (Pentateuch), Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets. And there are the 12 minor prophets. These are the writing prophets, there were the non-writing prophets like Gad (with David in the wilderness and rebuked David when he numbered the people, Nathan (David’s advisor and chastised David for adultery with Beersheba), Elijah, Elisha.
Hymns: 324 Simply Trusting, 205 Thine Is the Glory, 446 Lord Speak to Me
Hebrews 11:32f (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Samuel …
Samuel’s Faith
OUTLINE
Courage to Speak According to God’s Word
INTRODUCTION
Israel was ruled by her patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob before the period of 400 years of prophetic silence during the time of the Exodus when God raised Moses, Israel’s leader, the prophet of Israel, where Israel was a theocracy, God rules! Samuel was the last of the prophet from Moses to Samuel who bear rule in Israel before the people demanded a king, , before princes would rule Israel through her first king Saul, finally Israel will be ruled by priest after her exile from Babylon, from Joshua, the high priest during the time of Zerubabbel, to Caiphaias, during the time of Christ.
Samuel was born during the time when Eli was the high priest in Israel. However, Eli’s sons were no godly.
Hymns: Pg. 42 Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord, Pg 43 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, P17 God Is Always Near Me
Hebrews 11:32e (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of David …
David’s Faith
OUTLINE
(1) Courageous – Overcomes Fear to Do the Will of God
INTRODUCTION
David was a man who sought to do the will of God for His honour and glory leaving a legacy for his son Solomon as a man of faith who prepared the nation and resource to build a house for the worship of the living and true God.
We pick up this scene at dedication of the first Temple in Jerusalem in 1 Kings 8:10-11, 12-21[1].
1 Kings 8:10-11 (KJV) 10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
20And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
Hymns: RHC 441 Faith Is the Victory, 450 To the Work!, 401 Yield Not to Temptation
Hebrews 11:32d (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Jephthah …
Jephthah’s Faith
OUTLINE
(1) Put God’s Work Before Self
INTRODUCTION
Jephthah means “He doth open or set free”. He was described as a Mighty Man of Valour (Judges 11:1).
Judges 11:1 (KJV) 1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
The first time this term “mighty man of valour” is used was on Gideon in Judges 6:12, describing a man of courage, boldness and bravery, a Spirit-filled man (Judges 11:29). The terminology used here is not just military in nature but can refer to a person of repute or one who has standing in the community – a responsible person. In this context, however, it is likely his reputation built on his military success.
But Jephthah was the outcast. An Illegitimate son driven from his father’s household (Judges 11:2), the son of a harlot.
Hymns: RHC 307 Amazing Grace, 289 Grace Greater Than Our Sin, 565 Have You Counted the Cost?
Hebrews 11:32c (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Samson …
Samson’s Faith
OUTLINE
Undergirded by God’s Amazing Grace
INTRODUCTION
Samson was consecrated as a Nazarite at birth. A Nazarite was to be separated unto Jehovah. The word nazir, which the word is derived, means “to separate”. His vow as a Nazarite included (1) His hair goes uncut (2) Refrain from partaking the fruit of the vine (3) Forbidden to contact with the dead (Judges 13:4, 5, 7, 14 c.f. Numbers 6:2-21).
Judges 13:4-5 (KJV) 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Samson is the twelfth and last Judge raised by God to deliver Israel out their enemies’ oppression. This was Samson’s life mission given by God even before his birth told by the angel of the LORD to his mother.