God’s Call to Christian Service

The call of God separates a man to salvation. The call of God also separates a man for Holy service for His Lord. The Apostle Paul was saved and commissioned by Christ, he met Christ on His eleventh and final appearance recorded in Acts 9:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 15:8 “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time”, on the road to Damascus persecuting the early church two years after the Ascension (Acts 1:9). He confessed receiving the call to be the last Apostle of Christ and his unworthiness in 1 Corinthians 15:9 “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” He was a fierce persecutor of the early church. He witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen, for Saul, his Jewish name, was consenting unto Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1).

(1) Scripture Is the Rule of Life
– Humble Obedience, the True Imitation of Christ

The goal of the new life is that God’s children walk in the beauty of God’s law. In doing so, we become sure of our adoption as children of the Father. A sincere repentance from the heart does not guarantee that we shall not wander the straight path and sometimes become bewildered. Let us then search the Scripture to find the root principle for the reformation of our life.

(1) Rescue the Perishing

– A Song from the Slums

At the age of sixty, when many were planning retirement, Fanny Crosby launched out on a new career. She spent several days a week in a mission work in the slums of the Bowery district in New York City. Once, after such a visit among the destitute and derelicts, she returned home and wrote the now-famous hymn:

Rescue the perishing,

Care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o’er the erring one,

Lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus, The mighty to save.

Philip Bliss – Singing Evangelist

Philip Bliss is best known as a song leader, a hymn writer, and an evangelist. There are many hymns in the Revival Hymns and Choruses that are written by him – RHC123 Jesus Loves Even Me, RHC185 Hallelujah! What a Savior! RHC285 Whosoever Will, RHC295 The Light of the World Is Jesus, RHC305 Wonderful Words of Life, RHC372 More Holiness Give Me, RHC373 Dare to Be a Daniel, RHC404 Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, RHC444 Hold the Fort and RHC521 God Is Always Near Me.

Philip Paul Bliss had godly Christian parents. He was born in the state of Pennsylvania on July 9, 1838. His home was a log cabin. His father always had family prayer time when the family would gather together to read the Bible and pray.

(1) Updated Church App

On 25 March 2015, BHBPC mobile app went ‘live’ in iTunes and in the Android store where members and friends can download the ‘app’ for free. As at 15 Sept 2016, there has been 145 downloads, with 79 using IOs and 66 from Androids phones. Search under “Blessed Hope Church” and you would be able to locate the icon for download.

“App” features include daily KJV Bible Text and Reading Plan, Devotions (currently we are on the book of 1 Corinthians), Weekly Newsletter, Sermons Podcast, Facebook, Website and an instant messaging system for real time communication with users.

(1) Great Truths in Simple Words

God is very kind to us. It is He who gives us our daily provisions: food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof for shelter. He knows our needs and provides for us accordingly.

It is God who makes the sun to shine, to warm us; We love to see pretty flowers and it is God who has made flowers; We like to hear the sweet music of birds and God has made birds to cheer us.

We enjoy the sweet fruits that grow in the garden but we must not forget that it is God who has given us all these good things.

God is kind to all living creatures. God takes care of them. If He did not keep them and feed them, from day to day, they would perish.

God loves those who love Him; but He is kind even to the wicked. He makes the sun to shine for all. He thinks of them, though they do not think of Him.

Let us think of God and thank Him for His goodness, and ask Him to help us love Him more.

Who Is Jesus Christ?

The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man. The name Jesus, announced by the angel, signifies – “The Lord is Salvation” or “Saviour”. The word “Christ” (The Anointed One) is essentially an official title borne by Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.

The Son of God took man’s nature and was born of the virgin Mary. Hence, there are two natures, the divine and human, joined in one Person, who is Christ Jesus. He is the mediator between God and men.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

By His suffering, crucifixion, and death, Jesus who is sinless, became a sacrifice for all the sins of men.

After His death, Jesus rose again on the third day and ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of God the Father. He shall forever reign and have dominion over all creatures.

(1) Reading the Bible in One Year

Andrew Murray’s devotional reading for 28 August entitled, “The Joyful Sound”.

Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

“The joyful sound” consists of God’s people walking in His light and rejoicing in His name. They have undisturbed fellowship and never-ending joy.

In every well-ordered family, one finds the father delighting in his children and the children rejoicing in their father’s presence. This mark of a happy home on earth is what the heavenly Father has promised as we rejoice in His name. It has been possible in Christ through the Holy Spirit filling our hearts with the love of God. It is the heritage if all who truly seek to love god with all their heart and strength.

Yet there are many of God’s children who simply give up hope that a life of rejoicing in God’s presence is possible. Yet Christ promised it so definitely: “These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11).

Your Quiet Time

The believer’s quiet time is a private devotion time, set aside for the purpose of cultivating a rich spiritual life. It is an appointment with God. The believer’s quiet time seeks to move him from a state of stress to a state of rest. A calm spirit in the peace and joy of God is the frame of a man who is in touch with God.

The elements of a private devotion are prayer, reading and meditating on God’s Word and singing praises to God. The quiet time must not deteriorate to a regiment. It must not take away the excitement and delight of the soul in the study of God’s Word. Yet there is a need for self-discipline to build up a habit of life-long devotion to God.

What is Saving Faith? (Part 3)

The Westminster Confession of Faith states:

3. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong [k]; may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory [l]: growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ [m], who is both the author and finisher of our faith [n].