Weekly 2019 – Page 3 – Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 29

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 21 July, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, July 2019

Enter the Strait Gate

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

“Enter the Strait Gate” is God’s call to men throughout the ages to a life with God. The word “strait” means narrow, restrictive, expressing the difficulty to enter. What is the strait gate? It is the gate of salvation. It is the gate of conversion and regeneration. This entrance through the strait gate describes the beginning of this blessed life.

And there is none more authoritative on earth and in heaven to represent God as His Son, Who is God, the Second Person of the Godhead, coming in human flesh, possessing the faculty of human speech, “opened his mouth, taught” the multitudes.

What is the message in the heart of God that He wants to convey to mankind? It is the truth that there is no life lived that is more abundant than the life of true godliness that Jesus has just painted to the multitudes in Matthew 5-7. So here, in Matthew 7:13, at the beginning of the conclusion of His sermon, Jesus urges His listeners to individually make a decision — “enter ye in” if they have not so entered. It is God’s desire that all be saved. All who will hear this message are urged to hearken to the command to enter.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 28

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 14 July, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, July 2019

Wash and Be Clean

It was the prophet Elisha who said to the Syrian general Naaman, plagued with incurable leprosy, “Go wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt me clean.” (2 Kings 5:10).

It is interesting to observe Naaman’s unbelief and prideful response in 2 Kings 5:11-12, “11But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”

How did Naaman come to seek Elisha’s help? It was a little Hebrew maid from Israel, carried captive to wait upon Naaman’s wife when the Syrians invaded Israel who told her mistress of God’s prophet in Israel who can heal her husband. Her testimony was that the living and true God is Israel’s God. Seek Him and Naaman shall find salvation.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 27

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 7 July, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with July 2019, Weekly, Weekly 2019

(1) The Resurrection Life

It has been observed that on an average 24-hour day, for a fully grown adult, on the average, our heartbeats 103,689 times, our blood travels 270 million km, we breathe 23,040 times, inhale 12.4 cubic meters of air, eat 1.4 kg of food, drink 2.7 litres of liquids, lose 0.4kg of waste, speak 4,800 words, including some unnecessary ones, move 750 muscles, our nails grow .00011 cm, our hair grows 0.435mm, we exercise 7,000,000 brain cells. The day a person dies, all these activities of a normal day ceased. That’s the physical aspect of life.

But there is the emotional aspect of life. We build relationships. We touch lives with our lives. We cherish family ties. We build friendships. We laugh together, sing together, enjoy the company of one another. We care for one another, we help one another, we love one another. We eat together, go places together, support each other, strengthen each other.

Then there is a day of parting, when we say goodbye to one another when death strikes, goodbye in a physical sense when they die. And we would miss them, we would bring flowers to the tomb wherewith they are buried to remember the good times.

As Christians, we bury our dead. And so, when we visit the Christian cemetery, we see many of our friends and loved ones who had gone before us.

And we cherish the good memories of how their lives were an integral part of our lives once before.

This was what Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, were doing for Jesus, their Lord and Master, who they had the privilege to follow for 3 ½ years of His ministry on earth when Jesus died. It was on a Friday afternoon when Jesus died at 3 pm.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 26

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 30 June, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, June 2019

O That Will Be Glory

Hymn Story
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Charles H. Gabriel, one of the most influential and prolific gospel songwriters of the early twentieth century, was born in a prairie shanty on August 18, 1856, at Wilton, Iowa, USA. The settlers in that area often fathered in the Gabriel home for singing sessions and fellowship, with Charles’s father generally serving as the leader. At an early age, Charles developed a love for music and soon gave evidence of a gift for composing. One day he told his mother that it was his supreme desire to write a song that would become famous. She wisely replied, “My boy, I would rather write a song that will help somebody than see you President of the United States.” Two years later Charles began teaching singing schools in the surrounding area without ever having the benefit of a single formal music lesson. He began writing and selling many of his songs during those early days but never received more than two and one-half dollars for any of his works.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 25

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 23 June, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, June 2019

Family Bible Camp 2019

All praise and thanksgiving to our God for gathering 63 campers for Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church’s 6th Family Bible Camp 2019 from 19-22 June at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel.

Our theme is “Israel in Prophecy”. The history and future of the nation of Israel is an exciting drama of God’s redemptive work in human history. From the call of a man, Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), God made for Himself a chosen people in the nation of Israel. Out of the loins of this nation will come the Saviour of the world – Jesus Christ.

Though the nation rejected her Christ, God did not forsake His people. Jerusalem, the nation’s capital, was destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70. The scattering of Israel was God’s plan to bring the gospel to the rest of the world – rather through their fall salvation has come unto the Gentiles (Romans 11:11).

Through a Jewish remnant, God began the church as His witness to the nations of the world. God’s promise to Abraham for the nation did not cease with Israel dispersed to the four corners of the earth.

On 14th May 1948, Israel arose from the ashes, recognised as an independent nation by the United Nations. The Jewish people returned home according to God’s promise. Indeed, we serve a promise-keeping God – Deuteronomy 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 24

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 16 June, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, June 2019

Godliness and Fruitfulness

Psalm 128:1-6 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.

Psalm 128 describes for us the quintessential of the godly man. This “man” described in verse 4, is the purest and most perfect example of a Spirit-filled believer, father of a household, with wife and children. This Spirit-filled man is a God-fearer who draws his strength from God through prayer. This man is blessed according to God’s Word. The word “blessed”is derived from the verb that has a root meaning in the Hebrew “to kneel”. The intensive expression in this verb of kneeling is blessing. The action of kneeling is the prayer posture, the act of seeking God and His will for our lives. Therefore, when we pray according to His Word, we are blessed of God, for God answers our prayer according to His will to bless our way. This man, the psalmist says is “Blessed” of the LORD, the first word in this psalm.

This is the same word that the King James translator rightly translated “happy” in verse 2. He is one who walks in his ways, labouring and not idling. There is an activeness in the life of the man blessed of God. He is engaged in labouring for the Lord in the work that God has put his hands to do. He is not afraid to engage in hard work, in honest industry. His labour is guided by God’s Word. He labours within the framework of God’s commandments – He loves the Being of God. He loves the Worship of God. He loves the Name of God. He loves the Day of God. He loves the Representatives of God. He loves the Body of man. He loves the Morality of man. He loves the Property of Man. He loves the Personality of Man. He loves Prosperity of Man.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 23

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 9 June, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, June 2019

How Is Your Daily Bible Reading?

At the start of this year, we re-launched the Read the Bible in One Year with “The One Year Bible”, the entire King James Version arranged in 365 daily readings. I trust that you have begun this unforgettable journey, taken the first step to read The One Year Bible from cover to cover and seeing how God’s Word is coming alive in your life right now. We are midway through the year of grace 2019. My purpose is to give encouragement so that you will persevere in your daily Bible Reading Devotion.

God’s Word is life to the soul. The reading of the Bible allows the Holy Spirit to feed our souls as we open God’s Word daily with prayer.

The psalmist articulates well the stable life built upon the wisdom of God’s Word when he said in Psalm 37:30-31 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Jesus also observed well in Matthew 12:35a A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things… The Lord help us by His Word to build in us a treasure house of wisdom in our hearts to live a fulfilled life.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 22

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 2 June, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly 2019, May 2019, Weekly

Whereas I Was Blind, Now I See

The blind man who has healed by Jesus gave this testimony, “…whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25b). This man was blind from his birth (John 9:1). What was the purpose for which he was healed? Jesus explains, “… that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (John 9:3).

How was he healed? Jesus “… spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.” (John 9:6). And Jesus said unto him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam… he went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”The treatment that this man underwent seemed quite simple, but it was effectual. He received sight. His parents testified he was truly blind, “We know that is this our son, and that he was born blind.” (John 9:20). His neighbours and others who knew him also testified, “The neighbours therefore, and they which had seen him that he was blind said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him…” The man himself testified, “I am he.” (John 9:8-9). Jesus healed him. Jesus is indeed the Great Physician. The reason why Jesus could heal this man was that Jesus is God! What a privilege to meet Jesus and be healed by Him. “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:32-33). Jesus Himself testified, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day, the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:3-4). Indeed, “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not … He was in the world, and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:4-5; 10-12). Jesus is Creator. He is the One that imparts life to man. Therefore, He has the power to remake the withered eyes of this blind man. Jesus is indeed the Saviour of the world, He is God manifest in the flesh!

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 21

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 26 May, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, May 2019

Jesus Made Him Whole

There was a man in Jerusalem who was impotent, unable to walk. He had this infirmity for thirty-eight years (John 5:5). The man seemed to be destitute. He has none to care for him. None to help him get well by whatever means available to him. In his hopeless estate, Jesus came to him. What a compassionate Saviour we have in our Lord Jesus. He is able to seek out the miserable and lost sinner, finds him and brings comfort, healing and hope to his lives. Notice Jesus touched, healed and restored sinners one at a time. He greets them one by one in their miserable condition and restores their life. What a wonderful Saviour!

Jesus knew that the man had been for a long time in his helpless condition. Jesus said unto him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:6). Jesus asked if he would like to be healed of his infirmity. We may think, why did Jesus ask such a rhetorical question? It is not! It comes when the sinner humbly responds to the Saviour’s call.

The misery of this impotent man is a picture of the plight of a sinful man estranged from the living and true God, who created him.

Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 20

By Rev. Lek Aik Wee Posted on 19 May, 2019 Posted in Weekly Newsletter Tagged with Weekly, Weekly 2019, May 2019

It is Well With My Soul

– Hymn Story

This beloved hymn was written by a Presbyterian layman from Chicago named Horatio G. Spafford who born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. As a young man Spafford had established a successful legal practice in Chicago. Along with his financial success, he always maintained a keen interest in Christian activities. He enjoyed a close and active relationship with D. L. Moody and other evangelical leaders of that era. He was described by George Stebbins, a noted gospel musician, as a “man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scriptures.”

Some months prior to the Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan, and his holdings were wiped out by this disaster. Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to assist Moody and Sankey in one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in November of 1873. Due to unexpected last minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago, but he sent his wife and four daughters ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre. He expected to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone.” Shortly afterwards near the sea where his four daughters had drowned, Spafford penned this text whose words so significantly describe his own personal grief – “When sorrows like sea billows roll…” It is noteworthy, however, that Spafford’s hymn does not dwell on the theme of life’s sorrows and trials but focuses attention in the third stanza on the redemption work of Christ and in the fourth stanza anticipates His glorious Second Coming. Humanly speaking, it is amazing that one could experience such personal tragedies and sorrows as Horatio Spafford did and still be able to say with such convincing clarity, “It is well with my soul.”

Tag: Weekly 2019