Read Your Bible – Making of a Matured Christian

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)

God has given us a perfect Saviour – Jesus Christ, a perfect Book – the Bible and a perfect sanctifying Spirit – the Holy Spirit. As such, the Scripture can rightly command us to be thoroughly furnished unto all good works, to go on toward spiritual maturity. Jesus said, “Be ye also perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Let us see what Scripture says concerning how we should strive toward the perfection that God wants from us.

(1) The Perfect Book (v16a)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God”.

The phrase “given by inspiration of God” in our King James translation is one word in Greek – God-breathed. All Scripture is God-breathed. It is from the very breath of God that these words are given. It describes the divine origin and source of Scripture. It is the voice of God speaking through Scripture. It carries with it the divine authority of God.

Not the Nearer Route

Exodus 13:17-18 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: 18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

It is interesting to observe how the LORD led Israel through the wilderness of the Red Sea and not through the way of the land of the Philistines. Although the latter route was a shorter route, there was imminent danger. The LORD knew how much His people could endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Apostle Paul gave an important truth concerning how God deals with His people – He will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able.

(1) 1st Anniversary of Mandarin Outreach

Thank God for a blessed 1stAnniversary Thanksgiving Service of the Mandarin Outreach Service on 10 February 2019. Our first service was held on 4 February 2018. It was the week immediately following the 4thAnniversary of the church on 28 January 2018.

We thank the Lord for the salvation of 4 persons last year. Mr. Chan Choong Shoung was the first convert. He received the Lord on 29 January 2019 and was taken home to be with the Lord on 1 February 2019. We had vigil services on 1 & 2 February and he was buried in Chua Choa Kang Christian Cemetery on 3 February. Our second convert was Mrs. Chan, the wife of the late Mr. Chan. She received the Lord on 1 February 2019. Mrs. Chan attended the inaugural service of the Mandarin Outreach with her son Hong Kiat on 4 February. Mrs. Chan attended Basic Bible Knowledge class and was baptized on 30 September 2018.

Blessed 5th Anniversary Thanksgiving (2)

Thank God for BHBPC’s 5thAnniversary Thanksgiving Service held on 27 January 2019. The theme “Launch Out into the Deep” (Luke 5:1-11) illustrate the work of the church as firstly a Ministry of the Word of God (v1-3). Secondly, it is a Ministry Supported by the Power of God (v4-9). Thirdly, a Ministry Requiring Wholehearted Consecration to God (v10-11). The early disciples were called by our Lord to be fishers of men. This is a ministry supported by the power of God.

Blessed 5thAnniversary Thanksgiving

Launch Out into the Deep (Luke 5:1-11) was the title of our 5thAnniversary Thanksgiving Message. It was a call by Jesus to His disciples, to experience the sufficiency of His care in their lives as they commit themselves whole-heartedly to His leading. A fitting message to His church, a people called out from the world, whom Christ leads, as the Commander-in-Chief. You will have no lack. You will experience the sufficiency and His surpassing power, as you bear His Name, as members of the household of God, to a dying world that do not know Him and is often hostile to His good news of salvation, marching headlong to a Christ-less, fearsome eternity.

It was 7 years ago when we first began bible study on the 2ndfloor of this rented premises of The Salvation Army on Wednesday at 11 am. The year was January 2012. This was a group of elderly folks who have been meeting together for weekly Bible Study since 2007. It started from a visitation to the home of Mr Tan Kwi Hwa after his knee operation. He felt a desire for regular Bible Study and therefore opened his home. The group adopted Jeremiah 33:3 as a guiding verse, Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Five Good Years

Psalm 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Thank God for granting Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church (BHBPC) five good years in His vineyard. Truly, we have experienced the sustaining grace of God leading us through the days of each passing year. We can look back and acknowledge that the LORD has helped us and He was there with us each step of the way.

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the theme from which BHBPC got her name. It was in January 2012 when we first started renting the Booth Tucker Room for weekly Bible study every Wednesday from 11am-12.30pm.

BHBPC’s first prayer meeting was held in the Praise Chapel on 15 August 2013 on a Thursday night at 8pm. The Lord moved twelve to come for the inaugural prayer meeting – Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3). The message was “The Work of Soul Winning” (Matthew 9:35-38).

Recounting with Thanksgiving

It is with thanksgiving that we recount God’s blessings for the year of grace 2018:

(a) 1 January 2018

Thank God for the beginning of the Study of the Book of Proverbs both in our devotions and during the Lord’s Day sermons.

(b) 7 January 2018

Youth Fellowship’s 3rd Anniversary was commemorated with the message “Let No Man Despise Thy Youth” 1 Timothy 4:12; Revelation 1:3.

(c) 28 January 2018

“Now Thank We All Our God” was the theme for our blessed 4th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service. The message from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – The Church Before the Throne of Grace , The Church Persevering in Her Witness by Pastor Lek.

Prayer for the New Year

Philippians 1:9-11.9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

As we begin the New Year, it is fitting that we consider how we can live it profitably and usefully before life loses its strength and we sit in regret of a wasted life.

The Apostle Paul writes with great affection concerning the spiritual well-being of the church in Philippi. How do you express concern for someone you love? The Apostle sets for us the example, he prays for them. And you will notice that his prayer for them expresses Christ’s heart for the well-being of the believer. He exhorts the church in 1 Corinthians 11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1 KJV)It is a prayer we can adopt for ourselves in our prayer for others. Also, this prayer gives the spiritual qualities that may be manifested in our lives that mark the milestones in our spiritual progress.