Dwelling In Thy Courts

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

The psalmist pronounced God’s blessing upon the worshipper whom God caused to approach Him in holy worship. He comes and dwells in the courts of God’s house by an irresistible call.

(1) God Draws

The psalmist tells us it is God who draws us to Him. Jesus says in John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What a privilege to hear the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep calling us to be assembled before Him. As God draws us, He also prepares our hearts to approach Him. He draws us with an irresistible love. Jesus says in John 10:14-15I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

He Is So Precious to Me

1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

How precious is the Lord Jesus! Faith in Jesus Christ brings unutterable joy to the Apostle Peter’s heart. He had the privilege to spend precious time with Jesus during the time of His earthly ministry. It transformed his life forever. Such is the heart that is stayed upon Jesus.

Dear friends, are you facing some distress? I urge to come to Jesus for comfort and suckle. He is able to understand our heart cry. He is able to help you!

Hymn Stories

(1) A Wonderful Savior

A Light out of Darkness

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), America’s most prolific hymn writer, authored more than six thousand hymns, blessing millions worldwide. Embarrassed by the volume of credits to her name, she used over two hundred pseudonyms. Fanny Crosby did her composing in a dark room – total darkness – for she was blinded in infancy by a doctor’s mistake.

Her father died when she as a year old, requiring her mother to hire herself out to a wealthy family. When her grandmother heard that the little child was incurably blind, she said, “Then I will be her eyes.” She took long walks with Fanny and graphically described the sunsets, clouds, trees, flowers, birds, and beauties of nature. Her grandmother’s word pictures were so vivid that Fanny even had a favourite flower – the violet. She learned the sweet communion of prayer together with her grandmother as she knelt by her side.

Remembering Dr Tow

Our pastoral advisor Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa went home to be with the Lord on 8 March 2019. I thank God for Dr Tow who prayed over the phone on a Saturday in August 2013 where he committed to the Lord the beginning of Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church, the last church that he has an active part in planting at the age of 88.

No Melons But Manna (Numbers 11:1-11 c.f. selected verses of Psalm 78)

It was in the wilderness outside Egypt that the children of Israel faced acute food shortage. God met their need by raining food from heaven. This heavenly food was called “manna” – Exodus 16:15 “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.”

What does “manna” look or taste like and how did they eat it? Numbers 11:7-9 tells us “7And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. 8And the people went about, and gathered it, and round it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. 9And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.”

The psalmist recounted the response of the children of Israel to God’s provision of manna in Psalm 78:22-24, “22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.”

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.”