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.

(1) Media Outreach Ministry

(a) Sermon Outreach

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Rom. 10:14-18 KJV)

Our church’s sermons are recorded and stored both in audio and video format through Sermon Audio (http://www.sermonaudio.com/blessedhope). To date, there are 756 audio sermons and 422 video sermons. We have also stored our video sermons on YouTube and the Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church’s Facebook Page.

Family Day 2018

Thank God for a blessed Family Day on 25 December at the Amara Sanctuary Resort Hotel in Sentosa. The Lord gave us good weather and safety on that day for all participants. All praise and glory to God.

The theme of our messages “… And There Jesus Prayed” was taken from Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

It is a spiritual exercise each time God’s people wrestle against often great odds to be able to gather together to study His Word and pray. This is where we can make progress in our spiritual life when we take time to meditate upon the Scriptures and pray.

Our Lord took time to be alone so that He can commune with the Father in heaven. Jesus sets for us the example. Therein, we find strength for life.

Sharing the Joy of the Saviour’s Birth

In the frenzy of parties and shopping in this month of December, let us not forget this is the time when we remember our Saviour’s birth. Christmas is the highest point of human history because it marks the fulfilment of God’s plan to save mankind from the curse of sin that is not only physical death but also eternal judgment in the lake of fire.

At Christmas, we remember the birth of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. He, alone, can save us from our sins. This is the good news that the angels announced to the humble shepherds tending their sheep in the field in Bethlehem that night. This was the joy that was announced to the world.

“Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).

Give Me Thine Heart

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

“Give, my son, your heart to me” is the loving entreaty of our heavenly Father to His children. The emphasis is on the active verb placed at the beginning of the sentence in the literal translation. Offer, present, surrender your heart to me.

The Apostle Paul provided a similar entreaty with an exhortation to prayer when he said in Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Indeed, not by our own power but by the mercies of God, a prayer that God will bestow His unmerited favour when we deserve punishment for our waywardness.

The Lord’s Return Is Near

The church of Jesus Christ is exhorted to prepare for the Lord’s imminent return.

Let us look at James’ exhortation to the church in James 5:7-8 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

James addressed the early church who were persecuted for their faith, suffering the loss of their possessions, even their livelihood and home. What were they to do when they have been following the Lord and yet incarcerated? Life was difficult! He exhorted them to be patient, to learn patience. To be patient when their rights have been encroached. James was painting the rich oppressors of this world (James 5:1-6), whose riches come through evil ways and will ultimately be disappointed with life. These wealthy oppressors of this world, those who use their wealth to make more personal wealth for personal gain at the expense of others will not face a good end. These rich, elite men of the world will one day cry in misery because their fortunes are turned. When Christ returns, they will be judged. “Weep and howl” (James 5:1) described the great grief, pain and sorrow that they will experience. These who have hoarded their wealth and lost them eventually to decay. Their wealth rotted away.

(1) Royal Priesthood

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

As you pray for God’s mercies to be granted, take with you these thoughts:

The infinite willingness of God to bless. His very nature is a pledge of it. He delights in mercy. He wants to be gracious. His promises and the experience of His saints assures us of it.