The Righteousness of God is manifested…by faith of Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-22)

Romans 3:21-22 (KJV) 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.

In the ancient Chinese language developed more than 4000 years ago, there are characters that cannot be fully explained except in the book of Genesis. How did our Chinese ancestors learn this knowledge of life with the living and true God? It is indeed worthy of our investigation. In the Lunar New Year celebrations, we often display the Chinese character pronounced “fu” (shown below) which means “blessedness” or “happiness”. The desire is that the New Year may bring happiness to the family.

(1) 4th Anniversary Thanksgiving

Thank God for a blessed 4th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service on 28 September 2018. In this gathering, there are those whom the church has established a friendship by virtue of the gospel work and they came to rejoice with us. Loved ones and friends were gathered together to recall the goodness of God toward His people in the past 4 years.

Greetings from Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa, our pastoral advisor, the man who by advice, aided us in the establishment of this local church. Dr Tow baptised 10 of our members. He preached here 10 times since the church began and administered the Lord’s Supper for the last time on September 2015.

He was with us on our 2nd Anniversary Thanksgiving Service in January 2016. Praise the Lord for the care of a senior leader of the church who for the propagation of the gospel helped to strengthen our hands establishing this outreach for the gospel. We thank the Lord for him and pray the Lord will keep and strengthen him daily.

(1) A Note of Thanksgiving

It is with great rejoicing and thanksgiving that we are gathered to remember our Lord’s goodness upon this congregation of God’s people at Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church, on this 4th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service. For all members, loved ones and friends, thank God for your co-labouring in the gospel work.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.

I send you greetings on behalf of Rev. Dr. Tow Siang Hwa, our Pastoral Advisor. Indeed, all praise and glory are accorded to our great God for making this witness a reality in the last 4 years.

Let us pray and seek the Lord’s blessing that the gospel is sounded forth, souls added into God’s kingdom and saints edified and fervent in the service of the Lord.

Recounting with Thanksgiving

It is with thanksgiving that we recount God’s blessings for the year of grace 2017:

(a) 1 January 2017

Thank God for the second year in which the 365-Day Andrew Murray Devotional Bible was encouraged for use among members and friends. Seven have completed with a certificate of completion in the form of a bookmark given out in October 2017.

(b) 7 January 2017

Youth Fellowship’s 2nd Anniversary was commemorated with the message “Remember Now Thy Creator in the Days of Thy Youth.”

(c) 15 January 2017

Blessed Hope Mobile Library was launched for members and friends to borrow books. An initial collection of 50 books was available for loan. 1 Timothy 4:13a “Till I come, give attendance to reading”. 


YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

Horatio Palmer, 1834 -1907
Mr. Palmer says, “This song was an inspiration. I was at work on the dry subject of ‘ Theory’ when the complete idea flashed upon me, and I laid aside the theoretical work and hurriedly penned both words and music as fast as I could write them. I submitted them to the criticism of a friend afterwards, and some changes were made in the third stanza, but the first two are exactly as they came to me. The music was first written in A flat, but I soon saw that B flat was better, and for many years it has appeared in that key. I am reverently thankful it has been a power for good.”

(1) Devotions for 2018

During the Family Day on 22nd December 2017, a new 365 Devotional Book on the book of Proverbs entitled “God for the Life that Wins!” by Denis Gibson was distributed for devotional use in 2018. It is available in both hardcopy and electronic version: https://www.blessedhope.sg/category/devotions/.

Here is the excerpt of the 7 January 2018 devotional entitled “The Life Changing Course!” based on Proverbs 1:7.

This verse (1:7) is the Motto of Proverbs (Pr. 9:10), and deserves special treatment because it is also the theme of the whole Bible (Ps. 111:10, Job 28:28). To acknowledge the Sovereignty of God in every area, is the first step to knowledge and to successful living.

“By and large the ancient people were more God-conscious than we are; no dimension of life was outside His domain. They did not leave Him in the template as we leave Him in church, nor was He relegated to one day of the week or certain times of the day. They were much more aware of God’s supervision and activity in their day by day routine” (Alden).

Strengthening Our Devotional Life

Here are 7 elements to help our devotional life in the new year of grace 2018:

(1) Time – Quiet Time (Your Devotional Time)

It is imperative that we give the best time of our day for spiritual nourishment. Wholesome food for our overall well-being. A conscious prioritization is helpful. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes daily for devotion and meditation upon God’s Word.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Family Day 2017

Thank God for gathering 43 members and friends for Family Day 2017 at the Rasa Sentosa Resort on 22 December.

The theme of our retreat was “Strengthening Our Devotional Life”. There were two messages – The Believer’s Quiet Time (Psalm 63:1-8) and Tools for the Trade (Joshua 1:8).

This is an excerpt of “The Believer’s Quiet Time”:

“The believer’s quiet time is 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. The cultivation of a calm spirit in the peace and joy of God is the frame of a man in touch with God. The believer’s quiet time is the high point of private worship. The elements of private devotion are prayer, the reading and meditation of God’s Word. What is God’s message for me this day? The quiet time must not deteriorate to a regiment. It must not take away the excitement and delight of the soul in the pursuit of God. Yet there is a need to have self-discipline to cultivate a habit of life-long devotion to God.

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

John 10:10b I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Emily Elliot was born at Brighton, England, on July 22, 1836. Throughout her life she was associated with the evangelical faction of the Anglican Church. She gave of herself tirelessly in working with the rescue missions and Sunday Schools in her area. Emily was a niece of Charlotte Elliott, author of the hymn “Just As I Am”. For six years she edited a magazine called the Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor. Forty-eight of her hymns were published in a book entitled Under the Pillow, a book of verse for the special use of people who are ill in hospitals, infirmaries or at home.

The Meaning of Life

The grappling for meaning in life finds its ultimate rest with the Giver and Sustainer of life, the Person of Jesus Christ. The search to find the “meaning of life” finds its end point or beginning point in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures gives a full and abundant life.

John 1:1-4, 14 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men… 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.