Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
(1) Homegoing of Mdm. Ivy Ng Teck Cheng
Mdm. Ivy Ng Teck Cheng (Mrs. Jamieson) went home to be with the Lord on 31 December 2015 at the age of 77. Her life has touched many hearts. The Silver Hall at the Singapore Casket where the vigil service was held was packed to the brim. On 2 January 2016, her body was laid to rest at the Choa Chu Kang Christian cemetery in Christian burial.
– Mr Chong Wing Keong, Mdm. Cheong Lian Neo (Mrs Chong), Mdm. Chua Siew Eng (Mrs Lek), Mdm. Megan Yap Kim Lan.
(1) Recounting with Thanksgiving
As the year 2015 draws to a close, we recount with thanksgiving God’s good hand in guiding His people at Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church (BHBPC).
The prophet Isaiah was one of the first to preach the Christmas message – the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, more than 700 years before the eventful day. The holy Child, Jesus, came as a light shining in a time of great spiritual darkness in Israel (Isa. 9:1-2; Matt. 4:15-16). Men found forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, their Maker, through Jesus (Matt. 1:21).
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The birth of Jesus Christ was God’s gift to save the world.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow: Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Steps For Effectual Prayer
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
(1) Confession and Reconciliation (v16a)
(2) Prayer Restores (v16b)
(3) Burdens Lifted (v16c)
(4) More Prayer, More Power (v16d)
The late Rev Dr Timothy Tow said, “United Prayer is like burning charcoal, more prayer, more power, less prayer, less power”.
Patience, Comfort and Hope
Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
“Whatsoever things” in this verse has the meaning of whatever that God has revealed to us in His Word is for our instruction. “Written aforetime” has the innotation that what was previously written continues to stand written today to bear witness of the truth.
Do not neglect reading and studying the Bible. It is God’s written revelation to help us especially when we are going through trials and tribulations in life.
The Bible teaches us cheerful endurance in times of afflictions. It lifts our ailing hearts in the midst of our disappointments. It keeps the fire of hope burning in whatever challenging circumstances we may be facing. If our Christian life is to grow, we must apply the Scriptures to our daily living.
Beyond the Sunset – Blindness Transcended by Spiritual Sight
Virgil Block (1887-1978), a Quaker pastor, wrote more than five hundred gospel songs. His best-known hymn, “Beyond the Sunset,” was inspired by a beautiful sunset “witnessed” by a blind Christian. He recounted as follows:
“This song was born during a conversation at the dinner table, after watching a very beautiful sunset at Winona Lake, Indiana, with a blind guest – my cousin Horace Burr and his wife Grace. A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet threatening storm clouds were gathering overhead.
Returning to our home, we talked about the impressive spectacle we had witnessed. Our blind guest excitedly remarked that he had never seen a more beautiful sunset. ‘People are always amazed when you talk about seeing,’ I told him. ‘I can see,’ Horace replied. ‘I see through other people’s eyes, and I think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.’ The phrase, ‘beyond the sunset’ and the striking inflection of his voice struck me so forcibly, I began singing the first few measures.
Infant Baptism
Infant Baptism is a biblical doctrine, in accordance with the Reformed Faith, where infants are baptised so that they become a part of the covenant family in the visible church. The believing parents enter into a covenant with the Lord by bringing their infant for baptism, promising God to bring their child up in the fear and knowledge of God. In the Old Testament, God instructed Abraham to circumcise every male child who was eight days old in his household, as a sign of His covenant with Abraham for all their future generation.
(1) A Timely Poem
Thank God for His special care and protection upon Elder Dr Tow Siang Yeow who turns 88 years old on 6 November 2015. We remember the Lord’s goodness upon him. Sometime ago, Elder Tow wrote a poem on kindness. Prayerfully, the poem, entitled “What is kindness?” would encourage us to be kind one to another.