GETHSEMANE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Not my will, but Thine, be done (Luke 22:42)

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1 ORDER OF WORSHIP Volume 25, Issue 26 2 nd Sept 2012 Call to Worship Dn Kelvin Lim * Hymn 46 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God * Invocation & Gloria Patri * Responsive Scripture Reading James 4:1-10 Hymn 31 - Blessed Be the Name Collection of Offerings * Doxology & Prayer Hymn Tell Me the Story of Jesus Children s Sermon & Scripture Memorisation Pastoral Prayer Eld Mah Chin Kwang Sermon Pr Jeremiah Sim A Christian s Victory James 4:1-10 * Hymn Constantly Abiding * Closing Prayer & Threefold Amen * Congregation Standing Welcome to all worshippers Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2 Scripture Memorisation CHRIST S BIRTH Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. GETHSEMANE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Not my will, but Thine, be done (Luke 22:42)

2 Sept 02 Sept am Church Choir & Children s Choir Church Choir & Children s Choir 09-10am Malayalam Fellowship Bro Benny Skariah Malayalam Fellowship Chinese Service 10.30am English Service 10.30am SUNDAY DUTY ROSTER Worship Leader: Eld Alan Choy Preacher: Pr Daniel Lim; Pianist: Sarah Yap Flowers: Roscelle Lim; Refreshment: Gan Sheu Hoong Ushers: Chan Tuck Whye & Cayson Chok Worship Leader: Pr Kelvin Lim Preacher: Pr Jeremiah Sim Musicians: Chloe Pawa & Sarah Lee Ushers: Beng Wee, Max, Marcus Lim, Kwan Teng, Danial & Benny; Greeter: Mong Jee Pawa AV Ministry: Crew No. 1 Flowers: Khaw Swee Keng Refreshment Duty: Aileen Tan, Pansy Ng & Mabel Lim Junior Worship: Carolyn Koshy (Jasmine Tan), Donal dela Cruz (Esther Quek), Low Chip Hung Worship Leader: Pr Daniel Lim Preacher: Pr Daniel Lim; Pianist: Eunice Choy Flowers: Ivy Seah; Refreshment: Jenn Lee Ushers: Sam Cheah & Leow Beng Wee Worship Leader: Eld Alan Choy Preacher: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Musicians: Chu Seong Yeng & Jasmine Low Ushers: Jeremiah, Edwin, Andy, Tuck Whye, Randy & Jason; Greeter: Violet Quek AV Ministry: Crew No. 2 Flowers: Carolyn Koshy Refreshment Duty: Ruth Low, Corliss Tan & Stella Tan Junior Worship: Diana Chan (Sally Lum), Stefanie Wong (Cecilia Siah), Low Hui Lin Filipino Service GCM 1.30pm Lions Home 3.30pm Worship Leader: Pr Dennis Kabingue Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pianist: Dorcas Koshy; Usher: Norefel Resuma Refreshment: Roscelle Lim Song Leader: Choy Luan Kheng Nursery-P2: Choy Luan Kheng P3-P6: Low Boon Siang Venue: 487 Bedok South Ave 2 English Speaker: Bro Edwin Quek Dialect Speaker: Pr Daniel Lim Worship Leader: Pr Dennis Kabingue Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pianist: Chloe Pawa; Usher: Donald dela Cruz Refreshment: Daryl Kabingue Song Leader: Carolyn Koshy Nursery-P2: Kamalamangai P3-P6: Jeremiah Sim Venue: 41 Toa Payoh Rise English Speaker: Eld Mah Chin Kwang Dialect Speaker: Eld Alan Choy Page 2

3 We live in a society that renounces meekness as weakness and pronounces might as right. This society is very likely to laugh at Jesus who said, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). There is an old joke to revise the saying, The meek will inherit the earth if that s okay with the rest of you. This joke came about as a result of the general belief that meekness is weakness and the weak will always be dispossessed by the strong. We should not doubt the veracity of the Lord s saying because it is belittled by the world. We must believe and practise the sayings of our Lord to be truly blessed. As Christians, we should not allow ourselves to be shaped by what everyone else thinks in this world. We are to be moulded by the truth that Jesus teaches us. He wants us to understand the true strengths and blessedness of life. So let 02 September 2012 Pastoral Exhortation Prabhudas Koshy The Meek Page 3 us consider the words of Christ: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. What does it mean to be meek? Meekness has been defined as a humble and gentle attitude towards God and man. Knowing that we, as Christians, are poor in spirit, we humble ourselves to trust the Lord for the divine redemption and resources to live the Christian life. Christians mourn over their sins and the sins of others. So they should not be self-assuming and proud, but self-denying and meek. A humble admission Meekness is a virtue that humbly admits the shortcomings and sins in one s life, believing that God will deliver him from them all. When he is wrong and is corrected, he will not become defensive and aggressive. Admitting one s sins meekly is a spiritual blessedness, for

4 it opens the way to truth and righteousness. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way (Psalm 25:9). Becoming defensive and critical of the person who corrects our sins is never a meek behaviour. To say to the one who corrects us, Well, you re neither perfect, so what s the big deal? is pure arrogance and rudeness. Meekness will not permit us to be bitter and vengeful to others, even when we are chided for our mistakes. The meek will humbly receive reproof without getting defensive. The meek person is able to say, You re right. That s an aspect of my life where I need to change. Would you help me improve in this area? Covering up our sins is not meekness, but pride. A humble devotion Meekness is a virtue that humbly devotes itself to God always. Meekness moves a person to be totally preoccupied with serving God. However the world may perceive his commitment to God, the meek person remains resolved to fulfil the good will of the Lord. Moses is a fine example of this aspect of meekness. Miriam and Aaron, his elder siblings, began to challenge his leadership ostensibly because he had married a Ethiopian woman. They were envious that the Lord had been speaking through him to the people of Israel. Yet Moses was not troubled, neither was he vengeful. The Word of God records, Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). The Lord then intervened and rebuked the dissenting Aaron and Miriam. He also told them, My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house (Numbers 12:7). The meekness of Moses was truly a reflection of his faithfulness to God s calling. Zephaniah the prophet proclaimed: Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness (Zephaniah 2:3). Seeking the Lord s righteousness is the chief business of all who are truly meek. For this, we must humbly receive the Word of God Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, Page 4

5 which is able to save your souls (James 1:21). A humble disposition The meek, having boldness and humility, are willing to take on any opposition for the sake of God, while at the same time being equally willing to put up with any insult or indignity aimed at themselves. Meekness is a quiet and calm disposition that results from absolute trust in and submission to God s will and power. Even when we are persecuted and rejected, the meek, trusting in God s sovereignty, will boldly stand for Him. When intimidating and threatening words and actions are directed to meek persons, they will quietly rest in God s providence instead of being stirred up to behave violently. Our previous example of Moses in Numbers 12 proved this case. The reason they are able to do so is because they have committed their cause to God. This is the real secret of being meek. They are not agitated by what others think or say about them. They are only concerned about what God has to say about them. The life of the Lord Jesus was an epitome of meekness. Isaiah s prophecy affirms this: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Christ our Master was as meek as a lamb. It would be tragic for His followers to be seen as fierce wild beasts, avenging or retaliating those who have hurt them. Conclusion The blessing of the meek, according to Jesus, is that the meek will inherit the earth. This saying of Jesus resembles the words of Psalm 37:11: But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. God is not looking for superstars or celebrities to preach the Gospel all over the earth. The true soldiers of the cross whom He sent to win His elect from every part of the world are the meek. With meekness, they preach the meek and lowly Christ who promised rest to those who would come to Him (cf. Matthew 11:28-30). Page 5

6 Junior Worshippers Page Kelvin Lim At the Appointed Time (I) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:4-5). Dear children, as we continue to study the topic of Christ s birth, and learn more about what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us by His first coming, may God bless your little hearts with gratefulness towards Jesus! The phrase, when the fulness of the time was come teaches us that God had indeed appointed a time for the birth of Christ. So when Jesus was born in the days of Herod, the king (cf. Matthew 2:1-2), it was the exact time that God has appointed for His coming to this world to save sinners. Next, we read of the phrase, made under the law. This points to the fact that Jesus was born a Jew and all Jews were expected to be obedient to the Law of God. As such, He was circumcised as a baby, and when He grew up, He obeyed all the Page 6 requirements of the Law (cf. Luke 2:21 & 42). Thus He fulfilled all righteousness of the Law, proving Himself to be without sin. But this is not the case with you and me, for we are all born in sin! Every one of us is under the condemnation of the Law because of our sins. We do lie and steal, and in fact, repeatedly we sin. So we are condemned by the Law as disobedient and guilty. We need someone to bring us back to God, and that person is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ! My young reader, God, at His appointed time, sent the Lord Jesus Christ to bring sinners back to Himself. Let all who have trusted the Lord for salvation from their sins and guilt thank Him with a grateful heart!

7 ANNOUNCEMENT COLLECTION Sunday (26/8/2012) General Offering 3, Tithes Ethiopia Van Fund Bible Witness Kelvin Lim Lok Kwok Wah Kenneth Wong Grace Tiu (Medical Fund) 1, Non-Sunday Gifts Seniors Ministry Bible Witness 20.00, SPECIAL FUNDS (Total as of 26 th August) Ethiopia Bldg Fund 1,043, Ethiopia Van Fund 20, Grace Tiu 11, Please obtain the registration forms from the reception. Venue: Hotel Equatorial Bangi, Putrajaya Speakers: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo & Pastor Koshy Theme: The Lord s Message to the Church (Rev 2-3) Camp fees: Adults: Single - $515; Twin sharing - $350; Triple sharing - $325 Children: 4-11 years of age with extra bed - $ years of age without extra bed - $140 (Those below 4 years of age - free.) Transport: $70/person Closing Date: 28 Oct Sign up today! For further enquiries, please contact Dn Francis Lee. It will be held on 30 th September 2012 at 1.30pm in this auditorium. All communicant members are required to attend. All afternoon activities will be cancelled for that day. "Faithful Men" by Pastor Koshy Chairman: Dn Kelvin Lim Date & Time: Saturday, 8 th Sept 2012 at 4.00pm Venue: TGCM premises - 202B, Ponggol Seventeenth Avenue Singapore Transport from Punggol MRT at 3.45pm. Page 7

8 POST-WORSHIP ACTIVITIES Please stay back after worship to join: Refreshment & Fellowship ( pm) Adults and Youth Bible Study ( pm) Children s Bible Study ( pm) TUESDAY-FRIDAY ACTIVITIES Tuesday Prayer Gathering (8.00pm) Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study (Cancelled) Thursday Seniors Ministry (11.00am) Friday Morning Prayer ( am) Holy Women of God A ladies seminar organised by the Ladies Fellowship 15 September 2012 (Saturday) pm City Beach Resort (8 Port Rd) Speaker: Pastor Koshy Pick-up: MRT station Invite your friends & relatives! Please register with Sis Annie Ho. Come and be blessed by our fellowship meetings and activities! Page 8 GYAF Retreat Sept 2012 (Fri & Sat) 28/9: 7.15pm - Dinner 8.15pm - Message 29/9: Whole day Venue: Aloha Changi Speaker: Pastor Koshy More details to follow. Please sign up at the reception table. For enquiries, please contact Maverick Pang ( ). Time and Place of Worship 10.30am SingPost Centre Level 5 10 Eunos Rd 8 (Next to Paya Lebar MRT) Prayer Hotline SMS your prayer item Our Office 510 Geylang Road, #02-06, Singapore Tel: ; Fax: Our Websites gethsemanebpc.com biblewitness.com Our Pastor Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Mobile: gethsemane@pacific.net.sg Our Session Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy, Eld Mah Chin Kwang, Eld Alan Choy, Dn Arvind Pawa, Dn Daniel Lim, Dn Lok Kwok Wah, Dn Kelvin Lim & Dn Francis Lee