Weekly Newsletter of MARANATHA MESSENGER Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 12 June 2016 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28) Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851 E-mail: maranatha.bpc@pacific.net.sg Sunday School: 9.45 am Sunday English / Chinese Worship Service: 10.45 am Sunday Chinese Worship Service: 7 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Introduction Ordinary Christians Advancing Gospel Missions Extraordinarily Romans 1:14-16 says, I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The local church is the God ordained human agent to be involved in the work of local and worldwide evangelism and missions. The Lord has designated the church to initiate and support missionary endeavours and that is from the leaders of the local church. When God the Holy Spirit gave orders to launch the first planned, purposeful missionary effort to reach the lost in the Gentile community, it was to a local church in Antioch and especially to her leaders and they sent out the best (Acts 13:1-5), Paul and Barnabas. Our task is to establish local churches made up of born again disciples of Christ who are led by sound leadership. We hope that ultimately any mission station should be selfreproducing, with the support and guidance of their local leaders in the fullness of time. At the frontline of the missions fields, are evangelists, missionaries, pastors and Christian believers who willingly go to fulfil the Great Commission. The same Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) given by our Lord Jesus Christ is to the body of believers. Maranatha Bible-Presbyterian Church is committed to challenging and stirring all believers to pray, give and support the commission, along with our mission churches in obeying our Lord to bring the Gospel to lost souls as He leads us (Luke 24:44-45). As a church member, we can prayerfully do the following : 1. Join evangelistic missions trips (i.e. Chinese outreach every Sunday at 4pm) and learn how we may be part of the opportunities to teach and reach out to people groups in Asian countries and beyond; 2. Attend missions conferences, training seminars, Emmanuel Reformed Bible Lectures (ERBL) and missions courses to prepare mission teams to help meet spiritual and physical needs on the field; 3. Provide available resources (i.e. books, Bibles, training materials, tracts) among individual Christians, churches and other Christian BP churches to work with the Spirit of God in gathering this great end time harvest of souls (Matthew 24:14); 1
4. Learn to give relevant biblical training resources to local Christians in needy areas so they can do the work of the ministry. To empower such local believers is the most strategic, God honouring, biblical-based, cost-effective and culturally-sensitive way to advance the cause of the Gospel; 5. Respond to physical and material needs, especially among those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) in the incidences of spiritual needs with Christian compassion and stewardship. Pray and support our brethren in the restricted nations of Asia like Vietnam, Indonesia, India and China that doors to share the gospel will be opened, lives changed, needs met and that there will be freedom to gather a bountiful harvest of souls into God's Kingdom. Provide the church with your email or postal address to receive updates, prayer requests and other relevant information. Participate in our prayer meetings, missions, conferences, seminars, workshops. Set aside time and resources to go on actual missions trips as the Lord enables you (i.e. Kelapa Sawit BP Church, Kulai BP Church, Malaysia missions trip on 10 and 18 July 2016, Evangel BP Church, Malaysia from 27 to 28 August 2016, Myanmar trip from 6 to 12 September 2016 and Covenant BP Church, India mission trip from 7 to 13 December 2016 and others). Everyone has been given gifts from the Lord to be a blessing to the rest of the Body of Believers. We are involved in supporting and preaching the gospel to BPCs in countries like Malaysia, India, County X, Myanmar and Batam in Indonesia and beyond. Share with your friends or family what the Lord is doing in reviving your hearts and saving souls today and encourage them to be a part of His glorious gospel work. Conclusion Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16 says, For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! The local church is committed to send out their missionaries with accountability, to its members. We must work with, guide and deal with our missionaries in a biblical manner according to the Word of God. Let us pray fervently and support the church ministries with our time, talent and gifts and with much prayer as the Lord enable us (1 Peter 4:9-10). Let us desire to fulfill the Great Commission in equipping, empowering others and deploying God given resources to support and buttress in the work of the gospel in the mission stations to the glory of Lord. Jack Sin +++++++++++ The New Heaven and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-5) What do the new heaven and earth indicate? The restoration of Eden. This revelation came to John in a vision. Divine truth is understood by revelation, not reasoning. The first heaven and the first earth will pass away. This is the teaching of the Bible. Everything as we now know it shall be done away with. Then a new heaven and a new earth shall appear. Probably the re-forming of the existing heaven and earth and not the creation out of nothing (ex nihilo). Note, Jesus transfigured (but same 2
person); Jesus rose from the dead (but he was the same person); our resurrection bodies (new, but same persons). Out of what exists God creates a new thing. There will be no more chaos and danger in the new heaven and the new earth. John says there was no more sea. The sea depicts restlessness, chaos and danger. The present world is full of these but in the new order, there shall be no more sea - no more chaos; no more danger. The perfected church of Christ shall appear from heaven. It is spoken of as the new Jerusalem. It is without spot or blemish. It is as a bride adorned to meet her husband. The imperfect church of today shall be the perfect church of tomorrow. God will come again. He will dwell with them. In Eden after the fall, mankind was banished from the presence of God. But in the new heaven and the new earth God shall be present himself in the midst of his people and dwell with them. There is a reversal of what happened in Eden. No longer banishment. Instead, communion. There will be no more tears, no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no pain. These things which are part of this life will no longer be. It is God alone who can make things new. Behold, I make all things new. No human organization can make things new. Only God can. Be assured these things will happen. John is to write down the vision given to him. God s words are true and faithful. They are to be trusted. Be assured God will bring into being the new heaven and earth. Unbelievers do not accept this Bible revelation. They scoff (2 Peter 3:3). They are unrepentant (Revelation 9:21; 16:11). They are indifferent (Matthew 25:38). But Christians believe these things and hold them dearly. They hope for a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. Adam and Eve hoped for a new heaven and earth. They would, by reason of redemption, appreciate the eternal Son of God more. In Eden, He was their Creator. In the new heaven and earth, He is more than Creator; He is their Saviour. Overall lesson: God will create a new heaven and earth thereby restoring the first creation. Rev David Yan Emmanuel Church Auckland, New Zealand ++++++++++ 3
When A Christian Grows Old When illnesses and old age invade, This feeble body falters and decays, It s comforting to look to Jesus, Who is the heavenly Way. What will become of the aged tomorrow, God alone sustains us each day, It belongs to us not to fear, But hope in His everlasting stay. When memory fails and our eyes grow dim, In our weakness, Christ will restore, A new body we will be dressed, In an eternal home with no duress. The elderly pray and seek the Word, God s abundant mercy to wait, Trusting in God s gracious comfort, And not fall into the devil s depressing bait. We exalt His faithfulness and strength, In our old age, His love will not relent. The elect rely on His covenant of grace, For we are His chosen race. This breath of life will one day cease, When this earthly temple will be erased. But Christ will come again in all His glory, And salvation is still, our old, old story. Jack Sin 4
Theme for the Quarter : Developing our Biblical Understanding of Christian Issues English Worship Service Rev Dr Jack Sin speaks on Biblical Understanding of the Defence of the Faith (Scripture Text : Jude 3,4; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Responsive Text : Acts 17:21-34) [End of MM] 5