The Word on Worship Order of Worship Volume 26, Issue 16 16 Jun 2013 Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. Scripture Memorisation Daily Duties of Christians Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. Call to Worship Dn Francis Lee Hymn 37: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven* Invocation & Gloria Patri* Responsive Scripture Reading* John 16:7-15 Special Item Children s Choir Hymn 355: Day By Day Collection of Offerings Doxology & Prayer* Hymn 541: He the Pearly Gates Will Open Children s Sermon & Scripture Memorisation Pastoral Prayer Sermon Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Quench Not the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Hymn 244: Fill Me Now* Benediction & Threefold Amen* * Congregation Standing
Today, June 16 Next Lord s Day, June 23 9.00 10.00 am CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN S CHOIR CHURCH CHOIR & CHILDREN S CHOIR MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP MALAYALAM FELLOWSHIP duty roster 10.30 am 1.30 pm 3.30 pm CHINESE SERVICE ENGLISH SERVICE FILIPINO SERVICE GCM LIONS HOME Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Flowers: Refreshments: Ushers: Pr Daniel Lim Pr Daniel Lim Dorcas Koshy Roscelle Lim Ivy Seah Cayson Chok, Chan Tuck Whye Worship Leader: Dn Francis Lee Preacher: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Musicians: Chloe Pawa, Sarah Lee Ushers: Maverick Pang, Ng Kwan Teng, John Peh, Theodore Wang, David Tan, Jerah Tan Greeter: Winnie Yap AV Ministry: Crew No. 2 Flowers: Choy Luan Kheng Refreshments: Roscelle Lim, Sally Lum, Jasmine Tan Junior Worship: Lee Kim Lei (Eunice Choy), Lynn Koh (Chu Seong Yeng), Pr Kelvin Lim Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Usher: Refreshments: Song Leader: Nursery-P2: P3-P6: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pr Dennis Kabingue Chu Seong Yeng Randy Laurencio Rowena Delina Karen Quek Melissa Mah Pr Jeremiah Sim Venue: 487 Bedok South Ave 2 English Speaker: Dn Arvind Pawa Dialect Speaker: Pr Kelvin Lim Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Flowers: Refreshments: Ushers: Elder Alan Choy Pr Daniel Lim Eunice Choy Lee Kim Lei Katherine Peh John Peh, Jerry Chan Worship Leader: Dn Lok Kwok Wah Preacher: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Musicians: Jasmine Low, Dorcas Koshy Ushers: Jeremiah Sim, Max Selvakumar, Ho Kee How, Marcus Lim, Danial Wong, Benny Skariah Greeter: Lee Kim Lei AV Ministry: Crew No. 3 Flowers: Diana Chan Refreshments: Diana Chan, Misty, Violet Quek Junior Worship: Dorothy Ng (Jasmine Tan), Annie Ho (Corliss Tan), Siew Lian Worship Leader: Preacher: Musician: Usher: Refreshments: Venue: English Speaker: Dialect Speaker: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pr Dennis Kabingue Chloe Pawa Julius Del Rosario Vicky Amor Evangelism with the church 41 Toa Payoh Rise Dn Francis Lee Pr Jeremiah Sim 2
16 June 2013 Charlatans of Christianity B eware! Modern-day Christianity is infested with spiritual charlatans. They are men who put on a godly appearance to mask their unbelief and decadence. They are so prevalent today that the general perception of our time is that they are the real deal. They dominate the pews and pulpits of the churches everywhere. Such men have always existed in Christianity, but never like now. So many on the rise In the Scriptures, Jesus forewarned us that there would be a proliferation of religious impostors in the end times. So it is gullible to presume that they are just a few. Jesus has cautioned, And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many (Matthew 24:11). He also said, For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (Matthew 24:5). Just as Christ had cautioned, they have wooed too many people in churches to subscribe to their unbiblical beliefs and practices. The number of deceivers and the deceived is ever on the rise. The apostle John also foretold that these dangerous spiritual phonies would be a worldwide phenomenon Prabhudas Koshy in the church. Even in his time, i.e. about two thousand years ago, it was already a reality. He wrote in 1 John 2:18, Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. Again in the same epistle he wrote, many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Their adherents are also many, as they will succeed in deceiving many to follow their pernicious ways. Christianity is fast becoming a house largely occupied by spiritual phonies. Such seek a bogus religion that has only a form of godliness, but rejects its power in their life and ministry. So many kinds of them The New Testament mentions several groups of spiritual charlatans who have been infiltrating the church. 1. False brethren (2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4): Twice the apostle Paul warned against this group of men; once in Second Corinthians and another time in Galatians. Though he did not identify the names of persons whom he pastoral exhortation 3
pastoral exhortation classified as false brethren, he had given a certain description of their faith and conduct. The false brethren whom Paul mentioned in Galatians 2:4 were Jewish men who infiltrated the church and influenced it with their brand of a false gospel that required the practice of ceremonial law such as circumcision for salvation. Today the Bible teachers refer to them as Judaizers. These men crept into the early churches, teaching that Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1). Paul says that they sneaked into the church with twofold intention. First, to spy out the liberty that the apostles had in Christ Jesus (v. 4). This liberty had freed the apostles from the Mosaic Law with its external ceremonies and ritualism. The basis for their freedom was in Christ Jesus, whose sacrificial death redeemed mankind from the curse of the law (3:3; 4:5). Second, to make slaves of the Christians, or bring [them] into bondage (v. 4). The word bondage has the idea of abject slavery. The Judaizers wanted to bring Paul and his followers into bondage first to themselves and then to the Mosaic Law, which would eventually have caused Gentile believers to live a legalistic life that was enslaved to the ceremonial laws, from which believers had been liberated (3:23 4:11). Paul wrote that To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you (Galatians 2:5). According to Paul s words in 2 Corinthians 11:26, they had brought perils to him. False brethren are not only a threat to the doctrinal integrity of the church, but they also plot to undermine the faithful ministers of the Gospel. 2. False Christs (Matthew 24:4-5, 24; Mark 13:22): These are men who falsely claim to be the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be claimed that Christ is in a certain place, performing signs and wonders to try and deceive many. However, Jesus has foretold that He would come from heaven with great power to rule the world, and certainly not as these false christs appearing in some places to tout their bogus religious powers. 3. False apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13): Paul wrote about them, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Here he uncovered their fraudulence in no uncertain terms when he labelled them as deceitful workers. According to Paul, they were also impostors. They masqueraded as apostles and were accepted as such by some. They were deceivers. They pretended to be apostles; but they had no divine commission from the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles were appointed by Christ, recognized by the church and committed to the truth. False apostles are never so appointed, recognized and committed. Neither Jesus nor the church has sent false apostles; therefore, such people lack authority to serve. They were never apostles of Christ, but people who pretended to be apostles of Christ. Such false apostles are still around and once again increasing in number. 4. False prophets (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1): Repeated warnings against pseudo-prophets were issued by the Lord Jesus Christ and also by the apostles, Peter and John. Jesus tells us that they 4
shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24). These men even perform miracles, not with the help of the Spirit of Christ, but with the evil spirits. They will try to persuade even Christ at His return with the accounts of their counterfeit miracles, to which Jesus will say, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23). 5. False teachers (2 Peter 2:1): This group of men, together with the false prophets, is distinctly mentioned by the apostle Peter. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1). They teach erroneous doctrines, and in so doing lead others astray. In 1 Timothy 1:7, Paul described such teachers as desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. They are truly ignorant of the truth of God s Word ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). So they meddle with the words of the Scriptures to propagate their errors. The Scriptures classify their teachings as damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1), perverse things (Acts 20:30), vain jangling (1 Timothy 1:6), perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth (1 Timothy 6:5), great swelling words of vanity (2 Peter 2:18), etc. The Scriptural depictions of their conduct are also utterly grim proud, knowing nothing (1 Timothy 6:4), having pernicious ways (2 Peter 2:2), having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin (2 Peter 2:14; cf. 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:6; Jude 1:4, 16, 18), and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you (2 Peter 2:3; cf. vv. 14-15; Jude 1:11). Their modus operandi is covert they have crept in unawares into the congregation (Jude 1:4), they creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins (2 Timothy 3:6), they lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:14), and they privily shall bring in damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1). The ultimate motive of their teachings is scandalous beguiling unstable souls (2 Peter 2:14), to deceive (Ephesians 4:14) and to seduce (1 John 2:26-27), and to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:30). Dear Christian, please be vigilant and do not be fooled into believing the doctrines or accepting the way of life of such spiritual charlatans. These men will try to convince you that you can be spiritual, even though you differ from the biblical truths and flirt with worldliness. They mock those who insist on abstinence from carnal pursuits that dishonour God. Be sure to avoid those who promote sensual and materialistic outlook of life. They will come to seduce you into leaving Christ, His truth and holiness. Have no fellowship with such men and women. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:31-32). R pastoral exhortation 5
The Terror of God Kelvin Lim junior worshipper s page A nd they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob (Genesis 35:5). Jacob and his household obeyed the LORD s instructions; he put away all the idols taken from those who were with him by burying them under an oak tree. As they began their journey from Shechem to Bethel, the Bible tells us an interesting truth: the terror of God was upon the Canaanites, and they did not pursue after Jacob. The terror of God is a kind of fear that God sends into the heart of man to make him afraid and stop him from doing the things that would disrupt His plan or cause harm to His people. In this instance, the Canaanites actually wanted to pursue Jacob and his sons to revenge the men of Shechem that were slain by them (cf. Genesis 34:25). Now, if the Canaanites went after Jacob and his sons, and killed them all, the salvation plan of God would be disrupted because there would not be the nation of Israel where the Messiah would come! Thus, God sent fear into the hearts of all the Canaanites and stopped them from pursuing Jacob and his sons. The terror of God can also be seen as God s protection of His people. For example, the Bible tells us in Exodus 23:27, I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. When God s people obey His instructions, He would protect them by putting His fear into those who intend to hurt them just like the way He protected Jacob and his sons! My young reader, the terror of God is an interesting truth! It is one of God s ways to protect His people who obey His instructions. God sends fear into the hearts of those who have intentions to hurt His people or oppose His will. Isn t it comforting to know that when you obey God and do His will, He would see to it that none is able to harm you? There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you (Deuteronomy 11:25). May the Lord help all of us to do His will like Jacob did! 6
COLLECTIONs LORD S DAY on 9 JUN 2013 Tithes 2,109.00 Offerings 3,527.30 General Fund 200.00; 2,800.00 GYF Camp 1,000.00 Bible Witness 10.00; 50.00 Medical Fund (Domie) 400.00 Pastor Koshy 100.00 Ho Kee How 100.00 Cebu Church 150.00 Bohol Church 150.00 Bogo Church 150.00 Ethiopia Church 150.00 Kenneth Wong NTUC Vouchers ($80.00) NON-SUNDAY GIFTS General Fund 200.00; 560.00; 400.00 GBI (Ethiopia) 450.00 Medical Fund (Domie) 450.00 Special FundS ETHIOPIA VAN FUND Total as of 9 Jun 2013 37,742.90 Gethsemane YOUNG ADULTS FellowshiP Topic: Thematic Study on Proverbs Speaker: Pastor Koshy Chairman: Bro Low Boon Siang Date: Fri, 21 June 2013 Time: 7.30 pm (pot-bless dinner) Venue: Home of Mr & Mrs Low Boon Siang Block 686C, #14-158 Jurong West Central 1, S(643686) Gethsemane Chinese Service 10th Anniversary A combined service will be held on the Lord s Day on 28 July 2013, 10.30 am. A thanksgiving buffet lunch will be catered at $10 per adult, and free of charge for children below 12 years old. To facilitate the ordering, please sign up at the reception desk. Gethsemane Adults FellowshiP Topic: Book Study on Philippians Speaker: Pastor Koshy Chairman: Bro Jeremiah Sim Date: Sat, 22 June 2013 Time: 4.00 pm Venue: Home of Mr & Mrs Ho Kee How Blk 306, #11-79, Canberra Road Transport from Sembawang MRT station @ 3.45 pm. Please contact Dn Daniel Lim. Seminar-cum-Forum Topic: Biblical History I Genesis to Judges Speaker: Pastor Koshy Date: Sat, 27 July 2013 Time: 1.30 6.00 pm Venue: City Beach Resort More details of the programme will be made known at a later date. Dinner will be provided for that day; please sign up on the form at the reception table for catering purposes. announcements 7
announcements Gethsemane Church Camp Camp Speaker: Rev Paul Cheng Date: Mon Fri, 2 6 December 2013 Venue: Nilai Springs Resort, Negeri Sembilan Fees: To be announced Apply for leave as soon as possible! For more information, see Dn Arvind Pawa. With Special Thanks Dear Pastor Koshy & Session of Gethsemane BPC, We praise and thank God for Gethsemane B-P Church, for she has been a blessing and encouragement to us during our recent bereavement. The Lord in His goodness had graciously shortened the suffering of our loved one (the late Mdm Wong Hui Lan), and alleviated the agony of those she had left behind. Post-Worship Activities Please stay back after worship to join us for: Refreshment & Fellowship 12.30 pm 1.30 pm Adults & Youths Bible Study 1.30 pm 3.00 pm Children s Bible Study 1.30 pm 3.00 pm Weekday Activities Tuesday Prayer Gathering 8.00 pm @ L5 Auditorium, SingPost Centre Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study 1.15 pm @ Bible Witness Bookroom Thursday Seniors Ministry 11.00 am (Please contact Pr Jeremiah Sim) Friday Morning Prayer 6.45 am 7.30 am @ Church Resource Centre Time & Place of Worship 10.30 am Level 5 Auditorium Singapore Post Centre 10 Eunos Road 8 Singapore 408600 (next to Paya Lebar MRT station) Prayer Hotline 8138 8139 SMS your prayer item Our Office 510 Geylang Road, #02-06 Singapore 389466 Tel: 6741 1910 Fax: 6741 1016 Our Websites gethsemanebpc.com biblewitness.com Our Pastor Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Mobile: 9001 1119 Email: pastor.gbpc@gmail.com Thank God for Pastor s wise counsel and the encouragement of church members who saw us through this period of grief. All glory and praise be unto our wonderful God! In Christ Jesus, Francis Tan Keng Swan & family 9 June 2013 Bible Witness Magazine For more information, please call the church office at 6741 1910. Bible Witness Web Radio Church Weekly Our Session Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Elder Mah Chin Kwang Elder Alan Choy Deacon Arvind Pawa Deacon Daniel Lim Deacon Lok Kwok Wah Deacon Kelvin Lim Deacon Francis Lee 8