ORDER OF WORSHIP Volume 25, Issue 22 29 th July 2012 Call to Worship Dn Lok Kwok Wah * Hymn 75 - Come, Christians, Join to Sing * Invocation & Gloria Patri * Responsive Scripture Reading 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 Hymn 442 - Soldiers of Christ, Arise Collection of Offerings * Doxology & Prayer Hymn 317 - The Solid Rock Children s Sermon & Scripture Memorisation Pastoral Prayer Sermon Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Divine Counter-Strategy Against the Devil s Foray into the Church Romans 16:17-20 * Hymn 436 - Sound the Battle Cry! * Benediction & Threefold Amen * Congregation Standing Welcome to all worshippers Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29 Scripture Memorization CHRIST S BIRTH Isaiah 9:6... his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. GETHSEMANE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Not my will, but Thine, be done (Luke 22:42)
July 29 Aug 05 09-10am Church Choir & Children s Choir Church Choir & Children s Choir 09-10am Malayalam Fellowship Malayalam Fellowship Bro Benny Skariah Chinese Service 10.30am English Service 10.30am SUNDAY DUTY ROSTER Worship Leader: Gan Chin Hwi Preacher: Pr Daniel Lim; Pianist: Eunice Choy Flowers: Winnie Yap; Refreshment: Roscelle Lim Ushers: John Peh & Jerry Chan Worship Leader: Dn Lok Kwok Wah Preacher: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Musicians: Chu Seong Yeng & Sarah Lee Ushers: Beng Wee, Max, Marcus Lim, Tuck Whye, Danial & Randy; Greeter: Violet Quek AV Ministry: Crew No. 2 Flowers: Zuo Bai Ye Refreshment Duty: Cecilia Siah, Mabel Lim & Low Hui Lin Junior Worship: Pr Jeremiah Sim (Mabel Lim), Aileen Tan (Chloe Pawa), Ho Kee How Worship Leader: Gan Chin Hwi Preacher: Pr Daniel Lim; Pianist: Sarah Yap Flowers: Ivy Seah; Refreshment: Jenn Lee Ushers: Chan Tuck Whye & Cayson Chok Worship Leader: Dn Francis Lee Preacher: Pr Kelvin Lim Musicians: Dorcas Koshy & Jasmine Low Ushers: Jeremiah, Edwin, Andy, John, Benny & Jason; Greeter: Mah Lean Choo AV Ministry: Crew No. 3 Flowers: Karen Quek Refreshment Duty: Karen Quek, Esther Quek & Roscelle Lim Junior Worship: Edwin Quek (Eunice Choy), Annie Ho (Chu Seong Yeng), Mah Lean Choo Filipino Service GCM 1.30pm Lions Home 3.30pm Worship Leader: Pr Dennis Kabingue Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pianist: Dorcas Koshy; Usher: Anthony E. Refreshment: Emma Laurencio Cancelled in view of evangelism Venue: 487 Bedok South Ave 2 English Speaker: Dn Arvind Pawa Dialect Speaker: Pr Jeremiah Sim Worship Leader: Pr Dennis Kabingue Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pianist: Chloe Pawa; Usher: Norefel Resuma Refreshment: Vicky Amor Song Leader: Kelvin Lim Nursery-P2: Melissa Mah P3-P6: Andrew Koh Venue: 487 Bedok South Ave 2 English Speaker: Eld Mah Chin Kwang Dialect Speaker: Eld Alan Choy Page 2
29 July 2012 Pastoral Exhortation Prabhudas Koshy Coming to God in Prayer Christians must rejoice being in the presence of God, praying and worshipping Him. To a great many people, prayer is an activity that they engage in when they are perplexed. It is not just running to God for help. Though it is important that we call on God in our troubles, the act of prayer is more than seeking His help to relieve us of our troubles. I have heard some saying that I don t have anything to pray for. So I don t pray regularly. Prayer is not just uttering a few items of needs that we have. In fact, even before we think of what to pray, we must consider whether we have the right to come to God in prayer at all. Even if one has many things to ask of God, if he is not readied and equipped by the Spirit and the Word, his prayers will not please the Lord. The apostle Paul wrote: I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8). It is important to note that this verse emphasises the manner of our coming to God in prayer rather than what we pray. If we know how to pray or how to approach God in prayer, we will know what to pray. The first and foremost necessity in prayer is that we approach God s presence in holiness. This is the emphasis of Paul s words I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands. The posture of lifting up our hands in Page 3 prayer would not please the Lord. It is the holy hands that we are instructed to be lifted unto God. The words holy hands are indicative of one s holy character. Spiritual purity must be the first concern of every Christian who approaches God in prayer. Follow...holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Prayers offered without holiness is an abomination to the Lord. The Lord declared to the people of Israel, And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil (Isaiah 1:15-16). Proverbs
15:8 reminds us: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. It is absolutely wrong to think that anyone, anywhere, at any time can call on the Lord and expect an answer from Him. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth (John 9:31). Secondly, we must approach God without wrath. The word wrath is not just a depiction of a violent burst of anger. It also refers to resentment and unpleasant feeling towards God s will. It can also be indicative of our bitter, angry feelings and attitude towards others. So often when we approach God in prayer, we are guilty of a resentful spirit. How could we expect God to be gracious and forgiving to us when we are unwilling to forgive and be gracious to others? Our prayer must be: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Finally, we must pray without doubting. We must pray without doubting God s existence, wisdom, power, faithfulness and promises. If we ever pray with doubt about God s greatness and goodness, it is better that we stop praying. In such a state, our prayer is useless. So let us make sure that when we draw near to the Lord, we come in holiness, submission, love and fullness of faith in Him. Only then our prayer shall be acceptable to Him. God is pleased to hear the request of a holy, humble and faithful Christian. E-mail from Bro Richard Tiu Pastor, we went to see Grace s doctor to book the surgery schedule as you have advised us. We thank God that the doctor accommodated our request to have it on August 13 as this will be the midterm break for GBI. Your advice was also very timely as the doctor told us that the numbness in Grace s right leg could be early signs of pelvic area complications. We thank the Lord for leading us through your counsel upon this matter. We really did not know how to go about it and we continue to pray and trust that the Lord will see us through this affliction. Thank you for your kind support and prayers for us. Pastor s Note: We need S$ 7,000/- more to help Sis Grace to go for her much needed surgery. Let us give to her medical fund as the Lord enables. Page 4
Testimonies of 3 stay-at-home mothers blessed by Bible Witness Media Ministry I thank God for the Bible Witness Web Radio which provides me with a constant source of godly Christian music and messages. Being a stay-at-home mum of two young children, I have little time for myself to read Christian literature but I thank God I can still feed myself spiritually by listening to messages available via the Web Radio even when I am working on my chores. The Bible Witness Web Radio has been a channel of blessing to me. May the Lord continue to use the Bible Witness Web Radio to be a channel of blessing to many others. Mummy A. I would like to thank the Lord for using the Bible Witness magazines to encourage me and the friends around me. I like it that the various issues focus on particular subjects and these are discussed by various authors. One very meaningful one was the one that dealt with choosing a church. It came in handy when one of my friends was considering following her boyfriend to another church. Sometimes, I would just pass an issue to my friends who truly benefit from the articles. As a mother of four, I appreciate the children s section and my oldest girl finds it interesting to read the colourful pages and illustrations that accompany the section. This ministry is truly a worthy one and I pray that God will continue to use this work to reach out to His people far and wide. God bless. Sara Wong Thank God for using Pastor Koshy and his fellow workers to start the Bible Witness Media Ministry. We are very thankful to God for all these godly and sound materials readily available to us especially to our children. My children and I have been greatly blessed through: 1. Bible Witness Magazine Whenever we receive the latest copy, my daughter and I will fight over it. I can t wait to glance through the topics while she can t wait to read the story of Jonathan Goforth. 2. Bible Witness Web Radio Whenever my daughter is not in school, we like to tune in to BWWR during breakfast. We enjoy singing along with the godly hymns Page 5 and she is very pleased that there is a special segment for children. 3. Bible Witness Musical My daughter has grown up watching The Scripture in Song, Christmas Musical and Fanny Crosby. Now my 1-year-old son is watching them together with his sister. 4. Bible Witness CDs Search me, O God and He Keeps Me Singing are 2 of the CDs that often accompany us on our drives. 5. Bible Witness Publications My Souls Delight is indeed a great delight for family devotion. We can t wait for volume 2! 6. Bible Witness Retreat It has always been a blessed time of rest and feasting on God s words. It is our prayer that our God Almighty will enable His servants in BWMM to press on and help change the lives of both adults and children around the world! All glory to God. Mummy E.
(Genesis 15:18). A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Usually, when a covenant is made, the two parties would walk between two portions of a slaughtered animal to signify their agreement to the pledge. But it was not so in the covenant God made with Abram. In this covenant, only the LORD went between the divided animals, which were prepared by Abram (cf. Genesis 15:9-10). Towards the going down of the sun, God caused Abram to fall into a deep sleep while He went between those pieces (of a young cow, a female goat and a male sheep) Junior Worshippers Page Kelvin Lim God s Covenant with Abram In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates in the form of a smoking furnace and a burning lamp. Interestingly, Abram knew everything that happened that day though he was in a deep sleep! He knew God s plan for his descendants. He knew the geographical area of the land that God would give to them as well (cf. Genesis 15:13-14 & 18). It would span from the river of Egypt as the south border all the way to its north border marked by the river Euphrates. Today, the nation of Israel does not possess all these territories that God promised. This is not because God fails to keep Page 6 His promise. But the nation of Israel disobeyed and wandered away from their covenant God, resulting in their dispossession of the land. But when Jesus comes again, and rules from Jerusalem on David s throne, all these territories will be annexed by the nation of Israel. Our God is a covenant-keeping God. My young reader, you can be absolutely sure that God will keep all His promises. But the question that we must ask ourselves is Am I obedient and faithful to my God?
ANNOUNCEMENT COLLECTION Sunday (22/7/2012) General Offering 5,343.40 Tithes 1,955.00 Eric Delina 100.00 Grace Tiu (Medical Fee) 50.00 Non-Sunday Gifts Medical Fund (Dominino) 800.00; 1,000.00; 250.00 TGCM (local) 600.00 Bible Witness 650.00 SPECIAL FUNDS (Total as of 22 nd July) Ethiopia Bldg Fund 1,040,463.44 Ethiopia Van Fund 19,225.90 Medical Fund (Grace Tiu) 6,420.00 Catechism Class The first lesson on Basic Bible Knowledge will commence next Lord s Day, 5 Aug, 12. Catechumens, please meet Elder Mah Chin Kwang at 9.30am at the Open Room on level 5, next to North Lift Lobby. 7th Anniversary The Gethsemane Care Ministry a hearty welcome to the thanksgiving service Thursday, 9 August, 5.00pm Testimonies Gospel Message To facilitate the dinner arrangement, please sign up at the reception table. 6th Bible Witness Retreat with Pastor Koshy 5 th -7 th Sibu Island Resort, September 2012 Johor, Malaysia Christians as Overcomers Fees: Twin-sharing $310.00/person Triple-sharing $290.00/person Child with bed $185.00/child (5-11 yrs) Fees include transport, full board and notes. Page 7
POST-WORSHIP ACTIVITIES Please stay back after worship to join: Refreshment & Fellowship (12.30-1.30pm) Adults and Youth Bible Study (Cancelled) Children s Bible Study (Cancelled) TUESDAY-FRIDAY ACTIVITIES Tuesday Prayer Gathering (8.00pm) Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study (1.15pm) Thursday Seniors Ministry (11am) Friday Morning Prayer (6.45-7.30am) Church Camp (3-7 Dec 2012) 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 - $230 4-11 years of age without extra bed - $140 Those below 4 years of age - free Transport: $70/person Page 8 Evangelism All worshippers are encouraged to participate in today's evangelism session. Please meet Dn Arvind Pawa for a briefing after service at 1.30pm. Bible Witness Web Radio iphone App is now available for free download! Time and Place of Worship 10.30am SingPost Centre Level 5 10 Eunos Rd 8 (Next to Paya Lebar MRT) 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: 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