Watchnight service .... 2015

God's protection

God's protecting hand was covering me this morning as I had 2 near miss road incidents .... the closes shave was when a taxi swung out of the turning lane on Upper Serangoon at the junction which was turning into Potong Pasir and came to an abrupt stop on the extreme right lane thinking that it was a red light (infinity was green for cars going straight and red for those turning)!!! I had to jam on my emergency brakes and managed to avoid hitting into the front car (Infinity Q) .... thank God for his protection!!

Verse Today - Psalm 55:22

Verse of the Day : December 28

Psalm 55:22

22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Verse Today: Galatians 4:4-5

Verse of the Day - December 23

Galatians 4:4-5

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Verse Today: Luke 2: 10-12

Verse of the Day: December 25

Luke 2:10-12

10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

1H 2016 Sermon Series

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 22

22. How does God minister His grace to you?

God ministers His grace to me by the power of the Holy Spirit through His Word, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, in the fellowship of His Church.
 
Romans 8:9-14 (NIV)
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 10:14 (NIV)

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Acts 2:38 (NIV)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (NIV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 21

21. Why has God loved you in Christ from eternity?

God has loved me not for anything in me, but only because of His good pleasure, which amazes me and makes me humble.
 

Ephesians 1:3-6 (NIV)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Verse Today: Revelation 14:7

Verse of the Day : November 30
Revelation 14:7
7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Revelations 4-5

A glimpse of Jesus on the throne of heaven ....
.... one sitting on the throne .... appearance of jasper & ruby
.... a rainbow sun like an emerald encircling the throne
... 24 other thrones
... the 4 living creatures
.... 24 elders ... in white & crowns of gold
.... worshipped God
.... on the right hand ... a scroll with 7 seals
"Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
Revelations 5:5
"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll & it's seven seals."
.... saw the Lamb .... looked as if it had been slain .... at the center of the thrones
.... went and took scroll from God
Revelation 5:9 ... new song
You are worthy
Your blood purchased for God ... all people & nations
You made them a kingdom of priests to serve God and reign on earth.

Revelations 2-3

Message to the 7 churches

Revelation 1:10-11 NIV

[10] On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, [11] which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Verse Today - 1 Chronicles 16:34

Verse of the Day : November 28

1 Chronicles 16:34

34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

What a Beautiful Day

Being awed by God’s wonderful creation .... just need to open our eyes and look ...

Revelation 1

Some key verses from Revelation 1

Revelation 1:20 NIV

[20] The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation Summary

Started on my own reading of the book of Revelation .....

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 20

20. Why have you received the grace of God?

I have received the grace of God because of His eternal, electing plan in Christ.

Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 19

19. Why are you utterly dependent on the grace of God?

In myself, I am dead in sin and resist God, seeking only to serve myself.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)

10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”

When faced with afflictions

Today's reading was a good reminder when I am facing afflictions to turn to God and still be thankful ..... 12 useful reminders .... It is definitely hard to do ..... when faced with trials or earthshattering situations ....

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12 Things to Thank God for in the Midst of Affliction
by Mark Altrogge

One of the most important things we must do when we suffer is to give thanks. I don’t say this lightly and I know many believers who have endured unimaginable pain and tragedy.  Giving thanks in the midst of agony and affliction is certainly not easy to do. 

Yet Ephesians 5:20 tells us we should give thanks “always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” and 1 Thess 5:18 says to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks helps us focus on God in our affliction, steers us away from complaining, strengthens our faith, and brings glory to Jesus.

There are many things we can give thanks for when we suffer, but here are 12 that I try to remember:

1) That God is sovereign and in complete control of the intensity and the duration of your affliction.

2) That God’s love and mercies never cease

3) That Jesus will never leave nor forsake you.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb 13:5

4) That God is with you in your affliction

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Is 43:2

5) That God hears your every prayer

6) That God is using this affliction to make you like Christ.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28–29

7) That this affliction is momentary and light compared to the eternal reward it is producing

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison… 2 Cor 4:17

8) That Jesus is your sympathetic High Priest who intercedes for you constantly

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Heb 7:25

9) That God is near you in your pain

10) That Jesus is your refuge, strength, and strong tower you can run to.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Ps 46:1, ESV

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Pr 18:10

11) That God has saved you, washed away your sins, and adopted you as his own child.

Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Rom 4:7

12) That someday Jesus will wipe away every tear from your eyes and you will see his glorious face.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Rev 21:4

Encouragement

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 18

18. What is the grace of God?

The grace of God is the undeserved favour, mercy and action of God in rescuing sinners.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 17

17. How can you be united to Jesus and His work?

I can only be united to Jesus and His work only by God’s grace.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 16

16. Is Jesus the only saviour?

Yes. No one can find reconciliation with God and salvation from sin except through union with Christ.
 
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
John 6:57 (NIV)
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
John 10:9 (NIV)
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

CHC Sentensing

Final closure to the CHC trial

Pastor Darryl reminded us at the Budget Retreat that we are to constantly be reminded of our motives and methods for doing our Ministry work, that God's glory and God’s will be at the centre of all our initiatives.

Following the CHC verdict and sentence. ... We as a Christian family will need to:
* Pray for the Christian Family
* Proclaim the Gospel & good news about Jesus and the forgiveness of sins

 

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Six City Harvest Church (CHC) leaders were sentenced to between 21 months and eight years' jail on Friday (Nov 20) for misappropriating S$50 million of church funds.

Senior pastor Kong Hee, the founder of the church, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for criminal breach of trust. John Lam, former secretary of the church's management board, was sentenced to three years' jail.
Sharon Tan, former finance manager, was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Former board member Chew Eng Han was given a sentence of six years and senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, five years and six months. Serina Wee, former finance manager for the church, was handed a five-year jail term.

Heart Change is Key

Read this today and is a good reminder to keep my heart pure and rely on the HS to keep from sinning.

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Does Your Inside Match Your Outside?
by Mark Altrogge

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” MT 5:8

Once a father told his child to sit down. The child refused. Again the father told his child to sit down, and again the child stubbornly refused. Finally, the father said, “If you don’t sit down I’m going to give you a spanking.” The child sat down and said, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m still standing up on the inside!” Reminds me of what Jesus said to the Jewish leaders:

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…’ MT 15:7-8

Outwardly they honored God. They sang songs and prayed and tithed. But they had no love for God. Their hearts – their inner persons – were impure – they acted religious to be noticed by men, not to please God.  They were hypocrites.

The word hypocrite comes from a word meaning actor. A hypocrite’s an actor, a pretender. He professes some value or belief but his private life does not match it. He’s not pure in heart. So, to be pure in heart means our words match our thoughts. Our outer life matches our inner life.

When God saves us he gives us new hearts:

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:26-27

God gives us new hearts that want to follow and obey him and pours his Holy Spirit into us who motivates us to sincere obedience.

A friend once requested I ask him about his TV watching every time he traveled for work. This man sincerely wanted to please Jesus and didn’t want to sin when no one else was watching.

To be pure in heart doesn’t mean we never sin. But it means that now we don’t want to. We hate it when we do, and are grateful for Jesus’ constant cleansing (1 JN 1:9).

Trust in Him

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 15

15. What does it mean that Jesus was raised for you?
Jesus was raised bodily from the dead and ever lives for me, praying for me and protecting me from all my enemies – the world, the flesh and the devil. 

Romans 4:25
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 7:25
25 Therefore he is able to save completelythose who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 14

14. What does it mean that Jesus died for you?

Jesus died on the cross for me, fully bearing the wrath and curse of God against me for my sins and fully meriting the forgiveness of my sins.

2 Corinthians 5:19
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.21 God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 13

13. What does it mean that Jesus lived for you?

Jesus perfectly kept the holy law for me as the second Adam and as the true Israelite, and He imputes His perfect righteousness to me.

Matthew 3:15
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Romans 5:17-18
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

BSF Grand Sharing (3rd Nov 2015)

After 30 weeks of study, today we came to the last session which was the Grand Sharing Night ....  Some of the learning shared by the men which I took away ....

- intimacy with God

- God word is life

- life is not smooth ... ups and downs ... take away is that God is with us on this journey

- Moses finished well ... He kept his eyes fixed on God and His purpose for Moses .... obedience to God. Perseverance in difficult time. Courage to act. Transformation of Moses life .... 

-  Moses the faithful servant .... until the end .... He ended well

- Moses the good shepherd. ... He asked for successor for the people (even after knowing he will die) ... his focus was his love for God and his love for the people

-  desert experience .... reading about it is different from living it ..... Pray that God gives strength to persevere and sustain us. Be humbled and stop complaining. Remember God’s goodness and blessings. God doesn't remember my failure.

- exodus 14 ... fickle pharaoh changed his mind .... Moses asked the people to stand firm ... God will fight for you. ... just be still!! Trust God to deliver.

- sin carries consequences 

- God choose Moses .... even at his last moment God was with Moses. God is faithful

- Christ cleanses our sins ... but also takes away our guilt 

- God is my giant that is more powerful than the giants in life.

- the bible God's Word is the pillar of fire & cloud ... that leads us today

- We have to read God's Word ... it is life

- God is faithful to his promises

- warning against murmurs & complaints .... disobedience

- God delivered Israel from slavery .... reflection of my walk as God delivers me from Sin .... what is the promise land on earth now ... We need to be contented and not complaining. 

- courageous leader ... not fearing for his life

- seek God when faced with trials and difficulties all the time

- God is serious about my sin ... We are to deal with it in His way.

- listening and meeting God face to face is not a chore but a privilege

- God chooses the leader and not man .... Koran incident ... Moses let God justified him

- it is easy to sing God’s word vs living it out ....

- it is easy to be distracted from God

- continue to depend on God 

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ... teach God's word to your children

- beware of your complaints

- life is short ... use your life productively . .. count your days

- Moses desire is to serve God until his end

Clear Skies

Praise God that we had clear blue skies today .... how we had taken for granted the fresh air ....

BSF leader's sharing (31 Oct 2015)

Session started at 6.30am instead of our usual 5.45am

Took a good 2hrs for all the sharing ....
I had to rush to the JV event at Sarah Activity Centre  (SAC).

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This year there was many events that happended in my life .... looking back on my journey this year as well as the study of the "Life of Moses"  … I learned that

i) like Moses … when he was first called to serve God … he put up excuses … so did I

ii) But in my darkest hour this year …. When I was brought to my knees to pray (for my brother) … God showed his mercy and love … most importantly … that my God is able & mighty (he is a giant that can overcome any obstacles in my life … what God wanted was for me to turn and trust him) … nothing is impossible for Him .... all I needed to do was trust in God's faithfulness & provision
– how wonderfully he answered my prayer for healing brother ….
- The journey of getting me and my family over safely to the US and the many moments of God’s grace and protection (from getting connections on multiple flights, long drives, keeping us safe …. ) … reminds me that God is great!!

iii) The calling to serve came again … I did have concerns …. Availability of time and work commitments …. After prayer, God reminded me of many instance He had cleared days cluttered with deadlines and deliveries of tough assignments … to allow me to be at BSF on Tuesdays evenings.  I only need to trust Him …. He will deliver …. I was putting up excuses (not me send someone else)

iv) After much prayer and reflection ….. I took a step of faith and asked God to guide and the HS to lead me when I take on the GL role … I committed to BSF on 3rd Jul 2015 … I can say that the requirements have been tough … but God had not let me struggle alone .. I can feel that he is with me and guiding me in this new journey that I am taking. I also have new fellow GL who are encouraging and also meet up to be in the company of men of faith ... to encourage each other.

I pray that I can learn from Moses' example and have strength to focus on the end which is to keep my eyes fixed on God and to fulfill his purpose for me. That I can be a faithful servant dispite of my flaws … like what HoweLai said in the last lesson … God do no choose men who are flawless …   God can use me even with my flaws … the important thing is my heart is focused on his purpose and I obey and be faithful for Him to lead me.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 12

12. What has Jesus done to reconcile you to God?

Jesus lived, died and was raised for me.

Romans 4:25 (NIV)

25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Romans 6:5 (NIV)

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 11

11. Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus is the eternal second Person of the Trinity, the Son, who became man, born in fulfilment of the prophets’ words, born of Mary as a decendant of David, born under the law.

John 1:1 (NIV)

The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (NIV)

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 1:2-4 (NIV)

2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life  was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 4:4 (NIV)

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 10

10. What do the Scriptures teach about how you as a sinner can live for God?

I can only live for God if I am united with Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 15:5 (NIV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

BSF Lesson 29 - Lecture 27 Oct 2015

BSF Lecture: The Death of Moses (Deuteronomy 33-34)

1. Moses’ Blessings (Deuteronomy 33)

Principle 1: God is faithful to forgive & bless all who trust Him

2. Moses’ Death (Deuteronomy 34)

Principle 2: Knowing God is faithful gives the right perspective in every every circumstance.

 

Aim: God’s Grace allows believers to Live Faithfully and Die without Fear!!
 

BSF - 27 Oct 2015 => Covering Albunus's DG

Pray with Thanks that I was able to lead the DG in reviewing the questions this week.

Led the men in prayer for Albunus (their GL) who had undergone his operation that morning and for God's healing hands on his recovery. That God will provide comfort to him and his family as well as wisdom to the medical doctors on his treatment options.

It had been a good experience to help cover various DGs.

I recognise that it is the HS that will lead me in encouraging the men to share in their learning. Pray that I continue to have the discipline to do my part to prepare the lessons and make it interesting and think of creative ways to engage the men to share on the questions and also on how the lesson had impacted them and change their lives.

I need to pray for time management to be able to engage the men that are assigned to me and that I can lead them effectively ... that they will come to be closer to God and to encourage each other.

Pray that as we finish on the study of Moses, that I continue with the momentum to prepare for the study of Revelations ....

By Faith

https://youtu.be/fXB8ihepUpE

By Faith

We sang this song which is reminder of 1 of the key foundational doctrine that the Protestant Reformation upheld as essential for Christian faith and practice .... "By Grace Alone"

This is one of my favourite songs ...

BY FAITH (Keith & Kristyn Getty)
By faith we see the hand of God 
In the light of creation's grand design 
In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness 
Who walk by faith and not by sight 

By faith our fathers roamed the earth 
With the power of His promise in their hearts 
Of a holy city built by God's own hand 
A place where peace and justice reign 

We will stand as children of the promise 
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward 
Till the race is finished and the work is done 
We'll walk by faith and not by sight 

By faith the prophets saw a day 
When the longed-for Messiah would appear 
With the power to break the chains of sin and death 
And rise triumphant from the grave 

By faith the church was called to go 
In the power of the Spirit to the lost 
To deliver captives and to preach good news 
In every corner of the earth 

We will stand... 

By faith this mountain shall be moved 
And the power of the gospel shall prevail 
For we know in Christ all things are possible 
For all who call upon His name 

We will stand... 

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty 
& Stuart Townend

Reformation Sunday

The last Sunday of every Oct is Reformation Sunday .... it is to commemorate and observe this important event in history.

31 Oct 1517 .... Martin Luther posted on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg his 95 theses against the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. This was the beginning of the Protestant Reformation ....

Martin Luther is one of the most significant figures God has raised up in recent times. 

This law student turned Augustinian monk became the center of a great controversy after his theses were copied and distributed throughout Europe. Initially protesting the pope’s attempt to sell salvation, Luther’s study of Scripture soon led him to oppose the church of Rome on issues including the primacy of the Bible over church tradition and the means by which we are found righteous in the sight of God.

This last issue is probably Luther’s most significant contribution to Christian theology. Though preached clearly in the New Testament and found in the writings of many of the church fathers, the medieval bishops and priests had largely forgotten the truth that our own good works can by no means merit God’s favor. 

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and good works result from our faith, they are not added to it as the grounds for our right standing in the Lord’s eyes (Eph. 2:8-10). 

Justification, God’s declaration that we are not guilty, forgiven of sin, and righteous in His sight comes because through our faith alone the Father imputes, or reckons to our account, the perfect righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

BSF Leader's Meeting (24 Oct 2015)

Homelitics Deuteronomy 33-34

Area Advisor's Letter to GL

Keeping Perspective – Area Advisor Letter to GL

Dear BSF Group Leader:

I am an area advisor who taught a BSF class for over a decade. Before that I was a GL and before that a class member. Some might look at my years in BSF and say that I have received some “promotions.” But as I look back, I am convinced that from God's perspective, it was my years as a GL that had the most strategic potential.

When I became a Christian, I had many friends. But as far as I know, none was interested in spiritual matters. I asked God for Christian friends and was soon invited to BSF.

Two years later, I was asked to be a GL. God answered my prayer by entrusting me with fifteen people who wanted to talk about God and who wanted to study and apply the Bible. I didn't have to recruit these people – they were “handed to me on a platter”! My job was simply to get to know them, pray for them, encourage them, and as we discussed the lessons, discover together who God is and what He wants us to do.

It was a tremendous opportunity, but I did not really understand or appreciate it at the time. There are so many things I have thought about over the years that I wish I had more fully incorporated into my leadership. Here are a few. I wish I had:

● Kept in mind that my primary goal was to get my group members to come back next week. If they did not come, nothing else mattered.

● Prepared my lessons more thoughtfully in order to generate interesting discussions on the "thinking" questions.

● Spent more time on my homiletics so that the biblical truths and applications of the passage had been more life changing to me personally.

● Eliminated words like “BSF policy,” “Headquarters says,” “not permitted to . . .” and just explained to people why it works so well to do things the way we do them in BSF.

● Been more diligent about eliminating Christianese words and phrases from my vocabulary.

● Picked up the phone to contact someone in my group even if I had only a few minutes.

● Seized every opportunity at class to stand around with, walk with, and sit with the members of my group, rather than other friends.

● Been more creative with the hard to reach. I wish I had gone for more walks, met for more cups of coffee, written more notes, etc. I'm sure some “fell through the cracks."

● Kept fellowships more relaxed, knowing that when people like each other and have fun together, they are more likely to come, to open up, and to learn from each other.

● Prayed more consistently for my group members so that, empowered with God's love for them, I would genuinely want to know them.

● Realized that there probably were people in my group whom no one truly valued or for whom no one in the world had ever prayed.

What a privilege and tremendous opportunity the GL has! May God give each of you a deep appreciation for the precious lives He has entrusted to your care.

And may He give you the strength to persevere, as you understand the eternal impact He has graciously enabled you to have.

Love to you all,

From an older and hopefully wiser BSFer

CHC leaders found guilty

A reminder to step back and look at what we are doing ..... determine if my / our actions God honoring and a testimony to others of a Christian.
We are the "salt & light" so our actions & conduct will affect those around us.

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All six City Harvest Church (CHC) leaders facing charges including criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts were found guilty on all counts on Wednesday (Oct 21).

"CONSPIRACY TO MISUSE CHURCH FUNDS"

Judge See Kee Oon – the Presiding Judge of Singapore’s State Courts – said the six “engaged in conspiracies to defraud and falsify accounts”, based on the “extensive documentary evidence” unearthed during a 140-day trial that spanned three years.

He said two sets of bonds from music production firm Xtron and glass manufacturer Firna "were not genuine investments ... and were all wrong uses of CHC's funds". He added: "I do not see how they can be said to have acted in good faith in relation to the charges they face."

Said Judge See in his oral judgment: "I find that the accused persons were variously inextricably entangled in two conspiracies to misuse CHC’s funds. One conspiracy consisted of misusing building fund monies for the Crossover, and the other involved misusing CHC’s funds, a substantial portion of which comprised building fund monies, to create the appearance of bond redemptions and to defraud the auditors via falsified accounts through the various roles they played.

"Each of them participated and functioned in their own way as crucial cogs in the machinery."
The defence lawyers’ arguments – centering on the altruistic motives of the six, who the lawyers argued did nothing for personal gain, but out of a belief in the evangelistic mandate of the church – did not negate their active and knowing participation in their acts, said Judge See.

"They chose to participate in the conspiracy to misuse CHC’s funds, which included siphoning off large amounts from the building fun for Sun Ho’s music career and eventually for the round-tripping transactions to enable the bond redemptions. They chose to defraud the auditors with falsified accounts suggesting a series of genuine transactions for the redemption of bonds and advance rental," he said.

"The evidence points overwhelmingly to a finding that they had all acted dishonestly and in breach of the trust reposed in them and they played their respective roles in a conspiracy with intent to cause wrongful loss to CHC and to defraud the auditors."

Kong and Lam were convicted on three counts of criminal breach of trust; Tan Ye Peng, Chew and Wee each were found guilty of six counts of criminal breach of trust and four counts of falsifying the church's accounts; while Sharon Tan was convicted on three counts of criminal breach of trust and four counts of falsifying the church's accounts.

BSF Lesson 28 Lecture (20 Oct 2015) - Numbers 31-32

Aim: God’s faithfulness assures He will accomplish His purposes for His people

Moses Preparation for His Death
1.       God is in Control (Deuteronomy 31:1-29)
Principle 1: Victorious living comes from trusting that God is faithful.
2.       God is Faithful  (Deuteronomy 31:30 – 32:43)
Principle 2: Obeying God deepens & strengthens a believer’s love for Him
3.       God is in Control (Deuteronomy 32:44-52)
Principle 3: God’s Word is light & life and an antidote to disobedience & rebellion against Him.

Lesson learning:
things stands out to me:
-          Moses is what I need to model on => Even as he nears the end of His life, he still focuses on God’s plan for him … he finishes by writing down God’s Word & Law (1^st 5 books of the OT .. The Pentateuch) and teaching the Israelites “The Song of Moses” … I need to have perseverence like Moses to look towards the final unseen goal that is promised by God (God’s eternal kingdom)
-          To remember that we have a responsibility to learn and teach God’s Word to the next generation
-          Deuteronomy 32:46-47 ….. we are to take to heart God’s Word …. These are not Idle words …. They are your life!!
-          From the Song of Moses …. I gain comfort that God is unchanging …. gracious and merciful …. V10-11 … we are the “apple of His eyes”; he is an eagle that protects its young (me) when ever I fall or stumble he will shelter and protect me!!

Prayer: That I will be faithful to God’s purpose for me (draw encouragement from how Moses persevered in faithful obedience) My choice is life  ….. a life of obedience that is centred on God’s Word. As a father, I will pass on the truths that is revealed by God’s Word and to live a changed life that is Christ centered (it is hard but we are set apart from this world).

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 9

9. Who intepretes the Scriptures?
God has not established any infallable intepreter – whether the church or tradition – for the Scriptures. Rather the Scriptures inteprete themselves, as those who are illuminated by the Holy Spirit read and study them in the community of faith. To know God and His truth, I must search the Scriptures.

Matthew 4:7 (NIV)

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Deuteronomy 32:45-47 (NIV)

45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Acts 17:11 (NIV)

11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Basic Truths of Christian Faith - 8

8. Why do you need the Scriptures?
As a sinner, I have no reliable and saving knowledge of God and can know God only as He has revealed Himself.

Romans 3:10-11 (NIV)

10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.

Psalm 19:8-9 (NIV)

8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.