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PASTORAL CHAT My Dear Readers One Story from Our 11 Pilgrimages to the Holy Land From 1983 to 2004 we organised 11 Pilgrimages to the Holy Land. In our second Pilgrimage in 1987, Pilgrims contributed US$36,000 for Palestinian members of Baraka Bible-Presbyterian Church (Bethlehem and run by missionaries) to establish their own in the village at Beit Sahour (Shepherd’s Field). They bought a piece of land rather close to the Greek Orthodox Church which incurred the Bishop’s displeasure. After some years when the price of land went up (Rom. 8:28) the Palestinian BPs sold it at a profit. They bought another piece of land at Shepherd’s Field but out of sight of the Bishop. The good price they earned enabled them to build a Church but they needed help. The result is with some help from Singapore plus their self help they should complete the whole thing this coming Christmas. They expect at least 200 Faithfuls to celebrate Christmas. Danny Awad the youngest son of Pastor George Awad felt called to serve the Lord fulltime. Some years ago he applied to study at FEBC but somehow was rejected by the immigration. So he found entrance to a Presbyterian Bible College in the Philippines. After four years he graduated with an M.Div. He returned home also with a Filipino wife and now they have two girls. True Life organised the 11th Pilgrimage last year from Aug 26 to Sept 11, 05. Knowing the needs of Rev Danny Awad we are now sending them US$200 a month which makes them our missionaries. Jesus says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14). Our support of Danny Awad with his Filipino wife is prophetically meaningful! Amen. Your affectionate pastor ***************
Text: Gen. 22:1-14 God is truly our Provider. Not only does He provide us with our daily needs, He has also provided us with a most gracious gift of infinite value—His dearly beloved and only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). In Genesis 22:7-8, we find Isaac as a type of Christ. When Isaac asked his father, “where is the lamb for a burnt offering?,” Abraham simply replied in faith and in truth, “God will provide.” God had indeed provided! When Isaac saw himself being placed on the altar of sacrifice, he must have realized that he himself was that lamb that God had provided. Abraham had taught his son well concerning the things of the Lord. Like his father Abraham who was obedient to God’s command, Isaac did not protest, nor try to escape, but willingly submitted himself to the will of the Lord. What remarkable faith! Isaac paints a wonderful picture of Christ. For the Lord Jesus Christ was “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus willingly and silently went to the cross to die for our sins. This He did to fulfill the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53:6-7, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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.” Why was Abraham so ready to offer Isaac on the altar of sacrifice when God commanded him to do so? Abraham could have questioned the Lord, “Lord, how can you ask me to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise who shall fulfill the covenant you have made with me and my posterity? Lord, surely you must have made a mistake by telling me to sacrifice Isaac, for how can a dead son bring life and blessing to many as you have promised in Genesis 12, 15 and 17?” But Abraham had no such doubts and asked no stupid questions. He knew who God was, and what He was like. God never contradicts Himself. He never tells a lie. He always keeps His Word. To Abraham, whatever God says is always true, and whatever He does is always right. As far as Abraham was concerned, his duty was simply to obey, and to do God’s will, and to do it immediately, “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, … and went unto the place which God had told him” (Gen 22:3). Indeed, “the King’s business required haste” (1 Sam 21:8)! Abraham had great faith in God and His Word. That is why till today he is known as the father of faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). Abraham was prepared to offer up Isaac because he knew that his God was a God who keeps His promises and can perform the impossible—“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Heb 11:19). This is the kind of faith that is needed today. As our pastor—Rev Dr Timothy Tow—says, “What we need is experienced faith that will grow to faith that needs no experience.” Both Abraham and Isaac had a faith that needed no experience. They knew God in the fullest and truest sense of the word. The more we learn of God through His Word, the more we love and obey Him, the more our faith will grow and increase. God must and will keep all His promises—both national and spiritual—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God will one day make Israel a very great nation—above all the nations of the earth. When the Lord Jesus comes again, He shall rule over the whole earth from Jerusalem which will be made the capital of the world. Jesus will come and He shall reign for a thousand years on the earth (Rev 5:10, 20:6). Even Paul—the Apostle to the gentiles—said, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom 11:26). Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and so are His words to Israel and to His Church (Heb 13:7-9). His words are forever true, and they shall never fail “as it is written,” “as it stands written,” “as it remains forever written,” 100% inspired, 100% preserved! To God be the glory, great things He hath done. Jehovah Jireh—our God provides! *************** THE GOSPEL OF LIFE: Chapter XI John 11:38-46 The Economy of Miracles Remember what happened after the feeding of the five thousand? Jesus told the disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” (Jn 6:12) Here is a vital principle about miracles – the economy of miracles. Remember also John Sung’s quoting of a Beijing Christian saying, “When you have a small sickness, go to the Taifu (doctor); when you have a big sickness, then you must go to Yesu”. Here is also enunciated the vital principle of economy in miracles. That is to say, what we can do, we must do. What we cannot do, Jesus will do. Notice that in the raising of Lazarus, Jesus called out with a loud voice to work the miracle. But He did not tell the Grave-stone to roll away, nor did He command the grave clothes and napkin to fall off with another shout. He told the people concerned to do it themselves. Today God has given us modern medicine and surgery. Advances are made in every branch of healing, so that T.B. and pneumonia can be cured and eyes can be opened by the surgeon’s knife. Not to find treatment from doctors specialised in their skills but rely on some itinerant faith healer is to misuse God’s economy. Not to take two aspirin tablets and thank God for them as you would before meals, but to seek a faith healer for your headache is pious foolishness. In America there are evangelists who try to handle snakes literally and drink poison to show off their faith. One even tried to resurrect his dead mother because he said Jesus had commanded his disciples to raise the dead. This evangelist prayed and sweated with every ounce of his strength to raise his mother, but to no avail. This is pious foolishness plus foolhardiness. While we thank God for modern medicine and surgery neither can we neglect earnest prayer. We also believe in faith healing, but such as is of partnership between God and man. The pioneer-missionary working in frontier villages not only prays for the sick but also uses pills and syringes, and his landrover too to transport some injured person to hospital. This is working out the economy of miracles, allowing God to do what we cannot do, and doing what we can do. Verse for the Week: When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. Prov. 11:10 ***** Mon and Thu night classes are held at the Far Eastern Bible College, 9A Gilstead Road. Ladies Fellowship Meeting will be held at the home of Mrs Quek Siok Eng this Wed (Apr 6, 05) at 7.45 pm. Address: 58 Watten Drive, Singapore 287963. Tel: 64667130. Message: “Jael” by Rev Ronny Khoo. All are welcome. Young People’s Fellowship Meeting will be held this Sat (Apr 9, 05) at 3.00 pm. Venue: Mr and Mrs Foo’s home at 53 Oriole Crescent. Message: “Pillars of Christian Character: Love in the Light of God’s Word” by Dr Jeffrey Khoo. For details, please contact Herbert at 94377715. Far Eastern Kindergarten’s Registration for 2006 is now open for children born in 2002 (Nursery) and 2003 (Pre-Nursery). Please call 62513676. Bible Camp June 7 – 10, 05 at Resort Lautan Biru, Mersing. Theme: “Knowing Our Bible-Presbyterian Faith”. Dr Jeffrey Khoo chief speaker. We extend our deepest condolences to Mrs Tow
Siang Phang and family on the home-going of Dr Tow Siang Phang on Mar 29,
05. Vigil Service was conducted by Pastor Tow on Mar 30, 05 and funeral was
officiated by Pastor Tow on Apr 2, 05 at the Chua Chu Kang Christian
Cemetery.
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