MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 25 October 2009 “Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28) Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851 Tel: (65) 6545 8627 Fax: (65) 6546 7422 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.maranatha-bpc.com * Sunday School: 9.45 am Worship Service: 10.45 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev (Dr) Jack Sin ( HP: 9116 0948 ) Grateful Musings on Maranatha BP Church 19 th Anniversary Introduction The psalmist says in Psalms 145:1-2, ' I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.' Every anniversary is an opportune time to recollect God's faithfulness and sovereign goodness to His covenant people. By the sovereign hand of God, Maranatha BP Church was incepted on 28 th October 1990 with about 20 members of Life BP Church at the St George's Chapel left behind by the British RAF in the 1970s. By the gracious help of God, it has grown in spiritual influence to many believers and friends in and out of Maranatha BP Church. The Lord has been good to bless us with many opportunities or open doors and an entrance for outreach and service for Him. We were enabled by the Lord to launch out and to minister to the Chinese working community here and to overseas missions in setting up Covenant BP Church India about 4-1/2 years ago with Rev Dr George Skariah and Evangel BP Church with Elder Dr. Lim Yew Cheng in Kuala Lumpur about 3-1/2 years ago as well. Acts 20:24 says, ‘But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.’ So we are all committed also to support Evangel BP Church in the purchase of the church building as the Lord leads. We thank God for new families and friends who have joined our church this year and we welcome Stephen Teh and Teh Mee Yee, the newly baptized members of Fong Jing Heng, Tan An Yan, Song Hauwen of the Chinese fellowship and Elia Chua, the daughter of Chua Yueh Mann and Kerena Chua as well (read their testimonies). The early church saw many members admitted to the Lord's Supper after they were converted and later baptized into the local church. We encourage those who are not yet baptized (or have not transfered their membership) to do so as soon as possible to be publicity identified with Christ in His local church. This year we also witnessed the expansion of the outreach of the Chinese fellowship to the saving of souls. By God’s enablement, we can continue as a Church that honours God and to minister to souls by the preaching and the propagation of the gospel of Christ and teaching from the inspired, infallible and inerrant, sufficient Word of God. We need to be steadfast and defend the truth of God's Word against the falsehood and doctrinal errors of our times. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' We are reminded to give of our best to the Lord in our time, talents and treasures in promoting His kingdom on earth and in the defence of the faith in these last perilous days (Jude 3,4). Pattern of the Early Church We followed or patterned after the early first century church which grew steadily and was a healthy and vibrant church. We witnessed in Acts 6:1-7 the following notable priorities or elements of the apostolic church in the midst of a legitimate church concern. There are 4 Ps to be noted. Prayer for the Saints - Necessary Work of Intercession The first thing that the apostles were committed to was the intercession for the flock. This is so important that nothing should displace it especially our corporate Wednesday night prayer meeting where the church meets to pray for one another. A prayerless church is a powerless church and we remembered the grave need to go on our knees to beseech the Lord to bless our families and the church. We are exhorted to pray without ceasing and to pray importunately relying in the Lord. Matthew 21:22 says, 'And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' Let us remember to seek the Lord on our knees as a church and implores His gracious enablement in the performance of spiritual duties. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, ' If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.' There is no revival in the church that is not preceded by believing incessant prayer. Preaching of the Word - Unashamed Declaration of the Inspired Word of God The purpose of the church is to proclaim the glorious message of everlasting life and the nurture of the flock through the Word of God. The bible is central to the vitality and health of the church. No matter how busy they were, the apostles gave top priority to the preparation, the unashamed proclamation and expository teaching of the gospel and the Word. The knowledge of the gospel and the Word was such an important matter to them that they will not be distracted from it. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:16, '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!' Doctrine is to be paramount and members are to properly grounded, rooted and to know them well through the proper instruction from the pulpit. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' People's Spiritual Needs - Biblical Care of the Flock The church is not a physical building nor a denomination but it is a gathering of the elect of God bought by the blood of Christ. But when the church grows bigger, it is not easy to minister to every member of the flock effectively. Apparently in the first century church, some of the Greek speaking widows were neglected and the first deacons were appointed or elected to take care of them. We are to remember the sick, senior people, singles, orphans or widows (if any) and to minister to the various needs of the congregation. We are not to neglect any segment of the congregation, whether they be the older members, the youths, the children, the Chinese speaking friends or even our Indonesian maids as well which are taken care of by Wiwin. We also thank God for the faithful and sacrificial deacons, CED teachers, fellowship leaders and other members in our church serving in the CED, Nursery, JWS, NBC, ushering, PA, choir and the resource ministry, church camps, VBS, MLF, MYAF and MYF. We hope by God’s enablement to reach out to spiritual and physical care of the church members. Paper Work - The Proper Administration of the Church There are some pertinent and practical matters in the church that needs to be done regularly like completing the church bulletin on time, updating of church records, the notice board, proper upkeep of finances, missions report, minutes of session, ACM meetings, transport for members, the preparation of food for the Chinese Fellowship, printing of pamphlets, tracts and weeklies, physical maintenance and upkeep of the building, visitations to home and to the sick, and others. We need good and responsible stewardship and here is where both the deacons and the lay people can play a vital part to assist the pastor in the practical ministries of the church. Church Growth - God's Way In Acts 9:31, it says, 'Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.' The early church grew when the people were edified in the word as they walked in the fear of God and in the comfort and consolation of the Holy Ghost. These are vital ingredients for church growth and each is indispensable. We are committed to edifying the saints, to preach the pure and unadulterated gospel of Christ, the sharing of the comfort of the believers in the Holy Spirit in Maranatha BP Church and our overseas outreaches. We are living in the last days of great deception with the attacks by the evil one on the finished work of the Lord on Calvary. Today is also 492 nd anniversary of the 16 th Century Protestant Reformation and we need to remember that we are justified by faith alone through Christ alone, by grace alone and not by works. All of us can come to God without any saints or mediatrix but solely through the finished work of Christ alone. Acts 4:12 says, 'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' We need to counsel and admonish our people to be kept pure unto the Lord and preserved from the deceptive doctrinal errors and moral wiles of the evil one.