Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Adult Sunday School 7 January 2018 ZECHARIAH – The LORD Remembers Zechariah 1:1-6 (KJV) 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the …
(1) Devotions for 2018
During the Family Day on 22nd December 2017, a new 365 Devotional Book on the book of Proverbs entitled “God for the Life that Wins!” by Denis Gibson was distributed for devotional use in 2018. It is available in both hardcopy and electronic version: https://www.blessedhope.sg/category/devotions/.
Here is the excerpt of the 7 January 2018 devotional entitled “The Life Changing Course!” based on Proverbs 1:7.
This verse (1:7) is the Motto of Proverbs (Pr. 9:10), and deserves special treatment because it is also the theme of the whole Bible (Ps. 111:10, Job 28:28). To acknowledge the Sovereignty of God in every area, is the first step to knowledge and to successful living.
“By and large the ancient people were more God-conscious than we are; no dimension of life was outside His domain. They did not leave Him in the template as we leave Him in church, nor was He relegated to one day of the week or certain times of the day. They were much more aware of God’s supervision and activity in their day by day routine” (Alden).
Hymns: RHC 399 I Am Thine, O Lord, 402 His Way with Thee, 404 Let Your Lower Lights Be Burning
PSALM 139
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:1-24 (KJV)
THIS IS MY LORD
OUTLINE
(1) His Complete Care for Me (v1-18)
(2) His Cause, My Cause (v19-22)
(3) His Affection, My Consecration (v23-24)
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Strengthening Our Devotional Life
Here are 7 elements to help our devotional life in the new year of grace 2018:
(1) Time – Quiet Time (Your Devotional Time)
It is imperative that we give the best time of our day for spiritual nourishment. Wholesome food for our overall well-being. A conscious prioritization is helpful. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes daily for devotion and meditation upon God’s Word.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
The Corinthian Christians were saved as a fruit of the Apostle Paul’s ministry. The gospel that he preached indeed were effectual to the conversion of souls and how they renounced their idols and come to faith in Jesus Christ. It was a well-known fact that an undeniable change has taken place in their lives. There was no necessity for any letter to be written on pen and paper to authenticate the Apostle Paul’s love for them.
The Apostle Paul begins this chapter with the question, “Do we begin again to commend ourselves?” The again does not imply that he had commended himself previously. Rather, it simply means that he had been accused of doing so, and now he anticipates the repetition of such a charge against him. [William MacDonald]
The testimony of the gospel team led by the Apostle Paul went about their mission work with sincerity of heart, preaching the gospel in the fear of God. They were mindful of the spiritual mandate placed upon them and were careful to speak the truth according to the Word of God. Venturing not to speak beyond what the Word of God says, they stood behind the Word of God.
Believers with the gospel mandate are given the task to usher souls to heaven or to consign them to the condemnation of hell. What a grave responsibility! Who is sufficient for these things? Who is adequate for such an undertaking? Not by our own strength but by the grace of God.
Hymns: RHC 30 When This Passing World Is Done, 538 In the New Jerusalem, 43 God Is Still on the Throne
Psalm 122
1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good. Psalm 122:1-9 (KJV)
THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM
OUTLINE
Our Rejoicing (v1-2)
Our Praise (v3-5)
Our Prayer (v6-9)