Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
John 1:1-4 (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
This hymn was written by Helen Lemmel (1863-1961), a gifted singer and musician born in England later moved to the United States together at the age of 12. The song was inspired by a tract written by Lilias Trotter, a missionary to Algeria entitled “Focussed”. Trotter was writing about having the right focus on Jesus Christ puts the whole jigsaw puzzle of life in a blessed order. She gave this godly advice for keeping one’s life moving in the right direction:
Turn your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him.
“Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus” is the one that has continued to find its way into many hymnals and into human hearts because it holds out a promise of Jesus’ help for troubled souls.
The Apostle Paul has to make it clear that what he has written are not his own words but they are the very commandments of the Lord. And any persons who claim to be spiritually discerning will certainly acknowledge the truth concerning what he has written.
William MacDonald observed well, “Apparently the Apostle Paul realized that his teaching here would cause considerable contention. How right he was! To meet any arguments, he uses irony in verse 36 by asking: Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?”
The women folk in the church are instructed by the Apostle Paul ask their husbands at home for any questions they may have concerning any matter because the husband is the person God has appointed for this purpose. This instruction was given that all things be done decently and in order in the church of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 14:40).
The Apostle Paul instructed that women are to keep silence in the churches. They are commanded to be under obedience, submissive to their husbands.
He explains this in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Hymns: RHC 542 Saved by Grace, 209 Because He Lives, 227 O Glorious Day!
Psalm 42:1-11 (KJV)
1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Heavenly Balm for The Depressed Soul
Our All Sufficient God
OUTLINE
(1) The State of Utter Despair (verse 1-5b, 6-7)
(2) There is solace in God (verse 8-11)
(a) Experience His Goodness (verse 8a)
(b) Experience His comfort in song (verse 8b)
(c) Experience the living God in prayer (verse 8c)
(d) Wait upon God (verse 5, 11)
The Lord seeks order in the church. He is not the author of confusion. When a meeting of God’s people degenerates into a state of pandemonium and disorder, surely it is not in order and God is surely not approving of it. The responsibility is therefore upon the church to practice orderly behaviour during public meetings. Whether on the matter concerning the interpretation of a foreign language or proclamation of prophecy, there is a place for the orderly use of these gifts so that the congregation can benefit.
William MacDonald observed well, “a prophet received direct communications from the Lord and revealed them to the church. But it is possible that after giving this revelation, he might go on to preach to the people. So the apostle lays down the rule that if a prophet is speaking and anything is revealed to another prophet sitting in the audience, then the first is required to stop speaking to make way for the one who has received the latest revelation. The reason, as suggested, is that the longer the first man talks, the more apt he is to speak by his own power rather than by inspiration. In continued speech there is always the danger of shifting from God’s words to one’s own words. Revelation is superior to anything else.”
The prophetic gift is considered and the counsel given is not more than two or three prophets are to speak during one service. And it is imperative that those given the gift to distinguish truth and error, this gift of discernment, must seek to ascertain if indeed the message is of God – 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Also, our Lord Jesus tells us the the indwelling Holy Spirit will help believers ascertain the truth – John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” By such a procedure, a false prophet is to be exposed.