Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul instructed the believers buy the meat from the market without any rebuke on their conscience to surmise if the meat has previously been offered to idols. The word “shambles” means “a meat market” or “food market”. There should not be any question to any unfaithfulness on their part when they buy the meat and partake it after cooking them.
The man of God seeks not his own benefit but the welfare of his neighbour. He seeks not to enrich himself but that of others. His life is poured out for the good that may be imparted to others.This was Jesus’ life. The love of Christ is manifested in servanthood. May God give us a servant’s heart.
Hymns: RHC 335 Keep On Believing, 247 Cleanse Me, 5 Command Thy Blessing From Above
Psalm 86
1 A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. 10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. 14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. 15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. 17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Blessed Are They That Mourn
The Apostle Paul tells us that there are some things a Christian does that is not morally wrong, but may not be profitable in the sense that it does not build up others’ faith. In this verse, he urges the Christian to consider the impact of his action on the spiritual life of others around him. If it does not build others in the faith but potentially may be a stumbling to them, he says it is “not expedient” or “not profitable” to engage in it.
In this generation where entertainment and pleasure-seeking are so much a part of lifestyle can the people of God hold fast to follow the Lord in the ways of holiness? Inadvertently, believers come under great pressure to conform to the world. How can the believer remain faithful to his Lord and not incur God’s wrath by any friendship with the world?
The Apostle Paul seeks the believer who have confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour to give his wholehearted devotion. Why should the believer who is saved from the filth of his idoltrous past go back to partake the filth of sin in demon-worship? Its unbecoming of the believer and most rebellious of him. It puts him in danger of God’s wrath.
John 20:1-16 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
When the believers go to the temple and be a part of the temple feast, is he not partaking of the worship? He may not think anything of the idol but the fact that this sacrifice is brought to devils. Be aware of the spiritual implication of such actions. Demonic power culminates in Satan worship. Satan is the evil one, the prince of this world.
We know that Satan possess great powers to torment mankind. Job suffered under the onslaught of Satan. God protected him. Mary Magdalene was possessed with seven devils before she was glorious saved by Jesus. The demons departed out of her, never to bother her again when she received Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in her heart. She was the first to be at the tomb of Jesus on resurrection day. She was the first to see the resurrected Christ. She loved her Lord. Jesus comforted her.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
16 April 2017
Speaker: Rev Lek Aik Wee
Worship Leader: Rev Lek Aik Wee
The LORD is in His Holy Temple*
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Psalm 145:1-5 David’s Psalm of praise. 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. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
Indeed, the people of God, having been delivered from their idolatrous past, be willing to keep themselves pure from the pollution of idols. To abstain from all appearance of evil. May the people of God today be identified with Him through baptism and on a regular basis partake the Lord’s Supper in fellowship with the Lord. Amen.