Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Marriage with its comfort and satisfaction is God’s prescribed wisdom for preventing fornication. The word “fornication” describes all sorts of lawless lusts. And thus, in the marriage, both husband and wife has given the power over their own body to their better half. Any relationship outside the marriage covenant is a violation of the partner’s rights. [Matthew Henry]
Marriage is a blessed union of mutual dependence between the husband and the wife. With each carrying out their part of the commitment to support, encourage and bless one another in a lifetime of cleaving, comforting and strengthening. “Due benevolence” means demonstrating “kindness, conjugal duty, good will, consideration, thoughtfulness, unselfishness, compassion, kind-heartedness”. Let each fulfil their martial duty! [Hendricksen]
The Apostle Paul highlights the temptation to fall into the the sin of sexual immorality for believers who are single is very real. And he administers the remedy that one finds a spouse in marriage to avoid fornication. Of course, it is not the case that all single believers will face this problem. He tells us that it can happen.
Hymns: 359 My Faith Looks Up to Thee 41 Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne 360 My God, Is Any Hour So Sweet
Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes
(Remember Now Thy Creator)
Handling Enigmas And Hardships of Life
Ecclesiastes 8:9-17
The Apostle Paul speaks of those who remain single and are not married. They are not to be despised for remaining single, for not having any sexual relationship with woman. He says it is good. But it must not be construed as a more desirable spiritual state for a person. And the single man or the single woman should not be pressurised to get married.
The believer is urged to possess his body in holiness. This is his reasonable service. Our Lord paid the price to purchase his salvation, cleansing him for all his sins. The nail pierced hands are testimony of the suffering that the Lord endured. More than that is the weight of human sins that was upon Him when He bore it alone on the cross rescuing the believer from the judgment of hell fire.
The late Adrian Rogers made this insightful observation, “Do you know what a carnal person is? A carnal person is a selfish person. He is living as though he belonged to himself; and so, what he wants to do, what he wants to think, what he wants to feel, what he wants to say, what he wants to buy, where he wants to go, how he wants to act — he does. He acts as though he owns himself, when he does not. The cure for carnality is to be aware of the Savior’s purchase of you, to see the price that was paid for you.”
Acts 11:19-30 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians Knowing Your Privilege in Christ “The Origin of the Church” (Ephesians 1:1-14) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful …
On Friendship
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Are you sometimes sad and lonely because you think you have no friends? Do you often wish you could enjoy yourself as do others in the company of dear friends, without that wall which seems to keep people away? Anyone with a heart full of friendship has a hard time finding enemies.
Consider this statement: “Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity. (George Washington 1732-1799).
If you are lonely for the joys of true friendship, then here is glad news. God wants you to know the joys of true friendship! His Book shows you the road to friendship if you will only walk in it.
King Solomon made this observation in his old age, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Do you not remember the wonderful passage described by the disciple John? In that passage, Jesus placed the friendship as the highest gift He could give to His disciples. They had undergone trial and tribulation with Jesus. And He turned to them and gave to them the highest earthly honour He could bestow:
John 15:12-15 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
The way of the Golden Rule had made them the friends of Jesus. And that way, faithfully followed by you, can take you, a sometimes lonely, unhappy, friendless man or woman, and transform you into a happy, joyous child of God with faithful friends on every side.