Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
(1) Now Thank We All Our God
– Revival Hymns and Chorus No. 27
This hymn of gratitude, often known as the Te Deum of Germany and England, was not written as a choral hymn, but as a grace to be sung before meals in the author’s home. In every stanza is the thought of Psalm 103:1-2, 4: “ Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name… and forget not all his benefits: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction…”
Devotion and Updates
We have begun studying the book of Proverbs both in our daily devotional guide and Lord’s Day sermon since the beginning of the year. Crossing the mid-point of the year, we are into July and racing towards the end of the year, I encourage you to take time for a spiritual stock-take. How are you faring in your spiritual walk? I pray that you are appropriating God’s Word for daily spiritual sustenance, guidance and strength. Unless we take time to read and meditate upon the Bible and pray daily, our spiritual growth will be stunted. I encourage you to press on, seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6 KJV)
The Solid Rock
– Revival Hymns and Chorus No. 317
Hymnologist suggests 1 Corinthians 3:11 as the basis for this hymn: 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.(1 Cor. 3:11 KJV)
Bishop Bickersteth an outstanding hymnist, called it “a grand hymn of faith.” “The Solid Rock” as this hymn was called, was written in 1834 and first published anonymously in leaflet form and in various papers. In 1836 it appeared in Mr. Mote’s Hymns of Praise and was entitled “The Immutable Basis of a Sinner’s Hope.” When arguments began to arise about the authorship, Mr. Mote decided to acknowledge the words as his own.
The chorus and stanza 1 of the hymn came to Mr. Mote as he was on his way to work. He says, “I began to meditate on “the gracious experience of a Christian.” Soon the chorus, and then the first stanza, came into my mind. On the following Sunday, as I came out of Lisle Street meeting, Brother King invited me to his home to try to encourage his critically ill wife. I had early tea that day; then I went to the King’s home.
Mr King said, “Before I go to a meeting I always sing a hymn, read Scripture, and pray. Will you join me?” He searched in vain for a hymnbook. I said, “I have some verses in my pocket, Brother King. If you like, we can sing them.” Mrs King’s heart responded to the words, and Mr. King asked me to leave a copy with her. Back at home, I sat by the fireside, musing upon Mrs King’s reaction to the hymn; and soon the entire hymn was clear in my mind. I committed the words to paper, making a fresh copy for Mrs. King. Later the thought came to me that as these verses had met this dying woman’s needs, perhaps they would help someone else. So I had a thousand leaflets printed for distribution.”
A Personal Evaluation
– Colossians Chapter 3
1. The Duty of setting the affections on things above. (v1-4)
a. They were risen with Christ (Col. 2:12)
b. They were dead to sin (v3)
c. They were soon to be like Christ (v4)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4 KJV)
(1) Pray for Peace
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth.(Psalm 46:9)
The military armaments in which the nations find their pride are a terrible sight! The evil passions that may at any moment bring on ear are a terrible thought! The suffering and desolation that come from war are a sad prospect!
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (KJV) “1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour”. God can, in answer to the prayer of His people, give peace. Let us pray for it for the rule of righteousness.
When you pray, pray with understanding. “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).
Church Camp 2018
It was a time of rejoicing and prayer for the gathering of 61 campers for Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church’s 5thAnnual Family Bible Camp. This year’s camp site is the Amara Sanctuary Resort in Sentosa. The theme of our camp was “By Prayer and Supplication” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(1) Daily Devotion
Since 1 January 2018, the church has begun on the study on the Book of Proverbs both on our Sunday sermon and with the daily devotional “Go for the Life that Wins! – … let us run the race with patience… Looking unto Jesus …” by Denis Gibson. It is my prayer that we will take time for daily devotion to cultivate a vibrant spiritual life according to the will of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus Healed the Blind
John 9:1-7 (KJV) 1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
The man, blind from birth, was gloriously healed by Jesus. This is an inspiring text for our spiritual strengthening.
Jesus Is the Light of Life
Jesus says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Jesus imparts a newness of life to them that follow Him. They shall have the light of life. That light speaks of purification from the pollution of sin. That “light”, the life that He imparts, enables them to live an overcoming life over the corruption of sin, which Jesus depicted as darkness.
Jesus is that true Light and He bids us experience that joy that comes with a holiness of life that He alone can impart. Jesus had just freed the woman who was caught in adultery from the bondage of sin when He said to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)What power, what glory is uttered in those compassionate words to the guilty sinner. There is a way out of the dreary of sin when He bids us to follow Him – He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.
Walking in the snare of darkness is contrasted with walking in the light of life. One offers freedom and the other suffers bondage. One offers everlasting joy and the other perpetual misery. And wisdom, obviously, is to choose the freedom of the light of life.
I Must Tell Jesus
– An Answer to a Heart Cry
Elisha A. Hoffman (1839-1929), an evangelical pastor, wrote almost two thousand gospel hymns, including, “Are You Washed in the Blood?,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” and “Glory to His Name.”
He tells how he came to write the words of one of his most popular hymns, “I Must Tell Jesus.”
“There was a woman to whom God permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question, “Brother Hoffman, what shall I do? What shall I do?” I quoted from the word, then added, “You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.”