Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(1) Recounting with Thanksgiving
As the year 2015 draws to a close, we recount with thanksgiving God’s good hand in guiding His people at Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church (BHBPC).
Matthew 2:1-11 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? …
1 Kings 19:1-21 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
The prophet Isaiah was one of the first to preach the Christmas message – the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, more than 700 years before the eventful day. The holy Child, Jesus, came as a light shining in a time of great spiritual darkness in Israel (Isa. 9:1-2; Matt. 4:15-16). Men found forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, their Maker, through Jesus (Matt. 1:21).
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The birth of Jesus Christ was God’s gift to save the world.
James 5:16-18 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Matthew 26:1-13 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow: Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Steps For Effectual Prayer
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
(1) Confession and Reconciliation (v16a)
(2) Prayer Restores (v16b)
(3) Burdens Lifted (v16c)
(4) More Prayer, More Power (v16d)
The late Rev Dr Timothy Tow said, “United Prayer is like burning charcoal, more prayer, more power, less prayer, less power”.