Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
(1) Revival Hymns and Choruses Reprinted
Thank God for 300 copies of the Revival Hymns and Choruses (RHC) delivered on 3 September 2014 to Blessed Hope BP Church. We have been praying for God’s guiding hand in the reprint of the RHC for over one year. It is with much thanksgiving that we see the ‘fruition’ of the end product. Today, with much rejoicing, we use the hymnals for worship.
(1) Blessedness of Growing in the LORD (Psalm 119:97-144)
The psalmist experienced the good hand of God in his life. The LORD delivered, comforted, loved, chastened moulded, helped and upheld him through life’s pathways. The LORD was very real in his life. He could not see the invisible God but he experienced His abiding presence. He drew close to God by meditating on His Word. He saw the value of God’s Word throughout his life’s journey.
(1) Blessedness of Walking with God (Psalm 119:41-96)
(a) The Lord Delivers (v41-48)
The psalmist spoke of persecutions (v42). He was reproached for his faith. Nevertheless, he persevered following the LORD. God was merciful to deliver him when he cried out to Him.
He saw the broadness of God’s laws. God’s law is not restrictive. He saw the space in God’s law wherewith he could walk. He enjoyed the blessing of its protection and safety. And he was committed to keep it continually for his good. Because of his experiences in the trustworthiness of God’s Word, he was bold and courageous to testify even before mighty men, that they too might be humbled to worship the Almighty God.
(1) Blessedness of Embracing God’s Word in Daily Living
Psalm 119 tells us the key to victorious living is an applied knowledge of God’s Word in our lives. Indeed, life is full of troubles, tears and sorrows. This is a fallen world that we live in. Yet there is peace, hope and joy in the Lord.
Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm with each of the 22 sections of 8 verses beginning with succeeding letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is done to facilitate learning – it is an aid for those who take up the challenge to memorize all of the 176 verses.
The preface of the psalm in verses 1-8 introduces the theme – blessedness of embracing God’s Word in the believer’s daily life. It was a constant prayer in the psalmist’s heart – “5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes.” There was a purposeful resolve to walk with God which led to a conscience without rebuke, “6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”
(1) A Year Since Our First Prayer Meeting
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Our first prayer meeting at the Praise Chapel was conducted on 15 August 2103. It marked the beginning of our gospel work at the Diary Farm area.
Thank God for gathering His people every Wednesday night at 8pm for prayer since then. We can testify to many rejoicings of answered prayers.
God’s people are spiritually refreshed and strengthened. The Scriptures are opened and God’s people are instructed. In the past year, we have studied the book of Exodus, Daniel and have just begun a new series on the book of Ezra.
(1) I Know That My Redeemer Lives – Job’s Song in the Night
Job suffered the severest calamities of anyone in the Bible. His whole world came tumbling down as he lost his possessions, his family, his health, and the respect of his peers.
From the pages that record the sufferings of Job, emerged one of the most precious promises of the Bible: “God…giveth songs in the night” (35:10). Job knew well this beautiful providence of God. When the curtain of catastrophe fell over his soul, a shaft of brilliant sunlight broke through the dark clouds. God gave him the sublime song, “I know that my Redeemer liveth!”
(1) Turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
On 23 March 2014, Jonathan Tang Meng Wei, his wife Jacqueline and their children Jovan and Janelle, and Meng Wei’s mother Mdm. Peh Choo Pun received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. The family has been coming for worship on the Lord’s Day, with Mdm. Peh attending the “Mandarin service” through the simultaneous translation of our worship service into Mandarin. Jovan and Janelle have been attending the children’s Sunday School faithfully.
Centrality of Worship in Christian Living
In worship, the child of God is focussed on communion with God, giving praise and honour to His Name. This is the lifeline for blessed Christian living. A vibrant Christian will always have worship at the centre of his life.
Revival Hymns and Choruses
The choice hymnal for many Bible-Presbyterian (B-P) churches and even some non-B-P Churches in Singapore has been and still is the Revival Hymns and Choruses (RHC) compiled by Rev. Dr. Tow Siang Hwa, our Pastor Advisor.
This hymnal is recommended for continued use in our church for both corporate worship and family and personal devotions. There are 567 hymns in the index with a rich collection of old English and other great hymns. One distinct feature of this hymnal is the compilation of choruses sung during Dr. John Sung’s revival of 1935, the Chinese root of the Bible-Presbyterian Church in Singapore. This is unique to the RHC. The spiritual richness of these choruses captured the spirit of that revival.
An Exhortation to Our Beloved Youths
The Apostle Paul warned that men and women in our generation, living in the last days prior to our Lord’s 2nd Coming, would be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4b). They would turn a cold shoulder to the worship of God, to holy living, to sobriety. They are drunken and neglect to give honour and glory to God with their hearts and bodies. It is a sad but sobering truth. This is just one of eighteen characteristics of a wayward lifestyles highlighted in 2 Timothy 3:1-4.