PASTORAL CHAT

Six earthquakes in three months and three weeks!

Every earthquake is a reminder of His coming and end of the world (Matt. 24:3, 7).

From Dec 26, 04 the terrible undersea tsunami that killed 300,000 to April 16 there are five more earthquakes. No. 2 killed 500 more in Iran and No. 3 shook Japan. No. 4 was another big one that shook the Island of Nias, killing 2000, the reading was 8.7 on the Richter Scale. No. 5 struck Padang in South Sumatra which affected Singaporeans, sending 700 running down the buildings. The 6th quake struck Nias Island again reading 6.2 scaring people running to higher ground. This happened as recent as Sat, April 16, 05.

I gave this message to a packed Church at Kelapa Sawit last Lord’s Day and tried to awake the congregation to  evangelism and missions. For He says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Kelapa Sawit has redoubled in evangelism and missions the last three years by going to Jemaluang, 13 miles south of Mersing, to revive a work started in Jemaluang by Miss Adeline Char in 1952. The work has so prospered that 8 members of Jemaluang Church came to celebrate with the mother church.

When they presented an item of praise, Kelapa Sawit clapped their hands to receive them. Pastor Tee Chung Seng who is graduated from FEBC is their leader. Every 4th Lord’s Day he is in Jemaluang to lead the service.

At Kelapa Sawit this time I baptised 6 adults which include two Nepalese watchmen. Also 4 infants were baptised.

Thank God Deborah Mae and Judith came to sing. Two other cars, Seah Seow Hock and wife and Dr and Mrs Wu from Calvary came also.

Today is Election Day which is our ACM required by law. One who has informed me he is not standing for Election is Steve Chng. The congregation that has registered to date consists of 172 with voting rights and you are requested to do your duty.

Your affectionate pastor
T T

 

We Are:
Calvinist and Bible-Presbyterian
We Uphold:
The Historic Creeds & Confessions of the Reformation Church
We Aver:
That God, by His Singular Care and in His Inscrutable Providence, has Perfectly Preserved His Holy Word Through the Ages
We Affirm:
That the Word of God, in the English Language, is The Authorised Version

 

 

GENESIS

Notes From A Weekly StudyConducted by Pastor Quek
(Taken from Newsletter of Cherith Fellowship, Vol. 1 Issue 1, April 2005, edited by J.T. Joseph)

General
Chapters 1 & 2 are not separate accounts of creation: they are different but coherent.
The three attributes of God that come across forcefully are: His omnipotence; His (perfect) wisdom; His goodness.
In the exercise of His Goodness, He delegated to man authority over all creation.

CHAPTER 1 Verse 1 ff
Creation is indubitably ex nihilo.
The three ‘heavens’ need to be noted:
1st – atmosphere [Day 1; verse 8]
2nd – outer space [Day 1]
3rd – Paradise [Day 1] [Satan sinned in ‘Heaven’, and fell with his cohort.]
These will eventually be destroyed – according to II Peter.
General Sequence:
Days 1 – 3: Creation formed [“general”]
Days 4 – 6: …then, filled [“the details”]
Note:

• Darkness first; then Light → this is to be regarded as “temporary light”.
• ‘firmament’ – divided the waters above from the waters below.
• Before the Flood, there was only one sea.
• Use of the numerical adjective preceding ‘day’ confirms that a twenty-four hour day [not some extended period of ‘time’] is intended. Contrast with 2:4 – clearly not a twenty-four hour day; no numerical adjective prefixed.Verses 11, 12
  Vegetation created as mature – had the appearance of ‘age’, though less than 24 hours’ old.
  So too with Adam, as we shall see.
  Note that whilst all green plants need sunlight (for photosynthesis), the sun was created only on Day 4.
  Truly, in Him all life-forms ultimately live and move and have their being!

  Verses 16 – 19
  Creation of the ‘permanent’ sun and stars.

  Verses 20 – 21
  Day 5: Creation of fish and (winged) birds.

  Verses 24 – 25, 26
  Day 6 sees the creation of land animals … and man.
  As to man:

• Image of God in man pertains to ‘character’, not form or substance [eg. Man is endowed with the capacity to appreciate beauty].
• Both man & woman are covered in the decree, ‘let them have dominion…’
• Man’s original sin → Satan thereafter given the dominion over the natural world that was once possessed by Adam [hence, Satan is called, the ‘prince of this world’].

 

The Good Word
by John Tow

 

This shining beacon in the night
Will illuminate us all right.
It will help us regain our sight.
Yes, from the beginning – the Light
Which is God’s Word has shone so bright –
Declaring thus to all His might.
No other book has made it clear:
The whys and wherefores of life here!
Search if you will both far and near
For other writings that are dear
And if you’ll do so without fear,
God’s Word will come through without peer.
If it’s God’s Word should it not be
Safe kept for all absolutely?
Indeed, look at its history!
Appreciate its trials and see
God’s higher hand – so mightily
Holding it forth for you and me!
Consider what we have right here:
Mankind’s past, present and future.
This communique –like a seer,
Tells us of forces far and near.
Good verses evil, plain and clear!
Yet, God’s in charge: He brings us cheer.

So, within its sacred pages –
See the story of the ages
Unfold in vivid images!
Be amazed by all its stages.
Find joy and peace too, like sages
Filled with wisdom of the ages.
You say: “He doeth all things well!”
Why then doubt you His Word, pray tell?
If in the world since Adam fell,
Man has striven so to excel.
Thus it is in him to rebel,
And in rebellion toll his knell.
But God is forever gracious.
For to Him we all are precious.
It is His Will that all of us
Should hear the Gospel glorious,
And come to repentance with tears –
Seeking His salvation joyous.
How infinite His majesty!
Comprehend now this fact and see
The meaning of eternity!
No easy task – so finite we!
Trust then, have faith, implicitly.
Do, and His Elect you will be!