O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

LET US GIVE THANKS TO GOD!

          In the year 1620 a group of English settlers arrived at the east coast of North America after a grueling two-month voyage on board the Mayflower. Many of them were godly Christians seeking for a place where they could practice their beliefs freely without restrictions. During their first winter 58 died of scurvy and malnutrition, but through the kindness of local Native Americans 44 of them survived. The Wampanoag tribe provided food for them and a local native named Squanto taught them how to grow corn effectively. 

When a drought threatened to wipe out their crops, they cried out to God for help. The rains came on time, and by autumn of 1621 they had reaped a bountiful corn harvest. The Pilgrim Fathers (as they were designated later) gave thanks to God and observed a three-day feast together with about 90 Wampanoag tribesmen. 

          This feast has become a part of American culture. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, a day for the entire nation to express gratitude to God for His help and provision. A law was passed in 1941 to change it officially to the fourth Thursday in November. 

          This Thursday (28 November) will be Thanksgiving Day in the USA. It is a day when families gather to enjoy a meal together, to pray and reflect upon all that God has done for them. Since we are now coming toward the end of the year, it is good for us to reflect on what God has done for us, and give thanks to Him. Here are five reasons why we ought to do this:

1. Giving thanks keeps us from taking His blessings for granted. 

          Psalm 136:1-3 – “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth for ever.” 

          The word ‘mercy’ shows that we don’t deserve God’s blessings. By right, God should not bless us at all, since we have not done anything good for Him. But He still blesses us despite our sins and failures. What blessings have you taken for granted? Please take time to thank God for them. Never lose your sense of wonder at the greatness of God’s mercy to you.

2. Giving thanks is the will of God for us. 

          1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 

          We ought to love God enough to do His will. Some may then ask, “What is God’s will for me?” The answer is found here – giving thanks in every thing. Since it is God’s will that we give thanks for everything, let us always be ready to thank God for anything, whether good or bad. Hellen Keller once said, “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” We can always find something to thank God for in every situation in life, no matter how bad it may be – ‘Every cloud has a silver lining.’ Will you look for it and give thanks to God instead of murmuring and complaining?

3. Giving thanks shows that we are well spiritually. 

          Colossians 2:6-7 – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” 

          You can tell how spiritually mature a Christian is by his thankful spirit. Thanksgiving is an outcome of being rooted and built up in Christ. It is also one evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit, as Ephesians 5:18-20 shows us, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you are unable to give thanks, will you pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you now?

4. Giving thanks acknowledges that it is God who saves sinners and sanctifies the saints. 

          Whenever we wonder why we and our loved ones have believed in Christ while so many people are still living in darkness and sin, we should always be very thankful that God had chosen us from the foundation of the world. The apostle Paul always did this whenever he saw people responding to the Gospel and growing in their faith. Here are two examples: 

          2 Thessalonians 2:13 – “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 

          While it is good to give thanks to God for healing and providing for our daily needs, let us never forget to thank God for saving us from sin and eternal death, as this is His greatest gift to us. So, when was the last time you told God how thankful you are to be saved?

5. Giving thanks gives God all the glory. 

          Luke 17:15-18 – “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” 

          Doing this enables us to fulfill our chief end, which is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Shorter Catechism Question 1; see 1 Corinthians 10:31). Will you now take the opportunity to glorify God by giving thanks to Him?

– Pastor

The Gates of the Court

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise:

be thankful unto Him and bless His name.”

(Psalm 100:4)

It is through the gates of thanksgiving

That we enter the courts of praise;

Our thanks for the little bounties

That compass us all our days

Shall bring us to greater blessings,

And lead us to larger ways.

O Lord of the manifold mercies,

As we number them one by one,

From the least of Thy loving-kindness

To the uttermost gift of Thy Son,

Lead us on from our selfish gladness

To the marvellous things Thou hast done.

As we offer our small rejoicing

For the love that surrounds our days,

All the wonderful works of Thy goodness

Shall open before our gaze;

Through the gates of our narrow thanksgiving

We shall enter Thy courts of praise.

- Annie Johnson Flint -

Shorter Catechism Question 23

23. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
    A. Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Appointments for the Week

Tuesday, Nov 26

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Michael Ong)

Wednesday, Nov 27

      10.00 am     SF Meeting

Thursday, Nov 28

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

Saturday, Nov 30

        3.00 pm     YLM

        4.00 pm     LTF (CG Day)

Sunday, Dec 1

  8.00 am     God of forgiveness Nehemiah 9:1-37 (Bro Mok Chee Cheong)

  8.00 am     Choir Practice

  9.15 am     Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am God of forgiveness Nehemiah 9:1-37 (Bro Mok Chee Cheong with Holy Communion)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

  5.00 pm In-Person Church Prayer Meeting (Rm 2-1)

Announcements

In-Person Church Prayer Meeting

Date: 1 December 2024 (Next Sunday)

Time: 5.00pm

Venue: Beulah Room 2-1

Christmas Street Evangelism @ Orchard Road

13 & 20 Dec (Fridays), 7pm

Outdoor atrium @ Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya)

(Meet at steps outside Chanel)

Contact: Dn Lim MY / Eld Michael 

Holy Communion Elements Preparation

There is a Zoom session on 5th Dec 2024 on HC Elements Preparation. Interested?

Please text Jenny .

Traffic Warden Service

We welcome all church members to join in this work. Our TW’s role is to provide godly service to facilitate worship. We need help in following time slots for Sunday: 7.30-8am or 10.30-11am with a frequency of once or twice a month.
Please contact Dn Chan Yong or Bro Kelvin .

Infant Baptism on Christmas Sunday, 22 December 2024, 9.00am

Parents, please email the church office, with your full names, contact numbers, and your child's name and date of birth by 1 December 2024.

Catechism Class for Easter Baptism on 20 April 2025

will commence on 12 January 2025 at 9.30am. Please pre-register by emailing to Church Office. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the catechism class. Closing date: 5 January 2025.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grandchildren with our MBCC. Those whose loved ones, friends or colleagues who are either young in their faith or being non-believers, are interested to know and explore more of Christianity, are also invited to register with us by filling in the registration forms which are now available at the Church front counter and post them to:

Life B-P Church

No.10, Gilstead Road

Singapore 309064

Attention: Mrs Ong Chuay Ying

Filipina Sunday School and Worship Service

Invitation to all Filipinas to join in Sunday School (9.40am-10.40am, Beulah Rm 2-1) and Worship Service (11am – 12.15pm, Beulah Rm 1-6). Contact Sis Low AL / Dn Teo KG

Indonesia Service

Every Sunday at 4pm in Beulah Rm 1-6. Contact church office for more information.

LF Christmas Gathering cum Pot Blessing Lunch

14 Dec 2024, 10am – 12pm @ Beulah Rm 1-6 Contact June / Gillian for more information.

YF Camp: To live is Christ, to die is gain

16-20 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church. Age Grp: 16-25. Speaker: Eld Chin Hoong Chor. 

YLM: Word made Flesh, Food made Fresh

21 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church Beulah MPH. 6.30pm. An evening of feasting, fellowship, and the Good News of Jesus Christ. All are welcome! 

The Presbytery Seminar 2024: Culture Wars: Engaging Today’s World

28 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church. 10am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ybmpy3mu by 23 Dec 2024.

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