God Cares for His Children

From time to time, the Lord has comforted and strengthened me with the promises of His Word. Whether it be times of dire needs, sickness, sadness, opposition, or disappointments, the Lord always has a word of promise to cheer me. My heart is full of thanksgiving for the voice of His assurances in the Scripture. O how I love to meditate His Word in all my struggles, for it gives me courage, strength, and direction when I need them most.

In recent years, one of the disturbing problems I had to endure was the receding gums. It has caused many of my healthy looking teeth to be removed as they came very loose, causing swelling and pain in my gum. When I sought treatment in National Dental Centre, I was firstly told that I have a very serious periodontal disease. After a couple of sessions of initial examinations and dental care, I was briefed on the surgical procedures that I need to undergo to correct the bone degeneration in my gum and the eventual implanting of new teeth. When the doctor told me about the cost involved, I knew that I will not able to continue with the recommended procedure. I walked away from NDC, feeling very disappointed.

The Doctor’s advice was - Since there is not enough bone in the jaw to support the teeth, a bone graft is required, or the stimulation of natural or synthetic bone growth. This is urgently needed in the upper jaw, underneath the sinus cavities. Further time is needed to the whole dental implant surgery process.

(You can have a fairly good idea of the treatment for severe periodontal diesase (gum disease) and implant of teeth and the cost of it from the following website: http://pennsylvania-cosmetic-dentist.com/)

I knew that I am faced with a real difficult situation of loosing more teeth. With very little bones left in the gum, I would not be even able to wear dentures. I felt helpless, but chose not to let this issue affect my heart. So I prayed to the Lord and left the matter with Him, and focused on the work He has given me to do.

My parents and dear wife were very concerned about my situation. They kept praying about it. Though my wife tried to save up little by little, when there were very urgent needs in the ministry that the Lord has committed to us, we were moved by the Lord to give that sum to meet the needs in the Lord’s work. The Lord soon moved to provide for my treatment. He takes care of His servants. Praise the Lord!

One of the 200 over people who faithfully attended my Thursday night lectures on “Principle and Practice of Prayer” in Far Eastern Bible College was a dental surgeon. I had no knowledge that he was a dental surgeon. It was someone who knew my periodontal problem related it to the doctor and his wife. (I think the informant is a good friend of mine in the Lord). They approached me and invited me to their clinic for an evaluation of my situation.

I came home and shared with my wife of the amazing way in which the Lord has brought to me the treatment for my periodontal problem. We prayed with thanksgiving. Yesterday, I have undergone the first stage of my treatment – removal of my front teeth and the synthetic born graft in the front part of my upper jaw.

Though I suffered a bit of pain after the operation, the Lord has granted me much relief. Today I feel almost no pain. There is swelling on the upper lip. But according to the doctors it will go away in about 5 to 6 days.

The Lord has once again proved Himself faithful, loving and caring to my family and I. Yes, He cares for His servants, “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

As I thank the Lord for His goodness, I also thank the doctors and all the dear brethren in the Lord who have been praying for me, and those who have shown much love toward me. Thank you all for your comforting emails, sms messages, telephone calls, prayers, etc.

I prayerfully wait for the Lord to completely heal me that I may quickly return to the work He has given me in FEBC, Gethsemane B-P church, and in other places.

God cares for all His children! Amen.

Prospering for God’s Glory (A Sermon Preached during Watch Night Service)

Prospering for God’s Glory
Selected Passages

Introduction

• God’s people should always aspire to excel for His glory both in spiritual and mundane life.
• Such is my prayer for each and everyone of you.
  3 John 2 – Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
• But we are not to seek physical prosperity without prospering spiritually.
  Psalm 30:6-12 - And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. . . . .Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
  Jeremiah 10:21 - For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Prosper in Spiritual Matters

1. Prosper in the knowledge of God and excel in good decision making that are spiritually wholesome and pleasing to God.

• Psalm 1:3 - And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
• Romans 2:18 - And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law.
• Philippians 1:9-10 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
• Philippians 3:8 - Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

2. Prosper in godly love – to God and brethren.

• Philippians 1:9-10 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment

3. Prosper in God’s Work

• 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Prosper in Physical Matters

1. Wealth through godly and diligent ways

• God’s wisdom says, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness” (Proverbs 8:18). Only the wealth that is obtained according to God’s wisdom shall be a blessing. Proverbs 13:7 reminds us, “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” We are not to be desperate make money in any manner. If godliness would require us to be poor, then let us accept it, because it will lees to the riches that God would grant us. 1 Timothy 6:10 reminds us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
• But if our godly pursuit and diligence would lead us to wealth, we should in no wise be hesitant to receive it and use it generously for God’s glory. Everything we obtain, even by hard work, is of the Lord. Proverbs 10:22 reminds us, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
• God expects us to be hardworking; so His Word warns us in Proverbs 10:4 that “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
• We must earn as much as we can through honest and righteous labour. Proverbs 13:11 tells us that “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” We should not dream about being wealthy by any means. There is no lasting and meaningful pleasure in making money through deception, violence, etc. Let us work hard. Let our shirts stink with our sweat. Through honesty and labour let us seek the wealth that God send to us.
• Then let us be rich in charity - as Paul instructed the Coritnhian believers in 1 Corinthians 16:2 – “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Essentials for Godly Prosperity

1. Confess your sins

• Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
  There is no reason why God should prosper a man whose heart is set on sins. God does not give grace that we may continue to sin. His mercy is given that we may sin and prosper in the ways of the Lord. Sin will be an hindrance to our blessings. So examine yourself and repent from besetting sins.

2. Pray earnestly

• Nehemiah 1:11 - O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
• Like Nehemiah, we must pray earnestly before we set out to undertake any project at all. We must seek God’s permission, guidance and provisions before we set out to do our business.
• No prayer, no provision! No prayer, no prosperity!

3. Count the worldly glory nothing but loss

• Philippians 3:8 - Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

4. Labour in the Lord

• 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. The key to abounding in the work of the Lord is “labour.” It denotes to toil or hard work irregardless of difficulties and trouble (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:8).

5. Have Strong Faith in the Lord

• Nehemiah 2:20a Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build . . . Note the Nehemiah’s faith and confidence – “The God of heaven, he will prosper us.” Whenever we attempt something in accordance to His will, we must neither be anxious nor be fearful.

6. Keep Yourselves from the Ungodly

• Nehemiah 2:20b - but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
• Psalm 1:1-2 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Conclusion

When the Lord prospers us, let us humbly praise Him

• Psalm 118:25-29 - Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

BIBLE WTINESS WEB RADIO

BWWR! http://biblewitness.com/webradio

After almost two years of prayer, planning and plodding, the Bible Witness team has set up a Christan Web Radio from Singapore- BIBLE WITNESS WEB RADIO. As far as I know, this is Singapore's first Christian Web Radio (If anyone else has set up a Christian Web Radio in Singpaore, I gladly withdraw/delete my statement) .

Our ambition is, as the name suggests, to bear a biblical witness to the whole world.

Please visit our website and listen to the radio. Introduce it to some others.

We would appreciate your prayers that we may continually improve for His glory