Children’s Pages Database

Matthew 6:1-4

Alms are money and food given to the poor.  Believers ought to give and support the poor as God has commanded and blessed us so abundantly.  God takes into account not only what we give but how we give.  There are some people who give to the poor to “show off” their generosity.  During Jesus’ time, they would go to crowded places like the synagogues and streets to “perform” their acts of charity.  Jesus called them hypocrites, because in reality they did not have the love to give but rather the love to receive the applause of men.  Jesus said that such people had received their reward!   Believers should not behave in such a way.  Jesus went on to say, But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: (Matthew 6:3)  He was speaking in a metaphorical sense, which basically means believers ought to give in secret.   Dear children, when we give and help the poor in secret, nobody will know.  But there is One who knows everything we do whether in the open or in secret.  And that is God!  When we give and help the poor by “blowing our trumpet” and let everyone know that we are kind, loving, and generous, people will approve and applaud us. We have received our reward from men.  But is this the reward we are seeking after?  Most certainly not!  Instead, we want to be approved by God, and receive His commendation.  Thus, we ought to give secretly, because though no one knows, God knows.  Jesus said, thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.  One day, when we see Him face to face, He will reward us openly.

~3 min read

“…God takes into account not only what we give but how we give…”

Matthew 5:44-48

Love your enemies II (Matthew 5:44-48)   Remember the previous lesson we learned about the danger of omitting and adding onto the Bible, and then misunderstanding what God’s Word really means. Then Jesus went on to say in Matthew 5:44, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.  The word love is agape; it is a divine love from God, and it is sacrificial (c.f. 1 John 4:8). We are commanded to love regardless of what people would say or do to us, and to return good unto them. Though loving our enemies who have done terrible things to us is not an easy thing to do, yet it is possible for the believer. Because the Lord Jesus Christ who has saved us with His love (agape), He is also working in our lives that we will love (agape) others.     Jesus gave us two reasons why we should love our enemies; The first reason is, That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). To love our enemies and to pray for our persecutors show that we are the children of our Father which is in heaven (c.f. John 13:35). The impartial love you show to your enemies will show that you are truly a child of God by following His example as He shows His impartial love in sending the sun and rain on both the righteous and unrighteous.  The second reason is, For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (Matthew 5:46). The publicans or tax-collectors had a very bad reputation in Jesus’ time because they would collect more tax than they were supposed to. But even those much-hated tax-collectors had their own friends whom they loved. If the believer only loves his friends, he was doing no better than those cheating publicans. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (Matthew 5:47). In other words, when you only welcome or greet your brothers, do you think you are better than others? Even the publicans do that!  Dear children, we Christians should have a much higher standard of love than the rest of the world. Wherever we are and wherever we go, we must always be loving and forgiving, and communicate the love of God (which we have received through Jesus Christ) to the unbelieving world. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). With men it is impossible, but with God all things are made possible. God provides us with the Holy Spirit who will empower us to live such a life, by loving our enemies.  

~5 min read

“…We are commanded to love…”

Matthew 5:44

An enemy is an adversary; someone who is hostile and opposed.  A Christian should not be an enemy to anyone but rather be a neighbour.  We may not be able to stop people from treating us as enemies, but it is important that we should respond to them lovingly as a good neighbour.  We want to learn from our Lord Jesus how we ought to respond.       Jesus said in Matthew 5:43, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  The rabbis of old had perverted the truth of God’s Word in two different ways.  Firstly, it was the sin of omission by removing the phrase as thyself.  Leviticus 19:18, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Secondly, it was the sin of addition by adding the phrase hate thine enemy.  By the sin of omission, the rabbis had taught that the meaning of neighbours only included those people whom they had approved.  By the sin of addition, they had taught that the Jews were honouring God by despising anyone who was not Jewish, or “sinners.”  So, Gentiles, tax-collectors, criminals and prostitutes were not considered as neighbours, such people were despised as outcasts.  That was the reason why the Jewish leaders were surprised and appalled with Jesus because He openly sat and ate together with the tax-collectors and sinners.  On top of that, by adding the phrase hate thine enemy, the Jews totally contradicted God’s truth (c.f. Exodus 23:4-5, Proverbs 25:21, Romans 12:20).  Instead of hating “one’s enemy” Jesus taught us to love and help anyone who is in need (The Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37).    Dear children, there are two important lessons we can learn from here.  Firstly, never omit or add to the Word of God.  There is a warning in the Bible to anyone who does that.  God will add all the plagues that are written in the Bible and remove his name from the book of life (c.f. Revelation 22:18-19).  That is a very serious warning!  Secondly, when we do that, we will misunderstand what God’s Word really means.  Like in the case here, God wants us to love our neighbour, and to treat everyone as a neighbour (not an enemy).  Do you have any enemies?  Please do not have enemies, and you must love everyone as your neighbour and friend!  Are you a good neighbour?

~4 min read

“…A Christian should not be an enemy to anyone but rather be a neighbour…”

Matthew 5:38-41

In the Old Testament, God gave the law through Moses, eye for eye, tooth for tooth (c.f. Exodus 21:24). The primary purpose of this law was to stop the people from taking their own revenge. Oftentimes, when people got hurt, they would want the person who caused the pain to suffer more than they did. But God’s law did not allow the penalties to escalate or be excessive. The punishment had to fit the crime which was known as the law of retaliation! In the New Testament, the religious leaders would often quote from Moses saying, “An eye for an eye, that’s it! If you hurt me, I have the right to hurt you! If you take my eye, I will take yours. It is tit for tat. An eye for an eye!” But Jesus said, Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:38-39). Jesus did not contradict Moses, but rather He corrected the religious leaders of His day for their misinterpretation of the law. To strike someone on the right cheek was much more than an injury, it was an insult. Most people are right-handed, and in order to strike someone on the right cheek, one has to strike him with the back of the right hand. People would not accept such an insult and they would fight back and say, “You insult and strike me on the right cheek, I will insult and strike you back. An eye for an eye!” However Jesus explained, “When it comes to personal injury, if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Dear children, the purpose of the law was to make things right, not to harm someone else. When we are wrong, we need to make things right and do everything justice requires. But when someone does us wrong, we do not have to insist on justice, instead we have an opportunity to show mercy, forgive and give up our rights to make the people pay for what they have done to us. Jesus showed us by His example when He suffered all kinds of insults and injuries on His way to the cross (Isaiah 50:6), and He even prayed for His persecutor, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” This is the law of love! If we apply this law of love in our lives, family, church and society, then we will truly be a living testimony of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! All to the glory of His precious name!

~5 min read

“…eye for eye, tooth for tooth…”

Matthew 5:34-37

In Matthew 5:34-36, Jesus said, Swear not at all; neither by heaven for it is God’s throne, or by the earth or Jerusalem for there are His footstool and the city of the great King, or by thy head for one cannot make his hair white or black.  At first sight, it appears as if Jesus forbade the taking of vows.  If that is the case, then what about the marriage vows or church membership vows?  Are we contradicting ourselves by doing something that Jesus forbade?  Most certainly not! In those days, there were people who swore upon heaven, the earth, Jerusalem or even their own head, and why did they do that?  The reason was to add “more truth” to what they said.  Oftentimes, they were lying and not speaking the truth, therefore they needed something to back-up what they said.  Similar to the way in modern times, when some people would swear upon their parents’ graves.  Why do they do that?  To authenticate or substantiate what they say is true.  To let the listeners have the impression that what they said is so true, real and serious that they are willing to use their parents’ graves as a “guarantee” or “collateral.”     Dear children, what we speak is either true or false, and anything else we say is totally unnecessary for it cannot add more or less truth to it.  When we always speak the truth, we do not need to back-up what we say.  Therefore, Jesus said, But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (Matthew 5:37).  Simply speak the truth always, and you will not need to resort to swear on anything to make your truth more truthful.  So, Jesus was not forbidding taking vows, but He was speaking about those people who were not speaking the truth and needed to swear to add more truth or back- up what they said.

~3 min read

“…At first sight, it appears as if Jesus forbade the taking of vows…”

Matthew 5:31-32

As Jesus was speaking about the sin of committing adultery, He wanted to correct the wrong teaching of the rabbis of His days. The rabbis were the religious teachers. In those days, the rabbis had taught that the people could divorce their wives for any reason. That was why Jesus said, It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement (Matthew 5:31). The phrase it hath been said was a reference to the common misconception of the rabbis.   Then Jesus said, “This was not God’s design and plan for marriage.” Marriage is permanent, till death do they part! The only allowance for divorce is when one party has committed adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery (Matthew 5:32).   Why did God allow divorce on the ground of adultery? When a couple got married, they were making a vow before God. Adultery defiles the marriage, and breaks the marriage covenant. It was a very serious sin! In the Old Testament, when the people committed adultery, they had broken their marriage vows before God to be pure and faithful, and they would be stoned to death. But God was gracious, and He wanted to spare the people from the death penalty and to free the victim from the marriage covenant. It was because of the hardness of man’s heart that God allowed divorce on the ground of adultery.   Except for the sin of adultery, if any man divorced his wife for any reason, when she got married to another man, she had committed adultery with him. And the man who married her, had committed adultery with her.   Dear children, God willing, you will grow up and get married. God’s design and plan for marriage is that it is permanent, till death do they part! Even if there is the sin of adultery, you must forgive and pray for reconciliation. Adultery should not be an option for any reason.    

~4 min read

… “This was not God’s design and plan for marriage. Marriage is permanent…”

Matthew 5:28-30

Oftentimes people only think of the physical aspect of keeping God’s commandments, but they forget the essential spiritual aspect.  Sin begins in the heart which results in the committal of the physical act.  So, Jesus used the example of the seventh commandment, thou shalt not commit adultery.  In those days, the people were only concerned about the physical act of committing adultery.  But Jesus said, whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:28).   Who then has not sinned in the heart, in the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life?    Knowing that the member of one’s body is the cause of sin, what must one do?  Then Jesus said, “If your right eye, or your right hand caused you to sin, then pluck it out, and cast it away from you, because it is better for you that this member of your body perish, then for your whole body to sin and perish in hell (c.f. Matthew 5:29-30).”  Clearly, Jesus was not saying that one should literally do that because if the right eye and the right hand were cut off, the left eye and the left hand can still carry on those sinful acts.   Basically, the right eye represents a person’s best vision and the right hand his best skill.  What Jesus was teaching is that one should be willing to give up whatever is necessary, even his most valuable assets, in order to protect him from sin and evil.          Dear children, there may be certain things, activities or friendship that are harmful influences to cause us to sin.  We may cherish them and hold them close to our hearts, but no matter how precious they are to us, if they cause us to sin, then we must be willing to put them away.  Because we want to protect ourselves from sin and evil, keep ourselves pure and glorify our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

~3 min read

“…Sin begins in the heart which results in the committal of the physical act…”

Matthew 5:24

Some people would come to God, with all their religiosity; their worship, tithes and offering, services and so forth.  But their hearts are far away from Him because there are things that are hindering them from worshipping Him.  There are certain unrepentant sins that are hindering them from worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, and that is the sin of unforgiveness.  Therefore, Jesus said, Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift (Matthew 5: 24).  In other words, one must remove all hindrances from the true worship of God. Worship is about God, and we must be made right with Him.  Just as a person who is at enmity with his adversary, what must he do?  Matthew 5:25, Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.  A person must make right his life with the Lord Jesus Christ, by repenting from all his sins.  And unless all his sins are forgiven, he will not be made right with God, neither will he be able to worship Him nor his gifts be acceptable to Him (c.f. Matthew 5:26). Dear children, God has forgiven all our sins, how can we not forgive our brothers and sisters who have sinned against us?  Our unforgiving spirit will hinder us from worshipping God who has forgiven us!

~3 min read

“…one must remove all hindrances from the true worship of God.…”

Matthew 5:20

Some people think they are very holy and as such, they are acceptable by God into His kingdom. But Jesus said, For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). The scribes and Pharisees were meticulous in their observance of the law, even to the extent of adding unto the law. Here, Jesus was saying that God’s standard was perfect, which exceeded the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees which might be commendable to men. Jesus went on to cite the example of God’s perfect standard. For example, the commandment not to kill and anyone who committed the sin of murder is in danger of His judgment. In men’s eyes, it was all about the physical killing, but in God’s eyes, it was more than that. If a man was angry with his brother, or called him “Raca” (empty) which the Sanhedrin council forbade, or called him a fool (moron), that person in God’s sight was guilty of hell fire. According to God’s perfect standard and justice, he would be sent to the eternal lake of fire. Dear children, which one of us has not been angry, or called our brothers and sisters degrading names? God’s standard of righteousness is perfect, and in His eyes, we have all sinned. That is why we need a Saviour who has kept the laws of God perfectly, and He is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. A Saviour who is perfect in His speech, thoughts and deeds!

~3 min read

“…they are acceptable by God into His kingdom…”

Matthew 5:17-18

Today, there are some people who say that the Ten Commandments are no longer applicable to us because we are saved by grace and not by the law. Indeed, it is true that we are saved by grace through faith (c.f. Ephesians 2:8) but we are still required to obey the Ten Commandments, not to be saved but because we are saved. Let us listen to the words of Jesus who testified the truth that the Ten Commandments are still applicable to us. The Saviour kept the law perfectly - Matthew 5:17, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. No man can keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. Only Jesus alone could and He did keep them perfectly, therefore, He came not to destroy (meaning to void or empty), but to fulfil (as He kept them perfectly). As our Lord and Saviour, Jesus had kept the law of God perfectly on our behalf. The law is still applicable - Jesus went on to say in Matthew 5:18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. One day, this present heaven (the universe) and the present physical earth will be destroyed because they have been tainted with sin. And God will create the new heavens and the new earth where the believers will dwell with Him for all eternity. Until then, Jesus said, “not one jot or one tittle” which means even the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet (jot) or the Greek alphabet (tittle) shall disappear or vanish from the law or the Ten Commandments, till everything be accomplished. Dear children, today, the Ten Commandments are still applicable to us, and we seek to keep them not to be saved because no man can be saved by keeping them perfectly. Only Jesus can! We seek to keep them because we are saved, and the Ten Commandments regulate the way we should live our lives, not to sin against God but to His glory of His precious name.

~4 min read

“…not to be saved but because we are saved…”

Matthew 5:14b

Matthew 5:14b, A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. A hidden light may still be light, but it is useless.  That is the reason why people do not light a candle and put it under a basket, but instead it will be put on a candle-stick to light up the entire house (c.f. v.5:15).  Likewise, a Christian may hide his light, perhaps out of indifference, fear of offending others, or lack of love.  When he does that, he demonstrates his unfaithfulness to the Lord.      Therefore, Jesus commanded the Christian to let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (v.16).  The Christian ought to shine before men by letting men see his good works and the beauty that the Lord is working through his life.  God is the One who creates the light in him, and his choice is whether to hide or shine it.  The purpose of letting his light reveal and shine his good works is not to bring attention to himself but to God who alone is able to save the souls of men.   Dear children, if each individual believer faithfully lives his life to be the salt of the earth and the light, he will be able to influence the world.  However his individual influence is still limited.  But as a church, when all the believers faithfully live their lives to be salt and light, their collective influence will be great.  This world is full of lost souls who cannot see their way to God because of all the sins, distractions and barriers.  But when all the believers join together as the salt and light to point the way to the Father’s house, what an amazing testimony it will be!

~3 min read

Matthew 5:14a

Matthew 5:14a, Ye are the light of the world Christ is the source of our light. John 1:9, That (Christ) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Jesus said in John 9:5, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Today, His light shines in the world through those whom He has saved. He has transformed the believers from darkness into His marvellous light, and given them His Word to be a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105) so that they can be His instruments of light. Therefore, He said to the believers, ye are the light of the world. To be the light of the world; 1. The believer must be different. He is not worldly, and he lives a life different from the world he is called to shine. 2. The believer must be righteous and true. He lives his life according to the Word of God, demonstrating the truth of the Bible.   3. The believer must proclaim God’s light. He will not only live out of the principles of the Gospel, but he will declare it to the world as well.  4. The believer must follow the example of Christ. He follows the example of the true source of light which is Jesus Christ.   Dear children, Jesus has saved you, and He calls you to be the light of the world. You must be different from this world which is darkened by sin, be righteous and true, and proclaim His Gospel, and follow the example of Christ. Your life cannot save anyone, but through your life, you will point others to the Gospel which can save their souls.    

~3 min read

Matthew 5:13b

Matthew 5:13b, but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Much salt in Palestine, such as those found on the shores of the Dead Sea is contaminated with other minerals that make it repulsive.  When any of those contaminated salt was discovered in the houses, it would be thrown out immediately.  The people are careful not to throw it in the garden or field because it would kill the plants.  Instead it would be thrown onto a path or road for the people to step on and grind it into dust and disappear. There is a sense in which salt cannot really become “un-salty” but nonetheless, it can be contaminated, thus losing its value as salt.  When that happens, its saltiness can no longer function. Here, Jesus was not speaking of losing one’s salvation.  God will not allow any of His own children to be taken away from Him.  Jesus Himself said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (Jn.10:27). Christians cannot lose their salvation, just as salt cannot lose its inherent saltiness.  But Christians can lose their value and effectiveness in the kingdom of God when sin and worldliness contaminate their lives - just as salt can become tasteless when contaminated by other minerals. Dear children, as believers, we have this great responsibility to the “salt of the earth.”  We cannot be an influence for purity in the world if we have compromised our own purity.  We cannot sting the world’s conscience if we continually go against our own conscience.  We cannot create the thirst for righteousness if we have lost our own thirst.  We cannot be used by God to prevent the corruption of sin in the world if our own lives have been corrupted by sin.  To lose our saltiness is not to lose our salvation, but it is to lose our effectiveness and to become disqualified for service.  Pure salt will not lose its saltiness; Christians who are pure in heart will not become tasteless, ineffective and useless in the kingdom of God.

~4 min read

Matthew 5:13a

Matthew 5:13a, Ye are the salt of the earth: Jesus said that the believers were the salt of the earth.  What are the characteristics of salt? 1. The first thing about salt is the colour; in its purest form, salt is white. 2. The second thing about salt is the flavour; salt adds flavour to the food. 3. The third thing about salt is that it stings; especially when it is applied to wounds. 4. The fourth thing about salt is that it creates a thirst; it increases the body’s craving for water otherwise there will be dehydration which may result in death. 5. The last thing about salt is that of preservation; salt has preserving qualities to stop meat from decaying. Dear children, ye are the salt of the earth means to have the characteristics of salt in this world.  Christians are to be purein their speech, thoughts and words.  Christians are to add flavour and blessing to the world by living out the truth of the gospel.  Christians are to sting the world by sharing God’s Word which will prick the man’s conscience - the unbelieving needs to be confronted of their sins through the gospel of Christ.  Christians who live their lives being pure, a blessing to others and sharing God’s Word, will create a thirst for God in those who do not know Him.  Finally, Christians who are indwelt with the Holy Spirit represent God’s presence in the unbelieving world and their lives act as a preservative to stop the unbelieving world from degenerating into further sin.

~2 min read

Philippians 3:10-11

Recently, we commemorated the resurrection of Christ.  It is truly a great blessing and comfort to learn about the resurrection. Just as Jesus was raised from the grave, one day we will also be raised.  But we must not only rest upon this truth in the future, but also how do we respond to it at this moment as we live our days on this earth?   Let us learn from Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Philippians 3:10-11). Firstly, it is to know Christ - Notice Paul did not say “I may know about Him” but that I may know him; it is not about having some head-knowledge about Christ.  But rather it is about knowing Him personally, intimately and experientially that would affect our day to day living.  The only way to know Him in this way is through a serious study of the Bible and to live our lives in obedience to His Word. Secondly, it is to know the power of His resurrection - Again, Paul was not speaking about the facts of the resurrection but the experience.  He wanted to experience the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead, in his life.  As believers, we would experience Christ’s resurrection power in two ways; (1) it is the resurrection power that has saved us, and (2) it is the resurrection power that will sanctify us so that we will overcome the temptations and trials of life, and live a holy life to glorify God.  Thirdly, it is to fellowship in His sufferings - To fellowship is to share or participate.  When we live our lives for Christ, it is inevitable that we will suffer for righteousness’ sake.  But we are willing because we are suffering for His sake; and it will confirm that we are united with Him. It will draw us closer to Him, we will learn to appreciate what He has done for us, and we will grow in our love for Him and mature in our spiritual growth.   Dear children, if you desire to live such a life as mentioned above, Paul said, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  What does it mean to attain unto the resurrection of the dead?  It does not mean that Paul was unsure if he would be resurrected from the dead.  The word resurrection means to raise, or to stand up.  Living people are standing up, and dead people are lying down, right?  In other words, when you know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, then you will live a “resurrected life” (standing up) in the midst of those who are “spiritually dead” (lying down).  Your life will be a wonderful testimony of the resurrected power to those who are unbelievers.

~5 min read

Psalm 51:7

Psalm 51:7, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. King David was very sorrowful in his heart because he sinned against God. He did a wicked thing. He took another man’s wife for himself and killed that man treacherously. God was angry with David, and He rebuked him sharply through His prophet Nathan. David broke down before God in repentance. He pleaded with the LORD to forgive his sins. He felt so filthy. He could not bear the shame because his life was so strained with sin. So he prayed that the LORD would wash away his sins. Do you know why David prayed, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean”? In his day, an animal was sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin. The priest would dip a branch of a plant called hyssop in the animal’s blood and sprinkle it upon the people. David had in mind the sprinkling of blood with hyssop when he pleaded for the forgiveness of his sins. The shedding of blood in the animal sacrifice was to show that one day the Lord Jesus would come and give Himself to be the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus came as the “Lamb of God” to take away our sin. So He bled and died on the cross. Now if you confess your sins and plead to the Lord for forgiveness, you will be washed and made even “whiter than snow.” (My Soul’s Delight - Illustrated Devotions, Volume 1, written by Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy)

~3 min read

Matthew 28:1-7

Matthew 21:4-5, 9

Matthew 5:10-12

Matthew 5:10-12, Blessed are

Matthew 5:9

Matthew 5:9, Blessed are

Matthew 5:8

Matthew 5:8, Blessed are

Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7, Blessed are

Matthew 5:6

Matthew 5:6, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. To hunger and thirst speak of a great desire, a strong pursuit, or a passionate ambition inside our hearts to seek after something that will honour and glorify God, and that is righteousness. Just as food and water are required for physical life, so righteousness is required for spiritual life. Some examples of hungering and thirsting after righteousness: 1. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to love righteousness and hate unrighteousness or anything that is sinful. 2. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to seek after the glory of God. 3. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to desire to grow spiritually. 4. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to be worshipful, prayerful, faithful in service, and love the Word of God. Dear children, when you hunger and thirst after righteousness, Jesus promised, they shall be filled. To be filled is to be completely satisfied. Notice the word shall is in the future tense. In other words, as you live your life seeking after righteousness, you shall be filled, but you will still long for more righteousness. One day, you will be completely filled and satisfied, and that is the day when you arrived in heaven.

~2 min read

Matthew 5:5

Matthew 5:5, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. What is the meaning of meek? Meek means gentle or humble. The difference between poor in spirit (v.3) and meek (v.5) is that poor in spirit focuses on our sinfulness, while meekness focuses on God’s holiness. Meekness will make us humble by seeing how holy and righteous God is. 1. Meekness is one of the characteristics of the believers. 2. Meekness is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) 3. Meekness does not mean weakness, but rather power put under control or the ability to exercise self-control (c.f. Proverbs 16:32). An example is a strong animal (e.g. horse or ox) which is tamed by a trainer to do some useful work. In other words, the meek is someone who is able to control his anger, emotions and feelings. 4. Meekness is the opposite of pride, violence and vengeance. 5. Meekness is not the lack of conviction, and he is not afraid to speak and defend the truth. There are many biblical examples about meekness i.e. Abraham (Genesis 13:8), Moses (Number 12:3), Paul (2 Corinthians 10:1), and most importantly, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:21-23). The spirit of meekness is the spirit of Christ! Dear children, what does it mean to inherit the earth? After God created man in His own image, He promised to give him dominion over the whole earth. But due to the fall of man, that inheritance was lost. One day, the believers will regain the promised inheritance when Christ returns and they will rule together with Him for one thousand years. Those believers who will rule with Christ are characterised by meekness and not pride.

~3 min read

Matthew 5:4

Matthew 5:4, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. What is the meaning of blessed are they that mourn? The word mourn is the strongest kind of grief, like grieving for the dead. It is not just an external weep but an inner agony and deep pain. Like the picture of a beggar who was desperately poor, with one hand he covered his face in shame and with the other hand he reached out for help. The believer who understands his spiritual poverty will deeply grieve in his heart as he reaches out to God to save him. Why is it a blessing to mourn? Grieving for one’s spiritual condition is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, and it will lead the person to confess and repent of his sins. The promise is that they shall be comforted because God will forgive their sins (c.f. Psalm 32:1-2). Dear children, if you are a true believer, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you (Romans 8:9). Each time you sin, the Spirit of God will convict your heart causing you to grieve because of (1) what sin has done to you, (2) the spiritual struggle, and (3) losing the joy of your salvation (you will not lose your salvation but you will lose the joy that salvation brings). That grief will lead you to confession and repentance, and you will receive God’s forgiveness and be restored. Thus, as a child of God, Jesus says to you, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

~3 min read

Matthew 5:3

Matthew 5:3, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What is the meaning of poor in spirit? The word poor means to shrink, cower, or cringe like the way beggars would crouch and beg for alms. It is to recognize that without God, one is lost, hopeless and spiritually dead and to beg for God’s grace and mercy. There is no more pride, self-righteousness and self-confidence. It is a spiritual poverty! Why is poor in spirit a blessing? Firstly, it is because Jesus said so. Secondly, it is because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Humility is the only way a person can enter into the kingdom of heaven as he will acknowledge his need for God. Thirdly, the person who enters into the kingdom of heaven is a believer and therefore he is indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and through the Spirit, he will produce spiritual fruits. Fourthly, he will be exalted (Luke 14:7-11). Dear children, can you see how blessed it is to be poor in spirit? The person who is poor in spirit is humble (Luke 18:9-14) and repentant (Psalm 51:17). He will turn his eyes away from himself and look to God, for he will be saved. God will lift him up as he will not give opportunity for sin, and he will be prayerful. What a blessing! Are you such a person? In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~2 min read

Matthew 5:3-12

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His disciples by beginning with a series of blessed are the…..which was known as the “beatitudes” (it is a word derived from Latin). To be blessed means to be happy, or blissful. Here, Jesus was speaking to the believers and so this “blessedness” was meant for them. It was not a superficial feeling of happiness based on the circumstances, but a deep supernatural experience of happiness when one’s life was right with God. Dear children, do you want to have this blessedness? This blessedness or state of happiness and blissfulness can only come to you through your relationship with Jesus Christ. You must trust and believe in Jesus for salvation, and live your life in accordance with His Word (the Bible). When you do that, Jesus promised, “You shall have the kingdom of heaven, be comforted, shall inherit the earth, be filled, shall obtain mercy, see God, be called the children of God, and great is your reward in heaven.” In the following weeks, we shall learn each and every segment of the beatitude.

~2 min read

Exodus 20:17

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” (Exodus 20:17) To covet is to want something or someone that does not belong to you; it is to want very much what someone else has.  No one would steal without first wanting the very thing he or she steals.  This tenth commandment teaches us that we are not to be worried all the time about things and about what other people have which we do not have.  Rather than being envious, greedy and always wanting the possessions of others, it is much better that we learn to be content and happy with the things that God has already graciously provided for us. People, who are jealous of other people’s possession, often forget their own blessings. Instead they complain against God.  If you truly have a need, why not tell God about your need instead of coveting.  God’s law is the secret key for happiness and contentment.  Hebrews 13:5b says….and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

~2 min read

Exodus 20:16

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16) The ninth commandment forbids us to bear false witness against our neighbour.  To bear false witness is to speak falsely, and we must never lie to harm anyone.  God has given to us the ability to speak so that we can use our words to praise Him and to bless others.  But if we speak falsely to mislead someone, damage someone’s reputation or for our selfish reasons, it is a terrible sin. We lie when we speak falsely, make up stories, exaggerate and gossip.  Often when we gossip behind someone’s back, we add a lot of untruth and we are hurting the person’s reputation.  Do you like someone speaking falsely about you, making up stories about you and gossiping about you?  If you do not like that to happen to you, why should you be doing that to someone else? As Christians, we are children of God and therefore we are children of Light and not children of Darkness.  We ought to live in the truth, whether in church, family, school or wherever we are.  We tell the truth no matter what happens; we may be scolded or punished but God loves us because we dare to stand up for the truth. Learn to be careful with what you say.  Ask yourself these questions, “Is it true with what I am about to say?  Would I say it if the person I am talking about is here to listen?  Will God be pleased with what I am about to say?”  Remember that God knows everything that you say, whether truthfully or falsely, and He is grieved whenever His children lie and break the ninth commandment. In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Exodus 20:15

The eighth commandment thou shalt not steal teaches us to have respect for one another’s property.  To steal is to take something that does not belong to you.  Stealing is a sin against God.  Every time a person steals, he is failing to trust in God’s provision and he or she is also robbing what God has provided for others. If you are a Christian, then you must have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ whom God has so graciously provided for your salvation.  If God has so lovingly saved you from eternal damnation, will He not provide for your needs?  Does He not know what you really need, so much so that you have to steal to provide for yourself.  Most certainly not!  God knows all your needs and will provide for you according to His sovereign will and time. If you borrow a book, make sure you return it.  If you don’t and you intentionally keep the book, it is stealing.  If you go into a shop and the shopkeeper gives you too much change, do not go away feeling glad that you have received too much; instead you should return it.  If you don’t, you are stealing. Have you stolen or taken anything from anyone without permission or have you borrowed anything and not given back?  If yes, repent, give back what you had taken and ask the Lord to forgive you.  Remember, people may not know what you had done but the Almighty God knows everything that you do, in the open or in secret. In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Exodus 20:14

Adultery means taking someone else’s husband or wife and treating him or her as your own. This commandment has to do with keeping ourselves and others pure. In the beginning, God created Adam, and Genesis 2:18 says, And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Subsequently, God created Eve out of Adam’s rib. In the New Testament, Jesus also says, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage was instituted by God at the very beginning. The physical union between a husband and wife was God’s idea in the first place. It was for the goodness of mankind that Adam may have a help meet and they could be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). But instead of being faithful husband and wife, people look for relationships outside of marriage. Not only did they destroy their own families, but they also destroyed other families. Can you imagine, daddy and mummy are divorced, leaving the children without parental care and love? It is a terrible sin in the sight of God. We must also keep ourselves pure by guarding our thoughts against lust. Jesus says, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Our God is holy and righteous, and His standard is perfect, and expects us to be holy as well (c.f. 1 Peter 1:16). Therefore, we must be careful to guard our thoughts that we may not sin against Him. In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Exodus 20:13

Almost everyone seems to agree with the sixth commandment, thou shalt not kill. Christians or non-Christians alike would agree that it is wrong to kill. Murder is a terrible crime that is forbidden in every country. Life is so precious because man is made in God’s image. To kill someone is to disregard God who alone is the Giver of life and sovereign over life and death. The sixth commandment preserves the sanctity of human life. While most people would think that they have perfectly kept this commandment because they have not committed the sin of physical murder, abortion or euthanasia, but what about the murder of the heart? Jesus said, Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:21-22). So instead of being one of the “easiest” commandments to keep, thou shalt not kill actually is one of the hardest because we may not have killed anyone physically but we often kill him/her with our thoughts, words or gestures. Have you ever been so angry with someone that you wished him or her to be dead? Are you prone to anger easily? Is there anyone whom you secretly resent? If yes, you have just violated the sixth commandment. Everyone of us has sinned because we have broken God’s law including the command thou shalt not kill. The Bible says the wages of sin is death, but there is hope for us because the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Jesus came into this world and died on the cross to save us from our sins. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Have you believed in Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world? In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~4 min read

Exodus 20:12

The first four commandments govern our responses to God, and the last six commandments govern our responses to human relationships. Love for God must come first because we cannot truly love one another unless we love God. And in teaching us how to treat one another, God starts with our families. Loving our neighbour starts at home, by first honouring our parents. If anyone fails to honour his parents, do you think there is anyone else he will honour? The relationship between the parents and child is the first and primary relationship. Normally, the first people a child knows are his parents. If we do not respect authority at home, we will not respect it anywhere. Charity does begin at home! The Israelites had just been brought out of the land of slavery and God had promised to lead them to the Promised Land. One way to ensure they would keep living in the Promised Land was to honour their fathers and mothers. In the Old Testament, some of the most frightening curses are reserved for children who rebel against their parents (c.f. Leviticus 20:9, Deuteronomy 21:18, 19, 21). In the New Testament, disobedience to parents is listed as one of the signs that we are living in the last days when perilous times shall come (2 Timothy 3:1-2). Dear children, our parents deserve to be honoured for the many sacrifices they make for us. They deserve to be listened to because of their wealth of life experience. But the most important reason is that keeping the fifth commandment glorifies God. What about you? Have you been obeying and honouring your parents? Your parents will not be with you all the time, and whatever time God has given to your parents to be with you; cherish, love, honour and obey them to the glory of God. In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Exodus 20:8

Last week, we had considered the third commandment and today we want to talk about the fourth commandment. A day is made up of 24 hours, and a week is made up of 7 days. As the clock ticks away, we know that time is fleeting. The events of yesterday are fast gone and we look forward to a new day, today. Who is in control of time? Most certainly, God! God says, six days, shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. He, who has created all things including time, has commanded us to remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. To remember involves more than just our memories; it is not just saying, “Oh, I remember today is my birthday.” To remember is to demand our actions; our total commitment in the service of God. Today, we keep the Sabbath on Sunday, the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2) commemorating Christ’s resurrection. On this day, we gather for worship, fellowship, Bible study and evangelism. A story was told of a man who was approached by a beggar on the street. The man reached into his pocket to see what he had. Finding seven dollars and feeling somewhat sorry for the beggar, he held out six bills and said, “Here you go, you can have them.” Not only did the beggar take the six dollars, but with his other hand he struck his benefactor across the face and grabbed the seventh too. What do you think of the beggar? Don’t you think he has done the wrong thing? Then what do you think of a sinner (saved by the grace of Jesus Christ), who insists on taking seven days a week for himself? Dear children, are you willing to give this day solely unto God? We have time enough for ourselves on the other six days, and on the Lord’s Day, let us honour God by going to church to worship Him, spend more time praying to God and reading the Bible. In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Exodus 20:7

Exodus 20:7, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. People are identified by their names. It is extremely important that we must not jest, make fun or misrepresent anyone’s name. Nobody likes to be identified with a name that does not reflect him or her. How much more the Almighty God who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth? Using God’s name in vain is a great sin because it is a direct attack on His honour and glory. What are some of the ways in which Christians can fall into the sin of taking the name of God in vain? . Using God’s name as a cursing or swearing word to show our frustrations, or join others when they are doing it. a. Using God’s name as a kind of exclamation point. b. Using God’s name for our sinful and selfish purposes, like falsely telling someone, “The Lord told me to do this or to do that.” It is both a lie and an abuse of His name. c. As believers we bear the very name of Christ (we are called Christians), yet we continue to live in sin. What are some of the ways in which Christians can honour God’s name? . Bearing a good testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. a. Singing hymns and praises to glorify His name. b. Acknowledging God in our lives by saying, “Thank God,” and “Praise the Lord!” c. We can honour God’s name in evangelism, worship, fellowship and every activity of our life. Dear children, if we have used God’s name in vain in the past, we must repent and ask God to forgive us. Let us continue to give glory and honour to the only wise God, whom the Bible says, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Exodus 20:4

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (Exodus 20:4) There is only one living and true God.  He is the Creator who made us and He owns us.  He is the Lord who has power over you and me.  But fallen man because of sin, did not want to acknowledge, worship and honour God in the way he ought to.  Instead of worshipping God, man worships idols. God had taught us not to make any image or idol to represent Him.  We are not to carve an idol in the shape of either a human being, or like any animals, or birds, or insects, or reptiles, etc.  We must never sin by misrepresenting Him in any shape or form.  There is nothing that man can make with his hands to show what God is like.  God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~2 min read

Exodus 20:2-3

Exodus 20:2-3, I am the LORD thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. God saved the children of Israel and delivered them from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. He had proven Himself to be the only God by defeating all the gods of Egypt through the ten plagues. Therefore, the children of Israel must not worship any other gods except the Lord Almighty. Dear children, Jesus has saved us through His death and the shedding of His precious blood on the cross of Calvary. Through His resurrection on the third day, Jesus has proven Himself not only victorious over sin and death, but He is also the only living and true God. We must not worship any other gods but the Lord Himself. Today, many people may not worship physical idols, but sadly, they worship and idolize people like celebrities, or their material things like houses and cars, or even themselves when they live their lives solely for themselves with no consideration for God at all. We must love and honour God above anyone or anything else. Jesus said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matthew 22:37). With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~2 min read

Proverbs 11:2

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2) All the students were gathered at the stadium for the school sport’s day.  Everyone was eagerly waiting for the principal to make an important announcement.  The principal announced on the loudspeaker, “The prize for the best sportsman of the year goes to James.”  James was elated, as he smiled while walking up to the podium to collect his trophy.  Everyone clapped loudly. But as the days went by, his friends noticed a great change in him; he had become proud.  To James, no one can be better than him, and everyone must be second to him. Whenever his friends praised someone for doing well in any sports, James would say, “It isn’t great at all, or he won because the rest of the competitors are weak.  He can never beat me.” The next year came, and it was the school sport’s day again.  This time, James did not win any trophies.  He thought he would surely win, but to his surprise, he came in last place in almost every event.  With all those prideful remarks that he had made and with no victory, James became extremely ashamed of himself. Dear children, when pride cometh, then cometh shame.  We must never be proud because everything we have, our talents, abilities and skills, cometh from God.  As He graciously gives, He can also take away.  The Bible tells us that with the lowly is wisdom because he knows that God loves the humble and hates the proud.  Therefore, he always humbles himself.  Do you want to be a wise person?  If you do, then humble yourself and acknowledge God with reverence.For the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. (Proverbs 12:22) The dictionary explains the meaning for the word abomination as “anything greatly disliked and abhorred, or treated with disgust.”  When the Bible says, abomination to the LORD, is it not a frightening thought to know that the Almighty God is disgusted about certain actions or behaviours?  What fills God with such great dislike and disgust?  Lying lips! Susan was not happy with Mary because she was not invited to the latter’s birthday party.  So, she came up with a wicked idea to falsely accuse Mary of stealing the money that the school had collected from the book fair.  Susan lied to the teacher saying that she saw Mary stealing the money. Poor Mary, nobody believed her.  Her parents, her teacher and all her classmates really thought she was a thief.  Finally, Susan told the truth, that the money was not stolen but placed in one of the cupboards.  But it was too late! Mary’s parents were so disappointed with her that they transferred her to another school.  From then onwards, the teacher and all the classmates no longer believed in Susan even though she spoke the truth. Dear children, lies hurt people.  They make people think wrongly and then cause people to do wrong things which will bring them much trouble.  But there is a greater fear than just all these consequences and that is, lying lips are abomination to the LORD.  God hates lies!  We must not lie, but rather we must always speak the truth because we fear God more than men and trouble.  God is pleased with those who are truthful and honest. With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

Lamentations 3:25

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. (Lamentations 3:25) When a person desires to get something, he or she will seek it with great patience.  Like a hunter will wait patiently for his prey to take the bait.  Or a farmer will patiently labour for the harvest of crops. What is your greatest desire in this life?  Do you earnestly desire the goodness of the Lord? There is great comfort, assurance and encouragement for those people who seek the Lord and wait for Him.  For the Bible says, The LORD is good unto them that wait for him….that seeketh him. The Lord will forgive all their sins and grant them eternal life.  He will give them His grace and mercy.  He will give them His Spirit and empower them.  He will guide and protect them.  He will provide for their needs and cheer them.  He will comfort and strengthen their hearts.  Ultimately He will lead them to the glorious heaven and be with them forever in His eternal kingdom.  Yes, indeed there is the abundance of goodness in this life and the life to come that awaits those who wait for the Lord. With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~2 min read

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24) One day, you are sick and you are not able to attend school for a week. Mary, your classmate, hears that you are feeling sad and lonely, and she decides to visit and cheer you up. She said lovingly, “How are you? I missed you so much. Here is a “Get well” card that I personally drew for you. During your absence, I will collect all the class notes for you.” With such kind words and careful thoughts from Mary, will you not feel happier? Those are such pleasant words to hear and you will almost feel much better just by listening to them. They are sweet to your soul, and certainly health to your bones. You will be cheered up! In olden times, honeycomb was very expensive because it was helpful to the health. Even today, it is still highly recommended for health benefits. Honey is not just useful but its sweetness is so tasty and appetizing. It is soothing and everyone enjoys it. The Bible tells us that if we speak words that are pleasant, they are like honeycomb. In other words, our pleasant words can be beneficial and satisfying, for they can revive the heart and soul. Dear children, have you been speaking pleasant words to cheer the hearts of your parents and friends? When mummy and daddy are sick or have a hard day at work, have you ever said kind words to them? When your classmates and friends are sad and disappointed, have you ever encouraged them with words that will cheer their hearts? Many of your friends may not know the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know that the most important words that will not only cheer their hearts, but also save their souls, are the blessed words of the Gospel? Let us tell them about the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ! With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~3 min read

James 5:19-20

There may be some people who profess their faith in God, but in reality they are false believers.  The reason is because they have strayed from the truth of God’s Word. What must we do?  Neither we nor our words can convert a person, only the Gospel of Christ.  So, we must preach the true Gospel to them!  Therefore, James said, Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (James 5:19). What will happen when we do that?  Let him know, that he which converted the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (James 5:20).  By God’s saving grace, the person may be turned from his erroneous ways, and he will be saved from his sins. Dear children, our goal is to reach out to every sinner with the Gospel, because the threat he is facing is death - eternal death.  Once the sinner repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ for salvation, he is saved, and God will then cover the multitude of sins he has committed.  Let us be faithful, strong and courageous, to share the Gospel that is able to save the soul from death! With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~2 min read

James 5:16b-18

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16a). The word effectual means effective, the original Greek word (energeo) is from where we get our English word “energy.”  The term availeth much means it is very strong.  The prayer of a righteous man is effective because he relies on God’s power and his prayer is energised by the Holy Spirit.  Weak prayers come from weak people, and strong prayers come from strong people! James gave an example of the power of prayer, and that was Elijah’s prayer (vv.17-18).  In those days, there was a devastating 3 ½ years of drought in Israel. Elijah prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth fruits.  It was not because Elijah had some supernatural powers but simply he relied on God’s power and his prayer was energised by the Holy Spirit. Dear children, when troubles and afflictions come into our lives, we must pray.  But we must pray fervently and persistently, relying on God’s power, and trusting and believing that He alone is able to deliver us, and all things will work together according to His will (Romans 8:28).  When we do that, our prayer will be energised by the Holy Spirit, and it will be powerful. With love in Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng

~2 min read

James 5:16a

James 5:14-15

James 5:13

James 5:12